Why the Dems have blown it again. Hunter Biden is the side show the GOP want everyone to focus on so that nobody sees what's really going on. Mission accomplished, apparently. While you were looking, Dems missed their chance to crack something wide open. Here it is...
Did you catch the Q by Castor asking whether she had info about POTUS weaponizing Ukraine corruption? Allegation hadn't even been made, but before the hearing he had already made preparations to refute it. 3:26:00-> c-span.org/video/?466135-…
There's practically a mob-like corruption infrastructure in Ukraine. That infrastructure has angered POTUS personally, because he wants in, but they haven't typically been too keen to do business with him. Nonetheless, he still thinks he can profit from that corrupt-tructure.
As it so happens, there's someone else well known worldwide who stands to profit from the preservation of traditional Ukrainian corruption mechanisms--Vlad Putin. Russia's influence network on POTUS managed to convince him that Zelensky's anti-corruption agenda must be stopped.
POTUS has his own language. Like a mob boss, he starts by trying to win people over with "charm". Then, he tries to convince them who is "good" and who is "bad". Then, he lays his tacit threats, and tests your receptiveness.
Go back and review POTUS' calls with Zelensky. He WARNED him that Shokin and Lutsenko were "good" and those who toppled him were "bad". People like Amb. Y, and others waging the anti-corruption battle in Ukraine. He then THREATENED that those people were about to suffer.
Very simply, it was a clear shot across the bow, telling Zelensky that he shouldn't pursue his anti-corruption efforts, and instead should allow that infrastructure stay in place. Asking about the Bidens was part test, part overly firm handshake, but nothing more.
The real danger is being overlooked. It's not Biden and Javelins. It's not even POTUS' hoped for future business deals. Once again, it's RUSSIA. A corrupt Ukraine is a beneficial Ukraine for Vladimir Putin. Russia employs Ukrainian corruption for influence.
But most perhaps more importantly, Putin publicly rails against Ukrainian corruption to justify their hostility against the former SSR, such as the annexation of Crimea. Creating, then denouncing corruption in former USSR states helps fuel Putin's conquest ambitions.
Putin took a gamble with an erratic tool (POTUS) that has mostly paid off, despite drawbacks. Pushing POTUS to protect traditional Ukrainian corruption was an act of Russian influence over US policy, intended to reduce resistance to Putin's efforts to exert influence and control.
That's the real issue not being discussed. Schiff showed his awareness of it at 4:02:00 of the hearing. He tiptoed around it, but then abandoned the subject. With all the attempts these questioners make to drag witnesses into desired answers, why does he back off so easily here?
Why was Schiff doing backflips to spoonfeed Amb Y the answers he wanted her to say on small matters, but folded like a cheap suit just as he approached the holy grail? He's more interested in politics than national security or the integrity of our sovereignty.
GOP will never be convinced to abandon POTUS in meaningful numbers over Biden and Javelins. But if the true depth of Russian influence over US policy, via POTUS, is adequately revealed through this inquiry, public support WILL shift, and GOP support could be forced to shift.
By limiting the scope of the inquiry to Ukraine, Dems ensured it's failure from the beginning. By knowingly evading the real dangers, they have politicized the inquiry. The public must demand that Dems provide real accountability and opposition if we are to salvage our country.
