Navigating the Ukraine whistleblower scandal

Cenk Uygur demolishes Trump's blame-Biden-instead defense against revelations that Trump was pressuring Ukraine to come up with corruption charges against Joe Biden, or at least his son Hunter. Cenk also notes that there is no evidence that Biden has done anything illegal. There apparently is evidence that Trump in the communications that were the subject of the whistleblower's report did something illegal and impeachable.

No, that's not right. Trump has openly admitted to the act, as this report indicates.

Here is The Young Turks' report, Trump ADMITS Ukraine Cover-Up 04/24/2019:

But it is also the case, as their report notes, that there are legitimate questions about the business dealings of Joe Biden's family, even though based on what's in the public record at this time there is no indication of Joe Biden breaking the law in connection with them. If that sounds like damning with faint praise, it's because there is a great deal of de facto corruption (corruption in practice), that is not de jure corruption, i.e., it's legal.

It's important not to conflate the two. For the rule of law to function properly, violations of the law have to be carefully distinguished from practices that are desirable or unethical but legal. Carelessly conflating the two can easily function as an excuse that people make for illegal conduct by their own partisans, which is how Trump's partisans are attempting at the moment to use the vague insinuation against Biden.

But we can walk and talk at the same time without confusing talking with walking. There is a great deal of institutional corruption that is actually legal, i.e., technically legitimate in the eyes of the law. It's a characteristic of today's neoliberal order. (Which, by the way, does not mean that the Mont Pelerin Society created it!)

Here are a couple of pre-September 2019 pieces on the topic as it relates to the Biden family, particularly Joe's brother James and Joe's son Hunter:

• Lloyd Green, Where There’s Trouble, You’ll Usually Find Joe Biden Daily Beast 10/21/2014
• Ben Schreckinger, Biden Inc. Politico Magazine 08/02/2019

Jeet Heer in Trump’s Biggest Scandal Might Tear the Democrats Apart The Nation 09/23/2019 looks at how the continuing revelations of crimes, scandals, and impeachable offenses is having the seemingly strange effect of dividing the Democrats:

The key to understanding this topsy-turvy situation is to realize that the Democrats don’t really have a leader who can rally them under a unified banner. Until the presidential standard-bearer is picked, the de facto head of the party is Nancy Pelosi. But on the crucial issue of impeachment, Pelosi has decided to forgo leadership by limiting herself with an arbitrary rule: she won’t proceed with impeachment unless she knows she has substantial Republican support. The logic here is that without Republican cover, impeachment will look like a partisan exercise and hurt Democrats with swing voters. But by enforcing this rule, Pelosi has handed over decision-making to the Republicans, causing the Democrats to fracture.

The Republican Party is an authoritarian, oligarchical party. The Democrats are a party with a strong corporate wing and an actually democratic-minded base with whom the corporate Dems are constantly upset. So, yes, divisions are more visible within the Democratic Party in this situation. To recall The One True Thing David Frum Ever Said: "while Republican politicians fear their base, Democratic pols hate theirs"; (Gibbs on the Left FrumForum 08/10/2010)