Althouse: Trey Gowdy on the Strzok hearing: "Public hearings are a circus... I mean it's a freak show."

July 15, 2018

Trey Gowdy on the Strzok hearing: "Public hearings are a circus... I mean it's a freak show."

"I mean the private interviews are much more constructive. But I would also say this — I mean put yourself in President Trump's shoes for just a second. Jim Comey thought that impeachment was too good for you. John Brennan says you should be in the dustbin of history. Those are not insignificant people, one headed the FBI the other headed the CIA when you were under investigation. The lead FBI agent said that you would be destabilizing for the country and promise to stop your candidacy. I mean, Margaret if you were being investigated by people who had that level of bias and animus against you I think you would be concerned as well. What I would tell the president is no American has been indicted for conspiring to hack the DNC but Russia did attack us...."

On "Face the Nation" this morning.

ADDED: I chose to blog this quote because "It's a freak show" felt so close to what I thought when I watched the hearings. As I blogged on the 13th: It was "some of the most ridiculous political theater I've ever seen."

145 comments:

n.n said...: Russians allegedly unfriended Facebook robots and forced some mild conflation of press and parrot.; 7/15/18, 1:45 PM
Michael K said...: Yeah, we certainly would not want a Republican acting like Ted Kennedy with Brezhnev, or Chris Dodd when he was aiding the Ortega regime in Nicaragua.

Then we have Mark Felt and his coup d'etat with Reagan. Strzok is in an old, if not fine, FBI tradition.; 7/15/18, 1:46 PM
rhhardin said...: Public hearings produce sound bites that influence women, always a difficult reality challenge.; 7/15/18, 1:56 PM
rhhardin said...: As for the FBI, traditions change. Wearing a dress is okay now.; 7/15/18, 1:57 PM
rhhardin said...: Tony Schwartz, who ghost wrote Trump's 1987 bestseller, 'The Art of the Deal,' says that Trump has likely been an “asset” of the Russian government for at least 30 years.

- on the internets; 7/15/18, 2:03 PM
David Begley said...: Time to appoint a Special Counsel. Comey, McCabe and Strzok will all be indicted and convicted for conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice in the Hillary email investigation. Brennan too.; 7/15/18, 2:07 PM
Earnest Prole said...: “Public hearings are a circus... I mean it's a freak show.”

Now he tells us. I take it the Strzok hearings didn’t produce the desired soundbites. Next time, assume the chief of FBI counterintelligence might be a pretty good liar and act accordingly.; 7/15/18, 2:08 PM
David Duffy said...: The Russians hacked the DNC server. The emails showed the DNC to be corrupt. How many people's vote was effected by the realization of DNC corruption is anyone's guess. But, it was DNC corruption that influenced the election, not the Russians.

Exposure of corruption is usually considered a good thing. But, I am told daily the Russians and Trump are bad people. I have never heard, from NPR, from the major networks, from the media why the DNC emails were damaging to Hillary.

Hey NBC, NPR, CBS, report it this way, "Twelve Russian officers were indicted for hacking the DNC emails. The emails exposed corruption in the Democratic Party during primaries."; 7/15/18, 2:12 PM
Narayanan said...: It is congress freaks trying to show us who are the freaks in agencies.

Surprised that they don't realize we've realized they all are the freaks; 7/15/18, 2:16 PM
Michael K said...: I take it the Strzok hearings didn’t produce the desired soundbites.

I strongly disagree. Have you seen the Democrats antics at that hearing ?

The election ads write themselves.

The "Purple Heart" idiot has retracted his idiocy but it is right there on video.; 7/15/18, 2:18 PM
FullMoon said...: To distribute the stolen emails, the Russian operative created a fictitious group named DCLeaks, claiming it was made up of U.S. "hacktivists." They made up fictitious people and a Facebook page to promote the leaks online. The computer that operated the Twitter account for DCLeaks was the same computer used for some of the fake social media campaigns intended to stir up protests in the U.S.

Pretty easy to see which people were most influenced by Russian interference.; 7/15/18, 2:21 PM
Anonymous said...: I am always impressed with Trey Gowdy whether on talk shows or in committee hearings. Articulate, always well prepared, tough as nails yet with a sense of perspective and humor. He will be sorely missed when he heads back to SC.; 7/15/18, 2:23 PM
Tyrone Slothrop said...: Certainly FBI agents have always had, always will have, political opinions. Maintaining the appearance of impartiality has always been a pretty good substitute for actual impartiality. So it is really astonishing what a blatant lack of discretion Agent Strzok showed. Merely carrying on an extramarital affair on Bureau-owned communications devices should have been sufficient to terminating Strzok's employment, and Page's as well. In a classic counterintelligence world, both were vulnerable to blackmail.

Why did Strzok behave this way? He believed that every superior who could affect his career in any way, from Comey to Lynch to Obama, was in total agreement with him, that he would not be punished for his indiscretion but rewarded. He believed he was untouchable. Doubtlessly he entertained the notion that Hillary would make him Director some day. After all, she never gave a shit about security.

Strzok still thinks he's untouchable. Even his body language makes this clear. Given the fecklessness of Sessions and the partisanship of Rosenstein, he is not without justification.

What to do? Gowdy thinks hearings are a circus and so they are. Strzok smirks because Congress can't, won't, risk reelection by actually doing something. The solution is obvious to me. Make Gowdy put his money where his mouth is. Make him Attorney General. There has never been an AG with better professional qualifications. DOJ's house needs cleaning, now, with extreme prejudice.; 7/15/18, 2:35 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: I am always impressed with Trey Gowdy whether on talk shows or in committee hearings. Articulate, always well prepared, tough as nails yet with a sense of perspective and humor. He will be sorely missed when he heads back to SC.

Plus, he's a regular on old episodes of Forensic Files during his prosecutor days!; 7/15/18, 2:37 PM
Michael K said...: Maybe Sessions wants to go back to the Senate. Turn things over to the USA in Utah, Huber, and go back to Alabama in 2020.

Maybe Gowdy wants to be governor.; 7/15/18, 2:38 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: Is there a reason we have to listen to anything this Gowdy Gaudy Gumby Head Beaker Look-Alike has to say? He's a freak of cosmic proportions who has the self-control of a lunatic.; 7/15/18, 2:46 PM
Bob Loblaw said...: The public hearings are always a bit ridiculous. The point is to inform the public, not discover anything. The investigation happens in the earlier closed hearings.; 7/15/18, 2:54 PM
mockturtle said...: For some, the process is always more important than the product.; 7/15/18, 3:00 PM
mockturtle said...: Pants reminds us: Plus, he's a regular on old episodes of Forensic Files during his prosecutor days!

Yes! He's a brilliant prosecutor. It's also too bad that there are no NEW episodes of Forensic Files.; 7/15/18, 3:01 PM
Browndog said...: It's quite remarkable to see Andrew McCarthy do a complete 180 on the Mueller investigation. To the point he is now openly mocking him.

Additionally, I do not believe for one second that the Russian government hacked the DNC server. Cute trick to allege and indictment them, but never have to provide any evidence, let alone prove it in a court of law.; 7/15/18, 3:04 PM
Bob Loblaw said...: Additionally, I do not believe for one second that the Russian government hacked the DNC server.

I do. I think they were one group of many that did so.; 7/15/18, 3:13 PM
Howard said...: Thanks PPTape. That link was the first I looked at this silly hearing. By rhhardons standard, Gowdy Cesarean Forelocks is the one going Full-On Soap Opera impressing women and Estrush Limbaugh males. Stzrck playing the straight-man seems culturally appropriative, but there you are.; 7/15/18, 3:22 PM
wildswan said...: The hearing resulted in the country getting a look at Peter Strzok. He was awful and he plainly thought he was doing well. All these hearings, stories, IG reports dig out bits of truth - such as who was Peter Strzok, the man leading the different investigations - which are adding toward a total. The two sides may be adding the bits differently or they may be adding them the same privately while the left spins each revelation differently in public. Overall they aren't adding up to Russia collusion and they aren't adding up to impeachment.

The left put all their eggs in that one Mueller / impeachment basket while Trump is counting on innocence, media skill, lowering taxes, increasing employment, suppressing ISIS, appointing judges, renegotiating trade treaties, leaving the Paris Accord etc. The Dems have to run on impeaching the President so that they can press the reset button - raising taxes, increasing unemployment. They have a work-to-welfare program. That won't look any better than Smirking Strzok. And I am sure Hillary will run again or at least meddle or collude - which is also a Trump asset.

In short, we're looking at the tabloid version of history right now but our daily freak show of becoming is also that sober being, history.; 7/15/18, 3:30 PM
Oso Negro said...: So Peter Strzok was in for a bit of public excoriation. It's better than arrest, torture, or assassination.; 7/15/18, 3:34 PM
Mountain Maven said...: All True.
So soon we forget the farce that was the hapless GOPe interrogating H. Clinton over Benghazi. I mean if they couldn't bring down that sick old war horse, how are they going to nail a fully functional psychopath like Strzok?; 7/15/18, 3:34 PM
FullMoon said...: The hearing resulted in the country getting a look at Peter Strzok. He was awful and he plainly thought he was doing well. All these hearings, stories, IG reports dig out bits of truth - such as who was Peter Strzok, the man leading the different investigations - which are adding toward a total. The two sides may be adding the bits differently or they may be adding them the same privately while the left spins each revelation differently in public.

The hearing was on a work day. Many people interested did not watch. Most voters are not interested and get info from MSM snippets. Partisans enjoy confirmation bias by cherry picking segments.; 7/15/18, 3:42 PM
Narayanan said...: Has Gowdy prosecuted any government functionaries in his home state? What kind of plea bargains ?; 7/15/18, 3:43 PM
YoungHegelian said...: What I would tell the president is no American has been indicted for conspiring to hack the DNC but Russia did attack us...."

I say this as someone who has been in IT for over 25 years, active for many of those years in the Federal marketplace, and as a past holder of a TS clearance: show me the evidence of the Russian attack. Show the now enormous online IT community the evidence & let us thrash out among ourselves what our conclusions are. I have simply not seen any indisputable evidence of Russian governmental involvement. Yes, I know -- showing us "sources" means revealing our intelligence capabilities that we'd like to keep covert. I'm sorry, that excuse has been used too many times to cover up malfeasance for me to give it any credence.

Basically, I no longer trust, if I ever did, the intelligence communities to provide unbiased analysis. While I tend to trust Rep. Gowdy, I don't trust him to vet topics like this which are technically not in his area of expertise.

Put up or shut up.; 7/15/18, 3:44 PM
traditionalguy said...: Trey Gowdy is one magnificent lawyer. His cross examination skills had the Dems trying to outshout him, and soon likely to start faking heart attacks and seizures just to end the hearing NOW!

Fortunately our President Trump is safe roving around overseas under intense armed guards while the final Gunfights erupt in DC.; 7/15/18, 3:47 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Who killed Seth Rich and why?; 7/15/18, 3:50 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Strozk certainly made it all a grand freak show. Strozk is an arrogant walking freak show. It is a total embarrassment for our nation that he has a top job (or any job) inside the FBI.; 7/15/18, 3:52 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: A few weeks ago- you leftist loved Gowdy. What changed?; 7/15/18, 3:53 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: I watched every last second of the hearing. It was worth the time to see Strzok make a fool of the Republicans on that committee. I had more respect for Gowdy before the hearing, but he fell flat on his face during that hearing.; 7/15/18, 3:55 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Gowdy appeared no less freakish than Gohmert and Jorden, sad to see.; 7/15/18, 3:56 PM
Earnest Prole said...: So soon we forget the farce that was the hapless GOPe interrogating H. Clinton over Benghazi. I mean if they couldn't bring down that sick old war horse, how are they going to nail a fully functional psychopath like Strzok?

Zactly.; 7/15/18, 4:00 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The collective hivemind left rushed in to protect and shelter poor poor little boy Strozk - tells us all we need to know about the modern corruptocrat party.; 7/15/18, 4:07 PM
Howard said...: See how dickingbimbos4piece bounces from seth rich to kicking gowdy to the left. Next she will go to her hive mind standby. In any event, if Gowdy thought he won, he would not have slagged off on his own hearing. If his grilling prevailed as realpolitik, he would have climbed the Press the Meat Soapbox shouting for more scalps to bow down before his Chair.; 7/15/18, 4:07 PM
Howard said...: Hivemind double-post score!!!!!!; 7/15/18, 4:08 PM
Michael K said...: Inga and Howard and Ritmo make quite a team.

Those hearings will provide plenty of campaign ads for the GOP this fall.

Should be interesting.; 7/15/18, 4:11 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Yep. The arrogant man-boy shimmy.; 7/15/18, 4:13 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Weaponized arrogance gets you more Trump.; 7/15/18, 4:15 PM
Leland said...: I agree with Michael K. The hearing provided a bonanza of campaign material for the GOP. That said, the GOP will need to something to GOTV of its base, and what Gowdy is doing, isn't it or, if you prefer, enough.; 7/15/18, 4:18 PM
narciso said...: Resonating understanding:

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/07/15/sunday-talks-john-ratcliffe-discusses-strzok-and-page-testimony/; 7/15/18, 4:20 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Those hearings will provide plenty of campaign ads for the DNC this fall.; 7/15/18, 4:23 PM
narciso said...: I don't think there were any mutineers in Reagan's era except perhaps Larry korb who was Lehmans bete noire, David Michael who challenged the white paper on so salvador.; 7/15/18, 4:24 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger Inga said...
Those hearings will provide plenty of campaign ads for the DNC this fall.

It would be too much to hope for but not even the DNC is as stupid as you are.; 7/15/18, 4:25 PM
narciso said...: Robert white was the fmr ambassador from which Kerry would draw his staff of crazies.; 7/15/18, 4:26 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “It would be too much to hope for but not even the DNC is as stupid as you are.”

It would be too much to hope for, but not even the RNC is a senile as you are.; 7/15/18, 4:26 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger narciso said...
I don't think there were any mutineers in Reagan's era except perhaps Larry korb

Reagan had a Democrat Congress with Dodd and Boland doing what they could to block his policies.

Eventually they brought in Lawrence Welch to harass the administration.

Today we see the results of their labor in Nicaragua.; 7/15/18, 4:27 PM
Howard said...: Dr K expressing classical paranoia persecution complex. I proscribe more Jordan Peterson less Alex Jones.; 7/15/18, 4:27 PM
Limited blogger said...: Trump is king of the hill. These dopes can't even get close enough to try and push him off.; 7/15/18, 4:28 PM
narciso said...: I grew up in Miami, the heart of la causa I went to school with folks whose parents had flown in operation Pluto then the congo.; 7/15/18, 4:31 PM
Howard said...: Blogger Dickin'Bimbos@Home said...

Yep. The arrogant man-boy shimmy.
That's all you got and I'm glad it makes you happy. Apparently more was expected of Gowdy... that's why he had to fell on this own petard for the msm this morning; 7/15/18, 4:31 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Narsisco -
“...It’s a really curious way about going about an investigation if you’re serious. Typically, when you’ve got defendants in foreign jurisdictions, you don’t hold a public press conference and announce it if you have any intention of ever of prosecuting them. The indictments should have remained sealed until you could lure those defendants to a jurisdiction from which they could be extradited, arrested, and then unseal the indictments. So it really seems like, from my perspective, this is more about the Special Counsel trying to justify the work that they’re doing, and their existence, rather than trying really seriously prosecute folks that were trying to meddle in our election.”

The timing of the Russian indictments was all to spread frosting over the embarrassing Strozk shit how.; 7/15/18, 4:32 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The part where Gowdy forced Strozk to read Strozk's own texts was great. The hacks in the corruptocrat party shat their little man-panties.; 7/15/18, 4:33 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: It's illegal to use Democrat hack's own words against said democrat hack. Democrat hacks are above the law. See: Hillary Clinton.

Hillary-Strozk 2020!; 7/15/18, 4:34 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger Howard said...
Dr K expressing classical paranoia persecution complex. I proscribe more Jordan Peterson less Alex Jones.

Howard, you sound more rational on the other thread. I would not know how to find Alex Jones.

I have read Petersons book. Have you ?

Sometimes you can't be paranoid enough.

So, do you like what is going on in Nicaragua?

I suspect you are old enough to remember Dodd and Boland blocking Reagan and the Contras.; 7/15/18, 4:39 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Gowdy admitted the obvious, Howard. The hacks in the D-Party (The Party) talked over the top of anyone who asked an uncomfortable question of dear apparatchik Strozk. It was a total joke.; 7/15/18, 4:39 PM
narciso said...: Yes basically in the camarena case, they didn't unveil the rendition toll after the rendition.; 7/15/18, 4:40 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “The part where Gowdy forced Strozk to read Strozk's own texts was great.”

And he enjoyed doing so, lol! He could barely contain himself from smirking even more than he did.

“The hacks in the corruptocrat party shat their little man-panties.”

It was epic, lol. I wish they had made him read more of the emails, more than half of the country agree with him wholeheartedly. You fools think that any Democrat cringed at hearing that? Hahahahaha!; 7/15/18, 4:42 PM
narciso said...: I'm sure he was a fan of Ortega, probably looked away with mengistu engineered famine.; 7/15/18, 4:43 PM
MadisonMan said...: @Inga, it doesn't matter if Democrats cringed. If Independents cringe, that is a huge problem for Democratic chances in November.

Keep on whistling in the dark.; 7/15/18, 4:44 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Inga- you're a hive-mind Party loyalist. The fact that you like Strozk tells us all we need to know about you. You're disgusting.; 7/15/18, 4:47 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “Inga, it doesn't matter if Democrats cringed. If Independents cringe, that is a huge problem for Democratic chances in November.”

If you’re referring to yourself, you don’t come across as independent at all and I suspect you don’t speak accurately for independents.; 7/15/18, 4:47 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: If there is any justice, Strozk will get his. If not, we really do live in Corruptocracy.; 7/15/18, 4:49 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Strzok is the true patriot. The rest of you are no more than cultists.; 7/15/18, 4:49 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: What will your President give away to Putin? Why the secrecy? Why don’t you people question this meeting? Trump says he didn’t even think of asking Putin to extradite the 25 Russians that have been indicted.

Where is your patriotism?; 7/15/18, 4:53 PM
heyboom said...: Inga has lost the argument and can only post over the top and irrational statements that I don't think even she believes.; 7/15/18, 4:54 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “Inga has lost the argument and can only post over the top and irrational statements that I don't think even she believes.”

There is no “argument”. There is only the making of observations about you people.; 7/15/18, 4:56 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Explain how he is a patriot. All that lying and perjuring himself make him a patriot? Does covering for Hillary make him a patriot?

I suspect it's Strozk's psychopathic unhinged biased and unprofessional hatred of Trump that makes him a patriot, right Inga?

Also, Strozk's extramarital affair gives him all sorts of street cred with you leftists.; 7/15/18, 4:57 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Can tax payers get a per-word texting refund for his over-paid FBI salary?; 7/15/18, 4:58 PM
FIDO said...: It is hard to get good quotes or a glimpse at the truth when one builds a stonewall around it.; 7/15/18, 5:00 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Inga likes an arrogant hack in the FBI. Strozk's man-boy shimmy gives her The Party school girl giggles.; 7/15/18, 5:00 PM
Michael K said...: Inga gives us a nice example of Democrat thinking, if you choose to be generous with the "thinking" part.

These people will never see the path they are following until it is too late.

Even Tom Perez refuses to address the "abolish ICE" nonsense.

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in November.

I wonder if the Whigs saw what was coming after 1856 ?

Some may have but were trapped in an indefensible situation.

I don't think Trump hate is enough of a platform to run on for a major party.

I guess we will see. When was the last time a major party ran on such a suicidal matter ?; 7/15/18, 5:09 PM
Michael K said...: Maybe the the 1983 Tony Benn Labour Party is the best example we have.

Labour survived but there was an infrastructure of young Labour officeholders to come back.

Did the 1983 Manifesto really cost Labour the general election?

The Conservative party won the 1983 election by a landslide. Some historians claim the 1983 Manifesto was the key reason for Labour’s massive defeat, but a number of other major factors were also at play.

At least Labour had real positions on issues. They didn't just run on Thatcher hate although there was plenty of that.

We'll see.; 7/15/18, 5:13 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Goodwin speaks

"Who is this jerk, I wondered, and how in the hell did he get to be a big shot at the FBI? And why are taxpayers still paying for the privilege of his malignant presence on the FBI payroll?

My answers can be summarized in four names: James Comey, Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein and Christopher Wray. They are chief culprits in the death of public trust in the Department of Justice.

The cause of death was murder, and it was an inside job.

Strzok, whose voluminous texts with his office lover show him to be a king of partisan bias, rose to leadership positions under former FBI director Comey — and it shows. Comey’s self-righteousness was his ultimate undoing, but not before he led the agency into a double death grip of corruption and rank partisanship.

Blinded by his own ambition, Comey brushed aside superiors, rules and maybe laws while giving Hillary Clinton a free pass and turning the screws on Donald Trump. Comey defends himself by saying he sought to protect the FBI’s independence, as if it — and he — are a fourth branch of government that is beyond accountability from the other three.

In the end, he disgraced the agency and himself, though gained consolation in the millions he made by selling his book to Trump haters.

But the FBI didn’t stink only from the head — Comey’s deputy, Andrew McCabe, also was fired, and could be prosecuted for allegedly being dishonest with investigators about a media leak.

Strzok appears to be a chip off the Comey/McCabe block. Like them, he insists he is committed to the FBI’s high standards, but his reprehensible conduct makes a mockery of his claims.

His stated contempt for Trump and his promise to stop him from becoming president render Strzok unfit to be a dogcatcher.

But, aping his mentors, he nonetheless demands his denials of wrongdoing be accepted as if his integrity is self-evident. All three believe they are entitled to trust and respect, without having to earn or return either. "; 7/15/18, 5:15 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: RTWT; 7/15/18, 5:18 PM
FIDO said...: Perhaps some people are not 'Independents' here.

The question is 'does Inga have a better read on how Independents will see this'?

So we have to look at the last election and realize..oh...um...

After having judged independents so poorly last election, one would think wise Lefties might be a bit more humble in their 'finger on the public pulse'

Perhaps 'wise Lefties' would but how many of them are there actually?; 7/15/18, 5:18 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: ...
Then there is Comey’s successor, Christopher Wray. He looks as if he wandered into the wrong movie theater and can’t find the exit.

He defined himself as unwilling to tackle the mess he inherited by downplaying the devastating Inspector General report on the handling of the Clinton investigation. While conceding the findings made it “clear we’ve got some work to do,” he minimized them by saying, “It’s focused on a specific set of events back in 2016, and a small number of FBI employees connected with those events. Nothing in the report impugns the integrity of our workforce as a whole, or the FBI as an institution.”

Baloney. While it’s true only a fraction of the total employees were singled out, they were the director of the FBI, his top deputy, the deputy’s top lawyer and Strzok, the head of counterintelligence.

Others were also faulted, but not named, including an agent who tried to get his son a job on Clinton’s campaign while sending campaign boss John Podesta “heads up” e-mails.

And so the corruption of the Justice Department proceeds, unmolested by actual justice. The voter revolution of 2016 has more work to do."; 7/15/18, 5:19 PM
walter said...: Did someone ask Strzok how his HR position is going? When's his first evaluation?; 7/15/18, 5:20 PM
walter said...: "Look Pete, we call them employees, not assets."; 7/15/18, 5:29 PM
iowan2 said...: Somebody has to had to compile a list of things the Democrat Part has been force to defend. This hearing had them running interference for a disgraced #2 agent in charge of counter intelligence.Nominating an agent for a Purple Heart, that now works in human resources, stripped of all his power. The Democrats have been force to defend fire, for cause,FBI Director James Comey, and offered asst Director McCable A job when he was fired from his post for malfeasance of office. Dems defend illegal aliens in general and the gang MS13 specifically. There are dozens more. Any Republican running for any office can define their opponents agenda. It's an unbeatable position to run on.; 7/15/18, 5:42 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Isn't everything inside the top brass at the FBI a Clinton "heads up"?; 7/15/18, 5:47 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: It's only a matter of time until Rachel Maddow sets up a go-fund me page for Strozk, the Patriot and Purple Heart deserving lefty flavor of the month.; 7/15/18, 5:48 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Blogger Dave Duffy said...
“The Russians hacked the DNC server. The emails showed the DNC to be corrupt. How many people's vote was effected by the realization of DNC corruption is anyone's guess. But, it was DNC corruption that influenced the election, not the Russians.”

No - there is really no real evidence that the Russians hacked the DNC server. At least nothing that would, or could, stand up in court. And more reason to believe that they didn’t. No one outside DNC contractor Crowdstrike has ever seen the email server that was supposedly hacked. Not the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. Why not? Crowdstrike is run by a good friend of guess who? Mueller of course. And Crowdstrike appears to have been one of the contractors that the FBI was allowing to do opposition research using FISA 702 (USPERS) database searches (along with even more likely another DNC contractor: Fusion GPS). And the intelligence community assessment? A handful of handpicked analysts from three of better than a dozen intelligence agencies, which ignored existing policies). And, again, all they had to work from was the little evidence that Crowdstrike gave them. And conspicuously missing was detection by the NSA of the sorts of transnational bandwidth usage that would have been required if the Russians had, indeed, hacked the DNC server. Far, far, more likely, given the time stamps, was that it was an inside job. Which, of course, is exactly what Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, where the DNC emails were dumped from, said.; 7/15/18, 5:53 PM
Comanche Voter said...: Maybe the Russkis did hack the DNC. If so I suspect they were just one of several groups who all had their shot at the Clinton/DNC mess. And I don't doubt that there were folks trying to break into the Trump campaign as well.

But I've got a problem with blaming it all on the Russkis. Supposedly some of the "hacked" Democrat e-mails came out on a thumb drive. You have to ask yourself, just how 10 or 12 GRU officers sitting in Moscow managed to reach out and shove a thumb drive in a USB slot of a DNC computer. I mean talk about "boarding house reach".; 7/15/18, 5:55 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: “Strzok, the head of counterintelligence”

To be fair, that was Strzok’s boss: Bill Priestap. Strzok started 2016 as the lead investigator, and ended it as Priestap’s deputy.; 7/15/18, 5:56 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Bruce - which is also why Hillary Clinton wants Julian Assange murdered.; 7/15/18, 5:56 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: By my count, Mueller has now indicted 25 Russian citizens (13 Trolls & 12 Intelligence Agents).

But we have no extradiction treaty with Russia and we have no jurisdiction over them.

Do we have any criminal prosecutors among the Commentariat to shed some light on this? Indicting people who live in different far away countries, who will never come to court for trial, seems kinda odd. You can't even give them really high bail ($1 gazillion dollars!) as potential flight risks, because they're already gone!; 7/15/18, 5:58 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “By my count, Mueller has now indicted 25 Russian citizens (13 Trolls & 12 Intelligence Agents).”

Do you think that there will be no more indictments of Americans? I seriously doubt it.; 7/15/18, 6:12 PM
narciso said...: It's not so cut and dry:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1018552403392651267.html; 7/15/18, 6:14 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: “Maybe the Russkis did hack the DNC. If so I suspect they were just one of several groups who all had their shot at the Clinton/DNC mess. And I don't doubt that there were folks trying to break into the Trump campaign as well.”

Just a reminder, there are three different email servers involved:
1) Crooked Hillary’s private email server, which she used illegally to conduct official business from 2008 through 2012 while Sec of State, in order to hide her Pay to Play scheme, that netted her family better than a billion dollars. This is the email server that Trump was talking about, because, by then, her attorneys had scrubbed the server in response to a Congressional subpoena. The Russians couldn’t, of course, hack it at that time because it had been bleach bitted and hadn’t been connected to the Internet since 2013.

2) The contents of the DNC email server ended up on Wikileaks in the summer of 2016. It showed that the DNC had been cheating in Clinton’s favor, and wasnt giving Sanders a fair shot at the nomination. Julian Assange, who created Wikileaks, said it was an inside job. DNC contractor Crowdstrike said it was the Ruskies. Transfer speeds utilized very strongly support Assange.

3) Clinton campaign chair John Podesta fell for a crude phishing attack, giving up his email password to strangers.; 7/15/18, 6:18 PM
narciso said...: In goldeneye, from which I borrowed the groshenko act, the hacker rerouted his attack through several servers, I suppose following Clifford stills method; 7/15/18, 6:21 PM
pacwest said...: If you want to root out the bad apples at DOJ start with anyone that has connections to Holder. This rot didn't start overnight.; 7/15/18, 6:26 PM
pacwest said...: For any notion that the DOJ or FBI is not corrupted you have to believe in Hillary's innocence. Your eyes would have to be pretty good liars to believe that.; 7/15/18, 6:31 PM
Michael K said...: Crowdstrike is run by a good friend of guess who? Mueller of course. And Crowdstrike appears to have been one of the contractors that the FBI was allowing to do opposition research using FISA 702 (USPERS) database searches (along with even more likely another DNC contractor: Fusion GPS). And the intelligence community assessment? A handful of handpicked analysts from three of better than a dozen intelligence agencies, which ignored existing policies).

Yes and this is the worst example of conspiracy by the DC crowd we have been calling the "Deep State."

Rogers put an end to this when he realized what the mice were doing under the bed, so to speak.

He then, after the election, told Trump, who then moved his transition team to a golf club he owned.

I wonder if any of this will ever send these people to prison ? It would probably take the equivalent of the The Committee of Public Safety, to root out these criminals at the heart of our government.; 7/15/18, 6:32 PM
David53 said...: I laughed out loud when Louie Gohmert told Strzok,

"You’ve embarrassed yourself and I can’t help but wonder when I see you looking there with a little smirk, how many times did you look so innocent into your wife’s eye and lie to her about Lisa Page."

I was watching the people sitting behind Strzok and their expressions were priceless, you would have thought someone had just shot their dog. I guess it wasn't the type of freak show they expected.; 7/15/18, 6:46 PM
Narayanan said...: Is FBI keylogging Strzok's computer in HR and is an IG on it.
This could just be flimflam, probably why no one wants to poke.; 7/15/18, 6:46 PM
Narayanan said...: Subpoena his supervisor.

Perry Mason would have Strzok's wife in the wings to be called. Likely she's with >>her; 7/15/18, 7:07 PM
Howard said...: Blogger Michael K said...
I have read Petersons book. Have you ?

No, why buy cow when milk is free? His popular book is the tip of the iceberg dumped down for the masses. His In-Full college lectures are outstanding. I've listened to about 5 Maps of Meaning Harvard lectures starting here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Bu7oCB8_k&t=329s

and about 5 of his Biblical Series of Lectures starting here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-wWBGo6a2w

I first heard about him on Joe Rogan in 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04wyGK6k6HE

I will listen to his Personality lectures in future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYYJlNbV1OM; 7/15/18, 7:08 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: As long as the DNC and the media and Hollywood feed the masses the Russian /Trump stole the election story, does the truth matter?; 7/15/18, 7:11 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: How dare you question the morals of a dedicated Democrat operative FBI texting Mole-Hack.

Strozk's extramarital affairs are none of your business and don't in any way speak to his real character.; 7/15/18, 7:15 PM
Francisco D said...: "Do you think that there will be no more indictments of Americans? I seriously doubt it.

Do you think any of those hoped for indictments will have anything to do with the 2016 election and "collusion" with the Russians?

How many have been indicted for that awful collusion?

I wonder how many will actually go to trial. Mueller does not seem to do well in front of judges. Maybe it has to do with minor issues like evidence.; 7/15/18, 7:18 PM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Inga and Howard, Strzok and Page. You weak minded chuckleheads crack me up. Thanks!; 7/15/18, 7:25 PM
Michael K said...: No, why buy cow when milk is free? His popular book is the tip of the iceberg dumped down for the masses. His In-Full college lectures are outstanding.

Howard, you seem to fluctuate between loony left and common sense.

Try to stay on one path. Flipping back and forth risks the armadillo's fate.; 7/15/18, 7:31 PM
MadisonMan said...: @Inga, I was a mostly-Democratic voter -- with a strong anti-incumbent streak. I did not vote for Scott Walker, for example (the 1st time -- I did vote for him in the recall because that whole Democratic temper-tantrum did and continues to embarass me for the Democratic Party). I view this whole anti-Trumpism thing through that lens; it is a Country-wide manifestation of the Wisconsin Democratic Senators fleeing to Illinois because Democrats have no idea what they stand for, except for power and blind obedience to the Teachers' Union (in Wisconsin).

I think the Democratic Party is controlled by people who want to tell me what to do, what to think. I agree that there is part of the Republican Party that wants to control me (or others) as well -- but for now, the Democratic Party is by far the most anti-freedom party. Freedom FROM government is very important to me.; 7/15/18, 7:31 PM
Howard said...: I avoid ideology Mike. The whole pick a side, stay on the path bullshit is not my bag.; 7/15/18, 7:39 PM
Browndog said...: Last week started with the outrage of the nomination of Kavanaugh. 16 outrages later, the week ended, and nobody remembers who Kavanaugh is-

This week will begin with the outrage of Trump giving Putin the keys to the Kingdom, selling our very souls to the devil.

I wonder what outrage will end the week......; 7/15/18, 7:40 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger Howard said...
I avoid ideology Mike. The whole pick a side, stay on the path bullshit is not my bag.

The side you have chosen is pretty obvious. Too bad.; 7/15/18, 7:59 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “How dare you question the morals of a dedicated Democrat operative FBI texting Mole-Hack.

Strozk's extramarital affairs are none of your business and don't in any way speak to his real character.”

Trump, lol.; 7/15/18, 8:01 PM
narciso said...: In point of fact, I don't think they had an affair, it was just an excuse they gave Barrett, to explain why she was hanging around.

As a fellow whose parents also escaped communisr countries you aren't really serious?; 7/15/18, 8:06 PM
rcocean said...: The Democrats wanted the hearings to be "a circus" and "a freakshow".

You'd think they'd put aside partisanship for ONE SECOND for the good of the country.

How is it good for ANYONE, to have rogue FBI agents letting their political beliefs guide their investigations?

But then I felt the same way about the Travel ban. How is it good for anyone to let a a handful of federal judges run immigration policy in violation of the obvious meaning of the law? But the 4 liberal judges thought otherwise.; 7/15/18, 8:30 PM
rcocean said...: BTW, has anyone seen Jeff Sessions?

Someone told me he was AG.

Just wanted to confirm the rumor.; 7/15/18, 8:31 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: Inga asks: "Do you think that there will be no more indictments of Americans? I seriously doubt it."

Does Andrew McCabe count? Possibly Roger Stone or some other folks for "process" crimes, but not much else.; 7/15/18, 8:40 PM
Browndog said...: BTW, has anyone seen Jeff Sessions?

He's busy. Honoring the traditions of the career lawyers and public servants of the DOJ.; 7/15/18, 8:42 PM
Gk1 said...: "Crowdstrike is run by a good friend of guess who? Mueller of course. And Crowdstrike appears to have been one of the contractors that the FBI was allowing to do opposition research using FISA 702 (USPERS) database searches" This has set off alarm bells with me as much when I found out that Nellie Ohr worked for Fusion GPS and had a hand in creating the phony russian dossier. Nellie's husband, Bruce Ohr is working for the DOJ and his office was 2 doors down from Peter Strzok. I'm sorry but there are no innocent explanations for any of this and trying to pretend this is all on the up and up is pointless. There is not anything that Mueller will generate from any of this that will be accepted or believed by half the country. Thinking you can then launch impeachment from any of this shitshow is nonsense. Can we please just move on already?; 7/15/18, 8:44 PM
Drago said...: Inga: "What will your President give away to Putin?"

American uranium?

Syria?

Ukraine?

Cash to Iran to purchase more russian weapons systems?

"Flexibility"? (after the next election, naturally....)

Decreases in American military capabilities?

Denials of anti-missile systems for European nations that are threatened by Russia?

Using Putin-pal provided lies to inject into our electoral processes?

LOL

The list of democrat giveaways to Putin is endless of course....; 7/15/18, 8:50 PM
Drago said...: And don't even get me started on the democrats war on US fracking and energy production which is the very thing Putin requires to keep his life-blood energy sales to other lefties/libs in Europe going and keeping him and his kremlin pals flush.

LOL

This. Is. Simply. Too. Easy.; 7/15/18, 8:53 PM
Gk1 said...: Here is a great primer on Mueller's "Dream Team"
http://www.businessinsider.com/lawyers-robert-mueller-hired-for-the-trump-russia-investigation-2017-6#jeannie-rhee-3

"Jeannie Rhee: As many critics of Mueller's investigation have pointed out, Rhee represented Hillary Clinton in a 2015 lawsuit that sought access to her private emails. She also represented the Clinton Foundation in a 2015 racketeering lawsuit."

Yeah, no bias in the Mueller probe here folks. Move along.; 7/15/18, 8:55 PM
Drago said...: And doubly don't get me started on the Inga/lefties/LLR's heroine Merkel and the German lefties handing Putin a long-desired energy deal with gives Putin direct control over 70% (70%!!!) of German energy supplies!

And lots and lots and lots of cash.

And even better for Putin, the pipeline bypasses the Eastern European nations which will allow Putin to exert even more leverage against them.

All delivered to us by: The left.

The left: making deals with KGB guys for 100 years!; 7/15/18, 8:58 PM
Howard said...: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/The-Real-History-Of-Fracking.html

Nice history. Fracking turned around US oil production during the Obozo administration. Now Drumpf gets to take credit for it.; 7/15/18, 9:03 PM
narciso said...: Not on public lands howard

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/07/13/dangerous-pseudo-science-in-cyber-security/?cn-reloaded=1; 7/15/18, 9:05 PM
James K said...: I have to dissent from all the Gowdy love. He's too quick to defend Mueller. Anyone who can still say about the Russia investigation, "I don’t think it’s a witch hunt. I’ve never thought it was a witch hunt...Russia attacked this country in 2016" is a few bricks short of a full load.; 7/15/18, 9:09 PM
Drago said...: Howard: "Nice history. Fracking turned around US oil production during the Obozo administration. Now Drumpf gets to take credit for it."

LOL

Here we go again. The lefties trying to tie obama to something he and his administration had zero to do with.

ALL the fracking gains, and I do mean ALL of them, occurred on private lands, not public, because obama stood in the way on those lands.

Trump has opened thousands of acres of land to fracking in the future and investment has followed.

So yeah: obama zero impact on fracking gains which hurt Putin. Trump already zillions-more influence on fracking gains over obama which will hurt Putin.

Not to worry, obama will still get some kind of a fracking Nobel because of course he will!

LOL; 7/15/18, 9:09 PM
narciso said...: Its been mostly squirrel, as usual strzok' s part in the fusion cell.; 7/15/18, 9:14 PM
Michael K said...: Fracking turned around US oil production during the Obozo administration. Now Drumpf gets to take credit for it.

Come on, Howard. You know this is bullshit.

Fracking took place against every effort of Obama and Hillary, who would have shut it down if elected.

The USA still has private property and mineral rights are retained by the property owner, unlike Europe which has no fracking at all.

Don't lie to us, Howard. You are not Inga but you seem to be trying.

Even Democrats know this is bullshit.; 7/15/18, 9:18 PM
Michael K said...: Howard, what do you think would happen if Cuomo, contrary to all the left ideology, allowed fracking in upstate New York?

You know there would be an economic boom, like North Dakota and Texas where truck drivers are making $140,000 a year.

Please don't try to bullshit us.

It makes you look like Inga and I don't think you want that, do you Howard ?; 7/15/18, 9:21 PM
Michael K said...: "I have to dissent from all the Gowdy love."

I'm also not sure what he is doing. He was defending the FBI and Strzok before the hearings.

Maybe he has an office back in SC in mind; 7/15/18, 9:23 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “It makes you look like Inga and I don't think you want that, do you Howard ?”

Howard’s a real manly man, I’m sure he’d rather look like one than like me, a womanly woman.; 7/15/18, 9:28 PM
Browndog said...: I'm also not sure what he is doing. He was defending the FBI and Strzok before the hearings.

I think he's genuinely conflicted. Torn between defending his profession (as we all do), and exposing the corruption of his profession.; 7/15/18, 9:29 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Howard probably doesn’t want to look like a senile old geezer either, like someone with the initials MK, we all know and love.; 7/15/18, 9:31 PM
Gk1 said...: I think Gowdy has always been sincere in respecting the FBI as an institution and it pains him to find shit stains like Comey, Strzok and Page ruining it. And lets be honest Gowdy may be a little afraid of the deep state coming after him once he's in private practice again so he's only willing to go so far.; 7/15/18, 9:43 PM
Browndog said...: Good point, GK1.

I hadn't thought of that-; 7/15/18, 9:46 PM
James K said...: Torn between defending his profession (as we all do), and exposing the corruption of his profession.

Not seeing that. If I really cared about my profession I'd want the scum exposed and removed, and I would not want to be seen as covering for any sort of corruption.; 7/15/18, 9:52 PM
Achilles said...: Inga said...

Strzok is the true patriot. The rest of you are no more than cultists.

Don't change a single thing.

Run with this.

Please.; 7/15/18, 10:50 PM
Howard said...: So no one read that interesting history of fracking, but everyone is an expert on the oil bidness. I'm surprised you people like fracking so much because it was so successful during the One's reign that it killed coal because free markets. I don't think I look like Inga... Alley Oop, perhaps... at least his feet.; 7/15/18, 10:51 PM
Achilles said...: Howard said...

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/The-Real-History-Of-Fracking.html

Nice history. Fracking turned around US oil production during the Obozo administration. Now Drumpf gets to take credit for it.

Please democrats, try to take credit for fracking.

Try very hard.

Fracking is all you. You did it. Run on that please.; 7/15/18, 10:52 PM
Achilles said...: The left is done.

They are trying to take credit for fracking and they are calling people who spied on political opponents patriots.

You are going to get smashed in the primaries. Page has turned and is spilling the beans in closed door interviews. Priestrap flipped after Trump won.

The republicans are going to hold Rosenstein in contempt and eventually impeach him. That will put Priestrap in charge.

The last several months before November midterms you are going to watch a parade of indictments of democrat heroes.

Comey and McCabe and Strzok will lead off. Who will flip on Obama and Hillary first?

It will be interesting to see if they go after Mueller and Rosenstein before or after the midterms. Sounds like Mueller is bargaining right now to stay out of jail.; 7/15/18, 11:00 PM
Drago said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/15/18, 11:21 PM
Drago said...: Howard: "So no one read that interesting history of fracking, but everyone is an expert on the oil bidness."

Some of us spent years working in that industry...during the obama years.

But whatever.

Todays rewriting of history by the left results in obama being the king of fracking!

Ordinarily one would shake ones head at the chutzpah of this claim but the left has gone so insane its become par for the course.; 7/15/18, 11:22 PM
walter said...: Hmmm..just googled Comey Twitter to see what he's been posting since that bizarre pic of himself standing in a fledgling Iowa corn field.
Usually Twitter feed is at top of whoever I google that way.
nothing but tangential news stories etc.
Same with others.
Maybe Google has changed its ranking of Twitter.; 7/15/18, 11:27 PM
Michael K said...: I guess Inga and Howard are now a couple.

"Manly Man" Howard.

I won't mention a couple of what.; 7/16/18, 12:01 AM
FIDO said...: Do you think that there will be no more indictments of Americans? I seriously doubt it.

Arrests? Yes

Legally and pertinent sustainable cases? Cases which aren't there to suborn perjury? (What we call a Manafort)

Not so much.

Want to know why you've heard almost nothing from Mueller?

Well, of course he has almost nothing to begin with.

But a couple of judges started demanding oversight, and I doubt his investigative practices could defend itself from such scrutiny.

That Cohen raid was his bridge too far. And any judge who isn't Hawaiian would throw out all evidence and testimony linked to Strzok as fruit of a poisonous tree as a matter of course. Which means that Steele file is out.

Mueller is painted into a corner; 7/16/18, 1:18 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Michael K said...
I guess Inga and Howard are now a couple.

"Manly Man" Howard.

I won't mention a couple of what.

7/16/18, 12:01 AM

Eh, Doc, don't get too wound up about Howie. All he knows is taking the piss/busting chops. It's a Marine thing, I think (along with alcoholism or if you prefer, insanely heavy drinking).

When he is startled into sincerity, he seems to be on the side of right and virtue, more or less. (The same thing, oddly enough, happens with Earnest Prole.)

And as Inga has two tits, a hole and a heartbeat, why should Howard hurt his chances? I don't blame him at all. The odds are good, though the goods are odd.; 7/16/18, 1:40 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: As to Obama and fracking, Howard, giving him credit is like crediting the rooster with the sunrise, except the rooster doesn't actually do all within his power to prevent the dawn. Correlation does not imply causation. Yes, fracking occurred during his reign of error. So did the tides.; 7/16/18, 1:47 AM