Patterico's Pontifications

12/7/2018

Glenn Reynolds: Members of FBI Should Go to Jail for Considering an Obstruction Investigation

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 10:14 am



OK then! Glenn Reynolds today:

WELL, WELL: Even before Mueller was appointed, FBI opened investigation to “rein in” Trump. Note that they were planning an obstruction probe even before Comey was fired. Leaked to CNN because it’s friendly media, meaning they thought it was about to come out somewhere less friendly. This is huge, and people should go to jail.

Put this together with the collusion between the press and federal prosecutors and the “Deep State” narrative looks pretty solid.

People should go to jail!!! That’s strong language — especially since no charges have been filed against the FBI personnel involved … and any charges would be laughable and would not survive a moment of scrutiny by a judge, much less 12 jurors examining the evidence under a standard of beyond a reasonable doubt. What prompted this outburst? Let’s look at the article Glenn is talking about, to see about this discussion of an obstruction probe before Comey’s firing:

The obstruction probe was an idea the FBI had previously considered, but it didn’t start until after Comey was fired. The justification went beyond Trump’s firing of Comey, according to the sources, and also included the President’s conversation with Comey in the Oval Office asking him to drop the investigation into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

So: Donald Trump says to the FBI director that he hopes Comey will “let this go,” which Comey reasonably interprets as Trump requesting that Comey drop an investigation into his former national security adviser — who was a top Trump campaign aide, and who has now given “substantial” cooperation to Bob Mueller about the Russia investigation and other matters, including an undisclosed criminal probe.

In response, the FBI considers opening an obstruction probe, but does not actually open it until Comey is fired.

And we are told that, as a result of this, people should go to jail.

Who should go to jail? The guy who tried to get the head of the FBI to drop an investigation into his crony? Why, no. Not that guy!

No, we are told, the people who should actually go to jail are [check notes] the people who talked about opening an obstruction probe after evidence of possible obstruction arose.

Look: reasonable people can disagree about whether Trump’s actions amount to obstruction, or whether it was appropriate for the FBI even to consider opening an obstruction investigation after Trump’s comment to Comey.

But saying that people should “go to jail” for discussing a possible obstruction probe is not even remotely a reasonable position. Go to jail for what? Based on what evidence?

You know, I am old enough to remember when, during the election, I was told that the civil service reining in Donald Trump was a good thing:

So if the choice in 2016 is between one bad candidate and another (and it is) the question is, which one will do the least harm. And, judging by the civil service’s behavior, that’s got to be Trump. If Trump tries to target his enemies with the IRS, you can bet that he’ll get a lot of pushback — and the press, instead of explaining it away, will make a huge stink. If Trump engages in influence-peddling, or abuses secrecy laws, you can bet that, even if Trump’s appointees sit atop the DOJ or FBI, the civil service will ensure that things don’t get swept under the rug. And if Trump wants to go to war, he’ll get far more scrutiny than Hillary will get — or, in cases like her disastrous Libya invasion, has gotten.

So the message is clear. If you want good government, vote for Trump — he’s the only one who will make this whole checks-and-balances thing work.

That was Glenn Reynolds on September 8, 2016. What happened to the praise for the notion of the much-vaunted Deep State being a tool to rein in an out-of-control Trump? Many people cited this column as a talking point for Trump. Notably, many of those same people are now suggesting that members of the horrific Deep State should be locked in a cage for talking about doing exactly what Reynolds suggested in September 2016 that they should do: rein in Trump when he showed signs of going out of control.

I like Glenn Reynolds, and my point here is not to say he’s a bad guy or to accuse him of hypocrisy. My point is twofold: 1) to chide him for absurdly saying that members of the FBI should “go to jail” for discussing an obstruction investigation when evidence of possible obstruction was obvious, and 2) to remind him of his position in September 2016 — and to say that, if he meant that, he should stop calling for members of the FBI to be locked up, and start applauding them for doing the job that he once said he wanted them to do.

That goes for everyone currently complaining about the Deep State who told us in 2016 that it was a feature and not a bug.

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]

143 Responses to “Glenn Reynolds: Members of FBI Should Go to Jail for Considering an Obstruction Investigation”

  1. “… when evidence of possible obstruction was obvious…”

    “Look: reasonable people can disagree about whether Trump’s actions amount to obstruction, or whether it was appropriate for the FBI even to consider opening an obstruction investigation after Trump’s comment to Comey.”

    I don’t think the evidence of obstruction was or is obvious in any way. But I may be unreasonable.

    chris (169b4a)

  2. Go to jail for what?

    Lese majeste. They dared to disrespect Caesar.

    nk (dbc370)

  3. Of course the ‘insurance policy’ happened long before election day. As Devlin barrett’s record shows, it was all part and parcel with protecting hillart from any accountavility.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  4. Well-said IMHO.

    I think Glen was merely being hyperbolic, but agree with every point you made. If the FBI failed to investigate something like that, they’d be asleep at the wheel.

    Jonathan K. Smith (9570eb)

  5. Impiety? Sacrilege? Profanity?

    nk (dbc370)

  6. Like they failed to investigate Orlando or parkland or vegas.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  7. Garland as well as Orlando was particularly tricky since they involved FBI informants in some capacity.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  8. They also gave Mikey the biggest scoop of ice cream even though he had not finished all his peas. They always loved him best.

    nk (dbc370)

  9. The general Flynn memo proceeds from Sally Yates leak to entous, which started the ‘Logan act business’

    Narciso (d1f714)

  10. First, given Professor Reynolds’ decades-long commitment to the Constitution and the Rule of Law, it is disingenuous, in my opinion, to emphasize his hyperbole over the fact of his conviction that this article details a smoking gun with which to zealously pursue criminal sanctions against several most senior elements within the FBI and DOJ. The man would never accept a summary imprisonment of any of these bad actors without benefit of the full panoply of legal protections we all should enjoy.

    Second, you ask, “For what?” The answer is: A coup. That is an enormous deal. You may disagree that this is what Rosenstein and his conspirators were aiming towards. No worries there. It seems that Reynolds is satisfied that their actions were very likely treasonous. If you believed such a thing, would you not scream to the high heavens? Any patriot would.

    I am not sure how large the group of fools is who advocated a Deep State response to thwart DJT. I am not among these. The Deep State has been, and will continue to be, an existential threat to our republic. DJT could never rise to that level. He is fully capable of a lot of mischief. I do not trust him. But, I am certain that the statists and elites would be able to stop him if he truly went off the rails.

    Ed from SFV (6d42fa)

  11. First, given Professor Reynolds’ decades-long commitment to the Constitution and the Rule of Law, it is disingenuous, in my opinion, to emphasize his hyperbole over the fact of his conviction that this article details a smoking gun with which to zealously pursue criminal sanctions against several most senior elements within the FBI and DOJ. The man would never accept a summary imprisonment of any of these bad actors without benefit of the full panoply of legal protections we all should enjoy

    I assure you that there is nothing disingenuous about my post, which is really more of an attack on me than an attack on my argument. You may not have noticed the same phenomenon that I have: that many vocal exponents of due process often forget about due process when it comes to punishing law enforcement.

    Calling anything having to do with this probe a “coup” strikes me as quite an overreaction based on what I already said in the post. What Trump said to Comey about Flynn would trigger suspicion for any reasonable agent.

    Patterico (761164)

  12. It seems that Reynolds is satisfied that their actions were very likely treasonous

    Since I like you and generally consider you sensible, i’d Like to discuss this further, since this opinion strikes me as wholly untenable. Could you spell out what you mean by calling the actions “treasonous”? The discussion would be most helpful if you specified the actions you are referring to, and acknowledged and addressed the best argument you can imagine against your position, phrasing it in a way that someone like me would say you are phrasing it fairly.

    Patterico (761164)

  13. I don’t think the evidence of obstruction was or is obvious in any way

    You left out a word: “possible.” I included it for a reason.

    Patterico (761164)

  14. We have seen that strzok klingesmith and one other was removed for inappropriate behavior we have seem a number of high ranking officials reassigned or dismissed.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  15. There was no “obstruction of justice”. What crime was Trump “obstructing”?

    McCabe and Comey were engaged in a Coup D’etat.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  16. This whole Mueller thing has been the most insane thing – in WH History.

    Imagine a Deputy AG giving a Special prosecutor a blank check to investigate the POTUS for any unnamed crime and then run a 1.5 year, never-ending investigation of Trump – hoping to find something.

    This just reminds me of why Sessions needed to be fired. He’s the one who wanted Rosenstein. He’s the one who recused himself, and he’s the one refused to rein in Rosenstein or Mueller.

    What a waste of time and energy this whole crazy thing has been!

    rcocean (1a839e)

  17. It’s not clear at all that Trump was obstructing anything, but for sure there was a crime. One that Flynn has pleaded guilty to.

    nk (dbc370)

  18. Trump didn’t do himself any favors. He should have cut Mueller off a year ago. Instead it let this thing go on and on, and still not finished.

    Now, he’s STILL tweeting about it. All talk and no action.

    Just like the Wall.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  19. Well he was told Rosenstein was a reliable choice he wasnt privy to the fisa warrant drawn from the dossier.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  20. When you look back in history, its insane

    JFK had his Brother as AG! Nixon had John Mitchell his campaign manager.
    The Clinton’s committed one unethical, possibly criminal act after another, and their AG didnt’ betray them.

    Meanwhile, Trump gets investigated by his own DoJ – five months after he takes office!

    rcocean (1a839e)

  21. Because he cant do it by fiat, the DOJ refuses to declassify because they are part of this fraud

    Narciso (d1f714)

  22. Ask ed reese he was subject to two of them, both were still more ethical than mueller.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  23. Sessions in the one responsible for Rosenstein. He recommended him. The fact that all the Democrats loved him, should have been a warning sign.

    Maybe when Sessions writes a book, he can explain his actions. But looking back, Trump should have fired him after he fired Comey.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  24. He didn’t have a replacement then, heck he barely knew how far the plot extended,

    Narciso (d1f714)

  25. “Because he cant do it by fiat”

    Yes he can. Trump can declassify any information he wants, any time he wants, with no legal recourse.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  26. Meese, whereas when there is a Republican special prosecutor he is the criminal the traitor the pervert you see how this works

    Narciso (d1f714)

  27. Pat – I thought it over most carefully before I accused you of being disingenuous in your emphasis attacking Reynolds’ hyperbole. If the predicate, “Following a legitimate criminal process, I believe these actors…(should be jailed)” ought not be automatically granted a man like Reynolds, it can’t be granted anyone. Ocasio, he is not.

    An attempted coup is, by definition, treasonous. In this instance, we have allegations, unproven, that Rosenstein offered to wear a wire. The criminal level of behavior alleged against a president simply must be enormous for such an approach to be contemplated. We did not, nor now, have any evidence of such. It betrays a mindset that is incredibly dangerous.

    My belief is that Reynolds is satisfied the elements of an overthrow of DJT was the aim. Very probably these were in service of hiding the criminal conspiracy by Comey, Yates, McCabe, Strzok, Rosenstein, and others. That’s my guess. If he is not, I join you in calling him to account.

    I heavily lean and suspect there was a conspiracy. I accept the reporting of Solomon and Carter. I believe Nunes, Gowdy, Meadows, Jordan, and others when they describe memos they have seen as being proof of such. Their assertions are still merely assertions. I’ll be stunned, however, if a fraud was not perpetrated upon the FISA court by some of these DOJ actors.

    As much as I loathe the Special Counsel provisions, I see one as the only way to get at the facts. I do not want ANYONE subjected to sanction who does not merit sanction.

    Ed from SFV (6d42fa)

  28. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

    So, you must be being hyperbolic in your citation of “treasonous”. In zero ways would any of the DOJ/FBI actions be even remotely analogous. Trump’s, or Trump’s campaign, actions are closer, but still miles away, just being unethical, and possibly criminal. Obstruction of the investigation into those criminal actions, again, is unethical and possibly criminal. Whether Trump himself is prosecuted, in criminal court or Congress is a question of evidence and will, but calling the investigation “treasonous” because it’s against Trump is a joke.

    Was the Ken Starr investigation treasonous? Valerie Plame? I’d say they were a massive overreach for the crimes wrongdoing alleged, of which this current investigation is much more serious, and have already provided significantly more convictions in roughly a third of the time.

    Colonel Klink (Ret) (ab0951)

  29. And the press follow in lockstep no matter if the official had an impeccable record just the year before.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  30. But it’s all murky, all of these players like klimnik were hired from state department affiliates organization or were cleared to be in this country by previous administration officials they were part of the ‘reset’ that the Obama administration facilitated

    Narciso (d1f714)

  31. Mi 6 instead of doing useful work like tracking thr Leicester and Manchester bombers was involved in this garbage.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  32. And it has compromised our foreign relations with Israel and the gulf states, that’s by design

    Narciso (d1f714)

  33. Btw downer was a director for Huawei as recently as last year

    Narciso (d1f714)

  34. Pat – I thought it over most carefully before I accused you of being disingenuous in your emphasis attacking Reynolds’ hyperbole. If the predicate, “Following a legitimate criminal process, I believe these actors…(should be jailed)” ought not be automatically granted a man like Reynolds, it can’t be granted anyone. Ocasio, he is not.

    I’d ask you then to say I didn’t give him sufficient benefit of the doubt, rather than accusing me of being “disingenuous.” That’s a more accurate description of your complaint, and it has the benefit of not violating the blog’s rules against personal attacks.

    If you made that attack on my argument, I would respond by saying that I wasn’t accusing Reynolds of wishing these people jailed without any due process, but of rashly jumping to a conclusion that the hoops put up by due process could easily be jumped through. In short, he has issued an emotional yawp that shows zero evidence of his having thought through how society would get to the result he claims to want.

    An attempted coup is, by definition, treasonous. In this instance, we have allegations, unproven, that Rosenstein offered to wear a wire. The criminal level of behavior alleged against a president simply must be enormous for such an approach to be contemplated. We did not, nor now, have any evidence of such. It betrays a mindset that is incredibly dangerous.

    I believe the story offered here, which is that Rosenstein sarcastically said: “Well, what do you want me to do, Andy, wear a wire?” I don’t think that believing he made a serious offer to that effect is remotely reasonable.

    I heavily lean and suspect there was a conspiracy. I accept the reporting of Solomon and Carter. I believe Nunes, Gowdy, Meadows, Jordan, and others when they describe memos they have seen as being proof of such. Their assertions are still merely assertions. I’ll be stunned, however, if a fraud was not perpetrated upon the FISA court by some of these DOJ actors.

    I have argued at length my reasons for doubting the existence of such a fraud. I don’t want to repeat it all here. For myself, I don’t buy it at all.

    I understand that you get very exercised about this topic, but please don’t call me disingenuous again. Getting exercised is not an excuse.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  35. Any official or any go between is drawn into the dragnet for the most inconsequentoal connection.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  36. #28

    If you are tempted to use the word “disingenuous” against someone, please note — you are saying they are:

    lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere:

    https://www.dictionary.com/browse/disingenuous

    So, basically, if you call a poster disingenuous, you are accusing them of telling half-truths or lies. In a very polysyllabic fashion. Don’t be surprised, therefore, if they take offense.

    Appalled (d07ae6)

  37. Good post!

    Don’t have much time here to expound here, but when you add all of the various and sundry weird actions and attempts to cover tracks up, I , for one, smell a BIG FAT COMMIE RAT.

    Colonel Haiku (97f61b)

  38. And all these swamp rats are like mark felt, who repurposed personal slights into ‘speaking truth to power’

    Narciso (d1f714)

  39. So: Donald Trump says to the FBI director that he hopes Comey will “let this go,” which Comey reasonably interprets as Trump requesting that Comey drop an investigation into his former national security adviser

    That he go easy on him on the question of lying to the FBI. Comey probably lied about what most of that conversation was about – Trump did not have that private conversation because of the Michael Flynn case

    https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-jcomey-060817.pdf

    When the door by the grandfather clock closed, and we were alone, the President began by saying, “I want to talk about Mike Flynn.”

    trump probably really had this conversation because of a story that had appeared in the New York Times that day.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/politics/russia-intelligence-communications-trump.html

    WASHINGTON — Phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election, according to four current and former American officials.

    American law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the communications around the same time they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, three of the officials said. The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election….

    Later on Comey wss at pains to say that that story was mostly not true, and even told that to Senators.

    (Since most of the conversation Feb. 14 was about leaks that seemed to come from the FBI, it was probably that particular story that was mainly responsible for Trump wanting to speak to him in private, and not the issue of Mike Flynn, which Trump basically used as a conversation starter.

    Comey seems to have actually admitted most of it was about leaks because of Trump’s hint that it might have been recorded.

    Sammy Finkelman (102c75)

  40. The biggest lie that Comey told about taht conversation was that he did not drop the Michael Flynn case as a result of his conversation with Trump (or perhaps make it public that he had) because in fact he did, according to CNN.

    Things turned on a dime:

    At 6:25 am February 15, Zero Hedge has this: (that’s Feb 15 in spite of the URL saying Feb 14)

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-14/mike-flynn-may-face-felony-charges-lying-fbi

    But by 10 pm, after a leak, Zero Hedge reports:

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-15/fbi-reportedly-will-not-pursue-charges-against-cooperative-and-truthful-mike-flynn

    Yhis cites a tweet by Jim Sciutto of CNN.

    Jim Sciutto
    @jimsciutto

    Breaking: FBI NOT expected to pursue charges against #MichaelFlynn regarding phone calls w/Russian Ambassador, reports @evanperez

    6:45 PM – Feb 15, 2017

    Sammy Finkelman (102c75)

  41. Leaking the memo was itself an illegal act, and dissembling about the contents as wittes did was probably perjury.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  42. I’m not sure which I like less, the so-called Deep State or this Trumpian Derp State.

    Paul Montagu (973933)

  43. I think the time was actually 3:45 pm EST

    The tweet had a followup:

    Jim Sciutto
    @jimsciutto

    Breaking: FBI NOT expected to pursue charges against #MichaelFlynn regarding phone calls w/Russian Ambassador, reports @evanperez

    3:45 PM – 15 Feb 2017

    ——————————-

    Jim Sciutto
    @jimsciutto

    Replying to @jimsciutto

    More: FBI says Flynn was cooperative and provided truthful answers

    3:47 PM – 15 Feb 2017

    Sammy Finkelman (102c75)

  44. BTW, Comey has been proven to be a slippery eel, and completely unethical.

    He’s a leaker and hated Trump.

    So, I don’t believe Comey’s “Notes” about his conversations with Trump, unless Trump concurs.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  45. 18. nk (dbc370) — 12/7/2018 @ 11:35 am

    It’s not clear at all that Trump was obstructing anything, but for sure there was a crime. One that Flynn has pleaded guilty to.

    He probably wass guilty (although his being questioned was a sting) but the FBI had already clearned him of that, probably as a direct result of Donald trump’;s conversation with James CDOmey on the night of February 14, 2017. Flynn pled guilty because he was looking for soemthing to plead guilty too, What’s he co-operating now is probabky his lobbying for Turkey about Gulen and other things.

    The big question is does Mueller have anything to say about teh question of Mike Flynn possibly having been recruited by the GRU while he was head of the DIA. They probably did, but they also didn’t tell him he was a Russian asset. They paid him a lot of money later.

    Sammy Finkelman (102c75)

  46. rcocean (1a839e) — 12/7/2018 @ 12:42 pm

    So, I don’t believe Comey’s “Notes” about his conversations with Trump, unless Trump concurs.

    I don’t beleibe we’ve seen his notes and I don’t even think the Senate committee has. zHe gave it to Mueller.

    They have just his prepared and later oral testimony

    https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-jcomey-060817.pdf

    https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/08/full-text-james-comey-trump-russia-testimony-239295

    Sammy Finkelman (102c75)

  47. “Was the Ken Starr investigation treasonous? Valerie Plame?”
    Colonel Klink (Ret) (ab0951) — 12/7/2018 @ 11:49 am

    Is an apple an orange? Starr was appointed by an independent three judge panel in accordance with the special counsel statute, which expired in 1999. The Plame investigation was not targeting the president.

    Munroe (61e3f0)

  48. there was no statutes that authorized this appointment, and yes the plame investigation, targeted the president through rove and libby,

    narciso (d1f714)

  49. Trump is the DOJ’s boss. Trump is the FBI’s boss. Trump is the unitary executive.
    ‘Tradition’ notwithstanding, or the ‘legendary independence’ of the DOJ/FBI which only seems to work when it protects Democrats; I call horse hockey.
    Trump should give commands and if it doesn’t happen, fire them and if a law prevents it, write up a document describing the Federal Government’s incredible need for that employee’s skills in a mosquito-infested swamp in Georgia.

    Ingot9455 (985c4f)

  50. ‘Tradition’ notwithstanding

    The tradition being that we have a government of laws, not of men.

    Dustin (6d7686)

  51. “here was no statutes that authorized this appointment”

    https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/967231/download

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  52. independence means republicans can be targeted for any reason, ask Raymond Donovan, ask ed meese, justice Gorsuch could remind you how this works, and if they overreach, well ask the executives of Arthur Anderson, the widow of bruce ivins, exactly,

    narciso (d1f714)

  53. “I believe the story offered here, which is that Rosenstein sarcastically said: “Well, what do you want me to do, Andy, wear a wire?” I don’t think that believing he made a serious offer to that effect is remotely reasonable.”

    There’s no room for comedy or comedians in G-Man law enforcement. Even when the joker is the spittin’ image of Arnold Stang.

    Colonel Haiku (97f61b)

  54. “The tradition being that we have a government of laws, not of men.”

    But the law must be applied even-handedly, not selectively.

    Colonel Haiku (97f61b)

  55. furthermore the whole hospital bed coffee clatch that comey retroactively cited, was based on notes mueller wrote expost facto, this was right before the madrid train bombing, where it might have been helpful to keep the terrorist surveillance active, perhaps,

    narciso (d1f714)

  56. that was 14 years ago, but the 2017 memo followed the same format,

    narciso (d1f714)

  57. meanwhile meester comey, can’t be asked any questions of any relevance, because he is the law,

    narciso (d1f714)

  58. Comey is just another scab lawyer, do as i say – not as i do.

    mg (8cbc69)

  59. Is an apple an orange? Starr was appointed by an independent three judge panel in accordance with the special counsel statute, which expired in 1999. The Plame investigation was not targeting the president.

    An apple and an orange are fruit, an apple and a Buick, are not, it depends on what you think you’re comparing. If it’s crimes committed by a president, either before or after they began to run, they are definitely fruit, probably closer to a nectarine vs peach. But you’re argument seems that it’s not about the crimes committed, it’s about who is getting investigated, Clinton vs Trump?

    The SC statute is fundamentally similar to the IC statute, and would it be more or less likely that a 3 judge panel empower an IC for this investigation vs a Trump appointed DOJ official? That makes no sense.

    The Whitewater investigation was about financial improprieties prior to Clinton being president, the Trump investigation is working with a foreign power to subvert the democratic process, and Flynn just pleaded guilty to lying about doing just that. If the DOJ was investigating Trump financial improprieties, do you think they would find more, or less, than Clinton’s Arkansas real estate scam? Which resulted in him getting impeached for lying about a BJ, that was the problem with the IC law. Mueller is exactly following the 3 pillars of the investigation that the Trump administration ordered him to.

    Colonel Klink (Ret) (744849)

  60. I remember when I had enormous respect for Glenn Reynolds.

    Dave (fd74ed)

  61. whitewasher for a corrupt bank, hsbc, which surprise has Russian connections itself,

    narciso (d1f714)

  62. mueller still wants his pound of flesh from cohen, which either means his cooperation wasn’t all that, or conversely, he’s a vindictive sob,

    narciso (d1f714)

  63. It seems that Reynolds is satisfied that their actions were very likely treasonous

    Seems like seditious is the better word because the FBI wasn’t dealing with a foreign power in this case. Nevertheless, I don’t see it as seditious.

    Paul Montagu (973933)

  64. RIP – Isiah Robertson

    harkin (65fb70)

  65. Dang, Robertson was the guy, after he was traded to the Bills following Ground Chucks move there, on several NFL films vignettes for his dramatic tunnel runs to the locker room and singing Buffalo gonna go to the Super Bowl

    urbanleftbehind (380f76)

  66. The moon landings happened; Oswald did it; there is no ‘Deep State.’

    Navigate your days with those fixed points as certainties and you’ll sail through the modern world just fine.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  67. well mark felt was certainly part of it, and he had no qualms about what the plumbers did, that’s was his bag, of course woodstein, believed the whole conflicted civil servant jive,

    narciso (d1f714)

  68. 69… Raspberries du jour…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  69. So much spam.

    Colonel Klink (Ret) (744849)

  70. Strawberries, coronello. Certainly Dulles and co did my people no favors now RIP Robertson and grayston lynch (both Texans btw aa well as marines)

    Narciso (d1f714)

  71. Crossfire Hurricane says hello.

    NJRob (3a305f)

  72. I think those who believed/wanted the government to act as a “check” on Trump was coming from a viewpoint that no one knew how Trump would actually run the White House.

    Hence Pat’s and Glenn’s statements early in the Trump era.

    That viewpoint changed for many, imo, when the Trump administration would look somewhat like a generic Republican administration (notwithstanding Trump’s public persona).

    However, when you factor in the plethora of process crimes & non-campaign related crimes of Trump’s orbit, it’s not hard to see that the media, anti-Trump faction in the government and the special counsel are weaponizing parts of the government all in the name of #TheResistence.

    That is not what we should expect our government should operate, especially since there’s still this dichotomy that the book is being thrown at the likes of Flynn, Cohen, Manafort… and, yet the “other political side” seems to go unscathed for doing very similar things.

    That’s a problem.

    whembly (d40ad5)

  73. It’s the same hat trick with Brexit, every measure is taken to frustrate the people will,

    Narciso (d1f714)

  74. A big question is can Americans trust the nation’s law enforcement agencies to handle when someone they don’t like wins an election?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  75. I say no, they have made that clear.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  76. #77 A big question is can Americans trust the nation’s law enforcement agencies to handle when someone they don’t like wins an election?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/7/2018 @ 5:46 pm

    The perception now is that they don’t… or at least, the Trump supporters don’t.

    But, that’s okay… as, we Republicans didn’t trust the nation’s law enforcement agencies under Obama either.

    whembly (d40ad5)

  77. What Glenn Reynolds has done is got us talking about poor, poor victim Donald Trump on the day that Mueller has filed sentencing memoranda for Cohen and Manafort that’s what he’s done.

    N-e-v-e-r p-l-e-a-d g-u-i-l-t-y!

    nk (dbc370)

  78. No this is about how we got here, down this rabbit trail.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  79. “Who should go to jail? The guy who tried to get the head of the FBI to drop an investigation into his crony? Why, no. Not that guy!”

    Here I thought Loretta Lynch was a frau.

    Munroe (be98e5)

  80. Two people I can count on in Washington D.C.
    Justice Thomas and Justice Alito

    mg (8cbc69)

  81. There’s also the guy being convicted of first degree murder in Charlottesville today, for doing something Glenn Reynolds advised.

    nk (dbc370)

  82. Yes McAuliffe orders the standown and he gets his blood price for the governor’s election.

    Speaking of which the twist in that 60s lovecraft is the protagonist doesn’t know he is an omnipotent wizard from the 16th crntury

    Narciso (d1f714)

  83. A big question is can Americans trust the nation’s law enforcement agencies to handle when someone they don’t like wins an election?

    Interesting.
    A man who thinks criminal investigations should be determined on the basis of what friends one has in high places, and continued to have business dealings with the Kremlin kleptocracy even after his election to high office, becomes POTUS.

    Yet according to people like Narciso and Haiku it is corruption when our law enforcement agencies think they need to take a closer look at that.

    Kishnevi (1b4366)

  84. “There’s also the guy being convicted of first degree murder in Charlottesville today, for doing something Glenn Reynolds advised.”

    Context is everything:

    Sorry, blocking the interstate is dangerous, and trapping people in their cars is a threat. Driving on is self-preservation, especially when we’ve had mobs destroying property and injuring and killing people. But if Twitter doesn’t like me, I’m happy to stop providing them with free content.” He further explained that he’s a supporter of peaceful protest and accountability for police officers. “But riots aren’t peaceful protest. And blocking interstates and trapping people in their cars is not peaceful protest — it’s threatening and dangerous, especially against the background of people rioting, cops being injured, civilian-on-civilian shootings, and so on. I wouldn’t actually aim for people blocking the road, but I wouldn’t stop because I’d fear for my safety, as I think any reasonable person would.”

    harkin (65fb70)

  85. You forget I was aware when Janet Reno was very selective who she targeted with the hot suits case, not her future top aide what she did in the fuster case, were aware of the Mueller mentality well. Her protege Fernandez Rundle plays the same deck.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  86. It’s okay, Narciso. You apparently are fine with Rick Scott, and he’s as openly corrupt as anyone named Clinton. Reno and Rundle have nothing to do with the corruption now in the Oval Office.

    You are showing that you don’t mind officials and politicians being corrupt, as long as they say they support the stuff you support.

    Kishnevi (1b4366)

  87. That “context” came much later than the “Run them down”.

    nk (dbc370)

  88. Yes, but Twitter is weird that way, Charlottesville sounds like what may happen this weekend in Paris in reverse the anti tax hordes vs the small band of sky dragon worshipers

    Narciso (d1f714)

  89. 89… if you don’t mind my asking, kishnevi, who did you cast your Senate and Governor vote for?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  90. How did you miss the top stories at Instapundit though, Haiku?

    DECEMBER 8, 2018
    AT AMAZON, Lightning Deal, Kingkong 7573 / 7106 Grill Cover for Weber Spirit 200, 300 Series and Genesis Silver Gas Grill with Grill Brush, Tongs and Thermometer.
    Posted at 8:25 am by Helen Smith

    AT AMAZON, ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide, 1100 Watts.
    Plus, Lightning Deal, FEETCITY Mens Snow Boots Women Winter Anti-Slip Ankle Booties Waterproof Slip On Warm Fur Lined Sneaker.
    0 Posted at 8:02 am by Helen Smith

    DECEMBER 7, 2018
    AT AMAZON, save on Snow Removal.
    Plus, warm comforters for Winter.
    Also: Fleece-Lined Jeans for Men.

    3 Posted at 11:00 pm by Helen Smith

    nk (dbc370)

  91. Well, look who got up out of the wrong side of the bed. Good morning!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  92. Et bonjour à vous aussi, mon bon monsieur.

    nk (dbc370)

  93. Well duh on your #94, nk…AOC is just working hard to destabilize the other party for her “hush money” from Junior. Bonfire of the Vanities come to life, if you will. And he got a older berry/sweeter the juice Mick-Rican now.

    urbanleftbehind (86e734)

  94. No she works for Dan blathers employee, the grabby cenk uygur.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  95. I think she’s right about one thing. It’s not her subpoenas people should worry about; it’s catching salmonella just by walking through her district.

    nk (dbc370)

  96. Heck were getting salmonella in cereal, winning the future.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  97. 90 – “That “context” came much later than the “Run them down”.”

    The “context” was that Reynolds’ tweet was a direct response to a WBTV tweet warning people about an unlawful gathering where trespassing protesters on Interstate 217 were stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles in a threatening manner and pounding on doors and windows, etc.

    Heather Heyer was killed on Fourth Street standing with a group of people.

    harkin (65fb70)

  98. “Russian chemistry teacher accused of setting up a drug lab”

    “Breaking Badenov” – Glenn Reynolds

    harkin (65fb70)

  99. The two demonstrations were put in dangerous proximity and McAuliffe escapes accountability

    Narciso (d1f714)

  100. Sal Monella (D-tehBronx) can’t be bought.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  101. i don’t think President Trump’s saying that there aren’t any *individual* rocks that are dumber than the astoundingly incompetent Rex Tillerson, he’s just saying Tillerson’s as dumb as the *average* rock

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  102. Trump calling Tillerson dumb is like Roseanne Barr calling Scarlett Johansson ugly.

    nk (dbc370)

  103. Corrupt facilitator of the Iran deal is not as brief.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  104. You mean non-facilitator of some hot man-on-man action between Trump and his new boyfriend Kim Jon Un like Pompeo is.

    nk (dbc370)

  105. Roseanne Barr never said that about scarjo she said Valerie Jarrett (valjar) was ugly and this was a true fact on america and then the idiot bim in charge of abc programming canceled their number one show lol

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  106. Prigozhins shattered mercs say something different,

    They canceled agent Carter, and they greenlighted the inhumans

    Narciso (d1f714)

  107. Roseanne Barr never said that about scarjo

    That’s because Roseanne Barr is nowhere near as big an idiot as Trump is.

    nk (dbc370)

  108. Channing Dungey was as trashy as she was stupid, and this became a problem for what they call “the ratings”

    this is why she had to quit in disgrace (sad lady)

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  109. If she wants to ever get to be that big she should eat a lot meatloaf and drink a lot of Diet Coke and get a Russian boyfriend and a Korean boyfriend. Hey, what happened to Duterte? Was he just one of those passing fancies?

    nk (dbc370)

  110. That was the big outrage a year ago, like justice league.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  111. Mr. Duterte is telling those perverted catholic pope-bishops how the cow ate the cabbage (nom nom nom)

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  112. everybody knows Mike Flynn was framed by butt-breather sally yates (dirty drooler)

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  113. I thought he was bragging about killing 10K dealers/junkies in the past year. Also, not surprised about his order 66 on bishops, he’s a crypto-muzzie.

    urbanleftbehind (86e734)

  114. That’s why he waged war on Islamic state in mindanao, ok,

    Narciso (d1f714)

  115. alternatively Mr. Duterte could wage war on the islamic state for 17 years to no effect and spend trillions of dollars achieving nothing but he doesn’t have the joke us military at his disposal he has a limited toolkit

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  116. You all know I meant Trump’s crush on Duterte. But the answer is obvious: Kim Jong Un is younger and more Asian-looking.

    nk (dbc370)

  117. Like Reagan supported Marco’s till circumstances he wasnt crazy about Soviet Papandreou in part because plo were invited to sleep over.

    Narciso (d1f714)

  118. that reminds me of how has-been idiot chub margaret cho got all salivated up and moist cause she thought they were doing “yellowface” in abfab

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  119. Duterte last year declared Dec. 8 a special non-working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

    The feast marks Mary’s conception of her son Jesus free from original sin, keeping her “immaculate.”

    Not even close. The Feast is to mark the event that, when she was conceived by her parents (St. Anne & Joachim), Jesus prevented her from being stained by Original Sin (He is her savior, too). That is why she is called The Immaculate Conception.

    Mary’s Conception of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, is an entirely different matter.

    felipe (023cc9)

  120. I think she’s right about one thing. It’s not her subpoenas people should worry about; it’s catching salmonella just by walking through her district.

    If AOC and Uday Trump were ever in the same place, it would form a critical mass and suck the whole universe into a singularity of stupidity that would make SMOD look like a Sunday school picnic.

    This is settled science.

    Dave (1bb933)

  121. No miss Cortez would more prone to order a firing squad for reasons

    Narciso (d1f714)

  122. Mary’s Conception of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, is an entirely different matter.

    And according to some, the ultimate #MeToo moment:

    God Wrongfully Impregnated Teenage Virgin Mary Without Consent Says Minnesota Professor

    Dave (1bb933)

  123. speaking of feasts last night we went to clever rabbit it was really special we’re deep enough into winter that the way the cauliflower sang a jaunty fresh spring tune was really striking

    you miss the tastes of freshness really quickly especially if you shop at mariano’s

    the beet salad stood out too – conventional but with pistachios that made it kinda magical

    no real false notes there and the service was magnificent and they had a “squashnog” (my first squashnog)

    it’s basically horchata and butternut squash and i’d recommend it for if you want a light dessert (we didn’t try dessert cause we wanted to take the kids to Mr. Kite’s)

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  124. And according to some [guy], the ultimate #MeToo moment:

    FIFY, what part of Luke 1:38 does he not understand?

    felipe (023cc9)

  125. luke 1:38!

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  126. FIFY, what part of Luke 1:38 does he not understand?

    Well, I think his “reasoning” is explained pretty clearly in the linked article:

    “The biblical god regularly punished disobedience. The power difference (deity vs mortal) and the potential for violence for saying ‘no’ negates her ‘yes.’ To put someone in this position is an unethical abuse of power at best and grossly predatory at worst.”

    In his view, I guess, it would be analogous to the President seducing an intern in the Oval Office, except she’s 15.

    Dave (1bb933)

  127. Pearls. Swine.

    nk (dbc370)

  128. The power difference (deity vs mortal)

    That is what every complaint about God boils down to: Hey! I wanna be God!

    felipe (023cc9)

  129. nk (dbc370) — 12/8/2018 @ 9:50 am

    Yep.

    felipe (023cc9)

  130. Just to be clear, the swine is the atheist. I have no problem with you, Dave.

    felipe (023cc9)

  131. Hey! I wanna be God!

    It’s nice work if you can get it.

    Dave (1bb933)

  132. Heh. And the line for applicants begins with Satan.

    felipe (023cc9)

  133. Idea for T-shirt:

    “Wanna be God? Get in line behind me! – Satan”

    felipe (023cc9)

  134. …in both the metal band and Jon Lovitz form of Satan.

    urbanleftbehind (86e734)

  135. we have a satan statue at the capitol for the holidays

    but the capitol’s all the way in springfield or somesuch so they put the satan statue where nobody’ll see it

    satanists are so stupid

    happyfeet (28a91b)


Powered by WordPress.

Page loaded in: 0.1221 secs.