Patterico's Pontifications

President Trump isn’t decrying prosecutions.

He’s saying the seedy corrupt Justice Department timed the indictments to maximally harm the Republicans midterm prospects.

And he’s 100% correct.

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:25 am

*Republicans’*

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:25 am

Why didn’t he primary Collins and Hunter like he promised so this wouldn’t be an election issue?

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:28 am

He got busy doing other stuff like deregulating the economy and creating jobs – he’s really a stickler for creating jobs (for Americans) (real ones)

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:29 am

I think Mr. Trump the President is playing his usual 43-dimensional chess distancing the Jeff Sessions Justice Department from himself and thus demonstrating that his appointees are independent of him and will follow the rule of law in order to help Judge Kavanaugh with his confirmation. It’s brilliant!

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:41 am

The problem also is that every Trump tweet has to be checked for veracity. Collins’ and Hunter’s transgressions happened in 2017, not the “Obama era” as the president falsely claimed earlier. Also, if anyone has noticed that Trump has made a lot more false and misleading statements of late, the facts bear it out. In the last three months, he’s been lying at a pace of over 15 a day, every single day. How do the most loyal Trump supporters reconcile all this dissembling? How do they discern whether Trump’s next utterances are truthful or whether he’s again talking out of his ass?

Paul Montagu (cbbfc4) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:41 am

What’s the difference between Trump pardoning any republican involved in any crime and the DOJ handing out immunity to every Clinton crony and declining to prosecute Huma abedin for embezzlement?

Hi (8264f0) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:42 am

The Boss needs his “fixer”. Since his previous one is going to jail and Rudy is…. well, I am not sure what Rudy is doing…. the DOJ will have to play this role. And they don’t cost $500 an hour. How cool is that!

noel (96c84f) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:42 am

Yet neither lieu or Schultz nor of the 60 representatives who used the awans as contractors get indicted.

Narciso (8e08fa) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:46 am

Sigh

Dejectedhead (3c8765) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:46 am

When would you have brought the indictments, happyfeet? With your extensive knowledge of the evidence against the Congressmen and the timing of when the investigators learned all the evidence, the only real crime here would be if you did not weigh in.

Patterico (5e9fda) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:50 am

She covered up a capitol hill police investigation but whatever.

Narciso (8e08fa) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:50 am

Imran Awan got off with no jail time in a DOJ involved sweet heart plea deal that any Democrat seems to get magically, tbh I’d be ok with Trump pardoning anyone with an R in front of their name at this point.

Hi (8264f0) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:52 am

Paul, yes, I forgot to mention the “the president is lying again” aspect of the tweet. By now I just assume that people know, but I shouldn’t.

Patterico (5e9fda) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:52 am

When the Republican President is openly calling on the Justice Department to go after his enemies and protect his friends, you have to do something. Here are a few suggestions…

Point to any shiny object. “Look, they are taking a knee!”

Claim that “Everyone does it.”

Or my personal favorite…. “Lock her up.”

noel (96c84f) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:58 am

As pointed Obama didn’t have to decry Jesse Jackson Jr’s prosecution before the election, whereas as holder set the stage for a phony one in sanford.

Narciso (8e08fa) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:59 am

When would you have brought the indictments, happyfeet?

since these investigations started years ago I would’ve brought the indictments last year, but that’s cause I’m super-conscientious

now it’s up to the sleazy corrupt DOJ to show that they had no choice but to wait until the election was at the doorstep and the indictments fit neatly into the Blue Wave Narrative

i bet they can’t do it

plus they lie a LOT

remember how they suppressed exculpatory evidence on Ted Stevens?

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:03 am

Oh wow. There is that “Ted Stevens” defense again.

noel (96c84f) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:06 am

“Ted Stevens” is not a defense it’s a reminder of how seedy and corrupt the American Justice Department has become

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:07 am

Jeffy Sessions needs to clean house

someone should put him in charge

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:07 am

How can any republican have faith in our justice system at this point? Not even talking about these two idiots I’m just saying in general how time and time again Democrats are let off, given immunity, or when charges are refered the AG just goes eh no way I don’t have time for this…..

Hi (8264f0) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:09 am

@13 Hi

“Imran Awan got off with no jail time in a DOJ involved sweet heart plea deal that any Democrat seems to get magically”

Maybe you should stop believing every conspiracy theory you hear.

Davethulhu (fab944) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:11 am

Somehow the “Ted Stevens” case is a legitimate point to raise as a perpetual criticism of the DOJ. But Donald lying every single day doesn’t convince you that his word is suspect? Tell me how that works again?

noel (96c84f) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:13 am

Sessions fell victim to one of the classic blunders – the most famous of which is “never get involved in a land war in Asia” – but only slightly less well-known is this: “Never resign from United States Senator to go to work for Donald Trump”!

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:20 am

None of the Ted Stevens prosecutors ended up being prosecuted themselves. Imagine my shock.

An elected official is a “mob boss”, while unelected prosecutors tipping the scales in elections are not. Soak that in for a moment.

Munroe (63de12) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:20 am

Yeah ok Imran wasn’t let off with no jail time. Didn’t happen

Hi (8264f0) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:21 am

Bob McDonnell, Tom delay, conrad black on another front Stephen hatfill, the two aipac executives, whereas cair is not touched.

Narciso (8e08fa) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:21 am

narciso:

Do you agree that Trump is mistaken when he claims the DoJ prosecutions are Obama era?

Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:21 am

The grand jury was convened in November 2016,

Narciso (8e08fa) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:24 am

Munroe…. can you explain why you are not concerned with Trump calling on the Justice Department to go after his enemies and protect his friends? You certainly seem intelligent so why is it that you don’t find this alarming?

noel (96c84f) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:25 am

Narciso — which grand jury? (There are two cases here)

Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:26 am

@26 Hi

How much jail time do you think is appropriate for lying on a loan application?

Davethulhu (fab944) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:29 am

The Pyrite Rule:

#6, Paul, Trump’s supporters don’t waste time reconciling his statements, they discern his truthfulness by the reaction of Democrats and #NeverTrumpers: the more negative the reaction, the more truthful the statment.

The Purite Rule or its corollaries provides many other attributes in addition to saving time, for example, anything Dems and #NT’s complain about can be ignored, discounted or dismissed out of hand as Satan’s handiwork, and ridiculed appropriately.

So far, The Purite Rule has proved such an infallible guide that little additional confirmation is needed to declare it divinely inspired settled science and thus elevate it to the heavenly status of Scientific Law.

ropelight (4f079d) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:32 am

Tell me how that works again?

Identifying with President Trump enhances my self-esteem and improves my outlook on life.

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:34 am

also there was no espionage/stealing files etc etc.

The case has generated interest from Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have suggested Awan could have been involved in a cyber breach operation. But prosecutors said Tuesday they investigated allegations of misconduct by Awan while on the job in Congress and determined federal charges were not warranted.

“Particularly, the government has found no evidence that your client illegally removed House data from the House network or from House members’ offices, stole the House Democratic Caucus server, stole or destroyed House information technology equipment, or improperly accessed or transferred government information, including classified or sensitive information,” the prosecution said in the plea deal.

Prosecutors said the government conducted a “thorough investigation of those allegations.”

The government interviewed 40 witnesses, took custody of the House Democratic Caucus server and other devices, reviewed electronic communications between House employees and questioned Awan during multiple voluntary interviews, the plea deal said.

Time123 (ca85c9) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:39 am

here this is kinda well done

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:40 am

True joy is to take pleasure from one’s own accomplishments; courtesy is to learn from the models of the past.

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:41 am

#6, Paul, Trump’s supporters don’t waste time reconciling his statements, they discern his truthfulness by the reaction of Democrats and #NeverTrumpers: the more negative the reaction, the more truthful the statment.

Query — is this intended as satire or not?

Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:52 am

Truth is not truth.

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:53 am

Bob Woodward: Trump’s aides hide papers from him to protect the country.

The Secretary of Defense is quoted as saying Trump has the understanding of “a fifth or sixth-grader”…

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:59 am

#6, Paul, Trump’s supporters don’t waste time reconciling his statements, they discern his truthfulness by the reaction of Democrats and #NeverTrumpers: the more negative the reaction, the more truthful the statment.

Query — is this intended as satire or not?
Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:52 am

Sadly, not, that’s actually the Trumpster’s mindset. Did you get pwn’d or pwn someone else, troll point scoring is all that matters.

Colonel Klink (eaafec) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:01 am

Bob Woodward: Trump’s aides hide papers from him to protect the country.

The Secretary of Defense is quoted as saying Trump has the understanding of “a fifth or sixth-grader”…
Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:59 am

This month will be quite a sight to behold in the run-up to this book release. If the Omarosa book freaked him out, this will make his head explode.

Colonel Klink (eaafec) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:04 am

Identifying with President Trump enhances my self-esteem and improves my outlook on life.

Jack Daniels does that, too, Mr. Feet.

DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:05 am

More from Woodward:

In one revelatory anecdote, Woodward describes a scene in the White House residence. Trump’s lawyer, convinced the President would perjure himself, put Trump through a test — a practice interview for the one he might have with Mueller. Trump failed, according to Dowd, but the President still insisted he should testify.

[…]

Then, in an even more remarkable move, Dowd and Trump’s current personal attorney Jay Sekulow went to Mueller’s office and re-enacted the mock interview. Their goal: to argue that Trump couldn’t possibly testify because he was incapable of telling the truth.
“He just made something up. That’s his nature,” Dowd said to Mueller.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:08 am

Pelt gotten – Rahm not running for re-election in Chicago, now to microwave popcorn and see DJT’s twitter gravedancing.

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:17 am

“He just made something up. That’s his nature,”

I am no lawyer but there has to be an accepted norm in the legal profession that says “you must first know your client”. And in this case, they surely do.

noel (96c84f) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:18 am

Allahpundit: ‘This Woodward book makes “Fire & Fury” look like MAGA propaganda.’

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:22 am

Bill Casey says hi.

narciso (d1f714) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:24 am

The last time bob Woodward got something right, re the sequester, they declared he was senile.

narciso (d1f714) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:29 am

“He just made something up. That’s his nature,” Dowd said to Mueller.
I’ve long wondered if the concept of True vs. False has any part in Trump’s mental world.

Radegunda (7137ae) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:32 am

Trump’s supporters don’t waste time reconciling his statements, they discern his truthfulness by the reaction of Democrats and #NeverTrumpers: the more negative the reaction, the more truthful the statment.

So, the truthfulness of Trump’s statements is contingent on how people from the other tribe react? That’s ridiculous. A statement should be able to stand on its own merits, not how adversaries/enemies perceive or respond to it.

Paul Montagu (cbbfc4) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:43 am

Oh, and I’ve never heard of this Purite Rule.

Paul Montagu (cbbfc4) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:45 am

Pyrite, Purite or Purell?

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:48 am

Comedy Gold:

WaPo has published the recording and annotated transcript of the phone call between Woodward and Spanky (Kellyanne also makes a cameo) where he complained about not being interviewed for the book, and Woodward explains that he spent an afternoon discussing it with Kellyanne, tried to go through several other aides, and also Senator Lindsay Graham.

Trump grudgingly acknowledges that Graham did, in fact, mention it to him. He also says that if Clinton had won “you’d have a GDP less than zero”, showing his profound understanding of economics.

Trump: So we’re going to have a very inaccurate book, and that’s too bad. But I don’t blame you entirely.

Woodward: No, it’s [?] — it’s going to be accurate, I promise.

Trump: Yeah, okay. Well, accurate is that nobody’s ever done a better job than I’m doing as president. That I can tell you. So that’s . . . And that’s the way a lot of people feel that know what’s going on, and you’ll see that over the years. But a lot of people feel that, Bob.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:50 am

Breaking – Kyl to replace McCain in Senate.

DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:51 am

John Kyl to be named as replacement Arizona senator.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:54 am

Oof!

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:55 am

But a lot of people feel that, Bob

.
But the people who actually think have a different view.

Radegunda (7137ae) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:01 am

Mr. Kyl’s appointment is good news for America

and Arizona will finally have two senators after so many decades

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:08 am

I may have to buy the book:

A central theme of the book is the stealthy machinations used by those in Trump’s inner sanctum to try to control his impulses and prevent disasters, both for the president personally and for the nation he was elected to lead.
Woodward describes “an administrative coup d’etat” and a “nervous breakdown” of the executive branch, with senior aides conspiring to pluck official papers from the president’s desk so he couldn’t see or sign them.
Again and again, Woodward recounts at length how Trump’s national security team was shaken by his lack of curiosity and knowledge about world affairs and his contempt for the mainstream perspectives of military and intelligence leaders.

I’ve long said that Obama was in over his head because he had no real command experience to be Leader of the Free World. Trump has command experience, but he’s not fit. He’s conjured up his own narratives that only coincidentally cross paths with facts and reality, and it’s apparent that his narratives are not easily dislodged. This from his own Chief of Staff, which is worse than being called a f**king moron.

“He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.”

For that reason, Kelly should probably stay in his job, until Trump fires him.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:11 am

In a tweet, McCain’s widow, Cindy, expressed support for the appointment. “Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona,” she wrote.

sweetie this isn’t a “great tribute to John”

get over yourself

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:14 am

sweetie this isn’t a “great tribute to John”

A tribute to John Kyl.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:22 am

#52

Google hasn’t heard of it either:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Purite+Rule&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS786US786&oq=Purite+Rule&aqs=chrome..69i57.1380j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:24 am

happyfeet, welcome back with 70s special sitcom character entry applause (i.e. the Fonz), if Kirsten Cinemax is one of those Senators, where would she fall on the happyfeet eww/ick scale?

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:27 am

A tribute to John Kyl.

nope read it again

she clearly knows which one is Jon and which one is John

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:27 am

For that reason, Kelly should probably stay in his job, until Trump fires him.

I honestly think anyone with some remaining shred of integrity, who hasn’t drunk the Kool-Aid, and recognizes what Trump is, should resign and point out the reason.

It is the reasonable people like Kelly who allow Trump to remain in office despite his mental incapacity, and continue to work his evil on our country.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:28 am

nope read it again

You may be right, I overlooked the spelling difference.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:30 am

happyfeet is back and he/she is feeling feisty at 65. I think this is the first time you have actually contradicted another denizen. I know it’s the first time I have agreed with you.

Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:30 am

Kirsten Cinemax

you’re not allowed to say the word here

but rhymes with ranny except with a t in front

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:30 am

I honestly think anyone with some remaining shred of integrity, who hasn’t drunk the Kool-Aid, and recognizes what Trump is, should resign and point out the reason.

I see it a little different, Dave. Kelly is a man of integrity and he’s doing his best to steer Trump away from his worser impulses and decisions. If Kelly’s no longer in that job, then we risk having a replacement Chief of Staff who’s head-nodding hack and, to me, that would be worse for this country.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 10:39 am

Yes tell me of comeys honor again:

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/09/mueller_comey_and_the_deep_state_rescue_of_sandy_berger.html#.W46jPfFQC9U.facebook

Narciso (610bd8) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:07 am

You can whattabout all day long, Narciso

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawn_Hall

Davethulhu (fab944) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:18 am

And the problem with her, was what exactly?

They were able to reconstruct the documents, Berger destroyed them.

Narciso (610bd8) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:22 am

Lol no.

FBI agents working for Walsh have gone to the NSC’s central computer system to recover part of the material that she and North destroyed, sources familiar with the matter said. But they fear that they will be unable to recover the original versions of the altered documents and that they can identify only some of the documents that had been removed from the NSC, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-02-23/news/mn-3292_1_altered-documents

Davethulhu (fab944) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:26 am

At this point, I’m not surprised at anything our Ding-Bat-In-Chief does anymore. But I am amazed that our DOJ lets him get away with it. After he publicly and repeatedly admits to obstructing justice, he’s still there, abusing power and our nation. It’s disturbing.

Tillman (d34303) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:34 am

President Trump’s amazing and wonderful and he defunded UNRWA and you know what?

That’s really special and who even hoped for that?

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:45 am

How,was your holiday pikachu?

Narciso (610bd8) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:51 am

i was kinda under the weather

which, speaking of, we had some fun thunders with a nice amount of rain

we’ll probably get more rain from whatever they’re calling this ephemeral hurricane

i hadn’t made any plans so it was restful and i read a book about zombies

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:54 am

it was a fun little read

a bit forced at the end but in a nevertheless satisfying way

probably the feel-good zombie book of the year

i’m trying to slog through John Ringo’s one

good god

it started off nicely then degenerated to endless and endlessly self-indulgent military twaddle

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 11:58 am

Imagine if the Kavanaugh hearings were happening right now. Nah, those don’t matter.

NJRob (2e9410) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:15 pm

More anonymous sources even in 1987.

narciso (d1f714) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:22 pm

#80 Imagine if any single senator will change their vote as a result of those hearings. Imagine if this bit of political theater would be any different with a President Walker or a President Rubio.

We have a president basically enunciating and repeating Mafia Rules from his I-Phone. That matters.

Appalled (96665e) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:25 pm

I see it a little different, Dave. Kelly is a man of integrity and he’s doing his best to steer Trump away from his worser impulses and decisions. If Kelly’s no longer in that job, then we risk having a replacement Chief of Staff who’s head-nodding hack and, to me, that would be worse for this country.

Suppose your surgeon was a quack, posing as a licensed doctor, but actually knowing less about medicine than the average high-school biology student.

And suppose this guy was somehow able to nevertheless keep practicing because he had a handful of competent assistants and nurses around him who worked hard to prevent or correct (some of) his worst mistakes.

I don’t see how it’s better for the guy’s patients to let him keep operating on people, randomly prescribing meds because he likes the color of the pills, etc. The people who cover for him are part of the problem.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:28 pm

“Imagine if the Kavanaugh hearings were happening right now. Nah, those don’t matter.“

The squeal, stamp and interrupt squad has it covered.

harkin (e3b71e) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:47 pm

I thought the classic blunder was ‘never recuse when you’re the Attorney General or a Supreme Court Justice; because no one can make you recuse.’

Worked for Eric Holder. And Notorious RBG.

Ingot9455 (4db0d9) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:52 pm

Actually that was Elena Kagan, but the same point applies

Narciso (610bd8) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:03 pm

Donald Trump here was probably a criticism made somewhere else probably in more tnan one place (a criticism which I had read, although I can’t find it right now) – that this indictment is in violation of Justice Department policy (which Trump is now well aware of) not to issue an indictment too close to an election. (This policy was put into place by the Clinton Administration, using Lawrence Walsh’s indictment of Casper Weinberger just before the 1992 presdidential election as a reason I guess taht ens=ured no prosecutor could do the same thing to him.)

Notice that Trump’s tweet relates to the timing of the indictment:

Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms

The rest of the tweet sarcastically blames Jeff Sessions for that.

This is worse in the case of Duncan Hunter as he can’t drop out and be replaced by another candidate under California’s election rules.

Trump only issued this tweet after the second indictment, which could result in the replacement of Republican Congressman by a Democrat in a district which would not normally do that.

Collins already had dropped out, so Trump is exaggerating the difficulty there maybe (or thinks who someone votes for is based in large part on personality)

Fact check also says:

https://www.factcheck.org/2018/09/trump-distorts-facts-on-collins-hunter-indictments/

…that Trump is a little bit wrong on how long these investigatioons were running. (they make him too wrong)

The chief charge against Collins is a phone call he made on June 22, 2017, when Obama was no longer president, so regardless of when this started, they couldn’t have indicted him while Obama was still president, and the investigation of Hunter started only 8 months before Obama left office.

But it might really be that they were both brought to head just now, in order to beat what may be an unofficial (not exact) 60-days in advance of the election deadline. So Trump’s criticism is on point, especially about Hunter.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:34 pm

Kayan recused on a number of cases, and Lynch recused on Hillary…

Not clear why you think Eric Holder needed to, or on what, but that’s the beauty of whataboutism, isn’t it?

Dave (a12beb) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:35 pm

83. Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 12:28 pm

The people who cover for him are part of the problem.

It’s not like if they didn’t do it, he would stop practicing. Yes, they are making Trump’s actions more sound and considered. What should they do? Quietly let it be knowen, Trump is a fool?

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:36 pm

61. The “great tribute to John” is the willingness of Kyl to vome oit of retirement.

This is an appointment that people who agreed woth McCAin’s politics would support. The governor of Arizona avoided changing things because of his death (except maybe for temperament issues)

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:38 pm

54. Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:50 am

also says that if Clinton had won “you’d have a GDP less than zero”, showing his profound understanding of economics.

well, not, he;’s not that much of an idiot. He means that the growth rate would be less than zero – i.e. we’d be in a recession – which, actually by the way, he knows he has no basis for saying,

(I doubt he has a single economic adviser who told him that the wrong tax or other policy advocated by the Democrats would cause an immediate recession – they would have just predicted low growth) but Trump, if he thinks he hqas a claim, says something stronger, and that’s Trump. It’s not the worst problem with Trump and neither is his lapses in arguments.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:44 pm

it’s hot here today

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:45 pm

30. Radegunda (7137ae) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:32 am

I’ve long wondered if the concept of True vs. False has any part in Trump’s mental world.

It’s more like:

Will people believe this or not?

Truth is not entirely irrelevant to that, but it’s not the same thing either.

And when he has a truthful defense, he’s got to double and redouble it, and make it stronger, at least until he’s called on it.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:48 pm

Sammy, Hunter knew he was under investigation,and he knew he was guilty as hell. Why didn’t he step aside and let an honest Republican run for the seat? Because guilty or not, he was counting on rallying the tribe to his defense, that’s why.

Any political consequences are Hunter’s fault – first for being a crook, second for getting caught and third for trying to hold onto the seat after being caught.

Dave (a12beb) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:49 pm

Trump-a-la-carte. Yummy!

DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:59 pm

Despite Trump’s campaign promises, Kavanaugh didn’t criticize Roe in his opening statement, or vow to overturn it if confirmed.

Looks like Trump has conned his supporters yet again…

Dave (a12beb) — 9/4/2018 @ 2:14 pm

Roe is the thing with feathers that perches on the soul

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 2:17 pm

Suppose your surgeon was a quack, posing as a licensed doctor…

I won’t do any supposing, Dave, because I try to avoid hypotheticals as much as possible. We’re stuck with Trump, our quack president, and I want the people with the very best judgment counseling him. The people who should be resigning should be hyperpartisan hacks Stephen Miller, Conway and dozens of others, not Kelly or Mattis and the like.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 2:55 pm

this is what it’s like to be our president, President Donald Trump

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/4/2018 @ 2:56 pm

More scandalous revelations from Kavanaugh’s opening statement.

President Trump repeatedly promised that he would appoint “pro-life judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade.”

Instead, he gave us this:

I don’t decide cases based on personal or policy preferences.

Judge Kavanaugh should follow President Trump’s Twitter feed more conscientiously. Anyone can see that this “decide cases on their legal merits” philosophy is dangerously out of step with the President’s priorities.

and this:

If confirmed to the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case.

In other words, “My vote on Roe could go either way.”

and, finally, this:

I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American Rule of Law.

Although he seems not to understand it, Judge Kavanaugh was nominated for one purpose, and one purpose only: to give President Trump wins.

All this “Rule of Law” crap sounds just like Mueller and his 13 angry Democrats.

Dave (445e97) — 9/4/2018 @ 2:58 pm

94. Dave (a12beb) — 9/4/2018 @ 1:49 pm

Sammy, Hunter knew he was under investigation,and he knew he was guilty as hell. Why didn’t he step aside and let an honest Republican run for the seat?

He was surviving on his salary as a Congressman and his camaign funds. Well, actually he stopped doing that (using campaign funds) , and his family moved.

He may have thought he had agood defense. There is a lot of leeway in campaign funds (he put his wife on salary, well, that can be done, provided she’s actually doing the work)

But he mislabeled things, and that looks like signs of guilt.

Duncan Hunter Jr also looks like he didn’t know how to manage money. He bounced checks. He didn’t have to do that if he had credit cards. Wasn’t he charged for oversrawing is acocunt? (If not maybe that wans’t bad policy) He ran up credit card bills. I suspect he never took advanatage of or enough advantage of, 0% balance rate trabsfers which he could have done on his salary – unless he was really bad at paying bills.

Because guilty or not, he was counting on rallying the tribe to his defense, that’s why.

Well, I wouldn’t know if he had given that much thought to it. He probably thought he could just make it with that (R) – no special arguments needed.

Any political consequences are Hunter’s fault – first for being a crook, second for getting caught and third for trying to hold onto the seat after being caught.

Did Hunter know just when he would be indicted? Or that in fact he would be?

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 3:16 pm

74. John Piondexter said that Oliver North (and others) didn’t know how to delete things. (so they’d really be deleted)

Eerything was opro=inted out and former Senator John Tower said he was amazed at hiow much thee people wrote down/ But they didn’t write it doen on paper

It’s important to note that the “contemporaneous” Weinberger memo was a lie. (and it was his testimomny that was true or more true)

It has Reagan approving the sale of arms to Iran on January 6, 1986, when it fact he did not, and Poindexter tore up the covert action finding that President Ronald Reagan had signed “by mistake” – his words.

Reagan only approved the sale of arms to Iran on January 17, 1986 (after the method had been changed and the Defense Department was left out of it.)

Democrats and some books somehow never noticed this.

Freagab also never approved making a profit and sending it to the contras, which in fact was never done. The extra money was deposited in some other bank account, supposedly because of a mistake in its number. Donald Regan thought that Poindexter and North wanted to steal the money (maybe after January 20, 1989?) – he said he had experience on Wall Street and knew to look for that kind of thing.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 3:26 pm

44. This sounds like the truth, or close to it.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/4/2018 @ 3:27 pm

A,flashback:

Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/mzhemingway?lang=en

Narciso (d47513) — 9/4/2018 @ 4:11 pm

Ben Sasse was just on Special Report and he had some pretty good remarks relating to Kavanaugh and the confirmation process.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 4:20 pm

We deserve an AG who looks out for our party’s interests first last and always, the way Obama’s AGs looked out for their party’s interests. That’s the nature of the job now. It’s the 21st Century. Trump knows this. Let’s not bring a water balloon to a machine gun fight. We’re tired of you guys who only ever fight for the other side. Sessions will never lift a finger to prosecute the enemy, only his own side. Do you see Dems in Justice prosecuting their own? Never. Hilary’s people lied to the FBI all day long. The agents in charge of the investigation were Democrats, and they did their clear duty: They buried it. That was their job.

We don’t like it, but we think it’s an ugly necessity. Like war. Shooting people isn’t nice, but when they start shooting at you, you shoot back. The other side does like it. They think it’s the only right way to run a country. So therefore, you want them in charge, unopposed.

Good thinking.

Wilbur Hassenfus (cb26bd) — 9/4/2018 @ 4:49 pm

We deserve an AG who looks out for our party’s interests first last and always, the way Obama’s AGs looked out for their party’s interests. That’s the nature of the job now.

This is classic tribalism. The AG doesn’t swear an oath to defend his political party’s interests, he puts his hand on the Bible and says out loud, “I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Just because Holder and Lynch sucked at their jobs and were too partisan for their own good, doesn’t mean that Trump’s appointees should lower their standards down to Obama level.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 5:01 pm

@96. Just another swamp-creature, factory sealed w/AEI-FS approved gaskets.

Limited warranty, of course.

DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/4/2018 @ 5:31 pm

99.this is what it’s like to be our president, President Donald Trump

Child like and gambling with young women, eh Mr. Feet.

DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/4/2018 @ 7:52 pm

88.Kayan recused on a number of cases, and Lynch recused on Hillary…

You know, it’s time for Hillary to hang it up. Was retro-reading through an old Life magazine circa June, 1969. Joe Namath on the cover. Apollo 10 story inside. And there, on a page about the ‘Class of 1969’ – was a commencement speech from Wellesley w/photo of a young Hilary Rodham. Sheesh. She reminds me of the Andromeda Strain— there’s no getting rid of it.

DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:04 pm

We’re tired of you guys who only ever fight for the other side.

The trouble is, you think the two sides are Republicans and Democrats.

I think there are two sides too. But those aren’t the sides I see.

On the one side are people who believe in truth, justice, and the American way. On the other side are people who believe in narrative, vengeance, and the greater glory of their tribe.

I like to think I’m on the first side. Not always, and not as consistently as I might want. It’s a hard road to hoe. And the side a smaller to begin with…though it is by far the better side to be on.

As far as I can see, Hillary, and most leaders of the Democratic Party, are on the second side. So is Trump, and much of the current Republican leadership. And Wilbur, so are you, it seems. You have the upper hand the moment. You have, through most of human history, held the whip hand. But your star will be in the descendant eventually. That’s when people like us take over, and build places like this country. We’ve done it before. And, if need be, we can do it again.

One thing I do agree with you on, though. I am tired of you guys who only ever fight for the other side.

Demosthenes (7fae81) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:08 pm

Again I say, amen Demosthenes.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:14 pm

And for the ones who spread the ridiculousness that the gal behind Kavanaugh was communicating some sort of “white power” symbol, they’re also on the second side.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:16 pm

Ted.
Stevens.

Jb (623dbc) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:29 pm

Paul.
Manafort.

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 8:59 pm

From the nomination of Trump to these two characters, what we see is the lack of organization and discipline in the GOP. The central committee should have seen this coming months ago and made Collins and Duncan step aside to be replaced with pure “Caesar’s wives” on the ballot.

Now we’ve got the crybaby-in-chief and his playmates whining because these two poor orphans are being prosecuted for killing their parents.

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:05 pm

Selective.
Prosecution.

Munroe (7a2d4e) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:10 pm

Do you think that when the U.S. Marshals put Collins and Duncan in the cop car to take them to the pokey, they’ll guide their heads so they don’t bang them on the door-frame?

nk (dbc370) — 9/4/2018 @ 9:37 pm

yes I do

lany (0b3f7c) — 9/5/2018 @ 1:43 am

Now we’ve got the crybaby-in-chief and his playmates whining because these two poor orphans are being prosecuted for killing their parents.

RIGGED WITCH-HUNT

Dave (445e97) — 9/5/2018 @ 2:30 am

so far dirty weak corrupt jeff sessions hasn’t even tried to defend the timing of these sleazy indictments

weak little justice-boy hasn’t even tried

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/5/2018 @ 5:00 am

He has not been seen ordering a deep-fried Polish sausage with mustard and sauerkraut, a large fries, and a large Coke, at a hardware store, either.

nk (dbc370) — 9/5/2018 @ 5:27 am

Mollie Hemingway noted what a put up job this whole thing is.

Narciso (c766cb) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:01 am

Donald Trump has gotten me to do a number of odd things I thought I would never do. One is have respect and pity for Jeff Sessions, who is actually trying to get some law enforcement done.

That said, I don’t understand why Sessions stays at this point. Trump wants his constitutional crisis, and no amount of hiding papers on Trump’s desk will keep him from it. Let him have his Saturday Night Massacre. It won’t end well for him.

Appalled (96665e) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:22 am

cox was Kennedy’s man, as was Richardson, nothing has changed in 45 years, except the credulity of the media,

https://www.newsweek.com/myth-bob-woodward-why-man-american-icon-62801

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:47 am

it does suggest a pattern:

http://thefederalist.com/2018/09/05/selective-prosecution-biases-legal-system-right/

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:49 am

124, exactly how I feel.

nk-122 that sounds like late night drunk gangbanger food (apart from it being sold in some Home Depots, too bad those vendors have bankers hours) – that a Vince Foster or Seth Rich reference?

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:50 am

1984, was a how to manual for them:

http://thefederalist.com/2018/09/05/sticking-law-trump-title-ix-regs-accused-making-campuses-safer-rape/

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:50 am

One is have respect and pity for Jeff Sessions, who is actually trying to get some law enforcement done.

Pity? No way. Jeff Sessions, probably more than any other member of the Banana-Republican party, is responsible for inflicting Donald Trump on the party, and the nation.

Everyone who had a hand in raising up this self-idolator – this abomination – should be cast down and abased.

Let him eat dirt.

Dave (445e97) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:54 am

ot, maybe I should try and give amazon another shot:

thefederalist.com/2018/09/05/jack-ryan-clean-simple-action-packed-fun/

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:54 am

126, none of the article has anything to do with the prosecutions of 2 corrupt congressmen. Additionally the statement that democrats don’t get charged with campaign finance violations doesn’t hold up. John Edwards was changed and tried for basically the same thing Trump did with Stormy. The DOJ couldn’t get a conviction but they tried.
Hillary is currently under investigation by the FEC for the 84 Million. It’s been widely reported.
The Bruce Ohr connection has been widely reported, although not explained yet.

Given that the piece has 3 large flaws in it I don’t give the rest much credibility.

Time123 (53ef45) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:59 am

Mollie Hemingway noted what a put up job this whole thing is.

Ms. Hemingway has been completely in the bag for Trump for awhile. But give her credit. She’s good at looking thoughtful on Special Report while faithfully trotting out the Trump party line.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:59 am

the acroyd and chase, of the fsb, if it’s to be believed.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/09/05/2-russian-nationals-idd-as-suspects-in-novichok-poisonings-report.html

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:04 am

Krasinksi is a cool transformation story, though he gets sucked into too much SJ by the wife.

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:16 am

Jack Ryan … it’s derivative and formulaic and it brings nothing new or fresh to the table

Night Manager raised the bar and changed the game i think

happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:18 am

I agree with the night manager, Hiddleston’s performance was more than we’ve come to expect from him:

https://babalublog.com/2018/09/04/sen-marco-rubio-makes-an-argument-for-u-s-military-intervention-in-venezuela/

a multilateral effort like the Dominican republic would be the best solution,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:21 am

I wouldn’t spring for the channel, based on that series,

the company, in the night manager, has more than a passing resemblance to other enterprises in the news, like orbis and haklyut

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:31 am

#129 — This “there must be a reckoning” kind of talk always seems to serve to delay any kind of reckoning. Plus, having to work for Trump, put up with the tweets, and see his seat go to a Democrat, has to be a reckoning of a sort.

At least Trump is as awful to his staff as he is to the country. All the best and brightest supporters get karma thrust in their face daily, and then they realize they are going to have to hide their White House service in order to get a decent job ever again.

Appalled (96665e) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:33 am

no that was because the people of alabama, fell for Gloria alred’s fake out, a time before they turned out the senator jeremiah denton, you knew he was a pow, for a fraud like Richard Shelby,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:36 am

If you are speaking of 1965, what is the order of magnitude of the multiplier for materiel and troops (we are dealing with a land mass considerably larger than 1/2 an island)?

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:38 am

Interesting man, that Denton, first admiral, first Catholic to statewide office, first R senator since Reconstruction.

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:43 am

Carlin’s take on politician’s linguistics is brilliant here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEeDRUZIDq8

Tillman (d34303) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:45 am

but when he passed in 2014, little was spoken of him, hal Holbrook played him in a made for tv film,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:46 am

mr tsai who handled to the Edwards case, went on to work for chief handmaid kamala harris, and now does charity for dla piper,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:47 am

narciso, Carlin was essentially a critic and critics are not usually treated well. “There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic.”

Tillman (d34303) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:53 am

This is one of the times I have to agree with Patterico. It is true that Hillary Clinton was given a pass on prosecution or censure for political reasons. The evidence of that is blatant and overwhelming. But the answer to that is not, hey, let’s now make all prosecutorial decisions involving politicians based on politics. You don’t answer corruption (even ideological corruption) with more ideological corruption.

I would, however, support an independent counsel or special counsel to look into Madame Hillary’s actions. It would have to be a straight arrow Democrat who would be beyond question. Not sure if you can still find someone like that.

Bored Lawyer (998177) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:55 am

I didn’t say anything about carlin, but now that you prompt me, he was a premature sjw, choosing to be polemical on matters that needn’t be, an extreme misanthrope,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:56 am

Bored Lawyer,

the left has gone wholly socialist and wants to do a hostile takeover by any means necessary. How do you deal with that when it’s clear the left has declared war?

NJRob (b00189) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:59 am

#139 Here in Georgia, it’s habit for us to mock the people of Alabama. Didn’t know they did that in Florida too.

Seriously, though, your #139, if it was a response to me, appears to miss a point. Sessions is paying terribly for his open support of Trump. Doesn’t matter if the state was duped or not.

Appalled (96665e) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:02 am

red squaw dragged out a thirty year old slander against sessions, than the Obama administration invited the Russian ambassador to the convention in Cleveland, btw, how come we never heard from the senator’s aide, who was present at the conversation, saddle burr must had time to schedule a hearing,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:04 am

“John Edwards was changed and tried for basically the same thing Trump did with Stormy.“

John Edwards was conveniently out of office at the time.

Munroe (fc0490) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:05 am

they attacked roy moore because he was an avowed Christian in public life, as with a number of other officials who have sought public office, you don’t live in Cynthia mcckinneys district by chance,

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:06 am

Clarification: it’s The Pyrite Rule

ropelight (49f538) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:08 am

@152 Narciso

They attacked Roy Moore because he was a sex pest. If it was a viable general use strategy, why haven’t any other Republican campaigns been targeted in the same way?

Davethulhu (fab944) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:12 am

I guess you missed the Kavanaugh hearings yesterday.

Munroe (8f2074) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:17 am

You have Franks and Fahrenholdt, who kept their verbal lecherings to adult-aged women, but who nonetheless chose not to risk being judged by their voting constituents post revelation.

urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:27 am

urbanleftbehind @ 127. No, it’s an old Polish joke.

nk (dbc370) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:27 am

Clarification: it’s The Pyrite Rule

It’s not my rule. Sure, I’ll defend myself when attacked, but going lower and dirtier isn’t the way for me, and it’s not the way to persuade or win an argument.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/5/2018 @ 9:04 am

fwiw:

https://themarketswork.com/2018/09/03/a-look-at-the-russian-ties-to-the-steele-dossier/

narciso (d1f714) — 9/5/2018 @ 9:30 am

Speaking of a “mob boss” decrying prosecutions, Trump’s preferred media venue yesterday was The Daily Caller, but maybe Trump he should think twice about doing interviews with a media organization that has a white-nationalist problem. But then, Trump has his own white-nationalist problem, right there in the White House. People may just wonder if Trump is himself a racist after all this, given his body of work.

Paul Montagu (9dcfd2) — 9/5/2018 @ 10:58 am

Davethulhu (fab944) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:12 am

They attacked Roy Moore because he was a sex pest. If it was a viable general use strategy, why haven’t any other Republican campaigns been targeted in the same way?

It takles a lot of work and planning and money maybe to fake – or exaggerate – a case like that. This was a particularly worthwhile scalp to take because it was a Senate seat that otherwise you would hardly see a way it could not be won by a Republican, so ti might have a kind of multiplier effect.

The target also had to be in general held in low respect, which Roy Moore was, on the basis of other matetrs, and there had to be soemthing true they could build on.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/5/2018 @ 11:29 am

The true thing was that he had first met his wife when she was 16, and then they investigated, and they found some other women – and then they invented worse things, including a rape.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/5/2018 @ 11:31 am

129. Dave (445e97) — 9/5/2018 @ 6:54 am

Jeff Sessions, probably more than any other member of the Banana-Republican party, is responsible for inflicting Donald Trump on the party, and the nation.

That’s true. But he had allies.

The interesting thing is that two of them got indicted.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/5/2018 @ 11:33 am

the left has gone wholly socialist and wants to do a hostile takeover by any means necessary. How do you deal with that when it’s clear the left has declared war?

NJRob (b00189) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:59 am

You don’t deal with it by letting crooks off because they are members of your party.

You deal with it by opposing socialism — letting everyone know that it is a failure, and results in a situation like Venezuela, where they cannot buy basic necessities.

Plenty opposed socialism without compromising their principles. Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher spring to mind.

“Socialism only works in heaven, where they don’t need it, and hell, where they already have it.” — Ronald Reagan

Bored Lawyer (998177) — 9/5/2018 @ 12:49 pm

60. 66. 70. 83. etc.

A central theme of the book is the stealthy machinations used by those in Trump’s inner sanctum to try to control his impulses and prevent disasters, both for the president personally and for the nation he was elected to lead.

The New York Times now has an anonymous source has written an Op-ed piece confirming that general idea included in Woodward’s book – that some officials are trying to prevent or correct what they feel are bad mistakes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/opinion/trump-white-house-anonymous-resistance.html

To be clear, ours is not the popular “resistance” of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous.

But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic….From the White House to executive branch departments and agencies, senior officials will privately admit their daily disbelief at the commander in chief’s comments and actions. Most are working to insulate their operations from his whims.

Meetings with him veer off topic and off the rails, he engages in repetitive rants, and his impulsiveness results in half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions that have to be walked back…The erratic behavior would be more concerning if it weren’t for unsung heroes in and around the White House. Some of his aides have been cast as villains by the media. But in private, they have gone to great lengths to keep bad decisions contained to the West Wing, though they are clearly not always successful.

It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognize what is happening. And we are trying to do what’s right even when Donald Trump won’t….This isn’t the work of the so-called deep state. It’s the work of the steady state.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/5/2018 @ 1:12 pm

The example he gives of a two-track presidency is foreign policy and in particular towards Russia.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/5/2018 @ 1:14 pm

I think some of Donald tyrump’s wrong decisons, or leanings toward decision are motivated by politics.

That’s why they can be walked back or avoided.

Whetehr woodward is always telling the truth is anotehr matter.

And actually Trump seems to want to do more against Bashar Assad in Syria than his high level advisers seem to want. I am not sure of the reason. The chief (good) reason for not making him a target (as Trump repeatedly seems to want, including ina recent tweet) would be that he could easily be replaced by a total Iranian puppet. (

He’s not the brains behind all of what’s going on. Otehrwise he’d have been as evil as he is now his first ten years. And if Trump thinks he is the brains, it’s their fault.

The truth is also that Putin is many ways probably responsible for Syrian military strategy, which after all echoes some Russian strategy, although maybe not for the Iranian idea of starting war crimes against Israel.

Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 9/5/2018 @ 1:22 pm

The grand jury was convened in November 2016,

I never read this whole thread — narciso, did someone explain to you that you were flat wrong when you said this?

Maybe you saw it on Gateway Pundit or Conservative Treehouse?

Patterico (115b1f) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:52 pm

since these investigations started years ago I would’ve brought the indictments last year, but that’s cause I’m super-conscientious

You would have needed a time machine, because the criminal investigations did NOT start years ago.

Please don’t try to mislead my readers, happyfeet.

Patterico (115b1f) — 9/5/2018 @ 7:53 pm

Going by this politico piece:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/08/duncan-hunter-campaign-funds-fbi-397621

Narciso (489b63) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:08 pm

Going by this politico piece:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/08/duncan-hunter-campaign-funds-fbi-397621
Narciso (489b63) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:08 pm

So by going to the link, you can see that there had not yet been a grand jury, and that was in Feb. 2018. The investigation has been going on for years because he’s been stealing campaign funds for years. It also talks about his own campaign finance chair warning him about breaking the law, several times, and he wasn’t the first.

Colonel Klink (0e3d41) — 9/5/2018 @ 8:14 pm

9/4/2018

Mob Boss Decries Prosecutions

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