Quote:Obama didn't ask for anything in return from Russia
He most certainly did. He pretty much asked them to 'be quiet during my campaign'. If he did not have that self-interest action at heart, then his statement that he can be much more flexible after it is doing nothing but giving up a vast swath for literally nothing.
He asked an absolute resolute foe of the United States to pipe down, to be nice, to play nice; because otherwise US voters would note that Romney was correct. Which he was, mind you. The payback was expressly mentioned in that same conversation --- a better field for Russia in ongoing talks.
Obama was overheard asking for time — “particularly with missile defense” — until he is in a better position politically to resolve such issues.
“I understand your message about space,” replied Medvedev, who would hand over the presidency to Putin in May.
I mean, the utter self-interest in those comments from Obama is absolutely there. And there is the spectre of a quid pro quo in light of that political self-interest. Help me win the election is what Obama sold to the Russians, because AFTER the elections he could give the Russians a deal worth a packet more that he could before. Seems absolutely obvious in the self-dealing and in the trading of an official action to help him politically.
I would denote giving an erstwhile opponent a better position 'particularly with respect to missile defense [talks]' in return for 'shutting the f up until after the elections' is absolutely on par with the types of actions you denote above.
And that is why I agree with the Dershowitz viewpoint --- to make the Trump actions impeachable almost by definition make those actions by Obama impeachable. This is entirely the result of the theory espoused by the House Impeachment. You may not like it, but it is absolutely there.
