In my native Spanish, a "golfo" is a 'bum'. So be it.
3
No, "America" [properly the USA, not the hemisphere we all belong to, NOT the exclusive possession thereof], will not be destroyed in spite of the President or history of the U.S.A.
On Friday I became CANADIAN, no longer a subject to King Donald or the U.S. monolithic empire.
7
It seems pretty foolish in the long run to target people who get paid to spy and dig up dirt on people. Spoiler alert: they can get, and probably have, lots dirt on you!! Waiting patiently for it to drip out. He's playing ping pong; they're playing chess.
6
Trump tweets, "Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans?"
But Mueller himself is a Republican.
More fake facts from the president who sees nothing wrong in just making stuff up.
Only 231 days until the midterm elections.
8
"When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history." --
John O. Brennan
Best biography of Trump ever written.
12
“We’ve never had anybody so blatantly go after a president before,” Gary J. Schmitt.
What? Is there a context for this wild accusation? When have we ever had a president like this?
5
That "destruction" is already underway.........does anyone remember truth? Justice? Fair play? Fort Sumter? Abe Lincoln? Ike?
2
John Brennan of the CIA is telling Trump that he will not destroy America.
Rand Paul and others come to the Presidents defense.
Ee argue about whether Trump is demonizing the FBI and the CIA. He is, and it is not a good development.
It keeps attention away from the real problems which are destroying America.
Obama had a chance. He designed Obamacare, which might have been a step to universal health care.
But, Obamacare did NOT address the exponentially rising costs of medical care. That cost is driving many Americans bankrupt. Medicare has limits. Run out those limits and you find yourself confronting hospital bills of 6000 dollars per day, need for skilled nursing facilities which few Americans can afford.
Americans are dying because Obamacare has holes. Some cannot afford the cancer screenings that turn what would often is a manageable disease into a excruciating painful death. Old folks without skilled nursing often die of infection because they sleep in their own feces.
Driven into bankruptcy the children of these old folks often have no jobs capable of paying health care or housing. A vast underclass of hundreds of millions is being created by inaction of Congress and its corruption by K street.
There will be more Trumps.
Democrats lie. They say resources are unlimited. They aren't.
The death of older Americans is directly attributable to an increase of 85 million in population since 1986, when illegal immigration was supposed to be ended.
Trump's entire life has been a race to the bottom. As horrible as that may sound, the continuing problem with Trump is that there is no bottom, no depth to which Trump will not scour looking to cast blame, to shirk responsibility, to admit to mistakes.
This is what happens when the American people, albeit a minority, take for granted the durability of their democracy. They blithely think they can elect a complete idiot, a demagogic bully, surround him with a majority of sycophants from his own party to both Houses of Congress, to help aid and abet him, in ripping away at the very foundations of this country's hallowed institutions.
Isn't there one decent Republican who has the courage to call a halt to this erosion of basic American principles? To assert to Trump that no one, not even his highness, is above the law? I am still waiting. I hear warnings, talk of an impending "constitutional crisis", should Trump cross some yet unspecified line. Exactly what and where is that line? For Republicans, it appears it's in November, when they will see what their fate brings when people go to the polls. What they are are spineless parasites who deserve to be kicked out on their be-hinds. Their demise can't come too soon.
DD
Manhattan
2
John Brennan tells Trump that he will not destroy America.
But America has already been destroyed by liberals, its just that the NY Times pundits didn't get the message.
Across Middle America, millions of Americans are going bankrupt because they have inadequate savings for catastrophic health care problems. The mother gets cancer. She runs out her Medicare coverage. Then the hospitals slowly take away all her possessions until she is a pauper when she dies.
That wouldn't matter so much, but the home was the home of the children, who earn jobs inadequate to pay for housing or health care or even food.
Obamacare was too little. Why is it that Canada can afford universal health coverage Great Britain can afford universal health care, but not the US?
Trump seemed to suggest it was the increase of population of 85 million since 1986 when the US passed a law which was supposed to end illegal immigration.
Now liberals maintain that the GOOD poor are the immigrants who came into the country illegally, the BAD poor are those who worked and played by the rules and saw their jobs outsources and went bankrupt trying to pay for medical care.
There will be a revolution. Maybe not today. But it is coming.
And the liberals who constantly ridicule the hated white patriarchs will fall.
Who knows what will replace them.
Democracy is already dead. The poor have been abandoned.
Perhaps Trump is no better. But the people will demand change rather than face a Malthusian death.
When this path of trump to Destroy America will end ?
Twitter exposes Trump for what he is, a two-bit conman, sleazy creep. We knew that before he proved it with Twittering. Tweets back at him probably make his hair go frizzy and his skin turn white.
But, really, isn't it more important to focus on what happened to the Republican Party that turned it into a group of junior high Trump cheerleaders?
Are Republicans motivated by greed (working for the Mercer family handouts?), are they true believers in despotism (working to destroy our republican democracy?), are they agents of Russia (working to destroy America from within?), are they cowards and moral retrogrades (defending Trump because they fear Trump will Tweet at them?).
Whatever the reason, the Republican Party is responsible for Trump and the harm he has unleashed. They are his obnoxious parents who aren't just derelict in disciplining their septuagenarian juvenile delinquent, they are participants in their man-child's psychopathic outbursts and destruction.
2
Baby bully promoting a "race to the bottom".
American democracy has become a truly sad state.
The 45th continues to dig his own hole. No matter what anyone says, he will continue to find a way to create chaos. He’s like the contractor you hire to build your house and one year, two months later, you’re looking for ways to get out of your contract so you can fire him.
Gary J. Schmitt, from the American Enterprise Institute: "It's a race to the bottom."
No, Mr. Schmitt, it's not a "race to the bottom" when a president utters nothing but lies and treasonous accusations and the accused respond. Yes, it's a remarkable moment in history when people like Comey, McCabe, and Brennan say what they've said--we've never had a president who has planted his podium at the moral bottom and has surrounded himself with so many moral bottom feeders. We've never had a president whose wild, slanderous, and unfounded accusations are the most consistent and predictable characteristic of his tenure in office.
As a scholar you should know, however, that if people in power tell lies--especially outrageous ones--often enough, people will start to believe them. We're not hearing people who should be countering the lies who should be doing so, people who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. So somebody has to do it in these remarkable times.
2
These people ave been forced to speak up to fill the void created by the cowardly silence of virtually EVERY Republican member of Congress. As historians sift through the ashes of this time period, they will unanimously marvel at the unanimous cowardice and duplicity of the nearly 300 current Republican members of Congress. These Republicans soil themselves every day with their spineless support for their venal leader.
2
Sophocles said it best re: those such as Trump:
"Evil appears as good in the minds of those whom gods lead to destruction".
3
I'm old enough to remember FBI and CIA abuses dating from Hoover's disgusting treatment of MLK to CIA support of torture and horrible dictators like Manuel Noriega and many others like him. It's honestly hard to recall legitimate accomplishments by these two organizations but hey, the fact that Trump has managed to alienate them both is a testament to the utter depravity of this president.
2
It is important to stand up to bullies. Everytime Unstable Trump tweets, honorable people owe it to our nation to hit him back in the same fashion.
It's been an interesting few days. Senator Graham warns of impeachment and an ex CIA chief, a Republican at that, openly insultis and denigraties the Presiden and says he is corrupt. It sounds as if all the many GOPers whom Trump has blithely insulted may finally be starting to sharpen their knives.
No where in this article is it noted McCabe's firing is the result of findings by the FBIs internal ethics board...McCabe has leaked stuff before, he and Comey ought to leak what they know, not wait for the book.
The swamp ain't gonna drain easy.
1
Yesterday, Mr. Trump said Mr. McCabe's memos were fake. Today he said he did not BELIEVE that Mr. McCabe kept any memos at all. Clearly he has not read the documents. Clearly what he says is that "if McCabe did write his side of the story, tit must be fake because his words are unlikely to help my cause."
None of the superlatives Mr. Trump applies to himself is even remotely valid. There's one, however, that fits: Mr. Trump is the most prolific lier in the world bar none.
If Mr. Trump Blows up the world or reduces the US to the level of a 3rd world country, I'll hold Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell directly responsible. These two experienced politicians know the level of the danger we are in and yet refuse to act in the world's interest. It is high time the usurper is shown the door to the White House. Only the Republicans have the power to do this.
For the life of me I can't understand why they insist on buying into Trump's doomsday presidency.
3
Prior to Trump DOJ, FBI, CIA and NSA were respected. Prior to Trump, Rosenstein, Wray, McCabe, Mueller and Comey were respected.
Now, we’re infected with Trump and all the above institutions and individuals are slandered as corrupt.
Trump won’t be impeached, republicans will never do it. I’m hoping Mueller can get him on tax evasion, tax fraud and money laundering and force him to resign.
5
"an intelligence adviser to President Ronald Reagan". Surely the ultimate oxymoron. Oh no, hold on surely DT has one too?
Persons formerly in the intelligence and law enforcement community now speaking out is exactly what we need in this toxic political atmosphere. Trump is attacking long time and dedicated civil servants and the institutions they were a part of and America reveres, all that played a role in the most solid democracy in the world. This may have never happened before and having these people, normally quiet during and after their retirement speak out may never have happened before but we never had a president like Donald Trump. He's done nothing to safeguard our nation against Russian cyber-attacks and is concerned only with his family's financial enrichment at the expense of National Security. For God's sake he presented Israeli intelligence to the Russian Ambassador in the White House while disparaging the FBI Director he just fired and was dragged kicking and screaming into admitting Russia interfered with the election and will continue in November. Slap on the wrist sanctions will not deter Putin. And how many in Trump's orbit have had unreported contact with Russian operatives during the campaign and then lied about it? And the complicit Republican congress remain silent. Would they be silent if this was a democratic president? I'm with Brennen, Comey, McCabe and others who are beginning to speak up and fight back. Conflict is the only thing Trump and his minions understand. Trump's perfidy can't go unchecked. Look what he's doing to the nation. It's disgusting.
3
John Brennan makes me feel like there is hope that Trump will be brought to justice. What a great person!
2
This is good. Corruption and fear of losing pensions and benefits brings them out of the shadows into the border of light. Collapse of the system is not far off.
Trump is draining the swamp, no question--e.g., Brennen, Comey, Hillary, Lynch, Rice, McCabe et al. gone. Sunlight, at last.
1
These exchanges are not a "race to the bottom". This is a case of honorable men who have had a belly-full of their reputations being defamed by the president. The point is that every word that Trump tweets is a bald-faced lie; every comment by these officials is absolutely true. They are showing the craven enablers in the cabinet and the Congress how to stand up to a vicious and debased bully. The country needs more such powerful voices to denounce and crush the threat to our democracy that Trump represents. Unheard of misdeeds call for unprecedented countermeasures.
2
I do not understand why President Trump insists on acting guilty by denigrating law enforcement. It just sounds like the line of any guilty criminal under investigation. But my gut feeling is President Trump is no guilty. So why act guilty? Just attention seeking?
Bravo to the intelligence community for standing up to this bully. Now, when will we get to the business of challenging the right of Fox "News" to spread blatant lies and promote conspiracy theories that threaten lives and endanger our democracy?
4
The Trump presidency is similar to climate change in this way: The longer we wait to address it, the harder it will be to recover a livable world. It will take decades to re-establish America as a respected player among nations, let alone a leader, if indeed this can ever be accomplished. The longer he stays, the more damage he will inflict. I fail to understand how congress can stand by and watch. The cynicism and self-dealing in congress must be even worse than we imagined.
4
There is always the first time for everything.
President Donald Trump is the first president to openly challenge the powerful US security/intelligence apparatus or the so-called Deep State for conspiracy believers.
Either Trump is possessed by death wish or rephrasing his own campaign words "I could shoot somebody and still be reelected."
2
Donald Trump is a serious threat to our democracy. Congress fails to protect us from his rampages through our Justice dept. and Intelligence agencies. The only ones left are former agency heads such as these. Mueller is tasked to investigate Russian influence. Congress refuses to afford this investigation the proper protections against Presidential predation. These are dangerous times.
I disagree with the comments that Comey, McCabe et al. should ignore T.'s tweets. The moral high ground is nothing to him, otherwise he would have followed Al Franken's example - what a loss! -, but you can't argue on morals with an individual who doesn't have any. If Twitter is his battling ground then they should meet him there - and pound him!
1
Mr. Trump may have been banking on the silence of the FBI and others who typically do not comment in public. If you are the only one in a fight who is willing to take low blows, you can sometimes have an advantage.
I'm not saying the people who respond to him are taking low blows, but at least they are not just "taking it." They are responding in the only way that can take this man to task. It remains for the adults in the fight to control themselves and remain adult about it, but I am pleased to see someone responding to this man's outrageous behavior and trying to call him out.
Trump has a morning of heinous tweets and only stops to go golfing. Doesn't that say it all. How much longer can this country bear this. Can it be true that 80 % of Republicans still support him?
America is in the "Twilight Zone" with this president. We have an ignorant, irrational and angry person running things. Many people are scared, but I think that fear is motivating citizens to take an active part in our democracy. I can't wait to see what happens in November of 2018.
1
Anyone who has read 'Dark Money' would have to question any comment from a member of a foundation.
1
John O. Brennan, a former C.I.A. director who now refers to himself as “a nonpartisan American who is very concerned about our collective future,”.... Seriously? This man will be in jail once it’s discovered how much nefarious activity against the US he has been involved in. Simply search “Brennan lied” in Google and see what you get. https://www.google.ca/search?q=brennan+lied&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&am.... There’s a reason 10 - 12 people in the FBI DOJ are removed in the past year. And there’s a reason why there’s so much twitter pushback. It’s called guilt.
Can't present a coherent argument so you attack the messenger. Karl Rove would be so proud.
This particular article is recycled news. Nothing we haven't heard over the past 3 days.
Will the 2018 Word of the Year be "tweetstorm"? Our unhinged president is lashing out like a cornered weasel. (apologies to weasels)
6
The biggest issue of all is this: why is Congress behaving so cowardly? Why doesn't its members get off their backsides and march to the White House and demand that the idiot occupying its Oval Office get lost? We no longer live in a democracy. This is Russia west, a pitiful country where a vile creep like Trump can be elected to office. Wake up Congress, Trump has been taking you for a ride from Day One. Kick him out now.
9
BRENNAN: “It never ceases to amaze me how successful
you have been making yourself so small, petty, and banal with your tweets.
Your insecurity is well deserved, as is your concern over Russia investigation."
Feb. 20, 2018: Tweet by John Brennan, former CIA Director.
4
This is starting to feel like The Godfather - except Don Corleone wasn't an idiot and had some humanity, and the dead horse head would be one of cowardly Sonny Trump Jr's murdered-while-penned elephants.
Nah, the Trump mafia is far more cruel, ignorant and immoral than the Corleones.
8
The Nixon comparison is inevitable. It took more than 2 years to bring down Nixon on a bungled domestic burglary with a clear Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. The current situation is infinitely more complex, involving organized crime and international money laundering with an adversarial foreign government immune to subpoenas and a complicit Republican majority in both houses. In time, Mueller will uncover the facts but he can't work miracles. There was one way into this and one way out. November 6, 2018. Circle it.
11
Every day it becomes more clear that this administration is not fit to serve this country. Every drama, scandal, Twitterstorm and accusation takes the focus off national security and puts it on people trying to keep their jobs or leaving out of crossed purposes. What better time for Russia to infiltrate our internet, our power grid, our elections...our democracy. Trump has shown he’s not up to the task of confronting Putin. And that he’s not up to defending us in a conflict. If and when he is removed from office, the government should not default to those left behind. The election was engineered and that includes the Vice President and all the way down the line. They will remain in conflict and at odds with the American people. This is uncharted territory for us. And all the while, the agenda of self-enrichment for the Trump family and their associates is the unspoken law of the land. Time to get “outside the box” on this one.
11
It was clear on Nov. 9, 2016 that forty-five was not fit to lead this country.
Mr. McCabe most certainly documented his conversations with "45" I imagine that Mr. Mueller has already seen the memos and will use this information as he continues his investigation.
9
I don’t see Mr. Brennan as mudslinging, as your article implies. Are patriotic valuable honest public servants supposed to sit still while Cadet Bonespur lobs his tweets? Further, consider the tones of the tweets. Mr. Brennan’s is expresses anger that comes from a sense of offended decency. (It is also far more articulate and literate than Trump’s.). Trump’s are flat-out scurrilous, in the best tradition on Cambridge Analytica. To equate the two is to use false equivalence.
Do we really have to engage in legalistic hair-splittings any more, that profit no one other than lawyers, to usher this vile demagogue from the White House? All we need is a modicum of courage, integrity, and patriotism in our Congressional leaders McConnell, Ryan, and Grassley. Oh, wait...
12
In the days and months ahead, Trump will do what he wants, including firing Mueller. The GOP will do nothing about it. When that happens, if good Americans want their country back, if they really want to live in a land where justice matters, they will take up their pitchforks and protest.
10
Trump's opponents are the new moral majority - and we really are moral and the majority.
13
"Yes He Will!" Monmouth State University poll 74% of Americans believe in the: "Deep State". Trump with his group of lackeys helped by Cambridge analytica are exploiting this and deepening the distrust. Trump's popularity at 43% is unbelievably high everything considered. News media should concentrate on how Trump's policies are destroying the country the world and our relationship with global partners. News media should concentrate on the results of his actions regarding healthcare, social programs, education, tax reform, war potential etc. rather than what he is doing. His actions are misinterpreted as attacking the Deep State and are hailed by the masses; but how his actions are affecting them are only realized when it directly engages and disrupts their expectations. Trump admires and praises Putin and Xi Jinping among other tyrants and congratulated them recently for consolidating power…a pathway he desires.
7
I have never been more grateful for the foresight of our forefathers when composing the Constitution of our United States
This body of people, who participated in The Constitional Convention were acutely aware of the danger(s) of elected officials promoting their own self-interests. Hence, the creation of an independent judiciary branch of our government.
Donald John is a truly clear example of prompting self-interests. He is an enemy of our state. His days are numbered along with the posse of hear, see and speak no evil GOP and his followers.
No, "You will not Destroy Our America" Not a one of you for Checkmate, We the People win back Our government.
4
The retaliatory attacks on Trump by the officials insulted and ousted by him earlier simply confirm Newton's third law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Alas but who will teach Trump what the laws of Nature imply.
18
Speaking of nature, there is nothing so dangerous as a wild animal that has been cornered.
1
Much of Trumps effort is devoted to a shouting match between Trump and the FBI and CIA.
Perhaps this works to Trumps advantage, because it gives him an excuse for not making good on the promises he made during the campaign.
People in Middle America saw problems not being addressed by liberals.
Millions of Americans die early because they have inadequate medical care. Many have declining living standards because there are not enough good-paying jobs.
The standard of living is rising much more rapidly in China. Why?
Part of it is the one-child policy introduced by Deng Xiaoping and his successors. China is able to devote more energy to educating each child, and this produces a stronger workforce over time.
The US instead has welfare policies that encourage larger families. And liberals push for illegal immigration, and the illegal immigrants have large families because the children are automatic US citizens.
Over a period of decades this can explain how the US produces too few doctors to keep up with an expanding population, so people die early of cancer because they could not afford cancer screenings.
Too many children in broken homes make for gangs in the ghettos. The US has 666 prisoners per 100,000 compared to Chinas 118.
So the US really ISNT more free than China, although yes China does commit some atrocious acts limiting freedom of the press.
Now the US is perpetrating injustice of its own by shaming men for sexual harassment without due process.
4
"Now the US is perpetrating injustice of its own by shaming men for sexual harassment without due process."
It's a start.
3
Liberals. Liberals. Liberals. You know that talk radio is speaking when "liberals" is used in almost every sentence and there is no reason, just blame sounding little different from the old cries that it is the Jews or the Blacks who are to blame for all our ills.
The conservative blamers see no irony in blaming people's lack of health care on the "liberals" when the Republicans fought so hard to insure people can't get any. Unless they are rich or in Congress. The see no irony in blaming liberals for low paying jobs when good wealthy conservatively owned and run companies cut jobs and stagnated pay for more profit for themselves or for the relentless attacks on unions.
Add a good dose of conservative talking points mischaracterizing issues such as welfare and immigration (where it is impossible to use the words immigration/immigrant without prefacing them by illegal) capped by admiration for authoritarianism and the script is complete.
Larger families cause doctor shortages. Really? You might be the next Secretary of Everything for the trump admin. Congrats.
2
2018 will finish with Trump imploding after Mueller findings come out, Stormy has her 15 minutes of fame and November 6 brings out all those people who had been complacent in 2016. The only ones still listening to that loud mouth will be those supporters to lazy or in denial. November 6th will be a big day for democracy
43
We must not lose sight of the fact that the investigation that Mueller is leading is designed to see if our electoral system was undermined; it is essential that this investigation continue and come to whatever conclusions it ultimately reaches. It is not, first and foremost, a referendum on Trump's presidency even though the results may cast doubt on the integrity of the election that put him in office. It is a necessary probe into the U.S. electoral system overall. If President Trump does not see the difference, he does not have the interests of the country foremost in his mind, and he should be held accountable by Congress for that national betrayal.
59
A couple of thoughts that in no way excuse Trump, but explain, in part, how we got here. Mrs. Clinton should never have had the private e mail server. She should never have been the Democratic nominee. She was a pathetically weak candidate who was foisted on the American people by the DNC. Comey through the election to Trump at the eleventh hour while Clinton dithered and failed to campaign or even attempt, in any way, to the traditional, union, blue collar base of the Democratic Party in places like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mrs. Clinton was a post Citizens United candidate who was selected because of her ability to raise money. Job one is to have the Democrats take back Congress. Job two is to hold the Democrats accountable and change the system so nothing like this ever happens again.
12
She was, perhaps, the most prepared and experienced leader I have ever seen run for the office of the President. I was born in 1949; do the math - I've seen a lot of candidates.
3
Back to Clinton and the server? One of the first "red flags" was when trump invited Russia's involvement in the election during a campaign speech...and THEN the alteration in the Republican convention platform that was more Russian friendly toward Ukraine. The threat was not the server in the closet....but the guy inviting foreign interference. Pretty clear choice.
6
Wrong, Todd---she won the most votes. You may find fault with her campaign strategy, but she won the candidacy by playing within the rules. Americans selected her.
1
"Some experts question the decision of Mr. Comey and others to publicly hit back at the president. Mike German... said the public exchanges were further proof of an eroding of trust between the head of the executive branch and its traditionally apolitical civil servants."
Note that neither Comey nor McCabe "publicly hit back at the president" while serving as "traditionally apolitical civil servants." But were summarily fired by the president or his allies and both "hit back" (rather discretely) AFTER they were not longer employed by the government.
38
Totally agree. And they did not “hit back”, but stood up to the bully, telling him the truth about himself. The “eroding of trust” is on Trump only. The civil servants are still apolitical, but it is Trump who politicizes serving the country instead of the interests of a lying and corrupt president.
Love this! Trump has used his social media soapbox unimpeded. It’s about time these career civil servants strike back to defend their honor and integrity.
“When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history,” wrote Mr. Brennan, whom Mr. Trump once called “one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington.” “You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will not destroy America...America will triumph over you.”
51
Mr Trump, I hope you get to read this.
When your time as President is over, history- not your tweets- will have the last word and it will not be kind. You have shown yourself to be he most thin-skinned, truth-challenged, hyper-partisan, classless, heartless and self serving person to have ever lived in the Presidential Mansion.
Generations of American yet to be born will know the answer to this question:
Q) Who is the worst, most hapless and inept President in American history?
A) Donald J Trump
Millard Fillmore fans rejoice- you now are no longer the worst.
SAD!
72
George W. Bush fans rejoice- W is no longer the worst.
it's racism and xenophobia
placed trump in WH.
Not Russia, not trolls. No citizen was blackmailed to vote for this man. Folks willingly voted after listening to his rhetoric of building walls, mexican rapists, deportation and china.
I am sure many many think that the man is doing spectacularly well.
30
Have you ever heard Donald Trump say that he loved his country? Have you ever heard another President NOT say it?
26
I watched him give a speech ostensibly in support of the Republican candidate in PA last weekend. You can watch it, too, because it's on the wonderful CSpan.org with a search of something like Trump in Moon County, PA. In that speech which was 99.99% about HIM and a few words about the candidate, he did the second most despicable thing he has done as President: he mocked in the most contemptible ways the concept, the role of "being Presidential." He used a mocking voice and did a kind of robotic rotation and he even mocked the words, "God bless you and God bless America." It was the most cynical, mean-spirited, repulsive performance and proved his unfitness to hold that office. The "first" worst? When he met with Russian oligarchs in the Oval Office with a Russian journalist and no American at all there, journalist or other, and in that he laughed and joked and then mocked and belittled OUR FBI leader, James Comey - TO RUSSIANS! Brennan's words were absolute truth.
4
The only way to defeat this bully in the White House is to confront him on every lie, insult, tantrum, and personal attack as they occur in a way to enrage him into silence. Bullies never respond to turning the other cheek.
40
From "On Tyranny: Twenty lessons from the twentieth century" by Timothy Snyder. (1) Do not obey in advance.... the first heedless acts of conformity could not be reversed. (2) Defend institutions... It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. (3) Beware the one-party state...
34
I need to read that....thanks to you, too
Why do so few present elected Republican and Democratic Senators or Congresspersons not step up to the podium and declare this man to be the disaster he is to our democracy? What do they need to be honest, decent and faithful to their oaths? We the people have got the picture. Why don't our representatives speak up!!??
45
“What do they need to be honest, decent and faithful to their oaths?”
Well, Jane, they would need to be honest and decent human beings, instead of the self-serving, venal servants of their corporate masters.
In other words, they’d need to be people, not what passes for politicians in what’s left of the USA.
Where are the Republicans?
Over twenty investigations into Benghazi
And now they let their President attempt to destroy the fabric of our democracy with nary a whisper
Wow
82
I may not know the full extent of Donald Trump's moral turpitude, venality, and outright corruption, but as someone who has been well aware of this creep since I first learned about him in 1987, and at a time when the press was fawning over him, I think I've got a pretty good idea. One vote this fall for a person to impeach, and another for a person to convict.
63
I remember many years ago when there was an article in, if I recall correctly, National Geographic magazine about Trump's aggressive, cruel, heartless, sadistic bullying of an old woman who lived in a house on property he wanted for a casino - I think it was Atlantic City. Her old house was pictured, dwarfed by all the "development" around her. She was refusing to give up her property and was holding out. Trump's behavior was cruel, completely cold, to her. I don't know what the outcome was or what happened to her, but he hasn't changed. He reportedly did similar things in Scotland, in an environmentally fragile area with opposition from the residents, to build a golf course. Richie Rich meet the real-life embodiment of your cartoon self.
DT and his family were, at the very least, on the shady side of the law long before they were elevated to presidential power. After the inauguration, DT was in obvious violation of the Emoluments Clause. No one who could, did anything about it. Since then, like small children who see no consequences for breaking the rules (laws in this case), they continue to push and push into more grievous transgressions.
And why not? With a congress in which the majority is as grasping and unethical as they, DT & Co. has been become convinced that being president is not much different than cheating in a real estate deal. Or, as they would say, "winning."
68
This is why we should not be waiting to see whether the GOP will suffer the firing of Robert Mueller: key GOP players have flirted with Cambridge Analytica, psychographics, and secretive high-tech gerrymandering in the face of large demographic shifts in the American electorate. They are as tainted as Trump.
Cruz, Cornyn and other Republicans cosponsored a bill in the Senate early last year that would allow companies to sell your entire browsing history without your knowledge. Who would buy this information?
Ted Cruz was the first beneficiary of the Mercers’ largesse but he was so unlikable data mining would never close the gap; so they switched to Trump, installing Conway and Bannon in the White House. Why someone who came up with a way for rich people to make more money without working should decide who occupies the Oval Office, I really couldn’t say.
GOP: even if you don’t care about democracy, at least watch Goodfellas and look for the restaurant owner who goes to the mafia for help, then ends up with a business in ashes. It could be you next.
30
Article VI. of the 25th Amendment awaits. I give it until right around Jan 2019 when the GOP no longer needs DJT after he has cost them Congress, and they need to salvage 2020
22
Congressional Republicans who have refused to do their job and prefer to provide cover for this corrupt administration must be removed from office this November. They have failed miserably in their most important responsibility, upholding the Constitution. They gave up their integrity for Donald Trump. I hope they live long enough to see how history judges them.
39
As I understand our rule of law, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and any court looking into these matters has a duty to fully look into and consider the credibility of Comey, McCabe, President Trump, or any other person when they offer or are required to give relevant evidence regarding the matters under investigation.
Since these are enormously important issues for our politics, we should probably all consider for ourselves the credibility of the major players as best we can.
Considering recent news reports, we should probably also take time to consider for ourselves the credibility of anyone trying to influence our opinions and the sensibility of the stories they’re telling us.
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to check whether someone is telling us what we want to hear or something we’d like to believe when we’re deciding whether we’re getting the straight story. More is required. Sometimes chronic liars are the most talented at telling people what they want to hear and knowing how to push people’s buttons.
6
You mean Melania's anti-cyberbullying campaign isn't putting an end to this?! I'm shocked!
54
So what's Brennan going to do, use a DNC funded ludicrous dossier and bogus fantasies about Russian collusion to spy on Trump?
Oh. Wait. That's already been done.
Also, it seems surpassing odd that this story neglected to mention that FBI officials recommended firing McCabe. Must not be news fit to print.
And even odder that Brennan and McCabe don't face felony charges for lying, but Flynn did.
8
it must be nice to have no connection to reality.
49
Everything I noted is a fact.
The DNC funded slanderous dossier, along with the Carter page nonsense subverted the FISA court, and led to the Obama administration spying on its political opponents.
The FBI Office of Professional Responsibility did, in fact, recommend McCabe's firing. Why that isn't in this story is a real mystery.
Brennan and McCabe did, in fact, lie under oath. It is also a fact that they don't face felony charges, but Flynn does, and had to sell his house to pay for his defense.
You (and 49 others) clearly live in the NYT fantasy world, where only the narrative matters, not the facts.
By all means, leave your bubble and read last week's article from National Review (which hates Trump, btw) entitled "The Real Collusion Story".
And thereby expose yourself to reality.
1
The dossier was initially commissioned by a Republican, it is credible and well researched, and Brennan and McGabe did not lie. Flynn did, and Trump does almost every time he opens his mouth. I wonder what the FBI officials who recommended firing McGabe (if that is what they actually recommended), were threatened with if they didn’t.
This is not a “race to the bottom”, it is a race from the bottom.
4
Or as the brilliant Stephen Colbert said recently, the bar is set so low but Trump oozes under it.
So much for auto-correct and my eyesight. Pathologist was supposed to be pathological liar.
5
While Trump is a (add your own insults) he has had some fairly intelligent people around him over the last two years. The question that frightens me is what is this group of fanatics trying to achieve?
I suspect the true Americans shouting back at this vile man are equally worried to the extent they have to make thier views public.
Clearly Washington's extended swamp will do nothing to save America so it's is up to the people. I just hope it wont involve guns.
26
Tre, Trump is immature but why all the sympathy for Comey. He gave Trump the election when, two weeks before the election, he hurled a bomb at Hillary's alleged impropriety with her e-mail server. The FBI wouldn't share info with the CIA. The info could have prevented the bombing of 9/11/2001 according to Time Magazine.
For more criminal behavior of the FBI, watch the film Black Mass.
8
What troubles me is what Trump might resort to to deflect attention as the noose grows tighter. I would put nothing, nothing, past this pathologist.
16
Trump, please fire Bob Mueller. Then we can watch your impeachment.
Signed,
The Vast Majority of Americans.
35
There are about 60 million Americans that beg to differ with you.
As a student of Comparative World history, I have had the opportunity to get access to multi-archival documents regarding dozens of world leaders, in cluding Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill and our Presidents who were involved in the first phase of the Cold War. Honestly, one way or the others, I've given them some degrees of respect for their competence and leaderships.
As for Donald Trump, probably because of my lack of knowledge about his playboy character, I often consider him as less talent and morality than President Nixon or even Gen Rex Tillerson. How could such an opportunist become President of the United State? My only answer is probably "Dieu seul le sait" or God only knows it.
10
Without disclosing the bullying of a disabled person event that transpired before the campaigns and eventual election, I have good reason to feel the way I do and believe that he is unqualified to be considered human, let alone POTUS which should require upstanding, responsible, intelligent individuals rather than ugly loudmouths that can intimidate through subtle gestures and demonstrated ugly actions and vile and vulgar comments. People don't even think about all of those he cripples with his mocking, demeaning comments, and obvious hatred and putdowns for everyone. I don't believe he has a half ounce of compassion for anything other than his (fake) gold-plated potty pot and everyone that has quickly walked out of his life proves he is not compatible with the human race. I hope he gets his last laughs as they are toting him off to his own personal cage somewhere.
15
Ironically by his very Tweets, Mr. Trump is inadvertently advancing Mr. Putin's agenda of disrupting and disgracing Western democracy. Collusion by another name.
29
All the insanity aside, Is there ever been a more crucial and necessary time to have a real discussion- a legitimate debate, to do away and end the Electoral College? Elect a President by popular vote.
33
Great idea. California will then elect every President. We would love to have that responsibility.
11
the electoral colleges job is to prevent a fascist from getting to the presidency and destroying our faith in our institutions, ending checks and balances, and our notion of democracy. how does it get another chance?
11
No- states don’t vote; American citizens vote. Doing away with the electoral college would simply ensure that every citizen’s vote counted equally.
1
I do not like this man, make no mistake. But half the country did vote for him in a protest against a power structure that is pretty clearly dealing with some internal corruption issues. I think everyone at this point deserves to see some case against the man based on the original charge that started the investigation in the first place.
2
Half the country did NOT vote for this man. Millions more voted against him. Most voters were smart enough to recognize the Con man who is now called president.
38
Hi JP,
I think everyone deserves to see the case carried out patiently and in detail, so we have some assurance it was dealt with properly, no matter the outcome. But I sympathize.
2
I think you need to deconstruct the source of support.
If you take all votes for Trump and try and isolate persuaded voters (for instance subtract lifelong partisan Republican voters) you will probably find that a large part of the swing was disaffected.
How did disaffection become such a big dynamic?
That’s where the outrage is over fake news and state and partisan manipulation of social media platforms.
You can’t accept blunt math in that “half supported Trump.” As others have pointed out this was a series of really bad actors that produced this dynamic and DNC, Russians, GOP all interacted to create this train-wreck.
I can’t wait for social media’s demise
I have nothing to add that hasn't been said here except for one thing: This is the first time in my life that I have been embarrassed by a president. I, from time to time, thought their actions were be misdirected (consider Reagan and Iran-Contra or Nixon and Watergate if you prefer), but I wasn't embarrassed. Trump makes me sad and he embarrasses me. Of course, at this point I'm also pretty unhappy with the GOP.
39
The GOP sold it’s soul for just a few shekels a long long time ago
It will need to be purged of the trumpists ( ha ha never will happen) to regain credibility
Or a new party with responsible adults that represent their constituents will form
The GOP will become the extreme rt wing party of xenophobes and plutocrats
Time for a change
"He kept lobbing tweet-size insults until Sunday morning, when he left the White House for a round of golf."
Does the man EVER do ANYTHING that doesn't involve tweeting or speaking insults and lies, golfing or harassing and/or assaulting women? REALLY, with the possible exception of putting ketchup on fast-food or high priced steak, is there ANYTHING else?
That asked - I was impressed with Comey's, McCabe's, and Brennan's brutal succint messages. Well said.
Looking forward to hearing more.
44
If the corrupted GOP doesn't call Trump to account, then patriotic Americans must, at every opportunity and in every venue.
48
There is practically nothing Trump does that surprises me. He is a venal, loathsome, abhorrent, Twitter-obsessed man-child who poses a grave danger to America and our 240 year old democracy. There is no comparison between Comey and McCabe on the one hand and the miscreant who attacks the very foundations of our institutions and the laws that supports them on the other. Calling out Trump’s lies at every stage, especially by those he personally harms is essential, not only for the well-being and integrity of these individuals being directly attacked, but for the sake of our collective national well-being. Never let Trump get the last word.
35
Notice the presidents mentioned who fought back were also guilty! Do we see a pattern?
14
BRENNAN: “It never ceases to amaze me how successful you have been making yourself so small, petty, and banal with your tweets.
Your insecurity is well deserved, as is your concern over Russia investigation."
Feb. 20, 2018: Tweet by John Brennan, former CIA Director. Brennan answers Trump’s Feb 20, 2018 tweet.
TRUMP: “I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama,
just look at the facts. Total Fake News!”
Feb. 20, 2018: Trump’s tweet.
4
If this is a "race to the bottom, as the guy from the American Enterprise Institute phrased it, it is a one-legged, one-party race led by the most immoral, disreputable, depraved president ever to disgrace the nation's highest office. I applaud John Brennan's courage to combine utter loathing and contempt for this vile man with a rallying cry to all decent Americans to triumph over the orange menace.
45
I also see the Brennan, Comey and McCabe responses as a rallying cry. At some point one has to speak truth to power.
8
This president is a disgrace and a threat to democracy
43
Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Thanks to Brennan, Schiff, and a few others—most particularly Rachel Maddow for leading us out of Trump's sewer. Speaking of Maddow, if America *is* saved, my proposal is that she, above all, will be the one to thank. Not only for her historical archaeology whereby she demonstrates how the past is parent to the present, but also for her perpetual reorganizing and clarifying the by-Trump-and-collaborators' deliberately tangled skeins of what will be found to be the greatest treason in our history!
51
I agree with you and your terrific praise for Rachel Maddow's dogged work. She also deserves tremendous praise for the attention she brings to excellent investigative journalism, to newspapers, magazines, reports, history (as you noted) and all the great journalistic work being done. She encourages everybody to SUBSCRIBE to publications like the NYT but also to one's local paper; those that remain are gasping last breaths. She has been a wonderful friend to journalism and journalists and I think that is also one of her great gifts to us all. I also want to acknowledge the wonderful CSpan for its unbiased coverage, its caller opportunities and its treasured BookTV. It is also a source of great journalism that must be nervous as cable TV wanes. We must do whatever we can to see that it survives and thrives.
8
I can’t believe that I live in the same country as the person that made these comments. Remember that I mentioned the projections of the complicit media when you awake. Maddox is a master of the art. Wow, I pray for clarity for all.
We are about to see just complicit the far right in the Republican Party are in ignoring the Russian attack and obstructing justice by not moving with Democrats to thwart our constitutional democracy even before the 2016 election. It's looking more and more like McConnell, Ryan and others have violated their oaths of office.
As has happened so often in the past, things you take for granted as being bedrocks of government and sacrosanct principles are falling by the wayside.
17
Trump will prevail. He is just so clever. This country is toast.
4
Not really clever - psychopathic. That is, he blithely pushes through behavioral norms in a way that stuns, shocks, and leaves people gaping - before they can respond, he is on to his next abomination. Here's the key - believe what you see. Trump IS as bad as he seems - you're not misunderstanding. The only way to stop a psychopath is to soberly and relentlessly demand adherence to law. Mueller and Co., as well as the civil and criminal justice system, are absolutely vital to this effort, as are the feet, voices and votes of every American.
19
Not clever. Cunning. Very cunning. Scheming, calculating, sadistic, spiteful, vengeful, cruel.
Not even in your worst nightmares
Who is destroying America?
President Trump is the leader of our country whom we chose democratically.
So Trump's foes are enemies of us, our country and our democracy. Those wishing to destroy this presidency are the ones destroying us, our country and our democracy.
We see the evil, and it is within us.
1
Actually Trump is destroying himself. Enjoying the drama.
12
You need to read about logic and reason. Then use it correctly.
19
What are you talking about?
9
It will have to be an extra-large dustbin to accommodate all Trump"s cronies, relatives, hanger-ons and general deplorables.
Have we given up on his tax returns?
24
Mr trump
A great day for democracy will be when we see
you out of office, behind bars & all your opportunistic sycophant enablers without a source of income
Can’t happen fast enough
51
Why is this newsworthy? Trump tweets stupid tweets all the time. Now former FBI officials are responding... with tweets? Trump’s potential corruption of justice via tweets is certainly a problem and newsworthy, but are private citizens’ responses to this ongoing problem? Isn’t this a government ethics issue?
It certainly is a government ethics problem - but where are those folks doing the ethical thing?
1
Gavan, since trump's only form of communication is through tweets that is the way to get to him.
3
The Ethics office was gutted and then shut down by this administration.
Mr. Mueller, it's time. Drop the bomb.
37
Mueller is trying, but the bomb bay is empty.
1
Trump's demise is now almost assured. After 15 months in office the true nature of his profound personality disorder is clearly evident and will lead him to increasingly brazen and self-destructive acts as he finally listens only to the voices in his head.
I'm not sure how or when, but I believe he will eventually cross a line that will finally force the spineless Congressional GOP enablers to realize their political lives are on the line and they will turn on him. If only our democracy can survive that long.
46
Exactly
3
Can someone explain to me what Trump has done in one year to destroy America? Unemployment is at a 20 year low, blue collar wages are finally rising, companies are returning manufacturing to the US, consumer confidence is rising for the first time in 20 years, the stock market is several thousand points higher than when he took office, ISIS is at its weakest point in 8 years, NKorea wants to meet with the US about de-nuclearization (a first for the US), immigration reform is at a closer point than any time in my adult life.
I guess this is a national nightmare for liberals if there isn’t a democrat in the WH, but really, step out of your silo for a moment....are things really that bad?
12
So MD, how is healthcare working in your field, where the business model is not to cure illnesses but rather enslave to drugs for life?
16
The health care premiums for my business in the prior four years changed little. This year, the same coverage will be 87% more expensive.
28
Try ethics
Try dignity
Try respect
All the $ in the world pales without these virtues
THAT my friend is the face of the damage done
16
As I read the mighty, strong words of John O. Brennan to Trump, I could hear the Star Wars overture in the distance - Yes! The rebel forces have awoken. Thankfully, it doesn't take much word power to tip over Twitter Flitter Trump. Brennan: “When the full extent of your [Trump's] venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history....”
44
I am reluctant to use fictional references for what is happening to our country because I think Trump is already living in some kind of fantasy-land like so many of the vapid, mindless TV shows people watch, and I think the rest of us need our feet planted firmly in reality and our minds focused and clear. One can easily refer to "1984" and "It Can't Happen Here" and "Face in the Crowd" but to your Star Wars reference, Jabba the Hut comes to mind.
Trump is obnoxious. His parents did a nice job raising him and you Republicans did a nice job voting. Many thanks.
28
Where are the Democrats??????????????????
10
Waiting campaigning to flip the House and Senate
Their silence appears strategic
5
In the minority.
2
Hardening somewhere, no doubt.
1
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” MLK. Here’s looking at you GOP.
58
Given that we know Trump's command of English vocabulary is very limited, he probably thinks "moral turpitude" is a compliment.
41
JaaArr: More likely Trump thinks "turpitude" is a paint thinner.
29
OMG, thank you guys - I needed that laugh!
In 20 years Brennan’s words will be remembered for their bravery and accuracy. We will look back at this period for the nightmare it is with a president who is trying to destroy our democracy. By far the worst president in US history and by Trumps standards Nixon (who was a criminal) should be on Rushmore.
39
Agree except in terms of consequence of policy which has severely damaged our country militarily and economically with the
Remember No-drama Obama? Yeah, those were the days.
63
Continued from above.... with the Middle East inferno continuing, our worst president by far is George W Bush a nice guy but totally inept and surrounded by arrogant incompetent people who supported him. This includes Rumsfeld and Cheney. And poor Powell, a fine fine character who was manipulated and had to step aside. Speaking of Powell he's awfully quiet. This is an opportunity for redemption. Speak up Colin!!
1
The first sentence of this article is missing a subject. "Usually, ___ withdraw to lives of tight-lipped relative anonymity after their careers end."
3
Trump's behavior reminds me so much of the behavior of Commodus in the movie, "Gladiator." The people in the FBI who Trump has fired and Mueller, collectively remind me of the character Maximus.
I think we are about to see the prophesy of Maximus, "The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end."
14
In dealing with Trump during an interview.
A psychopath is naturally very suspicious of people and virtually immune to emotional manipulation, so don’t try using guilt or any similar types of manipulation. They also feel very little fear, even in usually traumatic situations, so blackmail isn’t the ideal strategy. With a psychopath, it is far smarter to bargain. Trade favors with them, show them why you would be an asset, and form an alliance. A psychopath can be a dangerous enemy, but a valuable ally.
A narcissist on the other hand is more susceptible to manipulation. Stroking their ego works well, playing the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Just be sure not to outdo them at anything important, or they may turn on you. A few compliments here and there, maybe helping them with a few favors, and you have yourself a slave. Alternatively, blackmail is also quite effective. Narcissists are very concerned with their image. Any information you have that could make a narcissist look bad to other people can go a long way. Even something like “do this or else I’ll show everyone you’re a narcissist” can work in your favor. [Quora]
As you read this and agreed with the approach, you are confirming that Trump is unfit to govern.
20
Humiliation to Trump is what Kriptonite was to Superman.
1
This is how you deal with a bully. You confront him and call his bluff. I am very surprised that more people just don't clobber him more on Twitter. Giving him a taste of his own medicine is the best way to get under his skin.
19
Best way to get under Trump's skin is for the media to constantly remind him that he's scared and afraid to rebuke Russia and Putin. They need to pound away at Trump never letting him forget that he's got no guts.
Trump, deep down, knows that attacking Russia and Putin is a death sentence for him but he won't be able to resist stepping into the debate and, alas, bring him down for good.
13
That and ignore him most days
5
The best time to send a tweet to @realDonaldTrump is roughly 5am in the morning Eastern Time. He'll see it. I've done it. And get a Twitter Badge of Honor: he might ban your acct from his feed.
9
What were you expecting? During his whole presidential campaign, Trump showed his real self....and Americans still voted for him.
My take on this, there's too much at stake to give the presidency to someone you don't know.
The result is you have initiated the fall of the American Empire.
20
Trump and his presidency is the worst challenge of American democracy since civil war. But that un-civil fight seemed to be inevitable considering rise of crony capitalism and dominance of mediocrity in almost every sphere of American live- starting from its education (mainly higher education and research) to legislative and executive officials, where sycophancy (some call it 'networking') and agreeably matter more than anything else.
This Trump presidency seems to defining American for years to come and we have to win it. Failure is not any option.
14
This will get worse before it gets better.
26
Nothing with Trump "stays behind closed doors," so why should the people he's targeting hold themselves to the higher standard Trump's been ignoring for years? The way to defeat the bully is to publicly unmask him. The way to publicly unhinge the bully is to be even more relentless than his hubris has allowed him to consider even possible. We've seen in James Comey where maintaining extraordinary dignity and composure gets you in this graceless age. Now it's time for those in defense of the country to get down and dirty with the king of the swamp. As they run semantic and syntactic rings around the fake prez, I am beginning to breathe a bit more freely. Soon I will be able to sleep again. Thanks, guys!
18
43, 44, 46, 47, 48...There won't really be a 45, because there wasn't a president there, really. Just an embarrassment.
45
Sort of like skipping the 13th floor.....sounds like an idea. In my wildest dreams I hope to have this excruciating period referred to in history books as "The Aberration"
6
Of course a person should call out bullies like Trump. Hillary Clinton was systematically demonized for 25 years. She took the “high road” thinking that hard work would demonstrate integrity. No need to stoop to their level, correct?
Well look how that worked out.
42
Sounds like Brennan is afraid of something.
2
Yes, he does sound afraid of something. He's afraid that Trump has created lasting damage our institutions for years to come.
27
Mr Trump wake up! Mueller, Comey and McCabe are Republicans. There’s no partisan agenda. These are too guys. They could all be rich at 10 law firms I could name. They are all patriots! America, the United States of America and the United States Constitution and law come before Trump and Trump family and associates business. Indictments are based on law, facts. There’s a palpable sense of enough Trump destructiveness and diversion.
30
And in the end will our Congress, elected to represent us stand up for America and protect us? Our national security, our belief in our government has disappeared and yet continues. Party loyalty stinks, defeats us. A lying President with mental issues, and without character is still in office. I am ready for justice.
14
Best solution for the Trump problem is to "lame duck" him this year in the various primaries
and November elections. Replace the whole lot of Trump supporting politicians from state
governments to federal positions and Trump will be lucky if he gets to name a post office
during his last two years in office. And maybe, just maybe, he'll be impeached
and removed from office. I side with the law enforcement people of our country not the
criminals in the White House. Putin's pals need to go.
17
i wonder how long it took brennan to look up and find those fifty-cent words he used. he's not the sharpest tool in the shed which became clearly obvious during his numerous congressional testimonies. he's on par with trump.
2
If Brennan is on par with Trump, he’s a stable genius. And I would believe that of Brennan, but not of Trump...
7
Lawyers st the FBI sworn by oath as an officer of the court, and to the United States of America and the United States Constitution and related law have clarity and are non partisan. Notes are often taken immediately following a meeting to memorialize the key points. Of course he wouldn’t take notes during a meeting with the President which would be absurd, His attention would be focused on capturing everything in the conversation. Mueller, Comey, McCabe all Republicans. The law is their guide and these are superb Constitutional lawyers. They didn’t opt for a fancy law firms wheee they would have way past the 130k tp 185k salary at the FBI. John O. Brennan great education with an amazing back story as the others so take a look. Overseas extraordinary international experience and the CIA. These are men built of rock solid integrity and dedication. Non Partisan. Period. The truth and nothing but the truth. America’s interests by law. As the great former New York Mayor, humanitarian/ philanthropist Michael Bloomberg said of Trump “I’m from New York and I know a con when I see one.”
As the great renowned Law Professor Larry Tribe who taught people we like and people we disagree with said last week regarding Trump. “ worst president in history”. By the way when McCabe’s wife tried a run as a Democrat Mr. McCabe disclosed all appropriately to the FBO ethics committee. I wish I had the capability and that I could defend him! Trying to take his pension was a punk move as kids say!
25
It is about time the targets of trump’s malicious venom is answered.
What we need is an official Twitter account that instantly translates trump’s tweets into the truth.
Like “a great day for Democracy” is really a “terrible day for democracy”, and a lying James Comey into a believable James Comey, No Collusion to Its really a Conspiracy,...
The radioactive dustbin of history? When the truth comes out, the base will continue to worship his vileness just as there are too many “fine people” that still invoke and praise tyrant H after so many years.
No collusion! Of course, because it is a conspiracy against our nation, democracy and Constitution. Its treason.
Trump the tyrant keeps getting away with his malicious and defamatory ways if you do not fight back. Mueller only has to concern himself with the facts to protect America from the likes of trump and his base that believe only in alternative and absurd facts.
12
The great distinguished American and General Barry McCaffrey says that Donald Trump is “a danger to national security.” How many great Americans of the proven highest nonpartisan commitment to our freedom do we need to hear from.
The GOP can’t see past the money which is Trumps allegiance to Trump business and vindictive,unrelenting resentments, sexism, racism before anything including his oath to you, to me, to our great America! We won’t let him destroy us as he’s doing. We must be a leader in Democracy, diplomacy and yes in the environmental peril that is doom to your children and certainly grand children’s lives. The GOP has shown us how they lack allegiance and America behind other agendas,
13
The GOP is NOT Lincoln.
It´s KellyAnne, Sarah and their diatribe.
19
They too shall be consigned to the dustbin of history as the party of vileness and pure sleaze
9
How on Earth does this president's approval rating still manage to hover around 40%?!
It's depressing to see how many Americans can be so easily fooled into believing deep state conspiracy theories, from a man who clearly tells lies with regular frequency.
39
I am ashamed to call myself an American, as long as this-not-temporary-enough- ill-qualified occupant of 1600- Pennsylvania Avenue continues to reside there.
24
It is amazing how fast and how far this country has fallen in such a short time. The Republicans have to ousted in the next election or we run the risk of becoming an also-ran. Currently, we are pursuing a race to the bottom!
16
Trump keeps behaving just like a guilty person would for one reason (and one reason only): because he is guilty and he is conscious of his own guilt.
So it is either face a reckoning that will make Watergate look like a picnic, or wreck the country.
He has opted to wreck the country.
As the Mueller investigation grows ever closer, and the Democrats' edge in the 2018 elections looms larger, expect more country wrecking from the "President" and his band of enablers, which so far includes most of the GOP.
Be prepared for the worst. For the worst is yet to come.
17
Comey, McCabe and Brennan are in trouble and they know it. They are caught in the Fusion GPS and Steele dossier web, and based on only the facts that are now public it is hard to see how they get out.
5
Really?
Someone in the deep state leaked this info to you?
13
Fox News tell you that? Or maybe Alex Jones? Rush Limbaugh? Hannity? Let’s see have I named all of the usual suspects?
4
When a child behaves as Trump does, it's childish. When the President does, it's a threat to democracy. These law enforcement officials need to respond forcefully in kind because, if they don't, the timid Republican Representatives and Senators will not stand up for what is right. We have a situation where the Congress is not standing up to the President. The Judiciary and law enforcement branch are practically standing alone against him. That's why we have three branches and not two. Thank Machiavelli for that. Our government is based on his "Notes on Livy".
9
This hubub, interesting as it is in some ways, is a major distraction from the job the Democrats in Congress have before them, and have almost totally neglected so far:
1) Cut the endless handwringing and insulting political correctness which helped elect Trump.
2) Finally get the spine transplants you have needed for decades.
3) Demand every day that Congress require the president to disclose his tax returns.
4) Start working full time getting any member of Congress unwilling to impeach Trump out of office next November. This of course means almost every Republican and more than few incurable spineless Democrats too.
5) Impeach Trump in the House and remove him in the Senate.
And, meanwhile, stop falling for Trump's childish distractions, over and over and over again.
17
" . . . 13 hardened Democrats . . . " A Trump tweet tidbit. I understand voters have been seen drinking "Democrat hardening juice" in anticipation of the upcoming elections. Gotta get me some of that.
11
Hm, looks like those muted questions about his sanity have been well and truly confirmed then.
8
Trump can now be listed as a failed businessman, a failed president, and a failed human being. As can Sessions because between the two of them the firing of McCabe for no apparent reason was petty, cruel, and unnecessary. So was the humiliation of Rex Tillerson. He didn't ask to be Secretary of State. He responded to a request. Firing him via Twitter was uncalled for.
Trump not only has no integrity, he has no courage and no concept of what bravery is or how it works. I am ashamed that he is our president. His actions are a disgrace. So are the actions of GOP members and others who continue to support a man who has no loyalties, is extremely arrogant, and has no idea of what good governance is.
30
This is an apt description of a bully/coward
6
Did Manafort crack? Is that why Trump's panicking? Wow, he might lose it all if Mueller traces money laundering to the Trump Corporation. Trump Tower may be confiscated and become property of the US Government soon. No wonder he wants to fire Mueller. He would be stupid not to. But then again, if he does he'll get impeached and Congress can tell Mueller to restart and finish the investigation. He's done either way. Yikes! If were Trump, I'd just go golfing everyday from now until conviction day. After that, no golfing forever. Sad.
17
From your keyboard to God's ear. Please.
If the USA is so weak, so impotent that one man can destroy it -- then America deserves to be culled. --Vietnam era draftee/veteran
5
they can with the help of some and the apathy of many
3
“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”
― Mark Twain
16
Nobody wants to destroy the US, and according to some a previous president did a pretty good job of doing so.
2
No facts. No coherence. Just hyperbolic partisanship. Must be a Republican.
18
Yes. The previous president. Guilty of getting us out of the Great Recession. Guilty of nearly tripling the Dow Jones Industrial average. Guilty of integrity and professionalism. But unfortunately for most persons who support Trump, guilty of being both black and elitist at the same time.
28
Putin wants to destroy the US and Trump is his instrument.
6
I know this is redundant in face of our expanding comprehension of the president's personality disorder but one begins to think that Trump's amorality and lack of conscience, combined with his self-centered, ever growing quest for power, brushes aside what grounded, common sense people view as breaching tradition and the needed lines of what constitutes law and morality. As one of the interviewees said, it is a race to the bottom, and one might add the gutter. Trump is a shameful man. Tragically, Trump is pulling the rest of us down with him in terms of our previous standards, culture, and related aspects of qualified leadership. We have sadly transitioned from having a Constitutional scholar as president to a leader who is trampling the Constitution and essential practices that uphold the Constitution, all in the name of Trump's deep seated need to have things his way. No wonder the pinpointed psychological data provided by Cambridge A. and FB were of great use to this manipulator.
12
No, Donald Trump will not be allowed to destroy this nation. If we need a second American revolution, sign me up!
17
Use to project future economics of US economy, the difference between Republican and Democrat governing.
PoliticsThatWork Change in Unemployment Rate by Party of President- Since 1945
Each party has held the presidency for the same number of years since 1945. During those years, the unemployment rate has risen 11.8% under Republican presidents and has fallen 7.2% under Democratic presidents. Unemployment has fallen during the overwhelming majority of Democratic years since 1949. Unemployment rose steadily under Republicans up until 1982, then fell during the remaining Reagan years, and then rose again under both Bush Presidents.
PoliticsThatWork Dow Jones Performance by the Party of the President
During the most recent 15 years during which Republicans have held the presidency, the value of the Dow has increased by 42%. During the Democratic presidencies, it has increased by 609%- 14.5 times faster. The average growth in the value of the Dow under Democrats during this period has been 14.75% and under Republicans it has been 5.11%.
PoliticsThatWork Change in Disposable Income Since 1930 by the Party of the President
In the 44 years that we have had Democratic presidents since 1930, the real per-capita disposable income has increased 271%. During the 40 years during which we have had Republican presidents, it has increased 44%. On average, it has increased 3.1% (after adjusting for inflation) under Democratic presidents and 1% under Republican presidents.
18
If the Democrats are so wonderful for the economy, why couldn't they make that point with the voters and why did Trump win?
1
Kind of missin the local news hu! Trump didn't get the voters and to repeat facts... he did not win the popular vote AKA "the people". He "won" by electoral college which represent .00051% of the US. There is suspicious activity within the electoral vote. Can't wait for that to come out. How hard would it be for heavy handed people to "make" other wise, historically blue voters to oddly make a vote for Trump when everything else about Trump is fake?
8
Seems pretty clear why Trump won:
1. "Alternative Facts"
2. Russian "meddling"
3. Under-educated electorate
4. GOP Gerrymandering
The economic numbers of historical Republican rule vs. Democrat do not lie (like our 'Republican' President does)!
9
I am most worried that Trump will try to start a war if he is subpoenaed. It is not that I do not think that he should be, but, rather, there are no depths he will plumb to distract from this investigation.
The Republicans would go along with whatever Trump wants. No one with any kind of power would stop him, and the courts take too long. By the time they heard the case, the courts would be packed with conservative cronies.
We are at a crossroads. Trump is a national security crisis of epic proportions, and we are handcuffed by the system. I do not want us to invade another country or drop any bombs. Trump already dropped MOAB on Afghanistan. Where would he go from there?
Trump terrifies me, but what terrifies me more is that we are not dealing with this crisis with the urgency it deserves because Republicans are protecting their "president."
This is dangerous, and all of us should be speaking up. We are the silent majority, everyone with a voice should be speaking up against Trump and the GOP. Everyone.
26
The loser, I mean "president," has very weird ideas about governing in America. That's our fault. We should have been more circumspect about allowing a dictatorial, unthinking narcissist on a national ballot.
12
In 1965 Norman Mailer, who called Lyndon Johnson "a bully with an Air Force" started his own campaign against President Johnson. He announced that flying the flag upside down was a symbol for help. So why not fly Johnson's picture upside down? Suddenly college kids around the country started posting small (3"x3") upside down photos of Johnson everywhere: on telephone polls, mail boxes, sides of buildings. Suddenly in major cities of this country you could not go down a street without seeing an upside down photo of Johnson. Word got back that Johnson knew about the photos and it both puzzled and hurt him.
Sounds iike a good way to express disapproval to a narcissist.
14
Laughing stock for the world. Is this what Trump had in mind with MAGA. It’s awful and getting worse. Can no one control the baby in the White House. I thought Melania’s concentration was going to be cyber bullying!
8
If you do not want the special counsel looking into your Russian financial affairs then release your tax returns.
21
No one will ever win a "race to the bottom" against DJT
10
I’m starting to think that the GOP silence over our president is their way of giving the rest of us a nod and a wink.
I don’t know anyone who believed the president could last a term even if he did get elected.
The GOP just lets him talk, and he’ll hang himself.
2
I can't blame Comey and McCabe for responding, but hope they will take the higher road going forward. Let Trump continue to dig his own grave, tweet by unhinged tweet.
11
A race to the bottom?!! Sir, I believe we hit bottom the the day Trump & Penske were elected by 35% of the voters with the help of the electoral college and Putin. I fear it will be a long... long time for America to dig ourselves out of the hole we now find ourselves in that seems to keep getting deeper by the minute. That said, I trust Robert Mueller, and I hope he find the wisdom and strength within himself to keep fighting Trumsky and his legal henchmen and uncover the facts so we get to the real bottom. The truth.
12
It will be very hard, indeed, to reverse or undo or correct the very real and horrific damage done to the EPA and to our environment under the evil direction of Pruitt, named by Trump. It's a curiosity: does Trump ever go outside other than for golf? Does he walk? Swim? Ever get on a bike? Go into the woods or onto a beach? Does he have any kind of relationship with nature, other than enabling its destruction?
Ken Starr's Whitewater Investigation
ran from August 5, 1994 - September
11, 1998.
So, what's the rush?
Republicans keep whining that it's
taking to long. By Starr's standards
we've got three years to go.
23
And Starr's initial brief was to look into a land deal in Arkansas and ended up being about a consensual sexual act in the White House, so lets stop all the talk about Mueller expanding his mandate.
11
The frightening aspect of the Trump presidency is that it seems almost certain that he was in a sense playing with the system and enjoying the rallies, fame and the ability to say anything he wanted with no consequences, The GOP had no sense of the potential of this narcissistic child and neither he nor they thought he would win, Now he has and all his dangerous psychoses are revealing themselves,,,the consequences of having this miscreant in the WH is that he has no controls nor sense of patriotism as his ego runs rampant,. Whatever ones political views, the pure pathology of this presidency should make anyone oppose it now. The tweets are no longer amusing nor are they to be taken lightly,
13
The credibility of a person who uses Twitter or other social media is not tied to the use of social media, but to what the content of those messages are. Trump is a liar after having sworn an oath to the Constitution on the christian bible; Comey and McCabe have credibility no matter where they may say whatever. Mueller will not have a problem discriminating between the lies of the one and the truths of the other.
10
Those who Trump is attacking definitely should not be stooping to his level by returning his vitriolic insults. The way Trump wins is by eliminating the middle ground, and making the rank and file law enforcement officer feel like they have to choose between one tribe and another.
Trump wants to move the battle onto a turf where there is no fair middle ground, no place where facts matter more than emotion. His opponents need to keep their heads if they want to retain their credibility as rationale counterweight against Trumps thuggery.
Trump is making America Great Again.
The media wants him to fail.
Too bad.
Trump will win because the masses understand what is happenning now.
2
Awesome sarcasm.
Thanks!
5
'the masses'? Are you referring to his dwindling base, which represents less than 35 percent of voters? The man has the lowest approval rating in modern history. That is fact.
8
Right. Just like the polls that said he saw going to get rolled by Hillary.
Mr Brennan's tweet missed the mark in a very important way. His use of multi syllabic words just didn't register with the Liar In Chief (or most likely any of his sycophants). Knowing his disdain of books (coloring books maybe the lone exception), I'm sure the use of words like venality, turpitude and demagogue didn't send him scurrying to the nearest dictionary for enlightenment.
12
Mr. Schmitt's one comment could be the title for a history of the Trump presidency: A Race to the Bottom.
6
I doubt America will ever be the same, especially internationally.
9
I was thinking today that all Presidents tell us how much they love their country. Trump has never said this. He's never said that he loves his country.
6
Just when I thought there was no hope, I now have a renewed faith in America only because of the brave men and women in the FBI, CIA, NSA and other intelligence agencies working to make America great, as it always has been. This presidency has taught me that America has many legs under the table to hold it up -- and I place my faith in our senior law enforcement officers who are life-long members of government, detached from politics.
10
It is impossible to understand all that is happening in your country, one I always thought was fair and leading. Now it seems a bad movie where a lunatic vein roman emperor is pulling his own people trough the toilet without any respect or remorse and he is also bragging about it. I really hope that republicans (from whom I cannot imagine that this is what they wanted) do see that this cannot go on to avoid the point that bipartisan respect and mutual trust to compromise cannot be possible for the coming decades. Even good relations with foreign countries are at stake. Please, democrats and republicans, talk to each other and take your responsibility before things really get bad.
9
Trump is a loud mouth bully, and we all have seen this type since grade school. He tries to intimidate with the standard recipe of whining, lies, threats, and personal verbal attacks. When caught out for despicable and disgusting acts, he will just up the volume. A limited amount of straight forward verbal response by the adults in the room is natural and good, but care must be taken to not get involved in a 'tit for tat' interaction with this piece of work. As long as the Mueller investigation is moving forward, there is a good chance justice will be served.
10
Irony is dead.
By replying with "You will not destroy America" to his sorry excuse of a human being people are actually and unwittingly destroying America. It's what he wants. It's what he likes you to do. So:
Don't talk to the man.
Don't listen to his lies.
Don't get engaged or enraged.
He's not really "all there".
He's not really the president.
He will be impeached and imprisoned in no time.
Don't waste any energy or emotions on him.
Support Bob Mueller and his team.
Bob Mueller will put an end to this.
DJT isn't worthy of any of your time!
Think about the next guy, after Pence. Concentrate on running the country, because DJT doesn't. Learn the Constitution and get engaged in politics. Stay positive. Build networks. Gain support. Think about how to make it up to the world after Trump/Pence. Reclaim America from the fascists, cowards, fear-mongers, psyop-gamers, Russians, liars, thieves, nepotists and - generally - very, very bad people.
Millennials: Stop tweeting and start leading!
8
When a president - even a "president" - broadcasts bald-faced lies about you, you have no choice but to respond, given the power over our omnipresent, all-encompassing media that a president wields. It's just another shame that our Liar-in-Chief has brought upon the office and the nation itself, but to let those lies just sit there in the public consciousness with no effort to refute them just strengthens the liar's position and can destroy his victim.
It's no different than a physical assault - you strike back to save yourself. And the last person you want to turn the other cheek to is a psychopath, who plays by his own rules, which is to say no rules at all. You defend yourself or he wins - it's that simple.
11
Trump is basically making sure ALL people he fired, insulted, humiliated, repressed will testify against him when the time comes and I’ll be in the front of the telly with my popcorn when that happens.
12
It's not accurate -- per American Enterprise scholar Gary J. Schmitt -- to describe these Trumpian imbroglios as a “race to the bottom.”
Trump has dragged the Office of the President of the United States down into the swam from which he said before the election that he was going to Washington to drain. To cover his malfeasances, he has used most of his time as President to create the false memes of "everyone lies, all media is fake, only he loves America" etc. This onslaught of deception is purposefully designed to get people to distrust everyone and everything they hear so that liars, manipulators and egomaniacs can run their scams on the American people unimpeded.
10
I guess Trump doesn’t know Mueller is a Republican.
14
So is Comey, McCabe !
6
Vote on November 6!
Cast out Trump's Republican enablers!
9
What you hear is not a battle. It’s the whining of Washington’s 3 biggest liars and leakers. McCabe, Comey and Brennan. What a threesome. An unholy alliance of discredited former public servants who decided that the rule of law does not apply to them. All the whining in the world will not change history.
I see you've been worked by Trump. Here's a rhyme: Learn to discern. He's tricked you.
Let me ask you, since you brought up lying: Does it bother you that Trump has lied well over 2,000 times since inauguration? More than 6 times every. single. day. this man has lied!
Or are you going to take the now-standard Trump approach to these types of things? I guess it's ALL just fake news, right? If it doesn't comport with your ideology, then the whole apparatus is just one giant entity of "fake news."
Learn to discern.
6
Since you’re so big on discernment what has anything you’ve said have to do with the McCabe, Comey and Brennan facts. Obfuscating the issue of leaking and lying in violation of law by a manic anti -Trump rant does not prove any point other than the obvious: you are hopelessly confused without a leg to stand on. Happy anti-Trumping!
1
What exactly has Comey lied about? Or McCabe for that matter? No facts in your post either. Just a different flavor of vitriol.
He prides himself in not drinking but sure can tweet and slur like a raging drunk. Take away his White House keys; call a him cab.
8
The Nazis are at the door. There is nothing American or patriotic about Trump.
17
This is just partisan cherry-picking masquerading as news, it belongs in the Op-Ed section and not the news section.
Obama weaponized the FBI by targeting the Trump campaign with surveillance (Fusion GPS, Carter Page, the FISA warrant, and the partisan opponent dossier on Trump, which was done to benefit the Hillary campaign and the Democrats.) It did not work, Trump won the election anyway, by the electoral college rules, so now the opposition /resistance is trying anything and everything to bring him down. But they cannot unseat a duly elected POTUS without cause, and so far, there is no cause - there is no proof of any collusion with the Trump campaign, but there is proof of collusion of the Democrats and the Hillary campaign with the FBI agaisnt Trump,
Trump is hardly attempting to destroy America, that is a false charge, but his opponents are trying their best to reverse a democratic election, but they will be unsuccessful in this attempt, hard as they try.
1
You are an expat - you don't have to live here and watch this horror show unfold. Trump won an election by virtue of the Electoral College, not the popular vote, and he is bound and determined to refute that fact with everything he says and does. If you have found
"proof" of collusion between the Democrats and the FBI, you are unique, because nobody else has been able to do that. Trump holds the office, but his actions show he really holds the American people in contempt with his outrageous ad hominem tweets.
11
We elected Trump, either by voting for him or by not voting for the other person. We deserve him and we should remember this in the next election.
1
Ch, try not to forget that Clinton won the popular vote by 3 mil, and our electoral college failed at its one job.
The majority of US citizens do not deserve this mess.
5
It's unfair and inaccurate to say that trump is a "man child". Children are curious and eager to learn new things. Children know dishonesty is bad. Children love America. Take a look at the Parkland kids. Any of them is more presidential than this "president".
28
So much for the self-proclaimed "pro-law enforcement" attitude of many Trump supporters. When law enforcement officials take a stand against Glorious Leader and his abuses of executive power, suddenly they become "Enemies of The People."
24
I am deeply grateful that Americans who have served their country with dignity are pushing back against the vulgar, dangerous, and classless man in our White House. 'You will not destroy America' are meaningful and hopeful words to hear in these dark days when the so-called leader of our country hurls childish insults at high ranking members of our intelligence and law enforcement community at will. Thank you Mr. Brennan for making me, and everyone I know, rest assured they are not alone.
Trump's transparent attacks on anyone who seeks the truth in the Russia probe speak for themselves. Even members of his own party are asking the rhetorical question, 'If you are innocent, then what are you afraid of?'
34
The anti-Trump deep-state conspiracy is no longer a conspiracy.
Brennan, Powers, Clapper, McCabe, Comey...have now openly confirmed it.
They conspired to stop Trump from winning and when that failed they conspired to undermine his presidency.
There can be no doubt.
2
if yiu say so.
1
And your proof of this is ?????? (other than your own opinion and that of Trump/Fox News)
5
Unless, of course, you actually take about 20 seconds to study the behavior and words of tRump and realize all those men are speaking from-the-heart truths.
2
I wonder what the stats line on trump's tweets would look like if in addition to the "heart," "re-tweet," and "reply," buttons, Twitter added a "thumbs down" button?
6
It is high time to start a serious resistance to the ascending Trump dictatorship. This is not a joke, Trump is a profoundly evil, utterly immoral character, who will stop at nothing to enlarge his ego. History is full of immoral narcissists like Trump who ended up tearing their countries to pieces at the altar of their egos. The struggle will not be easy, Trump has a powerful oligarchy on his side, a Congress full of lackeys, and tens of millions of ignorant and racist white deplorables ready to give up their lives for him. Even so, the Resistance must get on its way. The descent from a civilized nation to a Third-World styled dictatorship will be extremely traumatic to most decent Americans, it is time they woke up and realized what is going on.
31
But the question remains: Is our President learning?
3
In short, no.
4
Re Gary Schmidt “It’s a race to the bottom”, if ever there was an example of false equivalency, that is it. Does this guy really think a victim should not defend himself?
7
Trump is not a "victim"; he is a tax cheat, a serial adulterer, a seller of bogus Trump U degrees to poor people to used their savings to enroll in his fake "real estate" courses. He had to settle 25M in a class action suit pursuant to the Trump U fraud, before the appointment by the Electoral College. He lost the popular vote by 3M. He owes Russians 250M; that loan will show up in a deposit in Deutshebanke, the bank which loaned Trump the money. That is why he is hiding his tax returns. He is not a "victim". The majority of voters are victims of an election in which a woman who gave 26yrs of tax returns, and service to the country: First Lady, NY State Senator, Secty. of State. She asked for additional funding to protect remote consulates after Kenya. Congress denied the funds; Ambassador Stevens chose to remain in an undefended consulate: two Marines at the front door. Insurgents inside and outside. She could not stop that, nor could she protect his residence/consulate. She was a victim of 26 yrs. of GOP slander. She was qualified to be President. Trump is an unqualified lying grifter.
8
"We’ve never had anybody so blatantly go after a president before.”
What president? We haven't had any one that even resembles a president since January 19th, 2017.
28
If nothing else Trumps firing of a man who served 20 years in the FBI and rose to Acting Director 2 days before he was to retire shows the abject cruelty of a man who "made it" in life stealing from working people. He wins a WPOE Award though- Worst Person On Earth.
29
Now is the time for all good Republican men and women to come to the aid of the party and nation rather than the current president.
15
trump will have served a useful purpose if we never elect another republican.
20
I strongly disagree with Mike German’s statement that individuals attacked by Trump should remain silent and not defend themselves. That’s equivalent to letting a schoolyard bully continue antisocial behavior. But Trump isn’t a schoolyard bully. He’s a deranged psychopath who somehow fooled a minority of voters to elect him president of the US. A MINORITY, not the majoriy Trump lies about.
Trump doesn’t see himself as president. He percieves himself as the great white hope, a concept which is as perverted and dangerous as the man himself.
He needs to be removed from office because as long as he remains in his current position our country, and the Republican Party, will tank in this race to the bottom of a moral morass.
22
Obviously, he makes these attacks because he's guilty and he knows it. He's inciting his base come the day when he's tossed out and then will resort to outright sedition. This guy doesn't have the morals God gave a cat.
23
It is unworth of arguing with Trump, really!
Everybody, excluding his supporters, know what kind of person he is.
Entangling with a person without sense of shame only allows one to be at his level.
For someone who can, shamelessly, distort, spin, twist, and fabricate any facts as he sees fit, it is a waste of time.
7
No, it is not. A free press and media is the watchdog we need to prevent Trump from hiding in a private golf club. He needs to be watched 24/7, as does Putin. Two peas in a pod.
3
It's unfortunate that some people still see fit to make these kind of false equivalency arguments. Anyone who sees what is happening as "a race to the bottom" is wearing blinders. The difference between Trump's juvenile ugly tweets and the remarks of John Brennan, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, and others who are calling him out for his disgraceful behavior is the difference between falsehood and truth, between self serving narcissism and love of country, between autocratic undermining of our democracy and patriotism, between moral corruption and integrity.
40
FINALLY YES. Why has it taken so long for this nation's watchdogs, the old dogs like Brennan and Clapper to fight back against Trump on Twitter? And not just Twitter but in the court of public opinion? Great nations fall when good men do nothing. Trump is demolishing our democracy day by day- make no mistake Trump WILL fire Mueller and I promise the GOP will do nothing when he does. Millions of real patriots must take to the streets but we citizens cannot save America alone, we will need the might of men like Brennan to help us, the courts and the annals of power. America is on the brink of disaster.
24
There is such a thing as being pushed to far. Those like Comey and Brennan have just been pushed to points that demanded public responses. McCabe especially had Trump on his back--riding him, bullying him and attacking his credibility beyond what anyone should have to put up with. Up until these retired and fired civil servants began responding to Trump, he had an open forum that allowed him to do what he does best, tear down an opponent by attacking his character with name-calling, lies, innuendo and distortions of facts. The thing is, the men Trump is attacking are straight talking lawmen, not campaigning politicians, and I think they are more than a match for Trump's carnival barker style.
I highly doubt that the credibility of these men will be damaged by honest and straight forward responses. Once Trump starts attacking someone, he doesn't stop, and without responses, his lies and distortions keep stacking up. Solid responses from those he attacks will help put the responsibility for this destructive turmoil back where it belongs--on Trump.
19
I agree. If a lie is told often enough, it becomes very hard not to believe it. The measured, intelligent responses made by these public officials were necessary and overdue.
12
“When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known,”
Perfect. Now if he can only get the press and the Democrats to embrace that kind of public honesty and plain spoken communication about Trump.
15
Mr. Brennan's words give me comfort in a time where I seriously question where the USA is headed.
23
"Some experts question the decision of Mr. Comey and others to publicly hit back at the president. Mike German, a former F.B.I. agent who is now at the Brennan Center, a public policy and law institute, said the public exchanges were further proof of an eroding of trust between the head of the executive branch and its traditionally apolitical civil servants."
Well, that was under the old regime. His Orangeness has decided that the game has changed. When the President confuses himself with an infallible monarch and demands absolute fealty, *nothing* is apolitical.
13
Firings someone who has served the country in law enforcement for 31 years, two days before retirement, is low, vindictive, childish and completely uncalled for. It shows the true character of the goon in office. I hope McCabe brings a wrongful termination lawsuit against him!
35
He would have to bring it against the FBI who recommended it.
One day at a time, one more revelation (by media or Muller investigation) at a time, Trump's mental faculty are losing control.
It is easy to picture him going completely nuts if and when Muller pieces together compelling story to prove Trump-Russia collusion and/or Trump being compromised by Russia through financial entanglements.
12
"Vicki Divoll, a former general counsel for the Senate Intelligence Committee and a former assistant general counsel for the C.I.A., said remarks by former officials like Mr. Comey and Mr. Brennan reflected a larger frustration that others, including Republican members of Congress, were not speaking out against transgressions that would have felled other politicians."
Beyond the colossal mistake that this country made on 11//8/16, that conniving, hypocritical silence by McConnell and his gang of sycophants is a leading source of frustration for me too.
22
Putin doubtless has provable evidence that Trump laundered huge amounts of money for wealthy Russian real estate buyers. So he had every reason to assist Trump's path to the Oval Office, as he could then coerce Trump into favorable positions on Russia. Mueller's investigation is following the the trail of the laundered money to bring the money launderer to justice and reveal the conspiracy that handed Trump the presidency. This is why Trump is so terrified of Mueller.
23
So, how exactly are 'they' going to stop Trump from destroying America?
He is so far down that road already with no real opposition and a great deal of tacit encouragement from Congress, I don't see anyone with the guts and ability to stand up to and stop the escalating lies, filthy mouth, destructive policies and mire, spinning increasingly out of control.
How are 'they' going to do to stop this trainwreck, and when are they going to start doing it? No one is DC has held him to a higher standard of honesty, responsibility and dignity from the very start, they are all enablers in their own ways, and I don't see anyone really stepping up to do anything different today.
Don't threaten things you don't intend to do.
8
"They" are not going to do it. We have to do it. Vote in November. Vote out the Republicans who are complicit in Trump's attempts to undermine the rule of law and the Constitution. Vote while you still can.
The reality is President Trump is not going to change. Like many, I had hoped that once he was in the big kids sandbox he'd play like the big kids. It's obvious, by now, we all know that's not going to happen.
So what to do? Having been a parent and dealt with kids it's obvious. Turn the tables on him. Ignore his twitter temper tantrums, silence. And when things are quite lay in on him about something else. It's really sad, but he's the biggest contributor to his problems. No one can appear mature and logical on Twitter, no matter how hard they try. That's why it got it's name, a hangout for twits, as in bird brains.
5
Trump is not our kid. He is more like a burglar who got in through an unlocked back door and is ransacking our home.
10
This is a low point in America's history.
Twitter would do the world a great favor if they closed his account.
Could they close his account on the grounds that he is a public nuisance?
17
We, the American people, will not let Trump destroy our democracy. We will fight and resist his moral corruption to protect our unwavering American values of equality, freedom and diversity.
19
"The gloves are off." It is about time.
17
Fight the bully with everything you've got. Saving the country from this lunatic is patriotic and desperately needed. Waiting for the November elections for a possible Democratic landslide may be too late to save our institutions. Trump knows this and will act swiftly to blow up our Democracy before November. Resist and stop him now!
18
There is a dangerous brew stewing in the Oval Office: Desperation AND incompetence. This should cause us all to fear the occurrence of one of these three scenarios: Mueller is fired; tRump provokes a major international incident; hostile forces take advantage of our situation. For the first time in my nearly seven decades I am alarmed that the nation is weak, vulnerable, and not prepared to capably respond were any of these eventualities to transpire.
18
We have never had a treasonous carpetbagger like Trump in the the White House before. Trump has declared war on the United States Constitution and the Rule of Law. About time the United States of America to start defending itself. Comey, McCabe and Brennan are American heroes.
36
"Hardened Democrats"?!!! (Wow, we dems are some real toughies.) You have to laugh sometimes at the absurdity of this President. It's either laugh or cry.
22
He doesn't want to destroy America, he wants to make it his own little fiefdom!
14
Same thing
7
You have to admit, Brennan wrote the tweet that will go down in history. “Venality “ “Demagogue “ “Dustbin”.
Lady’s and Gentlemen, I think we have the, “Sir, at long last, have you no decency?” quote for the Trump age.
34
Indeed, if "traditionally apolitical civil servants" can't muster respect for their president, it shows how much they despise Trump. But he has himself to blame for.
Brennan, Comey, McGabe have been conscientious civil servants whose interest is to serve and protect their country the best they can. They have zero tolerance for a liar and kleptocrat as president, who may have betrayed his country to get himself elected.
14
"A face in the Crowd" (1957)
"In late 1950s America, a drunken drifter, Larry Rhodes, is plucked out of a rural Arkansas jail by Marcia Jeffries to sing on a radio show at station KGRK.
His raw voice, folksy humor and personal charm bring about a strong local following, and he lands a television show in Memphis, Tennessee under the stage name "Lonesome" Rhodes...
With the support of the show's staff, the charismatic Rhodes ad libs his way to popularity.
When he pokes fun at his sponsor, a mattress company, they initially pull their ads—but when his adoring audience revolts, burning mattresses in the street, the sponsor discovers that Rhodes' irreverent pitches actually increased sales by 55%, and returns to the air with a new awareness of his power of persuasion.
An office worker at the mattress company, puts together a deal for Rhodes to star in his own show in New York.
The sponsor is Vitajex, an energy supplement which he ingeniously pitches as a yellow pill which will make men energetic and sexually powerful. Rhodes' fame, influence and ego balloon...
Behind the scenes, a woman (Kay Medford) turns up claiming to be his legitimate wife, he berates his staff, and elopes with a 17-year-old drum majorette whose baton-twirling act he features on his next TV program.
Utimately, Rhodes' ascent into fame and arrogance begins to turn on him..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Face_in_the_Crowd_(film)
11
Yeah, but eventually he sees the light and becomes lovable Andy Taylor, sheriff of Mayberry.
5
I've been recommending that film to everyone who will listen for two years. As far as I know, no one has watched it. He's the perfect trump template.
10
Trump has become a one man wrecking machine. It is about time that moderate Republicans are starting to take action. Trump is not only making enemies of our allies, he is making our enemies even more dangerous. And, on top of it all, he has created new enemies. And, his aspirations of being an autocrat, b y lauding other autocrats, and dictators, is finally awaken those who want to put the good of the country, and its future, ahead of Trump, and his near fascist bloc.
Trump, his minions, and lawyers, know the Mueller is getting close; very close. Trump is ab out to fire Mueller. IF he does so, then that is considered obstruction of justice (see Nixon and "Saturday Night Massacre").
And, considering what Nixon did now pales in comparison to Trump; his campaign, his inner circle, Facebook, Cambridge Analytics and Russia interference. Alls Nixon did was try to cover up the Watergate break in. There are members of the GOP, and possibly Congress, also involved with the Trump scandals (some are already distancing themselves).
Let's hope Mueller is given the time, to finish his work. If he isn't, then the "fourth estate" need to do now, what they did in 1973. That is, bring down a president; before, Trump destroys America.
21
Trump is a rogue POTUS. As commenters have said, the GOP shows that it cannot govern. If the GOP could govern they would have convinced Trump to resign and not given him the green light to use the government for his personal gain and racist ways and voted yes.
If the GOP could govern, Jared Kushner would not be in the White House, Stephen MIller would not be in the White House, Ivanka would not be a member of the staff, if the GOP could govern.
20
This weekend I learned that an acquaintance, an MD, voted for Trump because he “thought it would be funny if he won.”
3
Maybe we beed background and sanity checks for voters. Clearly, some of them are not fit for democracy.
10
I hope he is laughing, ‘cause I’m not. In fact, I can’t think of anyone who is laughing about this-at all...
7
The US President publicly attacking and demeaning his country's law enforcement institutions is unprecedented. He is daily undermining the rule of law, which is advocating anarchy. He needs to be stopped, without further delay.
15
Brennan's statement is the most bracing and inspiring two sentences I have ready in many months.
25
I thought his lies to congress were better.
We won the Revolutionary War.
We survived the Civil War.
We survived recessions and the great depression.
We won two world wars.
We forced Richard Nixon to resign.
If we don't make Donald Trump leave office, we might
really do the worst hurt to ourselves. The world has become
to dangerous to keep him around.
18
This article is woozy, losing sight of where the name calling started. It's truly unbecoming of someone who holds the highest office in the land to engage in the childish taunts that he has directed at McCabe, his wife, and Comey. Director Comey's response is entirely dignified, and McCabe's is warranted given the provocation. PERIOD. No one's credibility but the president's is "torn to tatters in broad daylight."
29
In the case of DT, all the transparency we can get is not only important but essential to mai taining the standards and ethics of our country. We will have a country to love after we get rid of him. If only we could erase him from our memories!
12
“We’ve never had anybody so blatantly go after a president before,” Gary J. Schmitt, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who was once an intelligence adviser to President Ronald Reagan, said in an interview. “It’s also unprecedented to have a president so overtly going after various intelligence officials.” He added, “It’s a race to the bottom.”
A note to Mr. Schmitt: We hit bottom when the GOP nominated this man as their candidate. We went lower still when fewer than 1 in 5 US citizens voted for this vile man. Comey and Brennan are now speaking out to defend our country and yes, they are the true patriots. DJT isn't just the worst president out of 45, he is one of the most deplorable humans to ever walk on this planet. It is a sad reflection that 63 million people would actually cast a vote for this man. This is the bigger concern to this reader. One's character clearly does not matter for so many in the United States.
39
This has nothing to do with partisan rancor or petty differences.
This is right versus wrong.
Democracy vs. Dictatorship.
Donald Trump must be removed from the highest office in the country.
Before he and his un qualified team can do any more damage to the country and our standing in the world.
21
Credibility? Would that be credibility of those within the gov't would could not stand a free election because it did not yield the result they wished?
2
The only real way to deal with Trump is for the media to stop covering him.
11
Trump would continue to lie, tweet, cheat, demean, etc. even if the media stopped covering his erratic behavior. The situation would become worse, since Mr. Trump’s warped ego would interpret that as victory. His blnd supporters would contune to belive any and every untruth the man tweets- like they do now. Silence has grave consequences as history has shown us.
3
Not talking about silence. Talking about media coverage on which Trump tries and has always done so.
1
Mr Brennan is overly optimistic when he writes: “you will not destroy America...America will triumph over you.”
With the continuing support of his base and silence from congressional Republicans, Trump is changing America.
Every day that Americans who do not support trump hand their heads and do nothing, hoping that there will be some magical ending without them having to be part of the solution, America is changing.
The land is still there, there are people still on the land, but the America of 2016 is gone and will not return.
8
Oh hockey pucks my dear Canadian friend. Americans certainly have differences, but our diversities make us strong. Elections are coming and Americans are awake and powerful. We will replace many Republicans in the next few elections with Democrats, then watch our progress not only resume but excel. Having faith in mankind is difficult at this time in history, but our Democracy will survive and rise like a beacon again.
6
All this talk about Comey and McCabe lying got me to thinking. Did they? After a little research, something Trump and the conservative news media could do, the answer is NO. McCabe simply authorized his own media person to talk to the media, as was his right as deputy director. It was not a leak and was not anonymous, so there is no reason he could be fired.
Comey did not lie. He answered Senator Grassley's questions, which specifically cited the Trump and Clinto presidential campaign investigations, truthfully. Comey was only the anonymous source of leaks about his meetings with the Trump about his position as director, not about the campaign investigations. There is a difference. He told the TRUTH. I also note that he told the truth about the leaks through the professor, something he did after he was fired. So, no, he was not lying. As for authorizing McCabe to interact with the media, he would not have been authorizing an anonymous leak, but the interaction of McCabe's media person with the media, on the record, doing his or her job.
Trump is desperately making things up and will go down for it.
15
It looks like the DOJ in general and FBI in particular were engaged in illegal behavior and spied against the opponents of the Obama's presidency. We know for a fact the IRS illegally targeted hundreds of conservative groups. We also know that Obama sent billions of dollars in unmarked foreign bills to the Iranian mad mullahs, while his obstructed justice, which was prosecuting Hezbollah, a terrorist group and a major drug cartel.
We need to clean up this mess. Never mind the tweets - we have a real problem.
4
No, Hyphenated American, in the wake of the abhorrent Citizens United decision, the IRS investigated both "conservative" and "liberal" groups who were trying to skirt what little campaign finance laws remained. And the money sent to the Iranians was in fact legally owed to them. Your news is old and your story is tired.
8
Anyone who has ever worked for a pension should be outraged and infuriated by what Trump did to Andrew McCabe. Whatever issues he may have had with McCabe should not have had any bearing on his pension--which he earned over a stellar 20 plus career of service. If anyone needed any additional proof of what a hollow, contemptuous, gloating tyrant Trump is--he gave it to you over the weekend.
29
This situation gets more disturbing with every passing week. I no longer expect dignified presidential decorum out of Trump anymore. And while I understand Mr. German's very valid concerns, I can't blame Comey & Brennan for measured, considered responses to Trump's childish name calling.
But as the other top Republican leaders, Ryan & McConnell have an obligation to the country to publicly condemn this completely unacceptable behavior on POTUS' part. To remain silent speaks to both men's character, or lack thereof.
12
How bleeping crazy is Trump and how stupid does he think his fellow Americans are? He foists this ludicrous FBI/Justice Department plot scenario, and expects us to swallow. Such a silly yet dangerous guy -- dangerous only because he has a small slice of (under-intelligent) Americans falling for his endless stream of bovine excretion.
45
Andrew G. McCabe own agency OPR, famous for letting high-raking people slide on mistakes, told the AG that he needed to be punished for the multiple times he lied to federal judges and played partisan politics in his high office.
For John O. Brennan to criticize anyone is a mark of honor, like hearing that Kim Il-Sung's family doesn't like you. Brennan may be the shallowest political hack to head any agency since the sad days of L. Patrick Gray. All brennan did was follow political orders like any Chicago ward-heeler on the take.
I'm nor saying that this American President is polite or doesn't need to work on sounding like a leader, but the people attacking his are creeps who fully deserve investigations for going along in the uranium deal and other Obama-era abuses of authority.
4
This is the kind of comment that one usually expects to come from Russia...but perhaps it is.
26
Working hard to get that paycheck from the Internet Research Agency?
1
Saul Alinski Rules:
Rather than debate an opponent, simply find some easy way to smear or demean them so your followers won't wonder what the opponent thinks.
Trump goes in knowing he's guilty and knowing he's got no credibility. The only way for him to avoid huge disaster is to make it look like it's a partisan thing against him. Remember how he tried to have the judge recuse himself? Trump tried to make the case that the judge could not be impartial, because Trump insulted him.
It's all nonsense and in the end Trump will end up as an embarrassing footnote in the history of our great nation.
23
Guilty? Of what?
Comey is a traitor, he threw the election. Now he writes a book?
President Trump might end up as the best President of our Nation.
Yes, Comey threw the election, and then he found out there is no honor among thieves, and he got canned by his ungrateful boss.
Abraham Lincoln was our best President, and no one will ever be better. Trump just won "Worst President so Far", and G.W. Bush is heaving a sign of relief.
“The credibility of everyone involved is being torn to tatters in broad daylight.”
-------
I disagree. I don't find any loss of credibility in those responding to the president.
And the president never had any to begin with, so there's nothing to lose,
47
Trump is all about destruction. He must be prevented from doing any more damage - to America's democracy, its economy, its international standing or to its dignity, to name just a few things he has trashed. It is long past time for responsible individuals in Washington and elsewhere to stand up to him. If it takes a twitter battle to defeat the twit, so be it.
And above all else, vote come November.
26
One has to wonder if Muller and his team know they are playing Putin's tune? The Trump/Russia "investigation" is probably much more than Putin hoped for in his attempt to disrupt Western political systems. Given his success Putin is sure to redouble his efforts.
1
So, Putin initiated a process to help get Trump elected so Mueller would investigate-- and Russia would receive more sanctions and trade embargos.
Or Putin helped Trump so he could manipulate him...which he is doing very well even to the point of Trump avoiding the implementation of the congressional sanctions against Russia.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/371353-collins-white-houses-decision-...
1
Putin initiated a process to disrupt, cause discontent, and throw doubt on a democratic process. No one thought at the time Trump would win. Unless you truly believe Putin has the power to determine the outcome of US elections?
Putin initiated a process to help Trump win with a disinformation campaign as all the efforts were against Clinton...and Trump has clearly been thankful. (none of the RNC emails were leaked...so, there was no plan to disrupt the GOP) One would never expect the GOP to kiss up to Russia, but Trump and many conservatives are now doing so.
1
I thought that John O. Brennan's statement was significant and powerful. However, given that it is written in a style suitable for someone reading at at least a 3rd year college student level, the message will not be fully comprehended by tRump.
17
Shutting the Mueller investigation down should not be destructive in anyway. Yes the Mueller investigation has uncovered crimes But none related to collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. Shady dealing for personal gain has been al that has been uncovered. If there is collusion then somebody should speak up soon. What it has done is taken away time and effort from other issues much more important to the USA government and the people of the United States. It seems like an investigation with no end and no function. It has proven to the Russians one more time how American democracy can be taken for a ride. And here we are on the endless merry go round of the Mueller investigation. Much to the liking of Putin and all our enemies.
3
It's about obstruction of justice not "collusion", and obstruction of justice is a federal crime, those who commit it are criminals and need to be prosecuted.
5
So the way investigations work is that one investigates. Then one presents findings. Based on HOW Mueller has worked over certain individuals, who appear to be cooperating, its clear the he has information pertinent to the investigation. Information that we, the public, don't yet have. You write that it seems to be an investigation "without end", but that's only because its both complex, as it covers many people, multiple jurisdictions, etc., AND it appears that the president and his co-conspirators are actively working to impede said investigation, therefore causing it to take longer. One doesn't reward criminals for their attempts to prevent the discovery of their criminality, does one?
9
"Tony" How do you know all this since Mueller had not yet released a report on his investigations? Oh, I guess you heard it from Trump.
5
Thank you Messrs. Comey, McCabe, Brennan, and Mueller! Your country needs your voices, courage, and experience more than ever, at this very dangerous point in our history. All citizens who put country before party, which appears to be the vast majority, stand with you.
18
His preemptive denigration of the FBI, and all US intelligence/investigative agencies, is right in line with his preemptive denigration of the American electoral process before the presidential election, when he announced repeatedly that if he lost, it would be because of machinations by the Democrats and not because he actually lost. (Remember that?)
29
The people who also need to stand up to Trump remain firmly glued to their seats. It's unfortunate that the members of congress that are most responsible for aiding and abetting obstruction of justice will likely never be brought to trial.
23
So far, president did not do anything illegal. It's not like IRS illegally targeted and silenced hundreds of liberal groups, while FBI spied on Democrats.
2
Let's hope the voters fire them in November. Losing their gravy train may punish them more than a conviction and a trip to Club Fed.
We have devolved into a nation of Twitter trolls and Facebook fakes. It's so depressing I can no longer step outside and enjoy my authentic Instagram life.
11
I wonder if North Korea's sudden seeing of the light and asking for talks is not just another Russian and/or Chinese manipulation of our political machinery, calculated either to give further aid and comfort to Trump's presidency, or else to perhaps subject him to ultimate humiliation?
6
President Kim's gambit is a reasonable attempt to exploit a self aggrandizing, poorly (if at all) prepared poseur who, with the assistance of Russian disinformation (not to mention bad judgment by Jim Comey and a crummy campaign by HRC) incredibly finds himself behind the big desk in the Oval Office. Never has there been a better opportunity to get a good deal for the "Democratic" Republic of Korea. No functioning Dept of State, just the Donald winging it.
2
The Trump success has been to turn the collection of public forums into a Roman circus where the contest is between gladiators of plausibility. Spectators choose their favorite according to which non proven evidence shred comforts their predisposed fears and desires.
He drafts his targeted victims into this arena where self defense is reduced from what is true or factual to what can be more persuasive. They would be wise to resist a blow by blow response and rely on what will come, an account that will have it's own self evident persuasion, whether by Mueller or the many first drafts of history that the current remarkable tide of revealing journalism. It will come.
5
I think there is no enabling law for a so-called "special counsel" and this Robert Mueller appointment was a complete and serious mistake conspired with intent to undermine our democratic processes, institutions, election result and US President. Robert Mueller has trampled the bounds of his purported charter by conducting himself as an Inquisitor without Portfolio. This whole fiasco was in error from the beginning and should be ended immediately by way of Mueller's resignation or dismissal. I would not be sorry to see our US Attorney General and our Deputy Attorney General go with him, one way or another. If we are a nation of laws, then we need to get rid of all three of these people who have failed the law miserably and quite evidently.
2
NO he should follow where it leads Trump is afraid of equal enforcement of the law . What is Pres Trump afraid of that some business deals may be..........
3
We are not a nation of laws. We have become a nation of what the left can away with e.g. using fascist tactics and screaming down people so that they cannot speak while calling the victims of these tactics fascists.
1
"I think there is no enabling law for a so-called 'special counsel'"
Think again.
28 U.S. Code § 510 and 28 U.S. Code § 515, as implemented by 28 CFR § 600.1.
4
Irony: the only time Trump has used the word "Democracy" was when he tyrannically fired an American patriot sworn to defend our democratic nation.
17
Maybe they were always comic-book characters.
2
Trump talks about law and order, but in his role as President, he degrades any member of law and order who has a credible role in the investigation which could remove him from office. It is both sad and disturbing to watch a President implode from within.
13
Donald J. Trump and his children and Jared Kushner are afraid of US law enforcement authorities and intelligence officers because Donald J. Trump is profoundly beholden to "bad" Russians and Vladimir V. Putin, whom Donald J. Trump worships. The truth must be allowed to surface and to be revealed to the American public. Laws must be allowed to be enforced.
13
If those who are charged with being the checks and balances for our country would take their responsibility and oath to do so seriously, we would not have to have retired CIA directors trying to do it for them. The Republicans who enable this man are losing control of him. They have stood by as he has destroyed our standing in the world by abandoning our friends to join hands with dictators and despots so they could get their rich donors tax breaks while abandoning those most in need. They are covering for him and ignoring their responsibility to the people of this country by refusing to objectively and thoroughly investigate the Russian probe. They spent YEARS going after HC, who I do not support btw, for Benghazi and her emails but blatantly impeded the Russian investigation but shut it down in the House. The hypocrisy is egregious and they are selling us down the river to protect their power. They have proven that they have no integrity or belief in the oaths that they took to protect the constitution. If they do not protect Mueller, they will be responsible for a constitutional crisis and the potential destruction of our Democracy. So yes, someone with integrity and authority needs to speak out for us, the people because they will not. I am grateful for his courage and willingness to do so. VOTE
10
I don't see how this can be a "race to the bottom." The POTUS hit bottom long, long ago, at least in his verbal exchanges. When Mueller delivers the goods, though, that is when his actions will match his words.
10
Am I missing something? ConDon regularly slanders people through his tweets. Can't the victims sue him for slander and defamation of character? At this point it could be a class action lawsuit.
9
It's ironic that he is the one who wants to make it easier to sue for libel because he says it's not fair that people can say such mean things and not pay a price
1
Yes, and I hope the "jurors" find Trump and the other Republicans "Guilty" when they vote in the next election.
3
We can always count on the Brennan Center for hand-wringing sanctimony. One might recall that Mr. Obama and his acolytes thought it beneath his dignity to respond to the allegation that he was a foreign national - until it metastasized to point where he had no choice. It was a vile smear, but in a political culture dominated by un-mediated, un-filtered propaganda, ignoring "it" is tantamount to admitting "it." The Brennan Ctr. is arguing the absurd proposition that democracy is best preserved by remaining silent when confronted by an authoritarian attack on democratic norms by anyone who thinks he or she might be subpoenaed as a witness. Besides which, if Mueller can't establish the credibility of his witnesses in court (or the Senate), either he's an incompetent attorney or they aren't credible.
2
Mr. Schmitt, the Reagan intelligence officer suggests that the verbal battle between Trump and others is "a race to the bottom.” Such false equivalency is breathtaking. On the one hand we have a president who hurls insults and lies in a way that serves no one other than his own fragile ego; on the other, we have former law enforcement and intelligence officers, most of whom have spent their lives as Republicans or non-partisans, who are calling the president out for his actions. How does one conclude that the latter individuals are competing to win a race to the bottom?
9
I thought John Brennan and Samatha Power were apolitical, noble civil servants?
I have this nagging feeling Trump acted inappropriately with Russia and the CIA/FBI both spied and partially framed him.
Not an iota of concern here that the Obama era FBI Inspector General recommended the firing of McCabe. McCabe is now proven to be a bad actor and was engaged right at the center of the Russian thing. It does help the Trump narrative.
3
You know, it's sort of like someone who passes gas on an elevator, then looks around pretending to be innocent, while sniffing at other passengers who was unfortunate enough to get in the same car.
When the elevator door opens, the offender rushes off acting as though someone else stinks.
In the meantime, the stench lingers, and everyone getting on or off the elevator car is affected.
SAD.
6
History will not treat kindly the ones who enabled with their silence.
13
The Republican members of the House of Representatives have been told by the White House that Trump will fire Mueller within two weeks, or maybe sooner. They have voted in the Republican caucas that they will support Trump and kill any effort to impeach Trump. It appears that many of the Republican House and Senate members owe a debt to Putin.
13
The truth with respect to the McCabe matter is in the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General's report to be released late March into early April.
The Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, is a fine man. He was appointed in 2012 during the Obama administration. One is urged to read his bio on the OIG's website (Dept. of Justice).
John Brennan does not have access to his report and any Twitter reference to it or the conclusions drawn from it by the Department of Justice are off-base. He simply couldn't and doesn't know the details of the results of the investigation to make a claim that McCabe is being scapegoated.
The crucial insight into Trump’s functioning he provided himself in his account of his lie to Trudeau. His reaction to Trudeau’s statement that the US does not have the trade deficit with Canada that Trump is convinced exists, was, “We’re so dumb and they’re so smart,” i.e. admitting both his own lack of information and his sense of inferiority. But instead of adapting to reality or becoming informed, he responded with an attempt at a verbal sucker punch—a denial that was as false as it was aggressively thrust at Trudeau.
Now he has encountered informed people willing to fight back. Let’s see what happens.
8
I'm sure it's been said, but too bad they waited until this point of the dumpster fire presidency, their vocal opposition could have shut down his candidacy. He is exactly as vile as he was during the 2016 election, but republicans chose to go along with it.
11
BERLIN, June 26, 1933:
I am dictating [this letter] under pressure as I wish to catch the courier pouch.
What I do want to say really is that for the present this country is headed in directions which can only carry ruin to it and will create a situation here dangerous to world peace.
With few exceptions, the men who are running this Government are of a mentality that you and I cannot understand. Some of them are psychopathic cases and would ordinarily be receiving treatment somewhere. Others are exalted and in a frame of mind that knows no reason. The majority are woefully ignorant and unprepared for the tasks which they have to carry through every day.
Those men in the party and in responsible positions who are really worth-while, and there are quite a number of these, are powerless because they have to follow the orders of superiors who are suffering from the abnormal psychology prevailing in the country. It is impossible for us to talk about tariffs or monetary policy or any of these major matters with a Germany whose leaders do not think in any sense along the lines that we do.
While their representatives are talking at London and seem to be just like everybody else, the most phantastic experiments on financial or economic lines are being definitely considered in their home country....There is a real revolution here and a dangerous situation.
- GEORGE S. MESSERSMITH, Consul General at Berlin
12
What has happened to the GOP providing the people and the democracy with balance in governing. The Executive Branch full of people that are un skilled or unvetted are running amuck, the Russian Gov. and enemies within including the Mercer family, Bannon, Manafort and others are assisting with this Cambridge Analytical manipulation and theft of our information to use as mind control influence and FACEBook has done little nothing to solve the attack and breach of our information. These are criminal attacks on us and the effort is to destroy our democracy. What are we doing to do?
4
The incessant public insults and taunts from Donald Trump cannot be ignored.Silence in the face of personal attacks is impossible.Good on former public officials for courageously fighting back.History will confirm those with integrity and those without.Trump will lose the integrity war. Character will always Trump the pettiness and nastiness of this president.
8
The problem that I have with the majority of the comments ..rightly I might add...being critical of our so called President...is that the voters in the country who voted for him did so mostly in secret. Many would not admit to voting for someone who had been the rudest Presidential candidate in American History. Now that their vote has brought our country to this state of divisiveness and chaos..generally.as a rule.. you rarely hear from any of his former supporters who should be apologizing to the country for the mess we find ourselves in...they voted for this. Most of the comments are from those who never did not support Trump. Trump is no different now in his behavior than he was on the campaign trail and at the debates etc. Due to the electoral college he won...but he should have lost by an even greater margin just on principal ! Perhaps he is thinking he can be like Putin and stay in office by deceit ! Where are his apologetic former supporters..?? It's time for them to say...I'm Sorry ...to the country !! This is a fine mess they got us into !!
4
correction...most of the comments are from those who never did support Trump....
1
Nope, they are not going to apologize & take responsibility. They're scared that we'll treat them the way they've treated us & others like Seth Matthews, Priebus, the Sandy Hook victims, Bannon, trump's sexual harassment victims, Mueller, trump's unpaid subcontractors, gold star families, & the awesomeness that is Parkdale's teen gun safety advocates. They know what happens when the dotard gets his feels hurt - other people suffer at his hands & at the hands of Lame Stream Media (LSM). They don't know that we simply want an explanation, an apology, a promise that they'll admit their horrendous behavior, that they'll work hard to stop being a low information voter & a promise that they have our republic's back from now on by making better decisions by thinking about how to protect ALL Americans, not just themselves. I know that seems like a lot but that's actually the absolute bare minimum we'll accept. They have to come to the conclusion that fox isn't a real news site / network, it's ideological entertainment fit for the trash, not red blooded Americans.
The title of this article is misleading, and is consistent with NYT ongoing failure to clearly characterize in its reporting the issues at stake: those who are seeking to insist on truth and democratic process and integrity in our government are not "Trump's foes" -- they are America's advocates.
3
Our president has once again revealed what a mean and petty little man he is. A loyal public servant, literally 2 days away from retiring with a pension to which he was entitled after 21 years on the job, was summarily fired ... a gesture of pure spite and malice.
It makes me "un-proud" to be an American. We are supposed to be "better" than that. It is another gesture that is making our country a laughing-stock on the international stage. An American president is not expected to govern by the seat of his pants ... on "instinct." The law provides for a plethora of advisers and assistants and councils to develop a framework for policies that are then carried out by another cadre of civil servants. It's not anything like running a family business with only the nearest and dearest for advice and consent.
7
It matters little what law enforcement officials tweet. Birdbrains, like Trump, tweet. (Sorry birds - equating Trump's intelligence to yours is an insult).
What law enforcement officials should do is quietly arrest Trump, haul him kicking and screaming "fake" and "Obama did this" to a secure prison, charge him with treason and sedition, and while he awaits imposition of the death penalty for those crimes he can tweet his feeble brains out into a mirror, not the internet.
5
The best thing we thinking Americans can do is vote out every Republican at every level of Government they must pay a price for their acquiesce to Trump and his antics.
12
It is fascinating that someone like Trump can still find apologists and supporters in this country. At this point, it isn't the economy. They are supporting an evil, sick maniac. If they are for Trump it is because they are bad people who want to spread his evil. Simple as that. But make no mistake, this is a fight for truth, justice and the real America. We will fight to bring our country back.
25
President Trump is a terrible President. He lacks knowledge for the job and has no interest in learning. Those who voted for him as Americans have to have doubt at this point. His lack of regard for personnel of the FBI, CIA, etc is a disgrace. If we question our security agencies and their staff, where are we as a nation. His moral character is a separate issue and his constant fabrication of information is harming America. The inability of many members of Congress to stand up for us, Americans, on so many issues or to call the President on his deceitful behavior places them in bed with him. He demands total loyalty from his appointees but offers none in return. His Mr. McGoo manner leaves a trail of people humiliated and discredited while he continues muddling through. It’s time to stop and for Congress to assume it’s position as an equal branch of government. More importantly people of all stripes need to yell out that we have had enough of his reprehensible behavior.
10
To MAGA all Trump needs to do now is shut his mouth and stop his tweeting for two weeks. Who knew making AGA could ever be so easy?
2
What a national disgrace for the World to watch!
12
Trump attacked so many with his conspiracy theories that I am enjoying it so much seeing how now he drinks from his own medicine...
Karma never forgets...
4
The more Trump tweets and talks garbage, such as killing drug dealers, assaulting other public officials verbally and publicly, the sooner his faulty tower will collapse. Trump will continue to erode voter support for the GOP with his current public tactics. Since Trump has no limits of discretion in any of his dealings, he will eventually put himself out of office.
6
May it be so!
3
Trump has decided to surround himself with sycophantic yes men 24/7. No more "Adults in the room" nonsense. It is now that everyone who wants to defend the Constitution must stand up and do so.
Let's see what the repubs in congress do. This their ultimate test. Are they courageous enough to defend America? Or will they continue their sycophantic prostrations to Trump? No need to ask what the deplorables will do - they already showed their disdain for America by voting for Trump.
9
"Can we call them fake memos?" No WE can't. Can we call these juvenile outbursts by the Twitterer in Chief fake? Yes we can.
8
Trump should know of all people that if you live by the tweet. You will die by the tweet. The mob is fickle and once they tire of his digital childish rants, they will begin to turn on him.
10
Surprised that McCabe took no notes while listening to Trump? I'm not. I don't believe Trump has had a noteworthy comment, maybe ever. Just a lot of off the top of his head rambling, useless gibberish.
7
Trump is incapable of understanding or appreciating public service and he fears what he cannot understand and reaches out to destroy. He is a monster who only understands and respects greed and self dealing. To watch him deliberately humiliate and debase public servants is horrifying and a warning to us all. He is an out of control bully and he needs to be stopped.
9
Well, its about time for good people to stand up against such evil.
5
Let's not forget General (4-star) Barry McCaffrey, who on Friday called Trump a serious threat to national security.
8
Thank you president Trump for fighting off the disease called socialism. I live in California and this once great state is now an over-crowded, broke, violent cesspool with more holding out their hands for freebies than those holding a job. When you look at out violent youth and their willingness to mass murder each other, you know liberalism and our schools have gone the wrong way for decades. Our great ship is floundering and we need to right the ship for our children's future. Nothing wrong with America and its' citizens first as we've been last under the dems for so long.
The American flag is dying a slow death by a thousand little cuts. Soon it will be nothing but dust.
2
Tump is a disgusting individual, the lowest there is but I would stay away from engaging with him if Mueller's investigation is affected in a negative way.
How absurd to call this a race to the bottom. The Bottom in Chief has already plumbed the depths.
3
tRump is so dangerously sick. the narcissism is beyond any help. his fascination with dictators is clear evidence this man needs to be removed from office
5
Someone has to push back when the President is a petulant child.
5
DJT's lies and attacks on our institutions have to be answered. Given his GOP enablers playing deaf, dumb, and blind, someone of statue have to speak up otherwise we may well have an Erdogan on our hands and that will be bad for American democracy.
He can create whatever chaos he likes in the WH or even with his administration but must not be allowed to create chaos with our institutions that are the only real safeguard to our democracy.
The liar-in-chief will go down in history as the worst hack who ever occupied the WH. Though I understand he will not care as long as he can laugh all the way to the bank.
3
This article provides a solution to getting this tweeting inanity to stop: Keep Trump on the golf couse.
“He kept lobbing tweet-size insults until Sunday morning, when he left the White House for a round of golf.” How presidential!
6
And on and on it goes......
it feels like an unraveling. And people like Bannon look on and celebrate.
1
It is great time when you saw such men raise and oppose the dictator wannabe...
The next step would be to eradicate the GOP and pay a visit to its main donors to bring them in GitMO, they are real terrorists and criminals
6
Alas, Brennan, infamous dissembler to the US Senate, only “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at Trump.”
1
He knows people will think that and still comes out in defense of the Constitution.
I have read that trump is all for expanding the death penalty.
How about on treason?
9
Trump is a capitalist thug. In the context of government he is treasonous. His actions against US domestic stability, his violent and racist taunts, his loyalty oaths, his opaque dealings with putin and russian financiers, his disrespect for truth and rule of law at the expense of public tranquility are all reasons for his removal. These actions are against our constitution.
12
Every time Trump accuses someone of lying there should be an asterisk and a link to the thousands of documented lies he has told and continues to tell.
His present tantrum is starting to reek of terror, and it's about time people start to go right back at him. They should also be preparing defamation lawsuits.
Starting with "I don't know any Russians and nobody I'm involved with has ever spoken to any Russians....", and his weird fawning over Putin and total lack of response to defending our elections from Putin, it's pretty clear that Mafia Don (aka Tweetle D & Tweetle Dum) is Putin's boy.
10
Trump: Live by the Twitter. Die by the Twitter.
9
You fight fire with fire. The good guys have been too passive. You must stand up to lies and evil. This is not a grey area.
11
It seems bizarre for President Trump to label everyone "lying so-and-so" in his flyspecked tweets. The most colossal liar in the history of the U.S. presidency seems to have a brain disconnect when it comes to name-calling. Lies rain from his own mouth like a storm of toads.
12
Kids should not be marching on Washington on March 24, but instead head to the offices of Fox News.
8
Ah, yes!!! To think that this station has been poisoning Americans for years...
1
Trump and his followers really hate it when the people they attack fight back, especially in kind. Then they really, really hate it.
5
Wake up, he is destroying America
10
Donald Trump is all about winning. He plays a mean game of dirty pool. He hits below the belt. He lies, distorts, misleads, cherry-picks information and hires only sycophants. He is the Emperor Without Clothes.
8
It’s about time leaders with a platform found their voices and pushed back hard on Trump. The only way to confront a bully is head on. There would have been no WWII if Chamberlain wouldn’t have clung to a misplaced adherence to faux-civility and no Hitler had the Germans had the backbone to push back early and often when the same force as the madman they confronted.
American democracy needs a full-throated defense from all her believe in her ideals, past and future. She especially needs those who have honorably served in leadership positions, whether in private industry or government service, to shut down the current despot in the making. Trump, like all bullies before him and all after, will ignore whatever rules or laws he chooses. Silence or dependence on standard societal norms to corral Trump will only lead to an emboldened and evermore entrenched tyrant closer to realizing his “joke” about being president for life.
7
"“We’ve never had anybody so blatantly go after a president before,” Gary J. Schmitt, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute..."
Are you kidding, Mr. Schmitt? Do you think we don't remember the blatant attacks on President Obama?
11
The AEI, which promoted the invasion of Iraq based on fale pretenses?
2
Per Gary Schmitt “We’ve never had anybody so blatantly go after a president before,” and “It’s also unprecedented to have a president so overtly going after various intelligence officials.”, adding “It’s a race to the bottom.”
Well, it's Trump who has bulldozed the expressway to the depths.
Just. Shut. Up!
11
Mr. Trump, me thinks you doth protest too much.
8
This is not a race to the bottom, as Gary Schmitt states. That is a false equivalency. John Brennan is a former CIA director, his words carry wisdom and weight. Donald Trump is a liar, a racist, a misogynist, a criminal, and a moron in the truest sense of the word. A canker sore on the lip of a once great nation.
What's missing from all of this are the names of the Republican Congressmen who have aided and abetted this president from day one.
27
Trump is a stain on the Honor of every person who DIED serving our Country. If you can't understand that, there's nothing left to say.
51
Trump is becoming unhinged. If someone (Melania, Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric or General Kelly) doesn't get him the help he needs America and quite possibly the world may be in danger.
15
Don't you think that people who co-exist with him probably had to drink the cool aid?
If you're greedy and otherwise mediocre, why would you want to get rid of your meal ticket?
3
They should be able to see that if the country they live in erodes terribly their personal gain in dollars won't be worth the tradeoff.
1
Imagine the person dearest to you, your child perhaps, being dangled above an abyss by a completely amoral, power-mad narcissist, daring you to come one step closer or he will let go. That is what is feels like to see our democracy hanging by a thread, subject to the whims of an unstable dictator-wanna-be con artist. What are the so-called leaders of the GOP waiting for? What does Trump have on them? Is reelection so dear or power so sweet as to purchased at the price of our democracy? Everlasting shame on them!
38
Trump is deeply irrational. His continued support of Putin should be a RED alarm for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Our nation is at war, and we have a C-i-C who has rolled out the red carpet for Putin.
13
Since when didn't Comey and Brennan "seek the limelight"? Maybe she should count the number of Sunday shows they have appeared on.
Never again can any Trump-supporting Republican even attempt to claim the moral high ground on any issue.
If you still support this President and the gutless, enabling GOP Congress then you are just as bad as them.
23
"Mr. Trump’s outrage spoke for itself. He kept lobbing tweet-size insults until Sunday morning, when he left the White House for a round of golf."
Oh, the humanity!
12
The Times failed to demand Trump be held accountable for his illegal and criminal actions all the yeas their reporters were "entertained by his developer antics." Trump's "antics" consisted of flouting the Civil Rights Act, housing laws, and laws against sexual aggravated sexual assault, harassment and attempted blackmail. Trump never should have gotten close to the presidency.
The Times strangely has held African American politicians over the decades, like Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Charles Rangel, and former Governor, David Paterson to much different set of standards. It sounds harsh, but it's true, and I write this as an observant white historian and male in his sixties who has closely observed the Times his whole adult life. As for the difference in the treatment given to candidate, and person Hillary Clinton, it has truly been remarkably divergent from the indulgence shown to Trump who is an outrageous liar and nearly constant slanderer whose provocations are too often candy coated in PR euphemisms.
I think if the Times were to be honest with itself, it's reporters and editors would have to admit it has been 'played' not only by the PR firms hired by Trump, or racism and sexism, but, by its own real estate prejudice and interests as a 'player.'
13
President David Dennison should change his name to Victor because he has a compulsion to win every little battle. This is beneath the dignity of a president. He just can't let anything go- such is his mean-spirited vindictiveness. He telegraphed his cruelty to Mr McCabe 90 days ago in a manner that was flagrantly obvious and indicative of his pettiness- one reminiscent of Kim Jong Un's vicious paranoid pettiness towards even family members around him.
Victor Dennison is an apt alias for Trump. Presidents have to have aliases nowadays- well thats a development. What an admirable Crichton of a leader. Victor Dennison- much more appropriate. His initials on every page of his fake unsigned contract with that poor woman would be appropriate- well he himself brought that topic up as his own personal Vietnam- you know... that war that Mr Mueller actually fought in with distinction along with that other fellow that was caught.
5
Mr. Schmitt, "a race to the bottom"? Have you actually been paying attention?
I'm not sure how you missed that the current president jumped straight to the bottom and is busy pulling everyone else down with him who gets involved
7
The 'call and response' between 45 and Faux Knews, and vice versa, is like listening to two bad rappers repeating each other's bad sense of musicality, lyrics, rhythm and scratching...!
3
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
27
Trump is going to have to look up some of those words Mr. Brennan used. Now way does he know those words.
7
We are at a point where we must all speak out strongly, forcefully, and without fear against our so-call President, one Mr. Trump, his Administration, and his supporters.
Let the court of public opinion and our right to free speech stand up against this shameless lying bully and his ilk.
Deference to conventions of good manners are not going to work to stop this man from ruining our Nation.
Mr. Trump has indeed drained the Swamp he so loved to talk about and has replaced it with a Ocean-sized Cesspool which he is fast filling with the common decency of our Nation.
MB
18
We have WC Fields in the White House except he isn't nearly as funny.
6
I'm enjoying watching this president slowly going down.
6
"Can we call them Fake Memos?"
Can we call him Fake President?
29
To paraphrase Mrs. Obama:
When he goes low, we need to go high.
10
The more he objects, the more we hear, the more people in his party lie and hide the truth - the more certain I am that this clown broke a lot of laws.
12
I'm not sure I agree with Gary J. Schmitt of the American Enterprise Institute that this is a "race to the bottom."
That some who've worked in high position are standing up to our rabble-rousing Demagogue-In-Chief Trump - and doing so publicly - is long overdue.
Worse than Trump is the GOP, frankly. He's disgusting. Most of the GOP in Washington (and around the country) has just checked out.
26
Where are the aides to prevent this onslaught of tweeted insults, that do more to expose the president's guilt and lack of intellect than anything else? Guess they are complicit in watching Trumps ship of state sink, or rearranging the deck chairs.
There is no comparison between the ethical behaviors of Mr Brennan, Mr Comey, Mr Mueller, Mr McCabe, vs the unethical despicable behavior of Mr Trump. What troubles me is the morals and ethics of the 60 million voters who voted for this obvious fraud. His lack of any redeeming characteristics were on full display long before he was elected. Shame on you who voted for this horrible example of a human being.
24
So, after a year of watching Trump infuriate his opponents with twitter blasts and seeing them overreact, his adversaries still haven't learned to just ignore Trump's tweets. Stop and think, is Trump just being irresponsible or is he manipulating his adversaries into lashing out emotionally and make mistakes? He is tougher that his opponets and he is not constrained by good manners or other political niceties. You throw mud on him and it doesn't show, but if any of that mud get on you it make you look very bad. My suggestion is to ignor Trump's tweets and wait and see what the Mueller investigation uncovers (if anything).
2
To ignore him is to allow him. There is too much at stake for that.
2
it's disgusting to what length some of us will go to delegitimize a democratically elected president. Now, some of our politicians are even calling for the use of violence to overthrow this government. How low and violent are they willing to go?
so you must have been disgusted when trump encouraged his audience to use their second amendment rights against his opponent, and offered to pay the legal fees of anyone who assaulted protesters, right?
4
Democratically elected? Last time I looked the Russian government did not have the constitutional right to participate in our elections. Think about it and then talk about what is "disgusting."
3
he lost the election by 3 million votes.
2
To allow Trump's lies, insults and attempts to destroy the rule of law of this country, our institutions and our democracy is to passively allow a dictator and authoritarian to take over. We cannot allow that. It's to Brennan, Comey. McCabe and others' credit that they publicly speak out against a demagogue and pathological liar who is sitting in the White House in the most powerful position in the world and abusing that power in an attempt to destroy his perceived enemies.
Trump is currently attacking Mueller and any others who are witnesses to his crime of obstruction of justice like the cornered rat that he is. I can only hope that Trump's tweets are used against him as evidence of his criminal intent and are a tool to remove him from the reins of power.
20
I am a little bit worried of what a (hopefully) small and well-armed cohort of Trump supporters will do if and when the guy goes down in flames.
More and more the manipulation of the electorate by the propaganda machines, spearheaded by Fox and our Twit in Chief, looks to be dragging us towards inevitable civil violence.
I'll be there to take to the streets when Trump tries to dismiss the investigation. My concern is about what the streets will look like, and who else feels obliged to respond in kind.
7
"He kept lobbing tweet-size insults until Sunday morning, when he left the White House for a round of golf."
I suspect those playing with him yesterday day knew that any ball on the green was a gimme putt.
2
Clearly Trump is going off the deep end. Don't Ivanka and Junior and his other offspring have any concern for his mental health? Won't they do an intervention and convince him to just resign so he can go back to his petty little business game? Do they have Stockholm syndrome? Or are they just equally corrupt and drink with power and money? What a tragic family. (For which I have zero sympathy.)
12
So it appears that DJT is closer and closer to going full nuclear on Mueller. I don't think there is anyone who can stop him now.
The combination of Trump's unbridled ego along with his uncontrollable rage and fury will be his demise. He cannot help but self-immolate.
8
Brennan's tweet removes any doubt whatsoever about the anti-Trump "deep state."
The "assessment of the 17 Intelligence agencies" has zero credibility.
1
Once again proving how shamelessly sycophantic Trump supporters are...
3
Totally against all evidence Ray Sipe
1
Against that single paragon of truth and candor, Trump. How's the weather in Moscow?
4
McCabe and Comey appear to have their own "Secret and Confidential" files. Neither is trustworthy.
1
Trump will not win the war he is waging against Mueller because truth appears to be on Mueller's side.
Why can't Trump swallow his vain pride and instead apologize to the American people?
8
Thomas - for someone like Trump, apologizing is something other people do (because you tell them to), not something you do for other people.
4
Ah, but he has already won. Whatever is found, Congress will do nothing. It is up to the people via the ballot box to render justice.
1
I fail to see this back and forth as the decline of the US. As the author stated, "the gloves are off." For me that means that while Mueller must remain silent, respected and knowledgeable individuals are now speaking out against a bully and a despot. Call it free speech or the fight for our democracy. Whatever it is, I cheer them and thank them.
18
Since when do prosecutors and investigators have to be of the same political party as their targets?
22
For heaven's sake, the story is not that two sides are hurling insults at each other. The story is that the Trump administration with the aid of the Republican congress is attacking the constitutional order in an unprecedented way. That's why people like Brennan are speaking out. It's as if you saw an ordinarily calm and self-possessed person responding angrily to being robbed, and you made his anger the story, rather than his having been robbed. It is astonishing and appalling to see the Times respond to this crisis as if it were reporting on a tennis match. I fear that the Times is acting out another epic failure on the order of its coverage of the lead-up to the Iraq war. Perhaps even worse.
41
It's a race to the bottom for the NYT in using supremely biased sources (the american enterprise institute - what a joke!) as though they are actual 'think tanks.' How low will the NYT go - with Bret Stevens on climate change, etc., it's already scraping debris and pretending to find gold. Why, NYT? You used to be the paper of record.
16
I do not believe the “president” should be responded to by tweet as those who do will find themselves in the same cesspool that Mr. Trump has retreated to.
If one finds the need to respond to his insults and lies, do or through reputable media as many who are the targets of the school yard bully have sufficient stature for the press to pay attention.
However, I do agree that the grifter from Queens and his sad and sordid legacy will find its home in the dumpster of history and properly disposed of in the nearest toxic waste facility.
5
The truth needs to come out now.
Every day Trump is in office is another day of disgrace and embarrassment to the county, its institutions and its people. If, as appears highly likely, Trump is guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors" he should be impeached immediately.
Who knows what further insanity more delay will bring.
21
And so continues the slow decline of the US, and its moral authority as perceived by the rest of the world. Somewhat amazing that foreign governments still buy boatloads of US Treasury IOUs, and consider them the ultimate in safe haven investments.
5
But according to GOP/Fox/Limbaugh the US is only respected under Republican presidents on the world stage. :|
I look forward to welcoming The Donald to my rather warm place. He will be a first ballot entrant.
24
What do we do about the REAL problem..? The tens of millions of Americans who simply don't believe anything bad they hear about this guy, and stubbornly refuse to listen?
42
Real education for our children would be good for starters.
12
The REAL problem is not the 33% of the populace that disbelieve but the channels distributing disinformation to the 33%.
1
The time Trump spends ranting about Comey, McCabe, Rosenstein, Sessions, Mueller, Hillary Clinton, the F.B.I., and the American intelligence community in general, is time and focus not spent on the nation's business.
Trump's "executive time" is time not spent looking after America's affairs, domestic and foreign.
Trump's hours spent watching and depending on Fox News for accurate, reliable, balanced, and trustworthy news and reporting, and integrity is time he wastes.
Trump's history of lying, before and during his presidency; his racism-based effort to discredit the fact of a former president's birth; his racist behavior about property he (and his father) owned or managed; his misogynist and deceitful social-sexual behavior, including the use of tricked-up of non-disclosure agreements; his history of not paying those employed by him for services and work performed by them; his potential emoluments violations and mixing presidential duties with active involvement or through intermediaries of his private businesses; and, his attempts to obstruct an investigation into dangerous and possibly criminal and treasonous activity related to the 2016 election define him as incapable, unqualified, and failing to uphold his pledge to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the U.S.
When will Congress through the speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader recognize Mr. Trump's possible high crimes and misdemeanors and open hearings investigating the president?
34
If Republicans think machinations by the president that result in the firing of Bob Mueller isn't a red line for the citizens of this country then they will surely be very surprised on the day that happens. We Americans don't take kindly to tyranny. So far Trump has just talked a lot. Taking steps to interfere with or do away with the Special Council would be a solid act of despotism which will not be tolerated.
26
For those Trump supporters who liked him firing McCabe just before retirement…your turn is next when he makes congress abrogate the corporations need to pay up on pensions and 401K plans.
31
ISIS crushed. Borders super secured. Regulations slashed. Economy roaring. Market soaring. America First. Globalism neutralized. Taxes cut.
All campaign promises delivered. Don't like it blame the American people.
"Lock her up" is one promised Trump has failed on.
4
He also did not deliver on Health Care, His trade policies are a mess and harmful. He has disgraced this country on many issues as he does not know how to deal with the rest of the world. I don't see that Mexico is paying for "The Wall" which is another harmful and backwards idea. His, and his family's corruption, including Kushners is becoming apparent. The stock market is beginning to crumble, as they realize Trump is panicked, ranting and unstable.
It seems the new cry is "Lock HIM up!" It's getting louder every day, with every Tweet.
14
Now, for what is really happening...
Botched rollout of Terrorists ban
Rewarding special interest donors with Cabinet appointments
Alienating allies
Disregarding cyberattacks and threats
Stock market volatility
Whimsical tariffs
Tax Cuts for the wealthy and service fee increases for the rest
8
Has Mexico sent in their money for the WALL? I must habve missed that headline.
“The whole truth will come out in due course.” Thank goodness, but where have we heard that before? It's so tiresome listening to people pretending to be have attained something they have no idea what is. Perhaps Comey's whole take on things is what he meant to say.
Burke wrote that "the only thing necessary for evil to exist is for good people to remain silent." We know that the enablers - McConnell, Ryan, etc. - will remain silent in the face of creeping degradation of our democracy. We must hope that good people will stand up for our institutions when the greedy and corrupt stand silently by. It is our only hope.
21
Remember goal of Russian op: sow distrust, discord, and division: U.S. to become regional power along with China, Russia, and diminished Europe at hands of truly "American" leadership.
Discredit, degrade, destroy is always intel goal for ops against adversary, red OR blue team. It's humiliating to experience, but does bring to light the painful truth about our side's dishonorable clandestine character. There are no righteous heros here. We can prevail if we face the truth about ourselves; much soul-searching is in order. McCabe, Strzok, Comey did conduct political ops, revea al continuing culture of corruption and abuse of power, alienating citizens, widening divisions, reinforcing prejudice, encouraging elites, which is why Putin, Trump ops could succeed in the first place.
When a President is excoriating and undermining his own Intelligence Institutions in a banal, insulting way, the gloves have to come off. The normal political decorum and non-partisan silence these agencies have maintained works only when there is a level-headed President and Leaders. But when they are unhinged and repeatedly lie until it seems like the truth, the rules of the game have to be changed to uphold their sacred oath to protect their country from enemies, within and without. There is no room for lies.
44
You hit the nail right on the head. Couldn't have been said any better.
3
Hopefully, the stress test known as trumpism will have made our democracy stronger and our country better, if it doesn't kill us first.
18
When I was born there was no Internet, not even television. But I remember reading about FDR and have followed presidents since. To me, the president sets the tone for the country. If you do a good job you get reelected and spend 8 years. Of course, there is the Congress and the courts to balance things out. I first voted in the initial Nixon Kennedy matchup in 1960, I had met both candidates. Since then I have followed each presidency, but as a fairly educated voter who has worked in state and federal government, I have never seen a situation like this one. Three years ago I never would expect we would see government by Twitter. Random thoughts by the president at an early morning hour tweeted out before even his advisors even knew about them. With the appearance that even the cabinet secretaries were unaware and had to rapidly reconsider their positions to support the Commander in Chief. We need no further proof beyond when the administration's chief economic advisor Gary Cohn bailed out. Cohn was a free trade advocate and was blindsided by the president's announcements on tariffs. Certainly, the white house did not confer with any of our allies. I hope the special counsel Robert Mueller proceeds with all due haste and former FBI officials, James Comey in his announced book and Andrew McCabe in his media appearances proceed to enlighten the public. I understand Mister Mueller's penchant for secrecy, much more than past special counsels like in the Clinton and Nixon impeachments. Thanks to the Fourth Estate and some very good journalism we keep up on the current affairs, but quite frankly there is no one out in front of this administration that I trust.
42
...and the President remains an affront to thinking people the world over.
28
The emperor is without clothes and we are getting more and more confirmation of that from those who know.
18
Witnesses to evil should not be required to keep silent in order to maintain a facade of decorum.. They have a duty to speak out.
54
If the GOP doesn't get the obvious done, we'll do it for them. It's actually already started. Vote a majority of Dems in office at the midterm and impeach this dope once and for all. And my guess is, he's a lot less worried about what Mueller will find regarding the Soviet collusion issue than he his about being found out for all his criminal business dealings across the globe.
37
Amen.The situation is intolerable. He was a "moron" to run for president, thinking he would simply enrich himself by increasing the attention to his brand, changing the tax laws to favor himself, etc, then act like a human wrecking ball--come in with his henchman, Bannon, kicking the living daylights out everything and everyone who stood, or stands between his ability to grab a another dollar,and/or destroy the environment for money, and one gets the impression he does some of it out of flaunting his psychopathic disregard for human decency. Somehow this megalomaniac believes he is invincible. He bought his electorate by offering to rob the US treasury, with his tax cuts, his offer to open both lands and seas to be ravaged by greed, and by relaxing the costs of environmental protection by simply getting rid of it. Then he enslaved the futures of the rest of us to pay for the robbing of the treasury, by and for the super rich, by adding it onto the US debt.
He is a megalomaniac nightmare, though lsat night when I read that he has now felt emboldened to use his ignorant venal"instincts", without benefit of informed advice, or advisors i thought, "His downfall is starting."
If what Stormy Daniels has to say about Trump is so potentially damaging that it is worth him suing her for 20 million to try to shut her up, then, let's a million of us ante up $20. each to Stormy Daniel's legal fund to let her speak. Every percent we can erode from his base will count in November.
I was quite disturbed to see you refer to Mr. Comey’s and Mr. Macabe’s public comments as “responding in kind” to Trump’s vicious and baseless attacks on their character. One of the reasons Trump sits in the Oval Office today is because of the press’s willingness to go along with the idea that their was a moral equivalence between Clinton and Trump. There was no moral or relative equivalence between Clinton and Trump and there certainly isn’t any equivalence between the measured comments of Comey and Macabe and the ranting of a morally bankrupt sycophant. Trump is a stain on the American character and we must not lose sight of how abhorrent is behavior is. There is no moral equivalency.
74
Either you believe Comey, McAbe, Mueller, Brennan, etc.-who spent decades in law enforcement and rose through the ranks after years of public serivce-or you believe a man who lied about the size of the crowds at his swearing in and the fact it was raining, among so many other easily verified facts as well as carrying on an affair while his wife was home with their newborn son. If it is to be believed that all of these FBI leaders are capable of framing the most powerful man in the country, then everyone that was convicted during their tenure must immediately be released from incarceration. Any conviction that occurred on the less powerful during their heading the department Must be considered tainted by such horribly dishonest scheming individuals. Personally, I tend to believe the collective words of all of them combined over one individual whose word is suspect at best.
28
100%
Free the Newburgh Four!
1
"He kept lobbing tweet-size insults until Sunday morning, when he left the White House for a round of golf." = Trump's idea of being president (already took more vacations than Obama did in 8 years: another thing Trump lies about constantly, for those who able to keep track with his lies and slanders.)
23
I remember Trump's campaign promise that he would be too busy to play golf. It's one of many he hasn't kept.
1
you mean more tweets?
John Brennan words about the worthlessness of the president are superb. That Trump is President is a horror, a monumental tragedy, and a reflection of the cowardice of the Congress and the ignorance of voters. Trump is a child who looks like an adult. I don’t know how dangerous he is but I know how destructive he is to the integrity of a fair and just system of government.
35
The Trump tweets are what you might expect from a left-winger like Michael Moore who would gladly bring down the establishment. But to think these are public proclamations by a sitting Republican president. It's unimaginable. Yet what's even more alarming is that 84% of Republican voters approve of this senseless trashing of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence. Putin couldn't have imagined this in his wildest fantasies.
16
He lied under oath. Any agent who lies gets fired and the top brass are no exception. Get real, quit lying to yourself.
This is nothing like 1968! With Trump as our President, many things are a lot worse! The fish rots from the Head! There is more malaise in our nation because of him, than at anytime before!!! Unprecedented.
11
The folks who have been publicly and dishonestly attacked by Mr. Trump have a right to publicly defend themselves. After all, the president has the largest bully pulpit in the world. This would indeed be a race to the bottom were those folks to stand by and say nothing. The president and his supporters are pulling the nation down into the gutter. True patriots must exercise their Constitutional right to free speech, peaceful protest, and freedom of the press.
22
Brennen’s tweet clearly shows his frustration with this person whom some call the President of the United States and his petulance. It time to stop taking the high road. The gloves have come off and let’s make it a dirty fight. I am sick of this man as are many other Americans.
21
I hope Brennan is right . So far this corrupt would be autocrat has gotten away with ALOT . I pray that Mueller has some indisputable facts to prove Trump’s wrongdoing, criminal or corrupt intent .
And then the Democrats must overtake the House because Republicans at present will do NOTHING to stand up for this great country . Otherwise we will be in great peril .
11
Be careful what you pray for; when the Gods want to punish you, they answer your prayers - and there stands Pence...waiting patiently .....God help us all. From the frying pan into the fire.
The need, in fact duty, for the former public servants - Comey, Brennan, McCabe and others, to speak out against DT only underscores the failure of the GOP leaders to discharge their constitutional duties as a co-equal branch and check his atttempts to subvert our democracy into fascism. Its not the tyranny of the wicked, but the silence of the wise (evenif one can debate whether that adjective applies to the treasonous GOP) that enables the tyrants. How many times do we have to relearn this history. Hooray the Comeys - you are the real patriots, thank you for your service both inside and outside government.
17
This is madness. Our enemies are surely enjoying the show though. The orange inferno is having a meltdown on the world stage, with the seditionists over at trump TV, a.k.a. Fox (it's got nothing to do with "news"), fanning the flames.
I know it will never happen, but imagine the peace of mind we could all experience if someone would put him down for a long nap, a time out, and pull the plug on Fox for a week or so. Our collective blood pressure would go down and I think we could all use a break from the constant anxiety overload that only been escalating since 11/8/16. I'm absolutely worn out with outrage and disgust.
8
The Trump version of an American Presidency grows more hallucinatory with each passing day: our own Caligula!
Do we have to wait until he marries his horse on the Capitol steps, before the citizens of the still Republic realize that to continue under the influence of the madness makes its influence irrevocable???
Already, the phrase "defending our values," sound poignant, wistful, morbid: what are those values, and of what worth if they cannot sustain a meaningful and cohesive rebuff to the onslaught of infantile tantrums trying to pass as some bizarre form of governance?
15
One hopes the federal government bars inmate access to Twitter or other social media accounts from ADX Florence.
Those saying that these men should not respond, that Trump is a child, are leaving out that if they didn't Trump is being allowed to spout what he wants and have it trumpeted on Fox News. More importantly, it also smacks of those saying you shouldn't make fun of Trump supporters, you need to understand they are good people who are scared, have had a hard time, etc.....
In reality, with these tweets Trump is playing to his supporters and with his attacks on law enforcement and intelligence officials, and his base cheering it, it shows what kind of people they are. These aren't good people, these are mean, ugly, angry people who in Trump see behavior they themselves are like, childish, immature and lashing out. They care little for the damage this is doing to the presidency or the country, instead of being ashamed for supporting him they are cheering him on, despite the fact that if it was anyone else they would be shaming them and saying "remove them from office".
11
I've been in touch with some of my American relatives and acquaintances who morphed from normal Republicans into Trump 95%(ers) in 2016. We exchange views on American and geopolitics via e-mails ( I refuse to get onto social media) weekly and, thus far, their opinions of president Trump have not budged. In fact, they are more entrenched in his corner because they believe Trump is under attack by the establishment.
For the record, all of these folks finished college at the very least. Trump's Jim Jones/ David Koresh/ Charles Manson appeal and powers of persuasion render any level of higher education null and void. Get used to limping along like a tin pot autocracy because Trump is certain to run again simply because everyone says he's finished. Should he run, he will win again. It's that spiteful, vile, vindictive spirit in him.
4
We shall over come. And we will not rest until we do. It is not Trump's power to persuade, he bought these people with his tax cut giveaways, his opening of lands and seas for being ravaged by greed. These people are mean,, greedy and psychopathic. They have no humanitarian decency. They have no regard for the truth. They are part of the "me first" cancer on the face of America that is the Trump presidency.
To these Important Trump Responders:
You've spoken powerfully. But that's enough. Please don't don't engage with this shameful excuse for a leader. Now hold your dignified silence — and let the facts speak for themselves.
May Robert Mueller prevail!
2
Disagree. They, and we, must speak, and we must act. I hope Comey has written a book. As to the rest of us, protest! Fund organizations fighting, and suing Trump! Contribute to the defense of the environment, the defense of the disadvantaged.
1
Ms. Rogers, you are reporting Trump's lies about the makeup of the special prosecutor's team being all democrats without correcting his lies with the real facts. Even Muller is a republican! And he was appointed by a republican. And the team is non-political with people from both and from no political leanings. How can you give that lier another outlet without telling the reader that he is lying, and obviously so to anyone who knows the truth?
9
Putin just won his 4th term by squelching the opposition and who only knows about the ballot boxes. He sends his opposition to jail. Familiar? Trump's insistence Hilary goes to jail sounds just like a person who knows he cheated to win this election. We need to watch our ballot boxes like hawks and not rely on our hacked election computer system this time. Putin is a cheater and Trump is doing just like him. Trump knows he cheated and everything he says and does points to it. Do we need paper ballots? I think the answer is yes and lots of poll watchers counting and overseeing these cheating, gerrymandering autocrats. They are not to be trusted ever again.
11
Is it not ironic that Trump calls those who criticize him, including Brennan, McCabe, Comey, etc. "liars" when he, the President himself, lies nearly every day, perhaps every time he speaks or tweets? And even moreso, he doesn't realize it. Perhaps, Mr. Trump should self-exam himself. Better yet, he and his followers should acquaint themselves with the Dunning-Kruger Effect, in which incompetent people don't realize they are incompetent and consider themselves superior. Lastly, I don't think Trump is trying to destroy America, as his critics claim, -- that that destruction is coming as a side-effect of his and his allies'/followers' agenda to re-make America in their image and form, too suit their needs. It's just that their needs are not ours' nor, probably, what the U.S. could use at this time.
3
Dear NYT:
President Trump is a crass narcissist who sees the world reflected through the funhouse mirror of his own ego. To Trump, facts are malleable and narrative ("Make America Great Again") rules all.
To Trump, all criticism, however valid, is fake news, to be attacked or sidetracked. Complex and difficult issues are reduced to pro-Trump or anti-Trump.
Unfortunately, intemperate, paranoid attacks by Comey, Brennan et al merely feed this cult of personality narrative, pro and con. They justify Trump's claim that the Russia collusion investigation is all partisanship, manipulated by D's and deep staters such as Brennan.
Worse, much of the media is also so consumed by Trump hatred that they, too, portray the world primarily through this same Trump prism, albeit a counter-clock view from Trump's. Facts are shaded to fit the anti-Trump narrative, or are ignored. The environment, prison reform, opiates -- every issue, however complex -- is simplified and defined by its pro or anti-Trump aspects. Many in the media are abandoning the search of a common set of facts, and no longer trust our citizens to sift through it all and find the truth.
Sad.
2
He claims no collusion. But he's never claimed no money laundering and no obstruction of justice. I wish we could make him take a lie detector test.
3
He claims that which he is most guilty of...
1
Ms. Divoll makes a powerful point, that the general failure of the Republican Congress to speak out against Trump has left a void. They have allowed Trump's behaviour in the White House to devolve into a mad house, an international disgrace and a serious danger to democracy. As the investigation, not only by Mueller but by journalists, closes in on Trump and his family day by day, Trump is becoming desperate and more deranged. At what point is anyone going to do anything substantive about it? These gentlemen's voices, it being so rare that we ever hear from them, are among the most powerful signals we have that something is seriously, dangerously wrong. If they didn't say something, it would be a sorry state of affairs. Furthermore, I'm sick of Trump being able to smear the reputations of anyone he chooses with impunity. Thank goodness some of these guys are going to fight back.
7
Mr. Brennan's tweet would make a wonderful inspirational poster for those of us who are mortified watching as the good name of America is dragged through the mud by Mr. Trump.
At the very least it provides some comfort in the hope that there might at least be some karmic justice at the end of this very sad period in our history.
7
None of this matters unless people get over themselves and vote. Vote this administration and its enablers out. That’s it. Stop nuancing to defeat and vote like it matters.
4
I guess the swamp does not like when someone fights back. The guy pardoned by Trump should sue the government for the same treatment as Clinton received. Anyone with a criminal conviction should sue the government to have their cases overturned as they are not treated the same as illegals. All college age students in California should sue the state fro free college tuition in state schools as illegals get free tuition.
Students in Economics 101 are taught from day 1 that people respond to incentives. Current political incentives in the United States are, unfortunately, weighted heavily toward continued Republican support of Mr. Trump and his agenda. The way I see it, this is largely the result of several factors:
1) 85% of Republican voters still support the president
2) Congressional districts have been gerrymandered in order to give those voters a disproportional amount of electoral power.
3) The Republican donor class continues to support the president, enabling well-funded primary challenges to Republicans who dare to question the administration or current GOP orthodoxy.
4) When voters begin to see the effects of the tax cut in their paychecks, their incentive to support anti-Trump candidates will decrease.
The GOP has proven that it can win on defense (ensuring that elected Democrats cannot get much done) and on offense (getting more of their candidates elected at every level of government and destroying Democratic achievements). Thus far, Democrats have no real answer - trying to beat the GOP at its own game only further energizes and polarizes the right - we cannot win on their home turf. Democrats need to stop the public displays of histrionic angst and wish-fulfillment and start talking to Americans about the things they really care about. Changing our incentive structure must begin at the level of Americans' day-to-day worries - that is the lesson of Conor Lamb.
5
Clearly the Democrats need to get their act together. However, the GOP has no legitimate reason to exist. Its constituency is the likes of Mercers and Kochs and other ultra rich people trying to control the country. The GOP has no use for ordinary citizens, as shown by their failure to respond to the infantile, dishonest, destructive behavior of their president. Mr Ryan and and Mr McConnell will end up in the dustbin of history with Trump.
5
No censor does not mean no censure. There are very good people in the US government or who have been in it. These good, competent, ethical and non-deferential people will prevail.
4
Again, it's cold comfort but some comfort, to read the remarks in this article and the comments here of other people who fully realize the hideousness of Trump and his ilk. Trump's apparently classic paranoid behavior of denial and projection ("not me, but you!") or best defense being offense--attack mode--may finally be getting so old as to backfire on him now. If it speeds up "the beginning of the end of his presidency" (Graham, of all people), then here's another quote, "bring it on!"
6
Watching/listening to the Trump administration throw its tantrums and try to intimidate Mueller is like watching a wide-eyed, shaking Chihuahua pulling on its leash so it take a shot at an utterly silent Great Dane. For all the noise and nervous energy of the toy breed all observers are aware that if it ever slips its leash and truly tries to bite the Great Dane, the Chihuhua's fate is (for all intents and purposes) sealed. In reality, all it can safely do is let the larger dog finish sniffing around and move on of its own accord... however long that takes.
The only true vindication Trump is ever going to get on this issue will be if Mueller himself declares that a thorough investigation into Trump's affairs has yielded no evidence of wrongdoing. If (for any reason) Mueller's investigation is shutdown... if he is prevented from examining/interviewing any witness... if he is replaced or defunded... if he should be struck by a stray lightning bolt... the "cloud" hanging over Trump will become more like the Mark of Cain. The White House would look back at the days immediately following Comey's firing with nostalgia if anyone or anything other than Mueller himself concludes this investigation. It would generate enough controversy to fill the remainder of Trump's present term and dominate every election cycle. This is all not to even mention that ANYTHING Mueller might say would carry more credibility than all the assertions of Congress and the White House combined.
3
I hope people will keep responding in kind. Sooner or later the President will say or do something that will incriminate himself.
1
It is a tragedy that so many of Trump's adversaries believe that in order to fight him effectively, they need to become Trumps themselves.
And unfortunately, he is better at it.
I have to agree with those who think the opposition shouldn't tweet back, though I do understand their reasons for doing so. Mr. Brennan has probably lobbed the best tweet missile so far in that it personally castigates the president. But the tweets should probably stop there. One-by-one, each person who wallowed in the mud with Donald Trump wound up losing: the Republican primary candidates and Hillary Clinton. He is simply better at fighting dirty than his opponents. When you are wrestling with an alligator, it's best to stay out of the swamp.
1
Although it is characterized in the article as a "brawl" I think it is more like a few well-chosen jabs to the chin by men who have had enough of being publicly maligned by Trump. I can't say I blame them for firing back. I don't see how their responses will hurt any investigation into Trump's doings or harm their credibility as witnesses. It would indeed be a "race to the bottom" if their remarks were untrue or their assessments of Trump false or calculated to deceive, like Trump's own. All sensible people know that they are neither. Would ignoring Trump's taunts have been better? Probably, if only for appearance's sake. But Trump's barrage of lies and insults on so many fronts is almost too much for a person to stand. Let's not hold Comey or McCabe up to unreasonable standards of behavior. Look at the other side, for pity's sake.
2
Hooray for the FBI. Our Democracy is so much more important than remaining quiet. We have to fight this assault on America with everyone who truly cares about our Democracy speaking out. This President should have been taken out of office months ago, except the traitorous Republicans wanted tax breaks. Their comeuppance is coming also. Stand strong America. We will win this fight for our soul.
4
Thank you Mr. Brennon. Wow, thank you yearning for the truth. What a sorrowful time for most of us and especially the young. And finally to read your comments a sign of hope .
3
donald's goal was always to have the name "Trump" emblazoned on the national and global conscience. He has achieved that, not in the manner he envisioned, heading toward the final performance of the "Apprentice" president. donald the American people have one thing to say, "Your Fired, Fired".
Once rid of you donald, the people can concentrate of the cowardice exemplified in the US congress.
5
Donald has been missing The Apprentice so placates himself be firing people around him. May his days soon be coming to a close before he pollutes the nation and drives the future into massive debt.
4
Mr. Brennan's tweet would make a wonderful inspirational poster for those of us who fear that we may not survive unscathed Mr. Trump's paranoid twitter fueled race to the bottom. I only hope that history can find a dustbin large enough to hold him.
3
Democracy has an immune system designed to fight tumors and invaders into the executive, and its called the judicial and the legistlative branches. currently the legislative is infected, but the slightly more independent judicial is fighting the disease, all the while its being directly attacked by the Trump tumor. Soon we shall be healthy again, and then we can get rid of the electoral college/gerrymander system and citizens united that invites tyrants and other diseases into government.
2
With Trump you cannot play by the rules when he is constantly playing dirty with no rules. To win or lose both parties have to be subject to same rules or....no rules as is the case with Trump.
4
Looking more and more like a political witch hunt. If Muller has something then it's time to show it, otherwise fold.
1
He can take as long as he needs to.
2
Republicans have given us a rich history of leaders who have fought to undermine America including McCarthy, Nixon, and now Trump. They scream about how patriotic they are, but they are fake Americans, who are deplorable and never to be trusted.
2
And, never forget that Trump's mentor was Roy Cohn
2
For someone who claims innocence, #45 is acting guiltier every day with his ranting, uninformed tweets. He's gotten worse ever since he's learned Mueller is looking into his business interests. We're probably going to soon find out why Trump hasn't released his tax returns. Why won't he? What is he hiding? If he's innocent, why won't he let the investigation run its course and clear him? Why is he doing all he can to discredit it before he even finds out the results?
6
Even a 12 year old would have enough sense to know that if you claim to be innocent, that the thing to do is not act guilty.
If he did nothing wrong, then the thing to say is let the investigation continue, I will be vindicated. The only way to prove innocence is to have a full investigation.
Is trump childish? Yep, along with petulant, lying, etc etc etc.
2
I’m grateful to the people speaking out and pushing back against Trump’s childish, dangerous, unprecedented tweets. In a perfect world neither side would be doing this on the public stage but Trump has picked the arena and his reckless attacks on anyone or anything need to be challenged and record corrected.
3
". . . as President Trump has voiced his grievances against the F.B.I. with a series of insult-laden tweets, his targets have responded nearly in kind, turning a conflict that would in the past have stayed behind closed doors into a brawl for all to see."
Thank you President Trump AND the F.B.I. for airing your dirty laundry in public, for all the world and this country to see, gasp and cringe over. Gary J. Schmitt said it best, “It’s a race to the bottom.”
It's a toss up of which emotion best describes this situation - disgusting, embarrassing or hopeless, none of which showcases this country in a positive light.
1
We are facing a villainy that is unprecedented, fed and supported by careerist knaves and sycophants and by a significant segment of the population whose moral and civic anchors are demonstrably deficient. This is all heading to bloodshed as it nearly mirrors where our country was in the 1840s. There is a slide towards increasing levels of chicanery and oppression.
3
There is great danger of not responding to trump in kind, especially in the face of an abdicated congress. To not do so establishes the proposition that the deference owed the Presidency will be paid regardless of the behavior of the President. This, in effect, creates a blank check for demagoguery.
Whereas trump’s personal crudity serves as a limiting factor for the depth and breadth of his demagogic actions’ long term impact, an open invitation to deagoguery will one day attract an oratorically gifted demagogue; a physically attractive demagogue; a politically astute demagogue. On that day those who embrace the proposition that we are both constitutionally and institutionally protected from totalitarian dictatorship may rue their error!
2
As a former criminal defense attorney, Mr.Trump would be a client that you would fire (withdraw from) because you risk your license when you push items you know are not true. Will anyone question his counsel?
3
It's beyond irony that in the same week that Andrew McCabe was fired for "lying" the president himself admitted lying to Justin Trudeau. My fondest wish is that this will all be over and we can go back to loving our country instead of despising our president.
3
Only two things of importance now:
The Mueller investigation and the upcoming elections.
Fellow patriots please stay focused. Everything else is a distraction and only benefits Trump and his agenda.
His ego wanted to be president, but he wasn't smart enough to consider that if he did, it could unravel his decades old criminal enterprises.
The best outcome of this manic presidency will be his impeachment, imprisonment, and the complete destruction of his financial house of cards.
2
'Defamatory' is an interesting word here. The First Amendment makes it pretty hard to defame a president or other public figure. But does it work the other way around? Does POTUS enjoy the same heightened First Amendment protections when he uses his personal twitter account to go after a private citizen? Or does standard defamation law apply? I'd sure like to see one or more of his targets test that in court! And I bet a thousand lawyers would jump at the opportunity to take the case pro bono.
1
Honorable men working in government positions believe they are part of something more important than themselves. That being the case, they go about their jobs in a serious way and generally try to serve a greater good, and they want to believe that what they do is important and makes a difference. It doesn't matter much what is happening politically to them, they still try to do their jobs well and uphold the integrity of the agencies that employ them. Let's face it folks, there is a lot more money to be made in the private sector if you have ambition and talent, which McCabe, Comey, et al obviously do. These people do not work for the president, they work for us, and I have a hard time believing Donny's conspiracy theory for these reasons alone. I hope McCabe writes a book to bolster his retirement earnings.....I will gladly buy a copy to help him out.
1
Congress is who should be answering Trump's tweets. Not the FBI and other individuals Trump is attacking. Compromising their viability as witnesses is just what Trump is trying to do.
Trump has declared war on the corrupt political machine. Make no mistake that we support him 110%. Americans will win and we will take back our country.
Trump would not be so determined to get rid of Mueller if he were not guilty. The mjan is guilty and will try anything to not be found out. What concerns me is the other Republicans who who support this evil and destructive man. where are our moral values?
1
The State Department has lost 60% of its senior staff.
The EPA has lost most of its senior staff. The IRS is under siege.
The DOJ is seriously undermanned (fired Attorneys-General have not been replaced), and filling with lawless enablers. The cruel and over the top assault on McCabe and his pension is both sadistic, and a direct message to all DOJ employees.
The message: "We are the law! Do our bidding, or we will destroy your career, and ruin your financial future."
Institutions that have taken generations to build are being destroyed along with the loyal Americans who have made our country admired and envied around the world.
The Putin wing of the Republican Party and its hordes of enablers is systematically destroying America's ability to defend itself--or even know what we are facing.
Time is of the essence. Mueller needs to move quickly.
1
Not only are the gloves off, but the rule book has been thrown out the window.
1
DT has discovered the perfect solution to everything. Just lie, double down, triple down and never back down. His fans will never leave him and they may just elect him again. I wonder what they'd do if he ever admitted frailty. Maybe that'd finally be his undoing, but there's no chance of it happening. Twitter and his social media game is his fountain of youth. Hopefully, the sectors of moderates that put him over the edge have wised up. I hope so. There's no time to waste.
Still, he's got a ton of popularity with MANY folks who either don't know or don't care that he's a liar. That's not likely to ebb.
2
This is how Trump works , he soils all that should be honorable with his dishonorable persona , trampling the grapes of wrath into a very bitter wine poisoning hearts and minds . He is the master of vile lies and complicit in dark machinations in the undoing of what has kept this country as a beacon of the free world . We are not a perfect country by all means , but still people the world over aspire to come here , the uneducated , as well as the educated . Come on Republicans , is your agenda really more important to take the risk of keeping Trump as president and sacrifice your children's well being to the devolving of this nation to the status of a third world country or of a wannabe autocrat who has felt looked down on .
2
Comey, McCabe, and others who have or could be called as witnesses for their testimony in the Mueller investigation would do well to remember Michelle Obama's refrain: "When they go low, we go high!"
2
Actually, all these retired officials are potential witnesses, and speaking out in a hostile way only helps the demagogue. The Donald's lawyers will now have material with which to attack their credibility and suggest bias. The megaphone of hate radio and the loathsome Murdoch family at Faux Noise will gleefully fulfill their roles as house organs of Trumpian propaganda.
The saddest, indeed most disturbing part is this: one-third of our fellow Americans do not care. For them his probable crimes or lawbreaking or the impact on our society, our political culture and our stability as a democracy is just background noise. Unlike the usual commenters here who claim it is just lack of brainpower or information on their part, I say it is something else. It is lack of conscience. It is swimming in a culture of no fixed or immutable truths and absent moral and ethical guideposts. Post-modernism, utilitarianism, and other philosophies pushed by the chattering and academic classes. Chickens have come home to roost.
Trump perfectly embodies that ethical swamp. God help us all.
Don’t be silent, speak up. People expect you to when it makes sense. And if you can’t bring yourself to speak up, then just make sure you’re at the polls in November 2018.
2
The Greeks have a saying: "The liar and the thief only enjoy the first year". Trumps time is up. I never thought I would see the time that a self centered sociopath would seize power to the highest office in the land and proceed to destroy cherished institutions while those who knew better and could did nothing to stop him. George Orwell would have been shocked. Those urging restraint forget that at times you have to fight fire with fire. Kudos to those brave men and women speaking up in no uncertain terms. Bullies don't appreciate restraint. Resist.
4
Trump believes he is innocent because he is a sociopath. Whatever he chooses to do is perceived by him to be okay because it is him. It is abundantly clear that he and members of his team are guilty. The investigation could stop today and rest the case on the evidence amassed so far. Only Republican partisanship separates us from justice.
2
The people that should engage 45 don't...tepid response from Paul Ryan, nada zip from Mitch McConnell. I'm on the fence with other government officials like Comey, Brennan tweeting clap backs but in the absence of Congressional push back lean more to think it is welcome.
1
The Donald admitted he tells lies (example he admitted he told the Canadian prime minister a falsehood regarding trade). He cares nothing about our country. It is all about him. All his past history is proof of his egomania and need to crush anyone what he perceives is in his way. The GOP has long given up any pretense of protecting our nation. They are comprised; no wonder others must stand up - as we see students and intelligence service doing. When will we see Americans in the streets?
2
This President has dragged our public discourse to a level that schoolyard bullies would be ashamed of. Can we regain civility during some future administration? I don't know the answer. Maybe Zuckerberg knows.
It's time we faced the fact that Trump ran for President to benefit his various business interests. I sure would like to see his latest tax return. Oh I forgot: he's "under audit".
3
We should use the blind scales of lady justice to put all the service to our country by McCabe on one side and by Trump on the other; then subtract from each man's pile of "good deeds in service to our country" any falsehood or knowing misrepresentations. I believe you would end up with the scale weighted 100:1 in favor of McCabe.
2
As a Republican voter, I'm offended by Trump's actions. He is petty and mean-spirited, and is lowering the dignity of the presidency with each Tweet (and firing by Twitter) and with his ongoing personal battles with lower-ranking government officials (from his hand-selected Attorney General, to DOJ staff members). It all centers around ONLY himself, with no regard to Party or country. I hope enough Republicans will truly make his attacks on Mueller a red line that can not be crossed, but their passivity thus far makes me wonder...
61
Glad to see there's at least one GOP voter not willing to follow the lemming herd right over the cliff.
1
As a Republican voter, I hope that you are offended by the lack of backbone by most of your party. You recognize their passivity, which makes them complicit in all he does and says. I hope you make better choices with your vote in any future elections.
1
It should be clear to all that Mr. Trump is simply laying the foundation for a denial of legitimacy whenever the Mueller report is released. Unfortunately, by doing so, the legitimacy of any action by the FBI or similar agencies will be called into question by a skeptical segment of the American people, undermining the work of dedicated professionals well into the future.
42
A "skeptical segment of the American people" will be a very small minority that still believes in anything that comes out of Trump's mouth no matter how obviously untrue. These are the same ilk as climate change deniers eager to show the world they can't be forced into accepting facts as true.
1
Mr Mueller? Didn't he fight in Vietnam with great honour? Apparently he had no problem with his foot. Poor Donald was so afflicted he couldn't go even though he can't remember which foot prevented him from winning that Purple Heart. Never mind- he managed to appropriate one later in the form of a gift. David Dennison- a truly great man.
3
.....and then they came for me.
Thank goodness someone is speaking up to tRump. The GOP has been silent and therefore supporting and enabling the vile occupant of the White House.
Real patriots speak back, speak truth to power (money).
124
I am an Australian and far more patriotic to America and its interests than most of the lackeys in Congress. I love American politics- its fascinating. At the moment it is too fascinating.
1
A “great day for America” will be when this man and his administration are no longer in office.
209
Perhaps "The Greatest Day for America" isn't overstating things.
An even greater day is when the entire cabal is no longer at all.
I won't be a blue wave- it will be a blue tidal wave. When it sweeps congress away, Trump will say that the blue tidal wave succeeded through modelling itself on him.
Anyone who has been paying attention to the con man and his utterances, tweets and actions, knows he has been compromised and is acting in fear. Not a single thing he has done while being in office has be done in the best interests of our country, allies, or people. His actions have been self-serving, and obscene in their lack of regard for the Constitution or the well-being of our people.
The tweet this weekend from Mr. Brennon was spot on and no one could have said it better and I quote:
When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history.
Thank you, Mr. Brennon, for saying what all of us already know. You are correct, sir, and our respect for you grows exponentially.
135
Google had millions of inquiries about the words venality and turpitude. Mr Trump should be commended for his contribution to the English language. Turpitude and venality will be resurrected in common usage now. Thanks Donald- now isn't that better than being on Mount Rushmore? That is still alarmingly possible though if Donald gets his life presidency- tourists could visit Mount Rushmore and role play as bone spurs at the base. Then Trump would have a base into perpetuity.
1
The President seems not to be concerned about displaying his character deficiencies for all to see. Understandably though, we might find ourselves torn between wanting to know just how disgusting a public figure such as he can be, and wishing all those unpleasant aspects of his personality would remain beneath the surface so that the dignity of the office might somehow be maintained. Trump kind of makes the case for the virtue of political correctness.
22
We are seeing what a weak group of Republican leaders are currently in power and they are well on the way to destroying our democracy. To be fair to them, the country was taken by storm by a narcissistic and unscrupulous game show host and few were prepared for his clever manipulation of Presidential power and his total lack of class and decorum... and fewer prepared to operate in the chaos that he has surrounded himself with.
However, a stronger group of men and women would have already protected Bob Mueller and wouldn't be watching and issuing their timid warnings to Trump; they would understand that they needed to not just draw a red line but erect a solid wall against his firing. The people who are giving great analysis also have to be out of power at the moment. Key words: Out Of Power.
Instead we have a long list of opportunists who are enabling Trump and who are complicit in his evil deeds. We have the Evangelicals. We have Fox News and then we have the many lazy Americans who refuse to take the time to read and understand what is about to happen to the democracy...
Maybe the Bread and Circus for current America are media devices; never failing to entertain and give us the illusion of being connected and knowledgeable when in fact we are just plain becoming uninformed and distracted. The perfect environment for a man like Trump to prosper in...
Now what should the rest of us do? March? Organize? Vote? Will that be enough?
69
All of it, make sure November bring back the Congress in the hands of Democrats
IMPEACH Trump and, after due process and inquiries, lock up any perpetrator of a criminal act at any level
Adopt a RETROACTIVE tax law to fix what was destructed by the GOP and cap the $ in your election process
Conduct a full inquiry into any big donor to the politicians
Make the lobbying much transparent and ensure the disclosure of the real beneficiaries of such activity
Restore trust between yourselves and your institutions
Payback Putin by any means
YES YOU CAN
2
Since the GOP Congress have thrown in the towel (with a few exceptions), I think these professionals must be able to defend themselves and their professional reputations. Trump is acting like a caged animal; he must be removed.
40
You shouldn't cast aspersions on any animals Maria, caged or otherwise,
Gloves off. Pulls no punches. Says what he means. That is why he was elected.
2
How do you know that that Trump's inability to pull punches is the reason those 40,000 people in WI, MI, and PA voted for him? Because those are the people who put him over the line in the Electoral College. Not the voters of America. I don't think you can read any message into the election of a minority president like Trump -- most Americans voted against him.
1
And that is why we are the laughing stock of the world.
2
How about leadership, management skills, international experience, intellect, wisdom, judiciousness, temperament, dignity and and understanding of the rudiments of history fit into your scheme.
2
These are Americans who devoted their careers to service to our constitution being smeared by a measly president. What do we know about America’s patriots? They have a tendency to fight back.
Presidents are ephemeral, as they must be to preserve our republic. The constitution must be defended.
35
How much more must Trump destroy and how much lower must we sink as a country before Congress will remove this destructive, self-serving, mean-spirited, small-minded and morally bankrupt president?
Where is the voice of reason? Has common sense left Washington? Are there any statesmen?
56
Nero at least fiddled while Rome burned, Elmer Fudd’s human persona endeavors in child-like name calling to hasten the erosion of the office he temporarily holds - much less the significance of the entire country. The U.S. was once the leader of the world. Now look at us - being led by the world’s oldest, ugliest and orangest baby in documented history.
36
Your point could have been made without the ageist comment.
At least Nero could play violin- President Dennison is trying to raise 20 million from a woman to fund his 2020 run for president. Just imagine- another 7 years of his well-oiled machine. What a wonderful time the world will have with such exquisite leadership. Putin and Trump running America together. Vlad has another 6 years as of today and another 7 from his helper Donald coincides nicely. Journalists in both countries will, in a similarly parallel fashion, be literally fighting for their lives. Fake news- or any news at all will be a capital offence in both kleptocracies.
1
Just making a point. He’s rather old to be name calling, not to mention name calling as the leader of the free world.
Too bad the intelligence officials who are now willing to speak publicly against an American president who is critical of the FBI and CIA were not as willing to tell the American public the truth about the reliability of intel regarding weapons of mss destruction in Iraq under Hussein. Trump is not undermining American confidence in US intelligence agencies. That horse has left the barn.
7
That seems an old complaint..and one that has been recycled over and over to try and discredit many people & institutions. But now it begins to sound like a hollow, one-trick pony.
Mr Trump's non-stop vitriol and negativity merely undermines his own standing. The FBI, CIA, and other American institutions will continue, but Trump will fade away before long, and one day, never to be heard form again.. But the institutions of the country will last.
1
But these officials weren't "former" officials during the Iraq War. There's a reason they're speaking publicly now.
Actually they did, but Cheney and all of the Neo-cons simply railroaded through a done deal. This is a big myth that Trump continues to use and you believed it. Do some homework.
1
With each denigrating tweet, Trumps guilt speaks loud and clear. If the Mueller invest. finds no guilt it simply means Trump got away with his myriad crimes against America.
19
My money is on Mueller.
I believe Mr. Trump gets a thrill out of firing people. I think his favorite phrase is " You're Fired." Perhaps to him it is like re-playing his TV acting role.
11
Perhaps he should repeat that phrase while looking in the mirror.
In that the majority of the GOP leadership and Kelly continue to enable our President to be a corrupt obstructionist, perhaps the best we can hope for is that he fire the "wrong person", Mueller that is, if that is what it is going to take for him to be impeached. Regardless, Comey and McCabe are the true patriots in this story, and when their stories do come out, Trump will be more fully seen for the spiteful, vile, and inept man-child he is.
18
The true patriots include Mueller and his team and our free press. We are seeing some of the best investigative journalism since Watergate and Iran-Contra. Keep going, all of you. You just might save our country.
I don't understand why Trump is not challenged when he says his finances have nothing to do with the Russian collusion investigation and would be a red line. His finances have EVERYTHING to do with possible Russian collusion: if he owes a significant amount of debt to Russians or has been a laundering conduit for dirty Russian money, he is compromised. Why is no one calling him on this?
52
I am appalled that it took Republicans so long to respond to the outrageous comments Trump makes. I'm a supporter of freedom of speech, but I also believe that some speech should result in a punch in the nose. When candidate Trump insulted Carly Fiorina's appearance, I was hoping Frank Fiorina would teach him the lesson that his parents failed to teach him. I have spent some years in the southern United States. Say what you will about the South, but southerners would have taught Trump a lesson the first time he insulted a woman.
21
In this instance, I agree with southern justice.
1
Oh sure they would have. Just like they taught Roy Moore a lesson.
1
You mean to say that the only thing between America and total disaster is sending the spoiled heir to the golf course for 18 holes?
I think we're reaching the point where he should play a morning round of 18 holes, break for a cheeseburger and a milkshake, then another 18 in the afternoon, a quick tweet to report his scores (I know, about as reliable as Larry Kudlow's predictions), then an hour on the putting green at dusk, then a quick golf-cart ride to Mar a Lago for beddy-bye.
Ivanka can sign anything that needs to be signed if necessary.
14
I regularly visit Government Executive and read the comments there -- mostly from federal mid-management and staffers. Over the past few weeks, some otherwise intelligent people have started touting Donald's line about the FBI being corrupt, and Hillary being a criminal, and that there is no evidence of collusion or other criminal activity in the Trump Administration.
Donald's game is working. By discrediting the investigation and its staff and witnesses, he is getting ready to challenge the inevitable findings of conspiracy, obstruction, money laundering, tax evasion and corrupt business practices -- for which there is a lot of evidence.
Every post attacking the FBI or DOJ staffers only adds to the obstruction count.
Mueller's book keeps getting longer and longer. He will have to rescue us soon because the man in the White House is heading for a storm.
22
If its a long book Donald won't be reading it. The man in the white house is heading for a storm? Pun intended? Two stars... Stormy Daniels and co star Swampy Trump.
1
One expert questioned the decision of Mr. Comey and others to publicly hit back at the president. Mike German, a former F.B.I. agent who is now at the Brennan Center, a public policy and law institute, said the public exchanges were further proof of an eroding of trust between the head of the executive branch and its traditionally apolitical civil servants.
Recently I read a story about a man who was physically abusing his girlfriend.
She cowered away from him.
What is this expert suggesting that even if Trump batters you, you should just take it because he is president?
Seriously?
Trump has single-handedly compromised many decorums and rules that have been a part of our establishment during my lifetime.
Some rules don't need to written down in concrete for them to be legal and valid.
Trump is saying and acting in effect that they do.
OK, I'm hoping that there will end up being amendments to the constitutions saying so.
In the meantime, Mr. Comey, Mr. McCade, when Trump punches you, PLEASE punch back as hard or harder than he.
Trump is a bully that needs to be stopped.
He's president of the United States, but he doesn't own it.
25
There needs to be a decision that Trump cannot own a TV network. EVER. Who could make such a decision? Perhaps courts ?
13
He already has a TV station. Its really fair and balanced.
For the targets of Trumps lies and vicious personal attacks not to speak out is to submit to a bully and all that he wants. For Trump to go unanswered leaves his rantings and untruths as the only statements out there. Responses in a dignified manner is required.
To accuse someone like Comey or McCabe of lying is to impugn them in their profession. Perhaps they will consider lawsuits?
The personal and vulgar attacks by Trump on these career professionals, including upon members of Congress, is astounding, exhausting to behold and demeaning to the office. He must be brought to heel.
The president is not above the law. I thought that was settled with Nixon. At least Nixon understood government and negotiations and respect for equal branches and respect for the history of the US. Trump offers us none of that and is due for lessons never learned....quickly and severely
15
Perhaps after Trump destroys all of our institutions, our respect in the world, any notion of a free press and bipartisanship and is in total control of congress and the judicial system, America will be great!
Wake up people. It is time to speak up.
16
I fear the gathering apocalypse that Trump will, no doubt gloat over, as I agree with many analysts that the conveniently mute Congress will continue to sit on their hands if Mueller is dismissed. Trump never recognized the rule of law and that no man is above the law. An undereducated, megalomaniac was elected by utilizing an obsolete, archaic electoral college system. The vox populi must galvanize to force Congress's hand, now that it fulfilled it's servile role to their corporate masters and the 1%ers i.e. passage of tax reduction legislation.
5
Trump has proven himself time and time again to be one of those people we've all had the displeasure to meet in our lives: it is not only necessary that they succeed, but that others be made to fail. Without others being made to fail, their success (so-called) is incomplete.
All I can think of looking at the photo that accompanies this article is that Trump The Selfish, The Greedy, The Cruel is unworthy to stand behind any podium in our White House. That's right, Trump and Friends, OUR White House.
12
We have to be clear about where Trump's actions can lead the US. His statements about lifetime appointments like the Chinese president, his fawning over dictators around the world, his entourage constantly talking up conspiracy theories about the deep state, etc... Trump is not going off the deep end, on the contrary he knows what he is up to. His tweets, his Fox News echo chamber and his constant denigration of other kinds of authority from science to the press, from the intelligence community to the diplomatic corps, from law enforcement to our institutions are calculated. Trump and his acolytes see them all as obstacles to tear down. He is playing Erdogan's game accusing and belittling all other authority, this way he can order purges, so that only loyalists are at the levers of power. Power that he and only he can dole out. The Republicans who are going along for the ride are making a Devil's bargain. They are taking the ship of state into uncharted seas, on a path that we have never followed in all our history. If we do not find some way to neutralize Trump's brand of vitriol, we risk loosing all that we have fought for over two centuries. The Russian's are having a blast, the Chinese are laughing all the way to the bank, the Europeans are shaking their heads and our status as the leader of the free world is tarnished. Imagining a Trumpian police state is now not hard to do.
25
Of course he should be gone. A man without a moral fiber, a disgrace to the country, our institutions and everything we stand for is beneath contempt. I had 2 uncles who fought in WWII, a cousin in Korea, myself in Vietnam. Is this what we fought for? I hope not. He is a betrayal to all those served and gave their lives. My true contempt is reserved for the Republicans who do not have the backbone to stand up and say something, anything! They can remain silent for now. But I will stand up and be heard on Election Day. I pray enough people will join me in throwing this rascal out!
A very little man, brought to power by angry little people . . . unfortunately so many have chosen a deplorable human being to represent their interests.
If they choose to continue to support an administration that defiles the presidency and America globally, Hillary's slip defines more of our citizenry than any of us imagined.
4
Since the Republican controlled Congress has abdicated their responsibility to reign-in Trump, we can only hope that retired public servants such has Brennan and Comey continue to speak out loudly and often against this dumpster fire currently engulfing the White House.
4
Never forgive the GOP for enabling Trump. We are living through daily rants and horrors, the country ungoverned. We live on the edge, waiting for the next explosion. The world too.
Vote accordingly.
6
Trump Foes Tweet Back: ‘You Will Not Destroy America’
[ Yes, these sorts of headlines really do frighten me. ]
3
Republicans pretended to be furious when it appeared the IRS was scrutinizing the non-profit status of right-wing organizations which expressed overly political goals. We now have the President ordering public agencies to go after individuals who he suspects of disloyalty to him. This is how dictators cement their power, using the forces of government agencies to silence disagreement. The GOP continues to show it cannot govern.
979
Yes, Republicans just pretend to be upset with Trump.
So Speaker Ryan's "spokesperson"... (why does the "Speaker" need a "spokesperson"?)
Anyway, so Mr. Speaker's speaker's full throated condemnation of Trump's attacks is: "Trump should let Mueller do his job".
So bold!
Such courage, Mr Speaker (who now needs his own speaker!)
7
What do you mean "appeared"? IRS conceded that it illegally targeted hundreds of conservative groups. That's a fact. And these groups were no more political than NAACP.
1
Do you have any idea how any government agency really works?
Trump continues to be hypersensitive to the issue of legitimacy, precisely because he is illegitimate. The election of 2016 was stolen, and we all know it. It's not just the 3,000,000 more popular votes. Whether it was Russian ads on Facebook, breaking into the DMC server, doctoring of voting machines in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, systematic removal of Democratic voters from the rolls in Ohio, or whatever, Hillary Clinton won but it was stolen. Donald Trump's rein is illegitimate. And he acts like he knows that.
17
The Mueller investigation is about Russian interference with our elections. Even the GOP House Intelligence Committee members admitted Russians were involved. It would be treasonous not to get to the bottom of such -- who was involved, why, how. when. The President needs to back off. Neither he nor Dowd nor anyone else knows what Mueller and his team know or will get to know so how can they say the investigation is "baseless". Let Mueller do his job.
11
What is so disgusting about Trump's tactics to discredit critics is the use of a standard American principle to blacken the character of those charged with investigating him. He introduced the party loyalty test making it impossible to preserve the idea that the Constitution is more valuable than party registration when doing the right thing by the country.
9
This is what the people who voted for Trump wanted in a president? The Trump organization bent and broke every rules they could during the campaign and now. One needs to look no further than the mining of individual's profiles, etc on Facebook to understand how those actions bordered on the criminal.
12
Putin's strategy to upend western democracies revolves around sowing discord and animosity to create a dysfunctional context. Clearly, Trump is on board that train. Any questions?
8
There's no "race to the bottom", as Mr. Schmitt of AEI puts it. That's just another example of the false equivalence strategy the people resort to to justify this President's behavior. The President has owned the bottom for some time now, and continues to excavate.
15
How are you stopping him? A tweet does not stop him. Words do not stop him. He is centralizing power, using his position to gain wealth. People like this have a parasitic quality.
Meanwhile, he uses the art of war, the GOP uses the art of war, to divide the nation. They back legislation against freedoms for the sake of aligning with mistaken moralizers who are confusing their satanic temples with Christianity. These people sell their souls daily because they are angry, betrayed and confused and detached from their compassion and other higher ordered thinking.
Pride, sloth, gluttony, greed, lust, envy, and wrath grip our legislators and citizens and make us all easy prey to the predatory nature of the callous and paranoid who yearn to experience their dominion over others and collect power and watch people suffer.
Our people confuse their fear of situations that are corroding our sense fo safety in community and attack the victims, the powerless, and praise the greedy and indifferent, hoping to get a crumb of their abundance, only to struggle with their own lower nature and justify no action.
And what is needed is not happening. And it is right within our grasp. What is needed is resilience building.
We can unite and end suffering.
Those of us who care can align if we create an opportunity that is more than a march - a point to connect.
We trained many college students to be resilient and thrive despite the odds.
Ask them to help. Create a new avocation.
They matter.
3
These men see our elected leaders say nothing about Trumps' conduct whilst enduring insult after insult by the President. They have reached the breaking point. Their speaking out should surprise no one.
3
Trump is winning.. Congress, in Republican hands is more interested in lining their pockets and the pockets of their patrons. Lip service to democratic principles while they destroy the credibility of core institutions. Regardless of outcomes, they've effectively eroded the core trust of a majority of Americans in the electoral process itself (helped along nicely by Putin). Once our faith in the basic fairness and legitimacy of an election result is lost, the basic glue that binds us as Americans is lost with it. We're there. If there is a "Blue Wave" in November, a significant percentage of the population will the believe that the election was stolen by the "Deep State". The rhetoric of Republicans since at least Reagan have slowly but surely chipped away at the foundation of trust that underpins our democracy. They've been aided and abetted by the likes of Hate Radio, the Kochs, Spencers and their kind and giant media conglomerates the News Corp (Fox) and Clear Channel. This will take generations to put right - if it even can be.
6
I have no idea whether Mr. Putin did anything to help Mr. Trump become president or if he desired to do so. But the fact that Mr. Trump became president is a brilliant piece of luck for anyone who is motivated to weaken the institutions of the American state and the private interests for which it works. Congress sits revealed as a group of passive hypocrites, looking more foolish by the day. The Justice Department and the rest of the executive branch is in tatters. Lies pile upon lies on all sides. Allies increasingly alienated and looking for ways to exclude American involvement. Can you imagine how tickled are those who dislike America and what it stands for? We stand exposed with our pretensions stripped away, the pettiness revealed in all of its vile detail. We did this to ourselves, whether it pleases Mr. Putin or not, and whether he played some minor role in it or not. This is an American tragic-comedy that we authored for ourselves even when it pleases others. The best we can do now is to try to minimize the damage to ourselves and hope we harm as few others as possible. It is up to us to remove the mote from our own eyes.
5
Everyone should respond. The tweet responses from Comey and Brennan were welcomed as others are. Trump has done what he did in business which is “do anything I want and sort it out later. His sick family supports, defends and is complicit in his corruption, obstruction of justice, emoluments clause violations, conflicts of interest and more. They broker Chinese deals for Ivanka Trump and pitch Jared Kushner’s now failed Jersey City real estate deal to Chinese investors promising White House access and expedited citizenship. He is out of control. The U.S. isn’t his real estate nonsense left with tenants trying to remove his name from every building. Growing up in NY we knew he was a brutish clown embraced for his wealth. No philanthropy, not one of his donations honored ever. His children know they’ll inherit billions. Where’s more tweeting condemning the back door deals with his business and morally corrupt family prior, during and after the election. The GOP now begins to figure they need to salvage their power and personal greed by getting him out which is a huge effort further distracting from the problems facing the country and the world. The environmental peril is so great. Where’s the tweet acknowledging Robert Mueller being a life long Republican, his superb career and decorated service in the United States Marines. As Clapper said if he made comments in the military during an investigation he’d be committing crimes.” Its criminal for the commander in chief to do so.
6
In the face of silence by the empty vessel that is today’s GOP, these normally reserved public servants understand their patriotic duty. They have no choice but to try and fill the void. Most republican legislators have been actively engaged in an stunning conspiracy of capitulation. Justice demands that they be forced to pay a profoundly devastating price this November. In the stunning absence of ethical leadership by the party in power, American voters must unmistakably demand the restoration of truth, dignity and constitutional fidelity.
9
I guess you could call this mud-slinging, but I for one, welcome the opposition tweets from those more qualified, more seasoned, more respectful than Trump—which, let's be honest here, isn't hard to be. When Trump tweets out garbage, his base listens. They believe McCabe is the liar, whose organization unlawfully wiretapped Carter Page. One look at the comments on Daily Mail emphasizes this point. So, when Trump tweets out lies, they do enough to cast doubt on law enforcement agents, prosecutors, rival politicians as dubious, untrustworthy people, and he alone is the truth-teller, the one persecute for his singular clarity.
It's better to not let Trump own the message. If there's one thing he's good at, it's owning the message. In this digital age of communication, he who owns the message, wins the war. And our brave men in women in positions who can do something about this shouldn't let Trump be the victor.
5
The law enforcement officials who are the subject of lying tweets need to respond in some fashion.In this fast moving news cycle the brutally false information in the tweets can become fodder for elaborate conspiracy theories that gain credence and become part of the popular mythology.Fiction is more enticing than facts and easier to swallow.In this administration which is "fact free" , honest and credible public servants need to speak up.
4
We must all vote for the good of this democracy. The immorality that surrounds us is sinking the nation and the only weapon we have, the only one we need, is our vote. We must all use it.
Never did I think that this country, the beacon of freedom to the world, should be come under attach from within. We are witnessing a turbulent and treasonous time with little power to right this ship. Our only option is to be calm, logical, and to vote.
4
Only one side's credibility is being "torn to tatters in broad daylight." But that side never had any credibility in the first place.
2
There will be a reckoning. The trustworthiness of the FBI & CIA vs. the trustworthiness of Donald Trump. A massive campaign will be mounted to disseminate phony anti-Turmp conspiracies that will fool many people. But like Watergate, the evidence will keep mounting.
In time, the Kochs, Mercers, Adleman will realize it's time to quit while they're ahead. This will signal the members of congress who work for them that it's ok to pave the way for Pence. At first there will be outrage from Trump fans but when they realize how far to the right Pence is, they'll breathe a sigh of relief.
1
No. He won't. At least half the country knew a vote for this person would result in unfolding disaster on the scale that we're now seeing. The People aren't going anywhere, so deal with it Trump--and spineless "leadership."
3
Trump may not destroy America, but he has done critical damage to the Republic. Instead of making America great again, Trump has widened the gap between Republicans and Democrats, stoked suspicion and hatred among its citizens and lost the respect for America among our allies. I truly hope that Trump is charged, convicted, and sent to prison for the rest of his miserable life.
6
I'm focused on the none sense that came from Mr Schmitt, the "scholar" at the American Enterprise Institute. What a short memory. The GOP went after Bill Clinton starting day one and didn't stop until they found a thin excuse to impeach. They went after Obama also, but having found no scandal, they defaulted to obstruction. Maybe Mr Schmitt was too young to remember the Clinton term. It's probably more of a selective memory. Trump is easy to go after. His whole business plan is s white collar criminal enterprise. SAD.
3
Why does Twitter allow it's users to use denigration and humiliation as an instrument of communication on its social media platform. Allowing people to publicly humiliate each other for fun and entertainment and also to insite discord and verbal violence and to degrade the political culture seems irresponsible and outside the purview of its charter.
3
By now, we all know that Trump's connection to Russians is related to his business activities prior to his election and possibly continuing through his family members, two of whom sit in the West Wing. That's why he keeps repeating "No collusion" and is getting more frantic as Mueller looks closer at his business history. Does it involve laundering of dirty money for Russian oligarchs, including Putin himself, through his real estate deals? Does it involve big loans from Russian banks controlled by Putin? Whether of not Trump or his campaign operatives/family actively assisted Russians' Wikileaks and social media propaganda efforts to influence the election aka "collusion" is, at this point, the lesser of the questions to be answered. What influence Putin has over a sitting president because of his past business deals is the greater question.
1
One thing that came from James Comey's testimony before Congress is that he was out to "get" Trump from his very first meeting with the then President Elect in early January 2017. Comey testified that he was writing memos to the file after every meeting thereafter. This - building a file for later incrimination - is J. Edgar like behavior, and Comey had no business engaging in it. The moment he did he lost his ability to serve honorably as the nation's chief law enforcement officer.
It has become apparent that the leadership of the FBI was engaged in presidential politics throughout the 2016 race. This is utterly shocking, and I say that with all seriousness. It is also apparent that this extended to the CIA, DOJ, and the NSA. These people have no business interfering in democracy. They have no business putting their thumb on the scales.
This paper would be horrified if the Trump administration engaged in such practices. But they seem to be OK with it, if the actions are aimed at Trump.
I now admire Trump in ways I never did. I see him as a true revolutionary, imbued with the courage of lions, fighting this systemic corruption that is currently tearing our country apart. I hope we see a special prosecutor appointed to investigate the excesses of the above mentioned agencies. I hope we truly get to the bottom of these domestic attacks on democracy that are far more consequential than the Russians will ever be.
On the contrary, I think it would be surprising if any reasonable, experienced government attorney, upon being required to interact with someone of Trump's character, did not keep memoranda of his dealings. Responsible people keep notes.
6
Trump comes across as "true", because he is "true". He is a true to himself, that's all he cares about, don't even imagine he is motivated by anything other than self-aggrandizement.
"One thing that came from James Comey's testimony before Congress is that he was out to "get" Trump from his very first meeting with the then President Elect in early January 2017. Comey testified that he was writing memos to the file after every meeting thereafter."
No. It's not the behavior of someone who is out to "get" a superior. It's the prudent behavior of someone who feels that s/he cannot trust the more powerful superior and want to protect him/herself.
2
Republicans want law enforcement to remain quiet, as Trump attacks them. The Heritage Foundation has the temerity to suggest that if FBI and CIA leaders respond to Trump, it's a "race to the bottom".
Meanwhile the Republican brand is wedded to Trump. Most tip-toe around his corrupting behavior.
Bottom-dwelling is the domain of syncophants, not those who protest vile ignorance. What scares Republicans is that nominally conservative law enforcement leaders are being alienated from the GOP. The party has used "law and order" as its cornerstone for 50 plus years.
The Republican base may still be gung-ho supporters of police. But the defense establishment will not forget.
3
Mr. Comey, Mr. McCabe and Mr. Brennan are all suggesting that there is more to this story than is known to the public. I have no doubt that they know a lot more about the shadowy activities of Mr. Trump and his circle of "advisers" than I do. Mr. Trump knows what these men know, and he's terrified. Is he facing mere opprobrium? Is he facing impeachable offenses? Is he looking at criminal charges? We, the public, don't yet know, but Trump knows, and his behavior toward these men says all we need to know about the direction this investigation is headed. No wonder he's on the offensive.
2
Rely on one thing in this mess:
If he fires Mueller, he will be indicted for Obstruction of Justice. Maybe no one will be available to prosecute him but some grand jury will indict him.
Take it to the bank that there are enough courageous citizens on grand juries and prosecutors who believe the rule of law important enough that he will be indicted if he fires Mueller.
2
I may be wrong, but I don't think a President can be indicted like other "normal" people can. He can only be impeached and that depends on the strength of Congress. The truth is, he could fire Mueller and skate free without a problem other than the optics and elections in November.
I'm going back in time and wishing that someone would confront the Hero-in-Chief to a duel. Let's find out how tough and brave he really is.
1
I hope the people of the US can stop the apparently crazy Trump, his family, his cabinet, his followers and Putin. Trump appears to have no respect whatsoever for the constitution and the American people.
The POTUS job is a hard one no matter who you. It seems that the Donald, Jared, Ivanka, Donny Jr and many others think that their government jobs allow them to ignore all laws and to have no dignity or decency.
2
"You will not destroy America": Dear Mr. Brennan, I surely hope that he won't destroy America, and most people on the face of this globe hope the same. But what is your confidence based on? The strength of the American democratic political system? The depth of political maturity among the American voters? I'm a hopeless optimist at heart - but frankly, observing the political developments in the US since 2016 from the other side of the Atlantic, I can't share your confidence (though I'd love to very much).
The freedom you live in is in real danger. Dictatorship-like tendencies in the US were unthinkable as recently as two years ago - but not anymore. The older ones here in Germany still know how fast things can change, "believe me"...
2
Trump voters know what they have with this guy and it's not always favorable but the more they're criticized, the more apt they are to continue supporting him despite his many insane moments. Democrats should look inside for the real reason Trump won the election and start with your own candidate, a very flawed individual with no one allowed to challenge her nomination except an old man who openly favored a Socialistic type of government. Sanders resonated with so many people because they were fed up with the status quo and saw a man of integrity versus his opponent.
In the course of 2016, Pres. Obama remained relatively quiet in the face of evidence of the illegal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian government intelligence services. He didn't want to appear partisan and divisive, or to rock the boat on the way to Hillary's inevitable election.
Journalists played up the enjoyment of seeing private stuff (email messages) and played down the illegal conspiracy, which was unimportant given that Hillary was sure to become President.
How'd that all work out?
Globalism hollowed out American middle class and lining their pockets. Both parties supported off shoring jobs by admitting China into WTO and turning a blind eye to their mercantalism, and flagrant robbery of Western technology. Republicans passed laws that favored companies over workers. Democrats helped them with laws that supplied them cheap labor. The lawmakers as well as MSM showered effusive praise on Globalism, generating a smoke screen and effectively drowning middle class voices. Not only the middle class lost jobs, they were made to feel guilty and ashamed if they voiced any opposition. Trump was the only one who spoke to these people. He correctly identified China as a threat to National prosperity and security. He correctly identified unchecked and indiscriminate illegal immigration a threat to National prosperity and security. Whether he is capable of doing anything remains to be seen.
The oligarchs, globalists in the meanwhile, want Pence presidency because he is one of them.