Posted on 06/10/2017 6:00:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
Trying to be objective -- and that's sometimes difficult for me when it comes to politics -- I don't agree that former FBI Director James Comey's congressional testimony was equally good news and bad news for President Trump. Trump came away a decisive winner.
Most agree that Trump benefited from Comey's admission that Trump was not in fact under FBI investigation for colluding with the Russians or for anything else. But many Trump critics, left and right, see Comey's negative portrait of Trump as so damaging as to cancel out the positive news, which, on reflection, is incorrect.
It's true that Comey painted Trump as dishonest, petty and vindictive and as one who operates in office as a business executive rather than someone who respects the parameters of his authority. Even if true, is this caricature news to anyone? Trump's critics already believe it, and most of his supporters believe it is overstated.
This is not to say that Trump's defenders would approve of any abuses of authority, but they aren't predisposed to assume that every unorthodox action on Trump's part is malicious or indicative of a tyrannical or criminal mindset.
So the only "news" that emerged from Comey's testimony -- the only facts that might change the status quo ante -- was that Trump has not been under investigation this whole time. Not only that but he did not pressure or even attempt to persuade Comey to go softly on any of his associates on the Russia investigation if it were discovered they had some illicit interaction with the Russians.
For some, Comey landed a blow against Trump in alleging he told Comey he "hoped" the investigation against Flynn would end and in requesting from Comey "honest loyalty." Here again, Trump's attackers are predisposed to assume Trump was using code to direct Comey to stop investigating Flynn and to pledge his loyalty to Trump above his professional duties. Trump's defenders reject that, so on this issue, the needle didn't move a centimeter in either direction.
Some might say: "Hold on. This isn't just a matter of Trump supporters believing one way and his defenders another. Comey was the only one in the room, and he took Trump's words as directives."
Well, even if you assume that's what Trump meant, which I don't, legal experts agree that no one has been charged with obstruction of justice on such vague language as "hope." The thought of it is preposterous. Moreover, some experts argue that as chief executive, he has the power to end investigations conducted by the executive branch. Let's remember that the Flynn investigation and Russia investigation are two different matters and that Trump is not the target of either one of them. If it occurred, it would have been inappropriate behavior but hardly criminal or impeachable conduct.
But I don't believe that Comey's inferences are accurate. Trump is an advocate by nature and is loyal to his friends. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that he was just expressing his vote of confidence in Flynn's character and was by no means suggesting that Comey ignore hard evidence against him, much less directing him to.
I have a hard time believing that Comey really thought at the time that Trump was giving him orders. If he really believed so, then it is indisputable that he acted improperly at the time and thereafter. If he really believed Trump was trying to obstruct justice, he had a duty to do something about it, but instead, he decided to hold it close to the vest and only use it if he needed it later. Is that the way a man in his position should have behaved?
As to Trump's firing of Comey, if you were Trump, wouldn't you be outraged if Comey refused to disclose that you were not under investigation when everything else was leaked -- as Sen. Marco Rubio noted? Didn't Trump have a right to be indignant over the lies being disseminated every day on this and a right to want to quell these lies that were impeding his agenda? Was it unreasonable for Trump to think Comey was biased against him, seeing as Comey refused to set the record straight on this matter when he'd certainly tried to set the record straight publicly on other issues before?
What about Comey's revelations concerning his own bizarre behavior? I was originally willing to believe that Comey was scrupulously aboveboard and would strive for objectivity -- that he would try not to allow his personal biases to color his objectivity or influence the course of the investigation or his assessment of the evidence. Based on his own testimony, I am now quite skeptical.
Comey bent over backward to conclude that Hillary Clinton had no criminal intent in the handling of her private emails -- yet his conclusion was in direct conflict with the evidence he meticulously detailed against her. It is hard to believe he would have given any other target such an enormous benefit of the doubt.
Yet despite his professed reluctance to infer criminal intent there, he leaped to such conclusions against Trump with the eagerness of a never-Trumper. "Hope" equals "You are hereby ordered"? Give me a break. "Loyalty" equals "I order you not to follow the evidence wherever it may lead you"? Come on now. These inferences wouldn't be reasonable for any investigator, but for Comey, who expressed reluctance to making inferences on intent, they are outrageous.
Comey damningly admitted he leaked information to a Columbia law professor in the hope that it would lead to the appointment of a special investigator. Some say Comey was within his rights as a private citizen. But as certain legal experts have noted, he acquired that information when he was working for the government, and it wasn't his private property. Comey holds himself out as the pinnacle of decorum but became a perpetrator of the very type of conduct he was self-righteously investigating.
Some applauded Comey's willingness to speak truth to power, but he admitted that he didn't object to Trump's allegedly improper overtures to him. In this hearing, Comey showed himself to be far too concerned with the public's perception about him and allowed his personal feelings and biases to interfere with his objectivity. In the end, he didn't lay a glove on Trump but significantly damaged himself -- and, as a bonus, exposed Barack Obama's second attorney general, Loretta Lynch, as a perpetrator of the very behavior others have improperly attributed to Trump.
...and, as a bonus, exposed Barack Obama’s second attorney general, Loretta Lynch, as a perpetrator of the very behavior others have improperly attributed to Trump.
Why doesn’t Congress subpoena Lynch? What documents if any exist in the Justice Department about the whole tarmac incident? If these documents have been destroyed that would be a crime in itself. This Russian stuff is a bunch of red herrings.
James Comey testimony was a disaster for Donald Trump and his White House (USA Today)
You are only looking at the tip of the iceberg. Comey gave a damming admission against Lynch. He accused her of a crime. He is the evidence against her. He was under oath. Congress, Nothing to see here.
Comey admitted leaking to the press. The information was classified(according to Comey) and was at least Privledged.
Congress, Nothing to see here. Lets congradulate Comey.
Obama was in charge of everything that happened. He had an obligation as POTUS to investigate.
Congress, Nothing to see here.
Comey was paid off by hillary. He made several admissions that he helped Hillary by his status as FBI Director.
Congress, Nothing to see here.
Hannity has been very effective in dealing with the Comey scandal, and I am waiting to see what Judge Jeanine has to say today.
I am bemused that so many are accepting that the President asked for James Comey’s loyalty.
President Trump categorically denies he said any such thing and further said “Its ridiculous. I hardly knew the man, why would I ask for his loyalty at that meeting, no one would do that.” (paraphrase)
On the one hand you have a proven liar, lying several times under oath, on the other hand President Trump who while using hyperbole as a signature intensifier has never lied about any act he has committed or the facts of any situation in all the time I have been following him. Especially when he evidences disgust that the lies being told are out of character, unbelievable and he elaborates his reasons as he did in this instance.
Comey made the whole incident up because after his experiences with BO, the Clintons & Loretta Lynch he felt that behavior was totally believable and he thought it would be damning.
In fact, Trump said it would be good to prosecute any associates of his who did wrong. That would include Flynn! Totally undercuts any supposed “directive” to drop any investigating.
Please note the claimed quote is “I expect loyalty” stated in general. Not “if you stay in this job, I demand YOU be loyal to me.” It’s possible Comey deliberately took a general reference to leakers out of context.
That’s it! He is like the cowardly lion...........
I see no reason to try and pretend Comey is not lying. President Trump has the clear presumption of innocence when he is accused by a man who has lied repeatedly under oath, who is a fierce partisan of longstanding and who was recently fired for cause but resents both President Trump's election & his own firing.
Comey's previous actions with the Clintons, Loretta Lynch and towards POTUS speak loud & clear and we ignore those actions at our peril while in pursuit of some chivalrous thought of being "fair". Fair is not the same thing as oblivious to the facts.
Alan Dershowitz nailed it with this comment: Trump could have just pardoned Flynn and told Comey to end the investigation. Well within his purvue.
People forget what kind of power POTUS does have.
It's possible, but it's more likely, given his testimony that he lay down for Loretta Lynch without a peep (and without writing a memo) it's more likely that his behavior in this instance reflects at least unreasonable hostility to Trump and possibly, worse, collusion with an underground cabal trying to remove Trump from office without just cause.
I bought a container of milk yesterday. On it was a “Missing” picture and alert. It was a picture of a spine and identified it as JP Comey’s and it is missing. If located call the FBI.
After inauguration, Hill laid low and Barry beat his feet out of the country for a non-extraditable extended holiday because they were expecting the hammer to come down right away. They think they're past the worst of it, and secure enough to go on offense. They've been been lured back into range.
The Clintons took the tawdry corruption of local turf mafia politics national, and then worldwide. Obama is an invented carny figurehead. Trump gave the Left a chance to save themselves and they've squandered it. If what I expect is coming next is coming next, this is going to be something else. He's had enough. It will the biggest bust in history to take them down - all of them.
Watch for more holdover leakers and corruptniks being removed. Watch for more calls for Trump's impeachment/assassination. These are the two psy-ops playing out right now trying to move the Overton window. The first to show the public how deep the swamp is and that it needs to be drained, bleached and boarded up. The opposite is to normalize the coup.
Neither side can make their finishing move quite yet - the administration due to internal treachery and potential national unrest, the Ruling Class because the military will not go along with a coup and Civil War is bad for the money spigots they siphon from. It will be interesting to see which side feels comfortable enough to show their cards first.
Who knows? Maybe Rush has planted his brother as a concession to the GOPe so they will continue to advertise on his radio program.
While Rush defends Trump these days, David is still talking the Never Trump game, not criticizing Trump directly in this column but indirectly in this paragraph:
Stuff it, David Limbaugh. If I wanted to hear anti-Trump BS, I'd watch CNN or read the NY Slimes. What you wrote above is the same telegraphed hatred of Trump that is done everyday on the Fake News. That's not what Town Hall was supposed to be about.
Trump was elected by the American people and he's already done more in a short time than even your hero, Ronald Reagan.
So it's time for you and Mark Levine to support our duly elected President or get the hell out of our way. We are taking our country back from you do-nothing establishment traitors to the American people!
Another Never Trumper, Eric Erickson, still on the radio in the Atlanta area, the other day made a big point about saying Trump lied on the timing of Comey's leak. But it turns out Trump was right!
And now I see Mitt Romney invites Joe Biden as the keynote speaker at his upcoming event.
Never, never, never trust a Never Trumper! The GOPe is still actively plotting to take down President Trump! And they are bought and paid for by Warren Buffet and his Golden Sacks of horses..t.
It's time to kick the swamp critter out of Washington and Trump is the man to do it. Maybe the only chance we've got!
>> It’s true that Comey painted Trump as dishonest, petty and vindictive and as one who operates in office as a business executive rather than someone who respects the parameters of his authority. Even if true, is this caricature news to anyone? Trump’s critics already believe it, and most of his supporters believe it is overstated.
My Mom is a mean, horrible person who grounded me, took away my bicycle for a week, and won’t let me watch tv after she caught me stealing candy from the grocery store.
The cops are evil, brutal thugs who beat me up and called me bad names and disrespected me after they caught me robbing a bank.
See how that works? Criminals rarely have nice things to say about those who catch or punish them.
Real solid commentary there, Jay. Thank you.
Thanks for the pics, Diogenesis.
Excellent as always Pocono....thank you...
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