June 9, 2017

"No collusion, no obstruction, he's a leaker," said Trump about Comey.

And asked whether he'd testify under oath about his conversations with Comey, Trump said "100%."

So why was he coy about whether there are tapes of the meetings?
"I am not hinting at anything. I will tell you about it over a very short period of time," Trump said, twice declining to elaborate.

He later said reporters were "going to be very disappointed when you hear the answer."
What's the most likely reason Trump didn't just give an instant, straight answer about whether there are tapes of the meetings?





pollcode.com free polls
_________________________

* I got this figure of speech from Comey's testimony (which I discussed here). Comey claimed that he used an intermediary to leak his memo to the press because reporters were "camping at the end of [his] driveway," so for him to just hand them something "would be like feeding seagulls at the beach."

UPDATE, June 22, 2017: Trump Trump comes out with a 2-part tweets:
With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea...

...whether there are "tapes" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.
And let me front-page the final results on that poll:

282 comments:

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Fen said...

ARM is a delight to watch

1) he doesnt know why people elected Trump

2) but he is an authority on how Trump has disappointed them

It's almost worth electing Trump for another four years, just to watch these morons chase their tails and grasp at straws.

On a related note, now that the super smart Left has been duped once again, look for another "liberals are super smarter" study coming down the pike to reassure them of their super sophisticated enlightened superiority.

I need to come up with a way to make money of these idiots.

Swede said...

I don't understand why lefties are always taken in by the media.

They fall for it every time.

WATCH US AS THE ELECTION NIGHT TOTALS COME IN AND WE CELEBRATE THE FIRST FEMALE PRES......oh.

Sad trombone.

READ ABOUT HOW OUR ANONYMOUS SOURCES TELL US THAT FIRED FBI DIRECTOR COMEY WILL DENY EVER TELLING THE PRES.........oh.

Sad trombone.

You'd think after a while they'd get mad at the media. But they don't.

They keep going back like the abused girlfriend they are, sure that THIS time he really means it.

Sad.

Birkel said...

@ Rene Saunce

If you are looking for Inga she is waayyyyyyy over there with that brand new set of goalposts. Look to the horizon.

Bruce Hayden said...

@Chuck - sure, it is possible that the Senate would convict (or even the House might impeach), but I see it highly, highly unlikely. I would put it mildly ch more likely that the Republicans break 60 Senate seats after the next elections. Dem Senator Jon Tester is already running ads here in MT, a year and a half before the election. That sounds far more like desperation than confidence. And, is part of why I would expect to pick up more Dem votes than losing GOP votes in the Senate. Much of Red/Trump America went to work Thursday, believe that Trump came out just fine, and, as for Comey - he got what he deserved, when he was fired. Maybe more, after hearing that he bent to the will of the Crooked Hillary campaign last year, but pretended to be offended by Trump. And that the guy who was tasked to stop the leaking, not only failed miserably at it, but was caught leaking to the press himself. Definitely part of the problem, and not the solution. Part of the swamp that Trump was sent to DC to drain, and that firing is seen as mere drops in that needed endeavor.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Fen said...
I need to come up with a way to make money of these idiots.


Apparently you are too stupid to do so or you wouldn't be wasting your time here.

Maybe you could get work as a televangelist. I understand they make a fortune.

Birkel said...

I appreciate when posters take time to write long, thoughtful comments that will be promptly ignored by all Leftists and lifelong Republicans. It's endearing.

Brookzene said...

"I appreciate when posters take time to write long, thoughtful comments that will be promptly ignored by all Leftists and lifelong Republicans. It's endearing."

=

"Why can't I just call names?"

Birkel said...

You can. Nobody is stopping you. We are largely ignoring you with a dose of giggling and mockery.

Brookzene said...

"We are largely ignoring you with a dose of giggling and mockery."

You got a mouse in yr pocket?

Birkel said...

@ Brookzene
Serious question:

Do you think you will get even one person who voted for Trump, in the few states that matter, to change their votes based on the rhetoric Leftists have forwarded?

Bay Area Guy said...

One of the commentatariat said it best, and I wish I could re-locate the author and cite him/her for well-deserved proper attribution, but I will paraphrase anyway:

1. You told us Trump would never win the nomination. You were WRONG.

2. You told us Trump would never win the presidency. You were WRONG.

3. You told us Trump 'colluded' with the Russians to rig the election. You were WRONG.

4. You told us Comey's testimony would show evidence of obstruction of justice. You were WRONG.

5. Now, you're telling us Trump will be impeached? Er, with this miserable track record, why should we believe you?

Drago said...

I am perfectly happy for the lefties and their devoted "lifelong republican" allies to continue on the path they are on.

In fact, I would recommend strongly to them to double down.

Now is the time! Now, more than ever!

I especially enjoy "lifelong republican" Chucks "bathrobe in the basement" musings on impeachment as all the democrat/media russian hoax lies collapse all around.

Brookzene said...

Do you think you will get even one person who voted for Trump, in the few states that matter, to change their votes based on the rhetoric Leftists have forwarded?

I'm not going to get anyone to change their mind. That's not my job. My job is to enjoy the argument.

What is changing the minds of Trump voter is not anybody's rhetoric but the reckless way Trump has conducted his Presidency since taking office. Your mind might not change (Nixon it's said had a 22% approval rating on the day he was impeached), but it's evident that some of his supporters are peeling off on a weekly basis. And then if you are a Democrat you have to be looking forward to 2018 with some degree of optimism. Although to be fair Dems have been known to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Birkel said...
Do you think you will get even one person who voted for Trump, in the few states that matter, to change their votes based on the rhetoric Leftists have forwarded?


Why bother when Trump is doing all the necessary work for them?

Drago said...

Brookzene: "What is changing the minds of Trump voter ...."

LOL

Full. Stop.

Let me guess, you've got a number of "anonymous sources" who are telling you it's all going south!

For "realz" this time!

Drago said...

ARM and his pals have retreated to the warm embrace of the polls which have held them is such good stead lo these many months!

I guess we shouldn't expect old dogs to learn new tricks.

Brookzene said...

"as all the democrat/media russian hoax lies collapse all around."

I've heard now Mueller isn't even going to begin his investigation given how all the russian hoax lies collapse all around.

Brookzene said...

"Let me guess, you've got a number of "anonymous sources" who are telling you it's all going south!"

Just reading the polls which continue to go south. That's all. Take 'em or leave 'em, it's up to you.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "Your mind might not change (Nixon it's said had a 22% approval rating on the day he was impeached), but it's evident that some of his supporters are peeling off on a weekly basis."

LOL

Yes, yes, of course. Trump has been descending in the polls, never ascending. According to the left, Trump has hit rock bottom about eleventeen gajillion times and this time ITS FOR REAL. Why, Trump has fallen so far its not possible to recover.

Filed under: Things the Left tells themselves to avoid discomfort as Trump continues to lock down key areas of the industrial midwest in anticipation of 2020.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "I've heard now Mueller isn't even going to begin his investigation given how all the russian hoax lies collapse all around."

Oh yes. Of course.

You've "heard".

Well, that mouse in your pocket must have an amazing inside connection! Well played Mouse Whisperer!

I guess now that Inga is not here to explain What Is Really Happening Behind The Scenes we have you filling in.

Gee, thanks for that.

Drago said...

http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-approval-rating-better-bill-clintons-first-term-621853

Drago said...

I wonder what other secret "goings on" that Brookzene can fill us in on? Any Wall Street meetings regarding investment policy we might get a peek at to give us a leg up on cornering the market?

I mean, with skills like Brookzene's and Inga's we could just about rule the world.

Birkel said...

Here come the opinion polls. Those will be sure to matter in 2020 assuming nothing changes between now and then.

Meanwhile, the 2018 Senate map really favors Republicans. The 2018 House elections are unlikely to generate much movement. And the 2020 Census will probably add districts in more conservative states.

So that plan of not convincing people will work like a charm.

Michael McNeil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Drago said...

Its clear that the dems and their devoted "lifelong republican" allies have decided to go all in, and I mean ALL IN on a "Cuss alot to show real Midwest Common Man Street Cred"/"Vote Us In And We'll Impeach" strategy for 2018.

Well, that and "antifa" fascist riots and lots and lots of vagina hats.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Drago said...
http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-approval-rating-better-bill-clintons-first-term-621853


This would be meaningful if Trump showed even the slightest sign of being capable of learning a few new tricks. He is too old.

Michael McNeil said...

It is true that he has appointed judges. This is a pretty low bar, given that he has no real alternative.

Trump could be doing a hell of a lot worse. Like any number of presidents of the past, he could be appointing nothing but sinecures for his political chums; or he could have appointed one high-quality, high-visibility justice — Gorsuch — and then begun dispensing sinecures as rewards to low-quality political donors.

But no. Jonathan Adler of Case Western University school of law, writing in the libertarian-leaning legal blog The Volokh Conspiracy at the Washington Post, notices that Trump continues to nominate very high quality candidates — from a libertarian point of view — for federal judicial positions.

Drago said...

Michael McNeil: "Trump could be doing a hell of a lot worse"

Indeed.

The lefties and "lifelong republican" allies are simply continuing their "convince ourselves"/"demoralize them" tactics which have done wonders for the democrat party over the last decade.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Drago said...
Michael McNeil: "Trump could be doing a hell of a lot worse"


As I said, a very low bar.

Drago said...

ARM: "This would be meaningful...."

LOL

Your team has lost any shred of credibility in attempting to tell anyone else what is meaningful.

No one is listening to you. Nor should they, assuming for a moment they want to truly gain insight into what is happening and what it "means".

Drago said...

ARM: "As I said, a very low bar."

According to you.

Which means......squat.

Drago said...

BTW ARM, whatever happened to that nice Comey boy?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Drago said...
whatever happened to that nice Comey boy?


I understand he has several upcoming appearances scheduled.

Drago said...

You know what might be interesting? Having Vanity Fair's Kurt Eichenwald interview Comey regarding the sudden, VERY SUDDEN, disappearance of the original memo copies.

I mean, that was "sudden", eh?

Comey says he doesn't have them.

Daniel Richman has gone missing and won't answer questions.

Gee, I wonder why that might be?

Drago said...

ARM: "I understand he has several upcoming appearances scheduled."

That is unfortunate for him. Perhaps it will give him a chance to chat up Loretta Lynch in "the green room" while they both are waiting.

Brookzene said...

"Clinton's numbers soon turned around, and by the end of June, Gallup had him in the mid-40s."

Let's see...it's June 10 now and Trump's numbers are about 37. Do you think they may be climbing? I don't think so either. Now does it matter? Trump is Trump, but he'll bull through regardless of his numbers and probably tell us he's the most popular president we've had. But congress is congress. They worry more, the worrywarts.

I know, I know. It's all fake news. It's all going exactly according to plan. Still...

Drago said...

BTW, if you are wondering why Eichenwald would be such a good choice to interview Comey the answer is that when the interview begins to drag with evasive answers Li'l Kurt could always bring up the interesting subject of Japanese Animated Monster/Octopus Rape porn.

Drago said...

Yes yes Brookzene. Those are our only options: Everything is going perfectly OR Trump is a deadman walking.

Keep kicking that horse.

Brookzene said...

"Those are our only options: Everything is going perfectly"

Noted. Drago is down as one who thinks everything isn't going perfectly.

Well, you should read the Trump commentators ahead of you in this thread.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "Well, you should read the Trump commentators ahead of you in this thread."

I have.

You are mistaken, or an idiot.

Those, apparently, are the only 2 choices.

But again, keep slogging away. You sound as if you are almost 60% of the way to believing your own nonsense so you have more work to do.

Brookzene said...

DRAGO: "Those, apparently, are the only 2 choices."

I'm sure Trump fans in this very thread have expressed the fact that they are perfectly happy with the status of the Trump administration and how it's all going. You must not have read the the thread even though you say you did, you naughty boy!

But apparently you have some reservations. Would love to hear what those are.

Brookzene said...

Has anyone ever heard Drago express any reservations about Trump or the administration? I mean other than his omnipresent retort: "LOL" "LOL" "LOL" "LOL"

Drago said...

Brookzene: "Has anyone ever heard Drago express any reservations about Trump or the administration?"

Highly unlikely.....as views are expressed via the written word.

LOL

Birkel said...

Now that Democrats do not control the Executive or Legislative branches, do not control a majority of governorships or state houses and are watching Trump appoint conservatives to the bench thanks to Harry Reid...

And with a Senate election map that looks ready to add Republican seats...

Opinion polls matter.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "But apparently you have some reservations. Would love to hear what those are"

Hasn't cleared out enough of the obambi holdovers.

That's about it.

I lean on Ryan and McConnell for the legislative status of key items although I am somewhat surprised they have made as much progress as they have.

The Freedom Caucus and the Tuesday Group in the House are pretty set in their ways and its very hard for any President to get either group to bargain sufficiently away from their baseline positions.

In the Senate, the process is the process.

Fen said...

I'm sure Drago has some valid complaints about Trump. I know I do. But we have to clear the field of all your disengenous bullshit before we can start pitching.

Just let us know when you are done voiding your bowells all over left field, thanks.

Brookzene said...

"I lean on Ryan and McConnell for the legislative status of key items although I am somewhat surprised they have made as much progress as they have."

Really? I didn't think they passed anything yet.

But you don't see Trump himself has done anything wrong, or that the status of his administration might be a bit brighter if he had say, restrained some of his impulses? I think that last is fair to say personally.

Brookzene said...

Well I do know the House passed ACHA. Credit there.

Drago said...

What I like most about Trump actions to date has been the rollback of regulations by obambi and prior admins which have already had significant impacts to businesses and their plans for the coming years.

And the judges. The judges offered up have been every conservative/libertarians dream.

I love the foreign policy maneuvering and steps taken in the Middle East, thus far, and the stance vis a vis China is the one many conservatives have been recommending for years.

In many ways, for whatever reason, real belief, a "gut" sense of what is "right", etc., Trump has been performing in an outstanding way in foreign policy.

NATO has needed a complete kick in the ass for 40 years and they finally got one. Having spent a not insignificant amount of time working with some of our NATO allied forces in my previous life I can assure you they need it. They won't like it (who would?), but the coasting on our coattails has to stop.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "Well I do know the House passed ACHA. Credit there."

Yes, they did. But we all know it's crap and was a political passage only and the real deal won't be known until we get to a conference committee where both the House and the Senate deal with it.

Quite frankly, I don't think the majority of republicans even want to deal with this issue. Not really.

Which surprises me not in the least.

Birkel said...

Yeah, Drago, why can't Trump be more reserved like all those other Republicans we steamrolled in general elections or, if they were lucky enough to win, during their respective administrations?

Explain that brain teaser, would ya?

Rusty said...

Show us on the doll, Chuck, where Trump touched you.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "But you don't see Trump himself has done anything wrong, or that the status of his administration might be a bit brighter if he had say, restrained some of his impulses? I think that last is fair to say personally."

Reagan was called, literally, "Hitler".
HW Bush was called, literally, "Hitler". In fact, the left accused the Bushes of actually financing Hitler!
McCain was called, literally, "Hitler".
Romney was called, literally, Theocrat "Hitler".
And now Trump is called, literally, "Hitler".

Dems/left called for Reagan to be impeached.
Dems/left called for HW Bush to be impeached.
Dems/left called for W to be impeached.
Dems/left are calling for Trump to be impeached over a made up Russian collusion Hoax.

So, you know what? I'm going to go out on a limb here and take a wild guess that no, there was literally nothing Trump could have done that would have made any difference.

At all.

Brookzene said...

"What I like most about Trump actions to date..."

We know, we know you love Trump! He's your guy. Sure you'll support his fp and kicking our allies around (while raising up our enemies) - that's what you signed on for. That conservative "gut sense" (what do cons say about libtard "feelies" - glad you're more grow up about that, respect) tells you Trump's outstanding re China, ME and NATO.

The question was if there was anything you DIDN'T like about Trump, anything you hold him accountable for in the admins current situation. But you can pass or play without prejudice, I was just idly curious.

Birkel said...

@ Brookzene
I do not like that Trump has not used his magical powers to cure cancer. Also, I am mad that Trump made Comey leaks documents in violation of his employment contract. Plus, Donald Trump seems to have made Leviathan Deep State very mad and I will give him two demerits for his failure to fire many more of them.

Brookzene said...

"@ Brookzene
I do not like that Trump has not used his magical powers to cure cancer. Also, I am mad that Trump made Comey leaks documents in violation of his employment contract. Plus, Donald Trump seems to have made Leviathan Deep State very mad and I will give him two demerits for his failure to fire many more of them."

Why on earth would you address me with that silly bullshit?

Drago said...

Later Brookzene: "Why on earth would you address me with that silly bullshit?"

Earlier Brookzene: "We know, we know you love Trump! He's your guy. Sure you'll support his fp and kicking our allies around (while raising up our enemies) - that's what you signed on for. That conservative "gut sense" (what do cons say about libtard "feelies" - glad you're more grow up about that, respect) tells you Trump's outstanding re China, ME and NATO."

LOL

Birkel said...

It is mockery. Your silly bull shit is entertaining? Informative?

You don't seem to understand that all your appeals to better angels fall on deaf ears because of Leftist bad behavior of which we are completely tired. Tit for tat is the only appropriate response.

All of the Leftist criticism was from the Further Left. Expect criticism of Trump to be heard from only the Further Right. Expect Trump to play to the middle of the state's that matter.

He will have more flexibility after his re-election.

Brookzene said...

"Quite frankly, I don't think the majority of republicans even want to deal with this issue. Not really."

Part of the deal is Obamacare got a lot more popular when people figured out what the options were that were coming out of the House. And when some people figured out they were actually covered by it. It is a mess now. I would like to see Dems and Rs working on this together but I understand that's not in the cards at the moment, or ever.

But if the Trump and Rs ever did reach out to the Dems on this...all is forgiven, they get nothing but respect from me.

Brookzene said...

"You don't seem to understand that all your appeals to better angels fall on deaf ears because of Leftist bad behavior of which we are completely tired. Tit for tat is the only appropriate response."

This is the stupidest idea that I keep seeing with regularity on Althouse. I call it the Fifth Grade argument. You have to go back to a very elementary level to start to undo the knots they've tied themselves into.

Brookzene said...

In any case, we should all be appealing to our better angels - mostly of ourselves rather than each other.

Brookzene said...

"Later Brookzene: "Why on earth would you address me with that silly bullshit?"

"Earlier Brookzene: "We know, we know you love Trump! He's your guy. Sure you'll support his fp and kicking our allies around (while raising up our enemies) - that's what you signed on for. That conservative "gut sense" (what do cons say about libtard "feelies" - glad you're more grow up about that, respect) tells you Trump's outstanding re China, ME and NATO."

"LOL"

LOL

Birkel said...

@ Drago

See, if Republicans sacrifice their stated policy goals, all will be forgiven. Brookzene swears.

Brookzene said...

@Drago You seem to think if you add LOL to your comment it somehow reinforces it, or in this case even helps it make sense.

It doesn't.

Birkel said...

Stupid ideas like tit for tat are stupid because Brookzene does not understand them.

Escaping a prisoner's dilemma is of no consequence to Leftists.

Brookzene said...

Seeing all political situations and trying to resolve them in terms of the prisoner's game is foolish indeed.

Fen said...

Tony Soprano whines about being robbed, audience laughs, Brookie looks around and asks what's so funny.

Brookzene said...

Trump's implementation of "tit for tat" is about as clownish as it gets, and is responsible for many of his current woes.

Of course, even a child can grasp how to play "tit for tat." If you only have a hammer...

Birkel said...

@ Brookzene

Yeah, if Republicans would just go back to being honest while Democrats cheat all would be right with the world. You get the big payoff and the other side gets next to nothing.I

Why won't Trump surrender like those nice Bush boys?

Birkel said...

Leftists everywhere:
We want you to forget everything you have learned about cooperation amongst animals (biology) and game theory (math, behavioral economics) and do the right thing, whereby the ratchet only turns one direction. Tit for tat is mean.

Trump voters:
We are not tired of all the winning.

Brookzene said...

"Yeah, if Republicans would just go back to being honest while Democrats cheat all would be right with the world. You get the big payoff and the other side gets next to nothing."

Curses! My devious plan for world domination must be more transparent than I believed. Felix the Cat has seen right through me!

Birkel said...

@ Brookzene

Do you know that two of the boxes in a 2x2 game matrix represent exactly what you quoted? Quite literally I am mocking you about what you don't know and criticizing the GOPe at the same time.

And you don't recognize what is happening. So I am telling you directly.

Drago said...

Brookzene: "@Drago You seem to think if you add LOL to your comment it somehow reinforces it, or in this case even helps it make sense.

It doesn't"

LOL

Drago said...

Brookzene: "Of course, even a child can grasp how to play "tit for tat." If you only have a hammer..."

I'm sorry, you'll have to speak up. I can barely hear you above the din of democrats screaming "Treason", "Traitor" and "Impeachment".

What was that you were saying about not playing "tit for tat" again?

Brookzene said...

"I can barely hear you above the din of democrats screaming "Treason", "Traitor"'

Cripes, haven't heard that. Who in particular?

Brookzene said...

"We want you to forget everything you have learned about cooperation amongst animals (biology) and game theory (math, behavioral economics) and do the right thing, whereby the ratchet only turns one direction."

You talk just like someone who dropped out of the community college liberal arts program. Major was gonna be in sociology, amiright?

Brookzene said...

@DragO:

LOL!

Birkel said...

@ Brookzene

Like so many before you, you sussed out the truth and my deep understanding of game theory gives me away as a junior college dropout.

Cue Drago: LOL!

My vocabulary and sentence structure also betray my limited abilities.

Birkel said...

@ Brookzene

HINT: When you type talk but mean type, it is distracting.

Drago said...

Alright, I'll do it. But ONLY because you've asked so politely: LOL

There. It's done. Get out of my dressing room!

Drago said...

Oh yeah, Go Rockies!

Sorry Cubs fans.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Hmm, being linked back here reminds me, haven't seen this Brookzene around in a while, wonder whose sock puppet he was.

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