Thinking about how low we’ve pushed the bar that we’re having the debate we are. If Trump had never held the aid, never applied pressure, never offered any quid pro quo, just politely said “I would appreciate if you’d do these investigations,” that ought to be impeachable.
The GOP defense is like some perverse inversion of the “dayenu” part of a seder—whatever we learn, it’s never enough. If he asked them to investigate, it’s not enough without a quid pro quo. If there was a quid pro quo, it’s not enough if it was just one phone call.
If it wasn’t just one phone call, it’s not enough if they didn’t know about the hold. If they knew about the hold, it’s not enough if they didn’t feel pressured. If they felt pressured, it’s not enough if they didn’t capitulate.
If they did capitulate, it’s not enough if they never got a chance to follow through on their promised statement. By all means, point out all the lies along the way, but we shouldn’t accept the constant reframes & goalpost shifts. The request itself: dayenu.
