Thread by @msbellows

People have been startled that Ambassador Volker worked for Trump as Ukraine envoy FOR FREE. Is that an act of generosity?

If only. As with software, if you're getting something for free, YOUR THE PRODUCT. Your "free" (app, lawyer, ambassador) is selling YOU to third parties.
1/

Volker worked for Trump for free -- but "at the same time Volker was pushing Trump to arm Ukraine, he also held positions... that... had financial ties to Raytheon Co., which manufactures the Javelin system and earned millions from Trump's decision." politico.com/story/2019/09/…
2/

Giuliani worked for Trump for free – so he could use that access to cut his own deals: fortune.com/2019/11/15/rud…
3/

Stone and Manafort worked for Trump for free, because THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS MODEL. Years ago, campaign consultancy partners Stone & Manafort realized that once they helped elect a candidate, they then had influence w/ that pol which they could peddle as lobbyists for REAL $.
4/

Here's the beautiful thing about a crook like Trump also being a cheapskate: to mercenaries like Volker/Giuliani/Stone/Manafort, loyalty is, at best, a marketing asset. They'll be loyal up until they're about to go under the bus themselves. Then? "Loyalty bankruptcy™."
5/

If the guys who work "for free" aren't really loyal, I wonder what we should expect tomorrow from Sondland, a guy who didn't just work for free, but actually PAID TRUMP for the privilege, like an unpaid intern putting his summer's DC living expenses on Daddy's credit card?
6/

Today, Volker/Morrison rolled on Trump, but they at least tried to smooth the rougher edges, because they're pros who want to work in this town again.

Somehow I doubt Sondland, who paid a million bucks to face jail time for perjury, will have the same professionalism.
7/7

*YOU'RE*. Aaaaargh.