Thread by @DavMicRot

@truescotsman7 Sorry, should have said right-wing and/or Russian trolls ... You guys are so good at catching technical details, thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Quick rehash: I tweeted earlier today about the 52 of 53 Republicans who voted in February of 2020 that blackmailing Ukraine (withholding appropriated military materiel in exchange for anti-Biden propaganda) was not abusing power (i.e., all good) were useless hypocrites today.

Here is the roll-call senate.gov/legislative/LI…. Now apparently some folks are concerned because this vote did not actually stop the aid (which I did not say it did), just affirmed these 52 Republican senators are cool with the blackmail.

Of course, it was not just blackmail: Trump & Republicans, caught in the blackmail, attacked Zelensky as "corrupt" (a lie) and questioned whether Ukraine was really a sovereign democracy. Even if Ukraine eventually got the aid, this blackmail & the Republicans support of it hurt.

And, I have to admit: @SenatorCollins was "concerned" about the blackmail, but her vote that it was not an abuse of power speak magnitudes more than her "concern" which we all know is worthless.

While I appreciate Russian and/or right-wing trolls holding me accountable for technical details of my tweet thread, swarming my account does not make you right or me wrong, just shows how incredibly nervous you are about US talking about 6 years of Republicans comfort to Putin.

Blackmail & disparagement of Ukraine & Zelensky that lead to Trump's 1st impeachment, is just one stop on the 6 years of Republican support of Putin & attacks on Ukraine that should make anyone suspicious about their newly sparked appreciation for Zelensky, Ukraine, and democracy

2016: Russia cyber-attacks US to help elect Trump; Republicans gut anti-Russian policy from platform; ("free" campaign manager) Manfort floats policies to break-up Ukraine
2017: Republicans obstruct investigation into ongoing Russian cyber-attack on US

2018: Trump prostrates himself to Putin in Helsinki, declaring his trust of Russia over US
2019: Trump withholds military aid to Ukraine, trying to blackmail them into creating anti-Biden propaganda, Republican back Trump's blackmail attempt (i.e., 1st impeachment)

Throughout Trump Presidency: Trump undermines NATO military alliance (even promising to pull US out of NATO if he had 2nd term)

2021: Trump attempts coup against US
2022: Trump praises Putin's invasion of Ukraine calling Putin "genius" & "savvy". Even calling Putin smart *today* (while trashing western democratic leaders) 3 days after Putin invaded Ukraine

2020 (sorry, adding out-of-order): Trump pulls out of Open Skies treaty, which (as Vox notes here in 2019) really hurt Ukraine, making them vulnerable to disinformation and blind to Russian troop movement vox.com/2019/10/9/2090…

I have to admit it never occurred to me as I was writing up this thread how little people have thought about fact the 1st impeachment (the crime, cover-up, and acquittal) was, at every step, a vicious attack by (then) President Trump & Republicans on Ukraine & President Zelensky.