Comey’s arrogant higher loyalty matches Trump’s arrogant “me-me-me I’m the greatest brain I’m the greatest negotiator I’m the greatest businessman”. The biggest problem with arrogance is that it’s not teachable because it believes it already knows everything.
While I do not think that Comey would have done as he did if the Reeps-like-cons had not made Washington so toxic, but he turned out to be an ex-spurt. (A drip under pressure)
Comey’s use of a private email account for FBI business while he is investigating HRC for using one has to be one of the most hypocritical things I’ve ever seen. It goes along with the RW that says the FBI is left-leaning (e.g. Lisa Benson) when the reality is that HRC’s campaign was damaged and Comey should be charged with violating the Hatch Act.
Nance, I’m not sure that what Comey did is covered by the Hatch Act. He was acting in his official government role, i.e., doing his job. One may say he wasn’t doing it well (as the IG report does say), but he wasn’t violating the Hatch Act as far as I can see.
The 1939 Act forbids the intimidation or bribery of voters and restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. It prohibits using any public funds designated for relief or public works for electoral purposes. It forbids officials paid with federal funds from using promises of jobs, promotion, financial assistance, contracts, or any other benefit to coerce campaign contributions or political support. It provides that persons below the policy-making level in the executive branch of the federal government must not only refrain from political practices that would be illegal for any citizen, but must abstain from “any active part” in political campaigns, using this language to specify those who are exempt:7
(i) an employee paid from an appropriation for the Executive Office of the President; or(ii) an employee appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, whose position is located within the United States, who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in the nationwide administration of Federal laws.
Comey violated FBI norms on Clinton email probe, others at the FBI showed a willingness to take official action to hurt Trump. Trump is hoping to use this report to discredit Comey. The report is critical on the FBI’s conduct during the election, and includes stunning allegations about the Trump family’s behavior during the campaign. In normal times, Congress would be expected to soberly absorb the conclusions and debate reforms needed to repair the breach in national political life.
Trump responded predictably by accusing a corrupt and rigged system to be out to get him. It is an argument he has used and will use again to discredit whatever Mueller finds, and that is already a potent one in shaping the sentiments of supporters who have helped him take over his party and drive out Republican dissent.
A Russian influence intelligence operation tried to damage American democracy in the last election, and set American on American in a bid to embitter political life and damage vital institutions, Putin is smiling at the discord he has helped to sew.
FBI to Comey: You kept our honor clean…but the unintended consequences of your actions were Hillary lost and we are stuck with Trump. You also set a pattern of the Justice Department quailing before and caving into the demands and threats of Republican snarling heads.
Yeah, I would have to say that the IG went to great lengths to avoid attributing personal motives to the many and varied breaches of protocol.
The report indicates a huge number of instances in which the procedures used were unusual, like blanket immunity for multiple “witnesses”, non-sworn testimony, lack of subpoenas to obtain documents and devices in a timely manner, etc, etc, etc.
The report recognizes that these methods are within SOP, but fails to mention that it is not SOP to use these soft methods as the rule rather than the exception.
The report shows multiple instances of severe and overwhelming personal bias against Trump and/or in favor of Hillary. However, it then goes to extraordinary lengths to remind us that those instances of bias could not be documented as to have impacted the investigation.
Not that they did not impact, but that the IG was unable to find written evidence or have an agent stupid enough to admit such a crime. Any person who reads even just the executive summary comes away with the moral certainty that some of the agents were absolutely determined to thwart the election of Trump.
As a life-long Democrat-first vote was for McGovern-I was hoping Comey would have announced charges against Clinton in July which likely would had led to her withdrawing from the race and we may well have had President Biden or Sanders today. Comey helped Trump twice both in July and October.
ahab almost 6 years ago
Was there any doubt?
Sadandconfused9 almost 6 years ago
Comey’s arrogant higher loyalty matches Trump’s arrogant “me-me-me I’m the greatest brain I’m the greatest negotiator I’m the greatest businessman”. The biggest problem with arrogance is that it’s not teachable because it believes it already knows everything.
lobo1939 almost 6 years ago
While I do not think that Comey would have done as he did if the Reeps-like-cons had not made Washington so toxic, but he turned out to be an ex-spurt. (A drip under pressure)
Nantucket Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Comey’s use of a private email account for FBI business while he is investigating HRC for using one has to be one of the most hypocritical things I’ve ever seen. It goes along with the RW that says the FBI is left-leaning (e.g. Lisa Benson) when the reality is that HRC’s campaign was damaged and Comey should be charged with violating the Hatch Act.
martens almost 6 years ago
Nance, I’m not sure that what Comey did is covered by the Hatch Act. He was acting in his official government role, i.e., doing his job. One may say he wasn’t doing it well (as the IG report does say), but he wasn’t violating the Hatch Act as far as I can see.
The 1939 Act forbids the intimidation or bribery of voters and restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. It prohibits using any public funds designated for relief or public works for electoral purposes. It forbids officials paid with federal funds from using promises of jobs, promotion, financial assistance, contracts, or any other benefit to coerce campaign contributions or political support. It provides that persons below the policy-making level in the executive branch of the federal government must not only refrain from political practices that would be illegal for any citizen, but must abstain from “any active part” in political campaigns, using this language to specify those who are exempt:7
(i) an employee paid from an appropriation for the Executive Office of the President; or(ii) an employee appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, whose position is located within the United States, who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in the nationwide administration of Federal laws.Mr. Blawt almost 6 years ago
Comey violated FBI norms on Clinton email probe, others at the FBI showed a willingness to take official action to hurt Trump. Trump is hoping to use this report to discredit Comey. The report is critical on the FBI’s conduct during the election, and includes stunning allegations about the Trump family’s behavior during the campaign. In normal times, Congress would be expected to soberly absorb the conclusions and debate reforms needed to repair the breach in national political life.
Trump responded predictably by accusing a corrupt and rigged system to be out to get him. It is an argument he has used and will use again to discredit whatever Mueller finds, and that is already a potent one in shaping the sentiments of supporters who have helped him take over his party and drive out Republican dissent.
A Russian influence intelligence operation tried to damage American democracy in the last election, and set American on American in a bid to embitter political life and damage vital institutions, Putin is smiling at the discord he has helped to sew.
Radish the wordsmith almost 6 years ago
The Republicans put pressure on the FBI to persecute Hillary.
robnvon Premium Member almost 6 years ago
FBI to Comey: You kept our honor clean…but the unintended consequences of your actions were Hillary lost and we are stuck with Trump. You also set a pattern of the Justice Department quailing before and caving into the demands and threats of Republican snarling heads.
Andylit Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Yeah, I would have to say that the IG went to great lengths to avoid attributing personal motives to the many and varied breaches of protocol.
The report indicates a huge number of instances in which the procedures used were unusual, like blanket immunity for multiple “witnesses”, non-sworn testimony, lack of subpoenas to obtain documents and devices in a timely manner, etc, etc, etc.
The report recognizes that these methods are within SOP, but fails to mention that it is not SOP to use these soft methods as the rule rather than the exception.
The report shows multiple instances of severe and overwhelming personal bias against Trump and/or in favor of Hillary. However, it then goes to extraordinary lengths to remind us that those instances of bias could not be documented as to have impacted the investigation.
Not that they did not impact, but that the IG was unable to find written evidence or have an agent stupid enough to admit such a crime. Any person who reads even just the executive summary comes away with the moral certainty that some of the agents were absolutely determined to thwart the election of Trump.
Gen.Flashman almost 6 years ago
As a life-long Democrat-first vote was for McGovern-I was hoping Comey would have announced charges against Clinton in July which likely would had led to her withdrawing from the race and we may well have had President Biden or Sanders today. Comey helped Trump twice both in July and October.