May 19, 2017

"Lieberman emerges as front-runner for FBI post."

Why???

Politico reports:
A person familiar with Wednesday’s meeting said Trump bonded with Lieberman, and the president left leaning towards the former Connecticut senator, who retired in 2013...
Bonded with him, eh? What are his qualifications? This strikes me as an insane choice.
The pick would be an unorthodox one – the FBI is not usually run by politicians. Additionally, Lieberman is 75 years old, and FBI directors are typically appointed to serve 10-year terms.

Lieberman ran alongside Democrat Al Gore in 2000. He now works as special counsel at the same law firm with Marc Kasowitz, Trump's longtime lawyer in New York, which could be an issue for Democrats, a senior Democratic aide said.

Trump often talks to Kasowitz, who’s also represented Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News anchor, and other prominent New Yorkers.
That doesn't sound right.

142 comments:

Humperdink said...

Great, a geriatric basset hound for FBI directer.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

It sounds insane. I can't imagine that he could get Senate confirmation. So, that makes me think there is some kind of strategy behind floating his name. Perhaps to make someone else look more palatable?

dreams said...

Well, if Trump and the Republicans think it will help in their relations with the Dems and bring about a little more calmness , they will just get fooled once again.

Freder Frederson said...

That doesn't sound right.

What exactly has Trump done that does sound right? I guess you can give him Gorsuch, but he really didn't pick Gorsuch, the Heritage Foundation just handed him a list of judges to pick from.

David Begley said...

It might be Trump's idea is to smoke out the Dems who will oppose him under any circumstance. Or maybe he wants to avoid a major battle. Either notion seems to be a small benefit to Trump.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

This is a big mistake.

BarrySanders20 said...

"The pick would be an unorthodox one.."

Good one about Leiberman, Politico.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

No, please God, no. We don't need a politician. We need a law enforcement professional, preferably one who served in the Bureau.

Kevin said...

Bonded with him, eh? What are his qualifications?

Qualifications are sorted out a level or two below the President. The President selects from the vetted candidates, usually the person he connects with in the meetings.

We're not used to this because during the Obama Administration, Barack did all the vetting and background checks himself because he could always do them better than anyone else.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Appts as FBI director are for ten years per the statutes and Joe Loserman is already 75 years old. This is a stupid choice plus he is entrenched part of the Swamp so he would never re-open the Hillary email case.

Mark O said...

I nominate the man who shot Liberty Valance.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

Wait a minute, its from Politico who "reports" what a "person familiar with the meeting" said about it. Considering how the MSM has been acting since Trump won, I wouldn't even rely on a report that that the meeting happened at all.

Never forget, reporters are rich kids who couldn't get into law school.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

And get upset when they find out that Waffle House managers have better pay and benefits than they do.

Once written, twice... said...

And this surprises you why Ann?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Trump has "I need to be liked" disease.

This is why I like Cruz. Everyone hates him and he doesn't care.

LYNNDH said...

A Contrarian I am. I think Joe would be a good choice. I believe that he is honest and honorable. He did go off the rails a bit when he was Veep choice, but then the Veep is suppose to support the nominee. I also think he has a bit of respect from many in DC. I think that it would be more of an interim appointment, to get over the current hysteria that is currently everywhere.

Once written, twice... said...

Ann, you calling Trump's likely choice for FBI Director insane, is that not treason by your definition?

Michael said...

This is a stupid choice that has not yet been made, no?

tcrosse said...

Last I looked, the Liberals hated Lieberman.

MadisonMan said...

A person familiar with Wednesday’s meeting said

As noted above. What does this even mean?

Paddy O said...

Suppose the FBI is going to investigate the Clintons and their machine more thoroughly.

It would be very, very politically charged.

To cover the political side it would help to have a Democrat in charge.

But, the Clinton machine will ruin the career of any Democrat in charge at such a time.

So, you'd need a post-career Democrat with a strong reputation on both sides who is not vulnerable to the Clintons, and is not vulnerable to being swept up in any investigation (the Clinton machine has their hands everywhere).

Who to pick?

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Well, remember, this comes from Politico.

Once written, twice... said...

Lieberman is a well known weasel.

Limited blogger said...

Art of the Deal, folks.

Once written, twice... said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Good point, Paddy O @ 9:54.

A special prosecutor should be chosen and the criminal case on The Clinton Foundation, Private Server, and lucrative secret Russian Uranium deals re-opened. Enough of the lawlessness.

Xmas said...

Lieberman would be an interesting choice. He's the guy that ran as an independent because his party ran a guy to his left during his state's primary.

Unknown said...

I hope this is just a misdirection/chaff maneuver. Trump needs to get some credible adults into these key roles. Not a string of septuagenarians.

More and more of the country is WAY beyond the Boomer mindset and is wondering when we will just please exit. Don't feed that.

Once written, twice... said...

Obviously, Lieberman pledged his loyalty when Trump asked for it.

eric said...

I've stopped believing the "Sources close to the administration" stupidity.

This one is even worse than most, because it's hedged. It doesn't say he will for sure pick him, just says he is at the top of the list, leaving wiggle room.

We should just agree to boycott any news story with anonymous sources. Or maybe start putting g disclaimers on them.

David said...

The rank in file FBI pos are not going to like this. No law enforcement experience. A fine fellow, but why in the world would he accept the job, other than ego?

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

OT but that "Homo Prospectus" article might be good food for thought.

mccullough said...

I love how the FBI director is supposed to get a 10-year term because it's a "non-partisan" position. But the Attorney General, the head of the DOJ, can be partisan.

Just nominate someone who thinks the FBI spins its wheels too much on nonsense.

rhhardin said...

Someone who dresses in women's clothing is traditional.

Once written, twice... said...

Lieberman has said many politically provocative things on camera over the years. It will be very easy to torpedo his nomination if he is the Trumpster's choice.

Sprezzatura said...

Regardless of how serious DJT is or is not re Lieberman at the FBI, I think it would have been fun for DJT to pull another Romney, w/ Romney, re the FBI.

I'd say that there are better than 50:50 odds that DJT coulda got Romney to jump through hoops, again.

Dork.

Michael said...

I think it makes sense. Lieberman is an honorable man without further ambition. It would probably be a 5 year gig and there are lots of vigorous 80-year-olds. Democrats should be embarrassed to oppose their own former VP candidate - if they remain capable of embarrassment. At least if they did it would show the world how far to the Left they have swerved in the past 20 years. He would probably disappoint both the "lock her up" and the "impeach Trump" commenters, but that would be a good thing as things look now.

Once written, twice... said...

Lieberman went goofy during his last term as Senator. He is a laughably bad choice for FBI director. Trump would be choosing him only for craven political reasons, not because he has any qualifications for the position.

Anonymous said...

"Sounds insane." Well surprise surprise. Trump needs someone he trusts, to hell with the FBI and America. I thought Trump didn't like politicians.

Once written, twice... said...

Even Trump can't be this dumb.

Chuck said...

Since it's not Harriet Meiers, I'm not gonna call it insane.

But it sure makes me wonder if everybody else turned it down.

McCain liked Lieberman enough that he wanted Lieberman as a running mate. (Which probably could not have made any difference in the year of Nobel Prize Winner Obama.). I wonder what McCain thinks about this? I expect a significant number of bipartisan votes against Lieberman. He's a Democrat Jim Jeffords to some.

Amadeus 48 said...

Trump,baby. Comin' at ya 24/7/365. Let's see what McCain has to say about THIS!

rhhardin said...

Maybe Trump thinks he's not deep state. The known choices are limited.

Bob Boyd said...

Lieberman?
Darn. I was hoping for Ammon Bundy.

Chuck said...

"Centrist" is not the same as "nonpartisan."

I'll bet that the vast majority of us who disagree on most other things, would agree on that.

traditionalguy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
robother said...

Most important Practical Lesson of Watergate: when you go outside the FBI for a director, Mark Felt will get even. Under Lieberman, a thousand Deep Throats will sing in every parking garage in DC.

JohnAnnArbor said...

Could agree to serve for a shorter yet unspecified term.

I like the idea that he might be the only type that could credibly and without fear investigate the Clintons.

traditionalguy said...

The FBI has crafted a reputation as doing things correctly which it uses as an image to hide behind while it easily gets away with incompetence and runs a world class Blackmail and protection racket.

As I recall, the Flight 700 investigation was taken over and rigged by the eminent FBI agents who took their orders from Hillary Clinton.

Trump wants that terribly dangerous place to be run by a man whom he believes to be an honest man Lieberman has a Zionist's courage, that will not sell out the USA to get power and a fortune in bribes.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Althouse said...
This strikes me as an insane choice.


Compared to what? Having his daughter and son-in-law as his most trusted presidential counsel? Tweeting his emotions late at night on a regular basis? Claiming that Obama was not a US citizen? What is the comparator when you use the term insane?

JohnAnnArbor said...

traditionalguy, if you mean TWA 800, that was investigated by many agencies. A fuel tank blew up. No conspiracies.

Humperdink said...

How about the most partisan hack Trump can find? You know the R version of Eric Holder or Chuckyou Scheemer. Would not pass the Senate, but Trump could recess appoint him repeatedly.

Not extra-legal, right Chuck?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Chuck said...
"Centrist" is not the same as "nonpartisan."


As a moderate, I reject this claim. Moderates, such as myself, fly above mere partisan concerns, like Golden Eagles in the Rockies. Gliding on the updraughts of life we rise above the partisan fray that is beneath us.

khesanh0802 said...

May be a bit of mis-direction, but Lieberman is an experienced, principled guy who probably has a lot of political advice for Trump. I think Comey is/was as political as any politician - ( see this ). Lieberman's age counts against him, but he doesn't have to serve a 10 year term; all he has to do is right the ship at the FBI and leave for a younger person. What Trump does not need right now is a big confirmation battle in the Senate. Lieberman would certainly help him avoid that.

Amadeus 48 said...

Lieberman--like a Democratic Jim Jeffords--except he didn't change control of the Senate by flipping parties (he was re-elected as an independent after the Dem Progs tossed him in the primary and he caucused with the Dems) and he doesn't have dementia.

bleh said...

If the idea is to "de-politicize" the FBI, this was a strange choice indeed. Lieberman is a good and honorable man ... but he's been a politician most of his adult life. Does he have any federal investigative experience? Has he ever been a prosecutor? Has he ever led a federal bureaucracy?

Trump is probably thinking, "hey, this guy is a Democrat, that should help." It won't.

rcocean said...

This is an awful choice. First, Joe is a BIG pal of McCain. Second, he has zero Law enforcement experience. Third, he's 70 something years old. Fourth, he's a liberal democrat. Fifth, he's a fucking politician and he loves the spotlight.

if you look at appointments since Hoover they are all people with Judge/FBI/DOJ/District Attorney experience.

Trump needs to appoint a person with FBI experience with is non-political and who doesn't want the limelight.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Lowell Weicker is why.

In Buckley's day he called Weicker the biggest horse's ass in the Senate, said it wasn't even close, and Buckley wanted his ass out.

So he successfully endorsed Joe, just as Trump is doing now, knowing Joe knows about horses and their respective asses, in the Senate yes yes of course, but throughout D.C. too, don't you know?

Well, iffin' ya didn't ya shore do now. I am the only one to tell you: if you don't gamble your life's fortune on my words, you will forever regret it and indeed hate yourself for being such a miserable coward.

Bet it all on Leiberman, and for God's sake do it NOW!

Amadeus 48 said...

"Golden Eagle" ARM--you have embraced Inga's rhetoric. Please reconsider.

khesanh0802 said...

@Paddy O 0945 Nice piece of analysis.

Humperdink said...

ARM, if you're a moderate, I'm the Pope.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

I think he should go with Tommy Lee Jones:

"Alright, listen up, ladies and gentlemen, our fugitive has been on the run for ninety minutes. Average foot speed over uneven ground barring injuries is 4 miles-per-hour. That gives us a radius of six miles. What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area. Checkpoints go up at fifteen miles. Your fugitive's name is President Donald Trump. Go get him!"

khesanh0802 said...

Once, written is so negative on this that it makes me think Trump might be barking up the right tree.

JohnAnnArbor said...

khesanh0802, best to ignore him. He's our resident racist prick.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Everyone likes to believe they are moderate. However, if you continually feel the need to describe yourself that way, you probably aren't.

Matt Sablan said...

I'm sure this time the news is right about Trump.

Rae said...

"A person" said so. That's necessary info. Need to know, in fact. A person, not an inanimate object, or figment of the imagination.

David Baker said...

Lieberman can only mean one thing; the #2 will be running things.

Purpleslog said...

I suspect his name was made known to only one insider to see if the name would pop up in the press. Methinks a leaker has been discovered.

JohnAnnArbor said...

I'm sure this time the news is right about Trump.

I know, right? It would be fun to compile a list of similar stories and see how many were right versus wrong.

Humperdink said...

@rcocean. Being buddies with McCain would be reason to send Lieberman back to retirement.

JohnAnnArbor said...

I suspect his name was made known to only one insider to see if the name would pop up in the press. Methinks a leaker has been discovered.

That's possible, too. Basic counterintelligence.

Clayton Hennesey said...

Why is everyone assuming that Lieberman would necessarily serve 10 years or that Trump is legally restricted to appointing only one FBI director during his presidency? As we have just seen, the 10-year term is a term limitation, not a guaranteed appointment.

The subtitle corollary to Paddy O's excellent analysis is "for an interim Director".

Lieberman could easily serve 1 - 3 years to oil the current waters, then step down "to spend more time with his family" at which time Trump appoints a more appropriate 10-year Director.

Amadeus 48 said...

William "Zero Tolerance" Bratton for FBI director--you have been asking for it, and now you are going to get it.

Chuck said...

AReasonableMan said...
Althouse said...
"This strikes me as an insane choice. "

Compared to what? Having his daughter and son-in-law as his most trusted presidential counsel? Tweeting his emotions late at night on a regular basis? Claiming that Obama was not a US citizen? What is the comparator when you use the term insane?


Lol!

That's a post that could have gone on, for 25,000 more words.

Well played, sir.

Mark Caplan said...

Trump tapped the same Kasowitz et al law firm for his ambassador to Israel. David M. Friedman had been a Kasowitz partner.

khesanh0802 said...

I am surprised by those who keep harping on "investigative experience" Head of the FBI is a management job. What you really need to know is how to select, encourage and evaluate those who do the work. I am not anywhere as near enamored of the FBI as "some". I think they are a group of humans trying to do their jobs and that there is a bell curve of competence within the organization. The FBI, CIA, NSA, and Homeland Security could use some serious oversight and house cleaning. Is Lieberman the right guy to do it at the FBI? If Trump trusts him that counts for a lot.
This disqualifies McCabe.

Rae said...

Somebody wants Lieberman to run for president.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Chuck teams up with his natural allies - Leftists.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Maybe the deal was, you get Mueller, I get Lieberman.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The word "Moderate" is a qualifier.
Moderately what?

Moderately progressive leftwing socialist.

Matt Sablan said...

Sidenote: I think Lieberman would be a disastrous choice. Trump thinks getting someone to the left will earn him good will from the left.

It won't. The left was always ready to break out their hatred for Lieberman, even back when there were whispers McCain might pick him. The left has no loyalty for the guy, and would love to just be rid of him.

Matt Sablan said...

The real question: Does Lieberman have suits of the right color to blend in with the curtains? (Different parts of me hope that story is true AND not true.)

JOB said...

Humperdink:

Was this what you were thinking of?

heh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAuesvr9CCU

traditionalguy said...

@JohnAnnArbor...Yes, that was TWA 800. The Investigation was shut down by the FBI. The best material available that is "TWA 800" by Jack Cashill (2016), on Audible et al..

The explosion was theoretically by an empty fuel tank. That is the last theory the FBI came up with to close the investigation. But their "honest" investigation was the big conspiracy, and that is not a theory. Cashill uses a rigorous historian's approach exposing the suppressed witnesses statements and the covered up laboratory tests.

JohnAnnArbor said...

NTSB does those investigations, not the FBI (they just hang out and supervise if need be). The plane sat on the runway running its air conditioners for hours, with all the heat from that going into a nearly-empty fuel tank full of fumes. It was an older 747 (one of the first) and a frayed wire from a fuel probe sit it off.

The witness statements about fire going up make perfect sense, too, since the plane's nose was severed by the explosion. Sudden loss of weight and change of CG means the rest of the plane will climb suddenly, while on fire from the explosion.

FullMoon said...

Give 'em something to talk about, float rumor Schumer is being considered.

chickelit said...

More unnamed sources?

clint said...

Politico says that an anonymous source says...

Right....

But even if we believe Lieberman's name is being floated... isn't that the Trump Administration style we've come to expect? Lots of oddball names being floated before he comes up with his real choice?

320Busdriver said...

Draining the swamp eh?

CStanley said...

It's such a hamfisted choice that I can't decide if this is just typical Trump or if it's the game they all play where they float one name to get everyone distracted while they're preparing to announce the real nominee.

CStanley said...

OT but I hope Althouse blogs about Comey hiding in the curtains at the WH event.

traditionalguy said...

JohnAnnArbor...OK. you buy the "science" that this one time an empty fuel tank blew the 747 in half when millions of other 747s never experienced that problem. That theory is all that closed this investigation.

An open mind is a precious thing to waste.

Now I am going to have to re listen to the evidence that Cashill collected.

JohnAnnArbor said...

Give 'em something to talk about, float rumor Schumer is being considered.

The humor value alone...

JohnAnnArbor said...

I read "Aviation Week," dude. They go over this stuff IN DEPTH, to the last detail. And reference sources. 747-100s had that design; later ones did not. Sometimes weird circumstances all converge to make one event happen.

It's possible to have a mind so open your brain falls out.

320Busdriver said...

I feel better that the airliner I fly has a fuel tank inerting system installed. We spend a lot of time aloft with an empty center tank.

Fernandinande said...

clint said...
Politico says that an anonymous source says...


Here's what remains:

"When asked whether Lieberman was among the finalists, Trump replied yes."

And perhaps:
"Trump often talks to prominent New Yorkers."

MadisonMan said...

When asked whether Lieberman was among the finalists, Trump replied yes.

The finalists were all walking down the hall, and had to walk past Lieberman.

Humperdink said...

JOB said: Humperdink:

Was this what you were thinking of?

Bingo! The perfect depiction of Lieberman.

Yancey Ward said...

Well, this is Politico, and with unnamed sources. My first pass instinct is this is another fake news alert.

Now, would Lieberman be a good choice? I doubt it. There are better choices that can be confirmed in the Senate even if Democrats vote as a bloc to stop. Trump really should pick a solid Republican for the office. This shit that keeps getting spread around about how the FBI should be directed by a non-partisan is just that, shit, and it is always spread around by the party opposed to the White House occupant.

Yancey Ward said...

Bruce Hayden had a really good comment in one of the threads below where he theorized that Bharrara is one of the big leakers in regards to Comey and the Russian investigation, and I think he is absolutely correct about that, and I think Comey knew it all along.

Lucien said...

I suspect purpleslog is right and a leaker has just been identified.

traditionalguy said...

FTR: TWA 800 is the only conspiracy theory that I believe in. And that is because an evidence suppression conspiracy was so well documented by Cashill.

Lawyers like evidence to prove the theories being presented to them.
And the one in a million chance that an empty fuel tank exploded is beyond incredible. And that theory is not evidence no matter how many Authorities say so.

But the volume of existing evidence that the Feds ran a systematic suppression of all evidence which proves a missile hit the 747 is compelling evidence in itself.

Or maybe Pierre Salinger was actually insane and not a genius, and that one 747 fuel tank was accidentally a bomb.

grackle said...

Here’s the real problem they have with Lieberman:

He is WAY too fair-minded and scrupulous. There’s even a good chance that he would conduct a nonpartisan, impartial investigation. You never go full impartial.

Interested Bystander said...

Insane is right. Why not appoint Pelosi or Schumer? How about my lawn guy? He has about the same experience with law enforcement and investigations. Nuts.

320Busdriver said...

There were 2 other center tank explosions in 737's, one in 1990 and one in 2001.

JPS said...

traditionalguy:

About one-in-a-million odds - over enough flights, over enough years, some pretty freaky accidents with prohibitive-looking odds against are going to happen.

United 232: How many DC-10s, over how many years, never had a tail engine failure take out the junction of all those hydraulic lines? It didn't happen for so long, over so many chances, you'd have sworn it wouldn't. Until it did.

Air France Flight 447: Two copilots, one very experienced, one not so much; one command pilot with a hell of a lot of experience taking a nap, but he wakes up and comes back to the cockpit. If you tried to tell me that three qualified pilots in a world-class airline could put their airliner into a takeoff stall at 37,000 feet and continue to fly it in a full stall all the way down to the ocean, I would have said, No. It's not impossible but practically, someone would recognize it sometime in the course of the twelve minutes they had to correct the mistake. Yet it happened.

traditionalguy said...

The TWA 800 incident is relevant to who is put in control over the FBI because it shows clearly that our culture has let the media and the President make "an FBI Investigation" into a shibboleth for truthfulness.

But an FBI Investigation is used as Cover Up Method #1 in all happenings that may have a political angle.

It really means all persons must immediately stand down and shut up forever or face imprisonment on false charges.

So I favor Lieberman.

gspencer said...

Joe Lieberman for FBI chief?

He looks like he should be in contention for the Crypt Keeper's job.

Mike Sylwester said...

AReasonableMan at 10:23 AM

Claiming that Obama was not a US citizen?

A natural-born citizen.

eric said...

Blogger Mike Sylwester said...
AReasonableMan at 10:23 AM

Claiming that Obama was not a US citizen?

A natural-born citizen.


There is more evidence Obama isn't a citizen than there is Trump colluded with the Russians.

And yet, only one is considered a conspiracy theory.

Ken B said...

I won't believe it until an anonymous source tells the NYT.

Original Mike said...

"How about my lawn guy? He has about the same experience with law enforcement and investigations."

Lieberman was the Connecticut AG for six years. Your lawn guy? Don't know his credentials.

Anonymous said...

AReasonableMan at 10:23 AM

"Claiming that Obama was not a US citizen?

A natural-born citizen."

eric said...
"There is more evidence Obama isn't a citizen than there is Trump colluded with the Russians.

And yet, only one is considered a conspiracy theory."
-------------

Oh boy, lol.

Original Mike said...

Hey Inga! For the good of the country, who should we install as President after Trump is impeached?

Qwinn said...

It's actually true. The indisputable fact that tge jacket of Obama's first book identified him as Kenyan born amounts to a hundred times more evidence re birthetism than anything that's been dragged out re: Trump and Russia. Add in the Connecticut provenance of his SSN and, yeah, birthetism has *overwhelmingly* more evidence than the Russia crap. And I'm not a birther.

Anonymous said...

"Hey Inga! For the good of the country, who should we install as President after Trump is impeached?"


Who the hell knows? Pence, Ryan, Orrin Hatch? All three seem to be sane, that's something.

Anonymous said...

"And I'm not a birther."

LOL.

Original Mike said...

"Who the hell knows? Pence, Ryan, Orrin Hatch? All three seem to be sane, that's something."

But you were schooling us last night that Pence and Ryan are in on the Russian conspiracy.

rhhardin said...

Rush ad-libs about ten erroneous technical facts about the ransomware attack in his Lifelock ad at the end of his show, in his mansplaining mode.

So that's (1) economics (2) morality and (3) computer tech that Rush is clueless about.

Earnest Prole said...

TWA 800 is the only conspiracy theory that I believe in.

I find conspiracy theories laughable. That said, if you read the eyewitness TWA 800 testimony there are dozens of statements, some with detailed drawings, describing an object trailing smoke rising from low on the horizon to high in the sky where it met the plane and exploded. I don't know what that means, but the sheer number of these statements and their consistency are remarkable.

Anonymous said...

"But you were schooling us last night that Pence and Ryan are in on the Russian conspiracy."

Well if they are (Will more audio tapes come to light? Will It be discovered that Pence knew about Flynn's lobbying for Turkey, or Trump colluding with Russia?) they too won't be President. So that leaves Orrin Hatch. He's old but seems sane.

Original Mike said...

How do we know there aren't Hatch Tapes out there? I sure hope Mueller looks into this.

Matt Sablan said...

"(Will more audio tapes come to light? Will It be discovered that Pence knew about Flynn's lobbying for Turkey, or Trump colluding with Russia?)"

-- Will it matter? We have an audio tape of the last president promising to be flexible to Russia after the elections, and no one was indicted. We know that Obama knew about Hillary Clinton's illegal server (despite Clinton staff members swearing under oath he did not, and him telling the American people he did not), and nothing happened to him.

ga6 said...

Some people ask why. I ask why not: another lying politician with a corrupt family

Matt Sablan said...

"So that leaves Orrin Hatch. He's old but seems sane."

-- And as with every Republican, will promptly become a grandma killing warmonger the moment he's not a useful club to use against the current grandma killing warmongers.

Qwinn said...

I have zero doubt that Inga was one of those laughing loudest when Obama said to Romney, "The 80s called, they want their foreign policy back."

Of course, in the 80s, Russians could do no wrong - and the Soviet Union represented the inevitable future of all mankind, so better shut Reagan up before he gets us all killed!

The most amazing thing about liberals isn't how they rewrite their own history every morning. It's that they have the gall to insist that we play along and pretend not to notice. Sorry. Ain't ever gonna happen.

readering said...

He'd be confirmed under the new Senate regime for confirmations but at 75 when we're supposedly at war on terrorism and in a war on drugs, and with no experience in law enforcement or prosecution (Connecticut AG pre 9/11 doesn't count)?

Humperdink said...

rhhardin babbled: "So that's (1) economics (2) morality and (3) computer tech that Rush is clueless about."

Not sure about number's 2 and 3, but I guarantee you Rush knows more economics in his left pinkie than you do.

Chuck said...

Qwinn said...
It's actually true. The indisputable fact that tge jacket of Obama's first book identified him as Kenyan born amounts to a hundred times more evidence...


Now, see, I am going to pick on you. Because I hate this shit. I don't know what crackpot website gave you the info that "the book jacket of Obama's first book identified him as a Kenyan," but it is untrue. That information was never on a book jacket or anything else that Obama authored or published.

There was one infamously-corrected pamphlet put out by a publisher as Obama was graduating from law school, which wrongly stated that Barack Obama "was born in Kenya, and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii." Why anyone would think that that information would trump the actual detail of his being born in Hawaii, with a Hawaiian birth certificate and contemporaneous birth announcements in two Hawaii newspapers, and a childhood spent in Hawaii, and attendance at the Punahou School, etc., etc. is beyond me.

I have to say that I feel real hatred toward Birthers and even anyone who is particularly tolerant of Birtherism. You people are too stupid to live.

I know you or some other Obama Derangement Syndrome nutjob will come back with some terribly clever details that I will of course need to re-consider. I hope you will all save it for somebody who cares.

I just wanted to post here particularly because you deigned to write, "the indisputable fact that..." When it is not indisputably true. It is indisputably wrong.

chickelit said...

@Chuck: The Kenyan blurb on Obama was blogged here at Althouse -- probably before your time. It is a stupid thing to have published. You cannot wish death upon people just because people question why it exists..

So fuck you too Chuck and your phony law practice in which you spend the bulk of your time here and probably bill clients for it. I'm glad that I'm mean to you.

Chuck said...

chickelit:

It wasn't a book jacket. It was a pamphlet that has been explained. Obama didn't write it, or edit it. So it is not an "indisputable fact" that there is any credence to the Birther garbage.

If all this has been blogged here at Althouse before, was it thoroughly and flatly debunked as the laughable rubbish that it is? Did other Republicans chime in and say that they were tired of the Party getting tagged with "Birther" labels? Were the Birthers humiliated as they should be?

Do you want in on the Birther argument? Is that your position? Or are you agreeing with me that it is garbage? There's no in-between. There's no gray area. Obama is a natural-born U.S. citizen, born to an American mother in the United States, or not. And there isn't one goddamned bit of convincing evidence that he is anything else.

Of course it has a bit of currency as an issue, because Trump shamelessly milked this little lie, as only Trump could, until he finally backed down and in the Trumpiest of Trump maneuvers, then blamed Hillary Clinton for creating it.

If I were Obama, the first words out of my mouth upon meeting Trump for the first time would have been, "I remember what you said about the birther stuff. You were a real scumbag, to do that."

HT said...

I don't often agree with Althouse, but here I do. Why?

Maybe it's because he's an old dude, and Trump likes old dudes.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Once written, twice... said...
Obviously, Lieberman pledged his loyalty when Trump asked for it.
5/19/17, 10:01 AM


He was good enough for Al Gore and the Democratic Party in 2000, if memory serves. I suppose Bernie was a whore too and hurt HRC or helped DJT. Though Don and Bern were close in some ways: I would have liked to have that election, wouldn't you?

Although I guess that's all posture too, and Bernie is also a prostitute, just a cheaper one as seen by this little summer camp Cottage on a lake which is absurdly priced and probably unusable half the year. What was it from the play, "but for Wales, Richard?"

And ultimately, weak, to bend the knee, tho he may have been attempting to walk the line between dignity/integrity/beliefs, and his more material interests and obligations. As it is he may pay the price for campaigning too close to the Sun. Isn't there every chance his wife will go to jail?

...Or is there?

All you Liberals are leftists or trolls or never trumper's or whoever aren't satisfied with the way things now to the point that would like to make some kind of a change as opposed to getting through at least the next four years as best we all can, answer me this.

How about you get a billion dollars and ten thousand trained people and you spend that all over a year investigating Trump and everybody you can put pressure on to hurt him. Why don't you go do that and then do not pretend you're doing anything else. You have your Leftist show trials.

Give me a billion dollars and 10000 trained people and spend that all over a year finding out about every last little R. Emmett Tyrrell (but maybe not this Alex Jones or Joe Walsh or whoever sort of more out-there) -class scandal in the Obama Administration and under the service of Hillary Clinton and all of his other underlings. Call it a Rightist show trial. If you were game, we could have another one pointed at rhinos. But that would have to be separately funded and staffed. You could have a fourth committee for dinos but they don't really exist you though. You've pretty much sent you are a conservative Democrats the way of the Dinos.

Maybe Joseph Lieberman is the closest thing left to that. "They" say Comey was the last honest man in Washington? Maybe Lieberman is the last sane man who left Washington. The last Statesman.

And yet he might have motivation to savage at least some Democrats, those who deserve it. I don't know the details of his existence now, but would think him past bribing or threatening? I guess now is when the left comes out and says and he's dirty too, of course, and reads the proof to the New York Times over the phone.

1/2

Bad Lieutenant said...

2/2

Good, foul your own nests. Maybe you can get into it about how he's orthodox Jewish and Jared Kushner is orthodox Jewish and nudge nudge wink wink! Wouldn't that be neat? Maybe Bill Maher could come up with something. Something classy.

Yeah you know what I wonder when the Jews will come into this. That's an interesting thought. Or perhaps I just think that because I'm Jewish. You think I should be paranoid! The thing is maybe I am, but it's not about Trump. It's not him, it's you...

Back on Lieberman, I also think I would trust him to have a rational basis on foreign policy and understand the issues even whether or not you agree with him. He understands things like throw weights and riparian rights.

The scope of those limits is of course the question of whether the left or the right would prefer him. Again, he used to fit in with y'all, back in the Zell Miller days, which were the next to gas after the Scoop Jackson days, and I don't remember which statesman cliche would have been before that.

I would like to think that Fmr. Senator Joseph Lieberman, as I think is so for President Donald Trump, is and will and wants to do his best for himself and Country, possibly even with country first.

(Maybe it would help if you thought of Trump as an outsider artist. Hmm. That would be art, to pick him. Maybe Trump'll write another (stfu Chuck) book, The Art of the Outsider. )

Would you accept the risk to the interests of the democratic party and associated groups? Whatever is done to Donald Trump gets done to your guys.

I mean would you shed a tear if Obama and Hillary and the half of the cabinet of the last administration went to prison or at least got this part or stripped of their pensions or whatever?

Would you say let the chips fall where they may, let them all get whatever they deserve? I must say as far as treason goes, I haven't seen anything worse than Bill Clinton allowing the Chinese to get MIRV technology through Loral/L3 and generally demolishing the ITAR regimes. That's even a bigger deal than Obama giving Iran the bomb, really. Iran will never have 2,000 Warheads.

Or do you think all of them are really innocent of everything they were ever accused of, or of anything that they have never been accused of? Or had really, ultimately good raisons d'Etat, or otherwise should somehow be understood and exculpated if not exonerated?

Or do you think they're all guilty, or some of them are guilty, but will go free as birds, because your lawyers and fixers and moneymen and pols are better than the other lawyers and you will continue to get what you want out of the system which Trump has said so properly is rigged.

And sacrifices must be made, and that you can win that war. Would you put either Hillary or Obama in the can if you could also put Trump in the can? How about both of them for Trump and Pence? When you get Ryan. You can roll Ryan right into the wastebasket. Back to square one. Swamplands. Boot on the human face forever.

That's what you don't understand, all you fux. It's not us. It is you who are the boot on the human face forever. You need to stop.

Bad Lieutenant said...

If I were Obama, the first words out of my mouth upon meeting Trump for the first time would have been, "I remember what you said about the birther stuff. You were a real scumbag, to do that."

In the opposite position, Chuck, I would tell you my reply, but it would make Ann blush.

Bad Lieutenant said...

HT said...
I don't often agree with Althouse, but here I do. Why?

Maybe it's because he's an old dude, and Trump likes old dudes.
5/19/17, 8:07 PM

You don't know how right you are. The young politicians haven't been doing so hot- Clinton, Bush or Obama. I thought that it was significant this was an election of older candidates. Like the gravitas election but different. It's funny that you mock. Go on. More. I like it. I'm not even old. It just confirms me in my belief that you are stupid. (We definitely need to disempower anyone who uses the word dude, outside the context of a ranch or Western of course.)

Or maybe I should cut you some slack because perhaps you have sniffed out the acorn after all and are just putting it in your swinish way.

Bad Lieutenant said...

No actually those billion-dollar task forces are the secondary and so on priorities the first priority is a bigger faster harder task force to shake out this current government and all of the deep state currently in place, which is such a fact it's beyond dispute, that this is so, that we are in the clutches of this dystopic sclerotic bureaucratic system, as ours has gotten to be, somewhere between Brazil and Office Space. That is something that even Robert Cook and I can agree upon. There's your bipartisanship.

Bad Lieutenant said...

As for Lieberman's age vs ability to do the job, he can be like Shane, yeah kiddies, "who's Shane, dude," stay just as long as he feels he's needed and also can stay in the saddle. There's always someone else. And the way it's going Lieberman may not last if they attack him like they do Trump or anyone around Trump. Maybe they'll have people making jokes about him and his daughter and handjobs. Won't that be nice.

mockturtle said...

A red herring, methinks.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Possible, as with Romney being floated for Secretary of State. I would personally like Giuliani or possibly Ray Kelly but there are many fine choices along the trial balloons that have been floated.

mockturtle said...

Trey Gowdy.