The Republicans made a big mistake insisting that the impeachment hearings go public. Not only did the live testimony diverge very little from the released transcripts; so it only confirmed, drove home and emphasized what was initially written; it proved to be much more convincing when repeated in a live forum.

In addition, questioning by Democratic inquisitors only served to connect the dots and drive home all the salient points. OTOH, the crude Republican attempts to discredit and even diminish the testimony only came across as forced and petty, not to mention downright surly and disrespectful. The wiser Republican questioners picked up on this and deliberately pulled their punches, but the attack dogs they brought in to disrupt the proceedings only succeeded in stepping on their dick big time. The ambassador was much more convincing after she was publicly insulted and dismissed than she had been in transcript form. Any valid points on the GOP side would only be obscured in the public’s eyes by their snarky delivery. Like all trolls, even those here on the Zone, their self-righteousness blinds them to their own inconsistencies, arrogance and cruelty.

And to top it all off, Roger Stone was convicted on all counts. It was a wonderful day in the neighborhood.