DISCUSSION THREAD 2: Michael Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight Committee

[brooklynite]

Continuing from https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11868162

[brooklynite]

1. "Well I am a nice guy" (Cohen replying to Congressman Meadows)

[bearsfootball516]

5. That was a good line, I smiled.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Meadows was an ass.

[onit2day]

82. "I'm appalled. I'm appalled" but Trump's daily lying or his University fraud doesn't phase her

Yes it's a set up for impeachment. Trump is buried under a mountain of lies and fraud so we must begin digging somewhere. Whereas these 'headed for the fainting couch' republicons just want to ski down it. What is appalling is how they can continue to overlook and support this con man, this pathological liar and petty PINO. It sickens the country why not the GOP.

[BumRushDaShow]

83. This is why their agreed-to line of questioning and talking points makes no sense.

But then it is directed solely at their "base". Hopefully the rest of America (70+%) have more sense.

[brooklynite]

3. Now up: William Clay (D-MO)

[tosh]

4. Congressman Clay!

A new hero of mine

[zaj]

6. Why?

[tosh]

8. Because of the powerful statement

he made leading into his question.

[uponit7771]

7. Looks like Cohen's got ... WRITTEN ... dirt on Red Don's bank fraud. Is there a statute of limitatio

... on bank fraud?

tia

[underpants]

13. Yes it was in the supporting docs he submitted with his opening statement

I think THAT’s the big thing here today.

[cilla4progress]

9. Who's got the bad, phlegmy cough?

Hope not Cummings!

[WeekiWater]

10. Republicans continue to confirm...

Trumps closest confidant and fixer is a liar, criminal, and con man.

How does this help them? Everyone knows that's why he was so close to Trump.

[demmiblue]

11. He brought out a black woman who is loyal to President Trump to prove that President Trump is not..

What Lena said.

Think about what Mark Meadows just did. He brought out a black woman who is loyal to President Trump to prove that President Trump is not racist.

It was like show and tell. Incredible.

Link to tweet

[Delmette2.0]

52. +1

[Zoonart]

12. Soooo... now it's all about Lanny Davis.

WITCH HUNT!

All a Democratic plot against their God MF45.

[dustyscamp]

14. Way to go Mr. Lynch!!!

[demmiblue]

15. That was a thing of beauty!

Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch, shouting, says it is Republicans who had the partisan agenda, by refusing to bring any Trump associate who pleaded guilty before the committee. He says, "Your side ran away from the truth, and we're trying to bring it to the American people."

Link to tweet

[demmiblue]

16. Gosar is trying to break him. n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

18. It didn't work.

[demmiblue]

19. Nope. Now he is laying into the Republicans.

I hope I can find the video.

[nolabear]

21. Right? He's good. I'll give him that.

[demmiblue]

23. That was a really powerful five minutes, that's for sure.

If I was a smoker, I would be lighting up right now. Phew!

[True Blue American]

38. That is the Rep whose siblings back his opponant and made a video.

[janx]

17. K&R

[blogslut]

20. It's sad watching the GOP side pretending to all be Perry Masons

Their aides run over and give them notes and whisper into their ears as if some magic fact or statement is going to Change Everything Forever.

[FakeNoose]

44. Probably Chump and McConnell are texting them "gotcha" questions

... like it would matter now.

[nolabear]

22. Man, the Dems can just sit back and let him go. He's good.

He makes 45 look like exactly what he is.

[bobGandolf]

94. Geez Louise, I seem to miss ...

....every Democrat speaking. Every time I looked a Repo was speaking. Must just be me. Scared to death they will screw it up.
That minority chair needs to be taken down a few pegs too.

[LiberalFighter]

95. He needs to be de-boned.

Since he doesn't have scruples.

[nolabear]

24. Fox cuts to commentators during break:

Unfortunately they cut to Chris Wallace.

He’s not helping.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. Is Fox even covering this?

[nolabear]

27. They are. But the Chirons are incredible.

I’ve looked a few times. They’re cherry picking to spin it toward the accusations against Cohen and praise for 45.

[rurallib]

28. Thank you for taking one for the team

Wallace has been speaking truth lately. Maybe he is looking to get away from Fux?

[maddiemom]

80. He's come to realize how badly he's had his father spinning in his grave.

[bobGandolf]

106. We need to have reinstate...

the "Truth in Advertising" Law we had in the 70's, and expand it. I believe Reagan's dump anti-business regulations got rid of it.
No way is Fox News a real news program.

[Autumn]

25. That was fucking awesome how he went off before the break. I had no use for the slimeball before but

Respect the fuck out of that.

[Hortensis]

33. Different response here. No respect.

Prompted by the amazing collection of successful criminals drawn by and to Trump, I've read a little about their kind of criminal personality. It's real. Trump didn't need to go looking for his sort, they swarmed to him.

This one did seem to have been as attached by rather pathetic authoritarian loyalty to his leader as by the opportunity to routinely smash and ignore the law, and mug people, and get away with it. A big part of his job was to loudly threaten those Trump was cheating with years of litigation, even ruin at his hands, if they persisted in trying to collect what they were rightfully owed. His pose about being appalled at society's increasing lack of civility was at least good for a brief chuckle.

[Autumn]

34. I respected what he said there and I respected the hell out of the truth and emotion in it nt

[demmiblue]

35. Same. n/t

[Autumn]

41. He nailed those pukes to a wall and laid their sins bare.

[Hortensis]

39. A career white-collar thug, fake truth, faked emotion.

Here's a glimpse behind the mask:

If this is how he talks to a reporter with some power behind him, just imagine how he deals with a paint store owner who just wants to be paid for $30,000 worth of paint.

[Autumn]

42. Sorry you didn't see what I saw, I'm a believer in redemption. Oh well.

[Hortensis]

47. Okay. Btw, you'll probably be happy then to know

that "redemption" includes rebirth as a Democrat. (!) Yes, he's re-registered as a Democrat and may be coming to a candidate near you because he's currently trying to market his anti-Trump services to any 2020 candidates who are interested.

Strange world, and I'm not at all sure God foresaw rebirth including being laundered through social media by a high-end PR firm, but you want a new, redeemed Cohen: you shall have him.

[Autumn]

56. I got no problem with him registering as a Democrat. Free country and all that. I can't imagine

anyone hiring him. What's he gonna do? Work from prison? That doesn't change one word of his statement that he gave.

I respect the fuck out of that truth. YMMV

[oldsoftie]

105. He'll be in jail for the 2020 cycle, so maybe '22?

[Javaman]

29. How long is the break? nt

[stopbush]

30. The Rs are embarrassing themselves, coming off as stupid people.

Difficult to watch. Cohen actually showing he has some chops as a (former) lawyer.

[demmiblue]

31. Foxx is not the brightest bulb. n/t

[True Blue American]

40. No, she isn't

[nolabear]

32. This plan to have Jordan run point is exhausting.

Are they actually grooming this little yapping dog or throwing him under the bus?

[True Blue American]

43. Jordan thinks he is important.

He and Mark Meadows. From the almost defunct Freedom Caucus that helped run Boehner out. He was fed up with them.

[MrsCoffee]

36. "No. Are you offering"?

[demmiblue]

37. Cohen to GOP lawmakers: "I did the same thing that you're doing now. For ten years. I protected Mr.

Cohen to GOP lawmakers: "I did the same thing that you're doing now. For ten years. I protected Mr. Trump for ten years." His warning to them: "The more people that follow Mr. Trump -- as I did blindly -- are going to suffer the same consequences that I'm suffering."

Link to tweet

[ScratchCat]

53. I wonder if that was

a vague hint that either Mueller and/or SDNY are looking at things that may implicate GOP congress-people in crimes of a cover-up? Because "the same consequences" would likely mean criminal indictments.

[LiberalFighter]

96. Like Devin Nunes and Rohrenbacher?

[LuvLoogie]

100. That was my take. The way he said that. Very ominous. The looking Jordan in the eye

and nodding ("Yes, that's right. He's got you, too.)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

45. Rep Raskin: "My collegues are not upset that you lied to Congress..."

"....My colleges are upset that you stopped lying to Congress."

Youch!

[Honeycombe8]

46. Brilliant. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

48. That was a touche moment!

[underpants]

54. Ouch

[dalton99a]

63. +1. No truer words

[Honeycombe8]

49. Oh, good. A Republican Rep is going "to clarify something" for us.

That being Cohen's comment that Trump didn't expect to win. "Anti-Trump people" say that, he said, and it's just not true.

[underpants]

50. BONUS. It's on in the staff breakroom for lunch.

[uponit7771]

76. +1

[mercuryblues]

51. Not All of them had to do with women

About hush money that trump paid.

[underpants]

55. Rep. Rounda - Trump knew Salter? Yes. Lied under oath? Yes

Paid rent on his office on Mr. Trump’s floor? No.

[Brother Buzz]

65. Freshman congressman Rouda, from California, was solid

So was freshman congresswoman from California, Katie Hill. This native Californian is beaming with pride.

[Honeycombe8]

57. Cohen agrees that Trump lied or misrepresented his relationship to Felix Sater, under oath.

Felix Sater was in the Russian mafia, which was (is?) connected to the Russian government.

Cohen said that Felix Sater was in business with Trump re some company, had business cards saying he was a personal consultant to Trump, and he had an office in Trump Tower on the same floor as Donald Trump, and didn't pay rent for it. In fact, when Sater left, that office became Cohen's.

So Trump gave an office near him to a Russian mob person he was in business with, for free. And used him for consulting purposes, in addition to going into business with him.

Trump testified in 2013 that he knew Sater so little that he wouldn't recognize him. Barely knew him.

Cohen says "yes" to question as to whether Trump would have been lying when he answered that question in 2013.

[nolabear]

58. When they break for lunch the interviews are going to be amazing.

You think the gloves are off NOW. I wish every reporter would ask the GOP “Why are you not asking a single question about 45, the evidence or the testimony?”

[nolabear]

59. Oh my GOD, the "code!"

We all know it. It’s the narcissist’s friend. You say things in order to lead the answer and get reinforcement, not answers. It’s 45 to the tops of his pale little toes.

[Honeycombe8]

60. ANOTHER boom. Cohen & Trump or someone on behalf of Trump spoke after the raid on Cohen's house.

Michael Cohen says the last time he spoke with Trump, or someone on his behalf, was two months after the raid of his home, but says he can't elaborate:

"Unfortunately, this topic is actually something that's being investigated right now by the Southern District of New York."

[ScratchCat]

62. Explains why Trump

was trying to get to the SDNY prosecutors.

They are all going down if there is proof of this.

[Honeycombe8]

99. Good point. nt

[Hotler]

61. I wonder if it is awkward in the Men's room during breaks? nt

[nolabear]

64. They're going to go back to that discussion with Schiff.

They’re going to claim he made an agreement and the hearing is set up. I hope he clears that up.

[Glimmer of Hope]

66. Why the obsession with the boxes?

Hard copy documents are scanned and put in a database so it makes sense the boxes were returned.

[nolabear]

67. And it's clear the FBI had the boxes. He got them back.

He said it earlier. He didn’t offer them to anybody but they were part of an investigation.

[Glimmer of Hope]

68. I can't tell the difference between fake outrage or

stupidity.

[brooklynite]

69. BREAKING: Matt Gatez (not a Committee member) trying to get in on questioning

Link to tweet

[Tiggeroshii]

73. DId anybody else lose the feed?

[brooklynite]

70. "Love Child"

Link to tweet

[wildflower]

71. Ok I thought I was the only one who heard this

[TygrBright]

72. Something about Ivanka? She's the only child he's ever loved...

...and not in a good way.

nauseatedly,
Bright

[dalton99a]

77. +1

[uponit7771]

74. Whoa !! So white house lawyers edited Cohens statements about Trump Tower Moscow?

Whoa !! So white house lawyers edited Cohens statements about Trump Tower Moscow?

I'm late on this part of the Trump Mob Organization

[BumRushDaShow]

75. Jackie Speir - "Is there a love child?"

[janx]

78. OK, this woman is giving a propaganda speech.

Someone get the hook.

[asiliveandbreathe]

79. Miller now.."just another chapter in your book" - yes my dear, and you will read all about YOUR

glorious venom that you just spewed...WV..you can do better....

[yuiyoshida]

81. Wow!

The Republicans really hate this... GOOD!

[Maru Kitteh]

84. "Mr. Trump doesn't text message."

Huh. Quite interesting.

[nolabear]

85. Oh he's using Melania to throw him further under the bus!

I also lied to her for him! 😂

[Kind of Blue]

86. Awaiting Reps. AOC and Talib

and Faux News meltdown.

[JohnnyRingo]

87. These republicans seem jealous of Michael Cohen's situation.

They speak of lucrative book and movie deals as if any one of them would gladly do his six years in a federal pen and lose their lifelong career to ink a lousy book deal.

I only wish he would ask one if they would like to to trade seats.

I appreciated Cohen's comment that his primary job was to protect Donald Trump at all costs, much like the republicans on the current committee.

[demmiblue]

88. Rep. Brenda Lawrence: "I just want to put on the record, as being a black American and having endure

Rep. Brenda Lawrence: "I just want to put on the record, as being a black American and having endured the public comments of racism from the sitting president, as being a black person, I can only imagine what's being said in private."

Link to tweet

[dustyscamp]

97. "To prop up one person from our entire race of black people and say that nullifies it is totally

insulting" She destroyed Meadows with that.

[Lady_Chat]

102. She was incredible!

Love the way she expressed her indignation about being insulted like that,, and her going after Matt Gaetz , for witness tampering. While republicans were complaining about not being able to do "the peoples work" (which they never do anyway) because of the hearing, she really shot that down.. I don't want to misquote her, but did she say something to the effect of " It's lucky Democrats are able to walk and chew gum at the same time." Love her!

[underpants]

89. Can we have another discussion thread? PLEASE

The one line threads are killing me.

[IcyPeas]

90. MS-13?

ummmm stay on topic Mr. Roy. the topic is not fear-fear-fear.

[demmiblue]

91. No shite. Ugh. n/t

[demmiblue]

92. Plaskett: "Thank god the Democratic Party majority can walk and chew gum at the same time."

[BumRushDaShow]

93. About an hour recess now for House votes.

[MicaelS]

98. So what exactly did Cohen say right before the break? n/t

[brooklynite]

101. New discussion thread 3 continues here...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211870752

[samnsara]

103. ive donated about 100$ to Cohens Go Fund Me acct for his legal bills...

...CUZ I HATE TRUMP THAT MUCH!...and Cohens apology to his kids had me in tears.

[nolabear]

104. I hope 45 chokes on this whole thing.