Althouse: How will the intensely (overly) emotional reaction to the Mueller report affect the competition for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party?

April 19, 2019

How will the intensely (overly) emotional reaction to the Mueller report affect the competition for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party?

Who is helped and who is hurt? Will the Democrats or Donald Trump benefit in the end?

I haven't looked for the various reactions from candidates. Are they stirring up Muellermania or demonstrating thoughtfulness and sobriety?

There's the Muellermania paradox — a highly emotional reaction to the way Trump seems to have been highly emotional. (Have you heard he said "I'm fucked" when he found out they'd appointed the special counsel?!!! That seems like a perfectly normal reaction to me but a lot of people are hyperventilating about how cahraaazzzeeee it is. Are they hyperventilaters mentally sound enough to be trusted?)

151 comments:

rhhardin said...: The usual response to emotional political events is fund-raising.; 4/19/19, 8:29 AM
Wince said...: Oh my, imagine if Trump said "Fucking Bullshit".

"The Democrats have to now decide whether they will continue defrauding the public with ridiculous bullshit, partisan investigations, or whether they will apologize to the American people."; 4/19/19, 8:32 AM
Dave Begley said...: Gillibrand didn't say a word about it last night.; 4/19/19, 8:33 AM
Otto said...: It's over! Done!No laws broken, no crimes committed. A lot of hype about nothing. Just dirty politics aided and abetted by the press. Next.; 4/19/19, 8:34 AM
mockturtle said...: The Democrats are f***ed.; 4/19/19, 8:34 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Gillibrand didn't say a word about it last night."

That's one approach. It's a reasonably wise one, but she's got so much ground to make up. She'll never get there playing it so safe.; 4/19/19, 8:37 AM
buwaya said...: I keep on saying - you are listening to a propaganda machine, a weapon of war.
It takes whatever throw-weight comes to hand, or it invents something if necessary, and flings it with great force, day after day. There is no point parsing it, or trying to apply reason to it. It is as futile as arguing with an artillery bombardment.; 4/19/19, 8:38 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Schit must be removed from his post.; 4/19/19, 8:40 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The corrupt media and the corrupt left are in bed, colluding.
They will continue to white-wash reality.; 4/19/19, 8:41 AM
Kay said...: The “I’m fucked” line was pretty funny. It’s funny coming from the mouth of any president, really. You’d think it’d be less odd coming from Trump, but it’s still very funny.; 4/19/19, 8:41 AM
Tommy Duncan said...: The DNC hive is still working out the details of the official narrative. They are slow readers.

Ooops...

Breaking news: The DNC has issued a standard candidate narrative for the Muelller Report. "Orange man bad."; 4/19/19, 8:41 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: During the Obama-Hillary years - how many times did the Obama administration TALK to Russians?

The left made it illegal to talk to Russians at the point Trump entered the primary.

We Americans DEMAND all Obama-Hillary-Russian correspondence during the Obama years.; 4/19/19, 8:41 AM
buwaya said...: The only way to fight propaganda is with an equal and opposite propaganda.
That means $billions need to be spent, by someone, on alternate partisan media.

Thats the nature of this struggle.; 4/19/19, 8:45 AM
320Busdriver said...: Sounds like Tlaib? has crafted a motion to impeach and AOC is saying she will sign on so, crazy is doubling down.; 4/19/19, 8:45 AM
wwww said...: Who is helped and who is hurt? Will the Democrats or Donald Trump benefit in the end?

1) No idea. But the number of people who are paying close attention to this has gotta be small. Most people are glancing at headlines and thinking stuff like: "Wow, Kellyanne & George Conway have a weird marriage." Aside from that, public and personal responses from headline skimming will be confirmatory for either side.

My guess is that most people, who are not political obsessives, or the type who watch formal politics for entertainment, are busy this weekend with Easter or Passover. Even people who don't attend services are busy with Easter bunny planning. If on is religious you're going to services and dying eggs and baking bunny cakes and planning dinners and cleaning for relatives and looking for a Easter basket because the one of the baskets you were going to use for the hunt tomorrow got taken over by mice. (Lesson: Don't put basket passed down from Grandma in storage.) For those with kids: hats off if you have any time to read, much less think about a 400 page report this holiday weekend.

2) Because most normies aren't paying attention, and, frankly, have other things on our plate this weekend, I doubt it will benefit/ hurt/ change the polls for anybody. Any poll movement will be far, far less then 1 percentage point. Maybe point .2%. Public opinion was formed two years ago. It's baked in. Don't expect public opinion to change.

3) Happy Holiday weekend!; 4/19/19, 8:45 AM
Mike said...: They're scrambling a bit. They need to find the Next Big Thing to disrupt the President, and need it to last a couple of years. They'd prefer it come out of the Mueller report, but surely it's dawning on them that there's nothing there.

I'm guessing in two weeks we have a whole new scandal to get worked up about. One morning you'll turn on CNN and there it will be. They need a couple of weeks to bridge, so expect just a bit more Mueller.; 4/19/19, 8:47 AM
Nichevo said...: The only way to fight propaganda is with an equal and opposite propaganda.

Or, kill the owners of these media blocs. Or, use the power of the NSA to learn all their guilty secrets, which must be legion. It might be the highest artistry to turn one against another.; 4/19/19, 8:48 AM
Mike said...: So basically, no one is helped or hurt. Let out that bit.; 4/19/19, 8:48 AM
Hunter said...: The meme that started going around immediately as soon as people found that line in the report was that it shows Trump's guilt. He knew he was going down!

Or, you know, he saw himself about to get railroaded for a crime he didn't commit -- and which it turns out nobody committed.; 4/19/19, 8:56 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: This is an opportunity for any Democrat candidate to speak somewhat sensibly. Any candidate can say publicly that he accepts the report's conclusion that Trump did not collude with Russia.

I expect, however, that all of the Democrat candidates will avoid saying anything along those lines.; 4/19/19, 8:59 AM
Michael K said...: I doubt it will benefit/ hurt/ change the polls for anybody. Any poll movement will be far, far less then 1 percentage point.

I agree with you but with one additional consideration. Democrats are obsessed, the active ones and those in Congress, and they are missing an opportunity to establish an agenda for legislation. I realize that with only one house, they have little chance of passing laws, but they could establish some basic principles, like a realistic way to deal with climate change. I disagree with them on the facts and think the whole thing is a hoax but there are a lot of Democrat voters who think it is real. Those same voters are unlikely to sign on with AOC's Green Nude Eel but they might listen to something sensible.

Sensible does not seem to be on the Democrat Party's schedule this year. I think it will cost them.

"There longest Suicide Note in History" comes to mind.

The defeat was Labour's worst result since 1918 and led to a turning point in the history of the party, which thereafter gradually moved to the centre under the leadership of Neil Kinnock and then under the leadership of Tony Blair in the 1990s rebranded itself as "New Labour"

We'll see if they can sell this.; 4/19/19, 8:59 AM
traditionalguy said...: Two Dem message bearers on Cable yesterday parroted the talking point that Trump has failed the workers because the deluge of jobs the Trump's policies have created are the $20/hr and not the $35/hr jobs. That what makes him a big failure.

But that is also normal politics. Telling the voters over and over that they should be dis-satisfied.

Buttigeig will emerge as the VP candidate. He is the Deep State's anointed one. They could pair him with Harris for racial balance. But Trump will beat them all. Then Buttigeig is run in 2024.; 4/19/19, 9:00 AM
cacimbo said...: Media are trying to hurt Trump by repeating the "I'm fucked" line. I suspect they are actually helping him. Trump won thanks to his ability to speak to the working class and come across as an everyday kinda guy who just happens to be super rich. The fact that it is a normal response helps Trump. That media don't get that is remarkable. I know they live in their own bubble - but come on.; 4/19/19, 9:01 AM
Hunter said...: I continue to wonder whether the people who pretend to be shocked at Trump's language ever heard of a man named Lyndon Johnson.; 4/19/19, 9:03 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Adam Schit must go. 2 + years of cable news LIES. He must go. Never. Forget.; 4/19/19, 9:05 AM
Hunter said...: Meanwhile, I did amuse myself yesterday by following the NPR's live video of Barr on Facebook. It looked like this pretty much the whole time. A veritable river of ANGERY!; 4/19/19, 9:05 AM
AllenS said...: I read somewhere early this morning that Slow Joe Biden is definitively going to get into the race. We'll see.; 4/19/19, 9:08 AM
wwww said...: "and they are missing an opportunity to establish an agenda for legislation. I realize that with only one house, they have little chance of passing laws, but they could establish some basic principles,"

Yeah I agree but not sure if anyone normal is paying much attention anyway. Certainly not this weekend! Most people don't pay attention between elections. There's no candidate, and ultimately the candidate is the person who defines the message. Randos in the House won't be the message definers once there's a candidate. Once voting starts, attention will turn to the Presidential primaries, then to the convention--which may be contested--then to the general presidential race where the focus will be on the messages of Trump vs. the candidate. To a lesser extent, people will look at the local & state elections in the weeks before Nov. But they won't really tune in until August prior to that November because they will have other stuff to do.; 4/19/19, 9:12 AM
Ray - SoCal said...: The eventual democratic nominee will need to be anti Trump. And will need to back the idea Trump is unfit to be president to reasons. He should be impeached for obstruction, as shown by the 10 points in the Mueller report. Along with Trump is a racist, sexist, transphobic, gay basket, White Supremacist, anti Semitic, Islamaphobic President, climate denier, anti immigrant, and is mean to other countries. Probably also warmonger and imperialist.

And the reality is a lot of the Democratic base believes this, especially the sjw mob.

Trump will continue to show the democratic candidates are not in the mainstream and out of touch. Trump will continue to troll his enemies, and they will get triggered.; 4/19/19, 9:13 AM
Andrew said...: Does anyone know who the bearded man on the other side of Barr was? I think he's the center of the whole thing. Like Jar Jar Binks.

In all seriousness, yesterday was magnificent. Barr is a new hero of mine. That "unprecedented" line was golden.; 4/19/19, 9:15 AM
cubanbob said...: This is starting to feel like 1972. Trump is going to whip the Democrats next year but unlike Nixon, he fights and he will turn the tables on the Left. Bill Barr just might be the guy who actually does lock Hillary ( and the whole Democrat mob) up.; 4/19/19, 9:26 AM
Maillard Reactionary said...: True believers gonna believe. I predict a contest to see who can be more publicly butt-hurt.

Very appealing!

Separately, The Babylon Bee has a good take on it here:

https://babylonbee.com/news/cnn-god-allowed-the-mueller-report-to-test-our-unshakable-faith-in-collusion; 4/19/19, 9:30 AM
Otto said...: Funny liberals are concerned about the word f**ked. They use that word as standard fare . Take our scholarly elder blogger Ann. Here is a liberal old feminist who uses it with ease and is proud of it to show how far women have "progressed".; 4/19/19, 9:32 AM
Swede said...: Well, batshit crazy is always a good look.

I highly encourage it.

They can run on:
Impeachment
High Taxes
High Regulation
Reparations
Open Borders

That will be their winning strategy.; 4/19/19, 9:33 AM
Lucien said...: For someone who supposedly thought he was fucked by the Special Counsel appointment, President Trump has proved to be fairly resilient. What would help him now is a steady drip-drip-drip of indictments flowing from FISA abuse, etc., leading up to the election. That and a strong economy.; 4/19/19, 9:35 AM
Infinite Monkeys said...: If someone was setting up a circus right outside my business that would hinder me in getting my work done, I also would say, "I'm fucked".; 4/19/19, 9:36 AM
tcrosse said...: Funny liberals are concerned about the word f**ked.

The same way they are about shithole. It's fuckt© up.; 4/19/19, 9:37 AM
Francisco D said...: The Left have intensely emotional reactions to almost everything. They constantly blur the boundaries between fantasy and reality. As long as their delusional base remains delusional, leftists politicians will not suffer much on their local stages.

Currently the national stage is less kind to the delusional and emotional Left, but that may be changing.; 4/19/19, 9:39 AM
gilbar said...: Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana: "The Mueller report is a disturbing if not completely surprising collection of evidence that shows a president putting his own interests ahead of the country's.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont : "It is clear that Donald Trump wanted nothing more than to shut down the Mueller investigation. While we have more detail from today's report than before, Congress must continue its investigation into Trump's conduct and any foreign attempts to influence our election.; 4/19/19, 9:41 AM
Lucien said...: Since the Mueller standard of “if we aren’t confident that it’s clear that the suspect is innocent, then we can’t exonerate him” was applied to the obstruction of justice issue, then exonerating President Trump (and his team) on the collusion issue means Mueller (and his team) were confident that it was clear that there was no collusion.

Since President Trump always knew there was no collusion, and he is the chief executive, then he has always had a legitimate (not corrupt) reason to limit the resources squandered in pursuing the investigation, has he not?; 4/19/19, 9:44 AM
Etienne said...: "Volume II is crap."

"Volume II was written for slip-n-fall lawyer Nadler, slip-n-fall lawyer Schiff.

That's why he (Mueller) wrote it. He knew the media would run with it."

I think that is a spirited rebuttal :-); 4/19/19, 9:44 AM
Lucien said...: For someone who supposedly thought he was fucked by the Special Counsel appointment, President Trump has proved to be fairly resilient. What would help him now is a steady drip-drip-drip of indictments flowing from FISA abuse, etc., leading up to the election. That and a strong economy.; 4/19/19, 9:46 AM
mockturtle said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/19/19, 9:49 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: How many times have I said "I'm f***ed!" when a sudden, unexpected development clouds my horizon? Many, many times. Trump once again proves he is human. His critics prove they are idiots.

Nothing new here.; 4/19/19, 9:50 AM
tcrosse said...: To admit that Russian Collusion didn't happen is to admit why Hillary lost the election, i.e. she was an awful candidate who ran a stupid campaign, popular vote notwithstanding. None of the Democrat hopefuls are ready to take that dangerous step.; 4/19/19, 9:51 AM
Temujin said...: If I go through a week not exclaiming at least once, "I'm fucked" or "We're fucked", then it hasn't been a normal week for me. If I had a competing business group working with their own 'PR' firm, pay to have a foreign company create a file on me showing that I paid to have hookers pee on me in hotel rooms while I readily handed off our company secrets to those we compete against, then proceed to have articles placed in industry trade journals and postings on Linkedin to further the narrative that I'll hand over company secrets willingly if peed on by hookers, then spend two years watching as all of my so-called friends and allies joined those I typically compete against, pointing me out at trade shows and refusing to meet or dine with me in public or private- I'd probably say 'I'm fucked. And my job is fucked.'

I think Trump's reaction was fairly subdued considering the high treason played against him. I would love to see a tar and feather incident when those involved have a light shined on them.; 4/19/19, 9:52 AM
mockturtle said...: Buwaya asserts: The only way to fight propaganda is with an equal and opposite propaganda.
That means $billions need to be spent, by someone, on alternate partisan media.

But it's a lot more fun to watch the monster destroy itself.; 4/19/19, 9:52 AM
tcrosse said...: Trump should carry some of these with him; 4/19/19, 9:55 AM
Phil 314 said...: I think the “I’m fucked” line is endearing and engenders empathy (“Yeah, I’d say the same thing.”)

As for 2020. the Dems will repeat 2016 by nominating a candidate who will repell a lot of nonpartisans, leading to “lesser of two evils” voting.; 4/19/19, 9:57 AM
mockturtle said...: Tcrosse @9:55: Love it!; 4/19/19, 9:59 AM
cacimbo said...: On BBC radio yesterday they were interviewing a Dem operative regarding Mueller report. She was droning on about how the report proved Russia interfered in the election. I was very surprised when the interviewer cut her off with "that is to be expected" Russia , the US, even my country regularly try to influence other countries elections. Was surprised to hear the leftists at BBC dispute the narrative.; 4/19/19, 10:02 AM
rehajm said...: If that fucking bastard wins, we all hang from nooses!!!; 4/19/19, 10:04 AM
Etienne said...: One fatality of the Mueller report is the French ambassador is returning home with his gay lover with an empty sack.

His war of words with Trump, and the American policies he despised is over.

Back to Paris to smell the burning embers of 800 year old dead wood.; 4/19/19, 10:05 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: No no no - you all have it all wrong.
Trump is GUILTY because he knew the deep state was going to fuck him over. So he IS guilty!; 4/19/19, 10:19 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Trump obstructed justice over a crime he didn't commit.

up next on the maddow-Brennan-Schit show.; 4/19/19, 10:20 AM
Rick said...: Are they stirring up Muellermania or demonstrating thoughtfulness and sobriety?

You're missing a question: which one of these reactions attracts more Dem primary voters?

Are they hyperventilaters mentally sound enough to be trusted?

This suggests you believe the answer to attract your vote/support is generalizable. Considering the general hysteria I doubt it is.; 4/19/19, 10:20 AM
JaimeRoberto said...: Maybe he should have said "I'm shlonged".; 4/19/19, 10:33 AM
Etienne said...: “...if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state.” - Prosecutor Mueller

Reference: The day "innocent until proven guilty" died at the Federal level.; 4/19/19, 10:35 AM
Kevin said...: The real question is how much more difficult it made for any Democrat to unseat Trump.

But all the media can acknowledge is "something happened" yesterday and it might have benefited one of the Dem candidates in some way.; 4/19/19, 10:37 AM
mccullough said...: Trump comes out pretty good in the report. His reactions are normal.

Once you know the bottom line — that the Russia stuff was bullshit — then Trump’s reactions to the investigation are justified. I’m surprised Trump didn’t fire Mueller. Knowing what we all know now, it would have been justified.

Don McGahn is the one who pushed Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh was his guy.

I’d like to hear what McGahn thinks of Trump now. Maybe McGahn finally learned something about life. He was incredibly naive. So was Kavanaugh. They were both lucky Trump wasn’t.; 4/19/19, 10:52 AM
Sebastian said...: "Will the Democrats or Donald Trump benefit in the end?"

Well, Althouse, why don't you answer the question? It's up to you and people like you.

We deplorables despise the coup plotters and their allies. We think the Dems degraded the system and hate the country. We wouldn't dream of giving them a vote.

Of course, there are many true-believer progs who think anything goes and will oppose Trump no matter what.

It's up to you and the Althouses of America: will you abet the plotters and the hysterics or have you finally had enough?; 4/19/19, 10:54 AM
Etienne said...: The Democrats are fucked, if as Trump predicts, that Biden will win the nomination.

Biden will be the oldest Presidential nominee ever.

Trump currently holds the record for age 70. Biden will be 77.

If Biden served two terms, he would be about 85 on inauguration day of his successor. A geriatric leader for a geriatric Congress.; 4/19/19, 11:08 AM
Birkel said...: Wouldn't it be interesting to properly investigate Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch for public corruption and obstruction of justice?
If I were Trump, I would pardon presidents Clinton and Obama so they could not hide behind the Fifth Amendment.

They could be punished for testifying falsely about their behavior and held in contempt if they refused a grand jury subpoena.

Just a thought.; 4/19/19, 11:08 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: People are taking him literally again with that statement. That's usually a mistake.

Trump is sarcastic all the time. Even if the note-taker was in the room when he allegedly said it, she may have missed the way it was said, yet accurately quoted the words. Of course he didnt want a special counsel, but he knew there was no collusion, so I dont believe he literally thought his presidency was ruined or that he was fucked.; 4/19/19, 11:10 AM
narciso said...: yes, it's that old French proverb 'what a vicious animal, it deigns to defend itself,'; 4/19/19, 11:10 AM
Fen said...: Oregon Muse over at Ace has a great line:

"here on CNN was this huge desk on the set (must've cost them a fortune) and behind it, there was a human centipede, 8 or 9 commentators, all relentlessly bashing Trump, eating and regurgitating each other's crap talking points."

Nailed it.; 4/19/19, 11:19 AM
Chuck said...: I’m not the slightest bit concerned about whether or not, or why, Trump may have said that he was “fucked.”

Neither was George Conway in his column today savaging Trump’s character and performance:

https://m.greenwichtime.com/opinion/article/George-Conway-Trump-is-a-cancer-on-the-13779435.php

The media may have thought it was a catchy chyron or headline. It matters not to people like Conway, and certainly not to me. I don’t expect that the Office of Special Counsel cares. I don’t think the US Attorneys in New York and DC care. They don’t care about any “f” word. They care about criminal investigations. There may be 12 of them ongoing right now.; 4/19/19, 11:19 AM
Yancey Ward said...: I am through the first two threads, and something stands out even starker this morning than even yesterday- care to guess what it is that I am noticing in these threads?; 4/19/19, 11:20 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Also, not talking about yesterday's big event is the smartest thing I have seen a Democrat candidate for president actually do in the last day. I don't think it is the smartest thing that could be done, but Gillibrand's is the best so far for which I have evidence. Buttuvwxyz and Sanders both have done the dumb thing- doubling down on stupid.; 4/19/19, 11:22 AM
Drago said...: LLR Chuck is going to keep on running with scissors and his lefty billionaire funded talking points!!

LOL; 4/19/19, 11:23 AM
Fen said...: "It's up to you and the Althouses of America: will you abet the plotters and the hysterics or have you finally had enough?"
|
It's a fair point. Where are all these "normal" Democrats. The radicals blow up the towers, and half the moderates exchange Happy Faces and the other half do nothing.

If you see someone doing something wrong and you don't correct them, you are just as guilty as they are - Ethics of the the United States Marine Corps.

Plausible deniability no longer flies. Your duty is pro-active.; 4/19/19, 11:24 AM
Birkel said...: Should I believe a smear merchant when they type words?
There may be 12 reasons to doubt a smear merchant.; 4/19/19, 11:24 AM
Quaestor said...: When President said, "I'm fucked," he goes on to say a bit more which no Democrat bothers to quote. They want their captive minds to conclude I'm fucked means Mueller's going to expose my dastardly plan, which further implies that since Mueller did not expose Trump's dastardly plan, Mueller himself is corrupt, ergo the report is a tissue of lies, etc. Basically, the flat-earth all-purpose denial.

Any disproof of the notion that our planet is flat is rejected as part of the world-wide conspiracy of the CIA, the KGB, the Illuminati, and everyone with universally recognized credentials in the physical sciences to deceive people into rejecting the Revealed Truth. As more and greater detailed evidence against the flat-earth belief system accumulates the alleged conspiracy grows larger and larger, wider and wider, ever more ruthless as ever more people connected with air travel, telecommunications, surveying, engineering, etc. must be brought into the conspiracy or be silenced.

The Democrats are plotting just such a course. Look for more accusations of corruption as Mueller and his team of lawyers and investigators are savaged for their participation in what the Democrats will continue to rave about insanely.

This is historic. There have been many political parties in our past. The Republican Party is one of the youngest, while the Democratic Party dates from the dissolution of the Whig Party by Andrew Jackson. The Whigs are gone. Few Americans today could give an accurate account of them or what their foundational doctrines were. This will be the case with the Democrats.; 4/19/19, 11:25 AM
Fen said...: LLR Chuck is going to keep on running with scissors and his lefty billionaire funded talking points!!

Ass to mouth Chuck and Inga, ass to mouth

"there was a human centipede, 8 or 9 commentators, all relentlessly bashing Trump, eating and regurgitating each other's crap talking points." - Oregon Muse; 4/19/19, 11:26 AM
Drago said...: It was just 3 days ago that LLR Chuck was so very very very very very excited about the Mueller report.

Now, LLR Chuck is so very very very very excited about these mystery indictments.

Both of these, of course, following the previous 192 "things" LLR Chuck was very very very very excited about!

LOL

It just keeps getting better and better.

This just in from the left/dems/LLR-left: The song "Edelweiss" is now considered a nazi song!!

Thanks LLR-left/Lefties!!; 4/19/19, 11:26 AM
narciso said...: what's that creature that consumes itself the ouroboros,; 4/19/19, 11:29 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Pecan Pie Detective on loan from the Pastry Squad, ready to volunteer for the secret prosecutions.

Dumbass Chuck- the sealed stuff is pretty much all going to be of people that will never stand trial. As most will understand, almost all of the redacted material related to the IRA and GRU charges of which practically none will ever see the inside of a courtroom. However, if you actually read the report, even those sections are heavily unredacted whenever discussing the involvement of the US based targets of the investigation- in other words, the report couldn't have been clearer- no US citizen was colluding/conspiring with any Russians- at all.

However, continue to delude yourself- you are truly comedy gold, Chuck. You might yet find that store bought pie in the steaming heap of shit that was the Russian Investigation.; 4/19/19, 11:30 AM
Molly said...: In a local court, a defendant was found not guilty of robbery, because the prosecution had failed to show evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.. The jury added, "if we had confidence that the defendant clearly did not commit robbery, we would so state." The judge nodded sagely and let the defendant go.; 4/19/19, 11:33 AM
LA_Bob said...: "I continue to wonder whether the people who pretend to be shocked at Trump's language ever heard of a man named Lyndon Johnson."

Or any other politician. Just imagine what Hillary said when Bill fessed up about his "inappropriate relationship" with "that woman". Might even have made Lyndon blush.

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...; 4/19/19, 11:34 AM
Birkel said...: I am lazy.
Does somebody have the full quote beyond "I'm fucked" that made the report?; 4/19/19, 11:36 AM
Drago said...: Bob: "Just imagine what Hillary said when Bill fessed up about his "inappropriate relationship" with "that woman". Might even have made Lyndon blush."

Just imagine what Hillary said as she was physically assaulting John Podesta the night in November of 2016 LLR Chuck experienced an existential crisis due to Republicans sweeping the White House, Senate and House, a "disaster" in LLR-left world.; 4/19/19, 11:36 AM
Ken B said...: I have not read the report. But everything that people screech about, like Trump's remark you quote, is perfectly consistent with an annoyed man who knows this is bullshit that will be used to hamstring his presidency.

I will read a few people I trust who will read the whole report. Greenwald is one of those. I don’t like his politics. I do like his integrity, his attention to detail, and his concern for evidence. I hope AA reads it, but if I were she I wouldn’t.; 4/19/19, 11:37 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: I am not impressed with buttiejig; 4/19/19, 11:38 AM
narciso said...: and scott Horton formerly of harper's fame, who burned a prospective Baghdad station chief in the 00s. goes full dragon in one of his threads,; 4/19/19, 11:41 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Andrew McCarthy

There is evidence that cuts sharply against obstruction. The president could have shut down the investigation at any time, but he didn’t. He could have asserted executive privilege to deny the special counsel access to key White House witnesses, such as McGahn. To the contrary, numerous witnesses were made available voluntarily (there was no need to try to subpoena them to the grand jury), and well over a million documents were disclosed, including voluminous notes of meetings between the president and his White House counsel.

Most important, the special counsel found that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and that the president’s frustration wasn’t over fear of guilt — the typical motivation for obstruction — but that the investigation was undermining his ability to govern the country. The existence of such a motive is a strong counter to evidence of a corrupt intent, critical because corrupt intent must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in an obstruction case.

In his report, Mueller didn’t resolve the issue. If he had been satisfied that there was no obstruction crime, he said, he would have so found. He claimed he wasn’t satisfied. Yet he was also not convinced that there was sufficient proof to charge. Therefore, he made no decision, leaving it to Attorney General William Barr to find that there was no obstruction.

This is unbecoming behavior for a prosecutor and an outrageous shifting of the burden of proof.; 4/19/19, 11:43 AM
Mark said...: Have you heard he said "I'm fucked" when he found out they'd appointed the special counsel?!!!

I've heard that Mueller says that Trump said that. And apparently the whole "report" is like that -- containing not so much raw evidence, much less established proven fact, as the Mueller team's prosecutorial narrative and characterization of things.

NOTHING in the report has been put to the proof. People should quit treating it as if it is a conclusive judgment.; 4/19/19, 11:44 AM
Rabel said...: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:

“Attorney General Barr’s preemptive press conference today was a complete farce and an embarrassing display of propaganda on behalf of President Trump."

Also.; 4/19/19, 11:49 AM
narciso said...: now spring your nxim pop out of prison, she has the timing of the producers of the lone ranger,; 4/19/19, 11:54 AM
BJM said...: Doug P., editor at Twitchy, has the best take on Schumer's odd response today:

"He’s like a Roomba in search of narrative crumbs:; 4/19/19, 11:56 AM
Yancey Ward said...: So, even Gillibrand is doubling down on stupid.

There is a real opening here for one of the Democratic candidates to take the contrary position, but will any of them seize it?; 4/19/19, 11:56 AM
Limited blogger said...: This will help Kamala, right? Nothing else has helped, so this might.; 4/19/19, 11:57 AM
Achilles said...: wwww said...

2) Because most normies aren't paying attention, and, frankly, have other things on our plate this weekend, I doubt it will benefit/ hurt/ change the polls for anybody. Any poll movement will be far, far less then 1 percentage point. Maybe point .2%. Public opinion was formed two years ago. It's baked in. Don't expect public opinion to change.

You wish.

The tide has turned and it is time for consequences.; 4/19/19, 12:02 PM
JAORE said...: When Kavanaugh got angry at people lying about his character the left said,"Ah ha, not judicial material, must be guilty."

No, most of us thought, justifiably angry.

Trump's outburst (explained a scant few sentences later) was over a Special Counsel hanging over his presidency when he knew he was innocent.

Left reacts the same.

Most of us react with the same "understandable".; 4/19/19, 12:08 PM
Anonymous said...: If the SCOTUS makes a ruling on dirty words...Can Trump copywrite "I'm Fucked" to use as a catchphrase? "You're Fired!" is old and worn out. Maybe like a Nixonian Laugh-IN sock it to me cameo. But this would be on CNN....Trump could pop out of some little door in the backdrop behind Anderson Cooper and with a big smile say "I'm Fucked" cue laughtrack. cue Anderson Cooper reaction smirk, Ba-da-dum-badumpt-dumpt!

Thank you, please pay me 90 million dollars for my idea.; 4/19/19, 12:13 PM
mccullough said...: George Conway is mad. It’s understandable.

George defended Brett Kavanaugh for sexually assaulting Dr. Ford. George is a rape apologist like Don McGahn and all the White Boys in the Federalist Society.

The SPLC lists The Federalist Society Ana a Hate Group.

George Conway’s career will be over soon. Trump won’t be president and so these White Boy Rape Apologists will have no one left to protect them.

And they can’t protect themselves because they are pussies.; 4/19/19, 12:16 PM
mccullough said...: Don McGahn is a pussy. Trump fired McGahn after Trump rescued Brett Kavanaugh.

McGahn is a Romney Republican. He’ll be taking notes when The Left leads him to the Guillotine. George Conway would sell out his kids.

These men are cowards; 4/19/19, 12:20 PM
Drago said...: Anonymous: "Thank you, please pay me 90 million dollars for my idea."

If your idea were good, you wouldn't have to say "please" to get paid.

Perhaps you've never had to close an actual deal in the real world.......; 4/19/19, 12:20 PM
mockturtle said...: Jussie Smollett really DID lie to the FBI and obstructed justice.; 4/19/19, 12:21 PM
Michael K said...: They don’t care about any “f” word. They care about criminal investigations. There may be 12 of them ongoing right now.

Chuck, what are you going to do when those 12 cases that you are counting on go phhhffft ?

Cry ?; 4/19/19, 12:22 PM
Yancey Ward said...: No, Chuck will trawl through the DoJ website and note some other sealed indictments that might be hiding a yummy pastry.; 4/19/19, 12:25 PM
mccullough said...: Chuck is a pussy. He’s got a photo of George Conway over his bed in his mom’s basement.

Chuck cried when Candy Crowley gave Mitt the back of the hand during her debate. Obama just watched. Mitt just took it like the coward he is. Chuck feels so helpless. Like George Conway and Mitt Romney.

Chuck hates Trump because Trump doesn’t take it. Like Chuck. And George Conway. And Mitt Romney.; 4/19/19, 12:26 PM
cf said...: screen grabbed part of these comments on twitter/Full disclosure:
some Online stuff I love is Twitter and Althouse, and I found myself in a twitter conversation with a random fellow about the week's news, he accused me of being misled by evil news media, and ventured the name "Breitbart", which made me reply with a screen grab of my GoTo newssources, here is a link to that tweet.
https://twitter.com/Ertist/status/1119249042863562753

I am happy the image included 2 of my favorite folks to seek out on replies, BleachBit and Buwaya, and wanted to "disclose" it even though it is a little sidecar conversation -- just one of those little exchanges one-on-one w a stranger that happen on twitter, ah america.

all you guys, pictured or no, help me clarify my understandings daily, Salud.; 4/19/19, 12:42 PM
Rae said...: The news media have basically spent 2 1/2 years ensuring that I don't believe a word they say.; 4/19/19, 12:50 PM
Drago said...: McCullough: "Chuck cried when Candy Crowley gave Mitt the back of the hand during her debate."

Actually, Mitts complete and immediate
surrender to Crowley in front of a global audience which helped cement a demicrat victory clearly qualifies as one of LLR Chuck's proudest moments as a "republican"...(wink wink); 4/19/19, 12:51 PM
narciso said...: Clearly hes a witch, otherwise he would have drowned
https://www.google.com/amp/s/legalinsurrection.com/2019/04/george-mason-u-law-school-brett-kavanaugh-will-not-be-fired-despite-leftist-activist-demands/amp/; 4/19/19, 12:53 PM
Achilles said...: mccullough said...

Chuck hates Trump because Trump doesn’t take it. Like Chuck. And George Conway. And Mitt Romney.

They don't "take it."

They are on the other side. They have a role to play and people to lie to.

Even if Mitt had won in 2012 he would have enshrined Romneycare and passed Cap and Trade.

Just like Bush used the republican majority to pass medicaid part B.

Just like Rubio and McCain joined the gang of 8.

Their only reason for existence is to deceive republican voters and pass the agenda of their globalist owners.; 4/19/19, 1:10 PM
Fen said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/19/19, 1:15 PM
Fen said...: "Are the hyperventilaters mentally sound enough to be trusted?"

We continue to operate under the impression that these people are just like us, the flip side of our coin. That they would behave the way we would if we were in their shoes.

But the proof we are wrong is right here in front of us, lab rats in the form of Chuck and Inga. For 2 years they have hyperventilated at phantoms. And yesterday came the report that those phantoms never existed. Have they changed their behavior in light of this information?

No, they simply pretend it says what they always suspected, a feat of Alter Reality that shocks us with it's audacity and complete lack of self-awareness and shame.

So when you ask if the Hyperventilating Candidates can be trusted, I answer: what difference does it make? In 6 months they will be pretending they never said Trump is an Shape-shifting Reptilian, and all of their Chucks and Ingas will brainwash themselves into believing WE are the loons for thinking the Hyperventilating Candidates said Trump is a Shape-shifting Reptilian.

That's what 90% of these liberal comments on FB and WaPo are about - they aren't arguing to convince us, they are crafting an alternate reality to brainwash themselves. If they post it, they bring life to their fantasy narrative and, for all intents and purposes, make it real. For them.

The Left will believe whatever their candidates tell them to believe. We have always been at war with EastAsia. Because Orange Man bad.

And we still attempt to reason with them?; 4/19/19, 1:20 PM
walter said...: I recently overheard some folks talking about cats detecting ghosts as demonstrated by them screeching at nothing apparent...proven by 2 doing so simultaneously.; 4/19/19, 1:24 PM
mockturtle said...: Well analyzed, Fen @ 1:20!; 4/19/19, 1:40 PM
mockturtle said...: walter reports: I recently overheard some folks talking about cats detecting ghosts as demonstrated by them screeching at nothing apparent...proven by 2 doing so simultaneously.

Good one!; 4/19/19, 1:41 PM
Alex said...: Multiple things can be true at once.

Trump is a serial liar.
The Democrats are liars.
The Democrats believe Russia-gate is their ticket to winning 2020.
The media is in collusion with the Democrats since 1968.
Pure capitalism doesn't work because 'losers' will want to overthrow it constantly.
The Extinction Rebellion movement is gaining huge support amongst young people.
Most Westerners are 'ok' with LGBT stuff.

This is the cultural brew.; 4/19/19, 2:04 PM
Francisco D said...: That's what 90% of these liberal comments on FB and WaPo are about - they aren't arguing to convince us, they are crafting an alternate reality to brainwash themselves. If they post it, they bring life to their fantasy narrative and, for all intents and purposes, make it real. For them.

Quite so.

With leftists it is always about the narrative. That is why they dominate in Hollywood. It's not about dealing with reality, it's about creating the reality they want. Once created, they believe it.

How many leftists believe that Brett Kavanugh ran a rape gang in high school?
How many believe that he raped CBF? Or that Clarence Thomas assaulted Anita Hill?
How many believe that Trump is an FSB operative?
How many believe that the Earth will not exist in 12 years unless we give them total control?
How many believe ...; 4/19/19, 2:07 PM
Alex said...: Oh and the Democrats will run a million investigations on Trump from now until Nov 2020. I think Barr should name a special prosecutor to investigate the FBI's initial Russia investigation. The Senate should start a million investigations simultaneously. Fight fire with fire.; 4/19/19, 2:08 PM
Alex said...: More multiple truths.

Both Jesse Waters & Juan Williams can be political hacks at the same time. What does this bode for "The Five"? Why watch a program where 2/5ths of the panel are outright hacks?

Another truth:

Ben Shapiro can be telling sense on Russia-gate while still being a Never-Trumper.; 4/19/19, 2:09 PM
narciso said...: which is why the west will die eventually because their adversaries don't give too farthings about such 'first world issues' and this sky dragon phantasm is of similar dubious nature,; 4/19/19, 2:09 PM
narciso said...: I haven't watched fox in a long time, some segments from tucker are interesting, some other sources, but shep is a fool, probably a knave,; 4/19/19, 2:11 PM
Fen said...: How many believe that ...

Exactly. We can study Inga here and see. She will chant

Obstruction obstruction obstruction till she is hoarse.

And summon up a Unicorn that only she can see.; 4/19/19, 2:11 PM
Fen said...: Oh and the Democrats will run a million investigations on Trump from now until Nov 2020

Meanwhile, Fusion GPS keeps turning up like a bad penny, when they should have been raided and fighting for their lives in court over a year ago.

We save the villagers and put out the fires. Good job.

But we have to identify where the missiles were launched from and take those sites out.; 4/19/19, 2:14 PM
Anonymous said...: I will continue to contend that the Dems just keep digging themselves a deeper and deeper hole for 2020. Once the dust settles on the Mueller report the fact that there is nothing there will become clear to the regular folk. I have not read the report and won't. Given the reporting so far the "revelations" will have a short shelf life.

The Dems in the House absolutely refuse to address any issues of importance to the American people. In the meantime Trump has won the domestic economic battle; it appears that there will be a bilateral China trade agreement in the near future; Trump - and the idiots who continue to send caravans to the border - have convinced a majority of the voters that there IS a crisis on the border and Trump is the only person willing to address it; etc.; etc. While the Dem presidential candidates continue to sprinkle fairy dust around. I will go out on a limb and bet that Joe Biden can not win the Dem nomination given the current state of the party's leftward stampede. Look how Cortez was able to win in Queens and I think we may see more primaries like hers.; 4/19/19, 2:24 PM
Anonymous said...: Incidentally, Chuck seems to be able to withstand the truth of the Mueller report but Inga, who for two years has been predicting the Gotterdammerung that would result from the Mueller report has been strangely quiet - even as the MSM and DNC crazily spin all kinds of fantasies for her to cut and paste.; 4/19/19, 2:28 PM
mockturtle said...: Trump needs to come out with some sort of health care plan before next election. That's one area where a lot of people seem to have problems and the Dems will be pushing their socialist version.; 4/19/19, 2:35 PM
Kevin said...: I've heard that Mueller says that Trump said that.

Apparently that was Hope Hicks' testimony. Another innocent person who was put into the stocks as part of the witch hunt.; 4/19/19, 2:40 PM
Anonymous said...: @Mockturtle I agree with you. If the Congress critters were at all responsible they would have been dealing with this as well as immigration. Better to leave it as campaign fodder than help the American people. I imagine Trump saw the Dem ads too in 2018; 4/19/19, 2:41 PM
mockturtle said...: A lot of the GOPe are pushing a 'moderate' Dem for President. They seem to think they lost the House because of Trump. They've read it wrong from the get-go. As I've posted before, I'd prefer to see a Socialist like Bernie get the nomination and have an all-out debate on the realities of Socialism. I wonder how the media conglomerates would like a Socialist government? Do they think they would be spared when the SHTF just because they've been so liberal?; 4/19/19, 3:01 PM
BJM said...: What can we expect from the left when an AP writer is this ignorant.

Bonus clueless points for working "mecca" into the lede.

Meanwhile across the pond Labor ran a Happy Passover message with a loaf of bread & a goblet graphic.

These are the people who shape news and govern.; 4/19/19, 3:03 PM
rcocean said...: "A lot of the GOPe are pushing a 'moderate' Dem for President."

They were rooting (some voting) for "Moderate" Hillary in 2016, so I'm not shocked. No Doubt National Review and Mitt Romney will be "Conflicted" if Biden or Harris gets elected. Weld is now running against Trump in the Primaries, and he's Mitt's Best Friend forever.; 4/19/19, 3:11 PM
mockturtle said...: BJM notes: What can we expect from the left when an AP writer is this ignorant.

Bonus clueless points for working "mecca" into the lede.

Headline: "Tourist mecca Notre Dame also revered as place of worship"

Gee, imagine that! Sort of a dual-purpose building, you might say.; 4/19/19, 3:35 PM
Birkel said...: Can anybody cite a statute, cited by Mueller in his report, that Trump might have violated?
Thanks in advance.; 4/19/19, 3:40 PM
TJM said...: Birkel,

Trump violated the following statute passed on the eve of the election: Hildabeast is Entitled to Win Act; 4/19/19, 4:11 PM
TJM said...: I sent Mittens Romney a note stating: I am sickened that a pusillanimous creature like you is a US Senator. Go to hell; 4/19/19, 4:16 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: right on TJM - Romney is a piece of shit.

and I'm not a Trump fan. I wish Cruz was prez.; 4/19/19, 5:01 PM
Pokerone said...: The butt-(igieg) of all jokes isn't going anywhere. Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, better he be mayor of French Lick, Indiana, twice the jokes!; 4/19/19, 5:24 PM
Birkel said...: Cruz could not be more conservative than Trump has been. I moved to Cruz after Walker dropped out. I voted for Cruz in the primaries. But I could not be more pleased with Trump's policies.

And there's no telling what Brennan and Clapper had on Cruz. Or whether Cruz could have endured the slings and arrows Trump brushes aside so easily. And Cruz is a great senator who would make a great VP.; 4/19/19, 5:25 PM
Fernandinande said...: Muellermania paradox

Is that where you put a report into a radioactive box and then you open the box and the report doesn't say what you wanted it to say and also there's a dead cat? AKA the "Democrat Dilemma"?; 4/19/19, 5:52 PM
ChasMath said...: The Dems will pay dearly for the fuss they're making over the Special Council Report. Some people on the Hill are starting to realize it. http://www.kotcb.com/2019/03/the-trojan-equus-africanus-asinus-pinata.html; 4/19/19, 6:32 PM
tcrosse said...: Cruz is okay, but Booker has a nicer looking beard.; 4/19/19, 6:32 PM
Birkel said...: tcrosse,
I see what you did there.; 4/19/19, 6:45 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: "The only way to fight propaganda is with an equal and opposite propaganda."

Such a thing, measuring and responding equally to what people could, potentially, define as "propaganda," isn't within any realistic realm of possibility, without an altogether silly level of precision to result in an accuracy with zero predictive possibilities. And the idea propaganda always works in every scenario unless met with an equal opposite isn't reality.

Who do you think you are with this shit?

My propaganda has overwhelmed yours here at the Althouse blog, for example.; 4/19/19, 7:06 PM
JAORE said...: Cruz is okay, but Booker has a nicer looking beard.

LOL, good 'un.; 4/19/19, 7:13 PM
Doodad said...: Where have you gone, Mike Avenatti
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Wu wu wu
What's that you say, Leftist chatterers
Jolting Mike has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

Avenatti will always stand as the icon of Leftist failure.; 4/19/19, 8:13 PM
Fen said...: "Can anybody cite a statute, cited by Mueller in his report, that Trump might have violated?"

Howard: mumble mumble something vague mumble

BOOM!; 4/19/19, 8:24 PM
BJM said...: SEEN ON FACEBOOK: “Democrats lost an election they rigged, and now Democrats have lost an investigation they rigged.”

h/t Glenn.; 4/19/19, 8:37 PM
Molly said...: (eaglebeak)

Maybe Trump can copyright the phrase "I'm Trump and You're Fucked," for a hat with a photo of John Brennan on it.

I would pay ready money for that hat.

Of maybe one that says "I'm fucked, but not for long."

I find it rather appealing that Trump had that reaction to the special counsel. It's so normal.; 4/19/19, 8:54 PM
magamamma said...: https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1119073757451169792
Ryan Saavedra
‏
Verified account

@RealSaavedra
23h23 hours ago
More
Media reports Trump said he was "f--ked," cuts out remainder of quote: "Everyone tells me that if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won't be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me"; 4/19/19, 9:00 PM
StephenFearby said...: Quaestor said...
"When President said, "I'm fucked," he goes on to say a bit more which no Democrat bothers to quote..."

The bit more:

“Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won’t be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

From the Mueller report, the full context:

'According to notes written by Hunt, when Sessions told the President that a Special Counsel had been appointed, the President slumped back in his chair and said, “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I’m fucked.” The President became angry and lambasted the Attorney General for his decision to recuse from the investigation, stating, “How could you let this happen, Jeff?” The President said the position of Attorney General was his most important appointment and that Sessions had “let [him) down,” contrasting him to Eric Holder and Robert Kennedy. Sessions recalled that the President said to him, “you were supposed to protect me,” or words to that effect. The President returned to the consequences of the appointment and said, “Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won’t be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.”'

A perfectly reasonable position to take for a president alleged to have dementia.; 4/19/19, 10:53 PM
Birkel said...: Dementia?
Hey, it didn't work with Reagan so it is bound to work now.
Dumb ass.; 4/19/19, 11:01 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Hillary probably had Seth Rich's blood collected so she could taste it.; 4/19/19, 11:16 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Only true witches can taste true innocent blood.; 4/19/19, 11:57 PM
Kaiser Derden (aka TDL) said...: 99% of GOP politicos would have just given up after saying "I'm fu*ked" ... Trump simply went back to work on tax cuts, deregulation and judges ... and put his nose to the grindstone and made sure he would not go down over this phony investigation ... some will say he just got lucky ...

funny, but Trump seems to get lucky ALOT ...

as Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France once said,"the question to ask of a general is not, “Est-il habile?” Is he skillful? but “Est-il heureux?” Is he lucky?"; 4/20/19, 9:19 AM
Bilwick said...: Remember that these rabid Trump haters tend also to be lockstep brainwashed members of the Hive. In other words, the stupidest people in the world with a record of being consistently wrong.; 4/21/19, 10:29 AM