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Was Trump ham-handed in raising Biden allegations? Maybe. But don't give Biden a pass
FoxNews ^ | September 23, 2019 | Andrew C. McCarthy

Posted on 09/24/2019 6:32:33 AM PDT by billorites

It was in the national interest of the United States that Ukraine, under siege by our Russian nemesis, be given the full quantum of military aid extended by Congress. It was in the political interest of President Trump that Ukraine aggressively investigate credible allegations of corruption and conflict-of-interest against former Vice President Joe Biden, a favorite among the Democratic candidates seeking to run against Trump in 2020.

The national interests of the United States and the political interests of the president are not the same thing. If President Trump conflated them in his discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, that was a failure of judgment.

But have we lost our capacity to say conduct is censurable without turning it into something it is not – such as effective immunity for Biden and grounds for Trump’s impeachment?

Don’t get me wrong. It is not my purpose to minimize the politicization of American foreign relations. To the contrary, I just wrote a book, "Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency." In many ways, it is a "cri de coeur" for a restoration of a vital American norm. Incumbent administrations must not wield the awesome powers of the presidency, especially the powers to conduct foreign affairs and gather foreign intelligence, out of sheer partisanship.

My purpose is to place the potential wrong in context.

Let’s say, for argument’s sake, it is proven that Trump used his enormous influence over Kiev, or worse, his control over the release of defense aid Ukraine needs, strictly to better his electoral chances against Biden. That would be an abuse of power.

It would also make the 45th president, well, the 45th president in American history to exercise his powers under the influence of his political standing.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2020demprimary; andrewcmccarthy; biden; bidenfamily; cultureofcorruption; trump; trumpukraine; ukraine
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1 posted on 09/24/2019 6:32:33 AM PDT by billorites
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To: billorites

Hey McCarthy! Ham handed you say?? He just exposed a $billion dollar, political shakedown that is just the tip of the iceberg. Be good to Trump, McCarthy. When he goes, this nation is going to spin into darkness, and people like you will be of no help.


2 posted on 09/24/2019 6:37:13 AM PDT by JonPreston
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To: billorites

the executive branch prosecutes lawbreakers.

did the bidens break the law?

that is a legitimate question for trump to raise with ukraine.


3 posted on 09/24/2019 6:39:06 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Epstein proves it's all a charade.)
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To: billorites

Can someone tell me what this “report” regarding the “whistleblower” (formerly known as a leaker) comprises?

Was it the result of an investigation?

Was it simply the IG taking the statement of the “whistleblower?”

If the latter, then how is this an actionable fact beyond being heresay?

The kangarooing of American Justice continues.


4 posted on 09/24/2019 6:42:37 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: billorites

Was Biden a declared candidate at the time?


5 posted on 09/24/2019 6:43:43 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: billorites
My purpose is to place the potential wrong in context.

A whole article about a "potential" occurrence with no proof? Let's impeach with no facts? These folks are nuts.

6 posted on 09/24/2019 6:45:51 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: billorites
PRESIDENT TRUMP is over the target. MSM, DS, DEMOCRATS know he has the goods on them and that it will not end well with them.


7 posted on 09/24/2019 6:46:22 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whpose God is the Lord. (Psalm 32:12))
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To: JonPreston
They're are just making stuff up now -its not even worth entertaining the premise that any talking head isn't some agitprop activist spewing propaganda and garbage.

You can watch the primary sources of a story these days and the reporting/opining of it is a complete distortion of the event so as to fit a narrative.

It's time to stop the narrator

8 posted on 09/24/2019 6:50:22 AM PDT by datricker (Cut Taxes Repeal ACA Deport DACA - Americans First, Build the Wall, Lock her up MAGA!)
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To: billorites

McCarthy is making a point only after Faux jumped on the left’s band wagon. Faux News seems to think the only success strategy is let’s watch you and him fight while we sell ammo to both sides. Too much winning has upset their paradigm, they simply can’t keep upsetting their friends and colleagues.


9 posted on 09/24/2019 6:52:35 AM PDT by Steamburg (Other people's money is the only language a politician respects; starve the bastards)
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To: billorites

“The national interests of the United States and the political interests of the President are not the same thing.”

Yes they are, especially with President Trump.


10 posted on 09/24/2019 6:53:06 AM PDT by Meatspace
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To: FlipWilson

Was Biden a declared candidate at the time?

******************

No, I believe Trump called Zelensky on April 22nd. Biden declared his candidacy three days later.


11 posted on 09/24/2019 6:59:33 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: JonPreston

Ham-Handed = Heavy-Handed, lacking grace, hurting feelings.

Yeah, that’s what our President does when he’s crossed and lied to.

It is rumored that Bolton is the whistleblower or part of the whistleblower chain. It makes sense as an IG would listen to Bolton before Bolton was fired. And it would explain why Bolton was fired.

McCarthy’s usage of the word ‘ham-handed’ indicates he has people around him who can’t get past the fact that the President is a tough New Yorker who will rain hell down on liars and traitors when the timing is right.

This is the fight.

Rudy says he’s coming out with conclusive proof today:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/3780813/posts?page=39#39


12 posted on 09/24/2019 7:02:22 AM PDT by Hostage (Article V)
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To: billorites

Trump didn’t need to expose the Biden son thing because Biden is a very weak candidate. I believe Trump believes that and therefore wouldn’t do whatever he did just to damage Biden.


13 posted on 09/24/2019 7:07:52 AM PDT by cymbeline
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To: billorites

No. Not ham-handeed. Trump-handed.

Trump handed biden his ass.

Get used to DJT’s style. He manages the narrative this way, and it results in a news cycle that diplomatic language would never afford.


14 posted on 09/24/2019 7:11:13 AM PDT by Migraine (ThereÂ’s going to be a serious third-party candidate. Mark my words.)
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To: Hostage
McCarthy’s usage of the word ‘ham-handed’ indicates he has people around him who can’t get past the fact that the President is a tough New Yorker who will rain hell down on liars and traitors when the timing is right.

Exactly, thanks!

15 posted on 09/24/2019 7:35:00 AM PDT by JonPreston
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To: cymbeline
Trump didn’t need to expose the Biden son thing because Biden is a very weak candidate. I believe Trump believes that and therefore wouldn’t do whatever he did just to damage Biden.

This has hillarystink all over it. A Biden candidacy is a threat to her plans, not Trumps.
16 posted on 09/24/2019 7:43:38 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Auto-correct has become my worst enema.)
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To: billorites
With each passing day I’m getting more convinced that Joe Biden only decided to run for President so he can use this “foreign interference in our elections” angle to shield himself from prosecution.

That’s based on a totally asinine assumption that a presidential candidate is somehow immune from criminal prosecution. But even if that were true, I’m seeing a subtle change in the media reporting that may reveal the brilliance of Trump in this whole thing.

The initial media reports about the “whistleblower” story contained unambiguous allegations that President Trump had pressured the Ukrainian government to investigate Joe Biden.

In the days immediately after that, I noticed a subtle change in the reporting about the story ... with most media reports describing “the Bidens” collectively.

Yesterday I noticed another subtle but unmistakable change. Several media reports suggested that HUNTER Biden is the target of the investigation — with no mention of Joe at all.

Hunter Biden is not a presidential candidate.

17 posted on 09/24/2019 7:55:02 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." -- Frederick Douglass)
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To: cymbeline
This wasn’t done as a political vendetta.

I believe President Trump wanted to fire a 5-inch round across the bow of the “Deep State,” but then decided to fire multiple torpedos instead.

My outlandish theory is that the U.S. intelligence community is so alarmed over this because Hunter Biden was working as a CIA asset in his Ukraine dealings.

18 posted on 09/24/2019 8:02:43 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." -- Frederick Douglass)
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To: JonPreston

Gawd I’m tired of this arrogant Bushite , Andy McCarthy.


19 posted on 09/24/2019 8:20:20 AM PDT by rintintin
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To: Uncle Miltie

>>>the executive branch prosecutes lawbreakers.

So then why did the president ask Ukraine to turn over materials to his personal attorney instead of the DOJ?


20 posted on 09/24/2019 10:57:39 AM PDT by oincobx
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