House Impeachment Inquiry

[acbytesla]

WTF is a secure phone? And it doesn't matter anyway: He’s *tweeting,* for crying out loud. That’s not a stealth activity.

Secure phones have their communications scrambled (encrypted) by a chip or software app and decoded by another secure telephone or network. But obviously "tweeting is not secure.

 

[phunk]

Not as bad as anchovies.

Worse

 

[Babbylonian]

I think some government phones have extra protections...

Certain apps removed that could cause security holes, software installed for doing secure communications, special modifications to the operating system to prevent things like unauthorized information being leaked (such as GPS coordinates.)

I am not sure if congress critters would have that, but it is a possibility.

A "secure phone" in federal governmental parlance would be one equipped (connected to equipment, to be more accurate) to encrypt/decrypt voice communications when properly connected to another secure phone. Such a phone would almost certainly be wired or a dedicated non-smartphone device because of the inherent insecurity of transferring data through public cell networks. I doubt strongly that a smartphone allowing the installation of non-government applications (like Twitter) would qualify.

 

[Belz...]

Just read an article prediting the democracy will not survive the information age because the information age has made political splintering much worse.

It has also over-democratised everything, to the point where the only reality that matters is the one in your head.

 

[dudalb]

It has also over-democratised everything, to the point where the only reality that matters is the one in your head.

Part of the same problem:you can now just stick to information sources in your comfort zone where your opinions are never really chanllenged.

 

[dudalb]

It's not because of dislike. At all. I would probably release them in an hour and drop the charges. Maybe you're right, maybe it would look terible. Better to make them look ineffectual.

I'm concerned that the Democrats are acting weak.

Or just giving their opponents enough rope to hang themselves.

And, frankly, don't fall into an obsession with being tough all the time. Look as You Know Who....

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

...and of course if it was being conducted in public, they'd be complaining that allegations were being made before definitive proof had been provided.

Of course they really want is for the President's accusers to be named publicly so that their reputations can be destroyed - likely with half-truths an falsehoods.

Yep. They would make up anything, that's what faux outrage is.

And yep, they are trying to intimidate whistleblowers.

Then there is the possibility they are just pandering to Trump who ordered them do more in a meeting shortly before the rampage.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

The Republicans storming the hearing were brought snacks, presumably so they wouldn't get cranky before their nap times.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

From the way I understand it, I'm positive I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, the impeachment of Clinton didn't go this same way. Starr delivered his report with the investigative process already completed, and that's what the House used to draw up the impeachment and vote on it. In this case, they just have the whistleblower complaint and they are now doing the investigating rather than having a completed report to work off of.

I don't believe the two processes have much in common.

Demonstrates the difference between Starr and Mueller.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

They also ordered pizza. I suppose it shows that they have no intention to follow the rules, leave, and let the hearing proceed.

The report I heard was they stalled the meeting for ~7 hours. But then the witness that was scheduled still testified afterward.

It appears they blinked.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Just read an article prediting the democracy will not survive the information age because the information age has made political splintering much worse.

Democracy Now: Zucked: Early Facebook Investor Roger McNamee on How the Company Became a Threat to Democracy

It was this morning and it was very interesting.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

That would look terrible.
I think at times you dislike of Republicans really does blind you to reality.
And the GOPers look bad enough as it is. except for their base, it looks like a dumbass political stunt.

Could even be the GOP wanted an arrest to add to their stunt. Schiff didn't take the bait.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

It's not because of dislike. At all. I would probably release them in an hour and drop the charges. Maybe you're right, maybe it would look terible. Better to make them look ineffectual.

I'm concerned that the Democrats are acting weak.

Or not.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

...

So it looks like someone is snagging cell phones.

Several of them held them up as they entered the room.

 

[acbytesla]

Or just giving their opponents enough rope to hang themselves.

And, frankly, don't fall into an obsession with being tough all the time. Look as You Know Who....

I don't think I'm obsessed with the Dems being tough all the time. I'd settle for some of the time.

The stunt those GOP House members is representative of what happens in a devolving government. And I strongly believe it was orchestrated by Trump. Yesterday Trump met with many of those House members to plan a strategy to deal with the Democrats impeachment of him saying Republicans have to be tougher and fight.

This .government has refused to comply with subpoenas and the House has done nothing about it. Now maybe their stategy is better than what I think they should do which is arrest individuals who don't comply with subpoenas. Maybe its better doing what they are doing.

Who's to know for sure? Admittedly not me.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Apparently 13 out of the 41 Republicans who stormed the hearing are on the committees, and therefore permitted to attend.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

The stunt those GOP House members is representative of what happens in a devolving government.

This was my thought, too. It's a clown show at the moment, something you'd expect from some banana republic.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

I really have very little issue with this stunt.
Republicans can easily convince themselves that they are fighting for their rights as Representatives, not to provide cover for a criminal in the White House.

Compared to what McConnell or Nunes or other betrayers of their Oath of Office are doing, this is harmless.

 

[Belz...]

I really have very little issue with this stunt.
Republicans can easily convince themselves that they are fighting for their rights as Representatives, not to provide cover for a criminal in the White House.

Compared to what McConnell or Nunes or other betrayers of their Oath of Office are doing, this is harmless.

It might be harmless in and of itself, but it's in my opinion, like acbytesla's, a symptom of a breakdown of the system.

 

[phiwum]

It might be harmless in and of itself, but it's in my opinion, like acbytesla's, a symptom of a breakdown of the system.

It's a ludicrous stunt aimed at low information supporters. Keep saying that the Democrats are keeping Republicans out of the process and it'll stick, no matter how false it is.