GOP Blocks Access to Trump/Putin Translator

In this case, I do not believe the interpreter should be subpoenaed and questioned.

Interpreters that work at this level need to have the complete trust of the presidents and prime ministers they work with. I know an interpreter who did this kind of work, and he made me aware that this profession entails complete discretion and the bullet-proof, ironclad trust of the global leaders who use these services. Any erosion of that trust not only damages the profession, but would probably be detrimental to open and frank dialog between leaders.

Now, Trump is a dumbass, so I don't think he said anything profound or historically significant to Putin. But as a matter of principle and for the sake of posterity, this type of professional trust between interpreters and global leaders cannot be breached absent compelling evidence of criminal activity.
 
Cypress said:
In this case, I do not believe the interpreter should be subpoenaed and questioned.

Interpreters that work at this level need to have the complete trust of the presidents and prime ministers they work with. I know an interpreter who did this kind of work, and he made me aware that this profession entails complete discretion and the bullet-proof, ironclad trust of the global leaders who use these services. Any erosion of that trust not only damages the profession, but would probably be detrimental to open and frank dialog between leaders.

Now, Trump is a dumbass, so I don't think he said anything profound or historically significant to Putin. But as a matter of principle and for the sake of posterity, this type of professional trust between interpreters and global leaders cannot be breached absent compelling evidence of criminal activity.
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I can sort of see that, but otoh, shouldn't the President be accountable to Congress?

Plus, how many times before, has a POTUS held such a secret meeting with a foreign leader, especially one to whom he's been alleged to have had shady dealings with?

So maybe a small, bipartisan group of Senators involved in National Security or Foreign Relations, etc., would be appropriate.
 
Lesh said:
It would defeat the point of making secret agreements...which is a bit of a problem...ya think?
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No, because Trump is the head of state, and not you leftist clowns.

Can we also get Putin's maid, butler, chef, chauffeur, barber, tailor, and plumber on the record?
 
Cypress said:
In this case, I do not believe the interpreter should be subpoenaed and questioned.

Interpreters that work at this level need to have the complete trust of the presidents and prime ministers they work with. I know an interpreter who did this kind of work, and he made me aware that this profession entails complete discretion and the bullet-proof, ironclad trust of the global leaders who use these services. Any erosion of that trust not only damages the profession, but would probably be detrimental to open and frank dialog between leaders.

Now, Trump is a dumbass, so I don't think he said anything profound or historically significant to Putin. But as a matter of principle and for the sake of posterity, this type of professional trust between interpreters and global leaders cannot be breached absent compelling evidence of criminal activity.
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everytime I give up on you as a hopeless case your common sense shines thru :thumbsup:

https://www.meritalk.com/articles/house-intel-committee-witnesses-target-chinese-cyber-ip-threats/
his opening statement, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member of the committee, made a motion to subpoena the interpreter used during President Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. After a brief Robert’s Rules of Order-style back and forth with committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the hearing was put into recess and Schiff’s motion was voted down.

After the hearing returned to its original topic, both legislators and witnesses dug into the threats China poses to the United States and how the Federal government can combat those threats and
protect U.S. interests.
 
tsuke said:
probably because that would defeat the point of a closed door meeting.
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Why is Trump having a private, closed door meeting with the leader of a foreign country that is our arch nemesis to begin with?

Congress has a right to know what was discussed there.

It's time for Congressional leaders to start having private, closed door meetings about what they can do about Trump.
 
Nomad said:
Why is Trump having a private, closed door meeting with the leader of a foreign country that is our arch nemesis to begin with?

Congress has a right to know what was discussed there.
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no they do not. Congress is not head of state.
Closed door meeting are routine by heads of state
 
Nomad said:
I can sort of see that, but otoh, shouldn't the President be accountable to Congress?

Plus, how many times before, has a POTUS held such a secret meeting with a foreign leader, especially one to whom he's been alleged to have had shady dealings with?

So maybe a small, bipartisan group of Senators involved in National Security or Foreign Relations, etc., would be appropriate.
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It is a fair opinion.

But in principle I still think that Presidents, Prime Ministers, and world leaders need the latitude to meet privately one on one. It is how relationships and trust are built. By tradition, the interpreter is sworn to secrecy and practices absolute discretion. My buddy was in rooms with Prime Ministers Soviet premiers, and Russian presidents during private meetings, and he never told anyone, not me, not his wife, what was said. That is the kind of discretion that global leaders need to have from their interpreters.


Trump obviously is deferential to Putin, and I don't know what his bizarre submission to the Russian autocrat is all about. I guess we will find out someday. But if Trump discussed anything privately that results in a policy decision, other people are going to know about it, and it will become public knowledge over time.
 
anatta said:
no they do not. Congress is not head of state.
Closed door meeting are routine by heads of state
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They are not routine between POTUS and the leaders of enemy nations.

Name one private, closed door meeting between another President and a Russian or Soviet leader.
 
Nomad said:
They are not routine with the leaders of enemy nations.

Name one private, closed door meeting between another President and a Russian or Soviet leader.
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What Goes on Behind Closed Summit Doors?
The media frenzy leading up to Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington yesterday painted the stakes as being high—extremely high in some cases. Yet the headlines since the summit have focused primarily on technical malfunctions rather than the political implications of the meeting between the world's two most powerful leaders. What really went on behind closed doors? Could things have taken a disastrous turn? How much room was there for actual negotiation?
https://bigthink.com/think-tank/what-goes-on-behind-closed-summit-doors

Honestly I've never thought about ti. I think Gorbachev /Reagan was too.

But the idea is to let the leaders talk without fear of leaks/politics
 
Nomad said:
Why is Trump having a private, closed door meeting with the leader of a foreign country that is our arch nemesis to begin with?

Congress has a right to know what was discussed there.

It's time for Congressional leaders to start having private, closed door meetings about what they can do about Trump.
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russia is not our arch nemesis. China is.
 
tsuke said:
russia is not our arch nemesis. China is.
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If that's true, then Russia runs a close second.

But really, the two are different types of nemeses. China is more of an economic adversary while Russia is more of a political adversary.

Can't really compare them on a one to one basis.
 
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