Republican Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas was a bit antsy in his pantsy during Wednesday’s public impeachment hearing in D.C.
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Not unlike his fellow Republicans, Ratcliffe sputtered and attempted to present conspiracy theories as if they were well-documented facts, while trying as hard as possible to pretend that Ambassador William Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent aren’t telling the world the absolute truth of what they have been experiencing these past couple of months. During a series of bumbling statements by Rep. Ratcliffe, while he ostensibly questioned Ambassador Taylor, a moment of clarity presented itself.
In Rep. Ratcliffe’s final moments, after arguing for more time, in between Chairman Adam Schiff allowing Ambassador Taylor to respond to one of the many rhetorical questions Ratcliffe had stumbled through, Ratcliffe ended his performance in the saddest, strangest way possible. Taylor was allowed to respond to the gibberish, and perceived tenor of whatever it is the Republicans have been trying to do, saying: “Mr. Ratcliffe I would just like to say that I'm not here to do anything having to do with deciding about impeachment. That is not what either of us are here to do, that is your job.”
Ouch. This is the fundamental problem for the GOP. They aren’t doing their job. At all. Sadly, they think their job is to defend the indefensible, and Ratcliffe’s final, glazed-eye-inducing ramble tells you everything you need to know about how well they are doing in that job.
REP. JOHN RATCLIFFE: Mr. Ambassador, I think everyone knows that House Democrats have made up their minds to impeach one president. But the question that we've just learned is that whether or not they are prepared to impeach because if House Democrats impeach President Trump for a quid pro quo then they have to call President Zelensky a liar. If they impeach him for abusing his power or making threats or demands, they have to call President Zelensky a liar to do it. If they impeach President Trump for blackmail, or extortion, or making threats or demands they have to call President Trump a liar to do it. [BIG PAUSE]
Ummm … yeah. That’s what this impeachment is about. Calling the most famous liar in the entire world … a liar.
REP. RATCLIFFE: I yield back.
Sit down, stay quiet, and watch the adults do their job.