Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues The Trump Administration Justice is coming

Yup big story when I woke-up this morning. Missed all of the news last night - no TV at all.

(Somebody did his taxes last night and has filed electronically already. , )

From the Washington Post story citing BuzzFeed:It is ironic that William Barr would make that statement, since that is exactly what he counseled George Bush to do when he was last Attorney general. Barr is completely unsuited to be Attorney General because he, himself, suborned obstruction by advising Bush to pardon the Iran-contra conspirators on his way out of office. That meets Barr's own definition of obstruction! Bush could/should have been prosecuted for that abuse of power, since he had already been implicated in the conspiracy. Although I genuinely liked and respected the elder Bush, that final act was deeply offensive - and illegal. If Bush had been prosecuted, it would put a whole different face on the current peril we are in. Barr is directly responsible for Trump.

I have to concur on the Iran-Contra pardon's. Perhaps one of the most disgusting and distasteful acts in America government. It would not matter to me if it was their guy or my guy, the act was unconscionable. I reject any argument which characterizes it as government saving. The American people need to know there is integrity in government and we do follow the rule of law, for all men equally.

You'd be hard put to convince most Americans that there is integrity in government and that we follow the rule of law...

BuzzFeed is taking heat because of Mueller's office's response to BuzzFeed's story. NOTE: It took Mueller's office 20 hrs to respond:

Mueller's office has not stated specifically what is wrong in their carefully worded denial of BuzzFeed's article.

BuzzFeed also broke the Steele Dossier story - two years ago. Let's see how well the Steele Dossier has held up now two years after the fact:


I'm going to stay on Team BuzzFeed.

Buzzfeed probably has some details wrong, but is mostly correct. Notice that Mueller's spokesman did not say the whole thing is wrong. Just like the most sensational (and unimportant) parts of the dossier have not been proved: Their is still independently documented evidence in it that shows a pattern of criminality. If the subject was anybody but the President, he would have been prosecuted under RICO long ago.

And even if Trump did not tell Cohen to lie, Cohen surely made up a false narrative and told it to everyone. Trump most likely used that false narrative in his written answers to Mueller. Then Cohen came clean to the Grand Jury, to get his sentence deal. And we are left with Trump committing perjury in writing, shown by Cohen's testimony and multiple emails and documents in Mueller's possession. I'm sure that Trump is very much a practitioner of "let's get our stories straight before we go to court" from his past court appearances.

Cohen is a rat because he changed his story after getting everyone to use his false narrative.

And the story might have been completely fabricated. Trump derangement syndrome is alive and well in the media.

The problem, I think, has to do with frustration over the Mueller investigation. Its been a long time and nothing seems to be happening. I think a lot of pressure would be released if they could hand down another bunch of charges. Everytime we hear that Jackass has pissed off yet another ally, insulted another group, kiss the ring of Putin, etc. folks tend to get a bit upset and just want it to stop. Now we are in a shutdown with no end in site.

The obvious solution is for the congress, the WHOLE congress, forgets the politics and starts to pass veto proof legislation and, for the at happen, the Republicans need to step up. If that doesn't happen then this thing can go on forever. Perhaps the senate should be advised that this is the way, in theory, that the founders designed the system. Right now, however, we are told that McConnell is at fault. He is just the face. The simple fact is that the Republican simply cannot bring themselves to do the right thing. This, in spite of the continuous reports that the senate Republicans would be delighted to do as I suggest except for McConnell. That is, I think, simple balony. They can do this thing if they grown a pair and stiffen their backbones.

As I understand it anybody in the senate can actually bring legislation to the floor if they have the votes. In spite of all the balony the fact remains - the members simply do not have the stomach for it. Sorry, as far as I can tell these craven simply don't have the stomach to act like members of the congress instead of the members of the afraid of the Dear Leader club.

None of this is going to end well. ALL members of the senate are very close to ALL being painted with the obstructionist paintbrush. Perhaps they might act when people start dying because of a lack of food inspections, very tired air controllers or pilots, etc. Even then, I suspect, they will continue with the games until folks REALLY get a bit upset. Right now it seems that the populace know what is going on and have come to the conclusion its just the way it is <sigh>

I don't know how many news orgs would double down on a story which is patently false. Their creds would be completely wiped out and of course may go bankrupt.

Buzzfeed did that just today. They stood by their story.

Curious minds want to know the truth .... the facts ...

This is a pretty strange deal. Mueller never said it wasn't true just that some of the facts were wrong. Have no idea what any of it means but, as usual and over time, we will figure it out. In this case, unless Mueller changes his mind, it will be after he has done all he can, I guess.

I also wonder if them that gave the story to Buzzfeed will ever be revealed.........