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:

1 – 200 of 282   Newer›   Newest»
rhhardin said...

Epstein and Yoo think Comey is in legal trouble.

eddie willers said...

What about "He has the tapes and they back him up"?

The Godfather said...

There are no tapes, but Trump is also playing the press. Like Yehudi Menuhin.

AllenS said...

Give. It. Up. Trump has everyone by the short hairs, or the pussy. Winner!

Darrell said...

What if it's a digital recording on a flash drive? Idiots around here made a big deal about Trump's use of "wiretap,"

Darrell said...

Chuck could define "Is" for us.

Darrell said...

Thirty minutes of Comey talking about "My Little Pony" would completely destroy whatever is left of his reputation--and dignity. Release the tapes.

Virgil Hilts said...

DT should call a press conference but have it outside in a place where all of the reporters have to stand together in a single spot, pull out a single thumbdrive with the recording of his meeting and then throw it into the middle of the reporters.

Drago said...

Virgil, nope.

DT should call a press conference but have it outside in a place where all of the reporters have to stand together in a single spot, pull out a single thumbdrive with a recording of all his speeches and then throw it into the middle of the reporters.

eric said...

There aren't any tapes.

But I do find it interesting that when Trump said he was told, on 3 separate occasions, he was NOT under investigation, he was mocked for that. Widely. Even by Republicans who are #nevertrump.

I'm not willing to go back and do the research, but I bet Chuck mocked him for it. Said people never get told they aren't under investigation.

Did those people apologize? Eat crow? Rethink their positions on Trump?

Of course not.

Trump says tapes because he is riffing on being listened to by the NSA. Not because he recorded anything.

Unknown said...

Russian interference in the US elections has been known to the intelligence community, Obama, Clinton and Trump since late last year.

Yet, at no time during his conversations with Comey, as supported by his various public statements and appearances, does Trump enquire about the Russian interference.

A guilty person never enquires about their crime.

Trumpski's, your man Trump is going down. It will take months but Trump is going down.

Darrell said...

Russian interference in the US elections has been known. . .

To delusional Lefties ever since they made up the lie.

Qwinn said...

"A guilty person never inquires about their crime"...

Said no one. Ever. Because omgwtfbbq idiocy.

Bay Area Guy said...

This is exactly like Watergate - without the burglary, without any indictments, without any convictions and no tapes.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

rhhardin said...
Epstein and Yoo think Comey is in legal trouble.


Link?

Birkel said...

PURPLE ELEPHANTS. Do not picture them in your head. It is forbidden.

Night Owl said...

'He later said reporters were "going to be very disappointed when you hear the answer."'

This is Trump's version of the old joke:

Q: How do you keep an idiot in suspense?
A: I'll tell you later.

Night Owl said...

Wouldn't it be funny if the "tapes" are from some spying apparatus set up by the Obama Administration? That might disappoint reporters. One can hope...

mjg235 said...

"Yet, at no time during his conversations with Comey, as supported by his various public statements and appearances, does Trump enquire about the Russian interference.

A guilty person never enquires about their crime.

Trumpski's, your man Trump is going down."

That time you realize they don't teach the affirming the consequent fallacy at school anymore.

Mark said...

Comey used an intermediary to leak his memo because he had consciousness of guilt and wanted to cover-up his malfeasance.

Birkel said...

@ Qwinn

Why did you correct the spelling of "enquiry" (sic) without the appropriate (sic). Unknown is so sure of the facts that he used the non-word twice.

Limited blogger said...

Can somebody write an epic ballad about all of Trump's winning? And I am certainly not tired of it.

Mark said...

This is exactly like Watergate --

with all the politically motivated spying by the Obama Administration on its political opponents and associated cover-ups by Obama officials and hold-overs.

Night Owl said...

eric said:

"Trump says tapes because he is riffing on being listened to by the NSA. Not because he recorded anything."

That was my first thought as well, when he made that tweet warning Comey to watch what he said.

jrapdx said...

"DT should call a press conference but have it outside in a place where all of the reporters have to stand together in a single spot, pull out a single thumbdrive with the recording of his meeting and then throw it into the middle of the reporters."

Amusing but some of the assembled reporters will die in the media frenzy, and then as usual it's all Trump's fault. Thing is Trump is hinting there are no tapes, it was all a bluff, hence the reporters will be disappointed with the news.

OTOH, that opens another possibility. Toss an empty thumbdrive into the assembled horde. Of course, some reporters would still be killed but the entertainment value of the maneuver would be enhanced quite a bit.

Limited blogger said...

Does Trump take vacation? We made need a week or two here to catch our breathes.

Birkel said...

Comey was warned. It may have been a bluff.
Comey confessed to leaks. He may have responded to a bluff.
Comey admitted that Trump was never under investigation. Comey may have responded to a bluff.
Comey admitted that Valerie Jarrett involved herself in an investigation. He may have responded to a bluff.

Or it might be that Donald Trump has the goods. Does it matter if a guy like Comey, clearly anti-Trump, is truthful and crushing Leftist wishcasting?

PURPLE ELEPHANTS

Francisco D said...

Inga will be here in a few minutes to explain how Comey cleverly set up Trump and Bob Mueller will lay the hammer down.

The Resistance will be led by Kathy Griffin and they will demand Trump's head.

Comey will run for POTUS on the Unity Ticket (he is nominally a Chuck-like Republican) with Kamala Harris as his running mate.

By 2021, everything will be free and we will have an unlimited supply of unicorns and rainbows.

Some day the Kool-Aid will run out.

rcocean said...

Trump has a tape of the Comey-Trump dinner.

"President Trump! I'm not that kind of FBI Director!"

Darrell said...

"DT should call a press conference but have it outside in a place where all of the reporters have to stand together in a single spot, pull out a single thumbdrive with the recording of his meeting and then throw it into the middle of the reporters."

My first thought was a grenade.

Darrell said...

Can somebody write an epic ballad about all of Trump's winning? And I am certainly not tired of it.

It's on my 45 opposite "Hillary Clinton will never be Presidemt of the United States."

Bay Area Guy said...

I'm still having trouble with the CYA memo he wrote, held onto apparently for 5 months, then leaked it to The NY Times through an unnamed Law Professor friend, AFTER he was FIRED, in order to promote the hiring of a special prosecutor

Is that rational behavior of an FBI Director, when Trump is not being investigated?

It sounds like a dude embittered about being fired, trying to lash back at his former boss.

Amadeus 48 said...

Francisco D--for a minute I thought America's Politico had returned. That was a great imitation.

Drago said...

Rcocean: ""President Trump! I'm not that kind of FBI Director!"

Not as dramatic as the video of Comey in a dress and pumps singing "Happy Birthday" to obambi.

Drago said...

Darrell: "It's on my 45 opposite "Hillary Clinton will never be Presidemt of the United States."

Hillary got run over by a tweeter,
On the way to the white house one Nov Eve,
......

AlbertAnonymous said...

I wonder how the press will describe the audio tapes where, according to Comey, Trump says something that makes Comey uneasy and Comey just stares at Trump with no words, no nods, no change at all in his facial expression.

Should be a great read....

Amadeus 48 said...

James Comey--the ultimate disgruntled former employee. If he hadn't been fired, he'd still be working for Trump and try to kill him from the inside.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

NYT said, referring to Bill de Blasio's insistence on being driven 11 miles each day to a gym where he can workout ...
While this routine had been written off as an indulgent peculiarity, from a politician who manages to embody all of the arrogance of a corporate chief executive with little of the efficiency

Humperdink said...

Little Known weighs in: "A guilty person never enquires about their crime."

And you know this how? Watching Forensic Files? Perry Mason? Reading Nancy Drew?

I love your comments Little Known. Comic relief. Reminds me of Reverend Jim on Taxi.

Original Mike said...

@Virgil Hilts - That's hilarious.

AlbertAnonymous said...

Its Covfefe, "Tapped" whatever. The press chases its tail and looks more and more ridiculous.

Remember the kerfuffle over Trumps's letter firing Comey, where he included the "thank you for confirming to me three times that I'm not under investigation" line. Press went absolutely bonkers about what a moron Trump was, totally untrue, no way Comey would EVER do that, clearly Trump is unfit, etc. etc. etc.

This is Winning:

"James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!
5:26 AM - 12 May 2017"


"Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!
3:10 AM - 9 Jun 2017"

Schlonged!

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

What else would you expect a marketing manager to say? Three short points, two of them premature conclusions and one a total misuse of the word. Tweeto Cheeto once again confuses the "leaking" of national secrets with a person simply divulging something that Trump was too embarrassed for the public to hear.

Why? Because he's a blundering dummy, that's why.

Matt Sablan said...

How can people claim Trump didn't ask about the Russian investigation and wanted it stopped when Comey admits Trump thought it would be good if Comey found his satellite staff had been colluding with Russia?

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

This administration should write a book in how to make it look like you didn't do anything wrong.

Trump's like my girlfriend's cat. Easily spooked. All you have to do is reprimand him for eating some plastic and the next ten plastic bags you pick up to use for yourself he jumps ten feet and hides under the bed.

That's Trump.

Bay Area Guy said...

Can Comey be fired again for being a fucking moron?

Matt Sablan said...

Comey admitted what he leaked was government work product. It was at least confidential and he had to steal or illegally acquire a copy. It was a leak, however benign.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Trump's all like, Psssst, Comey! Hey, shhhh. Am I in trouble? Please tell me I'm not in trouble? Hey, if I'm in trouble I can buy you Knicks tickets. Yes. Take you out to dinner? I can even keep my tiny hands to myself. Just hope this investigation ends. I mean, why would I hope for an investigation to end if there's nothing for it to find? Gee, I don't know. But hey, yeah - dinner. Mmmmm Mmmm. Just me and you, babe. And I really like you. You know, anyone who likes me I like them. So what do you say... do you like me? I mean, do you REALLY, really like me? All I need is some affection, and flattery. No one's nice to me. The press doesn't get it, and neither do the courts. This whole responsibility and nation's chief law enforcer thing just isn't for me. Now SCREW YOU COMEY!

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Hey, Comey. It's me, Trump, again. Now remember, let's all just keep these conversations where I try to whisper things in your ear on the download, ok? Hush hush. No one else will understand our quiet pillow talk. It's just between you and me. I'm a really seductive guy, didn't anyone tell you? Slept with more ladies than Wilt Chamberlain. And now I like to seduce guys, also. Usually only idiotic Republicans fall for me, but I like to try it on independent civil servants also. Well, I'll try it on anyone. See, I'm desperate to be liked, don't you know? Everyone should like me! They should do anything I ask of them. Who needs a constitution when you can be loyal to me?

SukieTawdry said...

Did his lawyer club him as soon as he stepped away from the podium? Yesterday went well for him. Why can't he ever leave well enough alone?

rcocean said...

Comey's testimony proved one thing at least: he should have been fired.

Comey's memos prove the guy was almost the worst subordinate ever. Untrustworthy, unreliable, self-centered, disloyal, and the exact opposite of a "Team player".

He's like a White, very tall, Anita Hill.

jrapdx said...

Edentulous wrote: "Trump's like my girlfriend's cat. Easily spooked. …"

Who are you talking about? Doesn't resemble the actual President Trump at all. If anyone looked "spooked" it was Comey, wait and see how high he jumps the next time someone say "Trump".

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

SukieTawdry said...
Did his lawyer club him as soon as he stepped away from the podium? Yesterday went well for him. Why can't he ever leave well enough alone?


Because he has a pathological need to dominate. This is not going to end well.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

The first option in the poll would be totally consistent with everything Trump has done to date. The Left's contempt blinds them to the contempt of others.

Cracker's Paradox: A part-time Wal-Mart night-stocker in Bumfuck, Oklahoma has greater experience with, and knowledge of, the actual beliefs of the Left than a surgeon in Manhattan does regarding the actual beliefs of the Right.

Not stunningly original but surely historically unprecedented on such a widespread scale.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Comey, I'm not trying to obstruct justice. I just have an obstructed urethra. You see, I used to have such faith in my manliness. But now I'm 70 and still bragging about my hair and my mojo, and I want to make sure I can seduce you into NOT investigating evidence of my wrongdoing. Please, please? Pretty please?

Birches said...

I always thought the garment rending over the "tapes" tweet was overwrought. It was just a figure of speech. The fact that we're still talking about it as if it was a threat is just ridiculous.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Comey's memos prove the guy was almost the worst subordinate ever. Untrustworthy, unreliable, self-centered, disloyal, and the exact opposite of a "Team player".

Lol. A Trump administration lackey stands up for the idea of being a "team player." That's hilarious. Most. Backbiting. Administration. Ever.

This rcocean guy, you can say one thing about him. No way he'll EVER be "subordinate" to the constitution. Hell! It's just a piece of paper! rc's a true Republican orders follower - straight out of the Stanley Milgram experiment, and Nurenburg. Yep, who thought we should be a nation of laws, anyway? It's getting in the way of all the dreams of the homoerotic weirdo Republicans who wish we were a nation of "men."

It's raining men, rc. Just go to a bondage S&M club in San Francisco somewhere if you're looking for a man to dominate you.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rcocean said...

Googling Comey was very interesting. I was interested to find out why a Bush appointee - a former Deputy AG - was appointed by Obama to be FBI director.

Turns out Comey is actually BFF with Chuck Shumer. Turns out he worked for Eric Holder. Turns out he put in a Amicus Brief in favor of Gay Marriage and was considered by Obama for a SCOTUS appointment in June 2009. Turns out he's best friends with all kinds of liberals - like Richman and the guy at Lawfare. Turn's out he's been on the liberal side of all kinds of issues.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...



Limited blogger said...
Can somebody write an epic ballad about all of Trump's winning? And I am certainly not tired of it."

Iowahawk is the man to do it. After all, he wrote "The Idiossey: The Not-Really-That-Epic Poem of Obamacles"

"Speak to me, O Muse, of this resourceful man
who strides so boldly upon the golden shrine at Invescos,
Between Ionic plywood columns, to the kleig light altar.
Fair Obamacles, favored of the gods, ascends to Olympus
Amidst lusty tributes and the strumming lyres of Media;
Their mounted skyboxes echo with the singing of his name
While Olbermos and Mattheus in their greasy togas wrassle
For first honor of basking in their hero's reflected glory.
Who is this man, so bronzed in countenance,
So skilled of TelePrompter, clean and articulate
whose ears like a stately urn's protrude?
So now, daughter of Zeus, tell us his story.
And just the Cliff Notes if you don't mind,
We don't have all day."

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/08/the-idiossey.html

Bob Ellison said...

I came across a tape today. It was important to me back when I put it carefully in a box. High Type II chrome.

rcocean said...

Sorry Tooth, I don't know what you're talking about. Based on his testimony tell me one thing that showed that Comey was a loyal FBI director to Trump?

rcocean said...

"o now, daughter of Zeus, tell us his story.
And just the Cliff Notes if you don't mind,
We don't have all day."

Ha. Classic Iowahawk.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Turn's out he's been on the liberal side of all kinds of issues.

So was free speech advocate for violent video games Scalia, you hack.

Lo and behold. Not all laws (or lawyers) are partisan things. Don't give ready-to-be-dominated subordinate rc the memo.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Based on his testimony tell me one thing that showed that Comey was a loyal FBI director to Trump?

His oath of loyalty was to the constitution, not to Cheeto Tweeto.

Now, I know it's really difficult for some of you to understand that Trump is not the constitution, or better than it, or entitled to more respect than it. But some of us here are actually Americans. We know the difference.

David Begley said...

Althouse has the best polls in the Universe.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Trump was a registered Democrat until ten years ago. In New York.

But let's use partisan warfare against Comey. Right.

J2 said...

Here's a theory which I've seen which is awesome and hopefully true.

When Trump abruptly fired Comey when he was in L.A., Comeys office was secured and all of Comeys work product is now in the hands of DOJ. Comeys files demonstrate his hostility to President Trump and who knows what about the Cinton investigation. The material is so damaging to Comey that he had to say he had memorialized conversations because he believed that Trump was a liar and go on and on about how he was protecting the FBI from being politicized. This is as a prebuttal to the exposure to come. As in - "but my intentions were honorable."

Maybe Comey taped the president.

Darrell said...

Ritmo got run over by a John Deere
Stinkin' up ol' Althouse Juneteenth

Murph said...

@Birches said...
I always thought the garment rending over the "tapes" tweet was overwrought. It was just a figure of speech. The fact that we're still talking about it as if it was a threat is just ridiculous.
___________________________________

Same-same with the Trump humorous mention during the campaign of Russia finding Hillary's missing emails*: the guy is being facetious. But, we know the Left has no sense of humor (except, perhaps, for grotesqueries like bloody heads), and assumes the worst possible motives & meanings to everything muttered by Trump.

* “Russia, If you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Loyalty to Trump. Hahaha. That's funny.

Hard to be loyal to someone that nobody wants to work for.

Just another one of those basic facts of life that Republicans didn't get the memo on.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Four law firms turned Trump down in his newest quest to make his disastrous term in office legally protectable.

I'm so glad he won and not Hillary. Just look at all the wonders he's doing for the Republican brand.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

They should produce a new reality tv series/game show where contestants are found to fill all of Trump's vacant positions.

Several trials will be held. The first one will be to see if the contestant can beat a lie detector test.

The next one will be based on hair.

Etc.

damikesc said...


So was free speech advocate for violent video games Scalia, you hack.


That was a pretty Progressive position, not conservative.

The bills were proposed by Dems who were later imprisoned for selling arms to terrorists.

Conservatives weren't pushing it.

Yancey Ward said...

I tend to think there are no recordings of the meetings, but isn't impossible. I am sort of Night Owl's thinking on this- Trump is making fun of the media here by playing out an old joke. I think he sent out that original tweet to remind Comey that lying might have consequences.

However, if he does have recordings and they show Comey in a bad light, it would be better to hold onto them for just a bit while the media do their spin thing this weekend, but I am not expecting this

rhhardin said...

@ARM
rhhardin said...
Epstein and Yoo think Comey is in legal trouble.

Link?

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/d11k1eidkpp6ab.cloudfront.net/2017/06/Law-Talk-98a.mp3

Yoo and Epstein are both borderline never-Trump guys, by the way.

Yancey Ward said...

Comey used a cutout because he knew he was breaking the law, but I think he got caught because the memos weren't found at the FBI or DoJ- the only source for the memos had to be Comey himself, not colleagues he used to work with. This is why I would like that question answered- were the memos found at the DoJ or FBI, too, or are the only copies the ones Comey claims to have at his home?

rhhardin said...

Maybe the page works better (the mp3 maybe gives a one-time link?)

https://ricochet.com/series/law-talk/

(Epstein and Yoo)

Bruce Hayden said...

I don't think that there were any recordings of the meetings. Trump went to lengths to remove anyone else, besides Comey, from the one meeting, including his son-in-law and close advisor, Jered Kushner. Hard to believe that he would then record it, allowing the recording be heard by other ears.

sakredkow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
eric said...

And now they have Comeys employment agreement. Looks like he is in deep, deep, trouble.

rcocean said...

I think Trump was joking that the NSA/FBI/CIA that had been "wiretapping" him - probably had tapes.

Or maybe the Russians.

rcocean said...

It'd be funny if there were tapes (which I doubt very much), and they proved Comey was a complete liar.

I think Trump is just playing the press as usual, they're complete fools and he can make them look stupid any time he wants to troll them.

Trump lived through Watergate. The idea that he set up a taping system and it can be used against him is laughable..

The Trump quotes indicate Trump is laughing at the MSM for asking such dumb questions.

traditionalguy said...

Boy Scout Comey was asked under oath: 1) if he leaked classified materials... No or 2) if he had someone else in the FBI leak them for him...No

But he was not asked if he handed them to a personal friend to deliver. Oops.

Trump has spent time with him to measure him and figured out. And he did not need to tape him.



exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

eric said...
And now they have Comeys employment agreement. Looks like he is in deep, deep, trouble.

6/9/17, 6:48 PM


Paragraph 2 states that all materials acquired in connection with an employee’s official duties are property of the U.S. government and that such materials must be surrendered to the FBI upon an employee’s separation from the agency.

eric said...

Comey said Trump wanted him to say he was loyal. Asked him, are you loyal?

The press then asks Trump, did you say that?

And I love how Trump answers. He answers what they mean. No, who asks a guy he doesn't know to pledge his allegiance?

Beautiful.

Unknown said...

I do hope that on January 20th, 2025, that Ritmo hasn't committed suicide because Trump is peacefully handing over power to the next president. Maybe it will be someone Ritmo can really respect: Mattis, or perhaps Ivanka who will be so turned off of the left by their horrible natures that she will govern like Reagan only could dream of.

I hope to hear liberal wailing in the wilderness for decades. They deserve every bit of it. Like Ritmo's endorsement of unprovoked liberal violence towards people he doesn't like as a moral good. The left truly deserves to be run off, and we can hear the lamentations of their transwomen.

--Vance

Walter S. said...

The "feeding seagulls" metaphor may just make this whole farce worthwhile.

FullMoon said...

AlbertAnonymous said... [hush]​[hide comment]

Its Covfefe, "Tapped" whatever. The press chases its tail and looks more and more ridiculous.

Remember the kerfuffle over Trumps's letter firing Comey, where he included the "thank you for confirming to me three times that I'm not under investigation" line.


Interesting that Comey confirmed the three statements. He could have denied outright. He could have " not recalled", he could have "maybe".

No doubt he confirmed because he is not sure there are no tapes. Personally, when Comey said he hopes there are tapes, I assumed he was setting Trump up to produce a tape which would place Trump in a favorable light, but lead to calls for more tapes that would be less than flattering, and maybe lead to more investigations.

Michael K said...

"Trump says tapes because he is riffing on being listened to by the NSA. Not because he recorded anything."

NO, I think he wants to know if Comey has been taping him. The FBI ran surveillance on US presidents since FDR.

Trump hasn't done any taping but Comey might have been. If Comey was taping him, and remember Trump fired him when he was out of town and unable to grab the evidence, Comey may wonder where the goods are.

I think Trump is playing with Comey's head, which is no smarter than Ritmo's or Inga's.

Anonymous said...

Prof. Emerita Althouse: I believe that there is another possibility: That he has seeded some misinformation amongst his circle and is waiting to see if the leaks have stopped.

Like that ancient king who, after having killed all his relatives to protect his throne, publicly bemoaned in his later years that he had no one of his blood left to inherit his kingdom.... only as a ruse to draw out anyone he may have missed.

I wonder at what point does President Trump get really mad? Talk about bear-baiting.

Big Mike said...

I think Comey's leak has gotten the wrong sort of attention. Was it a crime? Plausibly, yes. But more to the point, Comey seems to have regarded leaking to a tame journalist as being just standard operating procedures in Washington, DC. Which it pretty much is. One perfectly reasonable interpretation of Trump's request for honest loyalty is whether Comey was going to do his job without running off to some tame journalist anytime things didn't go precisely his way. We have our answer.

That's how the Deep Stste operates, of course. Obama took one approach to dealing with the Deep State, firing IGs who persisted in trying to do their jobs and prosecuting whistle blowers under the Espionage Act. Trump's asking politely for honest loyalty; I wonder how much of it he'll get?

Hagar said...

I think J2 wins the thread with Comey recorded the meetings and the DoJ swept up the memory card before Comey got back from L.A.

Now that would really be funny!

MaxedOutMama said...

Trump is managing the news cycle on this, as you observed yesterday, Ann.

It's going to be effective, too. The media was snookered. It is wholly in Trump's interest to keep this story ticking as long as he can. For one thing, it is going to make the NYT and its ilk a lot more cautious about printing leaked stories.

Many of these outlets are now having to print retractions, which is painful. And if they don't, they are running into legal jeopardy.

rcocean said...

Althouse should do another post about Trump's maddening imprecise - unlawyerly language - and how it opens him up to MSM attacks. Look at his current exchange with Karl of ABC News on Comey:

Karl: I want to get back to James Comey’s testimony. You suggested he didn’t tell the truth in everything he said. He did say under oath that you told him to let the Flynn — you said you hoped the Flynn investigation, you could let go.

Trump: I didn’t say that. (WHAT DOES "THAT" REFER TO?)

Karl: So he lied about that? (WHAT DOES "THAT" REFER TO?)

Trump: Well, I didn’t say that. I will tell you, I didn’t say that. (AGAIN, WHAT IS "THAT" REFERRING TO?)

Karl: And did he ask you to pledge… (HE NEVER ASKED COMEY TO "PLEDGE")

Trump: And there would be nothing wrong if I did say it according to everybody that I’ve read today. But I did not say that. (AGAIN WHAT IS "THAT" REFER TO?!)

Karl: He said those things under oath. Would you be willing to speak under oath and give your version of events? (WHAT "THINGS"?)

Trump: 100%. I hardly know the man. I’m not going to say, ‘I want you to pledge allegiance.’ Who would ask a man to pledge allegiance under oath? Think of it. I hardly know the man. It doesn’t make sense. No, I didn’t say that and I didn’t say the other. (OK - THIS IS SOMEWHAT UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT WHAT IS "THE OTHER?)

Heywood Rice said...

So why was he coy about whether there are tapes of the meetings?

One word, starts with the letter S...

Michael K said...

he's played himself right into an investigation of himself, which there apparently wasn't before.

Disagree, The loony left has gone insane, as we see here with the local lefties.

There is no chance that Hillary and company was going to just go home and live a quiet life after losing the election.

This, the Administrative State, is their life. Republicans do politics when they are retired and have some time or when they have to defend their livelihood.

For Democrats it IS their livelihood.

As for Trump's craziness, which I acknowledge, only a crazy guy with lots of his own money would even think of trying to take down the monolithic state.

He's more than Don Quixote but there are similarities.

Heywood Rice said...

...the second letter is e and the rest is a river in Egypt.

Birkel said...

In which sakredkow agrees with rcocean because sakredkow has not been on Althouse long enough to understand the players.

Do go on with your theory that Comey's testimony increased the likelihood that Trump would be investigated for anything. I would like to read a cogent argument about how Democrats go from IMPEACHMENT! to Comey, who admitted leaking documents to the press, but is still somehow the most honest man in Washington, D.C., should now be believed in his recollections of a conversation with a man he clearly despised.

I'm not saying the argument can't or won't be made. I'm just saying that you're trying to convince people who have abandoned the Democrat Party in key states and those people are not favorably inclined toward a partisan witch hunt.

Good luck, sakredkow. (And I will refer to you as kow from this point into the future. No offense intended.)

gadfly said...

So is the ex-FBI Director a "leaker" or more likely a "whistleblower."

I would think, to the extent that leaks reveal government misconduct, that would count as whistleblowing.

Birkel said...

@ gadfly

You can see a copy of the employment agreement Comey would have signed as part of his employment with the FBI.

Excerpt:
"Paragraph 2 states that all materials acquired in connection with an employee’s official duties are property of the U.S. government and that such materials must be surrendered to the FBI upon an employee’s separation from the agency. Paragraph 3 states that employees are prohibited from releasing “any information acquired by virtue of my official employment” to “unauthorized individual[s] without prior official written authorization by the FBI.” Paragraph 4 of the agreement requires FBI employees, prior to disclosing or publishing information acquired during their employment, to submit the information to FBI authorities for review to determine whether it is authorized for public release.

So if Comey followed protocol and surrendered all government property, including the memos he produced in his capacity as an FBI employee, it would have been impossible for him to provide the memos to his friend. The fact that he was able to provide hard copies of the memos to both his friend and special counsel Robert Mueller suggests that Comey did not surrender them to authorities as required by the FBI employment agreement."

Sprezzatura said...

"Maybe the page works better (the mp3 maybe gives a one-time link?)

https://ricochet.com/series/law-talk/

(Epstein and Yoo)"

Ya really buried the lede there didn't ya?

Sure, there was jabber about Comey (though pretty weak from Yoo). But how about all the talk about DJT not getting to a 2020 election? Cause he's nuts (nuts = my shorthand for a much more nuanced POV).

If yur gonna' point to a link claiming the jabberers there should be listened to, might as well pay attention to the interesting stuff they say, imho.


Birkel said...

@ gadfly

Do you have any other logically deficient questions you'd like to ask? I know you're just floating stupid arguments to see what might work. But put some effort into it. Get it together.

And whistleblowing requires that there be an actual underlying crime. What crime do you suggest happened? Since President Trump had the authority by Comey's own admission to do all of the things he did, I'd be really interested to see what sort of stupidity you could vomit onto your keyboard.

Ralph L said...

One word, starts with the letter S...
Sycho?

Birkel said...

@ PB&J

When Michael K said Epstein and Yoo were NeverTrumpers, did you think they were going to voice positive opinions about Trump? And they both said Comey opened himself up to potential legal peril.

I expect a better class of ignorant in these comment sections.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

rhhardin said...
Maybe the page works better


Thanks.

Sprezzatura said...

"I expect a better class of ignorant in these comment sections."

Why?

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

The media will probably be disappointed because there are no tapes. Trump never said they existed, only that Comey should hope they didn't. Was that a lie? Should Comey actually have hoped that they DID exist? Should he have had some other opinion on the matter, or no opinion? What is the truth?

Birkel said...

@ PB&J

Next you'll tell me that George Will is no fan of Trump.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

So is the ex-FBI Director a "leaker" or more likely a "whistleblower."

You must be getting the same hyperventilating FaceBook posts I was seeing all day that Trump is in trouble for violations of the whistleblower statute for retaliation against Come. By the time I clicked​ o. The WaPo(?) Story they already had an "update". The update is Comey isn't covered under the statute because he was an appointee.


Hahahahaha. You people or so stupid.

Birkel said...

@ BROT

Not only is he not covered as an appointee, people can think they are whistleblowers but if there is no crime, get this!!!, they aren't in fact whistleblowers. Further, it's not obvious that Congress could impede the Executive powers specifically granted in Article II by statute.

In fact, it's the opposite of obvious.

Kelly said...

It's Trump. I have no idea how to answer the quiz. But whatever happens, strangely enough Trump always seems to come out on top.

Ken B said...

It is a priori unlikely there's a tape I think. The only thing that suggests to me there might really be tapes is "disappointed " . Nothing would disappoint the press like evidence.

n.n said...

The babyhunt is over. The witches have been exposed. The baby has been deemed viable. Time will tell if he is worthy.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Like Ritmo's endorsement of unprovoked liberal violence towards people he doesn't like as a moral good.

Vance persists in his defense of all the "peaceful Nazis" he feels such love and sympathy for.

Ken B said...

@rhhardin
When ARM asks for a link he isn't asking for a link. He is calling you a liar. The proper response is www.google.com

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Ken B said...
When ARM asks for a link he isn't asking for a link.


No asshole, I was interested in hearing the argument because it didn't match with my understanding of Comey's testimony.

I am happy to call an asshole like you a liar without resorting to subterfuge.

Mary Beth said...

Reminds me of Reverend Jim on Taxi.

Dubious "facts", sounds more like Cliff Clavin on "Cheers".

rhhardin said...

Epstein is against Trump on policy grounds, not seeing the chief good Trump is doing, which is destroying political correctness as a mode of reasoning, by showing how to overcome it.

Problems you can't talk about can't be solved; they just get worse.

wholelottasplainin said...

Some fine day, a poster will come here to say, "You seditious Never-Trumpers who seek to undo a lawful election of a President: if you persist in trying to destroy his presidency, WE--the tens of millions who elected him--will RISE UP and destroy YOU.

YOU, after all, are the chinless wonders, the Pajama Boys the chestless men, the Starbucks latte sippers, who have DISARMED yourselves --"Weapons? Ick!!"---

AND YET you persist with your fantasy that you can topple the government!!!

Ain't happenin'.

Here's the score thus far:

America: 300 MILLION firearms

YOU: DICK

Kirk Parker said...

"... and we can hear the lamentations of their transwomen. "

Vance, now you're channeling Iowahawk. Nice work!

Sprezzatura said...

I'm sure DJT's almost ready to release the Comey tapes.

Sorta like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TMqzI_8A7E

BudBrown said...

Yall feed seagulls? There'a bunch of em, there's the frenzy. Interesting I never saw
any of them collide. Thing is I recall you'd be on the beach and no seagulls around,
well just one maybe. Throw some bread and pretty quick there's a horde. That's the thing comes to mind somebody says don't feed the seagull, you'll attract a horde. Get back up to your nice patio and have somebody else do it. That way the neighbors don't blame you.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Vance persists in his defense of all the "peaceful Nazis" he feels such love and sympathy for.

6/9/17, 10:05 PM

Sure, Ritmo. Like the "peaceful" Nazis who jumped conservative Aussie commentator Andrew Bolt in Melbourne the other day and got a bit more than they could handle


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/blogs/tim-blair/bout-review-bashy-leftists-vs-andrew-bolt/news-story/377f747063c087e6f3dff79c724dc03c


What a sad pack of pussies these antifas are. Bolt is 57 years old, he was attacked from behind and glitter-bombed by two younger "males" and he still managed to drive them off, delivering a solid punch in the face and a kick in the balls to one of them. Then Bolt went into a bookstore and delivered a speech.

It's very enjoyable viewing. Clearly, the Left does not have to worry about a surfeit of "toxic masculinity."

Lewis Wetzel said...

The people who were wrong about Trump getting the nomination, wrong about Trump getting elected, wrong about Trump working with the Russians, and wrong about Trump being investigated by the FBI want you to know that they are right about Trump this time.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Lewis Wetzel said...
The people who were wrong about Trump getting the nomination, wrong about Trump getting elected, wrong about Trump working with the Russians, and wrong about Trump being investigated by the FBI want you to know that they are right about Trump this time.

6/10/17, 1:55 AM

You'd think Leftists would become irate at being given false information.

We've been saying since the beginning that the Russia story was fake bullshit designed to cover Hillary's ass. The leftists scoffed.

My my, don't they look silly now.

Jon Ericson said...

Rust never sleeps.

MeatPopscicle1234 said...

Sine were on the topic of seagulls...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9t-slLl30E&sns=em

Hyphenated American said...

I don't think president Trump has the tapes. And I know he sometimes wildly exaggerates things...

One crucial example... Do you remember Trump hiring a bunch of investigators to look into Obama's past. He said that they found a lot of really shocking information and he would show it to the public soon. I was expecting something interesting - but years went by, and he released nothing - zero, zilch, nada.

Which tells me that Trump is not to be trusted. He bluffs.

Humperdink said...

"Reminds me of Reverend Jim on Taxi."

I should have cross-posted that comment and put it in the "employers can't find qualified workers" post. There is a reason why Louie never put Reverend Jim behind the wheel of a cab. Not sure why. He could walk straight line.

Kevin said...

And now Comey has no copy of his memo. Perhaps the tapes and the memo were both invisible tools to keep the other side honest in their statements.

From Sharyl Attkisson: "Seems strange that Comey wd give his memo to friend to give to NYT but not give to Congress; now says he has no copy"

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2017-06-08%20CEG%20DF%20LG%20SW%20to%20Richman%20(Comey%20Memos)_Redacted.pdf …

Kevin said...

There is a reason why Louie never put Reverend Jim behind the wheel of a cab.

On this matter I must object. Louie is seen assigning Jim cabs, and Jim is seen driving them, in many episodes.

How else did Jim pay for all those TV's using "dynamic perfectionism"?

Swede said...

Dude should have been fired on day one.

FBI Director should be one of those posts that you pretty much have figured out who you want to fill it with before you take office.

And now you know why.

Humperdink said...

"There is a reason why Louie never put Reverend Jim behind the wheel of a cab."

On this matter I must object. Louie is seen assigning Jim cabs, and Jim is seen driving them, in many episodes.

I watched many episodes and never saw that, so I stand corrected. I did see him attempting to pass the written taxi exam. Funniest episode I ever saw.

Jim seeks help from his buddies on question 1: "What does a yellow light mean?"

Answer from fellow cabbies: "Go slow."

Jim repeats question: "What ........ does....... a........ yellow ........ light ...... mean?"

AllenS said...

There aren't tapes, but Comey's belief that there may be tapes forces him to restrict what he says.

Translation -- He'll be forced to tell the truth.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

The next ball to drop for Trump is the Georgia special election. RCP currently has Ossoff up by 4.8 points. If Ossoff wins, still a big if, then Republican House members will start running for the exits.

Kevin said...

The next ball to drop for Trump is the Georgia special election. RCP currently has Ossoff up by 4.8 points. If Ossoff wins, still a big if, then Republican House members will start running for the exits.

How bad is it for the Dems? They're scanning special house race polls for signs of increasing Republican dissatisfaction with the President. That's the political equivalent of shotgunning mouthwash because you're out of alcohol and can't deal with reality.

I'm going to type this with all the sincere love and affection I have for every one of my fellow humans. Please stop. Please stop doing that to yourself.

Stop hitting the DailyKos and Politico. Stop checking RCP polling results hourly to see if there's been any movement. Just sit here in cruel neutrality with us for a bit while you sober up.

Kevin said...

@ARM I love you, man! Now just sit here and I'll get you a blanket.

AllenS said...

If I was going to "run for the exits", which direction would I go?

Tim said...

Guys, can you let me in on the joke? Who is Ritmo? I have looked up and down the comments section of several threads over the last week and have never seen that handle... it must be shorthand that I am too dense (likely) to pick up on.

clint said...

"exiledonmainstreet said...

You'd think Leftists would become irate at being given false information.

We've been saying since the beginning that the Russia story was fake bullshit designed to cover Hillary's ass. The leftists scoffed.

My my, don't they look silly now."

Do you know any leftists who have come to believe that the Russia story was fake?

I know some have resigned themselves to the idea that there will never be any evidence -- but they still think it happened.

Hagar said...

There is also a possibility Trump thinks the White House is bugged so that the NSA has recordings of anything that is said there.
Or spin your own Dan Brown scenario.

Brookzene said...

Question: Were visa waivers discussed?
Pres. Trump: "We didn't discuss it."
Romanian Pres. Iohannis: "Yes ... I mentioned this issue."

He just lies, lies, and lies. All the time. When he doesn't have to. Can you imagine having a liar like that in your family or your household?

CWJ said...

Tim Gilliland,

The commenter referred to as Ritmo has gone by a number of handles over the years. He is currently The Toothless Revolutionary.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Trump is not a dumpster fire.
Trump is not a dumpster fire.
Trump is not a dumpster fire.
Trump is not a dumpster fire.
Trump is not a dumpster fire.
If I just keep telling myself this it might be true.

Rae said...

If there are "tapes" it's because Obama was recording. There might be...interesting stuff on those "tapes".

Kevin said...

Question: Were visa waivers discussed?
Pres. Trump: "We didn't discuss it."
Romanian Pres. Iohannis: "Yes ... I mentioned this is

The Romanian President mentions it and it wasn't substantly discussed beyond that. Both people are telling the truth.

Kevin said...

"Trump is not a dumpster fire."

Trump is Godzilla from the heartland sent to smash Washington. Stop complaiming he's knocking over buildings and piling up rubble, and think more about why people sent him there in the first place.

It is the people who elected him with which you have a problem. Fixating on Trump is denial of that fact.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Trump is not a dumpster fire.

Rusty said...

I see the usual suspects are trying to spin this their way.
"Keep hope alive!" Little buddies.
post modernism will be vindicated.

Kevin said...

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Turump delivering biggest cut in regulations since Reagan.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-delivering-biggest-cut-in-regulations-since-reagan/article/2625451?mid=87744&rid=31182179

Brookzene said...

"Trump is Godzilla from the heartland sent to smash Washington. Stop complaiming he's knocking over buildings and piling up rubble, and think more about why people sent him there in the first place.

It is the people who elected him with which you have a problem. Fixating on Trump is denial of that fact."

You could write books about this stuff. It's completely fair to ask why people sent him there in the first place. But it's also fair to point out that it's not necessarily working out as those people expected. There have been unintended consequences and it's not like they weren't anticipated.

It would be nice to see higher level awareness from all sides.

Kevin said...

"it's not necessarily working out as those people expected. There have been unintended consequences and it's not like they weren't anticipated."

People underestimated the incompetence of the GOP leadership in Congress. If they can't get their act together, there is no hope for the party.

Kevin said...

Meanwhile Trump nominates 11 new judges. So the dogs bark but the caravan rolls on.

Brookzene said...

"People underestimated the incompetence of the GOP leadership in Congress. If they can't get their act together, there is no hope for the party."

No responsibility on Trump's part? Really?

Swede said...

I expect him to roll back regulations and appoint conservatives to the Supreme Court.

I can't speak for others, but that's why I voted for him.

So far, working out as expected.

Now, the part where it's going to get interesting is when he replaces Ginsburg, Kennedy, and whoever else.

That will be absolutely glorious.

Tick Tock.

Kevin said...

"No responsibility on Trump's part? Really?"

The GOP who voted eight times to repeal Obamacare can't repeal in when in the majority of both houses and with a willing president?

No. Nothing for Trump there.

Brookzene said...

Wasn't really asking just about Obamacare but about the greater dumpster fire. I get it though. It's not Trump's fault.

Chuck said...

So now Trump is saying that Comey is lying, and that Trump will go under oath and say that Comey was lying.

Which puts either Trump, or Comey, at risk of making false statements to the FBI.

It's a weird thing for Trump to do -- now taking much of the Trump commentariat at its word -- since there does seem to be a credible claim (credible even to me, I must say) that even if Comey's version is 100% true, it would not support an Obstruction of Justice charge against Trump. Still, Trump wants to go on the record asserting that Comey's version is false.

If indeed Trump did nothing illegal in conversing with Comey, the smart thing for Trump to do would be to say nothing and lay low until that investigation is concluded and then claim victory. If there is any serious "trolling" going on, I would submit that Comey has trolled Trump. Comey might well know (even though he formally and personally defers to Mueller as Special Counsel) that Trump didn't obstruct justice. But also that by calling Trump out, Comey could get Trump to lie about the meeting. And then, by so doing, put himself in criminal jeopardy.

JHapp said...

@ rcocean
Trump is hoping the someone makes a big deal of his alleged tapes, then he will pounce. The NSA/FBI/CIA have 100's of hours of members in his administration (like Flynn) talking to the Russians and others. Any testimony during this investigation which contradicts anything said in those 100's of hours is going to be prosecuted by the lefties.

David Baker said...

Bad news for the left: WaPo throwing in the towel on the Trump witch-hunt…

Michael K said...

" But it's also fair to point out that it's not necessarily working out as those people expected."

Why don;t you read The Washington Post ?

Even they now admit you are heading for insanity with this fixation on trying to convict Trump of something.

Grow up !

Kevin said...

"Comey could get Trump to lie about the meeting. And then, by so doing, put himself in criminal jeopardy."

We've already established that lying under oath is not grounds for impeachment.

Sad trombone.

Chuck said...

David Baker: uh, that is one partisan contributor/columnist, being given op-ed space. It is not an editorial position being taken by the Post.

Will you agree that this has not been a witch-hunt if two or three or four people plead guilty to federal crimes in the end?

Paco Wové said...

"So far, working out as expected."

Yeah, same here, pretty much. I personally wish he'd STFU sometimes, – ok, a lot – but given the alternative...

People tend to judge presidents on different scales depending on whether or not they support them.  For presidents we like, it's the success - disappointment axis; for presidents we don't like, it's the disaster - failure axis.  When Trump accomplishes a goal, it's a success for his supporters and a disaster for his detractors; and when he fails to accomplish it, it's disappointing for his supporters and a failure – possibly just incompetent but possibly criminal – for his detractors.  Ditto with Obama et al.

Brookzene said...

"Even they now admit you are heading for insanity with this fixation on trying to convict Trump of something."

Speaking just for myself I think it's very unlikely (but not impossible) that he would be convicted of anything as it all stands right now. The investigations however are just beginning, and just as important as what if anything did Trump do wrong are the unanswered questions about Russia's interference in 2016 and what can we do to meet their interference in 2018 and 2020 - and beyond.

And though it's not likely Trump would be impeached today, he's still screwing up badly. It's legitimate to recognize and discuss that.

Qwinn said...

In the few cases where things have not worked out as expected after voting for Trump, they have turned out surprisingly better than I expected.

Driving leftists insane? Intended, and expected.

No unintended consequences so far for me.

Qwinn said...

"He's still screwing up badly" - uh, not in terms of keeping the promises he made to the people who voted for him. The only people bitching I can see are the ones who didn't vote for him. It's obvious that the only criteria you have for his "screwing up badly" is that he won the election.

Brookzene said...

"In the few cases where things have not worked out as expected after voting for Trump, they have turned out surprisingly better than I expected.

Driving leftists insane? Intended, and expected."

Some Trump supporters had higher ambitions: immigration, a wall, repeal of Obamacare, a conservative budget, disentaglement with foreign adventurism. Etc.

David Baker said...

Will you agree that this has not been a witch-hunt if two or three or four people plead guilty to federal crimes in the end?

No, not unless "Trump" pleads guilty.

(Although I'd be interested to hear exactly who you think will be pleading guilty to federal crimes. Starting with Loretta Lynch and Hillary Clinton)

Brookzene said...

Even Trump supporters must be asking Is this what draining the swamp is supposed to look like?

Brookzene said...

But yeah, not much point in arguing with someone who thinks Trump is doing exactly what they wanted him to and it's all working out fine.

Brookzene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Swede said...

Trump has been president for 140 days.

Why isn't that wall finished yet?

Failure!

Obama was president for 8 shitty years.

Gitmo still open?

Just checking.

Kevin said...

"Even Trump supporters must be asking Is this what draining the swamp is supposed to look like?"

The partisan and in incompetent FBI director has been relieved of his job. That's some pretty good swamp draining which the swamp tried to fight against.

More than Romney or McCain would have accomplished in two terms.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Brookzene said: "...The investigations however are just beginning, .."


You gotta be kidding right!?

Brookzene said...

"Trump has been president for 140 days."

And not a single major piece of legislation on Trump's agenda has passed. Nada one.

Swede said...

I'm willing to give him the additional 7.5 years to get those things done.

Mr. Impatient Pants!

Brookzene said...

"You gotta be kidding right!?"

Wish I was. How many years do you think they will go on for?

Brookzene said...

"I'm willing to give him the additional 7.5 years to get those things done."

You and me both! But I think the GOP congress needs something to show for 2018.

n.n said...

It's less notable what he hasn't done, but rather what he has done with constant assaults from left, right, center, and press, and the left's babyhunts that keep exposing witches and leaks.

Qwinn said...

Brookzene: Yeah, sure, the wall, Obamacare repeal, etc. I still want all those. He's been in office for all of 5 months, dealing with insane obstructionism from all sides. He's got 3.6 years left to get the rest done. He's gotten a remarkable amount done in a very short time. Your lot may have the patience of ornery infants, but the adults understand that these things take time. The funny thing is, we'd be less patient if we couldn't see all the leftist obstructionism, so really all you're doing is helping him keep all the voters he got last time.

Brookzene said...

"It's less notable what he hasn't done, but rather what he has done with constant assaults from left, right, center, and press, and the left's babyhunts that keep exposing witches and leaks."

Of course, with the Senate and the House both in Democrats hands...it's no wonder.

tcrosse said...

Democrat complaints about Trump:
1. What he's doing is awful.
2. He's not doing enough of it.

Qwinn said...

I find it hilarious that the Left thinks "passing a budget" now matters. I flamed Obama for failing to pass a budget for 8 frikkin' years!, and never once found a lefty who gave a single squat about it.

Brookzene said...

"He's got 3.6 years left to get the rest done."

I think you guys are mistaken in believing he's got this much time. If 2018 becomes a referendum on Trump (because Congress has no accomplishments) the Dems are likely taking the place over. Between that and the continuing investigations of the White House there isn't going to be much hope for Trump's agenda.

A lot can change of course but I think that's about the size of it as things are right now.

Brookzene said...

"Democrat complaints about Trump:
1. What he's doing is awful.
2. He's not doing enough of it."

I'm just noting the earmarks of a flailing presidency.

Chuck said...

Kevin said...
"Comey could get Trump to lie about the meeting. And then, by so doing, put himself in criminal jeopardy."
We've already established that lying under oath is not grounds for impeachment.
Sad trombone.


No. What we have established (William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States) is that lying under oath absolutely WILL get a president impeached. Clinton. Was. Impeached.

Of course, in Clinton's Senate trial he was not convicted and it was always a pipe dream, to imagine that he'd be convicted and removed, by the requisite 2/3 vote of all members present. It was never going to happen, because Democrats in the Senate stood squarely behind their president.

In this Senate, I sense that there is a considerable undercurrent of loathing toward this president even among his own party. With the current makeup of the Senate, the conviction of President Trump in a Senate impeachment trial would require 66 votes, which means all of the Democrats (46) plus the two Independents (Bernie Sanders and Angus King), plus 18 Republicans.

If we had to pick a list of 18 Republicans in the Senate who have never felt any particular loyalty to Trump, it might look like this:

1. John McCain
2. Lindsey Graham
3. Tom Cotton
4. Ben Sasse
5. Ted Cruz
6. Jeff Flake
7. Corey Gardner
8. Marco Rubio
9. Susan Collins
10. Rob Portman
11. Bob Corker
12. John Barrasso
13. Shelly Moore Capito
14. Mitch McConnell
15. Mike Rounds
16. Pat Toomey
17. John Hoeven

Unsurprisingly, every one of those Senators has at one or more times (lots of times in most cases) felt the need to criticize Trump or to distance themselves from the Trump Administration. NOt one of them was an early supporter of Trump; I suspect that some of them did not vote for Trump at all. We can only imagine what their private views might be, about replacing Trump with Mike Pence, with the distinct possibility that one of them would be nominated to be the next Vice President of the United States.

Birkel said...

I am still not tired of all the winning.

Swede said...

Fun Fact: CNN and the NYT got put waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back of the seating for a press conference Trump had with the Romanian president.

Guess who isn't happy about that?

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Qwinn said...

So we should all be horribly upset if Trunp doesn't get a budget passed by 2018 (I think he will, but whatever) after Obama failed to for 8 tears without a single complaint from the Left/media?

If you guys hadn't lowered the bar of what constitues "accomplishment" to passing the shitshow that is Obamacare and then playing golf for 7 years, this might be a different conversation. Don't blame anyone but yourselves.

Brookzene said...

"I am still not tired of all the winning."

- General Custer

Chuck said...

Let's add Lisa Murkowski as our insurance vote.

Chuck said...

Swede said...
Fun Fact: CNN and the NYT got put waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back of the seating for a press conference Trump had with the Romanian president.

All that gets taken in those sessions are two questions from US reporters, and two questions from Romanian reporters, right? What did CNN and the NYT miss?

All it took was one guy -- Jon Karl of ABC -- to get a rise out of Trump.

Brookzene said...

"If you guys hadn't lowered the bar of what constitues "accomplishment" to passing the shitshow that is Obamacare and then playing golf for 7 years,"

This is a pretty funny visceral reaction (one of those 'feeling' things conservatives are so well-known for).

At least Obama passed some part of his legislative agenda and then played golf.

Brookzene said...

Mic drop.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Kevin said...
The GOP who voted eight times to repeal Obamacare can't repeal in when in the majority of both houses and with a willing president?

No. Nothing for Trump there.


This is fair. But all what it says is that Trump is getting rolled by the GOPe as well as Comey. Rather than focus on the thing that got him elected, declining good manufacturing jobs, he has been dragged into supporting the GOPe's death wish agenda. He should have said, 'Fuck you guys, you only have a job thanks to me. Pass my priorities first'. The reason he hasn't done this is because he is a dumpster fire, he has no governing principles/philosophy and just crashes from one self-inflicted crisis to another.

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

Qwinn said...

Did Obama pass Obamacare within his first five months? I didn't know that!

Oh, that's right, I forgot that it's perfectly fair to compare Obama's 8 years to Trump's 5 months and expect equal accomplishments.

Man, talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations.

Mic drop.

Swede said...

I don't know that they missed anything. I didn't watch.

But Jim Acosta whined about it.

It's so easy to upset their little apple cart.

I can see why it's amusing to do so.

Birkel said...

@ Chuck so called fopdoodle
Your daydreams and fantasies are entertaining. Pathetic too, of course. Your imagined crimes have not even been alleged. Your wishcasting impeachment scenario is decadent and stupid.

@ Brookzene
We will take your concern trolling seriously any minute now. Hold your breath to hurry the process.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

WaPo (WaPO?)

Yes - WaPo.


Trump committed no crime. Democrats need to get over it.

Inga hardest hit

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