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"President Trump has fired the director of the F.B.I., James B. Comey, over his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, the White House said on Tuesday."
“While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau,” Mr. Trump said in a letter dated Tuesday to Mr. Comey.
ADDED:
From WaPo:
Shortly before the announcement, the FBI notified Congress by letter that Comey had misstated key findings involving the Hillary Clinton email investigation during testimony last week, but nothing about that issue seemed to suggest it might imperil Comey’s job....
In defending the probe at last week’s hearing, Comey offered seemingly new details to underscore the seriousness of the situation FBI agents faced last fall when they discovered thousands of Clinton aide Huma Abedin’s emails on the computer of her husband, Anthony Weiner.
“Somehow, her emails were being forwarded to Anthony Weiner, including classified information,” Comey said, adding later, “His then-spouse Huma Abedin appears to have had a regular practice of forwarding emails to him for him I think to print out for her so she could then deliver them to the secretary of state.”... At another point in the testimony, Comey said Abedin “forwarded hundreds and thousands of emails, some of which contain classified information.’’
Neither of those statements is accurate, said people close to the investigation.
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453 comments:
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Alrighty then! Yipee!
Sorry America. But you know I, your president, am just that important. Pity about that whole country thing.
Do Leftists like TTR understand that constantly bringing up impeachment is an admission that they have no good ideas, no standard bearers, and no hope for regaining political power -- which is all they ever wanted?
I want Trump to succeed, even if America doesn't.
I am a Trumpist.
Well, Trump doesn't have an independent special prosecutor he can fire in a Saturday Night Massacre. But he had a somewhat independent-minded FBI director he fired.
That's something.
Nixon, you will be vindicated!
Do Leftists like TTR, who posts inflammatory attacks while day drinking, understand that most people want politics to be something less than all-encompassing? Do Leftists like TTR understand how off-putting his religious fanaticism about the role of government is to a majority of people?
And will Charlie Sykes deign to inform me whether my questions are legitimate?
Regarding the timing; Apparently Rod Rosenstein has only recently had access to the Hillary investigation file (he was confirmed April 26). Can't imagine why he might have come to the conclusion that Comey had to go ...
...most people want politics to be something less than all-encompassing...
What qualifies as "politics?" Your inability to see your Dear Leader held to account?
I'd say your inability to criticize him or even see him criticized counts as "all-encompassing."
That's how he rolls with his special brand of loyalty.
Normal people don't go along with that. Politics starts with your indefensible, obsessive defenses of every indefensible thing he does. Just 'cause your clique is smaller don't make it less f*cking political.
Give me a break.
Marty, "TTR is the anti-Lazlo". Well, an anti-Lazlo would write like a Puritan. Maybe an un-Lazlo? TTR is usually dull and not funny.
Watching slimy Schumer. The guy is hilarious.
I loved the way Comey justified his conclusions that Putin preferred Trump to Clinton:
Putin hates Clinton. (That's a safe bet, tons of people hate Clinton)
Putin thinks he can deal with Trump, a businessman. He never cites any evidence.
He never explains, I guess because he was incurious, why Putin would prefer a "Drill baby drill" Republican to an anti-pipeline, anti-fracking Democrat who has proven she can be bought, when he runs a fucking petro-state.
Given past history, it will be interesting to collect from the leaks over the coming days.
Inga said...
Birkel, what is wrong with you? There are plenty of people saying what Toobin and I said, lots and lots and lots of people will be saying this.
5/9/17, 5:50 PM
Lots of people thought Hillary was going to win. Lots of people think you can see the Great Wall from space. Lots of people think we only use 10% of our brain. Lots of people think the Earth revolves around the Sun. Lots of people think "Edelweiss" is an old Austrian folk song.
It's not political if it involves nothing more than absolute allegiance to the one most powerful ruler in the land, saith the Birkel.
Arabian organizations like Hamas and ISIS have the ba'ayah. That's how you identify the splinter terrorist organizations. Who just swore a loyalty oath to whom.
Very political, those folks. Always fighting over something. Always declaring the established order too impure for them.
@ TTR
When earlier you chided me about due process and now you ask that somebody be "held to account" for as yet unnamed Leftist fantasy issues, I take you inability to think critically as something less than substantial.
I honestly don't care very much about President Trump. I want Leviathan rolled back as I have stated repeatedly.
But I enjoy mocking you and Inga. Also, I think your crazed rantings on the internet signal a personality in crisis due to over consumption of alcohol and I want you to get the help you need.
Lots of people think "Edelweiss" is an old Austrian folk song.
There's this one guy who even thinks it was translated from "the Austrian."
Buwaya nails it. Once you become a banana republic, it's hard to get back. I know we can't without a better Constitution. Trump is incapable of doing it because government.
Senator Warner just said that now Comey can come and testify as to what was going on with the investigation and spill his guts. Ohhhhh, this going going to be good.
"Lots of people think the Earth revolves around the Sun."
What?
When Sean Spicer went out the day after and in Grand Orwellian style declared his inauguration the greatest and best ever, I think that was a pretty "all-encompassing" style of politics. And it was only the very special best in a preview of everything to come.
Most normal people seem to agree.
It doesn't matter.
The system is still in shock and struggling to adjust/retain control.
The PTB, the funders of the great corporatist enterprise, are doing their worst.
The enemies of the people are the malefactors of great wealth, as Teddy Roosevelt put it, but in those days the problems weren't as clear. These days they make and keep their fortunes by playing the political-regulatory system, to maintain monopolies and discourage competitors and inflate their property holdings. And all of them are vastly more wealthy than Trump.
Trump was a court jester, a clown, in their world. The tale of Trump is a story for the ages, where the jester turned the whole nobility out. Or died trying.
Hahahaha, Birkel is ranting about Leviathan again. Calm down Birkel, wipe your chin.
Ohhhhh, this going going to be good. - Inga
Keep hope alive!
When earlier you chided me about due process and now you ask that somebody be "held to account" for as yet unnamed
Hey, look at all that smoke! Smoke, smoke EVERYWHERE WE LOOK. Good thing there's not a fire anywhere!
I honestly don't care very much about President Trump. I want Leviathan rolled back as I have stated repeatedly.
Not gonna happen. You have courts. You have legislatures. You have 320 million people. You want a smaller government?* Depopulate America.
I'm sure Trump can figure out a way to do that. It looks like he already has.
*(Which you don't, of course - because when asked to name a "size" you decline).
"Trump is incapable of doing it because government."
Who knows? He has barely begun. It is a mighty struggle.
@ Inga
If you can define Leviathan as you understand it in a modern political context, then I will take your opinion into due consideration.
5/9/17, 7:05 PM Delete
I take you inability to think critically as something less than substantial.
I take you inability to speak proper English grammar as a sign that I pity da fool, T.!
@ TTR
If you Leftists continue to believe something hard enough, perhaps Charlie Sykes will approve you finding the fire.
Birkel reminds me of some little man who wears a bow tie and whose hands shake and are always sweaty.
@ TTR
Yes, anybody who leaves the 'r' off the word 'your' has an inability to "speak proper English grammar" while typing on the internet.
Did you know that typing =/= speaking? I assume your inability to distinguish reading from listening to be an effect of drunkenness.
Keep not naming the size of "Leviathan" whale government you want it reduced to, Birkel.
Not getting positions filled because no one can stand to work with the creepy putz and sign on to his "absolute loyalty to the man in the open bathrobe" oaths is not reducing government. It's being too incompetent and hated to inspire anyone to work with you other than your overworked son-in-law.
Buwaya, an unlimited government is incapable of reforming itself. And the amendment and convention process is so arcane, the People can't do it either. We're all just waiting for the blow-off.
@ Inga
I am living in your thoughts, rent free. And my sweaty, shaky hands are massaging your medula oblangata. Later, when you have an uncontrollable urge to adopt another stray cat, it will be my doing.
Boo!
Anyone else wonder what kind of an American president thinks of the FBI as some kind of "crown jewel"... in official communication?
The only thing that's keeping Trump from declaring a monarchy is that his only male heir with a brain is not of his own flesh and blood.
Blogger Original Mike said...
"Lots of people think the Earth revolves around the Sun."
What?
Cher announced this a few years ago. Maybe she has taken an astronomy course since. I would not question people like Leonardo DeCaprio too closely about it, however.
"Not gonna happen. You have courts. You have legislatures. You have 320 million people. You want a smaller government?* Depopulate America. "
All of these are inevitable. History has no good news for a civilization that has peaked. Schumpeters and Spenglers prophecies are inexorable - though Spenglers timing is probably optimistic. You are decadent, infertile, uncreative, irreligious and yet ridden with dogma, governed by special interests, hopelessly insolvent, and ever more inefficient. The future is a long decline, both absolute and relative.
Lucky you, you have a revolution in progress, but the shock may not suffice.
the FBI investigation of Clinton's mishandling of classified info is fucking shameful. Not only they hand out immunity like it was candy on Halloween, they let Cheryl Mills, herself at best a witness, if not a suspect, to sit in and represent Clinton during her undocumented "questioning" by the FBI and to invoke attorney-client privilege even though it was improper because she was never acting in her capacity as an attorney while employed by State.
Then, of course, Comey laid out the case against CLinton, but demurred to recommend prosecution because of mens rea elements that he implied, without any basis, into the criminal statutes to cover for Hillary.
While America should be grateful if his public conduct in any way prevented Hillary from getting elected (highly unlikely), he is clearly incompetent at best and corrupt at worst.
Buwaya, as an example, the Constitution gives unlimited power to the government to control commerce. How do we pry the Federal Reserve's hands off the world economy given that power?
I'm still trying to figure out what investigation of Trump everyone seems to think Comey was heading up that was about to reveal some groundbreaking truth since Trump and Comey both seem quite clear there was none.
@ TTR
Perhaps you have missed the many times I have said exactly how big government should be. I will refresh your memory:
No matter how the tax code is written, the federal government never collect more than 20.5% of GDP as taxes. The lower bound is 19% if you consider the historical data.
Any government that spends more than 20.5% over a long enough time will be bankrupt. Given the doubling of federal debt under Obama, it is plain that government spending has far outstripped government tax collections. Therefore, as a percentage of GDP, the federal government must be reduced to spending no more than 20% of GDP until the debt obligations of the federal government are controlled.
Failure to regard the upper limit of federal taxation will result, inevitably, in bankruptcy and a reduction in the standard of living of future generations in this country.
This is based not on my strong political preferences, but on my ability to recognize patterns in the data. #Math
FDR was so wrong to expand the federal government. If only we'd retained rag-tag state militias to fight WWII then we would have removed those fascist threats to our national security in no time!
Here's a clue: Anyone who talks about reducing government (to a size and by a metric intentionally left undefinable), especially while swelling the budget of the biggest military than the next ten nations combined, is a liar. And not someone to trust when it comes to their political agenda.
They're just paranoid about what that anti-marijuana activist crusader Jeff the Cracker Sessions will do to them.
Maybe someday he'll lynch a marijuana cookie. Just to show it some symbolic justice. Probably while wearing white bedsheets.
I'm so glad this man is running our justice department. The untold pain that non-toxic substances that discourage blind obedience to authority have caused! Oh Lordy!
https://www.blogger.com/profile/07910151287310721405 - Unknown Troll posing as Inga.
https://www.blogger.com/profile/08011944303412560799 - Inga ( The real one, perhaps)
So yeah, I confess to not believing you are the "real Inga" myself
https://lawfareblog.com/nightmare-scenario-trump-fires-comey-one-man-who-would-stand-him
"On November 10, we wrote that that Trump’s firing of Comey would be a “a clear bellwether to both the national security and civil libertarian communities that things are going terribly wrong.” At the time we wrote those words, Comey was deeply unpopular with both the Left, which blamed Hillary Clinton’s defeat on his eleventh hour letter to Congress, and the Right, which criticized his decision to recommend that Clinton not be charged over her handling of government emails. Whatever the merit of Comey’s actions during the campaign, the fact that he managed to anger both sides of the political spectrum demonstrated his storied political independence. And that political independence, we argued, would serve as a critical check against any efforts on the part of President Trump to trample the rule of law.
Trump’s clumsy attempt to deny that his own conduct is at issue in the FBI’s inquiry is foolish. Comey testified just the other day that the FBI is “conducting an investigation to understand whether there was any coordination between the Russian efforts and anybody associated with the Trump campaign.” Splitting hairs over whether this does or does not mean that Trump is “under investigation” cannot obscure the fact that Trump just fired someone who is leading an investigation that deals with whether his aides, campaign, and White House staff had improper dealings with adversary foreign intelligence service.
Getting rid of Comey removes the guy who is running the Russia investigation. It removes the guy who can look Congress in the eye and say credibly that the FBI is investigating whether anyone in the Trump orbit was actively working with the Russians. It removes the guy who, in February, reportedly refused the White House’s request to publicly knock down stories about Trump and Russia while congressmen in key positions of investigatory responsibility allegedly complied. It removes the one person of stature (figurative as well as literal) in the government whom everyone knows will--even when he’s wrong--do what he thinks is the right thing and damn the torpedos. It removes, in other words, the essential person for a credible investigation.
It’s a neat trick: stymie the Russia investigation by siding with Hillary Clinton. Put another way, what if you had a Saturday Night Massacre and liberals cheered because they hated Archibald Cox?"
... Do people seriously STILL believe the golden shower dossier nonsense?
@ TTR
I defined the metric quite plainly. Look at the historical data of tax collections by the U.S. federal government as a percentage of GDP. The statistics are easy enough to find.
And then argue that the math can lead to any conclusion but the one I have offered, repeatedly.
"How do we pry the Federal Reserve's hands off the world economy given that power?"
You don't. The world will outgrow the US, at some point, and the idea of the Federal Reserve controlling anything abroad will be about as absurd as the Bank of England doing so.
No matter how the tax code is written, the federal government never collect more than 20.5% of GDP as taxes.
What do you base this on and why is Trump bloating the DOD? He's doing the same shit as the last Republican did. Cutting taxes reduces revenue as does bloating the military - which is also "government". Republican math never adds up. They start with ideology and proceed from there.
The anti-government militarists are back in charge and here to see that we reduce revenue, bloat the budget for explosive toys, (when not parading them around), cut services, and then expect a different historical result from every time this was done in the past.
Remember in early November when everyone was calling for Obama to fire Comey for interfering with the election, and there were whispers he was truly a Russia Trumpian agent?
Good times.
Virtually Unknown, ok I confess. I'm not the real Inga.
I'm still trying to figure out what investigation of Trump everyone seems to think Comey was heading up that was about to reveal some groundbreaking truth since Trump and Comey both seem quite clear there was none.
These are the same people who hung their hopes on the imminent indictment of Governor Walker.
I used to think that "I greatly appreciate you not informing me" was incorrect and that Althouse's construction was better. Then I learned in Greek about predicate clauses, of which this is one. Both subject and object in such a clause take the accusative. Strange! But correct, at least in Greek, so why not in English too?
I love how the grammar was what was on Althouse's mind.
So... was there a stench of cover up when Obama fired all those Inspector Generals?
The Russia thing is smoke generated by the Hillary campaign, and promulgated by her well documented cadre of operatives in the media.
When there is some actual evidence, let me know. As it is, it's all horse shit, no pony.
@ Matthew
... Do people seriously STILL believe the golden shower dossier nonsense?
They watch Rachel Maddow, Stephen Colbert, CNN, and they believe!
Virtually Unknown, ok I confess. I'm not the real Inga.
Wait 'til I prove with geometric logic that you stole the strarwburry ice cream!
Birkel buys into the Birkelian fantasy that "the poor are impoverishing America!" Not enough is being done for the wealthy! The government must return more revenue to them so that they can buy more golden goose egg-laying formula! Billionaires and millionaires are not being sufficiently incentivized by government policy to make more money! Oh no! They are too scared to make money now! If only the government could do something to change this. I know that when the government gives me more of my tax money the first thing I want to do is to make myself richer. Makes total sense. As does the converse: the more of my money that goes to taxation the less interested I become in finding other ways to make more money. Of course.
No offense, but spoken like a true poverty case. It's amazing how many yokels making less than $60 grand annually seem to think they know everything about billionaire psychology.
Here's a piece of entrepreneurial psychology: When you don't have good safeguards for insurance portability, including pre-existing conditions, you take less business risks and start fewer small businesses.
How many businesses have you not started, Birkel? It's amazing how many things you know about that you have no first-hand experience with. But at least you could choose to be rational and hear out the people who do.
I guess that would be blasphemous to Edmund Burke though, or somethig.
@ TTR
I base it on my considerable knowledge. You are free to find the statistics, published by the Fed, that show U.S. federal government tax receipts as a percentage of GDP. You now have a chance to prove me wrong on a point of fact and educate yourself, or both.
Think how thrilling it will be to prove me wrong. You will be the smartest boy on the blog, even smarter than Chuck.
A few days ago, Hillary blamed Comey for her election loss, and now, right on Q, the collective left are melting down.
"If only we'd retained rag-tag state militias to fight WWII then we would have removed those fascist threats to our national security in no time!"
Hmm. It was about, I think, 1917 that the USN became the worlds second-largest navy.
Note - this was just with a peacetime building program.
The WWI expansion exceeded the RN in count of hulls by 1918 IIRC, though the proper count at the time was of Dreadnaughts.
At some point in the 1920's or 30's the USN became the largest. Again, with just a peacetime program and the Washington Naval treaty, because the RN was unable to build to its treaty limits.
@Inga And here's what Chuck Grassely had to say: "Over the course of the last several months, Director Comey's decisions on controversial matters have prompted concern from across the political spectrum and from career law enforcement experts.
“The handling of the (Hillary) Clinton email investigation is a clear example of how Comey's decisions have called into question the trust and political independence of the FBI. In my efforts to get answers, the FBI, under Comey's leadership, has been slow or failed to provide information that Comey himself pledged to provide."
Grossly heads the Senate Judiciary Committee which has the majority of dealings with the FBI. I see your Burr and raise your Grassely!
Here's the "oppressive massiveness" being cut, at work:
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just dismissed half the members of a key science advisory committee? Last Friday, the EPA failed to renew nine members on the Board of Scientific Counselors, the advisory committee that reviews the work of scientists within the EPA."
Oh no! Science being used to determine what poisons us or not! How oppressive. That committee and those nine scientists just made me feel soooooo overwhelmed and oppressed. Toxins in my food and products and stopping the science that investigates them is good for my freedum. I ain't never been oppressed by toxic waste. Bring it on!
@ TTR
You use the word revenue to refer to tax receipts. That is deceptive. Try harder.
Grab your carry on.
@ TTR
Again, you can find the statistics and prove me wrong. But the tax receipts of the U.S. federal government have varied between 19 and 20.5% as a percentage of GDP since the end of WWII.
If you think this fact supports any conclusion other than that which I have offered, knock yourself out.
I base it on my considerable knowledge. You are free to find the statistics, published by the Fed, that show U.S. federal government tax receipts as a percentage of GDP. You now have a chance to prove me wrong on a point of fact and educate yourself, or both.
Impressive appeal to authority, there.
Hey, if correlation = causation, in your book, how about that correlation between Republican presidential administrations and greater run-ups of debt in good economic times?
You're so into evidence Birkel it's sexy! Oh, that "considerable knowledge" of yours. Just wondrous and stupendous. You should write for Business Insider. Trump is tapping you to his Council of Economic Advisors - should the body still exist. You never know. By now it's probably Jared Kushner "running" it.
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just dismissed half the members of a key science advisory committee?"
Yet another Quango part-gone. A good start. These things are insidious and egregious. They are one of many sources of semi-official regulation, unaccountable and unmanageable.
"... Do people seriously STILL believe the golden shower dossier nonsense?"
Hey, if they'll believe the Earth revolves around the sun, they'll believe anything.
@ TTR
You can prove me wrong if you like. The statistics are easy to find.
tax revenues as a percentage of GDP
"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday he is “disappointed” with President Trump's decision to fire FBI Directory James Comey, arguing such a move reinforces his calls for a special congressional panel to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“While the President has the legal authority to remove the
Director of the FBI, I am disappointed in the President's decision to remove James Comey from office,” McCain said in a statement."
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/332649-mccain-disappointed-in-trump-for-firing-comey
Inga: "It’s a neat trick: stymie the Russia investigation by siding with Hillary Clinton. Put another way, what if you had a Saturday Night Massacre and liberals cheered because they hated Archibald Cox?""
This is the third fake Saturday Night Massacre the Dems have trotted out.
I expect we will have at least 6 accusations per year of a Saturday Night Massacre by the Dems since it takes about 2 months for the Dem base to "forget" about the last one.
It is amusing to see the lefties on this blog recreate the phenomenon that occurred when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.
After the 1939 German Soviet Nonaggression Pact that opened the way for the invasion of France, the communists in Hollywood all became peaceniks. The antiFascists turned on a dime and said there should be no US involvement in a European war.
Then Hitler invaded USSR and they turned on another dime. Suddenly, "Second Front Now!" was the theme.
Kissinger said it was the best way to identify the communists in Hollywood.
The leftists here wanted Comey's head because he had cost Hillary the election.
Then, suddenly, he is a candidate for sainthood. It is just hilarious.
Thanks Birkel. I just GOOGLED them.
Here's what I found:
Country Tax as % of GDP
Nigeria 6.1
Norway 43.6
OECD 34.8
Oman 2.0
Ok, so you want to be like Oman and Nigeria and I want to be like Norway.
I think we're done here!
So Trump has confirmed Clinton and the left's claims regarding Comey and cast suspicion on himself with a single action. Is there nothing this man can't do?
Shortly before the announcement, the FBI notified Congress by letter that Comey had misstated key findings involving the Hillary Clinton email investigation during testimony last week
You can prove me wrong if you like. The statistics are easy to find.
tax revenues as a percentage of GDP
Those who know no history are condemned to repeat it. The 19% number has been stable for 70 years. I think Obama did get it to 20% briefly but the economy responded as anyone who knows anything about economics would expect.
The 90% tax brackets had no effect.
DRAGO:
Rosenstein's letter is more persuasive. Sorry I hadn't had a chance to review it when just cursorily looking over King Trump and Grand Wizard Session's more curt and uninformative letters.
Just letting you know. Maybe there is something more legitimate to this part of it. But with Trump, you never know.
Is there nothing this man can't do?
I hope so. Getting the economy moving would be a big help.
"MSNBC host Joe Scarborough implored Republicans to "stand the hell up" to President Trump after his decision Tuesday afternoon to fire FBI Director James Comey.
"This is your moment to be counted," Scarborough told GOP lawmakers in a tweet.
The "Morning Joe" co-host added in another tweet to his 1.18 million followers that Republican lawmakers owe the president nothing in an apparent effort to compel them to speak out against the sudden termination of Comey."
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/332664-scarborough-to-gop-stand-the-hell-up-to-trump?amp
I think Obama did get it to 20% briefly but the economy responded as anyone who knows anything about economics would expect.
Tripling the Dow, cutting unemployment in half.
Horrible, expected responses.
I like how now that there's an elephant in office, Republicans have switched back to the "deficits don't matter" mode. If only they could think of something to spend with those deficits other than big fiery pyrotechnic toys for President Pompous Pompadour to parade around with.
@ TTR
The U.S. government has collected taxes amounting to about 20% of GDP per year for the last 70 years. You can want 43.6% all you want. I suggest you send lots of money to candidates who espouse precisely that point of view publicly. That seems a good investment for you.
A shorter way to answer me would have been "I see that you are correct about tax receipts as a percentage of GDP and understand that over the long term spending more than what is collected leads to bankruptcy and ruin" but we both know you are drunk.
My Facebook account is filled with claims that we are in the middle of a coup. It's a huge emergency, a Reichstag Fire.
Hysteria.
Sheriff Clarke in line for FBI director. Threatens to prosecute Hillary
Check out the countries at the top and bottom of this list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tax_revenue_to_GDP_ratio
I'm taking away from it that Republicans wish we were more like Burma or Bhutan and Democrats wish we were more like Belgium.
It's good to know where people stand on the models they look to.
How is 6% like 19%-20%?
Even Charles Krauthammer, the hackiest of the right wing hacks, can't believe what Trump has done.
"Do we really believe Donald Trump, after all these months, decided suddenly to fire this guy because he damaged Hillary back in July?
If you are saying the ostensible reasons are implausible, then you are looking at something we have not heard about, and we end up with that very strange clause that you read in the letter from Trump to Comey. “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation,” — who has been talking about FBI investigations of Trump? This sort of explodes on us without any preparation, without any background. I suspect where this is going to go is to that clause."
@ TTR
You are saying conservatives are saying "deficits don't matter" and what I'm saying is government spending cannot be maintained over tax receipts over the long term.
We both know you are drunk but that was just plain stupid.
"cutting unemployment in half."
Because the unemployment rate did not account for the extended reduction in the labor force participation rate. Which, though people like Bernanke worried about it to the point of saying the official unemployment rate was not useful under the circumstances, the press was notably not interested.
BTW, if you really do want an accurate picture for the sake of self education, if not berating people, the BLS and St. Louis Fed sites are excellent.
"Even Charles Krauthammer, the hackiest of the right wing hacks"
Krauthammer has been a complete Trump enemy since 2015.
The U.S. government has collected taxes amounting to about 20% of GDP per year for the last 70 years. You can want 43.6% all you want. I suggest you send lots of money to candidates who espouse precisely that point of view publicly. That seems a good investment for you.
I don't give a shit how much we spend or don't spend. I just want:
no more 2008s
no spending more militarily than the next however many countries combined
no gutting of less expensive social services and science - no matter how threatened industries profiting from poison us feel "threatened" by them
no sucking up to billionaires and millionaires from government; they're doing fine enough and don't seem to do more for the economy when they're sucked up to
no pretending that poverty is a choice
You get the picture. It doesn't take a lot of decency to suck up to people richer than you and kick those poorer than you.* I want a more decent country.
*Except when I do it to you ;-)
@ buwaya
The Saint Louis Fed is the third link to the statistics I am highlighting. Quite naturally TTR goes for the first link: wikipedia.
Hell, I even managed to give TTR a chance to say I was wrong because he doesn't understand the time series data well enough to know why what I am saying is correct. I'm generous.
Republican Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr said...
'I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey's termination. I have found Director Comey to be a public servant of the highest order, and his dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the Committee.
You are saying conservatives are saying "deficits don't matter" and what I'm saying is government spending cannot be maintained over tax receipts over the long term.
Speak English. No one even knows what this means, my impoverished Republican friend. Trump wants to cut services that cost less than he'd get back then the amount he's boosting for war and billionaires. He is increasing the debt and using the excuse of his belligerence, materialism and contempt for the poor to do it. Take it from rich folks (i.e. not you). We don't need your pity. It demeans us. We'll do what we can and will with our own post-tax income, thank you very much.
Worry about yourself and your own rung of the economic ladder, instead.
@ TTR
And now you are saying that deficits don't matter. That's the sort of intellectual rigor we have come to know and love from our resident rich entrepreneur who gets day drunk.
TTR, it is a point of fact that the first Congress funded the Standing Army per the Constitution. And did not fund any Militia. So the national Militia has been dead since 1790. You often appear foolish but never more so than when you say shit without knowledge.
ARM: "Even Charles Krauthammer, the hackiest of the right wing hacks, can't believe what Trump has done."
This is false. Krauthammer is in complete agreement that Comey had to go.
His complaint is that he doesn't believe the total basis for the firing is JUST about how he handled the Hillary emails. Krauthammer puts much more weight on the Comey usurption of the AG authority.
Krauthammer also didn't like the style if the move.
But again, Krauthammer is fully in support of removing Comey.
I am quite sure ARM did not intend to mislead, eh ARM?
Lol
@Inga Susan Collins - probably the only liberal Republican left in the Senate said this: In an interview on Fox News, Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted that Mr. Trump did not “fire the entire F.B.I.”
“He fired the director of the F.B.I.,” she said. “And any suggestion that this is somehow going to stop the F.B.I.’s investigation of the attempts by the Russians to influence the elections last fall is really patently absurd.”
John McCain: senile and self serving. Always looking for approval from the NYT.
Original Mike said...
"Lots of people think the Earth revolves around the Sun."
What?
5/9/17, 7:01 PM
The Earth orbits the center of mass of the solar system.
@ TTR
Conservatives say "deficits don't matter". 7:46 PM
"I don't give a shit how much we spend or don't spend." 7:52 PM
That's delicious.
Jesse McLaren said...
TRUMP: Can't be an investigation if there's no FBI Director.
And now you are saying that deficits don't matter.
No, I'm saying Republicans don't think they matter. (Except politically).
What they think matters are the following: Enriching the already rich, bloating the military as the only foreign policy "tool," cutting inexpensive social programs, and making life harder for lower-middle class Republicans so that your sense of "pride" is catered to.
AReasonableMan: "Republican Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr said..."
Richard Burr, John McCain, et al. The usual suspects and no fans of Trump.
McCain said the same thing although McCain did admit Trump was fully within his rights as President to remove this guy.
AReasonableMan: "Jesse McLaren said...
TRUMP: Can't be an investigation if there's no FBI Director."
Who is Jesse McLaren and why do we care about made up quotes?
"The Earth orbits the center of mass of the solar system."
Which is inside the sun.
Conservatives say "deficits don't matter". 7:46 PM
"I don't give a shit how much we spend or don't spend." 7:52 PM
That's delicious.
The taste of stupidity, everybody!
I didn't say we shouldn't spend/not spend within our means. You've just started with the false premise of declaring that our means are pre-defined by saying that we're magically prohibited from taxing anything other than a certain magical number in the middle of a number that ranges from one-fifth to more than twice among other countries.
Maybe you think we are special. DIfferent. Magical.
Keep cutting that science and science education, Mr CO2 doesn't matter!
John Aravosis said...
"Doesn't matter how many Dems don't like Comey. Issue is Trump's motivation for firing Comey. If to obstruct Russia probe, it's a crime."
@ TTR
You don't care how much we spend or don't spend, so long as it approaches 43% of GDP when tax collections have an upper bound of 20.5% but you think Republicans don't think deficits matter.
Get treatment.
You don't care how much we spend or don't spend, so long as it approaches 43% of GDP when tax collections have an upper bound of 20.5%
Clearly you don't think the IRS is doing as good a job as it could be doing if it were in Europe, then. I challenge it to persecute you and your lower-middle class pretax earnings, Mr, Bottom 50%!
@ ARM
When did you and John Aravosis become mind readers? Can anybody become a mind reader? I am fairly sure Sally Yates is a mind reader too. Did you guys take classes together?
Newsweek:
FBI Director James Comey Is Unfit for Public Service
By Kurt Eichenwald On 11/7/16
Politicus:
Call On President Obama to Terminate F.B.I. Director Comey on November 9
By Rmuse on Sun, Oct 30th, 2016 at 9:53 pm
NYPost:
Obama aides want Comey out after email bombshell
By Edward Klein
November 2, 2016 | 6:23pm
Oct 31, 2016 - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid says FBI Director James Comey violated the Hatch Act
AReasonableMan: "John Aravosis said
"Doesn't matter how many Dems don't like Comey. Issue is Trump's motivation for firing Comey. If to obstruct Russia probe, it's a crime."
John Aravosis!
Lol
Note to the lefties: comey's not doing any grunt work!
@ TTR
You have always been a mean drunk. Was that an issue in the custody hearings?
"David Wright @DavidWright_CNN
Source w/ knowledge of discussions inside WH tells @DanaBashCNN senior officials did not think firing Comey would be big political explosion."
Oh my God, what morons.
Get treatment.
Psychiatrists! Another top-earning class that charges (usually) other wealthy individuals for not much.
When you go to one, make sure you tell them that you are yet another bottom 50%-er happy to enrich the already rich.
You're not doing your fair share to enrich the successful in life, Birkel. Bad boy!
Birkel: ARM
When did you and John Aravosis become mind readers? Can anybody become a mind reader? I am fairly sure Sally Yates is a mind reader too. Did you guys take classes together?"
The only mind readers I am personally aquainted with are Inga and "lifelong republican" Chuck.
I appreciate you informing me - the appreciation is for Comey.
I appreciate your informing me - the appreciation is for the information.
TTR: "Psychiatrists!"
That would make a good Mel Brooks movie title.
@TTR Glad you finally read Rosenstein's memo. Here's the link again for those who haven't read it.
You would all do better if you spent a little time researching the background instead of going off half-cocked and with out facts. You let your prejudices hamstring your intelligence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tax_revenue_to_GDP_ratio
Not to be taken without a grain of salt. Or barrels of salt.
These comparisons are very difficult to do as large parts of either taxation or public spending are difficult to compare.
- Taxation by different levels of government entities. Many of these compare US Federal vs other national, without including US State and local taxation. And its a huge pain to get into details of each country in that way also.
- Semi-official entities with what amount to the power of taxation, such as, say, capital expenditures by US public utilities or the French State-owned Électricité de France. In? Out? What parts are in or out for the sake of comparability? How financed and where is the cost of finance counted?
- Pension schemes. Some are plain taxes, and a government pension without regard to pay-in. There is a vast variety of these things out there. Government? Private? How to compare? How is SS treated?
- Medical care. In Japan for instance this is managed (for those not covered by employers) by local insurance funds that are semi-government entities, that are off-budget, but there is a mandate to pay them. Again, in or out? This is a more difficult mess than pensions.
- And then there are mandates. Lots of governments, the US not the least of them, like to make things happen by mandating expenditures that are off-budget. The US requirement for employee medical insurance for instance is off-budget. But how do you compare the US or Japan vs the UK NHS, that is entirely on-budget?
Etc.
@ TTR
You have always been a mean drunk.
I could never be as mean as you are proud - of being in the bottom 50%.
Birkel, enriching the already rich will not benefit you. Nor will it make you look respectable. And it's not necessary. Those of us above you economically can already kick you anyway. We just prefer to do it rhetorically, with wit. Online!
If you want to do your fair share to help the top wage earners, Birkel, then give up the economic ass-kissing. It demeans your economic betters and it demeans you.
"While Mr. Comey spoke, television screens in the background began flashing the news that he had been fired.
At first, he thought it was a joke. In response, Mr. Comey laughed, saying he thought it was a fairly funny prank. Then his staff started scurrying around in the background and told Mr. Comey that he should step into a nearby office."
Newsweek:
FBI Director James Comey Is Unfit for Public Service
By Kurt Eichenwald On 11/7/16
Politicus:
Call On President Obama to Terminate F.B.I. Director Comey on November 9
By Rmuse on Sun, Oct 30th, 2016 at 9:53 pm
NYPost:
Obama aides want Comey out after email bombshell
By Edward Klein
November 2, 2016 | 6:23pm
Oct 31, 2016 - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid says FBI Director James Comey violated the Hatch Act
The Washington Post, this morning, May 9 -- Comey lied to Congress
Lying to Congress is not only more than sufficient cause to remove, it would be wrong not to.
Inga: "Oh my God, what morons."
Oh, another unnamed source from CNN, the dossier guys, is to be believed.
Uh huh.
Morons. They aren't who some people think they are.
The left has always been at war with firing Comey.
Oh, sorry Inga. I forgot that you have inside contacts as well as being a mind-reader.
@Full Moon Thanks for a little perspective. Wasted on some, appreciated by others.
@ TTR
Do you know why 20.5% of GDP is the upper bound on U.S. tax collections? HINT: It's because Americans change their behavior and avoid taxes.
Again, if you wish the U.S. to collect more as a percentage of GDP, I suggest you donate the maximum allowed to candidates that announce their support for such policies. Stay true to yourself.
A further hint: It is often the lowest quintile of income earners who refer to their personal knowledge of St. Louis Fed data. That's just science.
Expect to hear a lot of this:
Warren on Comey firing: We need a special prosecutor who "Trump can't fire"
In the 'you can't make this shit up' department:
"Trump confidante Roger Stone has said the Clintons are connected to dozens of murders, but he told The Daily Caller what former FBI Director James Comey did to Hillary was “disgraceful” and he deserved to be fired."
You would all do better if you spent a little time researching the background instead of going off half-cocked and with out facts. You let your prejudices hamstring your intelligence.
Forgive me. It's just me adjusting to the Trump era way of doing things. ;-)
I'd never heard that Rosenstein guy before. Trump I had. Sessions I had. Comey I had. I just wish all three of them hadn't shown me so much as it took to make a snap decision on how the whole darn thing looked. Eventually it's like the boy who cried wolf with that guy. It's much easier to assume Trump's capable of making a competent decision for the sake of something greater than himself if he would just simply bother to do that every now and then. But all that noise me makes has me tuning him out. It's up to him what he wants to focus on and if he wants to distract the country to the point that we just assume there's nothing trustworthy in his newest move, then that's a dynamic he bears at least as much responsibility for. One's reputation is at some point in one's own hands - no less with Donny Tinyhands.
@ ARM
I can almost hear Warren beating the war drums. The smoke signals are on the horizon.
At first, he thought it was a joke. In response, Mr. Comey laughed, saying he thought it was a fairly funny prank. Then his staff started scurrying around in the background and told Mr. Comey that he should step into a nearby office."
Whoa. Worst way to find out you're fired ever.
Usually people are asked to tender their resignation in these sorts of positions. He wasn't told before it broke in the news.
Do you know why 20.5% of GDP is the upper bound on U.S. tax collections? HINT: It's because Americans change their behavior and avoid taxes.
So take out the loopholes.
But that ain't gonna happen. Trump has no intention. Trump makes no allies, Trump makes no friends. Trump just does what O'Reilly and Steve Doocey tell him to do. There will be no "swamp draining." There will be no bipartisanship. Trump loves to fight. He can't compromise, even for the sake of something greater. (Is there any other reason?) He won't give an inch, decided he's all in it for the basest of the base, and fuck the middle, let alone the other side. No grand bargain here. He didn't even come up with the title for The Art of the Deal.
At some point you might have to just accept that he's all image and phony and an actually shit negotiator.
Daily Kos, this morning -- "James Comey lied under oath, will congress do something?"
Daily Kos, this evening -- "One word for Donald Trump's firing of Comey: 'Nixonian'"
Then we have the same usual suspect assholes shitting in the punch bowl here and ruining another discussion with the same crap as the rest of the left.
Comey just lied to Congress over a pathetically easy question, and did so convincingly. Is it not likely that Comey has been lying about other things? And not just in public? And that his lies have compromised other ongoing investigations by the FBI?
The split infinitive doesn't bother me as much as "While I greatly appreciate you informing me." In casual speech, it's okay, but just too casual for the occasion. It should be "While I greatly appreciate your informing me..."
Both are correct, with slightly different meaning.
The "you" tends towards the specific occasion and the "your" the general occasion.
"Employees fired by Trump:
Sally Yates
Preet Bharara
James Comey
Employees investigating Trump:
Sally Yates
Preet Bharara
James Comey"
Everyone worried about this Nixonian firing... where was the outrage over Obama's continual refusal to fill IG positions and firing them?
@Mark Couldn't find the WaPo , but here's another one from Politicus entitled "James Comey busted for lying to Congress about Clinton's emails....". But hell he's the guy we want at the FBI so he can continue to perjure himself. Incompetent. Firing long overdue.
I can't wait to read Comey's book. He'll spend 850 pages tossing around allegations of malfeasance and criminality that he investigated against Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions, Rex Tillerson, Rudy Giuliani, Ivana Trump, Ivanka Trump, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jamie Dimon, Warren Buffett, all four of the Koch brothers, Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Jesse Jackson Sr. and Jr., Bill Cosby, Ted Bundy, Al Bundy, Chelsea Clinton, Harry Reid, Mitt Romney, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Rev. Billy Graham, and at the end he'll say that he can't reveal any of his conclusions because the investigations are ongoing.
Twitter says ... "Kellyanne Conway saying "it is not a cover up" is like Nixon saying "I am not a crook""
@ TTR
You think loopholes explains the tight bounding of U.S. tax collections as a percentage of GDP over the last 70 years, despite all the changes to the tax code over that time? I know you're drunk and logic escapes you most of the time anyway.
But you have taken ignorance and belligerence to a truly remarkable place. It's almost like your ideology cannot be overcome with mere facts.
@ ARM
When did Twitter "say" this thing?
There is so much wrong with what you typed that I am literally shaking my head.
@TTR If you, in fact, read Rosenstein's memo you have seen that many former DOJ people of both political persuasions felt that Comey was guilty of professional misconduct. Would you allow one of your employees to continue in a position of responsibility if he had been accused of professional misconduct? I would hope not; think off the liability.
By the way , the Rosenstein memo was linked to several times early this afternoon. Would have saved you a lot of rants if you had read it early on.
Twitter says ... "Only the most brainless Trump supporter will believe Comey was fired because he treated Clinton badly. "
Trump doesn't know how to make deals. New Yorkers know how to make deals. Trump just decided he's along for their ride.
New York City voted against this schmuck by 90% to 10%. Nine-to-one. As one of them said, he's the "hometown boy done bad." They know him. They didn't want him. They saw what he did in their neck of the woods. Made every single tiny little insignificant god awful thing a major drama about HIM. Don't you think they can smell that stuff? If anyone can notice braggadocio gone toxic I'd think if a New Yorker did, I'd believe him. It's like a Martian telling me a guy's gotten too red. A fish telling me someone's too wet.
Trump is not the deal-maker you were looking for. These aren't your droids, either.
You will find out, in time. Until then, enjoy the drama he feeds you. I'm sure you think you're really defeating the left, or whomever it is that he's convinced you he's made a common enemy out of.
Smooth move by the Trumpster. He had the newly confirmed Deputy U S Attorney who got high Dem praise and a 96 to 4 vote fire his subordinate, Comey.
And the reasons outlined in the firing recommendation were direct quotes from the Dem Campaign Letter signed by the Dem Big Guns attacking Comey last July.
Tripple smooth move.
LBJ on a prior FBI director: "It's better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in."
-Bill Kristol
Campaign Promise: Drain the swamp
Check.
857,000 more to go.
"Not since Watergate has a president dismissed the person leading an investigation bearing on him"
@TTR Rosenstein is in charge of the "Russian investigation" because Sessions recused himself. He was not confirmed until April 25. You need to keep track of the players then your rants will have a firmer basis.
By the way , the Rosenstein memo was linked to several times early this afternoon. Would have saved you a lot of rants if you had read it early on.
Yeah, maybe. But I've got an entire administration or two to get through with the Boy who Cried Wolf and by this point it actually just saves me a lot of time to assume he's lying, especially when acting against someone who hasn't sworn a blood loyalty oath to him. He lies 90% of the time. Whatever benefit of the doubt he'd been entitled to long ago dried out. At this point I give him the benefit of the lack of doubt I have... that he'll lie. Eventually.
But apparently not today. I trust he'll come back around to lying his ass off once again as usual by about May 20th at the latest. Otherwise he might need to check with his doctor.
Dear Toothless. If the New Yorkers didn't want Donald Trump then they should have told the Democrats to put up someone better than Hillary Clinton. Bad as Trump is (and I profoundly disagree with your puerile assessment), we could have had worse.
This may come as a bit of a shock, but out here in flyover country we don't much care what New Yorkers want or don't want, because they don't much want us.
@ TTR
I will note that you are refusing to engage after challenging me, learning that I had facts in hand to support my point, and recognizing that you are uninformed. It is noted.
Now you are sputtering and presenting opinions. I will not argue your opinion against you except to note my opinions are just as valid.
It is now evening so your drinking is no longer day drinking.
Grab your carry on.
Timothy Naftali, a former director of the Nixon presidential library, said ...
“With or without Mr. Comey, the F.B.I. will continue to investigate the 2016 campaign as it relates to Russian intervention. This is another kind of mistake. Unless Attorney General Sessions can prove malfeasance or gross negligence by Comey, the timing of this action further deepens suspicions that President Trump is covering up something.”
Comey and his people got too close to the truth, implicating both Trump, people in his administration, and Sessions. Fire the bum, they said.
Hello, Donald J. The truth will come out eventually and you will be the ex-president.
Praying for that day to come soon.
Vicki from Pasadena
ARM--When you are citing Twitter as a source of reasoned opinion (you at 8:27 above), it is time to turn off your computer.
Twitter is the nattering of those who have nothing much to say. You are better than that.
But you have taken ignorance and belligerence to a truly remarkable place. It's almost like your ideology cannot be overcome with mere facts.
It's almost like your poverty can't be overcome by your ideology.
But I really do love listening to a typical lower-middle to middle-class Trump voter explain the behavior of billionaires to me. That's rich!
You should be a corporate motivational psychologist for hedge fund managers, Birkel!
ARM: That's wrong.
Obama fired an IG who was investigating a friend of his administration.; in fact, there were several IGs investigating the Obama administration/Obama allies who were fired.
khesanh0802 -- You're right. The Washington Post's story seems to have gone down the memory hole. And we've always been at war with Eastasia.
I will note that you are refusing to engage after challenging me, learning that I had facts in hand to support my point, and recognizing that you are uninformed. It is noted.
My facts were better than your facts! I looked at other countries around the whole world!
You looked at St. Louis regional fed management.
America is apparently only exceptional at that 20% thing, in your book.
Carry on. What to make a law of the universe out of one simple number. What is this, natural log? Pi? The Fibonacci series?
Get a fucking grip, Fake Scientist!
Dear Toothless. If the New Yorkers didn't want Donald Trump then they should have told the Democrats to put up someone better than Hillary Clinton.
Yeah, no doubt. How that justifies any of Trump's many never-ending abominations however is beyond me to explain.
This may come as a bit of a shock, but out here in flyover country we don't much care what New Yorkers want or don't want, because they don't much want us.
Never cut off your nose to spite your tiny hands.
@ TTR
As I typed above: It is simply a fact that the bottom quintile of income earners confidently and accurately cite St. Louis Fed data. Anybody who knows anything about the world know that to be true.
"Not since Watergate has a president dismissed the person leading an investigation bearing on him"
News reports are saying the White House didn't expect a big fallout?
They didn't expect fallout???? My spouse just now, "it's a madhouse."
Who believes for a second that Hillary would not have fired Comey had she won?
The shit just got real. Hillary better lawyer up and Obama's Magic Negro Card just expired. I do hope a special prosecutor is appointed but not just limited to the nonsensical Russian hysteria but to the real criminal conduct of the Obama Administration.
Breaking tonight.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/09/politics/grand-jury-fbi-russia/
Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI's Russia investigation
Washington (CNN)Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to associates of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn seeking business records, as part of the ongoing probe of Russian meddling in last year's election, according to people familiar with the matter. CNN learned of the subpoenas hours before President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey.
The subpoenas represent the first sign of a significant escalation of activity in the FBI's broader investigation begun last July into possible ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia.
The subpoenas issued in recent weeks by the US Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Virginia, were received by associates who worked with Flynn on contracts after he was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, according to the people familiar with the investigation.
Robert Kelner, an attorney for Flynn, declined to comment. The US Attorney's Office in Alexandria, the Justice Department and the FBI also declined to comment.
@ARM I did not know that Twitter had the ability to author its own Tweets. Usually tweets are ascribed to a person. You learn something everyday.
.... and now you are quoting the NYT unattributed.
Amadeus 48 said...
Twitter is the nattering of those who have nothing much to say. You are better than that.
Trump voter talks truth to power.
As I typed above: It is simply a fact that the bottom quintile of income earners confidently and accurately cite St. Louis Fed data. Anybody who knows anything about the world know that to be true.
Bottom 50% provide less than 3% of revenues. I'm not sure the bottom 40% of them have very self-interested opinions on revenue.
Why don't you try earning some money first before you bludgeon me with the supposed trustworthiness of your interest in how it's used, mkay?
I haven't seen anyone else mention the name, so I will: I'd like to see Trump name David Clarke Director of the FBI.
@ Inga
The press has once again misled you by calling an investigation of Michael Flynn (who may very well have lied in a way that creates criminal culpability -- beyond my scope) an investigation of a Russia interference in the U.S. election, that you then conflate with an investigation of Trump and the entire Trump Administration.
If Michael Flynn lied in a way that subjects him to criminal sanction, we will know in short order. Of course, issuance of grand jury subpoenas of business records does not indicate unlawful behavior.
I suggest you keep your hopes sky high. And hold your breath.
my prediction: special prosecutor.
Inga said...
Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI's Russia investigation
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/09/politics/grand-jury-fbi-russia/
As I said earlier, the night is still young.
@ TTR
The federal government collects taxes. It does not have revenue. That misnomer illustrates the dishonesty of the Left.
Further, your reliance on income tax data is misplaced. The total tax burden of low income earners, when all tax sources are considered, is much higher than the 3% lie you tell above. Corporate taxes can be quite regressive, as can be many of the other less obvious federal tax collection methods.
You are out of your depth.
I stop by every hour or so to see the lefty hysteria. Especially rich is ignoramuses telling others they don;t know, try earning some money first before you bludgeon me with the supposed trustworthiness of your interest in how it's used, mkay?"
You could not make this stuff up. The thread will be over 400 comments soon, but I only read about a quarter.
Charles Krauthammer said...
“Do we really believe that Donald Trump, after all these months, decided suddenly he had to fire this guy because he damaged Hillary back in July? Another implausible conjecture.”
'implausible conjecture' is an interesting phrase to use, when a single three letter word would have done.
James Comey is desperate to keep his image intact
By Paul Waldman May 9 at 12:57 PM
Washington Post
". . . The latest revelation is that, according to reports by ProPublica and the The Post, he didn’t tell the truth last week in congressional testimony when he defended his decision to go public with the supposed revelation that the FBI had found some of Huma Abedin’s emails on her husband’s computer."
wwww said...
my prediction: special prosecutor.
Almost unavoidable now.
The federal government collects taxes. It does not have revenue. That misnomer illustrates the dishonesty of the Left.
Oh wow. So that money becomes "not-money" by virtue of the government collecting and handling it. Neat! Never knew! Nice way to argue pointless semantics. Any other dictionary definitions you want to change? You're a pretty ambitious bottom 50-percenter, aren't you?
Further, your reliance on income tax data is misplaced. The total tax burden of low income earners, when all tax sources are considered, is much higher than the 3% lie you tell above. Corporate taxes can be quite regressive, as can be many of the other less obvious federal tax collection methods.
Oh right. Regressive corporate taxes. Another revenue stream I'm sure you'd like to make even MORE regressive.
You are out of your depth.
And you're out of your debt. Just think of all that money you DON'T have, that the government returning to you, WON'T DO to increase the debt, or to decrease yours.
Stop harassing me. You need to find a rich person who actually WANTS you to kiss his ass. I know you have a lot of pride - very disproportionate to what you make, and you want to feel justified and compensated for that.
But you're barking up the wrong tree here, CATO institute wanna-be.
Soon, very soon, AG Sessions will begin the final Gleichschaltung of our judiciary. After that, Trump can begin unfettered construction of ovens in Idaho for "undesirables" and erecting fenceposts in Wyoming for non-lethal punitive measures. Do I have the Lefty mindset down?
Josh Marshall said...
"The idea that Trump fired Comey because he was unfair to Hillary Clinton or set aside DOJ guidelines in a way that was damaging to her is clearly not true. Indeed, it is so transparently nonsensical that putting it forward as a rationale suggests a certain presidential indifference to what anyone thinks.
In criminal trials there are certain actions defendants can take from which judges will tell juries they can infer guilt. In a political context, this is one of those moments. We are now hearing word from White House officials that the White House is stunned at the backlash at Comey’s firing. Didn’t Democrats think he was doing a bad job? We’re even hearing commentators speculate that maybe this may have been a huge miscalculation. The White House didn’t realize how big a deal this was. In the final analysis I think this will be judged a major miscalculation – just not in the sense they mean. Frankly, no one is that naive. It doesn’t wash.
There is only one reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from the decision to fire Comey: that there is grave wrongdoing at the center of the Russia scandal and that it implicates the President. As I write this, I have a difficult time believing that last sentence myself. But sometimes you have to step back from your assumptions and simply look at what the available evidence is telling you. It’s speaking clearly: the only reasonable explanation is that the President has something immense to hide and needs someone in charge of the FBI who he believes is loyal. "
Jeff Zeleny said...
"I am told just moments ago that the President himself has been considering this, been thinking about this for at least a week. Did not necessarily have the rationale when they first started talking about this but then asked the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General to look for that rationale and that explanation. And that is what we got this afternoon. The timing of this, of course, so interesting, Erin because the Russian investigation front and center, it is one of the things that aggravates this president more than anything at all."
Josh Marshall -- LOL -- a real deep impartial thinker there ever since his chads were hung out to dry.
@ARM: Remind me again for whom Jeff Zeleny works?
Josh Marshall said..."The idea that Trump fired Comey because he was unfair to Hillary Clinton or set aside DOJ guidelines in a way that was damaging to her is clearly not true."
No, he set aside DOJ guidelines in a way that was damaging to the rule of law.
@ARM: You're just just spinning in circles, quoting all the predictable analyses from all the predictable source.
Hit us with something unexpected -- as unexpected as the firing of Comey. I know you can do it.
There will lots of quotes from Republicans at the time including Sessions praising Comey for announcing Huma laptop and reopening.
Next up: Inga quotes something Racheal Maddow said. Wait for it.
BREAKING: Russia Investigation Subpoenas Went Out HOURS Before Comey Firing
1. I don't believe that the WH did not know this was going to be a big deal. They are not stupid - as much as TTR would like us to believe they are. They are treating it like what it is - business.
2. Of course the Dems are making a big public noise about this, but you can bet that in private they are saying "it's about time someone nailed that asshole"
3. There will be no special prosecutor. For those who believe the Dem points that Trump will not last. Good luck. I suspect Pence is every bit as tough and committed as Trump so there would be little change even if Trump were ousted.
4. Trump will not lose a minute of sleep over this.
5. Sometimes firing someone is the absolute best thing to do regardless of the pain.
6. Drastically changing what goes on in DC is essentially a war. Didn't Bannon say that at one point? There are going to be casualties and unpleasant moments. Politics is not bean bag.
Trump-Russia conspiracies are the birtherism on the left.
Ben Sasse said...
"Regardless of how you think Director Comey handled the unprecedented complexities of the 2016 election cycle, the timing of this firing is very troubling. Jim Comey is an honorable public servant, and in the midst of a crisis of public trust that goes well beyond who you voted for in the presidential election, the loss of an honorable public servant is a loss for the nation. As the chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee, I have reached out to the Deputy Attorney General for clarity on his rationale for recommending this action.”
Julian Borger said..
"If confirmed, the news that a grand jury has been convened and has started issuing subpoenas suggests that the investigation into the Trump camp’s links with Moscow has entered a new phase.
While the Republican majorities in the House and Senate could hold back congressional investigations and a new FBI director to kill off its counter-intelligence investigation, a grand jury is not under Trump’s control. He may not be able to stop the Russian collusion affair from going to court."
Preet Bharara said...
"EVERYONE who cares about independence & rule of law in America should be "troubled by the timing and reasoning" of Comey firing. Period."
Aren't subpoenas issued by the DOJ, not the FBI?
From ARM's link
Flynn’s people aren’t talking about the subpoenas right now, but this, coupled with the Sally Yates testimony yesterday indicates that there were some serious issues with Flynn.
Of course, the information coming out of the White House indicates that Comey’s firing was for an unrelated issue – check out my colleague streiff’s post on the details here – and it is not really clear when or if these timelines converge. It is very hard, however, to imagine that Trump would so brazenly fire Comey over the subpoenas considering that in his letter to Comey states Comey told him three times he wasn’t under investigation.
That will not stop the Democrats, mind you, who have already decided that this is the Very Worst Thing In The World Part 934.
@ ARM Your headline/link is inaccurate. Here are quotes from the original CNN article referred to in Redstate:
"CNN learned of the subpoenas hours before President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey."
"The subpoenas issued in recent weeks by the US Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Virginia,, were received by associates who worked with Flynn on contracts after he was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, according to the people familiar with the investigation."
Not that there's that much difference, but it does change the dramatic emphasis you spun on it.
khesanh0802 said...
Your headline/link is inaccurate.
It is THEIR headline.
"Justin Amash, a Republican congressman from Michigan said he was reviewing legislation to establish an independent commission on Russia in the wake of the news."
Nothing to do with the Russia investigation.
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