Burr And McCain Are Right On Trump And Comey
The President -- who is being investigated by the FBI -- suddenly fires the man in charge of the investigation. Sure, there are agents doing the ground work. But this sends a message that keeping your job means keeping the President off the hot seat.
Republican Richard Burr -- U.S. Senator from North Carolina, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence -- is right about this firing while the investigation is going on.
My statement on the dismissal of FBI Director Comey https://t.co/ovoe34xajZ pic.twitter.com/1hB0QveczE
— Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) May 9, 2017
McCain from a New York Times story by David E. Sanger, Matthew Rosenberg, and Michael S. Schmidt:
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who is among the most hawkish members of Congress on Russia, said that he was "disappointed in the president's decision" and that it bolstered the case "for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia's interference in the 2016 election."
Yes. Let's have it.
John Cassidy in The New Yorker, writes that Trump's firing of Comey is an attack on democracy:
In his letter, Rosenstein, who hitherto had a reputation as an independent official, took issue with Comey's handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private e-mail server. He focussed in particular on the July 5, 2016, press conference at which Comey announced that the Bureau had closed its investigation without recommending any charges, while at the same time criticizing how Clinton and her aides had handled classified information. This, Rosenstein said, was "a textbook example of what federal prosecutors and agents are taught not to do." He also brought up Comey's subsequent announcement, on October 28, 2016, eleven days before the election, that the F.B.I. was re-opening the Clinton case because of the discovery of thousands of e-mails on Anthony Weiner's laptop. Rosenstein called the announcement a departure from the agency's tradition of avoiding public comment during an election season.Many observers would agree with at least some of Rosenstein's points about the Clinton investigation--but so what? Are we seriously being asked to countenance the idea that Trump fired Comey because he didn't treat Hillary Clinton fairly? The same Trump who seized upon Comey's press conference last July and used it to buttress his claims that Clinton should be jailed. The same Trump who, on October 31st, said, "It took guts for Director Comey to make the move that he made in light of the kind of opposition he had."
Until the White House comes up with a less ludicrous rationalization for its actions, we can only assume that Trump fired Comey because the Russia investigation is closing in on him and his associates, and he knew that he didn't have much sway over the F.B.I. director. That is the simplest theory that fits the facts. And it is a cause for great alarm.
Ever since Trump took office, many people have worried about his commitment to democratic norms, the Constitution, and the rule of law. From the hasty promulgation of his anti-Muslim travel ban onward, he has done little to salve these concerns. Now he has acted like one of the authoritarian leaders he so admires--a Putin, an Erdoğan, or an el-Sisi.
Congress must restrain him and reassert the principles of American democracy by appointing an independent special prosecutor to take over the Russian investigation. If the legislature won't act unprompted--and the initial signs are that most of the G.O.P. intends to yield to the President's abuse of his power--it will be incumbent on the American people to register their protests forcefully, and to put pressure on their elected officials. Trump is a menace. He must be stopped.
Beyond how disgusting this is -- that this sort of behavior is the new normal in America -- Trump has shows the sort of pig he is by letting a guy find out he's out of a job by noticing it on TV as he's speaking to a room of his colleagues.
UPDATE -- Ben Shapiro tweet I just came upon:
Trump's either so incompetent that an innocent firing looks like a cover-up, or he's so incompetent that a cover-up looks like a cover-up.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) May 10, 2017
Comeys actions with the Clinton announcements and investigations and the Trump/Russia investigations mainly show that the intelligence department is way too political to be fair and impartial in any political situation. My guess is that is true for most of the government agencies.
As to whether Comey is too political or just a ripe target for everyone, who knows. My guess is he is trying to do right but was ordered to not by everyone.
At this point I believe neither Trump nor Clinton will or should be charged with anything, it would just look like a political assassination job by a corrupt/politically driven intelligence group. Any major direct "smoking gun" would have come out by now. And with not going after Clinton for stated crimes they don't have the moral high ground needed to be believed.
Joe j at May 9, 2017 11:03 PM
Who elected John Cassidy? "He must be stopped." For what? The high crime and misdemeanor of removing Comey? By whom? Some brave assassin?
Nixon faced impeachment for covering up a burglary, an actual crime. There's an investigation into these supposed ties to Russia, which is ongoing. Sit down, take a deep breath or two, and wait. We'll know soon enough if we get President Pence. You know, the real conservative.
You thought there would be a do-over? President Hillary? No.
MarkD at May 10, 2017 5:13 AM
I can't remember the the exact details of the Comey Emotional Roller Coaster ride over the last eight months. For conservatives was it: hate, love, and then hate (he let HC walk you know)? For liberals was it: love, then hate (he cost HC the election you know), and now love?
Am I at the point where I should be outraged, or should I wait for the next revelation?
JFP at May 10, 2017 5:20 AM
At his level if you screw up every time you testify or give a public statement your time is limited.
AFA Trump and Clinton being guilty of anything treasonous - SNORT!
Where was your concern when all of the sh%t went down w/the unsecured server, the people seeing emails w/o security clearance, the blanket absolution of Clinton and her staff, and so on. The fix was in, the FBI could not stop it, and no amount of money/power could change that.
No problem with that right? She still got your votes 'cause she was an adult (obvious by her actions/words) and he was a buffoon (obvious by his actions/words). The fact that that was not the issue on the table for discussion went straight over your heads. Ha Ha Ha
While all of this attention is being placed on non-treasonous issues stuff is happening w/little MSM coverage (ending of foreign aid, arming Kurds, etc.). But he said a BAD thing 20 years ago and oh oh oh.
I'd think "you people" be spending more time fixing a corrupt DNC, finding some intelligent pols, and really really trying to kick Clinton to the curb. But it's your party (heh heh).
I'll be looking at the real issues of whi ch character is not involved and too late. (Hell youse guys still worship the Kennedys.)
Bob in Texas at May 10, 2017 5:21 AM
So the Democrats loved Comey when Obama installed him and then the Democrats REALLY loved Comey when he refused to release the investigation details because it was Hillary's turn to be President and then the Democrats hated Comey when he released the investigation details and now the Democrats love Comey and are shocked - shocked, I tell you! - that he was fired.
All this breathless schoolgirl drama. Fascinating.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 10, 2017 6:10 AM
"Beyond how disgusting this is -- that this sort of behavior is the new normal in America ..."
'New normal'? Come on! This is hardly new. The Clinton investigation clearly showed that. They even have emails from the justice department over how there was no way in hell they were going to charge Hillary with anything so investigating her was a waste of time. Comey's actions with the Clintons showed he couldn't be trusted with doing his job. The man gets a lot of flack from Democrats but he did his best to keep her out of jail.
So yeah JFP just wait for the next news cycle. CNN will keep investigating 'Russian involvement' and whatever else floats their boat. We should have a few more cycles of 'He's starting WW3! We're all going to die!!!' too.
Ben at May 10, 2017 6:16 AM
Oh please. This is not worth getting the vapors over. The FBI's handling of both the Clinton email investigation and the Russia probe have been incompetent. Look at Comey's public statements: first, they weren't going to prosecute anyone. Then they were. Oh wait, then they weren't again, and the Justice Department gave everyone involved unconditional immunity, so there is no one to prosecute, and the FBI must have known about that, even if they weren't directly involved.
As for the Russia investigation, it's been going for a year now and it's a dry well. There's obviously nothing there, because if there was, it would have come out already. And if they do try to charge someone, the case will be based on illegal wiretaps which would take a first-year law student about five minutes to get excluded from evidence. Meanwhile, Comey stomps around threatening people he can't get at, like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden. Ooh, big man. If Comey really wanted to put some teeth in those words, why not try them in absentia? But no.
Meanwhile, the FBI evidently has no idea who is leaking the details on people that Susan Rice unmasked, and isn't explaining any of its actions regarding which political candidates the Obama administration maintained surveillance on, or when. Joe J is correct that if the FBI or the JD moves against anyone connected with Trump in regard to Russia now, it will come out looking like a political hit job, and that will just about guarantee a Trump re-election in 2020.
In short, the FBI is a mess. The situation cries out for a competent director. Comey has demonstrated that he's not the right guy.
Cousin Dave at May 10, 2017 6:45 AM
And regarding whatever Russian actions may have taken place regarding the election: Let's not forget that the Obama administration tried like holy heck to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from winning the Israeli election of 2015, going so far as to make public threats about "re-evaluating" the relationship with Israel if Netanyahu won. Pot, meet kettle.
(The irony is that Obama's public meddling might have tipped the election in Netanyahu's favor. Opinion polls before the election had the Zionist Union ticket led by Issac Herzog on the way to an easy victory. The exit polls showed that some would-be Union voters had changed their minds just before the election, due to Obama's actions.)
Cousin Dave at May 10, 2017 6:56 AM
Frum: The firing of FBI director James Comey poses a question: Will the law answer to the president, or the president to the law?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/this-is-not-a-drill/526056/?utm_source=twb
Amy Alkon at May 10, 2017 7:17 AM
If Comey had been doing the job he was supposed to be doing, most of us wouldn't even know his name.
He would have sent over a report on the email investigation and that would have been the end of his involvement.
Instead he held a press conference.
At this point I gotta figure he believed two things. First his continued emplyment rested on covering for Justice, and not recommending indictment of Hillary.
Second, that Hillary was going to win the election, and be his new boss. So he ginned up a dog and pony show.
The FBI director works under the justice department, not the other way around.
The fact that he let himself be callously used by Loretta Lynch in a plot to provide cover for the Attorney General and Hillary in the email scandal was just the beginning of his problems.
Some good articles in the Wall Street Journal today on how Comey managed to turn the FBI into a three ring circus.
What was the motive? My guess, as was theirs, an attempt to make himself too big to fire?
It didn't work, and in the process he made the FBI look like a bunch of keystone cops.
Isab at May 10, 2017 7:23 AM
So, Chuck Schumer lost confidence in Comey in November, but in May lamented his firing?
And if President Hillary had fired Comey in the middle of an investigation? Speculation, I know, but Schumer has never been impartial with his outrage, so take his huffing about ethics with a grain of salt.
The use of "special" prosecutors has been way overdone, but in this case it may be the only way to calm the partisan wolves at that door.
As far as I can tell at this point, Comey did his job as well as he could. He testified before Congress that he had no choice but to send the controversial letter once Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton held their clandestine meeting on an Arizona runway (also in the middle of an investigation). To withhold the possible Weiner computer evidence from Congress after that would have signaled a cover-up, despite the fact that reporting it had unpleasant repercussions as well.
Conan the Grammarian at May 10, 2017 7:28 AM
Drump is NOT being investigated, his "associates" are.
Stinky the Clown at May 10, 2017 7:30 AM
So long ago and so far from memory.
"Only 11 days after becoming attorney general, Janet Reno called her first press conference to announce that she was firing all 93 U.S. attorneys and replacing them with Clinton loyalists. This was an unprecedented act. Phase 2 was equally unprecedented. Bill Clinton sacked FBI director William S. Sessions on July 19, 1993, on the pretext of various petty ethics charges."
"The Clintons proceeded to defang the federal judiciary. Between 1994 and 1998, they appointed seven new judges to the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. – all Clinton cronies. The new appointees nicknamed themselves the “Magnificent Seven” – a name that stuck until the Clintons appointed an eighth member to the team in 1998.
The Magnificent Seven scandalized their colleagues by holding closed meetings every month, from which other federal judges were excluded. “I cannot imagine any legitimate reason for them to meet together once a month, even socially,” one courthouse official told the Washington Times. Another court official charged that the meetings “reek with impropriety.”
Indeed they did. Throughout the Clinton years, these hand-picked judges issued ruling after ruling shielding the Clintons and their alleged accomplices from federal prosecutors."
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2005/07/31187/#26SR1DdObBYly36H.99
Bob in Texas at May 10, 2017 7:45 AM
You are entertaining Scott Adams...
Feel free to object.
Radwaste at May 10, 2017 8:55 AM
https://news.grabien.com/story-10-major-fbi-scandals-comeys-watch
And here is another one.
Isab at May 10, 2017 9:09 AM
But Hillary! But Hillary! But Hillary!
Come on. If a hypothetical President Hillary, or Obama, or Bush I, or Bush II, or Bill Clinton or anyone else one cares to name abruptly fired an FBI director when he or she was under investigation for ties to Russia, people would be alarmed, and rightly so.
It's not a partisan issue for me.
Kevin at May 10, 2017 9:11 AM
" “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.”
That one odd sentence caused every media outlet to display the quote and talk about it, over and over. And when you focus on something, no matter the reason, it rises in importance in your mind. President Trump, the Master Persuader, made all of us think about the “not under investigation” part over, and over, and over."
Funny Rad!
Bob in Texas at May 10, 2017 9:35 AM
" “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.”
That one odd sentence caused every media outlet to display the quote and talk about it, over and over. And when you focus on something, no matter the reason, it rises in importance in your mind. President Trump, the Master Persuader, made all of us think about the “not under investigation” part over, and over, and over."
Funny Rad!
Bob in Texas at May 10, 2017 9:37 AM
Apparently the master communicator has never heard of the Streisand Effect. And he's walked right into it, and made sure the Russia question will never ever go away
Billy Whiz at May 10, 2017 10:16 AM
So, because of this decision, people who didn't like Trump still don't like him, and people who like Trump still like him.
Seems like a win to me.
Snoopy at May 10, 2017 10:29 AM
"It's not a partisan issue for me. "
How about when Secretary of State Clinton sold her influence to the Russians for millions of dollars so they could buy control of a North American uranium mining concern?
New York Times, April 23, 2015
Partisan issue? Same Russia, same Putin, only now it's fissible materials and a corrupt SoS. Whaddya think?
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 10, 2017 10:30 AM
By James Hohmann. (Very long!)
"The Daily 202: Firing FBI director Comey is already backfiring on Trump. It’s only going to get worse."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/05/10/daily-202-firing-fbi-director-comey-is-already-backfiring-on-trump-it-s-only-going-to-get-worse/5912635de9b69b209cf2b7fb/?utm_term=.8b6592035520#comments
Top rated comment so far:
Dave 1984 11:15 AM EDT
"I'm sure Trump has a perfectly treasonable explanation for firing the FBI director."
lenona at May 10, 2017 11:12 AM
"It's not a partisan issue for me. "
How about when Secretary of State Clinton
You got to Clinton in seven words. Congratulations.
And if you think I'm a fan of HRC, you're wrong. The BUT HILLARY stuff is just as pointless as the BUT W stuff during the Obama years.
Kevin at May 10, 2017 11:37 AM
Okay, fans, question time:
What would lockstep ties with Russia mean?
Radwaste at May 10, 2017 12:20 PM
"He would have sent over a report on the email investigation and that would have been the end of his involvement."
Or he would have done what he should have done in the first place -- empanel a grand jury, and then stay the hell away from it until the grand jury released its results.
"Some good articles in the Wall Street Journal today on how Comey managed to turn the FBI into a three ring circus."
Yep. There are plenty of people on both sides of the aisle who were past ready to see him go. He's been ripped by every AG since Alberto Gonzalez.
"What was the motive? My guess, as was theirs, an attempt to make himself too big to fire?"
This. The speculation I am seeing today is that he was trying to transform himself into the next J. Edgar Hoover -- someone so powerful that he would have total discretion over the agency, and would be untouchable by anyone, even the President. Apparently, in service of this, he was using the time-honored Hoover tactic of playing both ends against the middle, in order to make everyone on both sides fear him. This rings true because it's the first explanation I've seen that really makes sense of his multiple 180-degree turns on the Hillary email thing. Don't forget that liberals, movement conservatives, and libertarians all hated Hoover, for good reasons. Trump may have just done the nation a big favor by nipping that in the bud.
Cousin Dave at May 10, 2017 1:04 PM
I'm starting to get the impression that Amy doesn't like Mr. Trump...
Jay R at May 10, 2017 1:37 PM
"You got to Clinton in seven words. Congratulations."
Hillary/Russia/corruption good, Trump/Russia/corruption bad. There. I got to Hillary in one word AND wrapped up your argument for you.
You're welcome, Kevin.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 10, 2017 2:09 PM
I'm starting to get the impression that Amy doesn't like Mr. Trump...
Jay R at May 10, 2017 1:37 PM
Yes, it is going to be a long eight years, with Amy linking to articles written by democratic party operatives with bylines, that savage Trump for behavior far less egregious and more constitutional than actions they gave Obama, Holder, Lynch Clinton, et al a pass on for the last eight years.
Does Trump have the right to fire the director of the FBI? Yes he does, and his boss, the deputy Attorney General actually recommended Comey be fired. Sessions did too.
Did Comey fuck up big time more than once politicizing issues and giving press conferences rather than investigating, and either empaneling a grand jury or passing the investigation results on up to his bosses in the Justice Department? All the while handing out immunity deals like candy at a parade?
You bet he did. No doubt about it.
There is going to be an unending amount of mau mauing over Trump and everything he does, not only from the Dems but from uniparty RINO's like John McCain.
Isab at May 10, 2017 2:10 PM
Hillary/Russia/corruption good, Trump/Russia/corruption bad. There. I got to Hillary in one word AND wrapped up your argument for you.
But Hillary! But Hillary!
Trust me on this, Gog: Had HRC been elected and fired the FBI director looking into her ties with Russia, I'd say the same about her.
Kevin at May 10, 2017 2:48 PM
I get it, Kevin, what I'm arguing is that just because someone yelled "Trump!" FIRST doesn't mean we don't get to point out a prior administration doing the same thing. The action of firing the Director is wrong or it's right, and it applies to all of them.
And I have to note the "looking into his/her ties with Russia" qualifier. It doesn't matter (I don't mean criminal activity, of course, I mean the current task list of the Director). The Director serves at the whim of the Executive.
I think there's more going on here than just Trump/Clinton and questions of their malfeasance with the Rooskies. Investigate all of them. Totally worth the money.
Final thought: I didn't vote for Trump, either.
I was going to stomp off in a huff and then I realized I have enough for a huff and a half.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at May 10, 2017 3:31 PM
☑ Kevin at May 10, 2017 2:48 PM
Crid at May 10, 2017 3:44 PM
I've noticed that a lot of current and former New Yorkers tend to harbor a deep-seated dislike of Donald and anyone named Trump.
Conan the Grammarian at May 10, 2017 4:03 PM
That Adams piece is repellant:
Thank goodness then that we've a cartoonist on the meadow to give us a thousand words of explication, followed immediately by a sales pitch for "writing tips."Truly: The first purpose of any political belief is to flatter its holder.
> Does Trump have the right to
I mean, sure, you can if you want, but man does it look silly.> fire the director of the FBI?
PS-- I did it...
ONCE. But you'll never find it, because I've made thousands of comments here. HAR!
Crid at May 10, 2017 4:06 PM
It's fun to read old stuff!
Crid at May 10, 2017 4:17 PM
> It's fun to read old stuff!
Almost one year later, and I still stand by that statement. Thanks Crid! We'll talk more when Trump-friendly candidates sweep the midterm elections.
Snoopy at May 10, 2017 4:49 PM
Yeah; that thing where you think you're a smug beer drinker wagering on an NCAA bracket rather than arguing for outcomes in people's lives.
Crid at May 10, 2017 5:02 PM
http://blog.dilbert.com/post/160515646406/the-comey-firing
I R A Darth Aggie at May 10, 2017 5:47 PM
> Yeah; that thing where you think you're a smug
> beer drinker wagering on an NCAA bracket rather
> than arguing for outcomes in people's lives.
Nah, just Making America Great Again!
Snoopy at May 10, 2017 5:57 PM
Crid! I'm very glad to see you. No one here has been funny for a couple of days, at least not intentionally.
Gail at May 10, 2017 6:04 PM
Fine, let's have a special prosecutor. I'm sure his investigation will turn out to be one of the most boring inquiries on the planet as no definitive evidence of Russian ties to Trump vis a vis the election will be found.
As for Democrat reaction: sheer politics. First, they wanted Comey gone, but when Trump fired him, they suddenly are outraged. Phonies, all of them!
Hopefully, the people in the FBI actually running the nothing-burger investigation will continue unhindered. They would not be doing their jobs if they didn't. I'm sure the outcome of this investigation, as with my hypothetical special prosecutor, will be quite boring.
mpetrie98 at May 10, 2017 8:03 PM
"Trust me on this, Gog: Had HRC been elected and fired the FBI director looking into her ties with Russia, I'd say the same about her."
I don't doubt that you would have. But the Washington and media reaction would have been completely different. There would be lots of talk about how the firing was justified due to Comey's partisanship and misuse of resources, and how "brave" Hillary was to take that step in order to "move on" and "bring people together". And then by today, Thursday, it would be "old news" and you'd see nothing else about it anywhere other than the conservative media, which the mainstream media would point at and say, "See? Wingnuts! We told you so!"
Cousin Dave at May 11, 2017 7:29 AM
I don't believe that's a call the Director of the FBI gets to make.
Conan the Grammarian at May 12, 2017 12:01 PM
Mona Charen makes an interesting point on the firing of Comey that it's not Trump's lawlessness that is dragging him down, it's his "emotionalism, recklessness and unseriousness" that are doing him in.
Conan the Grammarian at May 13, 2017 11:52 AM
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