No more mention of secret tapes. Can we call it a failed bluff by a desperate liar?
4
I doubt if Anything Comey said had a negative effect on Clinton's presidential aspirations. We already knew she was a hypocrite & a neocon. Millions supported her because Trump was - & is - truly scary, an unpredictable nut job, while Clinton is apparently sane. The banksters & the military- industrial complex people voted for Clinton because, in addition to being sane, she has always represented their interests. If anything, Comey reassured potential Clinton voters by assuring the electorate that she was merely careless, not criminal. I did find it odd that Comey felt a need to inform us that Clinton hadn't committed a crime. However, I believe it helped, rather than hurt her.
5
Mr. Blow,
You are a columnist I like and enjoy reading, but I disagree with you about the Clinton-Comey affair. The fact is that the Director if the FBI was confronted with a candidate who set up a personal server in defiance of the rules established by the president she was supposed to be serving, who deleted 30,000 emails without external review, and whose husband had an illicit meeting with the Attorney General, a meeting which resulted in the AG's on all matters pertaining to the Clinton email issue. Everyone who follows politics know that Mr. Comey is an straight-laced institutionalist so why is it a surprise that he acted in form? Mr. Comey showed integrity, Ms. Clinton and Ms. Lynch did not. I vote for Comey.
You are a columnist I like and enjoy reading, but I disagree with you about the Clinton-Comey affair. The fact is that the Director if the FBI was confronted with a candidate who set up a personal server in defiance of the rules established by the president she was supposed to be serving, who deleted 30,000 emails without external review, and whose husband had an illicit meeting with the Attorney General, a meeting which resulted in the AG's on all matters pertaining to the Clinton email issue. Everyone who follows politics know that Mr. Comey is an straight-laced institutionalist so why is it a surprise that he acted in form? Mr. Comey showed integrity, Ms. Clinton and Ms. Lynch did not. I vote for Comey.
4
I don't suffer from the same dichotomy.
Comey is a dolt, and an egotistical dolt, but he's an honest dolt.
He was a terrible FBI director who didn't follow Justice Department practice because he believed he was right. And he screwed up terribly because of that.
But I don't think for a second that he's a liar.
And I, and all of us, have hard, solid evidence that Trump is a compulsive liar, who'd lie about rain if he wanted to sell you sunshine.
It's hard to forgive Comey, but I can accept that he's honest, despite lacking good judgement and being a dolt.
Comey is a dolt, and an egotistical dolt, but he's an honest dolt.
He was a terrible FBI director who didn't follow Justice Department practice because he believed he was right. And he screwed up terribly because of that.
But I don't think for a second that he's a liar.
And I, and all of us, have hard, solid evidence that Trump is a compulsive liar, who'd lie about rain if he wanted to sell you sunshine.
It's hard to forgive Comey, but I can accept that he's honest, despite lacking good judgement and being a dolt.
12
Mostly shades of gray is a valuable way to look at human behavior.
I fear though that at the last second, Trump will stop Comey from public testimony.
The best way he could redeem himself is to go so far as to lay out why/how the Trump international crime family and team colluded with the Russians rendering the 2016 election for president/vice president null and void.
Surely the FBI can get access to this entire corrupt group's tax returns and financials?
I fear though that at the last second, Trump will stop Comey from public testimony.
The best way he could redeem himself is to go so far as to lay out why/how the Trump international crime family and team colluded with the Russians rendering the 2016 election for president/vice president null and void.
Surely the FBI can get access to this entire corrupt group's tax returns and financials?
8
Director Comey in all likelihood will be a circumspect as an trained attorney involved with an ongoing legal case. Zip.
2
Comey was caught in a no-win situation in the fall. Clinton didn't lose because Comey kept Congress posted, she lost because her integrity was so doubtful that the FBI was investigating her. You Clintonistas can deny it if you like, but she was just a poor choice for the party, and she deserves a greater share of the blame for Trump's win than anybody else.
6
Comey did not report to the DOJ obstruction after the conversation(s)with Trump. He is obligated to do so. Hence, by definition, no obstruction.
5
First of all I am no Trump fan, but, "I hope you can let this go", is something less than an "order" to end an investigation. And while I agree that Comey's handling, specifically with regard to the letter he wrote to congress about the new Hillary emails found on Weiner's computer, left much to be desired, "tragically botched" isn't how I would describe the investigation into Hillary Clinton. And saddling Comey with the blame for Clinton losing the election seems a bit much since even the NYT has published several pieces indicating that forensic examination of the election data doesn't bear this out.
I hope Trump leaves office very soon (one way or another) and it would be poetic justice if Comey has some part in it, but I don't see this as a necessary redemption of JC.
I hope Trump leaves office very soon (one way or another) and it would be poetic justice if Comey has some part in it, but I don't see this as a necessary redemption of JC.
Comey is a nincompoop, despite being somewhat educated and book smart. He has an inflated sense of himself, poor judgment , and no common sense. The thing is, he wasn't Trump's nincompoop.
6
Comey's "mishandling" of the investigation of Clinton's emails and private server does not mitigate the fact that all of her decisions in this matter, from inception through disclosure was monumentally stupid and inept. Her inability to own up to this and to truly take responsibility for her actions, including everything she has said and continues to say, demonstrates her utter lack of integrity and insight. If Mrs. Clinton wants to find the person responsible for her losing the election, she need only look in the mirror.
8
I agree completely, Charles Blow. I'm also torn about Comey so, NO, I don't think it's inconsistent to resent him for his bungling the HRC email faux-scandal while upholding him for his testimony against Trump. I suspect Comey is a good, but flawed, person who made a really bad decision about HRC.
4
Comey blew his role in the election. Why he went public about the Clinton meaningless investigation and stayed silent about the Trump one is still not clean. We do not expect saints in government. As Madison said if we were saints we would not need government. Trump, and his people, are evil. They need to be stopped.
9
Let go of the Comey hubris of last year and please focus hard on his upcoming testimony. Kate Kline May, Berkeley
You forget that it was Bill Clinton that engineered ethically flawed meeting on the tarmac with the attorney general that led to the Comey mess. It's funny how people often forget they were the architect of their own demise.
8
If you take an expanded view of the political landscape of the US over the past forty years starting with the Civil Rights Act, then Nixon's Southern Strategy, then Reagan's kicking off his campaign in Philadelphia Mississippi and scapegoating those "welfare queens driving Cadillacs", next an eight year reprieve from GOP machinations under Clinton, then the disaster of Bush 43 blowing up the economy and Middle East (in a foreshadowing of the much larger disaster to come), followed by eight years of that Black Man in the White House cleaning up the mess left by 43 working against a resentful GOP committed to obstruction.
Mix in the worsening race relations, add rising white working class resentment about a diminished standard of living, two political parties out of touch with their base: one has a very qualified with many years of government service but hated in a visceral sense, that hobbles herself with a sense of entitlement, that it is her turn. The other candidate, a boorish narcissist demagogue with no governing experience, but has an uncanny knack for identifying the zeitgeist of the white right wing base of the GOP and hooks them in by normalizing racism, bigotry, and misogyny and making it OK to express those views.
Top it off with a decade of gerrymandering and the Electoral College and interference by the Russians what would one expect but the current mess your country is in.
Mix in the worsening race relations, add rising white working class resentment about a diminished standard of living, two political parties out of touch with their base: one has a very qualified with many years of government service but hated in a visceral sense, that hobbles herself with a sense of entitlement, that it is her turn. The other candidate, a boorish narcissist demagogue with no governing experience, but has an uncanny knack for identifying the zeitgeist of the white right wing base of the GOP and hooks them in by normalizing racism, bigotry, and misogyny and making it OK to express those views.
Top it off with a decade of gerrymandering and the Electoral College and interference by the Russians what would one expect but the current mess your country is in.
16
Good essay, Mr Blow. Comey is a complex individual, indeed. I hope that he testifies, and that his testimony clarifies things at least a little.
But: I wish he had handled the revelations he made before the November election differently. Unfortunately I don't know how he would have done that. It was a tough situation.
But: I wish he had handled the revelations he made before the November election differently. Unfortunately I don't know how he would have done that. It was a tough situation.
3
Is Comey the 'Deep Throat' of the combined intelligent services that is making sure the Trump White House crew can't hide anything?
2
Comey appears to have thought that he could bring this 'president' down by sacrifing himself.
Self-justification is the first step to ratinolization, which inevitably leads to denialism. In this mental state, little he says can be trusted, and listeners will sense insincerity. His testimony will most likely lose credibility as a result.
Sorry, but exaggerations such as Comey's are a classic symptom of rationilization gone too far. Unless he makes a full confession of his egregious errors, he will be unable to contribute credible facts to the Trump situation.
If he is Catholic, he may be wishing for beatification, but somewhere deep inside he must know - he is no Savior.
Self-justification is the first step to ratinolization, which inevitably leads to denialism. In this mental state, little he says can be trusted, and listeners will sense insincerity. His testimony will most likely lose credibility as a result.
Sorry, but exaggerations such as Comey's are a classic symptom of rationilization gone too far. Unless he makes a full confession of his egregious errors, he will be unable to contribute credible facts to the Trump situation.
If he is Catholic, he may be wishing for beatification, but somewhere deep inside he must know - he is no Savior.
1
It's interesting that the discussions of Comey use the kind of language I suspect he thinks in: mortal sins, confession and redemption. Heroic stands. Right/ wrong. And yes, all this with a big enough ego to run the FBI or resist a President's wheedling.
I think he did make an error of judgment, with good intentions. Whether it really lost votes for HRC, or simply gave those who didn't "like" her any way all the more half baked evidence to justify their choice, I don't know. We will not ever know.
But Comey can provide a detailed account of his meeting with Trump: it may conclusively show that Trump actively tried to get Comey to back off. But the statement may also be seen as ambiguous: at a gut level, we may know what was meant, but it isn't spelled out.
I think he did make an error of judgment, with good intentions. Whether it really lost votes for HRC, or simply gave those who didn't "like" her any way all the more half baked evidence to justify their choice, I don't know. We will not ever know.
But Comey can provide a detailed account of his meeting with Trump: it may conclusively show that Trump actively tried to get Comey to back off. But the statement may also be seen as ambiguous: at a gut level, we may know what was meant, but it isn't spelled out.
Nice try at deflection, but it wasn't just Comey or the Russians or Wikipedia that put us in this predicament. It was also the New York Times and the cable news channels that amplified the Russian meddling, and we the people who obviously lapped up every drip-drip of misinformation. And now our environment and our very planet is imperiled because of the failings of so many people who should have known better. However, if there is one person who played a significant role, it was James Comey whose name will live in infamy through history. You can be sure of one thing, though. Comey's testimony will primarily be in the self-interest of James Comey and not that of the institution that he served or that of our nation. His memos have always been written to cover his behind, while he goes along with whatever action that he silently protests in his self-serving memos. The Deputy AG was absolutely correct in his scathing letter about Comey's actions leading to the 2016 elections.
2
Comey has placed himself at the center of a political storm of which he is not the centre; thus Trump's firing him for grandstanding. Comey's concept of being "Honest" as an "Individual" is not only unnecessary but Un-American.
We don't need "Honest Individuals" at the highest levels of America's institutions; we need Patriots.
And Comey is no Patriot.
We don't need "Honest Individuals" at the highest levels of America's institutions; we need Patriots.
And Comey is no Patriot.
1
As much as one may deride Mr. Comey's actions last Fall, he was caught between a rock and a hard place. Had he not said anything about Mrs. Clinton's emails found on Mr. Weiner's laptop, and she were elected instead, with news of said emails coming out after the election - well, people would have thrashed the Clinton's and accused them of organizing a cover-up. And Mr. Comey may well have been fired as the "fall guy" for that.
That the Russian investigation continues and the fact that it has been ongoing, whereas Mrs. Clinton's was initially finished in July when she got the slap on the wrist, does give Mr. Comey an "out" for not wanting to comment on it. The fact that President Trump wanted Mr. Comey to essentially "back off" on the Russian investigation, leading to his subsequent firing, suggests at least a cloud of smoke, if not an outright fire. We just now need impartial investigators to cut through the smoke and see where it leads.
That the Russian investigation continues and the fact that it has been ongoing, whereas Mrs. Clinton's was initially finished in July when she got the slap on the wrist, does give Mr. Comey an "out" for not wanting to comment on it. The fact that President Trump wanted Mr. Comey to essentially "back off" on the Russian investigation, leading to his subsequent firing, suggests at least a cloud of smoke, if not an outright fire. We just now need impartial investigators to cut through the smoke and see where it leads.
2
If Mr. Comey felt pressure from President Trump, he should have resigned and gone public. His decision to wait until he was fired, reduces his credibility.
12
Trump has nothing but contempt for the American people.
Sure, Comey committed errors that provided enough reason for his dismissal. But it was obvious that the firing of Comey would raise questions about obstruction of the Russia investigation.
How would a competent, serious president handle this dilemma?
Trump could have had a replacement of unassailable ethics and competence waiting in the wings and nominated that person immediately upon Comey's firing.
The fact that some four weeks on there is no nominee is telling in itself...
Sure, Comey committed errors that provided enough reason for his dismissal. But it was obvious that the firing of Comey would raise questions about obstruction of the Russia investigation.
How would a competent, serious president handle this dilemma?
Trump could have had a replacement of unassailable ethics and competence waiting in the wings and nominated that person immediately upon Comey's firing.
The fact that some four weeks on there is no nominee is telling in itself...
12
Comey's actions with Clinton emails had an effect on the election - an effect that is hard to measure, but I know it was important; but more effective in turning the election towards Trump camp was the spread of fake news by the Russians bots, and coordinating Wikileaks info dumps with Trump scandals to change voters' attention to something that Hillary did wrong. The Russian campaign to spread misinformation through the internet pushed Hillary to the side, and allowed Trump to step,over her body, beating his chest, saying "I'm the winner."
6
Right on target as far as how most of us look at Comey. I think his decision to go public at all went entirely against the grain, but he finally did the right thing knowing he would get a public flogging. That takes guts. Standing up to the Trump machine took moral courage and made him a patriot in my eyes.
Americans don't back down from a dirty fight or the tough get going when the going gets tough.
Americans don't back down from a dirty fight or the tough get going when the going gets tough.
4
Charles,
You failed to mention the fact that Comey testified under oath at a prior congressional hearing that he was not pressured to stop the Russian Trump collusion charges.
You failed to mention the fact that Comey testified under oath at a prior congressional hearing that he was not pressured to stop the Russian Trump collusion charges.
8
source please
1
The problem with Comey saving us from a Trump presidency is that Pence would become president and even in the unlikely event that he were also removed the presidency would then fall to Paul Ryan. Both Pence and Ryan are far more polished and believable liars than Trump and there is nothing to indicate their policies would be any better than Trumps. Indeed, they might well pursue far more damaging agendas ... after all, they haven't even bothered to pay lip service to things like not cutting or privatizing social security. The thought of either one in the White House with both houses of congress in Republican hands is frightening. At least if Trump finishes out this four year term there is a decent chance he might lose the 2020 election and both Trump and Pence would then be gone. Mike Pence would, I think, stand a much better chance of winning the 2020 election if he were at the top of the ticket and that I find more frightening than gritting our teeth and dealing with another 3.5 years of Trump. At least Trump shoots himself in the foot by discrediting the messaging put out by his own staffers. More messaging discipline by Pence or Ryan would not be a good thing.
8
The people who "damned us to the reign of Trump" were the third party protest voters. There were only 77,000 votes in rust belt states that gave the election to Trump. In these states, the third party vote as much, much higher than it had been in 2012.
9
It's ultimately our government and every American's country, and there are enough people here to judge wisely what is pertinent to a presidential campaign. Comey's decision to keep quiet about Trump-Pence collusion with the Russians - that's a road of silence we keep going down with terrible consequences for our country...
Lyndon Johnson should have alerted the country of Nixon's treason for his back channel negotiations with North Viet Nam to delay/table the Paris peace talks.
Jimmy Carter should have alerted the country of Reagan's treason with Iran to keep the hostages prisoner until inauguration day.
Give the people the information, we can deal with it, and stop worrying about what people might think of you.
Lyndon Johnson should have alerted the country of Nixon's treason for his back channel negotiations with North Viet Nam to delay/table the Paris peace talks.
Jimmy Carter should have alerted the country of Reagan's treason with Iran to keep the hostages prisoner until inauguration day.
Give the people the information, we can deal with it, and stop worrying about what people might think of you.
3
I am in no way torn, nor should you be. If it removes the cancer from the white house, I am totally Covfefe.
7
The enemy of your enemy is your friend...
1
Blow is wrong about Comey relating to Clinton's emails. He did the right thing. I believe it was in July of last year he announced he was closing the case concerning Clinton's use of an unsecured server for government business. He also concluded there was no criminal intent so he was not going to press charges. He also stated that if there were further developments in the case he would promptly inform congress.
That is exactly what happened just days before the election. They found an additional 6,000+ emails and at that time he felt that the odds were against him that the FBI would be able to review them all before the election.
THerefore he only had one alternative and that was to update Congress with the result being the entire country was updated.
He made the right choice. As it turned out they were able to review all emails before the election but when making the decision to disclose it was highly doubtful that over 6,000 emails could be reviewed on time.
Good job Mr. Comey. Shame on you Hillary.
That is exactly what happened just days before the election. They found an additional 6,000+ emails and at that time he felt that the odds were against him that the FBI would be able to review them all before the election.
THerefore he only had one alternative and that was to update Congress with the result being the entire country was updated.
He made the right choice. As it turned out they were able to review all emails before the election but when making the decision to disclose it was highly doubtful that over 6,000 emails could be reviewed on time.
Good job Mr. Comey. Shame on you Hillary.
7
Comey released information on the Hillary campaign before the conclusion of the investigation, which is against FBI and police protocol and he should have been fired for that. By doing that, he opened Pandora's box and a swarm of suspicion came out, fatally stinging the last few days of her campaign and gave Trump the election. The "patriotic" Russians and Eastern European hackers, with the Kremlin's smile and nod, had a hand in it, too. And so did Hillary, herself, through her own tactical mistakes. And then Trump made the mistake of asking him to put the kibosh on the FBI's investigation into his own connections to Russia, which could be considerable since he is obviously hiding evidence by not releasing his tax returns.
IMHO, though, it's going to take more than Comey to bring Trump down. It's going to take a bunch of people working together, combined with a lot of irrefutable evidence, including Trump's own tweets. It will take hitting this administration from many directions at the same time and not putting all of the eggs in one basket. Not to mix metaphors, but we've going to need a bigger boat.
IMHO, though, it's going to take more than Comey to bring Trump down. It's going to take a bunch of people working together, combined with a lot of irrefutable evidence, including Trump's own tweets. It will take hitting this administration from many directions at the same time and not putting all of the eggs in one basket. Not to mix metaphors, but we've going to need a bigger boat.
3
Isn't it possible, indeed likely, that Comey knew enough about Trump's entanglement with Russia that he fully expected it to lead to a criminal trial, while knowing the opposite about Clinton? In that case he did the right thing, the only thing, to protect the nation in the future by remaining silent on Trump so as not to jeopardize prosecution. Yes, he could have remained silent on Clinton as well, and in my opinion should have. But if it turns out that he knew Trump would be the subject of a criminal trial I for one can and will forgive him. And from everything I read that is what I fully expect.
We can expect that Mr. Comey's congressional testimony, the work product of a highly intelligent, well organized, and deeply experienced trial lawyer, will be a tour de force. Assisted by his concurrently written memoranda of his meetings with Trump to testify from, or refresh his recollection, he will provide detailed factual backgrounds to "set the stage" for each meeting; a full and complete recitation of who said what to whom during the meetings; what exactly he did following each meeting; and his personal thoughts, impressions, and any conclusions he arrived at after each meeting and from these meetings as a whole. Given Mr. Comey's distinguished legal background, I would expect him to approach this challenge with all the preparation and zeal as if he were preparing for a major trial. If there is a case against Trump for obstruction of justice, bribery, or any other offenses, this witness will, I have no doubt, be ready, willing, and able to make it.
4
While not justifying Comey's Weiner release, let's remember that the attorney general or the president could have quashed it, telling him to get the material reviewed ultra fast (which he did) and then release the conclusions, if warranted. The President could also have revealed the investigation into Russian hacking and meddling, without saying that Trump campaign collusion was part of it.
But no! When they go low, we go high.
"Oh, you take the high road and I'll take the low road, and I'll get to Scotland afore ye."
There's plenty of blame to go around, Charles.
And there are no lawyers, politicians, top level bureaucrats, entrepreneurs, journalists, or pundits (successful or not) who do not have oversized egos. They just shouldn't be of planetary dimension or an affront to reality. Hello Mr. Covfefe, our corrupt jefe!
But no! When they go low, we go high.
"Oh, you take the high road and I'll take the low road, and I'll get to Scotland afore ye."
There's plenty of blame to go around, Charles.
And there are no lawyers, politicians, top level bureaucrats, entrepreneurs, journalists, or pundits (successful or not) who do not have oversized egos. They just shouldn't be of planetary dimension or an affront to reality. Hello Mr. Covfefe, our corrupt jefe!
4
Glad that Comey will testify in public. He has much to answer for. Can't get over the fact that his vague implication that there was "something there, there" in regards to Weiner and his laptop, that clearly hurt Mrs. Clinton is appalling. Especially now, that we KNOW that in July of 2016, the FBI was already investigating Donald's ties to Russia! Why, I want to ask Comey, didn't you let us know about that?! At least, be equitable and throw both candidates under the bus!
Now, we wait to see what he has to say, fine. However, I do not like this man, he is not the honest, hardworking civil servant some have portrayed him to be. I worry that the same FBI that threw Mrs. Clinton under the bus, will also botch the investigation to keep #45 in office. Remember, Gulliani was told by FBI people in NYC, that something about Hillary was going to come out! Who is investigating that? God help us!
Now, we wait to see what he has to say, fine. However, I do not like this man, he is not the honest, hardworking civil servant some have portrayed him to be. I worry that the same FBI that threw Mrs. Clinton under the bus, will also botch the investigation to keep #45 in office. Remember, Gulliani was told by FBI people in NYC, that something about Hillary was going to come out! Who is investigating that? God help us!
4
It's hypocritical for Mr. Blow to judge Comey's handling of the self-inflicted Clinton e-mail scandal without at least Monday-Morning Quarterbacking us through how he would have handled the same situation. I'd pay to see all the self righteous detractors navigate the same waters. The only way to blame Comey for what happened is to either be willfully ignorant to the specifics of the situation, or to be such an unabashed partisan that you view any impartial act of the FBI director that hurts your favored candidate as blasphemy. And I voted for Clinton, by the way. Several times.
7
Good faith is a SEVERELY underrated quality. The minimum standard for any action should be that the person taking believes they are doing the right thing. That does not mean it IS the right thing or that we must agree or allow any given action to take place, but it does mean that we do not have to worry about malicious intent. Short of physical evidence to the contrary, Trump's administration is virtually powerless to counter anything Comey says under oath because Comey does not have a reputation for outright lies.
In terms of credibility, who in the Trump administration can outweigh whatever testimony Comey offers? The worst thing that could ever happen to Trump is that he finds himself forced to give public sworn testimony. The President of the United States cannot even put out a plausible statement about typos. Who is going to take Pence's word on anything after his heartfelt statements regarding Flynn? I don't think Sessions is looking to draw any further attention to himself. Rosenstein has made it abundantly clear that he is not someone who is willing to trash his own reputation for Trump's greater glory. McMaster still has at least some credibility, but I doubt he's going to take any more risks on Trump's truthfulness... "no comment" is the best Trump can hope for there. Spicer? Conway? Sarah Huckabee Sanders? They will say **L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y** ANYTHING in defense or promotion of Trump's interests. Only a fool would listen to their naked assurances.
In terms of credibility, who in the Trump administration can outweigh whatever testimony Comey offers? The worst thing that could ever happen to Trump is that he finds himself forced to give public sworn testimony. The President of the United States cannot even put out a plausible statement about typos. Who is going to take Pence's word on anything after his heartfelt statements regarding Flynn? I don't think Sessions is looking to draw any further attention to himself. Rosenstein has made it abundantly clear that he is not someone who is willing to trash his own reputation for Trump's greater glory. McMaster still has at least some credibility, but I doubt he's going to take any more risks on Trump's truthfulness... "no comment" is the best Trump can hope for there. Spicer? Conway? Sarah Huckabee Sanders? They will say **L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y** ANYTHING in defense or promotion of Trump's interests. Only a fool would listen to their naked assurances.
8
Like the Clinton's?
Clinton - Benghazi, e-mails vs Trump - groper and tweeter-in - chief. We ALL lost this election, no matter who got the popular or electoral votes.
The truth will trump!
To me, this is about atonement. Comey realizes the damage he did to the country with his treatment of Hillary Clinton, and also by now comprehends the depths of corruption and degradation of Trump. He no longer has to balance political concerns such as the infamous rogue FBI agents in New York who were said to favor Trump so greatly. I keep wondering if the FBI has another Russian mole as they did at least once in the past.
The Russian situation is in much clearer focus today than it was in the past. Comey was privy to that investigation as it unfolded, and by the time of the January report would have had a more fully three dimensional view of all the Trump players.
Trump's firing of Comey has made him truly independent. The famous Johnson quote, ".. when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” applies retroactively.
Comey has had a chance to concentrate his mind and to place his interactions with Trump into greater perspective. He has a moral obligation to the country to give his testimony. Ironically, the hanging that Johnson was referring to was a loan scam, very similar to Trump's type of frauds.
The Russian situation is in much clearer focus today than it was in the past. Comey was privy to that investigation as it unfolded, and by the time of the January report would have had a more fully three dimensional view of all the Trump players.
Trump's firing of Comey has made him truly independent. The famous Johnson quote, ".. when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” applies retroactively.
Comey has had a chance to concentrate his mind and to place his interactions with Trump into greater perspective. He has a moral obligation to the country to give his testimony. Ironically, the hanging that Johnson was referring to was a loan scam, very similar to Trump's type of frauds.
5
No problem. Trump'll probably prevent Comey from testifying. It'll all have to leak out some other way.
6
IN a time noted for mindless tweets and their instant replays by an endless parade of Cable News panelists, the idea of one lone ranger serving as the catalyst to both install and remove the source of these tweets feels wonderfully efficient. What better way to end the tsunami of mis, dis, and alt - information that has engulfed us all? The simplicity of a narrative in which James Comey -- who enabled the highest office to be taken over by a serial twitterer -- to be the same instrument by which this national irritant is also removed -- feels like serendipity if not poetic justice. That this labyrinthian tale could end so neatly, and via a man who speaks from a place of moral rectitude and deeply held principles, to discredit -- perhaps even dethrone -- a man of opposite character is the stuff of serious theater. It probably won't work out that way. But the very possibility that it just might will have most of the nation -- and most of the world -- watching.
3
Comey can never be forgiven for treating two ongoing investigations differently. Either report both or neither. Choosing to only report HRC and not JT shows his bias. For him to claim otherwise is simply dishonest.
6
I think that the line about Comey wanting to be in the spotlight (and that being a motivation) simply isn't supported by anything I've seen, and is irrelevant.
Comey's judgment can be questioned, but it's clear that he tells the truth, and it's clear that Trump says anything but the truth. In the coming days, that's what's going to be relevant.
Comey's judgment can be questioned, but it's clear that he tells the truth, and it's clear that Trump says anything but the truth. In the coming days, that's what's going to be relevant.
10
The very public and quite stupid handling of Comey's ouster by Trump has not unsurprisingly led to some support and sympathy for him. It is too soon to elevate Comey to sainthood. His hamhanded handling of the Clinton investigation, and even more dubious handling of the Wiener investigation remain questionable and have not been satisfactorily explained. We should not forget that Comey put his thumb on the scales and tipped the election to Trump, whether from personal malice or just poor management. He's no choirboy, no matter how skillful and smarmy his performance in hearings and public appewarances.
5
"We should not forget that Comey put his thumb on the scales and tipped the election to Trump, whether from personal malice or just poor management."
It could be neither, but instead a matter of making the best of an impossible situation. Suppose he'd said nothing about the "new" Clinton emails and she'd won? Their existence would've been leaked to the press and the right would have used his silence, appropriate though it would have been, as evidence of collusion, demanded his ouster, and squawked endless about the illegitimacy of Clinton's victory, regardless of the conclusion of the reopened investigation. (They did this even though Trump WON!) Meanwhile, Comey was directing investigations into actually serious allegations that the Russians interfered with the election process, possibly in cahoots with Trump campaign, not to investigations into potential criminal financial activities involving major campaign players that extended back years if not decades.
It could be neither, but instead a matter of making the best of an impossible situation. Suppose he'd said nothing about the "new" Clinton emails and she'd won? Their existence would've been leaked to the press and the right would have used his silence, appropriate though it would have been, as evidence of collusion, demanded his ouster, and squawked endless about the illegitimacy of Clinton's victory, regardless of the conclusion of the reopened investigation. (They did this even though Trump WON!) Meanwhile, Comey was directing investigations into actually serious allegations that the Russians interfered with the election process, possibly in cahoots with Trump campaign, not to investigations into potential criminal financial activities involving major campaign players that extended back years if not decades.
3
Everyone should stop looking through the prism of a campaign. What's happening now is about U.S. sovereignty and independence, not red team vs. blue team.
10
This is the way the world ends:
This is the way the world ends:
This is the way the world ends ... not with a bang. but a whimper.
This is the way the world ends:
This is the way the world ends ... not with a bang. but a whimper.
3
Well done, it is muddy no matter what one might wish for it to be. There are so many foulups in this saga. Comey taking the role of DOJ and declaring they cannot prosecute; surely a position that cannot stand. Then while exonerating Ms Clinton, he lays out a prima facia case for indictment. Then resurrecting it all just before the election, another muddle, stumblebum action. Now the CYA memo written to cover himself if things go wrong, or was it really a push to direct the FBI away from a strong case? Who knows, will we ever really know.
In the meantime our government is tied up in this whirling mass of charge, denial, etc. and the business at hand, well it is out of hand and going sour fast.
In the meantime our government is tied up in this whirling mass of charge, denial, etc. and the business at hand, well it is out of hand and going sour fast.
1
One thing I've picked up on in #45's messaging, along with his Attorney Generals is the vague and veiled language that is more implicate than explicit.
The use of subtext and read-between-the-lines code talking to law enforcement, the public, his base and the press so they can claim "that was not what I meant when I said blah, blah blah." So, if you "get my drift," you can act out on "what ever YOU think I said!" But if it comes back to bite me, be forewarned, you are disposable...!
The use of subtext and read-between-the-lines code talking to law enforcement, the public, his base and the press so they can claim "that was not what I meant when I said blah, blah blah." So, if you "get my drift," you can act out on "what ever YOU think I said!" But if it comes back to bite me, be forewarned, you are disposable...!
Mr. Comey, like everyone who gets involved with Mr. Trump gets tarnished and dirty. But, none of this is a surprise -- Mr. Trump is no different today than he was all during the campaign and, frankly, throughout his career. Those of us who live in New York were not and are not surprised by his unethical behavior. What is surprising is his serious lack of education -- it's shocking that a man who had so much growing up -- never want for anything -- is so uneducated and I don't mean college educated -- my dad had very little college, but he educated himself -- Mr. Trump has done nothing to educate himself. He is a pathological liar who believes he is telling the truth... Of course, that is the definition of a pathological liar. He's brought incredible disgrace to his country -- thank God we still have a free press (something he is trying hard to get rid of) -- that will be our only saving grace in all of this.
7
Agree. The biggest surprise to me about Trump is how ignorant he is. Maybe I thought New York Military Academy would have taught him a little American history, etc.
3
Well, damned if you do, damned if you don't.
He won't save us Charles. The only ones that can save us are Republicans in Congress,and you and Mr. Krugman have already explained very well why that won't happen.
2
Don't know what Comey was thinking or trying to accomplish by coloring outside the lines of the typical and acceptable FBI public statements, with his Hillary Clinton email divulgences, but he was wrong to do it. He doesn't get to decide who gets prosecuted. The DOJ does that. Maybe if Bill and Loretta had not had their little chat on her plane this would not have hapened the way it happened.
Don't know what Trump said to Comey, in person or on the phone, but tend to believe that Trump tried to get Comey to back off Flynn.
Doubt that Flynn, Sessions and Kushner "forgot" their meetings with Russians.
And, I bet nobody gets into any trouble about any of this.
And meanwhile, the GOP is behind closed doors working on healthcare and tax reform ---
and we are all going to be blindsided by what legislation comes up for a vote and gets passed --- House and Senate ----- because Trump's tweets are the 24/7 news.
Don't know what Trump said to Comey, in person or on the phone, but tend to believe that Trump tried to get Comey to back off Flynn.
Doubt that Flynn, Sessions and Kushner "forgot" their meetings with Russians.
And, I bet nobody gets into any trouble about any of this.
And meanwhile, the GOP is behind closed doors working on healthcare and tax reform ---
and we are all going to be blindsided by what legislation comes up for a vote and gets passed --- House and Senate ----- because Trump's tweets are the 24/7 news.
3
Mr. Blow is a fine writer, but he should be perceptive enough to be aware of the utter indifference of the average, working class American to the goings on in Washington regarding FBI Director Comey and question of whether the c-in-c pressured him to shut down investigation re Russian links. Average American does not care, and if he has been the victim of offshoring, or made redundant by an H1B visa holder from abroad who has come to replace him, and whom he must train on top of it,his principal preoccupation is to find another job to feed his family. This indifference was encapsulated by a state senator, African American from Ohio who declared that people in her state cared above all about the economy. Democratic Party spokesmen, Sen. Schumer, Pelosi and others are focusing on the Russian story because they are at a loss to propose an alternative to The Donald's policies which vaulted him into the WH. Thanks to excellent investigative reporting by Alec Magill and others re Jared Kushner's duhious reputation as a landlord, and Ivanka's eagerness to capitalize on her father's presidency--abhorrent--I have my own misgivings about the First Family, but my doubts, premonitions, do not detract from my belief that Russian "meddling"in election is no more than "de la petite histoire," and regardless of what Putin did or didn't do, nothing short of a miracle would have saved HRC from a humiliating defeat.
2
Comey's become larger than life, as has Mueller. Shrinking in size? That's Jared Kusher. The guy with a super fine existence. Until lately.
With some ironic consequences with the Kushner rabbit hole of Russian ties and a big investigation. There he is, literally inheriting a fine life. From his own dad, by proxy, then from the insecure father-in-law sitting in the White House. Kushner was handed an already established real estate firm in a robust, major city. Easy street. Then ends up in the white house--a lot in common with the old man in the oval office.
He and Ivanka as "crème de la crème." He advances to the white house married to the boss's daughter, while his family's corporation profits negotiating visas for Chinese investors-- and possibly other schemes.
His father-in-law's voters who despise urban coastal elites neither notice--nor care.
But the Senate Select Investigation Committee cares, as does the newly appointed investigator former CIA Chief Robert Mueller. They're a lot smarter than young Jared---so smug and superior--->and apparently in big trouble.
You wonder how Kushner thought he could secretly deal with a foreign adversary during a previous president's term, then evade being found out?
Getting all jiggy with Russian spies & bankers?? Now he's the guy closest to Trump who's directly under the microscope.
With some ironic consequences with the Kushner rabbit hole of Russian ties and a big investigation. There he is, literally inheriting a fine life. From his own dad, by proxy, then from the insecure father-in-law sitting in the White House. Kushner was handed an already established real estate firm in a robust, major city. Easy street. Then ends up in the white house--a lot in common with the old man in the oval office.
He and Ivanka as "crème de la crème." He advances to the white house married to the boss's daughter, while his family's corporation profits negotiating visas for Chinese investors-- and possibly other schemes.
His father-in-law's voters who despise urban coastal elites neither notice--nor care.
But the Senate Select Investigation Committee cares, as does the newly appointed investigator former CIA Chief Robert Mueller. They're a lot smarter than young Jared---so smug and superior--->and apparently in big trouble.
You wonder how Kushner thought he could secretly deal with a foreign adversary during a previous president's term, then evade being found out?
Getting all jiggy with Russian spies & bankers?? Now he's the guy closest to Trump who's directly under the microscope.
2
Clinton's hubris was more responsible for her loss than was Comey. That, and the fact that she ignored Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan feeling that they were hers. Furthermore, she was less than inspiring. The result of these things? We now have the most unqualified, cognitively impaired President in memory occupying the White House.
6
She also lost because a lot of white men and white women couldn't vote for a woman, especially a woman who changed the role of first lady. Then she became a successful senator and secretary of state. Add to that she was demonstrably more intelligent than the congressional committees who raked her over the coals for 11 hours. But the fool in the WH can't answer a few questions without snorting in rage. Nor can he answer questions with any sense of dignity or eloquence.
6
Very well said ReconVet. In today's Washington Post - but certainly not in today's NYT - Hillary Clinton's latest excuse for losing is the low quality of data available to her from the DNC last year, particularly regarding the three states you mention.
Readers, please take a trip to the WaPo site and look at The Fix, where this information is presented.
Readers, please take a trip to the WaPo site and look at The Fix, where this information is presented.
The damage is done. Nothing Comey will say before Congress can undo the destruction and slaughter, literal, legal and figurative, this president has committed in the last four months. Nothing can undo Comey's fatal error in judgement last October 28th. And knowing Trump, who thinks this whole thing is a Democratic ploy for losing the election, won't give him the chance anyway. I repeat: the damage is done.
2
Comey's letter of October, 28, 2016, tipped the election to Trump, which has already had far-reaching consequences. He suffers from the vices of his virtues: pride and self-righteousness.
2
Comey's credibility is shy of 100%, and whatever he says has value only if it suggests some paths for investigation so far missed. On our way to nowhere, the NYT will join other media in creating a show, which is cheaper than investigative reporting and, as found by Entertainment Tonite and the Kardashians, draws sponsors and readers.
2
The NY Times today reports that there are three principal reasons for the polls being incorrect for the November election. The first of these is that undecided voters decided at the last minute in large numbers to vote for Mr. Trump. This strongly supports the hypothesis that last-minute events played a significant role in the outcome of the election. That would certainly include Mr. Comey's inappropriate behavior that violated DOJ guidelines. (It would also of course include Russian leaks which continued until the every end.)
6
For an imperfect man Comey has legions ready to vouch for his integrity. The expressed devotion sounds more like comments made about an image than a man. Comey is one of the oddest characters to come along in a while. It has been humorously reported he tried to 'blend in' with the curtains in the oval office so Trump might not notice him. Whether or not this is true it seems to fit with who he seems to be- an odd combination of flair for the big story, integrity, and more than a little sneakiness and inconsistency. For me it's more what he doesn't say than what he does.
So focus on his actions. He is a showboat. He's also someone who knowingly sabotaged Clinton's chances. There is nothing ethical about what he did. That business about being nauseated when he thinks he may have swayed the election is pure malarky. He had to know what he was doing was unethical and bad judgement. Or was it bad judgement? It was bad judgement only if his intentions were to be honorable. If his intentions were to sway the election his ethics were still bad but his judgement was good- he achieved the result of bringing down Hilary Clinton. Did he do this to 'correct' a perceived mistake during his summer statements?
It often seems that the people who might know the answers have quietly disappeared into the night. Has anyone heard from Rudy Guiliani lately?
So focus on his actions. He is a showboat. He's also someone who knowingly sabotaged Clinton's chances. There is nothing ethical about what he did. That business about being nauseated when he thinks he may have swayed the election is pure malarky. He had to know what he was doing was unethical and bad judgement. Or was it bad judgement? It was bad judgement only if his intentions were to be honorable. If his intentions were to sway the election his ethics were still bad but his judgement was good- he achieved the result of bringing down Hilary Clinton. Did he do this to 'correct' a perceived mistake during his summer statements?
It often seems that the people who might know the answers have quietly disappeared into the night. Has anyone heard from Rudy Guiliani lately?
6
Very good points!
I don't know about clashes or titans or egos. This is a matter of what happened, who said what and what the intent was. The damage of what went before has already been done. Why Comey chose to speak of one investigation and not another we may never know.
If his testimony on June 8 is open and he has the notes, the convictions clearly expressed and other information he could not provide as FBI director, then we will learn what we need to know. And knowing Trump, he will lie and shoot himself in the foot and contradict and those who believe him will still believe him. Those of us who have known what a monster he is will feel some relieve.
What all of this will lead to is hard to predict but I have faith that is there are charges to be sought, gradually that will be done.
I think Comey got caught up in this because of his self righteous attitudes about keeping the FBI on the straight and narrow. He made a mistake, a costly mistake, but maybe the truth will set him free and us along with it.
If his testimony on June 8 is open and he has the notes, the convictions clearly expressed and other information he could not provide as FBI director, then we will learn what we need to know. And knowing Trump, he will lie and shoot himself in the foot and contradict and those who believe him will still believe him. Those of us who have known what a monster he is will feel some relieve.
What all of this will lead to is hard to predict but I have faith that is there are charges to be sought, gradually that will be done.
I think Comey got caught up in this because of his self righteous attitudes about keeping the FBI on the straight and narrow. He made a mistake, a costly mistake, but maybe the truth will set him free and us along with it.
3
It's almost as if he'd lost the ability to discretely withhold information better left withheld. Once he'd begun the confessional process on the Hillary investigation, due to Loretta Lynch dumping the decision to prosecute or not in his lap, he couldn't stop himself later when he should have. I've always thought, he gave far too much importance to the possible faux outrage of the Republican Congress when they would have found out after the election that he had restarted the investigation without going public or informing them.
1
Agree.
Mr. Blow is making a rookie's mistake. While most, if not all, of his assertions are most probably factually accurate, Trump will walk. His people will walk. The Russians and whatever other nefarious actors were involved will walk. Why? Because the GOP has abandoned sanity and become the Party of Trump. And they will not adjudicate, or take action against a single Trump co-conspirator. They will turn the other way and whistle some nice tune, while destroying America.
Only Americans, at the voting both, can turn this around. And there, too, I think we're screwed.
Only Americans, at the voting both, can turn this around. And there, too, I think we're screwed.
17
Thank you Mr. Bow for being just who you are: Accurate, insightful, truthful to self and very human.
You are one of those people that make it a little easier to get from one day to the next.
Bob Walker
You are one of those people that make it a little easier to get from one day to the next.
Bob Walker
5
When it comes to Comey, I trend toward the villian description. His actions, from the "Ashcroft incident" through the Trump/Russia firing, were not heroic at all. They were what we Americans should expect from any public servant, regardless of position. He was simply doing his job.
The Clinton e-mail debacle was different. His actions, especially the "careless" comment and the "October Weiner surprise'', were knowing, if not intentional, interferences in the electoral process. Comey deserved to be fired. But, it's Pres. Obama who should have done it.
The Clinton e-mail debacle was different. His actions, especially the "careless" comment and the "October Weiner surprise'', were knowing, if not intentional, interferences in the electoral process. Comey deserved to be fired. But, it's Pres. Obama who should have done it.
2
Blow is right that Comey is neither villain nor hero, but he is far closer to the former than the latter. Let's leave "Russia-Gate" out of the equation: to date, after months of investigation it still appears there is "no there there." But go back to Hillary's server. After usurping the constitutional role of the Attorney General he showcased himself before the nation, making a strong case for conviction essentially convicting Hillary Clinton for placing national security at risk through keeping top secret documents on her easily hackable server and then in an amazing reversal exonerated her claiming no charges would be brought. What? Then, again showing the same brand of ham-handed irresponsibility, he made a second intervention in the campaign about a second "trove" of documents towards the end of a very closely fought election, inflicting an unjustifiable wound on Clinton. Why? Was this an act of penitence for his previous failure to bring an investigation? We'll never know. But his two intrusions into the election were enormously damaging to the integrity of the democratic process. He deserved firing over those incidents alone.
4
It's time to get over this election. Voters had a choice between a candidate who was mentally and physically ill and another candidate who was merely mentally ill. Voters in the states with rational populations weighed the two alternatives carefully and made a measured, though difficult, choice in a difficult time.
2
A very good point regarding Hillary Clinton's mental state, which is almost never explored. The evidence for how poor her judgment is is evident in matters large and small. The fact that she is so unaware, or refuses to accept, how off-putting her personality is, from the tone of her voice to her choice of words, needs to be investigated.
One small example: according to her, she lost because of misogyny, or Comey, or the Russians, or most recently today because the data she received from the DNC regarding the swing states she lost was of very poor quality.
I agree with those who say that the average American voter was not affected by Comey's actions before the election. Obama lied to us in '08 when he said she is "likeable enough." She is not anywhere near likeable enough to be elected President by voters where it mattered.
One small example: according to her, she lost because of misogyny, or Comey, or the Russians, or most recently today because the data she received from the DNC regarding the swing states she lost was of very poor quality.
I agree with those who say that the average American voter was not affected by Comey's actions before the election. Obama lied to us in '08 when he said she is "likeable enough." She is not anywhere near likeable enough to be elected President by voters where it mattered.
1
Shakespeare or any of the great Greek playwrights could never have imagined this scenario-not in a million years. My thoughts as 'an ordinary American' (if that exists) is, the Republican party has thought they've known all along what they had with DJT, they just didn't care. All they wanted was to get their agendas passed-erase everything that was done by Democrats, just because-like on a middle school playground. How sad the Republican Party has degraded to this level, where once there were sober, intelligent, thinking patriots, (forget they had different views-we ALL differ on various issues)-they were SANE, AWARE, KNOWLEDGEABLE; there was viable political discourse and COMPROMISE, and THIS is what they gave us? Trump? THIS?? I have been voting for more than 50 years and this is the first time (and last, I hope) I have EVER felt ashamed to be identified as an American. Yes, James Comey made a tremendous mistake and I personally was furious because of it. But he also,in my opinion, fully believes in the role of the FBI, Department of Justice and, most of all, his role within it. He loves this country, is a patriotic American who has given his service for a long time. I think the only thing that will save the United States now is the fact that we are a country based firmly on a system of laws. Time will tell.
5
@Marta Middleton: Those who write from swanky, upper middle class, almost all white cities such as Swarthmore can hardly be described as "ordinary Americans."Swarthmore College is one of the top ranked educational emporiums in the nation, where tuition runs, grosso modo, to 60,000 pern school year "et encore!"Real estate is equally exclusive, and homes goes for a half million and up. No se ofenda, but please do not be so modest!If you believe that c-in-c is not sane, unaware, not knowledgeable, please inform us why. When Breslin took Trump to task for being a bad landlord, he visited the hovels of Trump Parc. Times investigative reporters wrote a brilliant, informative article on ruthlessness of Kushners as landlords, and were specific . When JB wrote that The Donald made mistakes in English, he pointed out misuse of the preposition as in DT's tendency to say "between you and I."Important in writing to avoid being theoretical, general. One should always strive for explicitness. If one disapproves of The Donald's policies, what would you, second person plural, propose instead?
Comey is at the very least a grandiose character. It's not that the timing of his Hillary announcements were wrong they announcements were wrong. Comey exceeded his authority in announcing the decision not to prosecute that was for his boss the Attorney General to make. Second going public with the details of Hillary's misdeeds after it was decided they no longer had a case against her was a gross violation of her right to privacy.
It's ridiculous too see how Democrats turned on a dime and went from demanding Comey be fired to claiming justice couldn't be done without him - disgraceful politics. Just as saying Trump was completely out of bounds in firing Comey - it was well within his powers as president and exactly what the Democrats were demanding. After decades of complaining aboiut FBI civil rights excesses and other failure the clueless Democrats now anoint the very flawed Comey as a pillar of justice. The party is doomed for 2018 and 2020
It's ridiculous too see how Democrats turned on a dime and went from demanding Comey be fired to claiming justice couldn't be done without him - disgraceful politics. Just as saying Trump was completely out of bounds in firing Comey - it was well within his powers as president and exactly what the Democrats were demanding. After decades of complaining aboiut FBI civil rights excesses and other failure the clueless Democrats now anoint the very flawed Comey as a pillar of justice. The party is doomed for 2018 and 2020
2
Sorry Michael, but if either party is "doomed for 2018 and 2020" it ain't the Dems. 2018 could well be a repeat of 1964! If you haven't figured out what a disaster Trump is for the country and the GOP, well, I do believe I've viewed post here by more astute writers than you!
2
Well who knows. All I know is that liberal pundits in liberal publication are saying unless the Democratic Party gets its act together (and they are not hopeful) and begin to stand fro something that appeals to middle America they are going to lose. Michael Bloomberg just came out saying the Dems are going to lose in both 2018 and 2020.
Didn't vote for Trump can't stand the guy but I am glad he fired Comey. Comey deserved to be fired and II think he will reveal little if nothing siting " can't say due to an ongoing investigation" and we in this country will keep spinning from a breaking news story, glaring headline, to a tweet which we can't escape. Yes Trumps is awful yes he will be impeached and yes he will pull us out of the Paris Accord. So let those Trump supporters sing of adulation for him as they wait in Hurrican shelters days on end and then yells over cost of a Tentus shot due to a scratch they received while fixing their demolished garage. Republicans have voted against their own self interest for too long, if they want a true revolution then they need the Democrates and if the Democrates want a new President then they need a new story one that appeals to red states.
1
Remember, Clinton got the majority of the votes. What tripped her up was the ancient Electoral College. The majority of voters voted for Clinton. Democrats know they need to step up their game and appeal to all, not just the Blue states. Believe me, Red states will suffer greatly when the Trump budget cuts $800 billion from Medicaid!
1
Mari - please recall that the Constitution does not say that the overall vote in the country elects the President. To be President of the entire country, one needs to have broad support, not only from California, New York and Massachusetts.
Did you notice that, apart from her plurality in California, Hillary Clinton __lost__ the popular vote in the rest of the country?
Did you notice that, apart from her plurality in California, Hillary Clinton __lost__ the popular vote in the rest of the country?
Well, according to the Washington Post, the reason for Comey's July press conference, where he said Clinton was innocent, but had handled her affirs badly, was a Russian document now considered a fake. The document claimed that Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch had promised the Clinton campaign that the investigation would not push to deeply. Comey believed he had to come forward, for if the document had been publicized after the investigation was over, it would all be viewed with deep suspicion.
This, of course, does not absolve him of his other sins, but it does cast him in a brighter light.
This, of course, does not absolve him of his other sins, but it does cast him in a brighter light.
1
A little thought experiment: can you imagine the circus that would have ensued if Hillary Clinton had won and then fired Comey?
8
Whether Comey should have been fired or not is irrelevant to the investigation of Trump. What is relevant is the REASON Trump fired him. And Trump provided his reason when he admitted in an interview with NBC's Lester Holt that he would have fired Comey regardless of what the DOJ memo recommended. And he said it was because of "the Russia thing". And this is reinforced by his statements to the Russian ambassador about the firing and how it relieved the pressure.
Talking heads can argue till the next blue moon about whether that's enough to prosecute, but any reasonable voter must conclude that Trump's action was illegitimate, and that his continued "service" to this country endangers it. Given this Russian affair, and his continued profiteering from the Presidency, and the many conflicts of interest he has nurtured, there is orders of magnitude more justification for impeachment of this president than there was for Bill Clinton. Yet here we sit going through the motions of pseudo-investigations by a congress that is as corrupt in its own way, as Trump is.
This country voted all of these clowns into office, and we are well deserving of the bitter fruits that result. But we seem to have developed a taste for bitter, haven't we!?
Talking heads can argue till the next blue moon about whether that's enough to prosecute, but any reasonable voter must conclude that Trump's action was illegitimate, and that his continued "service" to this country endangers it. Given this Russian affair, and his continued profiteering from the Presidency, and the many conflicts of interest he has nurtured, there is orders of magnitude more justification for impeachment of this president than there was for Bill Clinton. Yet here we sit going through the motions of pseudo-investigations by a congress that is as corrupt in its own way, as Trump is.
This country voted all of these clowns into office, and we are well deserving of the bitter fruits that result. But we seem to have developed a taste for bitter, haven't we!?
7
Takes a pretty smart cookie to become indispensable to all sides. I don't believe James will have trouble finding work.
1
Not only did Comey shape "the contours, if not the outcome, of the presidential race"; he shaped the future of American democracy, the fragile state we are now living in, indeed he ordained the outcome for the planet as we all wait with bated breath whether or not Trump will pull the United States out of the Paris Accord.
15
For those of us who believe that Donald Trump, corrupt and venal as he always has been, is now clearly showing signs of dementia, it's imperative that he be removed from office ASAP. There has to be a process by which the president can and should be removed by reason of cognitive decline. I am a Progressive and a Sanders supporter which means to my way of thinking, a Pence presidency would be horrifying too, but Trump's impaired judgment and impulsiveness is frankly terrifying.
18
No, Mr. Blow. Mr. Comey can't "save us." Look at the people with whom Trump has surrounded himself.
9
Comey is another example of the type of obsequiousness that is rewarded in the private and now increasingly, the public sector. Nominally brilliant by any available numeric measure but possessing ethical and human nature blind spots that a truck could, and regularly does, drive through. Sometimes you drop the slice of bread when you are just trying to keep it buttered.
3
Here's a thought - what if Hillary Clinton had actually not setup an email server to keep her Secretary of State emails out of the hands of FOIA requests? I mean, what if she had acted honestly and honorably and did things the way they're supposed to be done? As opposed to getting caught doing something wrong?
Oh, wait. I forgot. We're talking about the Clintons, we're not talking about honest, honorable, or rational people.
Remember the Steve Jobs "Reality Distortion Field"? Mr Blow is caught in the Clinton version.
Oh, wait. I forgot. We're talking about the Clintons, we're not talking about honest, honorable, or rational people.
Remember the Steve Jobs "Reality Distortion Field"? Mr Blow is caught in the Clinton version.
10
If the private email server is all Republicans have on Hillary why don't they just write her a parking ticket and be done with it. Not even considered a minor offense. Trump is a serial criminal. Let's just look at one of Donald Trump's crimes.
Conspiracy to commit fraud at trump university. Tilting poor students out of thousands of dollars. Oh but Hillary had a private email server. Lol
Conspiracy to commit fraud at trump university. Tilting poor students out of thousands of dollars. Oh but Hillary had a private email server. Lol
1
what if she did act honestly and honorably? who would know? certainly not the Republicans, nor the Trump campaign, nor the Russians nor the thousand trolls they hired to trash her. The problem with believing the worst about Hillary Clinton is, all these operators wanted you to.
Sorry, but "honest, honorable, or rational" takes on a completely different meaning now that DT is in office. And in case you haven't heard, DT won the election, so I don't understand what point you are trying to make. The point being made in this piece, which I assume is lost on you, is how the same person (Comey) who may have helped to hand DT the election (because of the way he handled the HRC e-mail investigation) may also be the downfall of DT's presidency. Get it? Try to keep up.
1
I'm doubtful that even a dignified, intelligent person like Comey can sway Turmp's fans and the rest of us already know about the president's character and veracity so I'm not sure a lot will come from this.
4
James Comey can't redeem himself for this mess. No matter how the current investigations of Trump turn out, the alternatives we face are nearly as bad. Getting rid of Trump leaves us with Pence. Getting rid of Pence leaves us with Ryan. How much damage to our environment, to the health of our citizens, to the damage to our international standing, etc. will we have to suffer before 2020? No matter what Comey says, it can't make up for the damage he caused the country.
108
I agree that Comey may not prove to be a hero after all. However, our goal should be to get rid of Trump by the end of his third year in office so that Pence can spend the final year of this abhorrent administration re-defining "Lame Duck" for the 21st century. It will likely take that long because even once we collectively decide it is time to jettison Trump out of our lives, the wheels will move with only moderate speed. Be patient and look past the 2018 elections. We must get rid of Trump. What excuse could we possibly give the young people of today for how long the adults let this go on?
At least Pence and Ryan are simply wrongminded; they aren't openly demonic, and/or demented. And that would be helpful in itself.
1
I agree that neither Pence nor Ryan is demented but I'm not so sure about the "demonic" matter!
2
If somebody gave me a dollar for every misjudgment I've made over the last half-century I'd be a billionaire; several times over too, probably.
Get on with it. Dislodge that incompetent Trump while there's still something left to save.
Get on with it. Dislodge that incompetent Trump while there's still something left to save.
10
OK, does anyone really think this drawn out he said/he said is about Hillary's emails or Trump's Russian connections. Trump knows the FBI was deeply compromised in the 9/11 tragedy feom Trump's connections with Gulliani, et al. That's why Trump has always said he would open the deeply flawed investigation back up. It's Trump's trump card. Research 9/11 and the FBI. They were triple-crossed by a little known but key triple agent: Ali Mohammed.
1
If the story that the FBI had false intel from Russia that made it appear that AG Lynch had guaranteed that Clinton would not be punished as a result of the FBI investigation about her emails is true, I have a tad more understanding for what Comey did in July. There is little doubt in my mind that false intel would have found itself 'leaked' had the investigation been closed with no comment. And that most likely would have forced comment by the FBI or silence and unspeakable damage to Clinton, Obama, Lynch, etc. I think (again, if all that is true) Comey chose the lesser of three evils and commented on a closed investigation instead of silence or, worse yet, opening up the reality on a developing and on-going (and far more serious) investigation.
I still don't understand the October letter except to think he thought that false intel may still be leaked in the midst of the constant email leaks already happening as a result of Russian intrusion. Maybe he thought his letter was, again, the lesser of the evils.
There is little question that the October letter changed the election results. But if all of that was caused by Comey feeling boxed in (and he may well have been boxed in) by Russian actions, I have a bit more understanding of Comey (and that is something post-October I never thought I would say). And if the Russians did all this with the knowledge of--and perhaps collusion with--the Trump campaign....let's just say, I'm with Comey.
I still don't understand the October letter except to think he thought that false intel may still be leaked in the midst of the constant email leaks already happening as a result of Russian intrusion. Maybe he thought his letter was, again, the lesser of the evils.
There is little question that the October letter changed the election results. But if all of that was caused by Comey feeling boxed in (and he may well have been boxed in) by Russian actions, I have a bit more understanding of Comey (and that is something post-October I never thought I would say). And if the Russians did all this with the knowledge of--and perhaps collusion with--the Trump campaign....let's just say, I'm with Comey.
9
Russian actions had nothing to do with Hillary Clinton's private email server. Hillary has always maintained her server was never hacked. The New York Times, not Moscow, revealed the server's existence. The alleged Russian hacking involved Democratic National Committee email.
1
The sanctimonious man, is often a fool. Please, prove me wrong.
6
Timelines make it highly unlikely that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to sabotage Hillary Clinton.
• The Clinton-Putin vendetta began in 2011 when Hillary, as U.S. Secretary of State, accused Putin of rigging the Russian parliamentary elections. Putin and Hillary were saying bad things about each other long before Trump became a presidential candidate. The U.S. intelligence community assessment concluded that Putin worked to undermine Hillary because he hated her. He would have done the same if the Republicans had nominated a candidate other than Trump.
• In September 2015, the FBI informed the Democratic National Committee that a Russian-linked cyber-spy group had likely compromised its computer network, but the hacking had begun months earlier, before Trump announced his candidacy or formed a campaign team. The DNC hack so far is the only crime connected to possible Russian meddling.
• The Clinton-Putin vendetta began in 2011 when Hillary, as U.S. Secretary of State, accused Putin of rigging the Russian parliamentary elections. Putin and Hillary were saying bad things about each other long before Trump became a presidential candidate. The U.S. intelligence community assessment concluded that Putin worked to undermine Hillary because he hated her. He would have done the same if the Republicans had nominated a candidate other than Trump.
• In September 2015, the FBI informed the Democratic National Committee that a Russian-linked cyber-spy group had likely compromised its computer network, but the hacking had begun months earlier, before Trump announced his candidacy or formed a campaign team. The DNC hack so far is the only crime connected to possible Russian meddling.
4
Agree that Comey is a mixture. But so is the FBI in general. The MEN (and probably some of the women) of the FBI couldn't stand Hillary (or women in general. They're Republicans, many devoted to the Opus Dei cult, and would have done anything to keep Hillary from being elected.
The New York office in particular was determined to keep Hillary from being elected. (They reported to Giuliani, and he bragged about the big surprise that would be coming. That turned out to be Comey's interference.)
So the FBI is investigating ITSELF. How will that turn out?
And Trump, dumb and lazy and naïve (and covfefe), didn't know enough about lawyers and the FBI to know Comey would be taking notes during their phone conversations and making notes immediately after their face-to-face conversations?
The New York office in particular was determined to keep Hillary from being elected. (They reported to Giuliani, and he bragged about the big surprise that would be coming. That turned out to be Comey's interference.)
So the FBI is investigating ITSELF. How will that turn out?
And Trump, dumb and lazy and naïve (and covfefe), didn't know enough about lawyers and the FBI to know Comey would be taking notes during their phone conversations and making notes immediately after their face-to-face conversations?
8
"Must we simply choose the lesser of two evils in an epic battle: a man of integrity who made a huge error in judgment over a man who lacks integrity and whose judgments are near absolute in their erroneousness?"
I don't agree at all that Comey and Trump are both evil, thus forcing us to choose the lesser of the evils. That is a very forced and unfounded claim and represents an added amount of abuse on Mr. Comey. The two men are simply worlds and worlds apart. The question, "Will this be ... an arm wrestle of egos" posits ahead of time that anything Comey has to say comes from egoism. I greatly dislike this article.
I don't agree at all that Comey and Trump are both evil, thus forcing us to choose the lesser of the evils. That is a very forced and unfounded claim and represents an added amount of abuse on Mr. Comey. The two men are simply worlds and worlds apart. The question, "Will this be ... an arm wrestle of egos" posits ahead of time that anything Comey has to say comes from egoism. I greatly dislike this article.
4
Mr. Blow, as the ancient proverb goes: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Any doubt about Trump versus Comey to take place in the forthcoming Congress testimony?
Any doubt about Trump versus Comey to take place in the forthcoming Congress testimony?
3
One U.S. President and administration illegally sells weapons to a Frenemy on one side of the globe- to give money to a group of mercenaries on the other; to overthrow a Democratically elected leader we don't much like. Ronald Reagan was surrounded by far more dubious characters in his White House than Trump: They were intelligent and experienced.
The sorry mess resulted in about fourteen or so convictions- with most pardoned or sentences suspended and an untouched President who became a GOP Saint.
Do we really expect anything more here- from a castrated government apparatus without the ability to prosecute?
The sorry mess resulted in about fourteen or so convictions- with most pardoned or sentences suspended and an untouched President who became a GOP Saint.
Do we really expect anything more here- from a castrated government apparatus without the ability to prosecute?
8
I find it hard to imagine that we'd be in much better had Hillary won. The Republicans would be going absolutely berserk and drawing up articles of impeachment against her for crimes that pale in comparison to Trump's brazen shilling for the Russians. It was from the beginning a lose/lose situation for everyone but Trump and I see in no end in sight.
If Clinton had won the election despite Comeys' announcements she would have gotten rid of him as well. Likely Clinton would have been a lot more 'professional' about it; accepting his 'resignation' and all. But the outcry on the right would have been much the same as we are now hearing from the left. And there would be demands of investigations and testifying just as there are now, only for different reasons.
Would Comey have scolded a male democratic candidate for being "careless"?
His attitude, like many in the D.C. boys club, seems to reek of sexism.
As for his upcoming testimony, the best you can say is: "nevertheless, he persisted."
His attitude, like many in the D.C. boys club, seems to reek of sexism.
As for his upcoming testimony, the best you can say is: "nevertheless, he persisted."
Lord! Just impeach Trump and get on with it. This has gotten ridiculous!
23
With the Republicans controlling both houses of Congress impeachment is not realistic.
4
Comey testified under oath that no one tried to get him to stop any investigation. So did Comey lie or is the NY Times now lying??!!?!
5
Or - just an idea - we can wait for public hearing and see what Comey has to say.
Add to this to-be three-ring-circus; "I just un-resused myself" House Intelligence Committee Head, Devin Nunes' solo subpoenas of former National Security adviser Susan Rice, former CIA Director John Brennan and former UN ambassador Samantha Power. Still obsessed with Unmasking; leaks and wiretaps. How will we all watch the competing acts? "Live from Dee-Cee- it's....."
7
Very informative and well said as usual. Thanks Mr. Blow. Now, is it not sad that this "comeying" circus is our best hope to stop the carnage by this SNL class administration? How did we ever come to this? The FakesNews propaganda and its little Goebbels ("conservatives" talk show and book writers) bear more responsibility in this mortal wound to our democracy than yet another self righteous conservative republican. It is this constant bewildering brain washing that has given us a little neo Mussolini in this United republicans of banana States.
18
June 1, 2017
Extraordinary concluding sentence Mr. Blow - and there in lies the rub. Mr D. T. has met his match and lets go forth with Watergate 2 and keep the helicopter on the White House lawn at the ready to send him back to Manhattan where the complexities are forever - say like diamonds and voters, women, hot or cold what's climatic in a world so ordinary for little people.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
Extraordinary concluding sentence Mr. Blow - and there in lies the rub. Mr D. T. has met his match and lets go forth with Watergate 2 and keep the helicopter on the White House lawn at the ready to send him back to Manhattan where the complexities are forever - say like diamonds and voters, women, hot or cold what's climatic in a world so ordinary for little people.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
5
Mr. Blow is so overwhelmed by this Greek/Shakespearean tragedy that he couldn't even find an alliteration to express his despair. Things are really serious.
1
Why does no one mention that Comey actually absolved Hillary of wrongdoing while inappropriately portraying himself as a prosecutor? At the time he was blamed for being partisan for Hillary. Many feel that he should have also mentioned the Russsia-Trump ongoing investigations, but per FBI policy he opted not to, i.e. 2 wrongs don't make a right.
The piece that is inexplicable is the Wiener related stuff that surfaced a few days before the polls. Add it all up and Hillary still lost because of DNC hubris, nothing more.
The piece that is inexplicable is the Wiener related stuff that surfaced a few days before the polls. Add it all up and Hillary still lost because of DNC hubris, nothing more.
5
The only ones that can save us from trump in the short term are Republican congressmen and we know that they are as power mad and ethically compromised as trump. The only ones who can save us are the voters. I fear far too many of them are compromised as well. America as a shinning city on the hill has fallen into great disrepair.
111
Do not look for help from voters; due to persistent gerrymandering there is a permanent "Freedom Party" majority in the US House of Representatives. These members stand against wildly popular policy (gun control, for one). Moreover, because we hang on the the Electoral College, we see President after President elected with fewer popular votes than opponents.
These issues are deep, systemic - and without a Constitutional methodology to set things right.
These issues are deep, systemic - and without a Constitutional methodology to set things right.
1
Comey is clearly in J Edgar territory here. If he was holding information that Trump was obstructing justice and sat on it he could have used it as insurance to keep his job. He just wasn't counting on Trumps style.
6
If Huma Abedin had not shared a computer with her husband, Comey would not have had those emails with which to damn Hilary Clinton. Abedin was one of Clinton's closest advisers. She knew her husband had a problem with computers. There should have been nothing on that computer except the most mundane of daily activities. Hillary has her own problems of judgment.
9
There was nothing there as Comey said two days before the election.
3
Comey treated Hillary Clinton very unfairly, first, by publicly chastising her on July 5, 2016 about his findings from the investigation into her email setup, and then by publicly reopening the same investigation less than two weeks prior to the election.
President Trump treated Jim Comey very unfairly by firing him so publicly and have him find out about it on TV, while he was addressing fellow FBI employees in Los Angeles. Comey got his comeuppance from Trump in a humiliating fashion that was entirely unbecoming of the president.
The shoe is now on the other foot. Comey’s testimony to Congress might provide the circumstantial evidence that is necessary to pursue obstruction of justice charges against President Trump.
It’s called karma – what goes around, comes around.
President Trump treated Jim Comey very unfairly by firing him so publicly and have him find out about it on TV, while he was addressing fellow FBI employees in Los Angeles. Comey got his comeuppance from Trump in a humiliating fashion that was entirely unbecoming of the president.
The shoe is now on the other foot. Comey’s testimony to Congress might provide the circumstantial evidence that is necessary to pursue obstruction of justice charges against President Trump.
It’s called karma – what goes around, comes around.
13
By that logic, Hillary herself must have treated someone unfairly, to have been treated unfairly by someone. Karma works both ways. It also does not spare. Good karma is a boon, unfair, not so.
1
I say again, be careful what you wish for. President Pence? A true believer with at least some administrative skills? A very unlikely Plan C would be Paul Ryan. At least Trump is relatively ineffective when it gets to legislation or executive orders that pass Constitutional muster.
Oh, and this whole "who talked to the Russians when" thing is a sideshow that if I were a Bannon Republican I would welcome because it keeps us distracted from issues like tax cuts for people who do not need them, excessive military spending, and horrific budget cuts.
Oh, and this whole "who talked to the Russians when" thing is a sideshow that if I were a Bannon Republican I would welcome because it keeps us distracted from issues like tax cuts for people who do not need them, excessive military spending, and horrific budget cuts.
17
Another way to look at this is it prevents Congress from doing anything. Republicans really are more than one party, anyway. Keeping Trump too busy to provide any real leadership quite possibly can work to our benefit.
5
I don't agree that we are dealing with degrees of evil when comparing James Comey and Donald Trump. A man of integrity who makes a huge mistake still remains a man of integrity. His mistakes are not the product of evil intent but the stuff of human fallibility which, in someone of integrity, are self corrected. A man of no integrity, whose judgments are consistently bad and, for the most part, motivated by hubris, revenge, ill will, ignorance and non-introspection, and who never acknowledges that he's made a mistake, therefore in no need to be self correcting, remains a man of no integrity. Whether that is also human fallibility in its most extreme form or an example of evil is a decision above my pay level. But as for choosing between them, there's no contest.
36
Agree. But this will go nowhere. The Republicans in Congress are too craven to save our country from Trump and his masters.
3
I agree with Mr. Blow and Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein: Former F.B.I Director James Comey should have followed Justice Department Guidelines and never publicly disclosed the re-opening of an F.B.I Investigation into Hillary Clinton's handling of government emails using her Private Server. I only hope the special counsel, Rober Mueller III, has carefully parsed Comey´s testimony so it doesn´t interefere with his investigation. Transparency is important for the nation so we can restore trust in Government and Justice that is why Comey´s public testimony is so important.
7
The American Fascist Party used Comey's letter on the final days of the campaign to depress voter turnout by a very small amount, just enough to give Trump the electoral win. President Obama bares some blame because he is too darn honorable and didn't want to be perceived as influencing the election by bringing up Russia's before the election. Consequently, we now have Trump who is repaying Russia and betraying our nation.
17
I have been a lawyer since 1978. I remember when Comey rushed to AG Ashcroft's hospital bed to protect him from a bevy of Bush WH attorneys who wanted him to approve warrantless wiretapping. Ashcroft was in tremendous pain. Comey was acting AG in Ashcroft's place and the Bush lawyers were trying to do an end run around Comey to pressure a very sick man to approve their unconstitutional executive order. Comey stood out, in more ways than one, in the wasteland of the Bush legal team for his courage and adherence to his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.
Next, he is the head of the FBI. Loretta Lynch has had to recuse herself from the email investigation because of her ex parte chat with the Big Dog. Comey is in charge of the investigation. In July he and his team decide that there is insufficient evidence to try Hillary for violating federal law. Usually, this would be communicated in a press release. In late October, they find emails from the Clinton server on Weiner's laptop. You would think that this would not justify any comment from the FBI. Surely they would have to find a smoking gun to justify Comey's bizarre October, 28th letter/announcement days before the election.
Neither of Comey's two announcements re the FBI's investigations made any sense to me. Had Obama received Rosenstein's memo on 10/29/16, it would have given Obama grounds to fire Comey. Why would Comey keep silent about a much bigger threat, the Russians and Trump?
Next, he is the head of the FBI. Loretta Lynch has had to recuse herself from the email investigation because of her ex parte chat with the Big Dog. Comey is in charge of the investigation. In July he and his team decide that there is insufficient evidence to try Hillary for violating federal law. Usually, this would be communicated in a press release. In late October, they find emails from the Clinton server on Weiner's laptop. You would think that this would not justify any comment from the FBI. Surely they would have to find a smoking gun to justify Comey's bizarre October, 28th letter/announcement days before the election.
Neither of Comey's two announcements re the FBI's investigations made any sense to me. Had Obama received Rosenstein's memo on 10/29/16, it would have given Obama grounds to fire Comey. Why would Comey keep silent about a much bigger threat, the Russians and Trump?
10
Comey can make mistakes. Trump can make mistakes. But no one should be able to break the law and get away with it. Comey's big mistake did not break any laws. Trump's mistakes may have broken the law.
If this comes down to a he said/he said, who should we believe? We have Trump's tweets and we have Comey's memos. I'll take the memos of a respected FBI veteran over the nonsense tweets of a misogynistic, xenophobic, ignorant, serial liar who hijacked the presidency by tapping into the latent racism of economically displaced Americans.
If this comes down to a he said/he said, who should we believe? We have Trump's tweets and we have Comey's memos. I'll take the memos of a respected FBI veteran over the nonsense tweets of a misogynistic, xenophobic, ignorant, serial liar who hijacked the presidency by tapping into the latent racism of economically displaced Americans.
13
Comey "did not break the law"? See the Hatch Act. Or is it just okay, if you're a patriotic Republican?
1
In describing Comey you say:
"A good man exposed for colossal mismanagement"
Huh? Well he's not "good" then. Comey was bad. The "clarity of good versus evil" is very clear cut here. There is no "good". It's one evil versus another. Pick your poison.
Trump's motivations for firing Comey are obvious. But Comey is a loose cannon too. I would argue that he never really had the opportunity to show his true colors until the Clinton email investigation and the intense news media coverage that followed it during the election cycle. Then it became obvious that he was not up to the job. So we are right back to this: Comey deserved to be fired.
"A good man exposed for colossal mismanagement"
Huh? Well he's not "good" then. Comey was bad. The "clarity of good versus evil" is very clear cut here. There is no "good". It's one evil versus another. Pick your poison.
Trump's motivations for firing Comey are obvious. But Comey is a loose cannon too. I would argue that he never really had the opportunity to show his true colors until the Clinton email investigation and the intense news media coverage that followed it during the election cycle. Then it became obvious that he was not up to the job. So we are right back to this: Comey deserved to be fired.
1
I'm with you ... I hope Comey can make up for his last mistake...
The key question is why did the righteous Comey not reveal the obvious dirt about the Trump / Russian ties last summer in a similar fashion as he felt duty bound to rehash Clinton's emails on the eve of the vote. Seems like the Trump Russian possibility was a much more serious issue than looking again at the emails which a few days later were considered no threat. This is very inconsistent moral behavior.
Joe S. Buffalo, NY
Joe S. Buffalo, NY
13
One gets the feeling that call me wants to right a wrong. Every conscientious person agrees that he was wrong to chastise Hillary Clinton over a silly private email server. His argument for doing so fails to convince. That it made him nauseous for helping Donald Trump achieve the presidency is a little consolation for the rest of us. But we cheer him on knowing that his goal now is to try and undo some of what he did. The damage has been done but we welcome and recognize his apologies.
4
If it were up to me I would throw Trump out today. I usually do read this column and agree with most of what Mr. Blow has to say.
But lately I wonder if a lot of the opposition to Trump is simply holding onto the past, an unwillingness to live with the way things are today, in this moment?
It's not that I think we should all accept the abomination that is Trump, but whether our view of the situation at hand is clouded by an attachment to days which are now gone by.
Just as Trump seems to be longing for his fantasies of 1950s America which will never come back and be great again, are my own dreams of what I thought America was also dead and gone?
But lately I wonder if a lot of the opposition to Trump is simply holding onto the past, an unwillingness to live with the way things are today, in this moment?
It's not that I think we should all accept the abomination that is Trump, but whether our view of the situation at hand is clouded by an attachment to days which are now gone by.
Just as Trump seems to be longing for his fantasies of 1950s America which will never come back and be great again, are my own dreams of what I thought America was also dead and gone?
2
I don't need to like Comey or forgive him or root for him. All I ask is that he presents, and is allowed to present, all the facts in the case. And then let justice be done.
Sure. He deserved to be fired for his handling of the Clinton email case. AND Trump deserves impeachment for obstructing justice. It's not a binary choice.
Sure. He deserved to be fired for his handling of the Clinton email case. AND Trump deserves impeachment for obstructing justice. It's not a binary choice.
8
You speak my mind! We can't treat Comey as a savior when he got us into this mess in the first place. I, too, am torn!
4
Charles, please: "one of the few," "one of the very few," or - if you dare, "the only." But please, not "one of the only" – it makes no logical sense. (If you will take my humbly-offered advice, I will let you even have your cake and eat it too).
Respectfully, if pedantically,
A Very Loyal Reader
Respectfully, if pedantically,
A Very Loyal Reader
1
Comey showed his hand when he self-exonerated corrupt Hillary with her abuse of classified materials and the erasure of emails. Then he compounded this stupidity when he came out with the revelation that additional e-mails were found, only to later say they were innocuous. Curiously, he went from goat to hero with Democrats desperate to blame anything and anyone for Trump's landslide electoral college victory. Then he went coy with pitiful performances before intelligence committees. Then Trump fired him. Then he let surrogates leak info about meetings with Trump. Surely, if he believed that Trump was strong-arming him, he was obliged to reveal this contemporaneously, since that would have been a crime on two fronts: On Trump for obstructing justice, and on Comey for failing to report it. Now we are breathlessly being told he could drop a dime on the president, who has self-inoculated by implying that he may have taped his meetings with the director, so he better get his facts straight. I predict the hapless and hopeless erstwhile director will repeat his previous six of one, half a dozen testimonies. That is, unless he is not quite ready to parry Trey Gowdy's rapier-like questioning. I predict a dud.
2
Comey will make for good tv but nothing material will emerge. The good stuff is with Mueller who quietly goes about the work.
4
Unless the Russians and the FBI have information about Mueller that will make him keep the secrets they want kept.
If indeed, it is a fact that Comey performs his duty "at the pleasure of the President", then no one can complain about his firing. That being said, Comey has every RIGHT to "spill the beans" @ his meetings with the President --as long as he isn't releasing classified information. If Trump pressured Comey about anything, then the public has the right to know.
8
My question is did Clinton's actions merit arrest. Did she break the law or not. If she did, why didn't Comey follow through with an arrest. If not, he should not have grandstanded elevating himself to a god status. His actions had a bearing on the outcome of the election. Trump played on that with Lock Her Up shouts. So Trump is elected and now Comey sees the outcome of his horrendous mistake. Now Trump tries to control Comey amidst new findings of Russian interference with the election as if Comey's weren't enough. Feeling guilty and regretful, his new resolve is to nail Trump. Comey obstructed an election. Trump sidled up to America's enemy which appears treasonous. Comey now wants to be the white knight and bring him down. He will go down in history as someone who mismanaged information in staggering ways and caused outrageous repercussions. There is no rectifying his behaviors now. He stuck Americans with an incompetent and likely treasonous president. Makes me nauseous too.
1
Comey was a self serving Republican stooge doing the party's bidding (he wanted that reappointment) till he got cold feet and wouldn't indict Hillary because he knew about Trump's treasonous collusion with the Russians; now he wants to be the patriot and burn Trump before the Republican Criminal Organization (Nunes) burns him.. That's fine - hopefully his testimony will be a John Dean moment. But as for Comey, he's as loathsome as the rest of the treasonous Republican Criminal Organization and has about as much integrity as a doorknob. Hopefully beginning in 2018 he, along with his GOP cronies will be investigated, indicted, arrested, tried, judged and sent to prison - where they have long belonged.
1
Comey's testimony will get the spotlight, but matters not. First, it is just a "Comey says that Trump said" which carries no weight of itself. Second, if Trump simply asked whether Comey could consider Flynn's situation because he's a 'good guy', that is a far cry from saying "Either you let Flynn off the hook, or I'll fire you." Even though Trump fired him later, no threat was made to coerce Comey.
It's all going nowhere and the Times is completely aware of that. But articles fanning the coals are easy to write, require no investigative reporting, and hopefully attract readers and advertisers, eh?
It's all going nowhere and the Times is completely aware of that. But articles fanning the coals are easy to write, require no investigative reporting, and hopefully attract readers and advertisers, eh?
3
Is it too soon to start quantifying the ungodly costs of installing Trump and his supporters, in all three branches of our government? I just retired from federal service yesterday, so now I'm free to say that ... we all knew what the game was when Ted Cruz (partially) shut down the federal government, and treated us to his own unique reading of "Green Eggs and Ham." No biggie; just the usual Congressional idiocy. We knew that nobody had the nerve to continue it for more than a few weeks. The generally accepted figure for the cost of that useless stunt, by that useless Senator, is about $25 billion.
It still shocks me to realize that we're REALLY playing out this clown show, in the world's biggest and most deadly board game. But on the other hand, I'm equally appalled by the clearly real costs of installing Trump as the actual "President" of the United States. Given the three-week shutdown's $25 billion estimate, we must already be into the hundreds of billions of dollars in damages, with the clear prospect of breaking into the trillions! Quibble, if you like, but that's obviously where we're headed.
Let me just start the list of costs with some simple facts, about actions at the hands of stupid, and probably insane Trump supporters:
1 dead in Kansas City
2 dead in Portland
I offer my condolences, as I can't conceive of such personal loss, and my apologies for the bluntness, but these costs and many others are quite real. Nitpicking aside: Thanks Comey.
It still shocks me to realize that we're REALLY playing out this clown show, in the world's biggest and most deadly board game. But on the other hand, I'm equally appalled by the clearly real costs of installing Trump as the actual "President" of the United States. Given the three-week shutdown's $25 billion estimate, we must already be into the hundreds of billions of dollars in damages, with the clear prospect of breaking into the trillions! Quibble, if you like, but that's obviously where we're headed.
Let me just start the list of costs with some simple facts, about actions at the hands of stupid, and probably insane Trump supporters:
1 dead in Kansas City
2 dead in Portland
I offer my condolences, as I can't conceive of such personal loss, and my apologies for the bluntness, but these costs and many others are quite real. Nitpicking aside: Thanks Comey.
4
To the likes of Blow and Comey, Hillary destroying 33,000 subpoenaed emails was not a slam dunk felony. Neither was Obama secretly communicating with her on her secret server using an alias while publically lying that he didn't know she had this server, simultaneously declaring she didn't do anything all that seriously wrong (how did he know? Back channel communications, anyone, or merely obstruction of justice). Clearly, Comey, Obama, and Loretta Lynch colluded to obstruct justice re the multiple slam dunk felonies associated with Hillary's rogue email conspiracy. Yet these same clowns along with floppy shoes Blow declare Trump guilty of obstruction for merely asking if Comey could go easy on Flynn. To paraphrase Obama himself, Obama can't hide from justice behind the garish wall he built around his new house. And if Comey takes such meticulous notes, we must demand to see notes of all his conversations with Obama, Lynch, and other members of Obama's gang. Whatever the truth is, let it all out. Is Blow honest enough to admit that his hero Obama almost certainly obstructed justice? Or is all his outrage targeted at Trump? Why even bother to ask.
I'll opt for the "man of integrity who made a huge error in judgment over the man who lacks integrity and whose judgments are near absolute in their erroneousness." Unfortunately, it will take a long time to correct the damage done by that huge error in judgment, which gave us a president who prefers dictators over our European allies, reverses Obama-era pollution controls in the United States and pairs us with Nicaragua and Syria on climate change.
3
Keep your eye on the ball. This is not about Comey. This is about Trump and his corrupt Administration.
2
The damage by Comey chastising Clinton during a public press conference is done, and shorty before the election reopening the investigation because of emails found on the perp Weiner's computer, cleary threw the election to Trump.
Even if #45, a man obviously suffering from several mental illnesses would have to be removed from the WH to a closed facility, we'll be left with Priest-in-Chief, Mike Pence.
Now the rest of the world, sans Syria and Nicaragua, are waiting breathlessly of yet another Rose Garden TV President-Apprentice show about the US leaving the Paris Climate Accord.
Next up, Russians get their spy facilities is New York and Maryland back, and Putin once again comes out as the winner in the Mr. Universe contest.
Even if #45, a man obviously suffering from several mental illnesses would have to be removed from the WH to a closed facility, we'll be left with Priest-in-Chief, Mike Pence.
Now the rest of the world, sans Syria and Nicaragua, are waiting breathlessly of yet another Rose Garden TV President-Apprentice show about the US leaving the Paris Climate Accord.
Next up, Russians get their spy facilities is New York and Maryland back, and Putin once again comes out as the winner in the Mr. Universe contest.
3
Comey's self righteousness doomed us to Trump. His handling of Clinton's emails was an abuse of power and incompetence. Someone with very low level understanding of computers could see this. It was a "nothing burger" from the beginning. It was incompetence by the FBI to not understand this. A single computer set up with protections to handle nonsemsitive emails. Really? It never ceased to baffle me the ignorance by the FBI and the media. Did no one simply ask themselves, what does this mean? What does it entail? And to go down the road of a huge investigation followed by a stupid self-serving testimony by Comey, followed by a stupider letter to Congress regarding real ignorance on how a computer handles emails. Honestly? America, we can do better than this.
3
The Chief Executive of the United States says to his subordinate "I do not think the investigation of the Russian connection is a good idea". As a former Assistant United States Attorney in my opinion this is not a crime. He has a right to voice his opinion. But then a special prosecutor is appointed and the investigation continues and continues in Congress. Comey should have been fired a long time ago. Mr. Blow as usual your reasoning as affected by your hate of Trump.
3
I agree with virtually everything in Mr. blow's editorial and would go even farther in saying that but for Comey's editorializing about Hilary Clinton in July, then making those two ridiculously political statements in October re the Weiner e-mails, Mrs Clinton would be president today. But here's the thing: all the hand-wringing in the world won't change what happened then so there's point in agonizing about it. If Mr Comey tells the whole truth and nothing but, that should be enough to trigger the start of the end of our long national nightmare version 2.0.
1
There is no undoing this mistake: Neil Gorsuch will enshrine Citizens United, and that means we will have rolled at least halfway down history's hill. It cannot be repaired. Comey may play some small part in staunching some of the bleeding. No more.
1
I would be surprised if Mr Trump is so naive as to put his name on anything which might cost the plum he is holding. He has been crossing "Tees" and dotting "eyes" far too long for that sort of error.
We are being served a big nothing burger with a lot of tasteless sides.
We are being served a big nothing burger with a lot of tasteless sides.
Two arrogant men in a public battle, swinging with unpredictable righteousness. One testifying on tv by day and the other tweeting counter-punches at night. Arguing over which one was more victimized by the other. All I smell coming at us is disappointment.
1
Regardless of some of the arms-length psychoanalysis of Comey how difficult is it to choose between the fundamental character traits of a Comey versus all that Donald Trump has provided us all beginning with the Hollywood Access bus trip recording with Billy Bush? C'mon Blow, are you really having a problem here?
Hillary Clinton, knowingly and willfully flouted FISMA 2002. End of discussion.
The rest is just irrelevant details. Any civilian that did something like that would have been investigated, which she was, and prosecuted which she wasn't.
Given Bill Clinton's illicit meeting with Loretta Lynch, Comey did what he felt he had to do given that his boss had so irreparably compromised herself.
The rest is just irrelevant details. Any civilian that did something like that would have been investigated, which she was, and prosecuted which she wasn't.
Given Bill Clinton's illicit meeting with Loretta Lynch, Comey did what he felt he had to do given that his boss had so irreparably compromised herself.
2
As the old saying goes, "don't wrestle with pigs because the pigs like it and you just get dirty." I had thought, before the latest revelations, that Comey was the last honest man in D.C. If the reports are true, he is not above fraud by omission when it personally suits him. He lied to Congress by purposefully holding back the true motives for terminating the Hillary email investigation. He could lose his law license. As a fellow attorney, I will be very disappointed if it is in fact true.
3
Comey is so tall he can peer through the second floor window. The only creature in the vicinity which towers over him is his own ego.
I'm not surprised that your torn, Charles. You never seem to have entered the world I left many years ago in Washington, where ego reigns over both intellect, common sense, and even humanity itself.
No wonder candidate Trump latched on to the expression "drain the swamp". In Washington, Haitian street designer L'Enfant designed 16th Street to fill the northern swampland which poured directly down to the front door of the White House, and in doing so, left the relatively unfilled swampland behind it (south to the Potomac) available for the future - to drain, both literally and figuratively. He was one black man who truly understood the nation's Capitol. The modern filled swamp of K Street operatives and all the other points of darkness lying in that north-lying swamp are in need of someone who can drain them.
Comey and thousands of others of lesser stature and wealth need to go as well. But you and other transplanted New Yorkers may never understand this.
With one big exception: Donald J. Trump. He gets it.
I'm not surprised that your torn, Charles. You never seem to have entered the world I left many years ago in Washington, where ego reigns over both intellect, common sense, and even humanity itself.
No wonder candidate Trump latched on to the expression "drain the swamp". In Washington, Haitian street designer L'Enfant designed 16th Street to fill the northern swampland which poured directly down to the front door of the White House, and in doing so, left the relatively unfilled swampland behind it (south to the Potomac) available for the future - to drain, both literally and figuratively. He was one black man who truly understood the nation's Capitol. The modern filled swamp of K Street operatives and all the other points of darkness lying in that north-lying swamp are in need of someone who can drain them.
Comey and thousands of others of lesser stature and wealth need to go as well. But you and other transplanted New Yorkers may never understand this.
With one big exception: Donald J. Trump. He gets it.
No, Uncle Donald can't afford to let Comey testify! So I expect he will take the usual steps to block him.
This may be more proof for an obstruction of justice case but I do expect to see Donald duck once again.
This may be more proof for an obstruction of justice case but I do expect to see Donald duck once again.
2
The elephant in the Oval Office is this question: Why was Hillary Clinton under such intense scrutiny by the FBI and Congress for little more than using a spam filter on her email while the mob-connected con-man Donald Trump should have been the target of a RICO investigation? As Jesus said, this is "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel."
3
One has to be fair to Comey. It is not his fault that the democratic party decided to nominate a presidential candidate that was undergoing 3 investigations by the FBI. The investigation automatically became politicized to the highest degree. What is so stunning and so shocking is that this candidate got so many votes and almost won the presidential election.
Democrats paid the price, but so does the country. Now we are stuck with Donald Trump. I pretty much doubt there is much to the Russian story and if Trump attempted obstruction of justice Comey would have spoken out before, but he said just the contrary in a recent testimony.
Since both democrats and republicans decided not to work for the people anymore we got a truly dysfunctional federal government.
Democrats paid the price, but so does the country. Now we are stuck with Donald Trump. I pretty much doubt there is much to the Russian story and if Trump attempted obstruction of justice Comey would have spoken out before, but he said just the contrary in a recent testimony.
Since both democrats and republicans decided not to work for the people anymore we got a truly dysfunctional federal government.
3
It remains inexplicable how some apparently former Hillary Clinton supporters continue to inveigh against former FBI Director James Comey for his role in the Hillary Clinton email affair and its debatable impact on the outcome of the 2016 Presidential election.
Critically assessing Mr. Comey's actions in making the outcome of the FBI's criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton's unauthorized use of a private mail server while she was Secretary of State in terms of its consequences to Ms. Clinton's presidential campaign must be balanced against the undeniable fact that had Ms. Clinton followed State Department policies and federal regulations in her handling of federal electronic communications there wouldn't have been an FBI criminal investigation in the first place.
In addition, as many recently released independent electoral post-mortems by various academic/professional organizations and impressive authorship of "Shattered" have concluded, internal defects and inexplicable incompetence in managing Ms. Clinton's campaign were the outsized direct causes of her loss in November 2016.
Critically assessing Mr. Comey's actions in making the outcome of the FBI's criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton's unauthorized use of a private mail server while she was Secretary of State in terms of its consequences to Ms. Clinton's presidential campaign must be balanced against the undeniable fact that had Ms. Clinton followed State Department policies and federal regulations in her handling of federal electronic communications there wouldn't have been an FBI criminal investigation in the first place.
In addition, as many recently released independent electoral post-mortems by various academic/professional organizations and impressive authorship of "Shattered" have concluded, internal defects and inexplicable incompetence in managing Ms. Clinton's campaign were the outsized direct causes of her loss in November 2016.
4
Charles, keep up the great work. I encourage you to interview Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. I don't know why his pursuit of Trump's clandestine behavior doesn't get more press,
10
Comey is one of the people who damned us to the reign of Trump, and Comey may be one of the only people who can save us from it.
He cannot undo the damage that he had a hand in. He knowingly permitted a potential Russian mole to occupy the White House. He knew of contacts with the Russians by many of Trump's inner circle and did nothing. He inserted himself into the election at the 11th hour with the "new" emails.
His history is written and cannot be undone.
He cannot undo the damage that he had a hand in. He knowingly permitted a potential Russian mole to occupy the White House. He knew of contacts with the Russians by many of Trump's inner circle and did nothing. He inserted himself into the election at the 11th hour with the "new" emails.
His history is written and cannot be undone.
125
He's just another cop with an ego to big for his britches. Ever meet a cop who thinks they are above the law? Both of these men are egotistical jerks, which one is a traitor.
9
Comey's behavior is confusing at best. Buy I just can't get the Vanity Fair article out of my head with the author mentioning the "good 'ole boys" club at the FBI and how much the Bureau and many agents despised Hillary...
9
"Comey is one of the people who damned us to the reign of Trump..." ABSOLUTELY TRUE
"...Comey may be one of the only people who can save us from it." NOT SO
The ONLY "people" who can save us from the reign of Terror (oops) Trump, are sitting (on their hands) in control of Congress. Republicans in Congress own Trump, own his reign of terror, own his lies, own his dystopianization of America.
America has already begun to degenerate. White supremacists feel empowered. Vulgarity and violence are on the rise. Republicans body slam reporters. Xenophobic nationalists harass and slash riders on a train. Minorities in schools are bullied. Civility is being banished.
All damage (not just to our government and policies, but also to our society) done by Trump is done with the complicity of Republicans. Their hands are dirty. Remember that.
"...Comey may be one of the only people who can save us from it." NOT SO
The ONLY "people" who can save us from the reign of Terror (oops) Trump, are sitting (on their hands) in control of Congress. Republicans in Congress own Trump, own his reign of terror, own his lies, own his dystopianization of America.
America has already begun to degenerate. White supremacists feel empowered. Vulgarity and violence are on the rise. Republicans body slam reporters. Xenophobic nationalists harass and slash riders on a train. Minorities in schools are bullied. Civility is being banished.
All damage (not just to our government and policies, but also to our society) done by Trump is done with the complicity of Republicans. Their hands are dirty. Remember that.
22
Mr. Blow, this all means nothing to a very large portion of our population, tRump supporters. In addition, the GOP is watching with a "Pence" like Cheshire Cat grin waiting for its anointed choirboy's turn at the helm of the Good Ship Lolipop, that ship where money and religion dance in the first-class ballroom.
Most Americans are doomed by their denial to stay in steerage permanently, in spite of Comey's "singing."
Most Americans are doomed by their denial to stay in steerage permanently, in spite of Comey's "singing."
8
Director Comey did not cause Hillary the 2016 Election. Hillary cost the Democrats the election by running. Polling a year before the election showed her to be a weak general election candidate. The very fact she lost to the idiot Donald J Trump shows how badly she performed.
Please stop repeating that meme. It is bad enough that Hillary was passing off her nonsense at Recode. She is an unrepentant, bull headed, self entitled and at least publicly delusional person in deep denial. The Democrats could have won running almost anyone else last year, but the powers that be decided we had to have Hillary. She will never be President and that is the only good thing to come out of Election Day 2016.
If you want to blame someone for Trump, start with Hillary Rodham Clinton and her cabal. She barely got the Democratic nomination- racking up swaths of delegates in Southern States she was never going to carry in November and the Super Delegates that put her over the top. Her General Election Campaign ignored rust belt America and it came back to bite her.
As to James Comey, I do not agree with him on many things (back doors on iPhones, for example), but think he will prove the undoing of Trump.
Please stop repeating that meme. It is bad enough that Hillary was passing off her nonsense at Recode. She is an unrepentant, bull headed, self entitled and at least publicly delusional person in deep denial. The Democrats could have won running almost anyone else last year, but the powers that be decided we had to have Hillary. She will never be President and that is the only good thing to come out of Election Day 2016.
If you want to blame someone for Trump, start with Hillary Rodham Clinton and her cabal. She barely got the Democratic nomination- racking up swaths of delegates in Southern States she was never going to carry in November and the Super Delegates that put her over the top. Her General Election Campaign ignored rust belt America and it came back to bite her.
As to James Comey, I do not agree with him on many things (back doors on iPhones, for example), but think he will prove the undoing of Trump.
7
Thirty years of vitriol to the point of hysteria, distortion to the point of derangement, innuendo to the point of conspiracy theory, sexism to the border of misogyny, with cognition showing an inability to discern the difference between shallow hypocrisy (which we all share) and deep hypocrisy (which we see in the Republican Senate today), and still almost no facts to back up all these claims the evil, evil, bad, bad, vicious, awful, nasty, sad, bad, evil evil evil Pizzagate Hillary.
Why do so many people NEED to believe this? Why do we love scandal so much? Love the takedown? Love cruelty? Love the bully? That’s the cultural question of our time.
The truth is that we would have been lucky to have Hillary Clinton as our president. Not just because we wouldn’t have had Trump, but because we would finally have had a president that is better at governing than campaigning.
This will not persuade you, I know.
But it should. It really should.
Our democracy may depend upon it.
Why do so many people NEED to believe this? Why do we love scandal so much? Love the takedown? Love cruelty? Love the bully? That’s the cultural question of our time.
The truth is that we would have been lucky to have Hillary Clinton as our president. Not just because we wouldn’t have had Trump, but because we would finally have had a president that is better at governing than campaigning.
This will not persuade you, I know.
But it should. It really should.
Our democracy may depend upon it.
2
I write from Arkansas, have met Ms Clinton on more than one occasion- and not on a rope line. That is not unique in a small state and in that era.
I do not trust her, do not like her policies, do not forgive her for the way Senator Sanders and his supporters were treated in the Primaries by various state Parties and think she was a marginal Senator and an awful Secretary of State. That is not Republican campaign nonsense- that is her record.
I do not know how it can be communicated any more clearly to Hillary supporters, but she in not in any way a Democrat in the FDR/Truman/JFK/LBJ mold. She was and is the Goldwater Girl and her speeches to Wall Street that she tried so mightily to suppress from voters showed her a NeoLiberal, War Hawk and that is not what I would ever support or vote for.
Put plainly- many who are well informed and not Republicans know there is a deep chasm between her campaign and her policy. I would not have voted for Hillary under any circumstance and there are millions more like me and none of us are Republicans. It is not misogyny as I have already voted for a woman for President- just not ever for any Clinton.
Representative Tulsi Gabbard -a two tour combat veteran-
resigned as Vice Chair of the DNC and endorsed Bernie stating Ms Clinton was not worthy of the job- especially as Commander in Chief. You can hardly credit her view as motivated by sexism or Republican disinformation.
Ms Clinton needs to go home and let others lead. She lost.
I do not trust her, do not like her policies, do not forgive her for the way Senator Sanders and his supporters were treated in the Primaries by various state Parties and think she was a marginal Senator and an awful Secretary of State. That is not Republican campaign nonsense- that is her record.
I do not know how it can be communicated any more clearly to Hillary supporters, but she in not in any way a Democrat in the FDR/Truman/JFK/LBJ mold. She was and is the Goldwater Girl and her speeches to Wall Street that she tried so mightily to suppress from voters showed her a NeoLiberal, War Hawk and that is not what I would ever support or vote for.
Put plainly- many who are well informed and not Republicans know there is a deep chasm between her campaign and her policy. I would not have voted for Hillary under any circumstance and there are millions more like me and none of us are Republicans. It is not misogyny as I have already voted for a woman for President- just not ever for any Clinton.
Representative Tulsi Gabbard -a two tour combat veteran-
resigned as Vice Chair of the DNC and endorsed Bernie stating Ms Clinton was not worthy of the job- especially as Commander in Chief. You can hardly credit her view as motivated by sexism or Republican disinformation.
Ms Clinton needs to go home and let others lead. She lost.
1
Mr. Gregory - I agree completely with your comments.
Well said, Mr. Blow. I will withhold judgment on Comey until I hear what he has to say. That said, Comey does not get the entire blame for Hillary's loss. She ran a bad campaign. She neglected to go to states like Wisconsin when she was campaigning. Was it arrogance on her part? Who knows? I voted for her with gritted teeth.
4
Thank you for this insight, Mr.Blow. Going forward with this incredibly important issue, I hope the media won't skew the picture. In this country we have a very dangerous habit of presenting complex issues in terms of right/wrong, black/white, yes/no. I think this leads to tremendous confusion for Americans, and as such, the issues are not fairly represented. Comey is a complicated man, caught in strange circumstances mixed in with his big ego, a desire to do the right thing and a struggle to get himself out of the way of truth. There is no right/wrong in that picture.
1
Let's at least learn from our mistakes. The reason we have a buffoon for president is because voters decided even a complete buffoon is better than a politician. This should have put the fear of God in all politicians but apparently the message has gone over everyone's heads. Any moron should have been able to beat Donald easily, let's admit that and not blame James Comey.
3
if only Shakespeare could come back to dramatize all this and provide some poetic pearls of wisdom to help us understand what it all means. flawed heroes, despicable villains, foreign treachery, feuding families, betrayals, a queen rejected--all the makings of a classic tragedy. and given the central figure in the real world drama we see unfolding daily, I pray this will not be "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".
4
Nothing in Comey's testimony will absolve him of the gross mismanagement of the Clinton investgation.
Nothing.
Nothing.
3
James Comey is simply and consistently a prideful legend in his own mind. Just like J. Edgar Hoover whose name still adorns and stains the D.C Headquarter FBI Building whose halls both Hoover and Comey used to slither and slink through bent on their self-aggrandizment.
3
On thing the Trumpkins couldn't accuse Comey of is that he was biased in favor of Democrats. that's one reason, probably the main one, that he was fired.
Comey "damned us to the reign of Trump?" Comey didn't do it, the Russians didn't do it. Bernie didn't do it. It was the Democratic establishment and the DNC -- blissfully out of touch with voters and unwilling to see what was happening before their eyes -- who damned us to Trump. And all this stuff with Comey and the Russians, as important as it is, is just a distraction and an excuse for the Democratic Party to make the extensive reforms it needs. Remember, it will still have to make a case that convinces Trump supporters that it can now truly represent their interests.
Going back to his famous hospital bedside stand-off with Attorney General Ashcroft, Comey has shown a fierce independence and a toughness that resists intimidation. As for the Clinton emails, the book "Shattered" describes quite well how Clinton was doomed by not just her own poor decision and equally poor handling after the fact, but also by the fact that, at the start, she and her campaign had no clear understanding of why she was running at all. Comey will handle himself just fine with his usual dignity and integrity in front of that committee. He's also a man who can admit he can make mistakes.
Going back to his famous hospital bedside stand-off with Attorney General Ashcroft, Comey has shown a fierce independence and a toughness that resists intimidation. As for the Clinton emails, the book "Shattered" describes quite well how Clinton was doomed by not just her own poor decision and equally poor handling after the fact, but also by the fact that, at the start, she and her campaign had no clear understanding of why she was running at all. Comey will handle himself just fine with his usual dignity and integrity in front of that committee. He's also a man who can admit he can make mistakes.
3
Comey is not complex. he is an insecure person who seeks acceptance no matter how much he has to grovel. He lacks the ability to be direct and appropriately assertive. he rose because he has successfully playing his game, until now.... Now he can retire on a pension and whatever corrupt income he has while the rest of us live with his screw ups. He has no honor, and that is all any of us has at the last moment we are on earth....
1
The complexities of James Comey? Please. He, like the assorted losers in the Democratic Party, are as complex as a clogged toilet. Hillary lost and Podesta crafted these political boogeymen called "the Russians" out of whole cloth to mollify Felonious von Pantsuit's feelings. Comey gave her enough cover to escape indictment for the various security related felonies she committed. I'm just waiting for it to blow up in your faces. Until then, pass the popcorn.
Does it matter what Comey says? We are now in the beginning of the lawyer "phase". Everything said will be scrutinized down to the last piece of dust, people will be bending like pretzels to forward their particular agenda and most testifying will probably answer "I can not comment on ....... because of ongoing......". In other words, few if any facts and the lawyers making money like it was Christmas every day.
If this was Clinton who said 'can you let this go' she already would have been burned at the stake but we will have to give Dear Leader his presumption of innocence. Both the Trump presidency and the investigation are becoming black holes that will suck in all air.
If this was Clinton who said 'can you let this go' she already would have been burned at the stake but we will have to give Dear Leader his presumption of innocence. Both the Trump presidency and the investigation are becoming black holes that will suck in all air.
2
Comey is as political as they get. He made himself so with his decisions. That he is queasy about it and meddling in our election can not change this.
Achilles? Is this a Homeric epic? Much too sleazy for that. And Trump is no Hector.
Achilles? Is this a Homeric epic? Much too sleazy for that. And Trump is no Hector.
1
This is utterly and completely false; as a liberal Democrat, even I cannot support this specious conclusion.
We damned ourselves by buying into Trump's dystopian campaign message: America has gone to hell in a hand basket; he alone can save us. It is stupefying to think that nearly 63 million voters selected Trump; it is even more mind-boggling that more than 92 million people didn't vote!
Whatever judgement errors Comey is accused of making in the Clinton email case, those errors would have been rendered moot had far fewer voters exercised better discretion and not voted for Trump.
Can Comey 'save us' from the horror that is the Trump presidency? Absolutely. It is axiomatic that Comey will lay out a sound case that Trump attempted to derail and obstruct the FBI’s investigation(s) regarding Flynn and Russia's interference in the election. To do less will be to acknowledge that Trump's firing and subsequent criticisms of him have merit.
What cannot be taken for granted, however, is that we -- American voters -- have learned from the egregious mistake that is the Trump presidency and will not repeat it in the future.
We damned ourselves by buying into Trump's dystopian campaign message: America has gone to hell in a hand basket; he alone can save us. It is stupefying to think that nearly 63 million voters selected Trump; it is even more mind-boggling that more than 92 million people didn't vote!
Whatever judgement errors Comey is accused of making in the Clinton email case, those errors would have been rendered moot had far fewer voters exercised better discretion and not voted for Trump.
Can Comey 'save us' from the horror that is the Trump presidency? Absolutely. It is axiomatic that Comey will lay out a sound case that Trump attempted to derail and obstruct the FBI’s investigation(s) regarding Flynn and Russia's interference in the election. To do less will be to acknowledge that Trump's firing and subsequent criticisms of him have merit.
What cannot be taken for granted, however, is that we -- American voters -- have learned from the egregious mistake that is the Trump presidency and will not repeat it in the future.
3
The well worn Comey rants need to stop. Tip the election to Trump? Really?
I'd say that honor belongs to Secretary Clinton and her benefactor. A guy called President Obama.
Obama got the ball rolling when he refused to cultivate a successor, leaving the political barn door wide open so that Clinton could exit and run free with no meaningful competition except The Bern. Who if he'd been more than a one or two trick political pony might have beaten her just like Obama did in '08.
That the disastrous, blatantly corrupt, and openly repulsive Trump could mount a competitive race tells you all you need to know about the baggage Clinton carried with her.
Fact is Clinton did choose to use a personal email server while Secretary of State. Why? You tell me. My guess it had something to do with controlling information. She obsessed about it.
The tone deaf Clinton juggernaut didn't learn one whit from the thousands who attended The Bern and Trump rallies. Which is a way of saying this election loss was totally on her. Did Comey's letter help her? Of course not. But she's the one who put herself in that position. No one else.
While it might seem obvious on the surface, democracy did its best to work last November. People pulled the lever for The Donald because they thought they and their children had been getting screwed lo' these many years.
They were right about that.
Just wrong about The Donald.
I'd say that honor belongs to Secretary Clinton and her benefactor. A guy called President Obama.
Obama got the ball rolling when he refused to cultivate a successor, leaving the political barn door wide open so that Clinton could exit and run free with no meaningful competition except The Bern. Who if he'd been more than a one or two trick political pony might have beaten her just like Obama did in '08.
That the disastrous, blatantly corrupt, and openly repulsive Trump could mount a competitive race tells you all you need to know about the baggage Clinton carried with her.
Fact is Clinton did choose to use a personal email server while Secretary of State. Why? You tell me. My guess it had something to do with controlling information. She obsessed about it.
The tone deaf Clinton juggernaut didn't learn one whit from the thousands who attended The Bern and Trump rallies. Which is a way of saying this election loss was totally on her. Did Comey's letter help her? Of course not. But she's the one who put herself in that position. No one else.
While it might seem obvious on the surface, democracy did its best to work last November. People pulled the lever for The Donald because they thought they and their children had been getting screwed lo' these many years.
They were right about that.
Just wrong about The Donald.
1
Comey did not damn us to the reign of Trump. We did it. Americans have contributed to the corrosive politics of present day America. We started it when we voted Ronald Reagan into office. We continued it when we elected members of the GOP to the House and Senate while voting for Obama. In other words, Americans created this situation and only Americans can undo it. The question is do we want to? So far the answer seems to be no. I haven't seen an outpouring of letters to our current GOP in the states where they are dominant. I haven't heard of any recall petitions being circulated to remove the Republicans who are blindly supporting Trump. So far I haven't seen McConnell or Ryan condemning any overtly racist, or anti Muslim sentiments their supporters or Trump have made.
The GOP is the party in control of the United States. Enough Americans voted the GOP into key positions which suggests to me that they prefer a party that uses race, religion, sexual preference, and gender to divide us.
Comey was wrong to handle the Clinton investigation the way he did. Clinton, had she won, might have fired him too. But Clinton would not have demanded personal loyalty from him like he was a serf. In that sense Comey got to see what he helped to create: a monster or another Caligula. The question is what will the GOP do if Comey's testimony is as damning as suspected. My guess: nothing because the GOP loves the power it has now.
The GOP is the party in control of the United States. Enough Americans voted the GOP into key positions which suggests to me that they prefer a party that uses race, religion, sexual preference, and gender to divide us.
Comey was wrong to handle the Clinton investigation the way he did. Clinton, had she won, might have fired him too. But Clinton would not have demanded personal loyalty from him like he was a serf. In that sense Comey got to see what he helped to create: a monster or another Caligula. The question is what will the GOP do if Comey's testimony is as damning as suspected. My guess: nothing because the GOP loves the power it has now.
6
I consider myself ethical - and I wonder what sorts of decisions I might have made had I been in James Comey's place.
I don't think the issues he dealt with were clear cut, even in hindsight. I also believe his choices were well within the perimeter of an ethical man, even if many of us, including myself, do not appreciate the consequences. We don't judge ethics by results, but by the values that go into a decision.
In short, Comey was put in a difficult place. We can argue about his decisions, but I, for one, would not argue that they show a lack of ethics. And this should be the main question.
By way of contrast, Donald Trump, through his many conflicts of interest, nepotism, hiding his tax returns etc, not only makes poor policy decisions, but also acts unethically. We can debate which decisions need to be made. Government ethics are a guideline which, other than in extreme or murky cases, should be pretty clear. And this is why the resistance against Trump is so strong; he is seen as unethical. Comey is not.
I don't think the issues he dealt with were clear cut, even in hindsight. I also believe his choices were well within the perimeter of an ethical man, even if many of us, including myself, do not appreciate the consequences. We don't judge ethics by results, but by the values that go into a decision.
In short, Comey was put in a difficult place. We can argue about his decisions, but I, for one, would not argue that they show a lack of ethics. And this should be the main question.
By way of contrast, Donald Trump, through his many conflicts of interest, nepotism, hiding his tax returns etc, not only makes poor policy decisions, but also acts unethically. We can debate which decisions need to be made. Government ethics are a guideline which, other than in extreme or murky cases, should be pretty clear. And this is why the resistance against Trump is so strong; he is seen as unethical. Comey is not.
3
Re Comey, I suppose it is unforgivable that he played any part at all in the election of Donald J. Trump, which is a stain upon our national honor and good reputation.
On the other hand, although I voted for Hilary, I recognized her to be a deeply flawed candidate, mainly based on her own actions and those of her husband, albeit still vastelyl preferable to Trump.
But I tend to cut Comey some slack, because the Clintons really did create their own problems.
For instance, if Bill Clinton had not boarded Loretta Lynch's plane, which was totally inappropriate, Comey's hand might not have been forced.
Similarly, in spite of Hilary's continued defiance, the maintenance of a private e-mail server, was another self-inflicted wound.
So, I tend to hold the Clintons responsible for the mess we're in and Comey not so much.
On the other hand, although I voted for Hilary, I recognized her to be a deeply flawed candidate, mainly based on her own actions and those of her husband, albeit still vastelyl preferable to Trump.
But I tend to cut Comey some slack, because the Clintons really did create their own problems.
For instance, if Bill Clinton had not boarded Loretta Lynch's plane, which was totally inappropriate, Comey's hand might not have been forced.
Similarly, in spite of Hilary's continued defiance, the maintenance of a private e-mail server, was another self-inflicted wound.
So, I tend to hold the Clintons responsible for the mess we're in and Comey not so much.
10
It is an ironic ethical stance to believe that Bill Clintons spontaneous meeting for 20 minutes with Loretto Lynch, who is a friend and colleague, is more determinant, then clandestine nine meetings between Trump and confidants Paul Manafort, Jeff Sessions, Jared Kushner (Trump's son-in-law), Carter Page, Michael Flynn, and those thus far unknown contacts. There is clearly a large chasm between the rules for the Clintons and everyone else.
2
Do you really think HRC would have been the answer? The Red Congress would still be in place (the Clinton tide didn't raise all Congressional boats). HRC is much less ethical or honest (with self or others) than Obama or Sanders. Instead of President Chaos we would have gotten President Muddle. Comey didn't help, but this train was going off the rails anyway. Like a forest fire clears the way for new growth the 2016 election will either renew the progressive agenda or not. Let's not overstate Comey's role.
@Ruchard Mays: You are so quick to buy the "Hillary is unethical" line. As measured by PolitiFacts, she was more honest than any other politician in the 2016 Presidential campaign , including St Bernard.
1
We know that Trump admires Putin.
And we know that Putin likes to "eliminate" sources of dissent, investigations, and adversaries.
I hope Comey has a security detail, and that he buys and checks his own food.
If you were in his shoes, and given the current environment, wouldn't you be looking over your shoulder?
And we know that Putin likes to "eliminate" sources of dissent, investigations, and adversaries.
I hope Comey has a security detail, and that he buys and checks his own food.
If you were in his shoes, and given the current environment, wouldn't you be looking over your shoulder?
12
Actually, that's not funny. Comey could be in danger as the stakes rise. If he does meet his demise it will be something obvious. That's the Russian calling card. Comey is a private citizen with no protections.
1
True. Comey's failure to indict Hillary was a tragic botching of the case.
3
The failure is the seeming that results from having facts contradict one's logic.
Apparently, Charles doesn't understand law. Mr. Comey has now placed himself in a precarious position in that he seems to take copious notes on topics discussed, which is a good thing, but....those notes belong to the citizens of this country. Those notes (all of them) can be subpoenaed. All of them.
Now, the question most important is, if Mr. Comey was asked by POTUS to stop any investigations, Mr. Comey had the obligation to report this. But, he didn't--not until he was lawfully fired.
Also, Charles seems to have forgotten that before Trump fired him, the Democratic Party hated him because they perceived something not true--i.e. That he was responsible for Hillarys loss.
Charles--the person responsible for Hillary's loss was Hillary herself. It was not Macedonia, not the Russians, and certainly not Mr. Comey.
Now, the question most important is, if Mr. Comey was asked by POTUS to stop any investigations, Mr. Comey had the obligation to report this. But, he didn't--not until he was lawfully fired.
Also, Charles seems to have forgotten that before Trump fired him, the Democratic Party hated him because they perceived something not true--i.e. That he was responsible for Hillarys loss.
Charles--the person responsible for Hillary's loss was Hillary herself. It was not Macedonia, not the Russians, and certainly not Mr. Comey.
Comey must've seen what publishers are paying for book deals - this whole ordeal will make for nice summer reading next year. What we think, $10 million advance should do it?
2
As a life-long Democrat who voted for Clinton I am at a loss to understand how stating a fact constitutes interference in the election. Clinton's behavior--at best careless, at worse reckless--deserved investigation. Further, she repeatedly lied and mischaracterized the decision not to prosecute her, claiming "the FBI said I did nothing wrong." No. The FBI said she did lots of things wrong but they did not warrant criminal prosecution. Also, are voters not entitled to know that a person they may be electing president is under investigation? If that isn't relevant to the decision process what is?
The fact is Clinton brought this problem on her self. Her obfuscation and misrepresentations allowed a problem to linger and fester. Blaming Comey for her misfortunes is yet another example of a Clinton refusing to take responsibility and behaving badly. Unlike Charles Blow I am not at all torn about Comey. I think he has more integrity than Trump and Clinton combined.
The fact is Clinton brought this problem on her self. Her obfuscation and misrepresentations allowed a problem to linger and fester. Blaming Comey for her misfortunes is yet another example of a Clinton refusing to take responsibility and behaving badly. Unlike Charles Blow I am not at all torn about Comey. I think he has more integrity than Trump and Clinton combined.
4
Criticizing Clinton for mischaracterizing Comey's findings. Yet Trump's mocking of a disabled person, his saying Mexicans are rapists, his relishing sexual assault gets a pass.
3
But the point is: she did do nothing wrong. There wasn't anything classified on her server, or at least nothing highly classified: only two memos with a little "c" on them meaning confidential, the lowest level of classification, and even then two of those were misclassified. Moreover, her server was quite secure: no one managed to hack it, despite many attempts (probably the FBI and CIA in particular, who must have been pretty irritated at their failure).
There was no crime of any sort.
There was no crime of any sort.
1
"...the FBI said I did nothing wrong"
Why is this such a huge unforgivable lie? Every day we have Trump surrogates telling us what Trump really said when what they say he said is nothing like what he actually said.
Perhaps you can nitpick at saying she did nothing wrong when she should have said she did nothing illegal in the context of crowds saying she should be locked up, but it's hardly sinister or unforgivable.
Why is this such a huge unforgivable lie? Every day we have Trump surrogates telling us what Trump really said when what they say he said is nothing like what he actually said.
Perhaps you can nitpick at saying she did nothing wrong when she should have said she did nothing illegal in the context of crowds saying she should be locked up, but it's hardly sinister or unforgivable.
1
It is astonishing the mindset of Liberals these days. Comey testified under oath that nobody told him to stop the political investigations involving Trump. Also, based on the preponderance of NO evidence, there is no further reason for any investigation to continue. Furthermore, the continuation of using unnamed, anonymous sources has simply discredited the NYtimes and CNN from being taken seriously.
2
The astonishing thing i sthe "mindset" of Trump apologists. They can take a discredited, factually wrong tweet from a right wing conspiracy theorist (Jack Posobiec), post it as a proven fact, (Comey testified under oath that no one told him to stop investigatins involving Trump), follow that up (presumably with a straight face) that a lack of evidence (thus far) proving direct collusion is equal to no evidence whatsoever of innappropriate contacts between Trump surrogates and the Russians, and insist that ONLY Trump can use anonymous sources, and expect to be taken seriously. You DO realize, Pat, that Trump's entire career has been filled with wild stories prefaced by "people say", "many people have told me", and the ever popular, "a credible source called me and said", don't you?
So what's Comey gonna testify about next week in Congress? Basketball?
If it comes down to he said/he said - there's no contest. Trump is an unapologetic serial liar. He RARELY tells the truth. But, since Comey will likely have contemporaneous notes, it won't come down to that.
As for who to root for, let's just all try and root for the truth. Whatever it may be.
As for who to root for, let's just all try and root for the truth. Whatever it may be.
3
A sanctimonious man will always be himself. Let him speak, far and wide.
Perhaps that will be his penance, and our relief. Seriously.
Perhaps that will be his penance, and our relief. Seriously.
3
"There is no other way to put it: Former F.B.I. Director James Comey tragically botched the investigation into Hillary Clinton"
Yes, he should have recommended charges and passed the matter to the Justice department. Classified documents end up on the computer of a pedophile and Hillary is still blaming everyone else for her election loss. Grow up.
Yes, he should have recommended charges and passed the matter to the Justice department. Classified documents end up on the computer of a pedophile and Hillary is still blaming everyone else for her election loss. Grow up.
3
The Justice department, under new hostile, partisan Republican leadership, is still free to initiate a case against Clinton. Comey didn't control that. Now, no one does. Sessions, a Trump team player is more than capable of beginning proceedings, yet, for some reason, he doesn't. I wonder why that is. Deep state liberals? Probably because there is no case.
There is no evidence that any of the emails in the PST file that was backed up to Weiner's (not a pedophile) laptop were classified.
Hillary didn't write this opinion piece.
And you're *STILL* telling liberals that the election is over, and to "get over it"?
Have you written anything that is in any way true? Wow. trump supporters live in a steel bubble.
There is no evidence that any of the emails in the PST file that was backed up to Weiner's (not a pedophile) laptop were classified.
Hillary didn't write this opinion piece.
And you're *STILL* telling liberals that the election is over, and to "get over it"?
Have you written anything that is in any way true? Wow. trump supporters live in a steel bubble.
2
The circumstances don't change the facts of what Comey did. Just because he's potentially working against Trump now doesn't change the disgrace that he intervened and cost the Democrats the election. Seeing him in front of the cameras again won't make me feel more fuzzy towards him.
Here's a reality check: Comey can't undo the damage he's done. Trump will not be impeached for doing something within his legal power, and collusion is very hard to prove. I'm not saying it's impossible, but let's be realistic. When Comey's testimony comes and goes and Trump is still standing, how will we feel at that time? For me, no different. He's a disgrace.
Here's a reality check: Comey can't undo the damage he's done. Trump will not be impeached for doing something within his legal power, and collusion is very hard to prove. I'm not saying it's impossible, but let's be realistic. When Comey's testimony comes and goes and Trump is still standing, how will we feel at that time? For me, no different. He's a disgrace.
4
I recently read a piece in the New York Observer with the following title: "NSA Chief Admits Donald Trump Colluded With Russia" - here is the link:
http://observer.com/2017/05/mike-rogers-nsa-chief-admits-trump-colluded-...
If true, this is a major admission by someone who should know. Enjoy!
http://observer.com/2017/05/mike-rogers-nsa-chief-admits-trump-colluded-...
If true, this is a major admission by someone who should know. Enjoy!
2
Lemme get this straight. Like a futurist he writes himself a memo, then months later he uses an unnamed surrogate to 'leak' (read, portions of) this alleged memo to a reporter? Because he got fired? So he uses himself as an unnamed source to back up his assertion he was pressured? Then refuses to verify he even wrote the memo. That about sums it up?
Man that just creeps me out.
Man that just creeps me out.
The greatest injustice of all is when ruthless, self righteous men wear justice like a crown of thorns while they crucify the truth on the cross of power and position. They are all guilty of treason and we are all fools to believe any of this will produce justice.
1
Trump first argued that Comey requested their dinner date in order to keep his job. When pressed Trump said the meeting was "arranged". Needless to say, he didn't say who asked that it be "arranged". I'll sum these three successive offerings: a lie, a transparent and silly dance, and a critical omission.
As some say, who would anyone believe? Comey or a liar?
As some say, who would anyone believe? Comey or a liar?
3
Separate the trees from the forest.
President Trump bragged about firing the Head of the FBI and stopping an investigation that this same head of the FBI, a few days earlier, told congress he was conducting as regards Russia's interference in the Presidential election,including any relationship that vicious attack on our democracy might have had to Trump's Republican campaign.
Why would Trump then have top Russian officials in the Oval office and brag to such an arch enemy of democracies the world over, that is headed by what looks and acts like a Mafia organization, the invaders of the Ukraine and conquerers of Crimea, subverters of Nato and our allies democracies, that he just fired the head of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation who was investigating thes two guys and their country? And he and the Russians are pictured having a good old belly laugh....with Russian newspeople admitted to take pictures and our news people locked out?
Come on people, we are going to have to face some simple truths and the stench we all smell.
President Trump bragged about firing the Head of the FBI and stopping an investigation that this same head of the FBI, a few days earlier, told congress he was conducting as regards Russia's interference in the Presidential election,including any relationship that vicious attack on our democracy might have had to Trump's Republican campaign.
Why would Trump then have top Russian officials in the Oval office and brag to such an arch enemy of democracies the world over, that is headed by what looks and acts like a Mafia organization, the invaders of the Ukraine and conquerers of Crimea, subverters of Nato and our allies democracies, that he just fired the head of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation who was investigating thes two guys and their country? And he and the Russians are pictured having a good old belly laugh....with Russian newspeople admitted to take pictures and our news people locked out?
Come on people, we are going to have to face some simple truths and the stench we all smell.
7
I'm not that torn. Comey didn't have do anything until he reviewed the emails. Trump is correct in my view, he is a bit of a showboater. When I saw the testimony, almost crying, that he "didn't see a door number three" it was excruciating. Talk about inability to see we always have a choice. His "no choice" melodrama sounds like the type of thing fundamentalist terrorists, abortion clinic bombers or Weatherman anti Vietnam bombers would use. It was embarrassing. When I saw it live, I felt embarrassed as I felt it cringe inducing.
That said, I do not look at this new testimony as "absolution"....there is no absolution, only truth. What happens now will happen.
However, it will never be of benefit to people being deported while dropping kids off to schools, millions who will suffer from global warming, hungry people who will lose food assistance and families finding out about medicaid cuts that were used for their elderly parents in nursing homes. That damage will be with us for decades and absolution simply will not help. Will absolution bring back species that will perish or Pacific Islanders who will lose their homes? Do West Virginia coal miners even care? Or does it all stop at our borders? Morally, the election of Trump has turned us into a nation of Michael Corleone's, only worried about "our family", nothing more. And not even out family, just the wealthy relatives.
It's hard to see how absolution will help these Trump/GOP caused issues.
That said, I do not look at this new testimony as "absolution"....there is no absolution, only truth. What happens now will happen.
However, it will never be of benefit to people being deported while dropping kids off to schools, millions who will suffer from global warming, hungry people who will lose food assistance and families finding out about medicaid cuts that were used for their elderly parents in nursing homes. That damage will be with us for decades and absolution simply will not help. Will absolution bring back species that will perish or Pacific Islanders who will lose their homes? Do West Virginia coal miners even care? Or does it all stop at our borders? Morally, the election of Trump has turned us into a nation of Michael Corleone's, only worried about "our family", nothing more. And not even out family, just the wealthy relatives.
It's hard to see how absolution will help these Trump/GOP caused issues.
3
Comey testitfied that Russia is greatest threat to world. Then when asked in hearings if he had ever heard of Gazprom, Comey said "no." How can anyone trust such an ignorant person making proclamations about a country when he isn't aware of its largest company? I bet 95% of Europeans are familiar with Gazprom. Comey speaks about Russia from pure prejudice like a medieval pope about the motion of the earth and sun.
1
Leopards do not change their spots. Comey is an opportunist with no sense of integrity. Expect nothing of consequence from him.
1
You are citing the New York Times, CNN and Vanity Fair as sources, Charles? I woold like to know who their sub-sources are before making any informed decisions concerning Comey or the President here on a pot-boiler which may just come down to "he said, he said", regardless of any contemporaneous notes taken by the former FBI Director.
A lot of people commenting here are blaming Comey for Clinton losing the election. But I don't think his actions changed the outcome.
Better to blame the tens of millions of Trump supporters, who voted for this demagogue despite hearing Trump's vulgarities on the Access Hollywood tape, despite seeing him mock a disabled journalist, despite seeing him fail to immediately repudiate David Duke, and all the rest.
These people have no idea what America really stands for; no idea of America's place in the world. So, no, I don't think many of them would have been persuaded to vote for Clinton instead if Comey had kept his mouth shut. They didn't need Comey to tell them that Hillary was a "crook." Their leader told them that, and they still believe it.
Better to blame the tens of millions of Trump supporters, who voted for this demagogue despite hearing Trump's vulgarities on the Access Hollywood tape, despite seeing him mock a disabled journalist, despite seeing him fail to immediately repudiate David Duke, and all the rest.
These people have no idea what America really stands for; no idea of America's place in the world. So, no, I don't think many of them would have been persuaded to vote for Clinton instead if Comey had kept his mouth shut. They didn't need Comey to tell them that Hillary was a "crook." Their leader told them that, and they still believe it.
202
Poll after poll has shown that the majority of voters who made up their minds in the last ten days of the campaign broke for Trump. Many of these, in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, were people who heard Trump's characterizations, then saw teh constant stories, mostly false, being reposted by many "Never Hillary" purity progressives, then sae Comey come out just days before the election saying he was reopening the investigation. So it is quite clear that Comey's actions influenced the outcome. The people you describe, as you say, would have voted Trump in any case, but they, by themselves, weren';t enough to get him elected.
DanBal, thanks for the shoutout to us millions of "these people", but, really, try to keep up with current events.
Hillary her ownself is now blaming the DNC - I think she means the Democratic National Committee, not the Democratic National Convention - for her failure to gain a majority of the votes that really matter in US Presidential elections. Although, I'm sure she thinks the DNC did a heckuva great job in California and sanctuary cities.
However, you are right about one thing. Us "These people" don't have a clue about what America really stands for, and us "these people" haven't the slightest idea about America's place in the world. Us'll leave all that hefty lifting to you well educated types. But, our guy is President and We the People are still $20Trillion in debt and counting.
Hillary her ownself is now blaming the DNC - I think she means the Democratic National Committee, not the Democratic National Convention - for her failure to gain a majority of the votes that really matter in US Presidential elections. Although, I'm sure she thinks the DNC did a heckuva great job in California and sanctuary cities.
However, you are right about one thing. Us "These people" don't have a clue about what America really stands for, and us "these people" haven't the slightest idea about America's place in the world. Us'll leave all that hefty lifting to you well educated types. But, our guy is President and We the People are still $20Trillion in debt and counting.
Except Comey did a.very good job at keeping "his mouth shut" about the Russia/Trump investigation for almost a year, and not until he was required to testify in his role as FBI Chief.
1
It will be interesting to watch the GOP try to make leaking and unmasking the central issue(s) instead of possible obstruction of justice by Trump.
3
Deciding how to feel about James Comey is an unnecessary exercise just at present.
What matters to us who are living in this moment is what happens from here on. No doubt the historical passage we're witnessing will make a great story for the screen and the nonfiction bestseller (you write it and I'll buy it, Charles), but how to portray Comey is not something that has a claim on our attention right now.
Let's take our whistleblowers as we find them.
What matters to us who are living in this moment is what happens from here on. No doubt the historical passage we're witnessing will make a great story for the screen and the nonfiction bestseller (you write it and I'll buy it, Charles), but how to portray Comey is not something that has a claim on our attention right now.
Let's take our whistleblowers as we find them.
3
Um Mr Comey has already testified under oath, and after his interactions with Trump, that there was no pressure from anywhere to halt or influence any FBI investigations. Comey is nothing if not practiced in the art of obfuscation. He will testify and titillate but he will not perjure himself
18
It's the firing of Comey that puts the cherry on top the obstruction claim. Trying to bully Comey during dinner didn't obstruct Comey and the investigation, but his firing, after Comey asked for more resources, may have. Firing Comey bought time and slowed the process and halted his request for resources. Comey's firing, arguably, obstructed justice.
3
Um was that before, or after he was fired by the man whose interactions with the Russians his bureau was investigating?
Geez. An ex-President with absolutely 0 power to *command* anyone to do anything gets on a plane to chat with an Attorney General, and the right goes nuts. What leverage did that ex-President have? None. But still, there's something to be suspicious of by golly!!!
A current President fires the man who is leading an investigation into him, a man he has actually asked to let this investigation go, and the right whistles past the graveyard. Nothing suspicious here!!
Incredible.
Geez. An ex-President with absolutely 0 power to *command* anyone to do anything gets on a plane to chat with an Attorney General, and the right goes nuts. What leverage did that ex-President have? None. But still, there's something to be suspicious of by golly!!!
A current President fires the man who is leading an investigation into him, a man he has actually asked to let this investigation go, and the right whistles past the graveyard. Nothing suspicious here!!
Incredible.
1
HIRONO: So if the Attorney General or senior officials at the Department of Justice opposes a specific investigation, can they halt that FBI investigation?
COMEY: In theory yes.
HIRONO: Has it happened?
COMEY: Not in my experience. Because it would be a big deal to tell the FBI to stop doing something that — without an appropriate purpose. I mean where oftentimes they give us opinions that we don’t see a case there and so you ought to stop investing resources in it. But I’m talking about a situation where we were told to stop something for a political reason, that would be a very big deal. It’s not happened in my experience.
That is an excerpt from Comey's testimoney on May 3, 2017. No where does Comey say that there was no pressure from anywhere to halt or influence his investigation, he merely claims that the DOJ did not do so. No doubt republicans will ask him about this testimoney, and hopefully Comey will explain his reasons for not disclosing the President's request. Added to Trump's own words claiming that he was thing of "the whole Russia thing" when he decided to fire Comey, and Trump's subsequent bragging to the Russians about getting rid of the immense pressure by the firing, Comey's testimoney should be a very big deal indeed.
COMEY: In theory yes.
HIRONO: Has it happened?
COMEY: Not in my experience. Because it would be a big deal to tell the FBI to stop doing something that — without an appropriate purpose. I mean where oftentimes they give us opinions that we don’t see a case there and so you ought to stop investing resources in it. But I’m talking about a situation where we were told to stop something for a political reason, that would be a very big deal. It’s not happened in my experience.
That is an excerpt from Comey's testimoney on May 3, 2017. No where does Comey say that there was no pressure from anywhere to halt or influence his investigation, he merely claims that the DOJ did not do so. No doubt republicans will ask him about this testimoney, and hopefully Comey will explain his reasons for not disclosing the President's request. Added to Trump's own words claiming that he was thing of "the whole Russia thing" when he decided to fire Comey, and Trump's subsequent bragging to the Russians about getting rid of the immense pressure by the firing, Comey's testimoney should be a very big deal indeed.
2
I have to disagree with you here, Mr. Blow (most of the time, I fully agree with your columns). Comey did not create the mess of the e-mail server and lost e-mails; Hillary Clinton did by first setting up her private server and then giving multiple explanations for why government business was done through non-government tech. Comey did not put Bill Clinton on a plane with the head of the Justice Department while the investigation into Hillary Clinton's e-mails was ongoing, creating the appearance of impropriety and conflict of interest; Bill Clinton did that. Comey did not forward Clinton e-mails onto the laptop of Anthony Weiner; Huma Abedin did that. Comey testified to Congress under oath that the investigation was closed and, when he learned there was something more out there, requiring reopening the investigation, he was placed in the position of saying nothing and acting in contradiction of sworn testimony (and potentially appearing to be acting to Clinton's benefit by keeping the reopening of the investigation secret), or reopening the investigation and amending his sworn testimony to Congress. As detestable as I find the current occupant of the White House, I don't put that on Comey; I put that on the Clintons for their actions, the Democrats who nominated a candidate with such high negative among many voters, and Hillary Clinton whose sense of inevitably seems to have been the reason she didn't even bother campaigning in states needed to ensure a victory.
94
The Republicans will never stop fearing Hillary Clinton. But why the email issue has ever had any weight of more than a parking violation is beyond me. The New York Times should put this story in its place where it belongs. Much ado about absolutely nothing.
1
I agree completely with John's analysis of the challenges that both Clintons presented to James Comey.
I for one have some hope that Americans with the patriotism and courage of Mr. Comey will come to the fore and save us from the consequences that the totally unacceptable choices for President presented to us by the two major parties last year.
I for one have some hope that Americans with the patriotism and courage of Mr. Comey will come to the fore and save us from the consequences that the totally unacceptable choices for President presented to us by the two major parties last year.
1
John, your comment should be required reading for all those who choose to defy logic and put the blame for Hillary Clinton's loss on Comey.
Actually, your comment should be required reading for all those who choose to defy logic and put the blame for Hillary Clinton's loss on anyone except Hillary Clinton.
Actually, your comment should be required reading for all those who choose to defy logic and put the blame for Hillary Clinton's loss on anyone except Hillary Clinton.
1
We all would do well to not expect much from Comey's public testimony. His past testimony has been carefully worded with refusals to discuss the most important issues. He will continue to abide by his own tortuous personal standards that baffle most of us. Truly an "artful dodger".
6
The real question is: what is wrong with about 50% voters who choose Trump?
Politicians dare not ask this question for fear of losing votes; The media does not want to ask this question for fear of losing readers/viewers.
Politicians dare not ask this question for fear of losing votes; The media does not want to ask this question for fear of losing readers/viewers.
22
Rudeness is authenticity to Trump's mob. Their ignorance is bliss to the so-called president.
1
The tragedy of Jim Comey is that he did the wrong thing for the right reason when he botched his investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails. He stuck too tightly to his standard of integrity to see that the surrounding context of that integrity created a situation that eliminated all standards of integrity. He is not a bad man with bad motives; he is a good man who did the wrong thing for good motives. We should be able to understand this without having to resort to purist defenses or denunciations of him. To understand this is to understand the nature of tragedy; to refuse to understand it is to yield to the banal simplicities of ideology. Jim Comey’s denouement is very similar to Tony Blair’s, another good man who did the wrong thing for a good reason, and who also unleashed a havoc upon the world.
And it goes the other way too: sometimes a bad person with bad motives does the right thing for the wrong reason. To understand this is to understand why the Greeks were such cynics and why all Buddhists must pass through melancholic resignation to arrive at nonattachment.
Remember this when Donald Trump stumbles his way into an occasional success and then preens for his populist idolaters. He has only succeeded in revealing the tragic farce of human beings making the same mistakes over and over again on a tiny planet in a small corner of an infinite universe.
And it goes the other way too: sometimes a bad person with bad motives does the right thing for the wrong reason. To understand this is to understand why the Greeks were such cynics and why all Buddhists must pass through melancholic resignation to arrive at nonattachment.
Remember this when Donald Trump stumbles his way into an occasional success and then preens for his populist idolaters. He has only succeeded in revealing the tragic farce of human beings making the same mistakes over and over again on a tiny planet in a small corner of an infinite universe.
6
There's no such thing as a perfect hero. Comey made a mistake with how he handled the Clinton email situation. But Republicans compounded that mistake by playing politics. The threat from the Russian interference in our election was much greater than Clinton's emails but they refused to allow President Obama to go public with that threat so here we are.
Comey is first and foremost a protector of the law. His career both as a prosecutor and in the FBI has always been about seeking the truth and holding people accountable for their criminal activity. I'm glad he refused to participate in private testimony, the American people deserve a public hearing about this issue. No one, not even the President is above the law and it will be truly ironic if Comey plays a part in bringing down a corrupt administration.
Comey is first and foremost a protector of the law. His career both as a prosecutor and in the FBI has always been about seeking the truth and holding people accountable for their criminal activity. I'm glad he refused to participate in private testimony, the American people deserve a public hearing about this issue. No one, not even the President is above the law and it will be truly ironic if Comey plays a part in bringing down a corrupt administration.
2
Nothing can save us from the damage done by Trump's election. If he is removed from office, he will be replaced by a man who is so far to the right he would never have been elected. We have been duped, one way or the other.
25
So Trump finally gets his long avoided mano-a-mano with a worthy adversary. Comey's Cliff-notes regarding meetings with Trump will devolve into a 'he said, he said' stand off. Comey's awkwardly tragic misplay of the HRC matter will provide Trump with a credible margin of 'error' to debunk him. His testimony probably pales regarding any criminal standard. We "better hope" Trump actually recorded those sessions for posterity (Or that it is a crime to have threatened so). What Comey's testimony does provide is the context of Trump's maneuvers and sleaze. The Red Congress will ignore the testimony considering the questions asked and answered. The American people will have a view into how lawless the Republic has become in less than 200 days. Comey's stand could/should embolden other government professionals to come forth. It is US against THEM in Trump world. When the bureaucracy realizes it is NOT defending/protecting the public trust (nor benefiting from the cronyism) this really gets interesting. I will root for Comey, after all, the only thing he has left is a chance to salvage his reputation and legacy. Not much pressure in that, huh?
2
Let's get the facts clear here and stop with the Clinton propaganda spin. The Clinton's have been master's at deceiving the public and that reputation caught up with Mrs. Clinton in the campaign. Just look at her negatives before anything associated with Comey was apparent. The Comey press conference never should have happened, as even the most loyal FBI Agents believed then and still do. It was a mistake. But the facts are the facts and had he not done the press conference, then as sure as the sun rises, AG Lynch would have been forced to do a press conference and much of the same material would have been revealed. Mrs. Clinton side steps her own dishonesty and failure to put the email and server mess to rest because she lied about it numerous times and continues to describe it as a simple mistake. Nobody, Mrs. Clinton, believes that. Then the release of the laptop discovery was made by Congress and not by Comey. He corrected the official record in Congress with his note. He didn't release it to the public, the Congress did and it's on them. Lastly, Mrs. Clinton whines about Comey not divulging a sensitive, classified, counterintelligence investigation as if THAT would have changed voters minds and they would have run to her. Comey did pen a letter in a national newspaper warning the country about the risk. He couldn't, by law, reveal the sensitive case. We got Trump because the Democrat Party put up an unacceptable candidate who was so bad she LOST to TRUMP.
4
Yeah. Whatever. Now our Country has the utter catastrophe of drump and his cabal of boot heel lick-spittle lackeys. Call rotorooter! Quick!
1
Dude, that "unacceptable" candidate (because she was female) WON by 3MM votes, and only lost the EC by 77K votes in 4 states. Those are the facts and your version of "clinton spin" cannot change that.
1
The things Donald Trump allegedly said privately to James Comey were mild compared to things President Obama said to himpublically. On November 2, the New York Times reported, “President Obama threw the power of the White House behind Hillary Clinton on Wednesday. He faulted how the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, handled new emails related to the investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s private server. . . Without mentioning Mr. Comey by name — although it was clear whom he meant — Mr. Obama suggested that the F.B.I. had violated investigative guidelines and trafficked in innuendo by alerting Congress last week. Mr. Obama’s remarks, which followed searing criticism of the F.B.I. director from both parties, make it harder for Mr. Comey to defuse the worst crisis of his tenure at the bureau.” In the same article, the Times cited an interview in which Obama blasted Comey, saying, “We don’t operate on incomplete information. We don’t operate on leaks. We operate based on concrete decisions that are made.” Anyone hearing these remarks would suspect Obama wanted to stop investigating Hillary Clinton and declare her innocent of wrongdoing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/us/politics/obama-james-comey-fbi-hil...
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/us/politics/obama-james-comey-fbi-hil...
What still galls me is the fact that Comey's letter to congress just before the election was the result of suspicion of Anthony, the creep, Weiner's emails not Hillary's. Not having read them the FBI wondered what they might find regarding Weiner's wife, Hillary's top advisor re: Hillary. It was a terrible miscarriage of justice and it did effect the election in my opinion. If he can atone for this act and help take down Trump it will put me in a forgiving mood, but that doesn't mean we get Hillary as president as I had to explain to a friend in England.
4
My sense has been that Comey's decision right before the election to announce finding yet another batch of emails (the ones on Anthony Wiener's hard drive) was entirely political. It happened because he thought Clinton would win and he feared the next four years would be a bloodbath of Congressional hearings about the FBI director covering up for Clinton to help her get elected. That may not be the entire reason, but I can't help thinking it was a big part of the calculus. He thought that because that's how the GOP rolls these days... 2 years of hearings about the Benghazi tragedy, the ridiculous email server that wouldn't go away because GOP spinmeisters are without question ruthless to a point of being unpatriotic.
He would have been right, too. Email investigations would have continued, with renewed energy. Nobody's worrying much about those emails now, huh?
So that was the mistake, considering politics in the equation while pretending he was above it all. And for a smart guy, he missed one thing: nobody in Republican power circles was EVER worried about those emails. It was just a nail, and Comey was just a hammer.
He would have been right, too. Email investigations would have continued, with renewed energy. Nobody's worrying much about those emails now, huh?
So that was the mistake, considering politics in the equation while pretending he was above it all. And for a smart guy, he missed one thing: nobody in Republican power circles was EVER worried about those emails. It was just a nail, and Comey was just a hammer.
6
If Comey hadn't tilted the election toward Trump by his handling of Hillary Clinton's e-mails, there would be no need for him to testify against Trump now. Therefore, there's nothing he can do to make up for his appalling pre-election actions.
4
Comey continues to be a villain no matter what the outcome of the investigation into Trump. Trump will be replaced with Pence who may not be as corrupt, but is still to the far right. Our Congress remains lopsided and our court seated an extremist justice who due to a political maneuver replaced the moderate person who rightfully should be sitting on the court. Our government, due to Comey and gerrymandering represents the minority rather than the majority of Americans. It is because of Comey that we have a government without checks and balances. Anything he does now will not ameliorate the damage he has done to our country.
Comey is an enigma.
But if there's any hope that justice will be done with the current US presidential administration, Comey seems to be intolerant of criminal behavior by a politician. He overreacted to Hillary Clinton's email server mistake. There was no devastating leak of classified information. And yet, he publicly chastised her... something the FBI had no business doing. It's over and done with. If he can bring to light the reality of what Trump and his staffers have done, he will redeem himself. I look forward to seeing the mystery dispelled and Trump to account for any deviousness on his part.
But if there's any hope that justice will be done with the current US presidential administration, Comey seems to be intolerant of criminal behavior by a politician. He overreacted to Hillary Clinton's email server mistake. There was no devastating leak of classified information. And yet, he publicly chastised her... something the FBI had no business doing. It's over and done with. If he can bring to light the reality of what Trump and his staffers have done, he will redeem himself. I look forward to seeing the mystery dispelled and Trump to account for any deviousness on his part.
3
Balanced column, Mr. Blow, but as for "Comey [being] a linchpin in undoing the mistake he made," that mistake can never, ever be undone. Already, the permanent damage to the nation and the world is unfolding and it is irreversible, at least in the near term.
Trumpism enables such behavior as the knifing murder committed on a Portland commuter train by an unhinged racist white supremacist whose ideas have been coddled by Trump. Sensible environmental regulations are being shredded, Cuban détente is being reversed, Hispanic families are being torn apart, our allies are being insulted and our security threatened, tens of millions face the threat of withdrawn health care and even greater numbers of children will lose food and housing assistance.
Russia will be given back its luxurious playpens in Maryland and Long Island. And then, there's the Paris Climate Accord where America promises to make common cause with Syria and Nicaragua.
Trump is pitting our nation against the civilized world by a score of 200 to 3. No, Mr. Blow, James Comey can never undo "the mistake he made."
Trumpism enables such behavior as the knifing murder committed on a Portland commuter train by an unhinged racist white supremacist whose ideas have been coddled by Trump. Sensible environmental regulations are being shredded, Cuban détente is being reversed, Hispanic families are being torn apart, our allies are being insulted and our security threatened, tens of millions face the threat of withdrawn health care and even greater numbers of children will lose food and housing assistance.
Russia will be given back its luxurious playpens in Maryland and Long Island. And then, there's the Paris Climate Accord where America promises to make common cause with Syria and Nicaragua.
Trump is pitting our nation against the civilized world by a score of 200 to 3. No, Mr. Blow, James Comey can never undo "the mistake he made."
8
John LeBaron,
Very well said. In my opinion, It should have been an Editor's Pick.
Very well said. In my opinion, It should have been an Editor's Pick.
2
Look, Comey's judgment -- smudged and inexplicable thought it might be -- is not the focus here. Comey is not on trial. The issue here is simple. Did the President of the United States tell the FBI Director to slow down or to stop the Russia hacking investigation, and did his doing so constitute "obstruction of justice?" Comey's character, judgment and motivations are wholly and completely irrelevant.
5
"Must we simply choose the lesser of two evils in an epic battle:"
It seems to me that is exactly what the supporters of Ms. Clinton were telling us we needed to do in the election. so why not after it as well.
It seems to me that is exactly what the supporters of Ms. Clinton were telling us we needed to do in the election. so why not after it as well.
4
It is hard to imagine anything that Comey says, or anybody else can say, that can result in proof of Trump illegality - at least to a level that would result in Trump's removal from office. Even if roundly deserved. And then, usually, it comes down to character. But the bar on character, in particular level of integrity, is so low now that it also hard to believe Trump can removed based on character issues. Supporters do not care about character. Comey? I feel that Comey must realize this as well. So what is at stake for him? He likely is primarily concerned about assessments of character - his own. I would look for a strategy that has less to do with Trump and much more to do with Comey's intention to salvage his own reputation. It is a separate "show" - what Comey hopes to do, and what the committee hopes to do. One question looms over all of this: What is a good result for the country?
12
To hold James Comey responsible for Hilary Clinton's less than careful handling of her classified government email server confuses me. He has testified to the decision making tree and transparency surrounding this high profile investigation which progressed without leaks by the FBI. The time that elapsed before Mrs. Clinton's email investigation was made public is almost identical to that of the current Trump investigation As an independent body the FBI has an obligation to carry out all investigations without thought to outside influences. When Mr. Comey indicated he was mildly nauseous at the thought that his investigation into Hilary Clinton's emails may have cost her the election - why would anyone not believe him? It's important to remember that Mr. Comey did not go to the press when Mrs. Clinton's investigation was re-opened: he told Congress (which he was, unfortunately for us, obligated to do). Anyone interested in holding our elected officials accountable for a lack of "Boy Scout" like behavior? or is it only Mr. Comey we hold to that standard The only opinion that I find valid about Mr. Comey is that he may not be political enough... that's why his behavior may be so perplexing and this I find refreshing. These are the career public servants that are currently responsible for saving our country and I, for one appreciate their honesty, service and great sacrifice.
9
To be fair, there were continual leaks about Clinton and the email all through the investigation. And Comey wasn't actually obligated to tell Congress anything prior to subpoenaing and reviewing the emails.
1
While some may admire Comey's honesty i find his dedication to an apolitical work ethic confusing. He had all of history to see the consequences of his remarks at the time he made them...ergo his nausea! Sometimes waiting for facts before expounding on them is the right thing to do!
Agreed re; initial obligation to inform Congress about the Clinton investigation which was publicly announced at the same point in time as the current Trump investigation. To clarify, after declaring the investigation closed, he was obligated to let Congress know about the new evidence and the re-opening of the investigation. Curious as to the source of the leaks during the Clinton email investigation and wether he or his direct staff were responsible for them, but the re-opening leak was attributed to Congress in multiple articles that I read.
Or maybe HRC was actually a compromised candidate. which from the perspective of the FBI should have little or nothing to do with Trump being a deeply compromised candidate. If we can put the partisanship aside we might consider that Comey was doing his job as was required of him. Imperfectly probably and amid impossibly murky and conflicted circumstances, yes, but what is at stake here is not about just wanting to see your team win.
13
You make many reasonable points. However, like many Democrats, I would simply have appreciated if Mr. Comey had applied the same processes to both the Clinton email investigation and the Russia election involvement investigation. I don't require special treatment for one party over the other, but equal treatment. He felt compelled to publicly share information on one while withholding information on the other. Mr. Comey believed it was in the public's interest to share progress or lack thereof on one investigation while saying nothing about the other - this makes no sense as the investigation into election manipulation clearly is more important.
21
Did he announce he was investigating the Trump campaign in July? Double standard.
1
Some people take themselves even more seriously than their very serious jobs. Who they are becomes what they do. Mr. Comey will insist we see who he is.
Ironically, like Mr. Trump, Mr. Comey is always talking about himself even when he seems to be talking about the facts.
Ironically, like Mr. Trump, Mr. Comey is always talking about himself even when he seems to be talking about the facts.
13
Thanks for an excellent analysis. He along with the Russians gave us Trump. It may not be possible to undue the damage, but it may be fun watching Trump
get mad and squirm.
get mad and squirm.
19
Thank you for helping me define my issues with Comey. On one hand, his termination was clearly Trump protecting Trump; on the other hand Comey gave us the nightmare of the Trump administration by his political interference. I too will be watching with keen interest in what he has to say, and how he says it. Thanks again, really appreciate someone pointing out the tricky spot he's in.
20
Please consider reading an opposite view regarding Mr. Comey in helping you define thoughts. You will then have 2 points of view allowing you to use your own views.
I distrust and dislike James Comey. He decided that only information on Hillary Clinton's emails would become public. He decided he would preach against her in a news conference that never should have been held. He made public an incomplete investigation against emails on Weiner's laptop when he didn't know what was there. And then said never mind. He helped Trump get elected. I will watch his testimony--if it happens--and be interested in what he has to say. Then he needs to retire somewhere and just go away.
52
I just want to know the truth, no matter what it is. As a consumer of American politics, I haven't gotten much of it in the last 54 years, and I've gotten virtually none since Trump took office.
8
Mr. Blow, are you sure that this testimony will actually be heard next week? There appears to be ways Trump could block it, and because he is shameless, if he can, he probably will.
Of course he could end all speculation tomorrow by releasing his tax returns, and encouraging all his staff to testify under oath so his good name can be cleared.
Of course he could end all speculation tomorrow by releasing his tax returns, and encouraging all his staff to testify under oath so his good name can be cleared.
6
@hothere, the tax returns are only a part of the puzzle. The actual owners of the condos that the Trump Organization sold for multi millions will probably reveal money laundering from the Russian politicos reflected as innocuous LLC's transactions.
4
I wish it all could be simply explained by the Achilles metaphor. Comey will go down in history as s fool who played into Trump's hand. . . or Putin's. By the time Congress impeaches Trump, things will be so muddled that we may not fully recover. All Americans are being swindled by Trump. Those less involved, such as the citizens of Germany and France (who also witnessed the insanity of Brexit) are rubbing their heads in disbelief. But this is the way of con men and grifters. By the time the victim realizes they've been "had" they have lost everything. I wish this all were a Hollywood movie, but tragically our lives are being destroyed and we are too slow to stop this horrible man. Even Comey cannot save us now. He is no James Bond.
36
Hi, Kathy M -
We will recover from Trump, and if we learn from the experience, we will be better for it. Europe launched the Italian Renaissance a mere fifty years after the Black Death killed perhaps 45 million Europeans; both Germany and Japan recovered from the Second World War; Germany, through thorough self-examination, moved on from Hitler.
Trump, by comparison, is a cockroach.
We will recover from Trump, and if we learn from the experience, we will be better for it. Europe launched the Italian Renaissance a mere fifty years after the Black Death killed perhaps 45 million Europeans; both Germany and Japan recovered from the Second World War; Germany, through thorough self-examination, moved on from Hitler.
Trump, by comparison, is a cockroach.
1
The damage done by the Trump administration already precludes any "mea culpas" by Comey. Even with damaging testimony it would be months, if not years, before Trump is removed. Then what? Pence? Another disaster in the making. No, I'm afraid Mr. Comey will not receive absolution anytime soon.
Funny how Comey apparently would not play basketball with President Obama but did not think twice about having dinner with a man he KNEW he was investigating and giving Trump ample opportunity to tackle him in a closed setting. I think Comey deserves an Oscar for the way he pretends like he's so conflicted and noble, he's not fooling me. He's always seemed like he's on Trump's side.
41
There is no righting of this wrong. The very best we can hope for is some damage control. Yes we need to always seek justice but short of going back in time and changing the results there is no happy ending in sight before 2018 at the earliest. The most positive result we could hope to attain is convincing conservatives that the direction we are headed in is in itself wrong headed! From all indications i read there is little hope of that but still there is a hope! i am not against conservatives but rather the imbalance of our executive branch of leadership. Trump has this nostalgic need to take us back to the way we were....cue Barbara Streisand! This will cripple our countries ability to lead or compete in the world economy and whether we want to believe it or not all economies are linked. Press on Regardless and Mind the Gap!
4
As Casey Stengel once said, "Sometimes it's easier to understand things than it is to figure them out." Mr. Comey has two Strikes against him, let's hope he hits a home run.
5
And so we continue with the "Comey lost the election" meme. Comey found himself between a rock and a hard place when Bill Clinton forced Loretta Lynch into a de facto recusal as a result of the infamous Meeting on the Tarmac. Comey's initial report covered the full scope of the investigation. He accurately reported that there was no prosecutable violation but that the conduct of official State Department business through a private, unapproved sever was unwise and not in keeping with the spirit of State Department rules and regulations. Both aspects of the statement were necessary to clear Clinton of criminal liability while countering any accusations of a whitewash.
The discovery of the Weiner emails placed Comey in a no win position. Because of the possible link to Clinton through Weiner's wife, they were germane to the original investigation. It must be noted that Comey did not call a press conference to announce this find, rather he sent a letter to congress. It was congress that went public. Imagine the stuff storm had he not notified congress and some smoking gun turned up after the election. At that point he expedited the review and cleared Clinton BEFORE the election.
But here we are, once again, playing the Comey card. OK, I'll play. I'll see you one Comey and raise you a "Basket of Deplorables". Which one had a greater effect on the outcome of the election?
The discovery of the Weiner emails placed Comey in a no win position. Because of the possible link to Clinton through Weiner's wife, they were germane to the original investigation. It must be noted that Comey did not call a press conference to announce this find, rather he sent a letter to congress. It was congress that went public. Imagine the stuff storm had he not notified congress and some smoking gun turned up after the election. At that point he expedited the review and cleared Clinton BEFORE the election.
But here we are, once again, playing the Comey card. OK, I'll play. I'll see you one Comey and raise you a "Basket of Deplorables". Which one had a greater effect on the outcome of the election?
6
Why did he feel the need to share information regarding the email investigation while remaining silent on the Russian election interference investigation? It seems that the latter was much more important to the public than the former, yet Mr. Comey personally made the determination that the public did not need to know about it. Does this make sense to you?
3
Anytime the world is viewed while wearing highly partisan blinders, all events tend to have simple explanations, e.g. Clinton was the best candidate, Russia and Comey stole the election, it's everybody else's fault. While I voted for Clinton, I always try to evaluate events in a wider context than what I wish were true. We need to stop whining about the past, learn from it and devise a plan to prevail in the future.
Consider three points, if Clinton:
1. Knowing that she would be running, had passed on making those speeches to Wall Street and spent a bit more time campaigning in flyover country with a populist message (something other than "Vote for me because I’m a woman and the other guy’s bad." instead of hobnobbing with the moneyed elite
2. Eschewed setting up that private email server in her residence and conducted business within the traditional structure provided within the State Department (thereby rendering the phrase "Thanks Comey" meaningless
3. Felt free to categorize her opponent as "Deplorable" but recognized that applying that label to some portion of the electorate would only negatively affect her campaign
there should have been no way that she should have lost to Donald Trump.
It is the responsibility of the major party professionals to assess the mood of the electorate, to understand the issues that matter and to respond accordingly with the candidate and the message that will prevail. In 2016, the Democratic establishment failed in that task.
Consider three points, if Clinton:
1. Knowing that she would be running, had passed on making those speeches to Wall Street and spent a bit more time campaigning in flyover country with a populist message (something other than "Vote for me because I’m a woman and the other guy’s bad." instead of hobnobbing with the moneyed elite
2. Eschewed setting up that private email server in her residence and conducted business within the traditional structure provided within the State Department (thereby rendering the phrase "Thanks Comey" meaningless
3. Felt free to categorize her opponent as "Deplorable" but recognized that applying that label to some portion of the electorate would only negatively affect her campaign
there should have been no way that she should have lost to Donald Trump.
It is the responsibility of the major party professionals to assess the mood of the electorate, to understand the issues that matter and to respond accordingly with the candidate and the message that will prevail. In 2016, the Democratic establishment failed in that task.
1
Re if share the email investigation why not the Russian investigation?: The email investigation was already part of the public record. It had all been politicized by both parties months ago. The revelation re the Weiner emails was new information which could have been relevant to an already public outcome from the original investigation. Any Russian investigation had yet made it into the public arena. Any investigatory body worth its salt would want to keep any investigation in its relatively early stages as close to the vest as possible in order to preserve its ability to gather evidence. Any public disclosure of a Russian investigation would have hampered, if not dead ended, the effort.
1
Let us remember that Comey, while testifying on Capitol Hill, said, "It makes me mildly nauseous to think that we might have had some impact on the election. But honestly, it wouldn't change the decision."
According to Nat Silver and other experts, Comey's letter had a significant effect on the outcome of the race. And yet, Comey, while testifying on Capitol Hill, said, "Even in hindsight—and this has been one of the world's most painful experiences—I would make the same decision.[,,,] I would not conceal that." No remorse, no introspection.
One wonders whether Comey's supreme-confidence and self-righteousness made him put his ego before country.
According to Nat Silver and other experts, Comey's letter had a significant effect on the outcome of the race. And yet, Comey, while testifying on Capitol Hill, said, "Even in hindsight—and this has been one of the world's most painful experiences—I would make the same decision.[,,,] I would not conceal that." No remorse, no introspection.
One wonders whether Comey's supreme-confidence and self-righteousness made him put his ego before country.
14
The trouble is, as with Watergate, the truth doesn't become completely obvious until after the election...so we're stuck with the awful truth for four years.
4
My fantasy outcome is that Comey will make an assertion that that Trump will be obliged in sworn testimony to call a lie (because in the way of inveterate liars he calls everything anyone else says a lie) and then when incontrovertible evidence proves Comey told the truth, Trump will be impeached for lying under oath to Congress.
3
In his senate testimony just before being fired Comey had a chance to save himself and the FBIs reputation. All he had to do was admit he made a mistake in how he publicly handled the Clinton investigation. His arrogant belief in his own morality prevented that. I believe that Trump fired him because was not investigating the leaks coming out of the FBI and others. Had Comey sincerely apologized to congress it would have been harder for Trump to get rid of him.
3
Oh, stop, Mr. Blow. Don't quote smearing insinuations from unnamed sources, like "detractors" or "One observer" or "Another person".
Whether Comey is perfect or not is not important. No matter how much she wishes to blame everyone but herself, Hillary and the Democratic party she controlled are responsible for her own defeat. You should never have supported a candidate so disliked by so many Americans that she was extraordinarily vulnerable to defeat.
What is important is what Comey has to say. More important than that is what Mr. Mueller needs to find out. More important than even that is the urgent need for an independent Commission so the American people can find out the truth, not just whether intent is provable.
Whether Comey is perfect or not is not important. No matter how much she wishes to blame everyone but herself, Hillary and the Democratic party she controlled are responsible for her own defeat. You should never have supported a candidate so disliked by so many Americans that she was extraordinarily vulnerable to defeat.
What is important is what Comey has to say. More important than that is what Mr. Mueller needs to find out. More important than even that is the urgent need for an independent Commission so the American people can find out the truth, not just whether intent is provable.
5
I still do not see the gray area on Trump's obstruction of justice. He ADMITTED to Lester Holt that he fired Comey to "end" the Russia investigation. How is that not "game over"?
It's like we're all living in an episode of Law & Order where the criminal stands up in the courtroom and says, "I did it!" - and then, inexplicably, the trial keeps on going.
It's like we're all living in an episode of Law & Order where the criminal stands up in the courtroom and says, "I did it!" - and then, inexplicably, the trial keeps on going.
14
Is Comey a goody two-shoes?
Compelled to do what's right, tell the truth, even if it edges into tattling territory.
Sometimes taking this high road backfires, other times it's right on target.
Compelled to do what's right, tell the truth, even if it edges into tattling territory.
Sometimes taking this high road backfires, other times it's right on target.
I suspect Comey wants to come clean.
There has been tremendous political influence and even threats aimed at him.
He probably wants the world to know exactly what pressure was applied to him, and by whom: to make sure Hillary was cleared; to ensure the fake Russian collusion story remained alive as a Democrat excuse/talking point; and even Trump telling him to lay off already.
My guess is he wants to dish on all the political hacks in both parties.
There has been tremendous political influence and even threats aimed at him.
He probably wants the world to know exactly what pressure was applied to him, and by whom: to make sure Hillary was cleared; to ensure the fake Russian collusion story remained alive as a Democrat excuse/talking point; and even Trump telling him to lay off already.
My guess is he wants to dish on all the political hacks in both parties.
5
Comey deserves everything happening to him now.
As a former TA (aka grader) for a subject in which a person could end up with the right outcome despite an incorrect reasoning process, I often used the acronym RAWR (Right Answer, Wrong Reason) on student papers.
The troubles engulfing this dishonest grandstander who deliberately helped bring down the first potentially viable female presidency are a long overdue RAWR.
As a former TA (aka grader) for a subject in which a person could end up with the right outcome despite an incorrect reasoning process, I often used the acronym RAWR (Right Answer, Wrong Reason) on student papers.
The troubles engulfing this dishonest grandstander who deliberately helped bring down the first potentially viable female presidency are a long overdue RAWR.
4
I had to laugh when I read in a couple of places that Comey said that Rosenstein did not get to where he is without making "some compromises." I thought 'and you have not?' We are watching very ambitious people that have accumulated a lot of power and wanted that power. It makes them very complex. Who can explain why Rosenstein wrote that letter, after trump says he had made up his mind to fire Comey, and then Rosenstein turns around and appoints Mueller?
I think Charles is expressing the mixed feelings that a lot of us have. Are they deeply flawed people like we all are or are they deeply flawed in a way that most of us are not?
I think Charles is expressing the mixed feelings that a lot of us have. Are they deeply flawed people like we all are or are they deeply flawed in a way that most of us are not?
4
A lot of finger pointing towards Comey and well deserved too. But there should be some in the other direction. Hillary made a stupid mistake per her own admission that she could have been prosecuted for by Comey. As a Clinton (undoubtedly) she thought she could get away with it. The other Clinton has a private meeting with the then AG that has all the flavor of Trump's private meeting with Comey. Comey is an easy target for blame but is hardly the only one in this case.
He played a part in Clinton's loss but I will keep asking why an election between a historical candidate, the most qualified ever, and a clown was so close that Comey tipped it in his favor.
He played a part in Clinton's loss but I will keep asking why an election between a historical candidate, the most qualified ever, and a clown was so close that Comey tipped it in his favor.
6
Although I agree with you that Trump is horrible and "monstrous", Hillary didn't lose the election because of Comey. Hillary lost the election because of Hillary.
7
comey did not so much botch the investigation as he overstepped his boundaries, not an uncommon thing these days with boundaries being uncertain and respect for what shades remain near nil.
giving him the benefit of the doubt, comey may have been prompted by a declining confidence in the DOJ, his boss AG lynch, but still, he jumped the rails and put himself in the middle of the political picture, in the same vein, former CIA chief brennan in recent testimony before congressional investigators, recounted his warning to a russian official about the consequences of their sorties into american cyberspace...he offered a list, a litany of diplomatic and economic cautions, way past his brief.
so, what's up with this? is it the presence of the media and its instant worldwide reach, giving us all a shot at a bright spot light center stage? is it a decline in discipline, a cause of so many ills, including the dumb down itself? a dearth of skills? an absence of talent?
the great american philosopher casey stengel, lamented, (in looking over his players during the first few days of new york's then new team, the mets): "can't anybody here play this game?"
well, "old perfesser" as he was known, look at the roster from top to bottom, not a one (for ages!) who can hit run and field with elegance or grace....where have you gone joe dimaggio?
giving him the benefit of the doubt, comey may have been prompted by a declining confidence in the DOJ, his boss AG lynch, but still, he jumped the rails and put himself in the middle of the political picture, in the same vein, former CIA chief brennan in recent testimony before congressional investigators, recounted his warning to a russian official about the consequences of their sorties into american cyberspace...he offered a list, a litany of diplomatic and economic cautions, way past his brief.
so, what's up with this? is it the presence of the media and its instant worldwide reach, giving us all a shot at a bright spot light center stage? is it a decline in discipline, a cause of so many ills, including the dumb down itself? a dearth of skills? an absence of talent?
the great american philosopher casey stengel, lamented, (in looking over his players during the first few days of new york's then new team, the mets): "can't anybody here play this game?"
well, "old perfesser" as he was known, look at the roster from top to bottom, not a one (for ages!) who can hit run and field with elegance or grace....where have you gone joe dimaggio?
As with just about everything coming from the Trump Administration, Comey's firing is such a tangled labyrinth that we don't know exactly what was going on. The two major reasons given: Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation and the ongoing Russia investigation, are not mutually exclusive. Since we can't read Donald Trump's mind, we don't know which, if either or both or something else, was the actual reason(s). However, as suggested by this column and the comments, James Comey needed to be fired because he had become too controversial. The results of a Russia investigation led by James Comey, whatever they might be, would have been seen as not credible by a large segment of the population. James Comey's testimony should be interesting, although I'm not convinced that the public part will be particularly enlightening.
1
Didn't Comey make a promise (before or during the Presidential campaign) to the GOP congressional (Senate or House) investigators into the issue of Clinton's Email problems that he would report back to them should anything new develop in this Clinton affair? Has he used this promise to try and justify his announcement of new (potential) evidence about Clinton due to the revelation that Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin(?) had stored emails on her husband's (Anthony Weiner's) laptop? This is the only thing that might (try to) justify his differential treatment of Clinton (emails) in contrast to the issue of Trump campaign workers' potential collusion with Russians, or at least so it appears to me. If he testifies, I hope Comey is asked in detail why he acted so differently during the campaign period. Otherwise his actions prior to the election make no consistent sense and one might then conclude he was entirely hypocritical in this difference in treatment (revealing publicly ongoing investigations). Thanks for some very good columns.
2
I see Comey as a man obsessed with his credentials and image. Each new development has strengthened that thought for me. I do try to see him more favorably; but he always seems to revert to a competent guy with a fatal flaw.
1
We don’t know if the FBI was investigating Michael Flynn when Trump fired James Comey. At the time Trump fired James Comey, Flynn was no longer suspected of violating the Logan Act during his conversations with the Russian ambassador or lying about them to the FBI. The other allegations against Flynn don’t involve the FBI. The Foreign Agents Registration Act is administered by FARA Registration Unit of the Counterespionage Section in the National Security Division of the United States Department of Justice. When the unit discovers someone has failed to register, it sends them a letter informing them they have to register. Flynn lawyers said he registered in March, within the proscribed deadline, so he never got a letter. It isn’t an FBI investigation. The Department of the Army—not the FBI—is investigating to determine if Flynn accepted a payment from a foreign government without prior approval from the Department of the Army. Flynn lawyer point out that the payment for a speech Flynn gave in Moscow came from a U.S. speaker’s bureau, not the Russian government. If the Army determines Flynn should have obtained prior approve, it could deduct the amount of the speaker’s fee from Flynn’s military retirement pay, but it is an Army investigation, not an FBI investigation. If Comey was investigating Flynn in hope of finding something to charge him with, he should have been fired.
2
Unless of course the FBI had uncovered something against Flynn that was in their purview, vis a vis the Russian investigation into the hacking. At the very least, he could have remained a witness to that investigation.
In September 2015, the FBI informed the Democratic National Committee that a Russian-linked cyber-spy group had likely compromised its computer network. Michael Flynn didn’t join the Trump campaign until February 2016.
Comey is clearly a political animal and hardly a "Boy Scout." By his own admission, he revealed the Clinton emails found on Weiner's PC before finding anything culpable because he feared the backlash from Republicans if he did not--even though it violated the FBI policy of not revealing an investigation in progress, a policy that he honored in the case of the the investigation into the Russians and Trump.
His framing of his dilemma as "speak or conceal" rather than more accurately "speak or not speak" about the Clinton emails was a weak effort to somehow justify his actions.
His framing of his dilemma as "speak or conceal" rather than more accurately "speak or not speak" about the Clinton emails was a weak effort to somehow justify his actions.
5
Perhaps James Comey's biggest service to saving our Constitutional republic was not resigning. If he'd done so as many pundits have suggested, two bad outcomes would have resulted. First, it would have made it easier to appoint a Trump-friendly replacement. Second, it would have just been his word against the President's. Instead, he stayed on ultimately forcing Mr. Trump to fire him. It was that outrageous act, and that alone, that resulted in the appointment of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller III, while giving Mr. Comey's version of events considerably more weight.
4
Comey is not to be trusted at all. His handling of the Clinton investigation was deeply flawed and his conduct during the follow-up was reprehensible. Should we believe him now, just because we approve of the likely political outcome of his testimony? Trustworthiness should not be judged on a consequential basis.
10
I won't be surprised if James Comey wants - rightfully - to settle a score with Trump for the humiliation suffered. No doubt he has the support of millions around the world.
The way he was fired revealed Trump's authoritarian whims. At first Trump sought to be chummy, heaping praise on him for handling Hillary Clinton's email affair. On Jan 22, he greeted Comey during a reception for law enforcement at the White House. He singled out the then-FBI director, who approached him. Shaking Comey's hand and hugging him, Trump joked: "He's become more famous than me."
When Comey refused to dance to Trump's tune and pledge loyalty to him personally, the boss became vindictive and turned the tables on him. Comey apparently learned about his dismissal while speaking to a group of FBI employees in LA on May 9, when TV screens in the background began flashing the news of his fate.
The way he was fired revealed Trump's authoritarian whims. At first Trump sought to be chummy, heaping praise on him for handling Hillary Clinton's email affair. On Jan 22, he greeted Comey during a reception for law enforcement at the White House. He singled out the then-FBI director, who approached him. Shaking Comey's hand and hugging him, Trump joked: "He's become more famous than me."
When Comey refused to dance to Trump's tune and pledge loyalty to him personally, the boss became vindictive and turned the tables on him. Comey apparently learned about his dismissal while speaking to a group of FBI employees in LA on May 9, when TV screens in the background began flashing the news of his fate.
23
Here's what I'd like to know about Comey: If, as one of the nations top law enforcement officers, he witnessed obstruction of justice, then what was he doing about it until he was fired?
29
Comey. like many lawyers, is a compulsive and meticulous note taker. We memorialize conversations with other lawyers, clients, court officials, forensic experts, investigators, witnesses and others regarding the cases we're handling. We do it contemporaneously or as soon as possible afterwards. We record our research and our thoughts and impressions. This is our attorney-client work product. It's what we are trained to do. By all accounts, Comey is more obsessed about it than most lawyers.
Since he had been supervising the FBI investigation of possible collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign since July and attempting to avoid social contact with Trump, he would have been uneasy about any contact with him, especially the "invitation" to dinner at the White House.
I have no doubt that he created a detailed written record, including quotes, of every contact he had with Trump. His testimony next week is likely to be a devastating indictment of Trump and anyone else who attempted to influence him.
Since he had been supervising the FBI investigation of possible collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign since July and attempting to avoid social contact with Trump, he would have been uneasy about any contact with him, especially the "invitation" to dinner at the White House.
I have no doubt that he created a detailed written record, including quotes, of every contact he had with Trump. His testimony next week is likely to be a devastating indictment of Trump and anyone else who attempted to influence him.
32
If Comey's testimony serves to further discredit and disempower Trump on his quest to expand the plutocracy that used to be America, he will have done a good thing, however, that in no way temporizes his atrocious behavior that clearly aided and abetted Trump's election.
His future good acts, if any, would in no way excuse his past bad acts (I would make an exception here if his testimony leads to impeachment and removal, and subsequent prosecution). If Comey cannot actually be prosecuted for election rigging, then he should be excoriated and shunned. I suspect he would find that agonizing.
His future good acts, if any, would in no way excuse his past bad acts (I would make an exception here if his testimony leads to impeachment and removal, and subsequent prosecution). If Comey cannot actually be prosecuted for election rigging, then he should be excoriated and shunned. I suspect he would find that agonizing.
8
Having proven himself an unreliable witness in the Clinton case why is he fredible here?
Bill Clinton getting caught snuggling up with Loretta Lynch in the back seat of a jet on a tarmac in Arizona left Comey on an island. He faced a Hobson's choice.
Thank you Charles for casting the characterization of Comey the way you did. It is the most accurate description I have read. It seems Karma is working its will and Comey will have opportunity for redemption.
Donald Trump's Presidency may be the colon cleansing this nation needs to purge all vestiges of poisonous nourishment of GOP dogma. Republicans have artfully hidden being its bigotry, race-bating and hideous policies too long; in Trump they've seen an avenue to unleash without hiding behind the proverbial curtain. I do not believe most Americans can comprehend the GOP's Scorched-Earth Playbook; most don't think is such nefarious manner.
A Democrat in office would have merely been another 4 or 8 yr battle of antacid relief while never being able to cleanse the digestion track of the Pica of Republicanism in its present form. Mr. Comey's grand faux pas may become the saving grace of America.
Donald Trump's Presidency may be the colon cleansing this nation needs to purge all vestiges of poisonous nourishment of GOP dogma. Republicans have artfully hidden being its bigotry, race-bating and hideous policies too long; in Trump they've seen an avenue to unleash without hiding behind the proverbial curtain. I do not believe most Americans can comprehend the GOP's Scorched-Earth Playbook; most don't think is such nefarious manner.
A Democrat in office would have merely been another 4 or 8 yr battle of antacid relief while never being able to cleanse the digestion track of the Pica of Republicanism in its present form. Mr. Comey's grand faux pas may become the saving grace of America.
55
A most interesting discussion of a cast of characters worth being replayed on TV, so the complexities of our ego may be exposed. I agree that Comey had to go, just not under these circumstances, nor even Trump's crude and careless admission of his intent, the dissolution of an investigation into his campaign and Russia's meddling (and the strong suspicion of collusion). If this is not obstruction of justice, what is? We have a vulgar bully who thinks he is so smart, and yet, extremely ignorant and highly unreliable, as he is unable or unwilling to tell truth from lie, the latter being predominant. I suspect that Comey's stupid move in resurrecting Clinton's e-mail nonsense days before the election, were to wash his hands, "knowing" than Hillary would most likely win the election. But the electorate, oblivious to Trump's iniquities, chose him anyway. That's why he was called the "illegitimate president" by Mr Cummings. For the good of the country, obnoxious incompetent Trump ought to be sent packing (along with Pence, if at all possible), and the sooner the better.
20
President Ryan thanks you for your support.
1
Poor Loretta Lynch.
I'm sure her career was admirable, but the only thing she will be remembered for was her disastrous judgment when she decided it was ok to entertain Bill for 45 minutes on her private plane in the middle of the investigation into his wife.
I'm sure her career was admirable, but the only thing she will be remembered for was her disastrous judgment when she decided it was ok to entertain Bill for 45 minutes on her private plane in the middle of the investigation into his wife.
22
Kind of funny, isn't it? Here is Trump not respecting any of the mores of the presidency and this comes around to Loretta Lynch's conversation with Bill.
1
Actually, Loretta got her revenge on the FBI leakers who squealed on her. Comey was a sucker to accept her direction to act as policeman & prosecutor. She & Obama knew he could not resist the limelight.
Director James Comey did indeed botch the investigation into Hillary Clinton, which is why she not currently facing a trial. Whatever else the man may be, he showed that he is either incompetent or partisan when he let Clinton off the hook. Either way, he has no credibility and I doubt his testimony will be a "bombshell."
Too extreme view on either side imo.
Comey did not condemn us to the reign of Trump. Trump, his voters and Hillary co depending and enabling him did. Hillary by running a identity obsessed female first, establishment, let wall street run wild, never met a war I did not like, never met a trade agreement I did not like campaign.
Trump demagogued most of these issues. He is an establishment figure too but successfully played to the fears of the moderate republican and wayward democratic voters.
Comey will not save us from Trump either. The Democratic Party, responsible republicans, voters and reporters like you can if you write more towards the center and not extreme left wing establishment politics.
It is amazing how you and extreme right wing reporters are so much alike ie obsessed with your ideological blinders not seeing what the public wants.
It is one of the few times in history where the electorate is ahead of the establishment in both parties.
Comey did not condemn us to the reign of Trump. Trump, his voters and Hillary co depending and enabling him did. Hillary by running a identity obsessed female first, establishment, let wall street run wild, never met a war I did not like, never met a trade agreement I did not like campaign.
Trump demagogued most of these issues. He is an establishment figure too but successfully played to the fears of the moderate republican and wayward democratic voters.
Comey will not save us from Trump either. The Democratic Party, responsible republicans, voters and reporters like you can if you write more towards the center and not extreme left wing establishment politics.
It is amazing how you and extreme right wing reporters are so much alike ie obsessed with your ideological blinders not seeing what the public wants.
It is one of the few times in history where the electorate is ahead of the establishment in both parties.
13
Not sure how these characterizations of Hillary started; she is much maligned. When she ran against Obama, she was accused of not trying hard enough to highlight her uniqueness as a woman running for this high office. Now she's accused of running a female first campaign, which I never really saw as happening except when the news media played it up. She's been accused of not explaining her positions on the issues. Except she did and at length, which most people couldn't be bothered to read. They went for the candidate with no position on the issues save what the Russians told him, preferring his short (often confusing) Twitter feeds, and fixating on his general rally slogans (Make America Great Again).
69
If your post is any indication of "what the public wants", then we as a republic are doomed. Your characterization of Clinton's campaign would make a FOX editorialist blush at it's simplicity and lack of fact. Your sassessment of the Trump campaign follows suit. If it is true that the public wants cartoon-like simplicity and a return to an era of stereotypical blandness that never really existed, we are finished as a leader of the free world, and inevitably, as a nation. Fortunately, as writers like Mr. Blow and commenters like so many in this paper and others show; your assessment of "what the public wants" is on a par with your assessment of the campaigns of both candidates, and your awareness of the world around you: simplistic, lacking in fact, and cartoon-like. The truly sad part is, that you project this onto the public at large, and consider it to be "ahead of the establishment in both parties."
3
Thank you for your reply Karen L. Just to review, clarify my post.
Trump is a bigoted, rabble rousing, admitted sexual predator, pathological liar, demagogue and a establishment snake oil salesman posing as a populist. He is wrong and the people that voted for him were wrong too.
Having said the above, Hillary do not offer an alternate. Moderate dems and reps., especially in rust belt states wanted their blue collar jobs back from slave labor countries. She never met a trade agreement she did not like and I kept telling my Hillary friends re Hillary DO NOT RUN AS A WOMAN, RUN AS AN AMERICAN...like obama did...he ran as an American, not as a black. Hillary not only ticked off men, she lost 53% of the white women's vote.
Her establishment credentials plus her identity obsessed campaign (she did it both times she ran) did her in more so than any other issue scandal that came up in the campaign.
Just because you are the opponent of a unqualified candidate like Trump does not guarantee you a win. You still have to use your head.
Trump is a bigoted, rabble rousing, admitted sexual predator, pathological liar, demagogue and a establishment snake oil salesman posing as a populist. He is wrong and the people that voted for him were wrong too.
Having said the above, Hillary do not offer an alternate. Moderate dems and reps., especially in rust belt states wanted their blue collar jobs back from slave labor countries. She never met a trade agreement she did not like and I kept telling my Hillary friends re Hillary DO NOT RUN AS A WOMAN, RUN AS AN AMERICAN...like obama did...he ran as an American, not as a black. Hillary not only ticked off men, she lost 53% of the white women's vote.
Her establishment credentials plus her identity obsessed campaign (she did it both times she ran) did her in more so than any other issue scandal that came up in the campaign.
Just because you are the opponent of a unqualified candidate like Trump does not guarantee you a win. You still have to use your head.
How amazing. Everything isn't black and white. If we had a little more thinking along those lines, we'd all be better off. Our American tendency to put every struggle as a mammoth battle between good and evil (the mindset of a still adolescent country) may really have been what cost the Democrats the election: people who 'couldn't support Hilary completely' either didn't vote or cast their vote for a third party candidate, thereby electing Trump. Politics--like everything else--is messy. Do I think that Trump is worse than Comey? Yes. He's not aggressively trying to slaughter the poor and vulnerable among us; he's not inciting hate crimes, he's not antagonizing our allies. Do I think Comey made an egregious mistake, which may or may not be due to his ego? Yes. But all that matters now is if we can get to the truth.
12
Comey has only one path toward reconciliation with the American people, and that is to bring Trump down. Nothing else will forgive his abject incompetence and misjudgements in handing Hillary's email case. It was partisan driven from the outset, and he fit the part. The thing which was perhaps most upsetting was his willingness to base his caustic opinions about Hillary on the technology of an email system, when he demonstrated time and again that he had literally no understanding of that technology. Yes, she was wrong to use an outside server for her emails, but if he had understood how these systems actually work, he would have come to different conclusions about any culpability on her part about hiding emails and exposing national secrets. He came across as a fool instead.
Little is known about what went on behind the magic FBI curtain, but there is no doubt that his violation of FBI protocols about discussing ongoing investigations was wrong. And more egregious was that he refused to speak at equal length about the investigations into Trump's Russia connections. Comey fully deserved to be fired last summer, but the risk of not being able to get a replacement approved by the feckless Congress was real.
Comey is not the savior people think he could be. He can try to resurrect his reputation by fingering many in the Trump cabal, but history will not treat him kindly, no matter what he does now. His sins might be forgivable, but they are not forgettable.
Little is known about what went on behind the magic FBI curtain, but there is no doubt that his violation of FBI protocols about discussing ongoing investigations was wrong. And more egregious was that he refused to speak at equal length about the investigations into Trump's Russia connections. Comey fully deserved to be fired last summer, but the risk of not being able to get a replacement approved by the feckless Congress was real.
Comey is not the savior people think he could be. He can try to resurrect his reputation by fingering many in the Trump cabal, but history will not treat him kindly, no matter what he does now. His sins might be forgivable, but they are not forgettable.
36
Remember that Obama knew at the time that there was a much more important investigation going on about Russia's thumb on the scales, which Comey said nothing about. I believe Obama should have fired Comey after the election. The October 28th communication regarding Wiener's laptop was the nail in the coffin. Comey had to go, but No Drama Obama was on his way out the door to multimillion dollar book deals, etc., so it would have been out of character for him to have fired Comey for violating the Hatch Act.
1
Comey's behavior remains a riddle inside an enigma whilst Trump remains our first presidential victim of " Moscow Syndrome", whereby one identifies with ones capturer.
5
"Corey giveth, Comey taketh away".
I sure hope that this becomes a reality.
And I worry that some of my fellow commenters argue that the prospect of VP Pence assuming the presidency will be equally disastrous. I vehemently disagree.
Trump has a constant spectrum of instability added to a need to seek attention and make headlines, which is currently causing the most damage to our democracy and our image abroad.
No other prospective politician to assume the presidency in case of his impeachment would keep politics in the forefront of our lives as much as Trump has. Not Pence, Ryan, Hatch.
These men, as twisted and/or spineless as they may appear, probably would run a more quiet, politically calculated operation. No doubt that we still would move backwards as a country, but, historically, this is bound to happen.
Donald Trump is a terrible stain in the history of the USA.
I sure hope that this becomes a reality.
And I worry that some of my fellow commenters argue that the prospect of VP Pence assuming the presidency will be equally disastrous. I vehemently disagree.
Trump has a constant spectrum of instability added to a need to seek attention and make headlines, which is currently causing the most damage to our democracy and our image abroad.
No other prospective politician to assume the presidency in case of his impeachment would keep politics in the forefront of our lives as much as Trump has. Not Pence, Ryan, Hatch.
These men, as twisted and/or spineless as they may appear, probably would run a more quiet, politically calculated operation. No doubt that we still would move backwards as a country, but, historically, this is bound to happen.
Donald Trump is a terrible stain in the history of the USA.
10
As for blame for the election, start with those voters who did not vote! And Dear Bernie, who's ego prevented him from trying his best to avoid this mess we are in. And the DNC. And probably the most scorn is for the asinine narrative that let reasonable, intelligent, well educated voters putting this repugnant human being in the highest office in the land.
Comey came to my attention when reading Dark Side, by Jane Mayer. That book should make all Americans afraid. More so than Dark Money. But Mr Comey is one of several that come off as brave individuals. What Mr. Comey did in the process of th past election, leaves me bewildered. Especially re-opening the investigation days before the voting, only to close it a few days later with a bland statement that amounted to "oops". Damage done.
Trump should have never been President. Now we have to do the responsible thing and vote him out of office at the next election. And we have to admit that good government is essential to civilization!
Comey came to my attention when reading Dark Side, by Jane Mayer. That book should make all Americans afraid. More so than Dark Money. But Mr Comey is one of several that come off as brave individuals. What Mr. Comey did in the process of th past election, leaves me bewildered. Especially re-opening the investigation days before the voting, only to close it a few days later with a bland statement that amounted to "oops". Damage done.
Trump should have never been President. Now we have to do the responsible thing and vote him out of office at the next election. And we have to admit that good government is essential to civilization!
10
You may, along with others, 'be torn' between lauding and excoriating Comey,
but wait until time comes to choose between the present Commander-in-
Chief and the most likely replacement for him. You'll be in worse 'shreads'
then, rest assured.
but wait until time comes to choose between the present Commander-in-
Chief and the most likely replacement for him. You'll be in worse 'shreads'
then, rest assured.
1
I neither cheer nor blame. Comey is a symptom of our self-regard as a nation. Washington is not the problem; we are. Let American Exemptionalism's harvest, seeded in hubris, be bountiful.
1
Comey's testimony will be a big nothing burger. If he had anything substantive to add. Mueller would have saved it for a grand jury. He was fired because of incompetence. He had the evidence tp put Mrs. Clinton in a permanent orange jumpsuit and gave her a pass because of her status. Trump's hopeful musings about Flynn are hardly obstruction of justice and Comey's failure to resign immediately thereafter are proof that Comey thought them innocent. So too Blow and his ilk....keep trying. As much as you want to bring the country and the President down it will never happen. Time to find a new hobby.
4
He's bringing himself down. And if the country survives till 2018 it will happen then.
President Trump asked FBI Director Comey (before Trump fired him and told the visiting Russians in the Oval Office that he was a "nut job") - to let the Michael Flynn federal investigation go. In Comey memo - a he said, he said scenario. So obstruction of justice is added to Trump's CV.
Do we need anymore bombshell media events? Only if they end in the pursuit of Donald Trump and his Russian Connections which involved the defeat of Hillary Trump for the Presidency in November.
You say, Charles Blow, that you are "torn" between hostility toward Comey and his confrontation next week in the Senate investigation amid his accusation that President Trump pressured him to end his investigation into Trump's ties with Russia.
It is fact that President Trump, when he was an up-and-coming real-estate dealer/businessman in New York City, said in 1986, that he wanted to be President Reagan's "Ambassador Plenipotentiary" to Premier Mikhail Gorbachev in Russia. Perhaps Donald Trump has always dreamed of Russia. This has little bearing on why Michael Flynn, Trump's 3-Week-Wonder of a National Security Adviser, will be investigated by the Senate for his "Russian Connections". Or why Mike Flynn demanded immunity before he would speak.
The waters surrounding our 45th President - notwithstanding the "home run" he says he hit on his trip to the Middle East and Europe last week - are murky, muddy and polluted; time to clean the Trump Swamp.
Do we need anymore bombshell media events? Only if they end in the pursuit of Donald Trump and his Russian Connections which involved the defeat of Hillary Trump for the Presidency in November.
You say, Charles Blow, that you are "torn" between hostility toward Comey and his confrontation next week in the Senate investigation amid his accusation that President Trump pressured him to end his investigation into Trump's ties with Russia.
It is fact that President Trump, when he was an up-and-coming real-estate dealer/businessman in New York City, said in 1986, that he wanted to be President Reagan's "Ambassador Plenipotentiary" to Premier Mikhail Gorbachev in Russia. Perhaps Donald Trump has always dreamed of Russia. This has little bearing on why Michael Flynn, Trump's 3-Week-Wonder of a National Security Adviser, will be investigated by the Senate for his "Russian Connections". Or why Mike Flynn demanded immunity before he would speak.
The waters surrounding our 45th President - notwithstanding the "home run" he says he hit on his trip to the Middle East and Europe last week - are murky, muddy and polluted; time to clean the Trump Swamp.
3
Mr. Blow, an honest person would think that you too had a hand in thrusting Trump on this nation.
Your constant denigration of Senator Sanders and futile attempts at elevating Clinton, at the expense of democracy was a factor in the dominance of Trump.
To this reader, justice would not only result in the impeachment of Trump for obstruction of justice, but a special investigation and hopefully prosecution of Clinton for her handling of classified emails.
Justice has not been served, yet.
Your constant denigration of Senator Sanders and futile attempts at elevating Clinton, at the expense of democracy was a factor in the dominance of Trump.
To this reader, justice would not only result in the impeachment of Trump for obstruction of justice, but a special investigation and hopefully prosecution of Clinton for her handling of classified emails.
Justice has not been served, yet.
7
Please don't tell me you didn't vote because the candidates (who both won their primaries) weren't pure enough. Hubris and self righteousness make strange bedfellows, too bad we all have to live with the results.
2
Charles Blow says "But it is also true that Comey may be a linchpin in undoing the mistake he made." Alas, Comey cannot undo his mistake.
5
And when will we find out if there are "tapes" or will that hang in the air because of "executive privilege."
1
Let's not pin our hopes on Comey...the Republicans are already developing a narrative---see Lindsay Graham's latest interview---that will paint Comey as grossly incompetent and worse, dishonest. In the hearings, watch the Republicans in action who will consume hours going over the fake Hillary email and with the remaining minutes castigate Comey for his inability to stop the torrent of leaks coming out of his organization. What minutes are left will be a brief statements that prove our President should be impeached for obstruction of justice.
4
Donald's son in-law "Goes Down" who for seeing his father's nakedness will be the one sacrificed and exiled to the south. It's all very biblical.
2
James Comey is a human. Like all of us, he has the capacity to be a villain or a hero and he lives in a world where facts, circumstances and the views of those who evaluate his actions do matter. To many Republicans, Comey's investigation of Hillary Clinton's email server was a whitewash and a coverup. Democrats would mostly disagree. History will show that Mr. Comey reached the correct conclusion but at a tortuously slow pace.
The Comey letter to Congress during the final days of the campaign concerning emails on Anthony Weiner's notebook computer is a different matter. Comey's political leanings and the political leanings of FBI agents with knowledge of those emails will forever color Comey's actions. Historians will debate Comey's actions because it will never be clear whether Mr. Comey acted as a partisan or whether the letter was just an error of judgment.
The Comey letter to Congress during the final days of the campaign concerning emails on Anthony Weiner's notebook computer is a different matter. Comey's political leanings and the political leanings of FBI agents with knowledge of those emails will forever color Comey's actions. Historians will debate Comey's actions because it will never be clear whether Mr. Comey acted as a partisan or whether the letter was just an error of judgment.
4
Remember Comey's FBI released the Marc Rich documents just prior to the election. He was anything but impartial. I have to believe that Comey thought that Clinton was going to win but was looking to damage her.
3
When Trump fired James Comey, the only charge Michael Flynn faced was that he accepted money from a Russian government-owned media outlet without prior approval from the Department of the Army. But this is a Department of the Army investigation, not an FBI investigation. The firing of the FBI director could not impede the investigation. If the Army rules against Flynn, the Army could deduct the amount Flynn was paid for his speech from his military retirement pay. However, a U.S. speaker’s bureau that provides keynote speakers, not the media outlet, paid Flynn $33,750 for the Moscow speech. So the Army will probably rule in Flynn’s favor. Either way, it’s not the big deal the news media makes it out to be.
2
It seems that that he was instrumental in looking the other way while the NSA illegally spied on Americans for the past four years. I'm sure he won't compromise any ongoing investigations-unless it is Trump. Class act.
3
Comey has done his damage. If he had wanted to stay neutral, he should have kept his Clinton investigation private. There was nothing to worry about with email, yet the gullible public thought there was, and Comey should have known that. If he can bring Trump down, then great, but he has already done a great disservice to America by jumping to conclusions as an investigator.
6
"But it is also true that Comey may be a linchpin in undoing the mistake he made." No way. There's no way of undoing the damage done to the country by his 11th hour violation of the Hatch act just before the November election. Even if he becomes the linchpin in eventually removing the Trump from office, we're then left with Mike Pence as President, not Hillary Clinton. No, the ship of "undoing" the wrong he committed has sailed from port, and can never return. He should remain "mildly nauseous" (or more) on his ship at sea for the rest of his career.
34
And, with Gorsuch on the Supreme Court!
Comey-- bad man, very bad man.
Trump--much worse, very much worse!
Comey-- bad man, very bad man.
Trump--much worse, very much worse!
1
I'm not surprised that many of us are conflicted. The truth is that we don't know with what issues or pressures Comey contended, with whom he may have had conversations or disagreements, the extent and types of information or knowledge he may have possessed, and how he processed all of this to act as and when he did. The less charitable have already rushed to judgment. Others hope that Comey will be forthcoming so we may understand the whys, whos, and hows. We learned valuable lessons from the past election. Congress stated that its investigation is geared toward preventing future election irregularities. Comey's testimony before Congress will add an important dimension to these lessons. Not incidentally, it may also contribute to Mueller's work.
10
Whatever Comey says, only half the country will agree or be pleased, the other half will feel he lied. The country is so divided that even agreeing on facts is not possible. Some will say Hillary was saved by Lynch 's meeting with Bill Clinton, which supposedly caused Comey to not prosecute her. Others will say that's not true. For some Comey's meetings with Trump prove obstruction or attempted obstruction, but others think Trump's questioning of Comey was natural and appropriate we all seem to be stuck in the glue of suspicion and distrust and it's unlikely Comey will get us out.
8
More like 60-40; and after more evidence comes out, it will be closer to 70-30 believing there was collusion, financial chicanery, and Trump malfeasance.
After all, in the scheme of things, who has told the most lies?! And, the most lies about his lies?
Clinton a handful; Comey perhaps a couple; but Trump?!
Thousands!
After all, in the scheme of things, who has told the most lies?! And, the most lies about his lies?
Clinton a handful; Comey perhaps a couple; but Trump?!
Thousands!
3
I believe the country is devided more like 1/3, 2/3, with the third that backs 45 firmly in control of the majority.
Some will say entertaining in the absence of evidence the claim that there was some quid pro quo between Clinton and Lynch as worthy of consideration is ugly and indefensible.
1
I think Mr. Blow is right that Comey's statements about Clinton and then his decision to notify congress affected the election.
Otherwise I disagree. First, he glosses over that Comey made the wrong decision in not prosecuting Clinton. I do not like to see prosecutions come out of elections, but the way he described what she did and didn't do - if you read the law in question, she was guilty of mishandling classified materials. Intent to harm the country is irrelevant. Probably obstruction of justice too (you try deleting your emails when the FBI wants them and see how well you do).
I don't think that prosecution of Trump for obstruction depends on what Comey says, but the facts. I'm willing to hear genuine facts, not political attacks or made up facts in the media. Like Prof. Dershowitz, I haven't heard anything yet but politics. After his decision not to prosecute Clinton, I don't think so much of Comey's opinions. I doubt he will give any facts that will sway anyone. I suspect there isn't much or any, but we will see.
Most people agree Comey should have been fired. But people can't call for his firing one week and then attack Trump for firing him the next any more than they should accept the argument that an identical order made by Obama is constitutional and by Trump not.
Of course, Trump brought a lot of this hatred on himself, between his insults and his birther nonsense and take no prisoners approach to campaigning. Still, the "resistance" is worse than him.
Otherwise I disagree. First, he glosses over that Comey made the wrong decision in not prosecuting Clinton. I do not like to see prosecutions come out of elections, but the way he described what she did and didn't do - if you read the law in question, she was guilty of mishandling classified materials. Intent to harm the country is irrelevant. Probably obstruction of justice too (you try deleting your emails when the FBI wants them and see how well you do).
I don't think that prosecution of Trump for obstruction depends on what Comey says, but the facts. I'm willing to hear genuine facts, not political attacks or made up facts in the media. Like Prof. Dershowitz, I haven't heard anything yet but politics. After his decision not to prosecute Clinton, I don't think so much of Comey's opinions. I doubt he will give any facts that will sway anyone. I suspect there isn't much or any, but we will see.
Most people agree Comey should have been fired. But people can't call for his firing one week and then attack Trump for firing him the next any more than they should accept the argument that an identical order made by Obama is constitutional and by Trump not.
Of course, Trump brought a lot of this hatred on himself, between his insults and his birther nonsense and take no prisoners approach to campaigning. Still, the "resistance" is worse than him.
26
“Intent to harm the country” IS relevant. The law refers to intent to harm. She had no intent on harming the country; Comey explained that. And there is no, “Probably” to it; there was no obstruction of justice because the emails in question were destroyed outside the knowledge of Comey wanting to see them. And those are the ‘genuine facts’ you claim to have wanted to hear.
3
These comments are malarkey and represent a great deal of bias.
Most Americans do NOT think that Clinton should have been charged, that Comey should have spoken about the Clinton investigation and kept mum about the Trump-Russian investigation, and that Comey should have been fired.
Most Americans do NOT think that Clinton should have been charged, that Comey should have spoken about the Clinton investigation and kept mum about the Trump-Russian investigation, and that Comey should have been fired.
2
David, hope you'll take the time to re-read your comment and analyze it! It's filled with errors and ideological biases. Try to unearth them and recognize the problem! Hint: Your final sentence is a dead giveaway.
Pretending that there are no facts or evidence implicating Trump is ridiculous.
We know he fired Comey. That alone is prima facie evidence of obstruction of justice! Trump even admitted it was because of that "Russia thing"!
We're now learning that he tried to stop the investigation of Flynn, too.
We also know that at least one of his aides was directly plugged into the hackers and leakers (Russians, Wikileaks) as that aide pre-announced several times when the leaks would occur.
We know Trump hired Flynn as the head of the National Security Agency even after being informed about his Russian connections and that he was under *federal* investigation! Think about that for a bit! He puts someone in as head of the NSA who is under investigation!
We also know his aides lied about their Russian and Turkish contacts -- and
that includes his Attorney General, his former National Security head, and his son-in-law ---> who is still working inside the White House with a security clearance <--- !
We also know that Trump passed along top secret, classified information to the Russian -- IN THE WHITE HOUSE, for gosh sake's, after *barring* U.S. media from being present!
Pretending that there are no facts or evidence implicating Trump is ridiculous.
We know he fired Comey. That alone is prima facie evidence of obstruction of justice! Trump even admitted it was because of that "Russia thing"!
We're now learning that he tried to stop the investigation of Flynn, too.
We also know that at least one of his aides was directly plugged into the hackers and leakers (Russians, Wikileaks) as that aide pre-announced several times when the leaks would occur.
We know Trump hired Flynn as the head of the National Security Agency even after being informed about his Russian connections and that he was under *federal* investigation! Think about that for a bit! He puts someone in as head of the NSA who is under investigation!
We also know his aides lied about their Russian and Turkish contacts -- and
that includes his Attorney General, his former National Security head, and his son-in-law ---> who is still working inside the White House with a security clearance <--- !
We also know that Trump passed along top secret, classified information to the Russian -- IN THE WHITE HOUSE, for gosh sake's, after *barring* U.S. media from being present!
3
"10 days before the election announcement' Comey will never be forgiven or forgotten for handing the presidency to Donald Trump. With civil servants as clueless and self-absorbed as this, the Russians needn't have bothered to meddle in our election.
19
I can't help but think that he may change his mind at the last minute and not show up. Who knows what kind of people are working on him right now with threats and/or financial inducements. We know so little about what is really going on behind the green curtain!
6
When the Republicans stole the election giving us an illegitimate President Bush, the media shouted us down to shut up.
I know what happened in Florida where the Jewish vote in Palm Beach supposedly went to Bush - impossible in 2000, and many blacks in Florida were prevented from voting every which way.
America clearly accelerated its decline as a result in 2000.
Comey's behavior nailed America's coffin shut. We are now essentially just another pretty good country - pretty good but in permanent decline.
I know what happened in Florida where the Jewish vote in Palm Beach supposedly went to Bush - impossible in 2000, and many blacks in Florida were prevented from voting every which way.
America clearly accelerated its decline as a result in 2000.
Comey's behavior nailed America's coffin shut. We are now essentially just another pretty good country - pretty good but in permanent decline.
30
Not to mention 30,000-40,000 votes for Buchanan by Democratic voters in educated, upscale areas-- due to the poorly-designed punch ballot!
Charles, you are so shallow. Hillary defeated herself with lying, no morality, and being an un-indicted felon.
I again challenge you to find one single person who will admit, under oath, to changing their vote in the 2016 Presidential election based on either the Russians or Mr. Comey. Just one.
I again challenge you to find one single person who will admit, under oath, to changing their vote in the 2016 Presidential election based on either the Russians or Mr. Comey. Just one.
11
It wasn't one incident, but a continual barrage of bad, inaccurate information presented by a hostile media over decades of time. Just the use of the term "un-indicted felon" is a presumption of guilt. If you aren't indicted (and convicted) then you ain't a felon, you piece of frozen icy precipitate. Also, Trump has been proved again and again to lie when he breathes, have absolutely no moral foundation and an actual thief, but still you support him.
6
How much of your opinions is based on the barrage of fake reports that filled the print media during the election season? How many of the accusations have been substantiated? On the other hand, no one needs to accuse this president of anything: He demonstrate his creepiness, idiocy, selfishness, and crookedness everyday.
Un-indicted felon? What crimes are you insinuating that she committed?
Take your time, we'll wait...
Take your time, we'll wait...
1
What we have is Humpty Dumpty. There truly is not much that can put this back together. Nothing brings clinton to the White House and nothing disposes Republican control for the next four years. It is why the collusion with Russia has deep roots in the Republican Party. Mitch McConnell had ever motive to support trump's operation.
Unfortunately the tragedy of Comey is something borne by many. What trump, the GOP, Fox News, and Russia were doing to Clinton and our democracy was in plain view. No one did anything to stop it. They were having too much fun destroying Clinton. The great blood sport of the 2016 election beating up clinton, everybody did it. Comey just did what everybody else was doing.
Unfortunately the tragedy of Comey is something borne by many. What trump, the GOP, Fox News, and Russia were doing to Clinton and our democracy was in plain view. No one did anything to stop it. They were having too much fun destroying Clinton. The great blood sport of the 2016 election beating up clinton, everybody did it. Comey just did what everybody else was doing.
31
Alas, not just Fox, but the NY Times and the Washington Post, who breathlessly reported on every leak and every email, especially the 3 with a paragraph marked (c), as if it were a national security crisis, a major scandal, and a massive lack of integrity.
They made it sound as bad as if she had been colluding with the Russians, passing along top secret classified info to them, setting up back channels, working with shady Putin-connected operatives and oligarchs, engaging in illegal self-dealing, and even firing the person investigating her!
They made it sound as bad as if she had been colluding with the Russians, passing along top secret classified info to them, setting up back channels, working with shady Putin-connected operatives and oligarchs, engaging in illegal self-dealing, and even firing the person investigating her!
The Republicans in Washington were so driven by greed that they themselves got entangled with Russian money and now they want to save themselves by saving Trump.
15
You can't just say something like that without offering any substantiation. I am no friend to today's Republicans, but serious charges require a proffer of evidence.
3
Agree! It's ridiculous to argue that Republicans, in general, are awash in Russian funds and machinations!
It is likely true, though, about Trump, Trump's key aides (Page, Manafort, etc.), Kushner, Tillerson, Pruitt, and others who have profited from Russian funding, banking, oligarchs, real estate investments, and resource exploitation (oil, etc.).
It is likely true, though, about Trump, Trump's key aides (Page, Manafort, etc.), Kushner, Tillerson, Pruitt, and others who have profited from Russian funding, banking, oligarchs, real estate investments, and resource exploitation (oil, etc.).
1
LH, you are right that claims require substantiation. Let's read together the many reports of self-dealing and collusion that dog Trump and his cronies.
4
I suspect that Comey’s testimony will be anticlimactic, and that Charles then will merely move down his checklist to the next gripe he has about Trump. We’ll see. In any event, firing of an FBI director never was likely to stop an investigation and, as we’ve seen, in fact didn’t. Justice, if there’s any here, hardly was obstructed.
Comey’s firing is not the stuff of impeachments (as that of Archibald Cox might have been), which is Charles’s true desperate wish. Like most liberals, he sees only the outrage before his nose and not the Pence two inches out.
Any who might succeed Trump in case of his resignation or impeachment and removal are FAR more Republican, indeed unabashedly conservative, than he. But Charles has just enough spit saved up for one all-out war at a time.
So much better to focus on WHY Americans created with their votes the reality that Trump and those who might succeed him are so uniformly offensive to liberals. And do something useful about that for themselves. Otherwise, the wilderness beckons generationally.
Comey’s firing is not the stuff of impeachments (as that of Archibald Cox might have been), which is Charles’s true desperate wish. Like most liberals, he sees only the outrage before his nose and not the Pence two inches out.
Any who might succeed Trump in case of his resignation or impeachment and removal are FAR more Republican, indeed unabashedly conservative, than he. But Charles has just enough spit saved up for one all-out war at a time.
So much better to focus on WHY Americans created with their votes the reality that Trump and those who might succeed him are so uniformly offensive to liberals. And do something useful about that for themselves. Otherwise, the wilderness beckons generationally.
6
Well, that it didn't succeed is a poor apology for Trump's interference in the process of justice. Did it amount to its obstruction? Even though Luettgen doesn't know he assures us that Trump's conduct is unimpeachable.
Luettgen is right about the bigger picture, though. Just how did we get to be a nation of self-regarding ignoramuses who choose to dismiss as politics the sounding of alarms to assaults on ethics and justice?
Luettgen is right about the bigger picture, though. Just how did we get to be a nation of self-regarding ignoramuses who choose to dismiss as politics the sounding of alarms to assaults on ethics and justice?
1
Stourley:
I've never argued that Trump's behavior is "unimpeachable" in the general sense of the word -- just that I'd be surprised indeed if Mueller or anyone else will be able to prove "high crimes and misdemeanors" and get him impeached in any formulaic sense. I've also argued consistently that you guys are distracting yourselves from developing the leverage you need to regain relevance to our governance. Even if he left, by one door or another, what would enter behind him would be FAR more inimical to the interests of progressives than Trump is or likely ever will be.
You're monumentally distracted and unfocused. You need to engage, dicker and protect as much of what you consider important as you can. Getting rid of Trump after 8 November 2016 by ANY means won't accomplish that.
I've never argued that Trump's behavior is "unimpeachable" in the general sense of the word -- just that I'd be surprised indeed if Mueller or anyone else will be able to prove "high crimes and misdemeanors" and get him impeached in any formulaic sense. I've also argued consistently that you guys are distracting yourselves from developing the leverage you need to regain relevance to our governance. Even if he left, by one door or another, what would enter behind him would be FAR more inimical to the interests of progressives than Trump is or likely ever will be.
You're monumentally distracted and unfocused. You need to engage, dicker and protect as much of what you consider important as you can. Getting rid of Trump after 8 November 2016 by ANY means won't accomplish that.
1
@Richard Luettgen: Let's see..how long did The Donald keep up the birther lie? Seven years? (By the way he would have been eligible anyway as a naturalised citizen...but I digress) I think seven years of Russiagate might be enough time to keep the story alive. I'll do my small part. But that's assuming the upcoming investigations don't find any financial quid pro quo stuff, or...what... treason? In any case, Trump's legacy will be that: Russiagate. It won't be the deconstruction of the administrative state of Bannon's fantasies, or the reinventing of the US as a Reagan Utopia (an oxymoron I know) for Uncle Sam Inc. Trump's Russiagate legacy will stick; circumstantially or otherwise. Of course Trump did not obstruct justice in your rhetorical argument because the investigation is still ongoing. I think we'll find from Comey's testimony he TRIED to obstruct justice. If it's not an impeachable offence we'll just add this conflict of interest to the list when Mueller finishes reading Trump's tax returns and listening to the tapes. Did you know the US had tapped the Russian encrypted lines too where the boys (Jared and Mike) planned to set up their secret communications with Moscow? Great stuff - should be better than the 18 minutes. I'll be in the wilderness sharpening my arrows...need to keep the quiver full since there are so many targets.
2
"But the clarity of good vs. evil isn't as clear-cut here as I would like it to be."
Hasn't it ever been thus? I can recall the late columnist Stewart Alsop likening John Dean to a spider, but grudgingly admitting that his Watergate testimony was damning. Then there was Tony Ulaszewicz...
There must be countless investigations and trials that turn on evidence provided by truly sordid people, rather than those like Mr. Comey, whose "integrity and intent" Mr. Blow says he doesn't doubt. In the current investigation, there may, in due course, be testimony from the likes of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, or Jared Kushner. Whether anyone thinks they are choir boys or something else is not going to matter.
What matters is the testimony itself and its reliability, which will likely depend on thinks other than whether the person testifying fulfills the requirements of central casting.
Hasn't it ever been thus? I can recall the late columnist Stewart Alsop likening John Dean to a spider, but grudgingly admitting that his Watergate testimony was damning. Then there was Tony Ulaszewicz...
There must be countless investigations and trials that turn on evidence provided by truly sordid people, rather than those like Mr. Comey, whose "integrity and intent" Mr. Blow says he doesn't doubt. In the current investigation, there may, in due course, be testimony from the likes of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, or Jared Kushner. Whether anyone thinks they are choir boys or something else is not going to matter.
What matters is the testimony itself and its reliability, which will likely depend on thinks other than whether the person testifying fulfills the requirements of central casting.
Comey's idea of integrity is that of an Eagle Scout's, checking the boxes to earn that merit badge.
1
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Mueller has given Comey clearance to testify but they have reportedly agreed on what questions he can answer and what questions he can't answer. So we should expect that we may not get much from him in the way of substance or shocking new allegations. This may be just more like a bone tossed to the American people, rather than anything we can stick a pike in.
3
Pence will be president, and he should thank COmey.
Not one person voted on election day for this guy to be president, and yet there he will sit at the will of COmey.
Not one person voted on election day for this guy to be president, and yet there he will sit at the will of COmey.
2
Unfortunately millions of Americans voted for Mike Pence to be Plan B.
The real question is whether the Trump – Pence ticket would have one at all without the interference of Russia in our election. If the answer is no, then Pencehas no more legitimacy than Trump. But of course this will remain a theoretical question.
The real question is whether the Trump – Pence ticket would have one at all without the interference of Russia in our election. If the answer is no, then Pencehas no more legitimacy than Trump. But of course this will remain a theoretical question.
1
For some reason Comey chose to tell all about Clinton while nothing about trump, helping trump win. I would love to hear his reason.
9
Well, you aren't going to like the answer. And neither am I.
Someone needs to check his bank accounts and *his* Russian connections, just to be sure!
1
The story I want to hear about is the monkey business going on in the New York FBI office...anti-Clinton agents, goaded and encouraged by Giuliani (and others?) to ensure the "October Letter" was released. The explanation of why those e-mails couldn't have been dealt with speedily, in early Sept. (eg. equipment failure) fall flat. I'm pretty much convinced a "set-up", perfectly timed, took place out of that office: recall at the time the problem Comey was said to have faced: either release the letter or have the NY office agents leak about it. I hope somebody on the committee does some questioning in this area.
17
I don't have high hopes for Comey's testimony. Trump is, quite frankly, right that former FBI Director is a showboat (it takes one to know one) and that there may even be something slightly unhinged about the way he cloaks himself in his own rectitude. Comey's appearance will be at best a shiny object for the media to chase through a news cycle or two, while the Special Consul Robert Mueller does the hard work of getting at the real truth behind this whole affair: That Trump is mobbed up with Putin's criminal cronies and has been for years. For awhile, money-laundering sufficed to pay the vig; now, it appears, it will take the unraveling of Europe.
5
Although I still resent Comey's decision regarding Hillary's email on the eve of the election, I somehow am reluctant to assign evil, political motives for that decision. He in fact appears to be a person of integrity... no matter what he may or may not reveal about Trump. I think Trump has revealed enough of himself by himself.
10
I think Comey will occupy a place, alongside Sirhan Sirhan, as a major figure in American history, another man who tilted the United States onto a disasterous, immoral, and cynical path. I look back and think what this country and the world would look like had Bobby Kenney lived. And we will likely remember Comey who, at the moment of his gratuitous press conference declaring Hillary Clinton "innocent" of criminality but "guilty" of carelessness at the same time, pulled the trigger. Maybe he can find some kind of redemption, but we will be living with the fallout of his own carelessness and self-regard.
When I look at him I have to say that I am more than slightly nauseous.
When I look at him I have to say that I am more than slightly nauseous.
15
In the immortal words of George Takei -- "James Comey and the Giant ImPeachment."
2
"Will it be a clash of the titans?" There is only one titan in the event and that is Comey.
Hillary did NOT lose because of Comey. Hillary lost because of the electoral college.
She lost because she was unpopular and the country wanted change.
She lost because of the super delegates, Debbie Wasserman Shultz and because Hillary is Hillary.
Hillary lost because the country wanted CHANGE and Hillary represented anything but change.
The only way the Democrats will take back the country is IF they can wake up and smell the coffee. (And I, sadly, admit to being a Democrat.)
Hillary did NOT lose because of Comey. Hillary lost because of the electoral college.
She lost because she was unpopular and the country wanted change.
She lost because of the super delegates, Debbie Wasserman Shultz and because Hillary is Hillary.
Hillary lost because the country wanted CHANGE and Hillary represented anything but change.
The only way the Democrats will take back the country is IF they can wake up and smell the coffee. (And I, sadly, admit to being a Democrat.)
9
Wow, when you capitalize words I am able to "get it." Thanks, Smart Lady!
""Hillary did NOT lose because of Comey. Hillary lost because of the electoral college [sic]."
Those two are directly related!
"She lost because she was unpopular"
LOL! She was so unpopular she won the popular vote by 3 million (!) and Trump ended up ranking among the lowest % vote getters ever to be elected president.
"She lost because of the super delegatesl"
HUH?! Strange point-- they had nothing to do with the general election. Or, are you trying to make a tortured argument that because some felt that the superdelegates gave the nomination to Hillary, they voted for Trump?! Probably count them on one hand!
"She lost because of Debbie Wasserman Shultz"
Double HUH?! HUH?! DWS was a nuisance, like a fly one bats away, but immaterial.
Hillary, by the by, won the Democratic nomination by millions of votes, too!
"and because Hillary is Hillary."
Misogyny, anyone?!
"Hillary lost because the country wanted CHANGE and Hillary represented anything but change."
Your hyperbole is belied by the facts -- she would have been the first woman elected, one of the most qualified and experienced candidates ever to run for president (unlike Obama and Trump), strong on women's rights and gun control, and more progressive domestically than Obama, while more hawkish internationally,
"The only way the Democrats will take back the country is IF they can wake up and smell the covfefe."
Fixed that for you!
Those two are directly related!
"She lost because she was unpopular"
LOL! She was so unpopular she won the popular vote by 3 million (!) and Trump ended up ranking among the lowest % vote getters ever to be elected president.
"She lost because of the super delegatesl"
HUH?! Strange point-- they had nothing to do with the general election. Or, are you trying to make a tortured argument that because some felt that the superdelegates gave the nomination to Hillary, they voted for Trump?! Probably count them on one hand!
"She lost because of Debbie Wasserman Shultz"
Double HUH?! HUH?! DWS was a nuisance, like a fly one bats away, but immaterial.
Hillary, by the by, won the Democratic nomination by millions of votes, too!
"and because Hillary is Hillary."
Misogyny, anyone?!
"Hillary lost because the country wanted CHANGE and Hillary represented anything but change."
Your hyperbole is belied by the facts -- she would have been the first woman elected, one of the most qualified and experienced candidates ever to run for president (unlike Obama and Trump), strong on women's rights and gun control, and more progressive domestically than Obama, while more hawkish internationally,
"The only way the Democrats will take back the country is IF they can wake up and smell the covfefe."
Fixed that for you!
1
"Comey is one of the people who damned us to the reign of Trump, and Comey may be one of the only people who can save us from it." Well, assuming he is allowed to testify. If Trump stops that on the basis of executive privilege, might not that in itself strongly suggest that Trump is obstructing justice? But then again, dictators and mobsters have rarely had any use for justice.
4
I, too, am torn in my thoughts about Comey, and for the record I am a flaming liberal. Essentially I cannot get past his radically different treatment of Clinton's emails versus the extent to which Russia may be using Trump and his associates to influence US elections and policies, and Comey's extraordinary press conference during last summer when he excoriated Clinton in a highly personal manner for her "carelessness" in handling classified material. I have not heard one word from him about Trump's numerous indiscretions with classified information. Thus, I do not feel that we can trust Comey. His public testimony before Congress is likely to be yet another sanctimonious self-defense of his reputation.
473
I know, Alison! I'm quite puzzled by the differences in how he handled the two topics. The 'best' guess I can come up with, giving him some kind of leeway, is that in Clinton's case he was seized by a strong spasm of misogyny. Or a strong spasm of personal dislike. Or a strong impulse to 'put her in her place' -- envy, perhaps. I hope this sanctimoniousness doesn't go all the way through him. I hope he can testify to the truth -- this time.
It's also true that the Obama administration's silence is rather baffling when it seems they knew quite a lot before the election, even beginning last summer, not only about the Russians but about possible Trump campaign collusion. Have we heard any good reasons for that overzealous discretion from anybody official? If I were Hilary I think I'd be wondering what the heck they were waiting for, given what they knew about both investigations.
Time to stop viewing Comey as a player: his role is now as source. Give us the facts man, just the facts.
6
Comey says he would never play basketball with President Obama because of an appearance of being chummy with the man who appointed him, but turns around and has dinner with the man he has an investigation against. He judges Hillary's actions publicly, yet withholds information about acting on false information from Congress. Somehow all his self proclaimed agony on what to do has never rung true. He appears to be either a bungling patriot or the Munchausen by Proxy of the intelligence world.
22
He's a bungling bungler, a Boy Scout in the deep dark forest of Washington, armed with a penknife and a moral compass he can't figure out.
1
Comey not investigating Trump.........
Why doesn't anybody speak out on the real problem with our system-- having only two parties? This will continue to happen as long as "what's bad for you is good for me."
3
Comey did not set up Hillary's improper email system. Comey did not delete emails from that system. So, blaming him (or anyone else) for Hillary's loss is simply blaming the messenger(s). Virtually no other Democrat nominee could have possibly managed to lose to Donald Trump. That's how flawed a candidate she actually was. So, why not place the blame where it really lies, rather than on scapegoats?
20
Absolutely! The Democrat weren't seeking a president, they wanted a coronation.
7
It's interesting to me that Comey wouldn't play basketball with Obama but would have dinner with Trump and spend time alone with him. Comey knew that Obama was rational and he could refuse the game. But he wanted to keep his job and tried to manage Trump. Now he knows you can't manage crazytown. And I still would like to know what happened to the FBI leakers in New York.
4
there are plenty of reasons why Clinton lost the election. The Russians, her own messaging and inability to connect with people, third party candidates, Comey, Bill Clinton, and Anthony Weiner- the gift that keeps on giving. Comey is a boyscout- he knew if he didn't say anything about Clinton he would loose all credibility with his own people and info would be leaked anyway. It's his decision to stay mum about Trump - that is really the issue. he explained why he felt he needed to speak publicly about Clinton- you may not agree with his logic but he did have a reason- Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch. At the time he may have an unconscious bias for Trump, he may have voted for him. But I do think his boyscout instincts will be helpful moving forward. I think he values honesty and the rule of law. He's also no dope- he took notes and documented every sleazy conversation Trump had with him. It's really up to Mueller now.
5
So, it comes around again, the perfect is once again the enemy of the good.
At the least, honest but a bit stupid trumps the perfidious author of endless lies, even if trump and Trump are homonyms.
At the least, honest but a bit stupid trumps the perfidious author of endless lies, even if trump and Trump are homonyms.
Well said Charles, Comey wanted to be the ideal hero but ended up being the Villain who handed the Presidency over to a thug Donald J. Trump.
It was a blunder when Comey talked about Hillary`s email just a few days before the election and the world was stunned that all those information was based on fake planted emails by Russis and Comey know they were fake but still felt compelled to disclose all of to the World. Never even admitted to disclose that fact saying " oh by the way those are fake planted emails "
Unless Comey spends all his life rectifying the blunder he created by giving us Trump he is a bigger villain than Trump .
It was a blunder when Comey talked about Hillary`s email just a few days before the election and the world was stunned that all those information was based on fake planted emails by Russis and Comey know they were fake but still felt compelled to disclose all of to the World. Never even admitted to disclose that fact saying " oh by the way those are fake planted emails "
Unless Comey spends all his life rectifying the blunder he created by giving us Trump he is a bigger villain than Trump .
2
I guess we won't know anything until Comey testifies. However I keep thinking of one of the things he told a friend, as reported by the NYT. "I wore a blue suit so I would blend in with the drapes" Did Comey really believe that his 6'8" frame would "blend in with the drapes"? I am no fan of Trump and believe he is the worst thing that has ever happened to this country. But I also question Comey's integrity.
1
America will carry the scars for a long time, thanks to Mr Comey actions. Mr Trump will give the Russians what they want, whatever makes Mr Putin happy, ruin our relationship with Europe, compounds, intelligence...anything for a friend that helped him get elected.
In the meantime, where is the Republican party? Don't you have any sense of decency?
In the meantime, where is the Republican party? Don't you have any sense of decency?
5
I wanted the Democrats to win as much as anyone, but imagine the furor had Hillary won and more emails were said to be available after Comey had sworn to Congress that he had reviewed everything.
Let's face it, the intractable Republicans would have hounded Hillary and disabled her presidency almost immediately into the first months.
Comey, like everyone else, assumed she would win against the buffoon and chose to get the matter out of the way before the election. Remember that he also returned to state he had found nothing shortly after he reviewed the new emails and prior to the election.
He figured there would be plenty of time to get Trump and the Russians when the election was over.
Look how long the investigation is taking with multiple bodies overseeing it. An early announcement by Comey would simply have looked as if Trump were being persecuted. It might have solidified his base even more intensely.
Early on, not even the left believed much would come of the Russian interference investigation.
If we don't come to grips very soon with why the Dems lost, we are doomed to repeat history.
Let's face it, the intractable Republicans would have hounded Hillary and disabled her presidency almost immediately into the first months.
Comey, like everyone else, assumed she would win against the buffoon and chose to get the matter out of the way before the election. Remember that he also returned to state he had found nothing shortly after he reviewed the new emails and prior to the election.
He figured there would be plenty of time to get Trump and the Russians when the election was over.
Look how long the investigation is taking with multiple bodies overseeing it. An early announcement by Comey would simply have looked as if Trump were being persecuted. It might have solidified his base even more intensely.
Early on, not even the left believed much would come of the Russian interference investigation.
If we don't come to grips very soon with why the Dems lost, we are doomed to repeat history.
10
When Comey chastised Clinton last summer for her handling of classified information while concluding no laws were broken, I was really angry. Who was he to offer his opinion? No charges, no comments. That said, I suspect Comey, like the rest of us, thought that there was no way Trump would win the election so by bringing to light the new info. regarding Weiner's computer, he was heading off the trouble to come via Republicans after Clinton's win. I am sure he was shocked and appalled like the rest of us at Trump's victory. It's not a foregone conclusion that, had he kept silent, Clinton would have won considering how many people merely voted their party affiliation.
Mr. Comey showed his courage and integrity, when he was a prosecutor, in diligently pursuing Martha Stewart, for hiding a $45,000 capital gain and sending her to jail - as an example for those on Wall Street who stole millions and billions.
A man of great consistency.
When Martha asked to serve her time in prison at a penitentiary in proximity to her 90-year-old mom, Mr, Comey and the Bureau of Prisons decided not to give her any special treatment.
This tough attitude sent a shudder down the spines of the financiers and bankers on Wall Street.
A man of great consistency.
When Martha asked to serve her time in prison at a penitentiary in proximity to her 90-year-old mom, Mr, Comey and the Bureau of Prisons decided not to give her any special treatment.
This tough attitude sent a shudder down the spines of the financiers and bankers on Wall Street.
16
This has to be sarcasm.
4
John P: Ya think?
And yes, that was sarcasm.
And yes, that was sarcasm.
As it should have. They had to double their contributions to various campaigns, to assure their pet politicians stayed bought.
1
When I can understand Mr Blow's sentiments, I generally concur in them. Today I need help with his prose.
"The question of whether Trump’s ask, Comey’s continuance and Trump’s subsequent firing of Comey constitutes obstruction of justice looms large." -- I suppose that 'ask' means 'request', although it strikes me as a barbarism; what 'continuance' is supposed to convey in this context is unclear. His persistence in investigation? His remaining in office? No telling. And had I had my choice of verb, it would have been the plural 'constitute' (ask, continuance, firing as the triple subject).
Mr Blow's best work is not produced when he is afroth with indignation. Perhaps his colleagues can give his contributions a once-over, to increase intelligibility, until Trump is driven from office.
"The question of whether Trump’s ask, Comey’s continuance and Trump’s subsequent firing of Comey constitutes obstruction of justice looms large." -- I suppose that 'ask' means 'request', although it strikes me as a barbarism; what 'continuance' is supposed to convey in this context is unclear. His persistence in investigation? His remaining in office? No telling. And had I had my choice of verb, it would have been the plural 'constitute' (ask, continuance, firing as the triple subject).
Mr Blow's best work is not produced when he is afroth with indignation. Perhaps his colleagues can give his contributions a once-over, to increase intelligibility, until Trump is driven from office.
1
I like Charles Blow's prose... his And Frank Bruni's. I always look forward to their piece. It's first class prose! And, oh, not to forget Maureen Dowd's. I always have a dictionary at the ready before opens up their piece.
2
Mr. Blow’s standard for judging Director Comey’s actions is purely based on its political effect. In July 2016, when Comey declined to prosecute Clinton, Charles supported that decision (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/opinion/hillary-clinton-maam-survivor.... This was actually Comey’s worst offense, because he was shoving aside the entire Justice Department leadership and supplanting their authority with his judgment. Yes, Loretta Lynch was probably too tainted to make the decision, but she could have recused herself in favor of a subordinate or appointed a special counsel. But given the evidence of Clinton’s gross mishandling of classified information, this was an outcome that Charles could support.
Then Comey testified before Congress and indicated that the investigation into Clinton was essentially closed, he promised Congress to keep them informed if anything changed. At the time, Mr. Blow had no problem with Comey agreeing to keep Congress informed, because Charles did not see it as hurting Clinton. But then, in October, when Comey kept his word to Congress and kept them informed, Charles and the rest of the liberal world thought it was a travesty.
Now that Comey’s testimony before Congress might hurt Trump, Charles is cheering him on, and we can be sure that Mr. Blow’s assessment of Comey’s testimony will depend completely on much it hurts Trump.
Then Comey testified before Congress and indicated that the investigation into Clinton was essentially closed, he promised Congress to keep them informed if anything changed. At the time, Mr. Blow had no problem with Comey agreeing to keep Congress informed, because Charles did not see it as hurting Clinton. But then, in October, when Comey kept his word to Congress and kept them informed, Charles and the rest of the liberal world thought it was a travesty.
Now that Comey’s testimony before Congress might hurt Trump, Charles is cheering him on, and we can be sure that Mr. Blow’s assessment of Comey’s testimony will depend completely on much it hurts Trump.
17
Loretta lynch was probably tainted? Former AG Eric Holder blatantly campaigned for Hillary.
4
Do you pick cherries for a living by chance?
2
Loretta Lynch did recuse herself
The idea that Comey and others at the top of the heap are driven only by their own character and personality seems absurdly naive. They are typically sub rosa servants of the billionaire class.
Comey's "double-dealing" is perfectly understandable from that perspective. In the first instance, he acted to ensure the appointment of a conservative to the vacant Supreme Court position, which may have been the most critical Election 2016 priority to guarantee continuing favorable public policies for the billionaires. In the second instance, he is going to do what he can to remove Trump before he brings down the global structure that makes possible the goose that's laying the billionaires' golden egg.
Comey's "double-dealing" is perfectly understandable from that perspective. In the first instance, he acted to ensure the appointment of a conservative to the vacant Supreme Court position, which may have been the most critical Election 2016 priority to guarantee continuing favorable public policies for the billionaires. In the second instance, he is going to do what he can to remove Trump before he brings down the global structure that makes possible the goose that's laying the billionaires' golden egg.
7
Comey botched the Clinton investigation. It took too long. He violated DOJ procedures and the decision not to recommend prosecution should have been made by career lawyers, not the politically appointed Comey. His declaration that no prosecutor would find "intent" in Clinton's actions should have been made by a prosecutor, not by the investigator.
But the question remains why were things handled this way? There must have been a discussion within the agency about how to proceed with the investigation. The report that was issued essentially said that Clinton broke the law, but didn't do so intentionally.
Granted the political pressures were enormous. The AG effectively removed herself by having a conversation with Bill Clinton at the hight of the investigation. Was that intentional? Was everyone in the administration trying to avoid being the one that sunk Hillary's candidacy by recommending she be indicted?
Comey appears to have split the difference. The FBI report and his public chastisement basically said she broke the law, but his flimsy excuse about intent left her to be judged in the court of public opinion. A study cited by CNN affirms that the public did just that.
A review of words about Clinton that stuck in the minds of voters reveled that 'emails' stood out over all others. And they weren't referring to Wikileaks or the DNC hack.
My prediction is that Comey will offer up same medicine for Trump; A public rebuke short of actual evidence to obstruction.
But the question remains why were things handled this way? There must have been a discussion within the agency about how to proceed with the investigation. The report that was issued essentially said that Clinton broke the law, but didn't do so intentionally.
Granted the political pressures were enormous. The AG effectively removed herself by having a conversation with Bill Clinton at the hight of the investigation. Was that intentional? Was everyone in the administration trying to avoid being the one that sunk Hillary's candidacy by recommending she be indicted?
Comey appears to have split the difference. The FBI report and his public chastisement basically said she broke the law, but his flimsy excuse about intent left her to be judged in the court of public opinion. A study cited by CNN affirms that the public did just that.
A review of words about Clinton that stuck in the minds of voters reveled that 'emails' stood out over all others. And they weren't referring to Wikileaks or the DNC hack.
My prediction is that Comey will offer up same medicine for Trump; A public rebuke short of actual evidence to obstruction.
15
Well, if I drive 56 m/hr in a 55 m/hr zone, or don't wear a seat belt in my state, I am breaking the law. Should I be indicted fir that? Powell and Rice and numerous other GOP luminaries did the same as Clinton did, and don't tell me that using a commercial server is not the same as using a private server. In both cases it's not a government server and that's what counts. And in Clinton's case one could maintain that, her being a government official, her server was still under government control. So if Clinton should have been indicted, so should have Powell, Rice, and numerous others.
4
Anna: Suddenly deciding to delete tens of thousands of "personal" emails, applying bleachbit to your server and smashing phones and electronic equipment with hammers, all after receiving a subpoena is slightly more suspicious than driving 56 in a 55 zone.
2
Yes, Comey, with his last minute interference, probably had more to do with the election being swayed than even the Russians did.
However, let's not give Mrs. Clinton a pass, for, without her ill-advised and arrogant decision to set up her own server to do government business, Comey would not have been a factor. Also, let's not forget she was unable to win the Democratic nomination against Obama though she wasn't embroiled in the email controversy then. It was her ill-advised support for Iraq war that was her Achilles heel then.
As for Comey, he could have negated the grandstanding Trump's claim that he (Comey) is "grandstanding" and a "showboat" by testifying in private or giving testimony to only the Special Counsel. There is no doubt that Trump will be tweeting his "showboat" and "grandstanding" claim after--or perhaps even during--Comey's testimony.
The best that can be hoped now is that Comey won't say anything that would adversely affect the Special Counsel's investigation.
However, let's not give Mrs. Clinton a pass, for, without her ill-advised and arrogant decision to set up her own server to do government business, Comey would not have been a factor. Also, let's not forget she was unable to win the Democratic nomination against Obama though she wasn't embroiled in the email controversy then. It was her ill-advised support for Iraq war that was her Achilles heel then.
As for Comey, he could have negated the grandstanding Trump's claim that he (Comey) is "grandstanding" and a "showboat" by testifying in private or giving testimony to only the Special Counsel. There is no doubt that Trump will be tweeting his "showboat" and "grandstanding" claim after--or perhaps even during--Comey's testimony.
The best that can be hoped now is that Comey won't say anything that would adversely affect the Special Counsel's investigation.
7
Agree. And in addition, her campaign was totally inept ignoring Midwestern states that she wound up losing and making pay for play speeches to Wall Street. And let's not forget that her top aide Abedin continued to live with her pervert husband and there were questions as to whether classified emails meant for her went onto his computer. And the former President just had to be the big dog and meet with Attorney General Lynch while an investigation was going on. There were a lot of self inflicted wounds starting with the arrogant idea by Clinton to set up her own mail server. Yes, Comey's decisions were wrong, but they were brought on by bad decisions made by Clinton, her top aide and her own husband.
3
No matter what the outcome, between Trumps flaunting of disrespect of our constitution, human rights, allies, and basic decency. Vladimir Putin wins hugely. We lose hugely.
16
Denis, Trump is merely a symptom of what is wrong with America. He is simply an agent who speaks for people amongst us who, "disrespect of our constitution, human rights, allies, and basic decency." These people have always been around but never given a voice. Now they have a voice in Trump who is exposing to the entire world the ugliness that runs in the veins of Americans. The basic decency never really existed when slaves were chained and dragged on ships to be sold to white masters, bonded for life or traded for flesh. How many young slave girls bore children of their white masters? This is woven into our history. To this day, do the descendants of these slaves receive the "all men are created equal" treatment? But if you are half German and half Scot like Trump is, all roads are paved with gold, for you.
4
I'm going to wait until I hear Comey's testimony but I suspect that he will drive one of many nails into the coffin of our great leader. I believe Comey is an honorable man and worked hard on being fair and honest. Mrs Clinton didn't lose the election because of the e-mail story but lost because Trump fooled a lot of people. He is the ultimate con man and as far as I can see is bent on wreaking havoc.
74
We grant power to flawed people, in business and government, and we keep doing it relentlessly.
Then we wonder how things have deteriorated.
If modern American history matters at all, the warning signs were everywhere. Joe McCarthy, Nixon, Reagan, and the Bush family. They literally bankrupted us.
Now Trump, the most corrupt, if possible.
The Russians didn't elect Trump; WE DID, eyes wide open.
Then we wonder how things have deteriorated.
If modern American history matters at all, the warning signs were everywhere. Joe McCarthy, Nixon, Reagan, and the Bush family. They literally bankrupted us.
Now Trump, the most corrupt, if possible.
The Russians didn't elect Trump; WE DID, eyes wide open.
171
David Henry :
In all due respect, "WE" did not elect him.
3 million more voters rejected 45 and voted for HC.
The Republican dominated EC "elected" 45.
True democracy is one person one vote.
45's party has been working on this coup for at least 50 years slowly sledging anything they can for more money and power. The most venal cabalistic terrorists on the planet.
Good luck all.
In all due respect, "WE" did not elect him.
3 million more voters rejected 45 and voted for HC.
The Republican dominated EC "elected" 45.
True democracy is one person one vote.
45's party has been working on this coup for at least 50 years slowly sledging anything they can for more money and power. The most venal cabalistic terrorists on the planet.
Good luck all.
3
This denial is the problem. Millions in the red states voted against their economic interests. Third party nihilists undermined Clinton in Pa., Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Apathetic non-voters sat on their hands believing like fools, knowing NO HISTORY, that the Dems were the same as the GOP.
WE elected Trump.
Apathetic non-voters sat on their hands believing like fools, knowing NO HISTORY, that the Dems were the same as the GOP.
WE elected Trump.
1
Since I don't know of any people who aren't flawed, I'm not sure what your point is.
We have to start voting for people with the knowledge, competence, and experience to do the job, people who advocate for policy that benefits the 99% and (not to put it too dramatically) the future of humanity, and we have to stop looking for flawless saviors. HRC was—I've seen it stated ad nauseam—a "flawed candidate." She also had a lifetime of experience in public service and didn't seek office just to get attention and promote her family's business interests. But we allowed a celebrity moron with literally no sense of ethics to take over the most powerful position in the world, and we're on tenterhooks waiting to find out this afternoon whether he even cares about leaving a habitable biosphere to our grandchildren.
"Flawed" is a matter of degree. As CNN asked, "Who would you rather buy a used car from, Trump or Comey?"
We have to start voting for people with the knowledge, competence, and experience to do the job, people who advocate for policy that benefits the 99% and (not to put it too dramatically) the future of humanity, and we have to stop looking for flawless saviors. HRC was—I've seen it stated ad nauseam—a "flawed candidate." She also had a lifetime of experience in public service and didn't seek office just to get attention and promote her family's business interests. But we allowed a celebrity moron with literally no sense of ethics to take over the most powerful position in the world, and we're on tenterhooks waiting to find out this afternoon whether he even cares about leaving a habitable biosphere to our grandchildren.
"Flawed" is a matter of degree. As CNN asked, "Who would you rather buy a used car from, Trump or Comey?"
3
Pence is tittering in his little squirrel hole, waiting for the chips to fall. Only way I see anything positive emanating from this existential circumstance is in the activism that it has unleashed....which MUST continue until some aspect of a democracy kicks in.....
54
As someone holding an even lower opinion of James Comey than does Charles M. Blow, I believe that Comey’s testimony is important and necessary evidence against Donald Trump. You do not need to like or admire a witness in order to appreciate the value of his testimony.
James Comey’s biggest sin was to deviate from normal legal processes – for whatever reasons. Calling him now as a witness is simply a requisite for investigators out of respect for the legal process. It is likely to be important stand-alone and corroborating evidence against President Trump.
James Comey’s biggest sin was to deviate from normal legal processes – for whatever reasons. Calling him now as a witness is simply a requisite for investigators out of respect for the legal process. It is likely to be important stand-alone and corroborating evidence against President Trump.
14
Comey's unusual public condemnation of Hillary Clinton in July when not recommending charges in the email server investigation, compounded by his October surprise, was a partisan hack job. His goal was to diminish her as President, thinking (like everyone else) that she would still win.
This, combined with his support of torture while serving as W.'s deputy Attorney General (https://www.aclu.org/blog/james-comey-two-thumbs-waterboarding) define Comey: he is far more villain than hero.
This, combined with his support of torture while serving as W.'s deputy Attorney General (https://www.aclu.org/blog/james-comey-two-thumbs-waterboarding) define Comey: he is far more villain than hero.
11
At this point, I am less concerned about Comey's personality than in what he will say in that hearing. I am certain that there are certain questions that he will not be able to answer because of the current Mueller investigation, which will be understandable but unfortunate for news junkies. I should hope that he can testify to conversations between Trump and him. Trump may be desperate enough to invoke executive privilege to try to stop him. Doing so would hurt Trump, which would mean that Trump knows that testimony of his conversations with Comey would hurt more. Unfortunately, given Comey's recent history, I am prepared to be disappointed by his testimony simply because he seems to have a unique way to disappoint people of all political persuasions simultaneously.
237
I heard on NPR that 45's tweeting about Comey, including threats, may negate "executive privilege". Hopefully.
2
If he is as lucid as Sally Yates in saying when he cannot say something, that will be helpful in itself.
Comey will testify. Democrats will pander to make him look good, to make the White House look incompetent, corrupt or even treasonous - whatever they can get.
The GOP will grandstand and try to get him to look bad, to look like he had a political agenda to destroy the White House.
Neither will have an iota of interest in getting to the truth - about Comey's motivations, about the investigations, about the reality of the ties between Trump's campaign and the Russians, and the Russian's successful attempts to manipulate our elections.
Smole and mirrors. What does reality, fact and truth really matter?
The GOP will grandstand and try to get him to look bad, to look like he had a political agenda to destroy the White House.
Neither will have an iota of interest in getting to the truth - about Comey's motivations, about the investigations, about the reality of the ties between Trump's campaign and the Russians, and the Russian's successful attempts to manipulate our elections.
Smole and mirrors. What does reality, fact and truth really matter?
7
There have been rumors that James Comey and many other guys at the FBI didn't much like Hillary. She seemed a little too, um, female.
Just rumors. No proof.
It was surprising to see that Comey really lights up when he's seated in front of a microphone, speaking, for example, to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Apparently the mild nausea he felt when considering the possibility that his last-minute announcement of a new FBI search into Hillary emails influenced the presidential election passed pretty quickly. Bicard, and one good burp.
Is he a man of integrity? I'm sure he thinks he is ... because he doesn't fully understand himself and his motives. True of most of us.
Thanks Jim! We now have a President who leaves many of us profoundly nauseated, outraged, amazed, feverish, shivering. And he doesn't like you much. Good luck, fella.
Just rumors. No proof.
It was surprising to see that Comey really lights up when he's seated in front of a microphone, speaking, for example, to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Apparently the mild nausea he felt when considering the possibility that his last-minute announcement of a new FBI search into Hillary emails influenced the presidential election passed pretty quickly. Bicard, and one good burp.
Is he a man of integrity? I'm sure he thinks he is ... because he doesn't fully understand himself and his motives. True of most of us.
Thanks Jim! We now have a President who leaves many of us profoundly nauseated, outraged, amazed, feverish, shivering. And he doesn't like you much. Good luck, fella.
156
People keep framing this Hillary loss as a result of the tragic blunder by Comey or the Russians, but it was a calculated abandonment by the DNC and the Clinton campaign of it's Democratic core voters in favor of non-Trump Republicans. No one seems to calling this out. Trump won the red states, just as any other Republican would have done. The problem was that Hillary lost the battleground states. Gee, do you think her campaigning in Arizona as opposed to Wisconsin had anything to do with her losing? Does anyone talk about why the race was even close in the first place given the absolute unqualified, disgraceful person Trump is? We have national disaster of epic proportions unfolding before us, not because of Comey or the Russians, but because of who Clinton is, what she has done in the past, what she represents, her failure as a candidate and just the fact that people just can't stand her. This woman should not be allowed within ten feet of a political party, let alone being given a nod by the current Democratic leadership (Pelosi and others) as a "leader" in the Democratic Party.
17
They will never admit it "but it was a calculated abandonment by the DNC and the Clinton campaign of it's Democratic core voters in favor of non-Trump Republicans." Because the celebrities who surrounded Hillary and donated to her campaign are asking how and why did Hillary lose, she is accountable to her donors. For Hillary it is easy to tell them it was Comey or the Russians, forces outside of her campaign. That's not true, you know. How about they look within, their own campaign and systematically figure out why they lost. Books are being written about it and if these books are truth seeking (and not merely sensational), we will soon find out the real reasons that people in Pa, Mi and Wi gave up on Hillary. So did people in NH and Florida.
12
Trump is not guilty of "obstruction" of justice. He is guilty of "destruction" of justice.
115
Both, Jack B.
2
I was aghast at Comey's weird and unprovoked interference in the late days of the 2016 presidential election, and have no understanding of his motivation. It was inexcusable and beyond unprofessional. But beyond that, the fact remains that Comey may be central to eventual impeachment proceedings against Trump for obstruction of justice, and he may hold in his hands evidence that may go some distance to constituting proof. When he testifies in an open, public forum, I will steal time off from work to watch because I know he will not lie. Under Trump, America is in great danger; indeed, with climate change, the earth herself may hang in some balance. If Comey provides evidence that Trump obstructed justice, that testimony may shift public opinion enough to tip sufficient numbers of elected Republicans away from their cowardly and shameless indifference to standing up and finally taking action that favors our great country.
325
"If Comey provides evidence that Trump obstructed justice, that testimony may shift public opinion enough to tip sufficient numbers of elected Republicans away from their cowardly and shameless indifference to standing up and finally taking action that favors our great country."
I am not holding my breath........
I am not holding my breath........
1
The earth will be fine with climate change: we just won't be.
1
I wouldn't get to excited about James Comey
speaking to the Senate. His reputation is in serious question based on his actions as the FBI Director. Any President is allowed within the law to ask an FBI Director to move on with any investigation to a conclusion. Any President can fire the FBI Director at anytime for any reason. This is not obstruction by any definition. "High Drama" as you say. Yes! What isn't these days?
You state that there was "no doubt" that Comey played a part in her losing". He certainly played a part in the campaign rhetoric but Hillary Clinton was defeated because she had no clear message. She also ran the worst marketing campaign in the history of politics. Twice the money... a sitting President and a past President campaigning for her.... a gift from the DNC regarding Bernie Sanders...twice the ground game and she lost? Perhaps she shouldn't have been campaigning in Arizona when she should have been in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania, Obama called her the most qualified person ever to run for President and begged his supporters to vote for her...zero...nada and nothing.
speaking to the Senate. His reputation is in serious question based on his actions as the FBI Director. Any President is allowed within the law to ask an FBI Director to move on with any investigation to a conclusion. Any President can fire the FBI Director at anytime for any reason. This is not obstruction by any definition. "High Drama" as you say. Yes! What isn't these days?
You state that there was "no doubt" that Comey played a part in her losing". He certainly played a part in the campaign rhetoric but Hillary Clinton was defeated because she had no clear message. She also ran the worst marketing campaign in the history of politics. Twice the money... a sitting President and a past President campaigning for her.... a gift from the DNC regarding Bernie Sanders...twice the ground game and she lost? Perhaps she shouldn't have been campaigning in Arizona when she should have been in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania, Obama called her the most qualified person ever to run for President and begged his supporters to vote for her...zero...nada and nothing.
6
More insanity by the NYTs and Blow.
If Comey testifies that Trump tried to dissuade him from any investigation, then it flies in the face of previous testimony. Besides, he had an obligation to report obstruction. His failure to do so is a felony.
I'd like to ask the smarmy Comey if he did other memos. If so, they are government property. We need to see them all.
If Comey testifies that Trump tried to dissuade him from any investigation, then it flies in the face of previous testimony. Besides, he had an obligation to report obstruction. His failure to do so is a felony.
I'd like to ask the smarmy Comey if he did other memos. If so, they are government property. We need to see them all.
8
Talking points! He was in the middle of an investigation and these conversations were pertinent. I am quite sure those memos will be seen, and I for one cannot wait.
5
Ikinva: You do realize any Comey memo is self-serving, and about as useful and relevant as the NYTs editorial board?
4
The concluding sentence is half right and half wrong. Comey is indeed "one of the people who damned us to the reign of Trump." but he cannot be the one "who can save us from it" because we will be left with Pence at the helm and gorsuch in the SCOTUS.
28
"Is it fair to believe sincerely that Comey should indeed have been fired, just not at this time, in this way, for this reason?"
I would say yes to Mr. Blow's troubling question.
Let's hope that Robert Mueller, brought in as a result of Comey's firing, does manage to bring down this degenerate President. But to my mind, anyway, even this could not exonerate Comey from the - "mistake?"- "crime?" - of having influenced this election. It's especially galling in the context of the equally catastrophic interference of the Russians.
Trump illegally tried to interfere with Comey's investigation, but didn't Comey illegally interfere with Hillary Clinton's bid for the Presidency?
Unconsciously or otherwise, Comey seems to believe, like so many others in the Republican party in Washington, that while everyone else must follow the rules, he alone is above the law.
I would say yes to Mr. Blow's troubling question.
Let's hope that Robert Mueller, brought in as a result of Comey's firing, does manage to bring down this degenerate President. But to my mind, anyway, even this could not exonerate Comey from the - "mistake?"- "crime?" - of having influenced this election. It's especially galling in the context of the equally catastrophic interference of the Russians.
Trump illegally tried to interfere with Comey's investigation, but didn't Comey illegally interfere with Hillary Clinton's bid for the Presidency?
Unconsciously or otherwise, Comey seems to believe, like so many others in the Republican party in Washington, that while everyone else must follow the rules, he alone is above the law.
6
Clearly he did not illegally interfere with her bid. You may not like what he did, but it was not illegal.
Just another step down a long road. Comey's testimony will only lay out a potential case for obstruction but we won't learn anything about the underlying reasons for the obstruction. That will come a year or two down this long road from the independent investigation. Sit back relax and take in the daily display of incompetence of Trump and his administration and his enablers in congress. Let's just hope nothing really bad happens in the interim that requires reason and intelligence to solve. If that's the case we are all in for a world of hurt.
8
But apparently Trump can stop Comey from testifying. Curious to see how that plays out.
8
Comey may have made a mistake last year surrounding Clinton. I still find that debatable. Of this I am certain. Comey is the real deal. People never seem to like the guy whose "self-righteousness" is legitimate. Honor is reflected in James Comey and that will be the first ending the Trump Presidency, which has none. P.S. The Clintons have no honor either. That's the real reason she is not President.
4
"Comey is one of the people who damned us to the reign of Trump, and Comey may be one of the only people who can save us from it."
I hope he can testify. But don't think for a New York minute Trump won't try to block him through some legal wringer.
"Executive privilege" might be the tactic, which is ironic since we already know an awful lot from fine reporting by the NYT and Washington Post.
Like you Charles, I have terribly mixed feelings towards Jams Comey and unilateral aversion to Mr. Trump's hubris and disdain for the laws of this country.
However, I think Trump, in his arrogance, inadvertently did himself in on the legal front. By all accounting, the Comey firing could have led Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein to appoint the special counsel whose reputation for honesty and thoroughness precedes him.
We know Donald Trump is as brazen as they come. We also know how he tried to turn Comey to his cause. Any man as full of himself as the president who plans to return the Russian compounds to Putin's spies amidst the swirl of these investigations--and whose breathless decision on climate change is playing out on the world stage--isn't going to go easily.
I hope Comey and later Bob Mueller remember that with Trump you get a street fight. Please guys, come legally armed and ready to rumble.
Because we citizens are looking to you to restore some integrity to a government that currently has none.
I hope he can testify. But don't think for a New York minute Trump won't try to block him through some legal wringer.
"Executive privilege" might be the tactic, which is ironic since we already know an awful lot from fine reporting by the NYT and Washington Post.
Like you Charles, I have terribly mixed feelings towards Jams Comey and unilateral aversion to Mr. Trump's hubris and disdain for the laws of this country.
However, I think Trump, in his arrogance, inadvertently did himself in on the legal front. By all accounting, the Comey firing could have led Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein to appoint the special counsel whose reputation for honesty and thoroughness precedes him.
We know Donald Trump is as brazen as they come. We also know how he tried to turn Comey to his cause. Any man as full of himself as the president who plans to return the Russian compounds to Putin's spies amidst the swirl of these investigations--and whose breathless decision on climate change is playing out on the world stage--isn't going to go easily.
I hope Comey and later Bob Mueller remember that with Trump you get a street fight. Please guys, come legally armed and ready to rumble.
Because we citizens are looking to you to restore some integrity to a government that currently has none.
119
Criminal investigations are conducted with great respect for confidentiality. The 5th Amendment allows those who are accused to remain silent. And the grand jury is conducted in secrecy to protect the accused. Comey conducts investigations with lots of microphones and cameras. That reflects the fact that he doesn't respect anyone's secrecy rights. Comey isn't a little good and a little bad. He is utterly incompetent because he can't keep his mouth shut.
38
While I'm not a lawyer, it seems to me your objection applies to a situation in which the accused has been charged with a crime. That is not the present case. Furthermore, Senate and House committees have Constitutional authority to investigate the President's actions to determine if he is in violation of the law and the Constitution. The Senate Intelligence Committee has solicited Comey's input because he alone has information that can illuminate, even confirm or contradict, the President's assertions. This committee is not a grand jury although there is some overlapping in functions of the two. Methinks your legal comments are a tattered cloak for your personal distaste for the ex director of the FBI.
2
Ed Patbert,
I am a lawyer, and I think your comments are spot on.
I am a lawyer, and I think your comments are spot on.
2
Ed:
The Clinton investigation was well past the point where a grand jury should have been convened. Comey acted as if it had not been. That is a major mystery that has not been explored.
You are right about Congressional investigations. But any criminal investigation that follows will be substantially prejudiced by Comey's public testimony. So he should request that his testimony be conducted in a closed session. (BTW, I am a federal criminal prosecutor.)
The Clinton investigation was well past the point where a grand jury should have been convened. Comey acted as if it had not been. That is a major mystery that has not been explored.
You are right about Congressional investigations. But any criminal investigation that follows will be substantially prejudiced by Comey's public testimony. So he should request that his testimony be conducted in a closed session. (BTW, I am a federal criminal prosecutor.)
1
"Another person who knows Comey well says, ‘There is stubbornness, ego, and some self-righteousness at work.’ ”
And these are surprising traits of someone politically appointed to a high government office? This also sounds a lot like my own boss...and I'm self employed.
And these are surprising traits of someone politically appointed to a high government office? This also sounds a lot like my own boss...and I'm self employed.
6
It makes a person wonder how many other situations Donald Trump has asked "to let go". I bet there have been plenty.
Husbandly infidelities, contractor promises broken, time not spent with children, landlord atrocities...
Hoping Comey will point out to poor Donald - you don't asked the FBI to "let this one go" here in the old USA. This could be the redemption of being fired, a bizarre lesson in what's looking like a bizarre country these days.
Husbandly infidelities, contractor promises broken, time not spent with children, landlord atrocities...
Hoping Comey will point out to poor Donald - you don't asked the FBI to "let this one go" here in the old USA. This could be the redemption of being fired, a bizarre lesson in what's looking like a bizarre country these days.
4
The analogy Charles Blow makes between Homer's Achilles, and James Comey is such an egregious false equivalency that it can't go unchallenged. When Achilles' anger is finally unleashed after the death of Patroclus, he becomes a raging homicidal maniac, the total antithesis of the sanctimoniously flawed, ever calculating, James Comey.
5
Blaming Comey for Hillary's loss is getting tiresome. Whatever mistakes he made during the election pale in comparison to the monumental error in judgment by Hillary when she set up the private server. (Her disengenous explanation for why she did it also didn't help.). But for her "mistake," Comey wouldn't have been a factor. P.S. I voted for Hillary.
11
There's no saving us from the calamity of Trump's election. Comey did more than make some bad decisions. He should have resigned on the day that he announced that there were no new emails on Anthony Weiner's computer. Whatever he does now, too little, too late.
8
Comey's self righteous ego and his republican roots caused the election of Trump. I have never before seen a man who presented himself as virtuous and Mr. Clean in public. I believe it was on 60 minutes that he portrayed himself as Mr. Righteousness. He is theatrical in all his public appearances.
Now it is up to him to show us how righteous he rally is.
The FBI has again been tarnished by these super egos. Over the years they have shown themselves to be both great defenders of our country and partisan political at times. We need a FBI director that can be honest and fair to all Americans. I hope Mr. Trump can surprise us with such a person. Maybe it's time for a woman to clean this house.
Now it is up to him to show us how righteous he rally is.
The FBI has again been tarnished by these super egos. Over the years they have shown themselves to be both great defenders of our country and partisan political at times. We need a FBI director that can be honest and fair to all Americans. I hope Mr. Trump can surprise us with such a person. Maybe it's time for a woman to clean this house.
17
In all fairness, Comey was in a tough spot. Had he remained silent, giant leaks were coming about the reinvigorated investigation into Weiner's laptop. In retrospect, he could've and should've perhaps handled it differently. But it's a huge leap to say he's dishonorable. Just wait, he's so diligent that he wrote down EVERY single thing Trump said to him. And while I've never seen it postulated in the media, I'll bet Sally Yates, another forthright and diligent public servant, also wrote contemporaneous memoranda . . .
Let us not forget Johnson/Stein/McMullin et al. Adding the votes they garnered to Clinton's plurality, 10,669,187 more people voted for someone other than Trump. Comey will vindicate whatever smears are on his reputation, and vindicate the choice made by nearly 11 million more voters not to have this degenerate in the White House.
Let us not forget Johnson/Stein/McMullin et al. Adding the votes they garnered to Clinton's plurality, 10,669,187 more people voted for someone other than Trump. Comey will vindicate whatever smears are on his reputation, and vindicate the choice made by nearly 11 million more voters not to have this degenerate in the White House.
330
With the laptop emails Comey likely thought he was 1) covering himself just in case - nothing worse than having your GOP buddies mad at you, 2) helping the GOP win a few more congressional seats (voters voting the party line), 3) having Hillary win by a smaller margin. But Hillary lost, so he feels a bit queasy...
I totally agree, Comey was in a tough spot, it is not 100% clear at the time he should have chosen differently, hindsight is 20/20 (I sure do wish he had done things differently but I see his thinking). I agree it is a huge leap to say he is dishonorable. I also think it is a leap to say he is stubborn, a showboat, he's just trying to live/work to his detailed and thought-out principles (which he needs in his complex job and is complex to do) and thank goodness he keeps detailed notes. I am sure Sally Yates has detailed notes too. Both are integral to getting to the truth. (I too hope we can remove Trump with the outcome.)
1
Yet he did not mention Russian meddling when it already known. His timing (Two weeks before the election) was strangely suspicious.
1
It is not beyond imagining that Comey could want to both throw the election against Hillary and take out Trump. If he hadn't planned on doing that from the gitgo, surely Trump's first month in office would have been proof enough to show it to be attainable and desirable.
Dale Carnegie said, “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and vanity.”
Trump is Trump. He loves and worships himself. Comey looks to be similar, except that others feel he has redeeming qualities. For Trump, no one feels he has those qualities, even his supporters.
So we have two lepers...one we allow to walk among us, another we shun as unclean. Neither man will come out of this with his skin unblemished.
Trump is Trump. He loves and worships himself. Comey looks to be similar, except that others feel he has redeeming qualities. For Trump, no one feels he has those qualities, even his supporters.
So we have two lepers...one we allow to walk among us, another we shun as unclean. Neither man will come out of this with his skin unblemished.
16
"Comey looks to be similar, except that others feel he has redeeming qualities."
Those others now think they can use him in this moment. That is not a redeeming quality, just momentary usefulness.
They choose to ignore for the moment what they think of him.
Those others now think they can use him in this moment. That is not a redeeming quality, just momentary usefulness.
They choose to ignore for the moment what they think of him.
2
The sad thing is that if Comey has anything to do with it, Trump will skate. It's just that simple. Comey knows exactly what he's doing and it isn't good for us folks.
10
Comey is a spear of Telaphus, the rust from which will heal the wound that it previously inflicted. To recover from this catastrophic dead end we are going to have to go way back before Magna Carta (which Trump has withdrawn from even before the Paris Accords) and start over with Homer.
Fortunately Comey spear is VERY rusty.
Fortunately Comey spear is VERY rusty.
2
Mr. Blow makes no secret of his distaste for 45 and now focuses on James Comey, the recently canned Chief Feeb. While like many of my fellow progressives, I was dismayed at Mr. Comey's timing on the Hillary Clinton emails and the nasty slap on the hand comments made before about the wisdom of her choices in using a private email server. However, the reality loomed that no threat to the nation emerged from those Clinton decisions but when confronted with a real threat with evidence linking 45 to the Russkis, he gets the sack. Now, he's willing to tell how he was cajoled by the Master of the Art of the Deal to bend the rules for his pal, Michael Flynn.
Given the breakdown of the voters in this recent election, I'm not so convinced that Comey's ill-timed remarks were the straw that broke the camel's back of Hillary's campaign. Indeed, I've yet to see any real evidence that undecided voters were either swayed by these revelations or that it made any other differences in such a widely divided ideological election.
Given the breakdown of the voters in this recent election, I'm not so convinced that Comey's ill-timed remarks were the straw that broke the camel's back of Hillary's campaign. Indeed, I've yet to see any real evidence that undecided voters were either swayed by these revelations or that it made any other differences in such a widely divided ideological election.
8
I have no sympathy for Comey just because he is not as monstrous as the man who fired him. His investigation of Clinton was to determine whether there was criminality in play- his job description was not to be the nation's official scold and to evaluate her judgement in the most public and damaging way possible.
I listened to that press conference, and my confidence in H. Clinton was shaken at first, but then I considered her position and desire to keep private conversations private. The daily leaks coming from the FBI make a pretty good case for her decision to use her own server.
Unfortunately, Comey's entirely inappropriate editorial was not denounced by her campaign, which I do blame her for. Also the media, including our own NY Times, did not harshly criticize Comey's terrible intervention at the time.
For Clinton to have lost to as poor a candidate as Trump, many mistakes had to be made by many people.
I listened to that press conference, and my confidence in H. Clinton was shaken at first, but then I considered her position and desire to keep private conversations private. The daily leaks coming from the FBI make a pretty good case for her decision to use her own server.
Unfortunately, Comey's entirely inappropriate editorial was not denounced by her campaign, which I do blame her for. Also the media, including our own NY Times, did not harshly criticize Comey's terrible intervention at the time.
For Clinton to have lost to as poor a candidate as Trump, many mistakes had to be made by many people.
293
"For Clinton to have lost to as poor a candidate as Trump, many mistakes had to be made by many people." How about mistakes made by her own self and her campaign staff? Books are being written about how the Clinton campaign mishandled the election which was hers to win. Overwhelmingly the media repeatedly told us, Hillary is way ahead of her competition. Every week we got reports of the record breaking fundraising she had achieved from mega donors and celebrities. There was nothing missing: she was highly qualified, she was loved by women, she was going to build on Obama's popularity and his policies, incrementally without disturbing too much, she was going to deliver a progressive SC candidate and so on. What could go wrong? You cannot blame it on Comey or Russia because all the above campaign promises were giving Hillary more than 85% chance of winning the election. On election night, we waited we waited we waited for the magic to unfold. Nothing happened, there was zero excitement, the results were totally flat, she was underperforming beyond expectation.
11
Agreed. H. Clinton is not a natural politician and was damaged by years of poison politics- wounded and scarred. I don't if this is why she was an excessively defensive campaigner but I know it didn't help.
A real politician just treats whatever is thrown at them as a natural part of the dirty game and at least acts as though they are enjoying the sport.
I don't think most people realize, though, what an astonishingly brilliant mind she has, even if it is not manifested through her political IQ. I learned this when reading her writing revealed in the wiki-leaks. It actually made me appreciate her more.
In spite of everything, if she wasn't a woman, I think she would have won by a landslide. The sexism in the way many men talked about her was clear as day. They hated her because she was smarter than them and didn't hide it with flirtation and false modesty.
A real politician just treats whatever is thrown at them as a natural part of the dirty game and at least acts as though they are enjoying the sport.
I don't think most people realize, though, what an astonishingly brilliant mind she has, even if it is not manifested through her political IQ. I learned this when reading her writing revealed in the wiki-leaks. It actually made me appreciate her more.
In spite of everything, if she wasn't a woman, I think she would have won by a landslide. The sexism in the way many men talked about her was clear as day. They hated her because she was smarter than them and didn't hide it with flirtation and false modesty.
6
And don't forget all the as yet unproven but clear and multiple allegations that lead back to Russian hacking, fake news stories planted for viral propagation around the Internet and on FaceBook, and unending, expensive, time-consuming and unproductive GOP led Congressional hearings on Benghazi.
4
Stephen Bannon roams the White House possessing our body politic and whispering "strategy" to a clueless buffoon who is merrily despoiling our planet and jeopardizing our souls. I trust Comey is going to Capitol Hill to perform the exorcism that is way overdue.
109
Deceit and hubris often prevail over honesty and humility.
How will our over-hyped, echo chamber society cope with an age old problem?
How will our over-hyped, echo chamber society cope with an age old problem?
3
Charles, you said all that matters in your last sentence. Competent people in positions of authority are known to make errors in judgment--albeit not usually with such a dire outcome. Anyone who works with bureaucracies, particularly criminal justice ones, understands how their own hierarchy and culture becomes a thing unto itself, and often far removed from the real world and the 30,000 foot view of the consequences. Short of a do-over (we can dream), the best available response to the debacle Comey helped hand us is for him to testify about exactly what went on between him and the President, in the hope of laying the groundwork necessary to right this monumental wrong.
30
Charles, Comey should've kept his mouth shut before he sent that bloody email to the Senators right before 11 days of the election which was underway in many states.
If he did that and Hillary who lost only because of that email, could pardon him if she won for his earlier comments in a highly publicized press conference of June where he literally admonished in a public forum that "Hillary was extremely negligent with her classified emails".
But since he didn't do the right thing but took a totally wrongheaded action even ignoring his direct boss AG Loretta Lynn's advice and killed Hillary's almost a billion dollar's worth of campaign in just a few minutes, giving the totally evil Trump our country's reign who the F.B.I. and other counter Intelligence agencies knew all along was in direct contact with Russian representative and other Counter Intelligence Agencies like F.S.B. who collected as much dirt on Hillary and her campaign and then spread as much 'fake news' as possible through Wikileaks.
So while we evaluate Comey's actions we can call him a villain one time for that bloody email for a stupid laptopof Anthony Weiner which contained nothing and on the other hand he had so much of information on Trump's campaign's direct ties to the Russian Intelligence agencies' total involvement in our election process, not only by hacking into Hillary's computers but doing other nefarious activities which could've torpedoed Trump's campaign.
But he chose to remain silent.
Why ?
If he did that and Hillary who lost only because of that email, could pardon him if she won for his earlier comments in a highly publicized press conference of June where he literally admonished in a public forum that "Hillary was extremely negligent with her classified emails".
But since he didn't do the right thing but took a totally wrongheaded action even ignoring his direct boss AG Loretta Lynn's advice and killed Hillary's almost a billion dollar's worth of campaign in just a few minutes, giving the totally evil Trump our country's reign who the F.B.I. and other counter Intelligence agencies knew all along was in direct contact with Russian representative and other Counter Intelligence Agencies like F.S.B. who collected as much dirt on Hillary and her campaign and then spread as much 'fake news' as possible through Wikileaks.
So while we evaluate Comey's actions we can call him a villain one time for that bloody email for a stupid laptopof Anthony Weiner which contained nothing and on the other hand he had so much of information on Trump's campaign's direct ties to the Russian Intelligence agencies' total involvement in our election process, not only by hacking into Hillary's computers but doing other nefarious activities which could've torpedoed Trump's campaign.
But he chose to remain silent.
Why ?
136
This is exactly the way all American Presidents have liked their FBI leaders. Barely ethical, moving across the threshold of legality regularly. Hoover was a total incompetent and almost every FBI agent even today knows it, if they won't admit it.
So all the men who have led the Bureau have been of questionable character. and Comey is no different. He had his own political proclivities and he violated the ethics he ought to have upheld when he pretended to "expose" Mrs Clinton for having more "government emails"in a private computer, which she did not.
However, what blow ignores,(he usually ignores anything that doesn't agree with his agenda), is that the firing of Comey was a job for OBAMA or his recently appointed head of the Justice Department, Ms. Lynch. Neither did anything or said a word about Comey's misbehavior, instead they acted as though they were "good old boys" representing the deep South-the former Confederacy, not the modern Democratic party. In fact, Mr Obama was aware that Trump was probably in the pay or un der the thumb of Putin and former Soviet overlords, now it's oligarchs and official thieves. Why Mr. Blow has said nothing about this is beyond me. For all the good that Obama did the US in his eight years of seat warming, he might as well have been on the pay of the GOP himself.
So all the men who have led the Bureau have been of questionable character. and Comey is no different. He had his own political proclivities and he violated the ethics he ought to have upheld when he pretended to "expose" Mrs Clinton for having more "government emails"in a private computer, which she did not.
However, what blow ignores,(he usually ignores anything that doesn't agree with his agenda), is that the firing of Comey was a job for OBAMA or his recently appointed head of the Justice Department, Ms. Lynch. Neither did anything or said a word about Comey's misbehavior, instead they acted as though they were "good old boys" representing the deep South-the former Confederacy, not the modern Democratic party. In fact, Mr Obama was aware that Trump was probably in the pay or un der the thumb of Putin and former Soviet overlords, now it's oligarchs and official thieves. Why Mr. Blow has said nothing about this is beyond me. For all the good that Obama did the US in his eight years of seat warming, he might as well have been on the pay of the GOP himself.
6
I don't think Hoover was totally incompetent - he knew enough dirt on the top players to maintain his position for a good long time.
2
What you fail to understand is that if Obama had said or did anything like you suggest, he would have been accused of trying to play dirty with the Trump election. What he did was show his integrity, which you completely fail to get, as do most Republicans in the GOP Congress.
2
Do you suppose that in this matter, TRUTH could be a "high-drama media event"? Why must our government and its employees always act out media directions to achieve some kind of "good vs. evil" drama. We have become a country which cares not about truth, but about sensationalism. Shame on us.............
28
I keep thinking about Mr. Comey's assertion that the possibility that he swayed the 2016 election made him "mildly nauseous".
What would be required to make him severely nauseous? If it was not his intent to influence the election, what on Earth was he thinking about?
Mr. Comey is similar to someone who starts your house on fire, and then comes by to help you put it out.
What would be required to make him severely nauseous? If it was not his intent to influence the election, what on Earth was he thinking about?
Mr. Comey is similar to someone who starts your house on fire, and then comes by to help you put it out.
343
Really Mr. Brock, that piece of theatre made me more than nauseous. And now this game of cat and mouse...Read Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD. That's where we're headed.
1
Good point, Alan...that's called "muchausen by proxy"...a mental illness whereby the caretaker causes the problem that he then purports to solve at the eleventh hour. None dare call it insanity.
4
I never made that connection. That is absolutely frightening.
Repeating ad nauseam Hillary's claim that she lost the election because of Comey does the Democrat party no good. It's high time Blow and NYT considered the possibility that Clinton was the wrong person to bet on and that a candidate who offers a positive, progressive platform of change is the only way ahead.
44
to: Yiannis P. - Huh? Trump offered a positive, progressive platform of change?
Au contraire - he has decimated our democracy and offered nothing but a garbage
of tweets, a family empire of no nothings and a backward government that is the laughing stock of the world. We could have had a President who knew what she
was doing and understood how to govern ... The disgrace is ours.
Au contraire - he has decimated our democracy and offered nothing but a garbage
of tweets, a family empire of no nothings and a backward government that is the laughing stock of the world. We could have had a President who knew what she
was doing and understood how to govern ... The disgrace is ours.
19
The Democratic National Committee nominated the candidate least likely to beat Trump. Hillary was a poor candidate, supported by this paper and the establishment money folks..Americans wanted change from that corporate ownership...Bernie would have won.
7
Have you ever heard of Bernie Sanders? It's amazing that his positive, progressive platform has already left some people's consciousness, and think incompetent Trump's corrupt agenda has always been the only alternative to Clinton's continuation of policies benefiting mostly the corporate elite which nourished her.
3
In my opinion Comey blinked with the Hillary investigation thinking or being convinced she would be president and he would have cover. Then the worse thing happened. Trump won and Comey was in a box. He was fired and should have been long ago. There will not be any new earth shaking testimony just more political hype. If Trump said " I hope you can let this go"
it is just an opinion like Comey said on May 3rd many people express. He will not be able to answer many questions due to the Mueller investigation. This will just go on with no real conclusion until everyone admits there is no there there.
it is just an opinion like Comey said on May 3rd many people express. He will not be able to answer many questions due to the Mueller investigation. This will just go on with no real conclusion until everyone admits there is no there there.
9
Since Pence is VP and the Republican Party is in charge, Comey cannot 'save' us from the mistake he propelled into office. But here's hoping he will now do his best to do what is right, regardless of its relative futility.
540
". . . The mistake he propelled into office."
I think not. Read Nate Silver's analysis at the time about whether, or even if, Comey's announcement made any real difference. It's handy for Democrats to state this causality as fact, but it's not. It's also a convenient way for Democrats, especially the party establishment, to avoid the real work of hard self-examination. Bernie Sanders and Keith Ellison -- lone voices, unfortunately -- continue to articulate the point very well. If we were honest, we'd let Comey and his personal integrity take care of themselves and ask instead how on earth we missed the opportunity for a Sanders White House.
I think not. Read Nate Silver's analysis at the time about whether, or even if, Comey's announcement made any real difference. It's handy for Democrats to state this causality as fact, but it's not. It's also a convenient way for Democrats, especially the party establishment, to avoid the real work of hard self-examination. Bernie Sanders and Keith Ellison -- lone voices, unfortunately -- continue to articulate the point very well. If we were honest, we'd let Comey and his personal integrity take care of themselves and ask instead how on earth we missed the opportunity for a Sanders White House.
1
I have no better understanding of "what makes Comey tick" now than when he delivered the "death blow" to Hilary Clinton's election campaign. To paraphrase what Churchill said about trying to predict Russia's actions at the beginning of the Second World War- "James Comey is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma."
24
So what is next.
Impeachment and Pence becomes President and real conservatives take over...
No Thankyou!
I'll take the incompetent clown instead of smart republicans who know exactly what they want to do and with the House and Senate can do exactly that.
Impeachment and Pence becomes President and real conservatives take over...
No Thankyou!
I'll take the incompetent clown instead of smart republicans who know exactly what they want to do and with the House and Senate can do exactly that.
137
As much as I agree with your sentiment regarding Priestly Pence, I take umbrage at your use of "smart" republican. Clever, diabolical, fiendish savvy, okay...but smart, never!
10
It is shortsighted of us to believe things will get and stay better with Pence. Both scenarios are scary, but I believe only one gives us the possibility of some relief in 2018 and escape in 2020.
3
BBD, I don't know if I disagree or agree with you; it's all so grim.
3
I too am torn in the same ways given here by Mr Blow. And I am waiting to see if Trump blocks Comey from testifying with crossed fingers. But if Comey does make it to next week, what will he say, and how will he say it. I know that both will go a long way toward, if not forgiveness, relief that he finally did the right thing where Trump is concerned.
72
If I were Comey, I would avoid any place where men are carrying umbrellas (the KGB's favorite way of assassinating foreign enemies)! In fact, I wouldn't eat or drink anything that I had not prepared myself from bottled goods I had on hand BEFORE I was fired.
10
"Comey is one of the people who damned us to the reign of Trump, and Comey may be one of the only people who can save us from it."
Makes for a nice closing sentence, but --given Pence and Gorsuch, to name but two niggling details -- the salvation ship has sailed.
Makes for a nice closing sentence, but --given Pence and Gorsuch, to name but two niggling details -- the salvation ship has sailed.
672
Len, it seems to me that any evidence strong enough to take down Trump should also take Pence with him.
11
Agreed, leeserannie; does no one notice the canary feathers peeking from between Pence's Cheshired lips? What did Pence know and when did he know it?
3
My fear is it's all theater. Why on earth would trump goad Comey? I know the man is reckless, but that would be downright stupid to taunt at someone who potentiality has the goods on you.
But if Comey meant to tank Hillary, was in collusion with Russia, then trump poking at Comey would add to our sense of trust that Comey and trump aren't on the same side. That one ingredient, the squealing on Hillary, doesn't fit the rest, totally goes against all other descriptions of him.
But if Comey meant to tank Hillary, was in collusion with Russia, then trump poking at Comey would add to our sense of trust that Comey and trump aren't on the same side. That one ingredient, the squealing on Hillary, doesn't fit the rest, totally goes against all other descriptions of him.
10
If Comey is not forthcoming and completely open and honest in any testimony before Congress, in no way can he be forgiven for his actions prior to the 2016 Presidential election, counter to Justice Department precedent, that cost Secretary Clinton her rightfully elected position of President of the United States by the vote of the majority of the citizens of this Country.
350
Comey is an avowed Republican, as are many of the FBI's former prosecutor employees. What more need be said?
2
Margo, I would change your comment to this "Even if Comey is forthcoming....in no way can he be forgiven." He has an obligation to be open and honest. Perhaps he will hasten the demise of the trump presidency. If we had a functioning democracy, we would have a completely new election. But we do not and so we will be stuck with Pence and a GOP trifecta in control of the government. And so the destruction of the United States will continue, regardless of what Comey tells us. There are moments in history which change EVERYTHING that follows: the assassination of Lincoln, the SCOTUS takedown of Gore-- just to name two. This election is one such event, and for that Comey cannot be forgiven, any more than we can (or should) forgive JW Booth or Sandra Day O'Connor.
4
I've never been convinced that Comey is a man of integrity or the whole "Boy Scout" narrative. I've often wondered if he has some sort of pressure point or vulnerability that could be maneuvered. I doubt we will ever know for sure, but it would not surprise me if he was somehow pressured into the whole Ms Clinton debacle while simultaneously staying quiet on trump until he was no longer able to do so because it was impossible to contain. Having lived through watergate, Iran contra and bush 43's lies about WMDs - I've become a little jaded.
378
I agree. He did a very bad thing to our nation and to Mrs. Clinton and he should never be trusted. I'm happy he's out of the FBI and hopefully out of government for good. We don't need his kind operating as a lone ranger - good riddance to him.
34
And rightly (no pun intended) so.
2
We need to remember, Dana, that in many, if not most, investigations and prosecutions there are key witnesses who are very flawed individuals. Defense counsel harp on those flaws, but juries are pretty good at recognizing the truth when they hear it. As far as your suspicion the Comey “was somehow pressured” on the Clinton email server issue, you are undoubtedly right. You need to look no farther than Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as a source of that pressure. That may mean that James Comey acted hastily, foolishly and out of fear, but it doesn’t mean he lied.
5
Comey may be limited by Trump's possible claim to executive privilege, shutting down any possibility of hearing Comey tell us all what Trump asked him to do, at least not until we have criminal trials, if we ever have them.
With a total of five ongoing investigations, four in Congress, and one by Special Prosecutor Mueller, and great public demand for more information, we are going to run into the same kinds of situations that tied the hands of previous special counsels in cases they investigated and Congress made impossible for criminal prosecutions to go forward. I hope it doesn't happen this time. If Iran-Contra and Watergate are the two biggest scandals we've had so far, both, together, will pale in contrast to the putrefaction that is Trump and his associates here and overseas.
As for James Comey, imagine for a moment, if he'd divulged in June 2016, that he was investigating Flynn, Manafort or anyone else in Trump's campaign? What evidence would we have now? Would there be a record of Jared Kushner's meeting and requests of Ambassador Kislyak? Word is that campaign staffers were using self-destructing chat programs to communicate. How much less would we know now?
We need to focus on Trump and his band of traitors - not the man who will have brought him down. He did his job.
---
Treason In The Age of Trump: Impeachment & Prosecution Won't Suffice
http://www.rimaregas.com/2017/05/treason-in-the-age-of-trump-impeachment...
With a total of five ongoing investigations, four in Congress, and one by Special Prosecutor Mueller, and great public demand for more information, we are going to run into the same kinds of situations that tied the hands of previous special counsels in cases they investigated and Congress made impossible for criminal prosecutions to go forward. I hope it doesn't happen this time. If Iran-Contra and Watergate are the two biggest scandals we've had so far, both, together, will pale in contrast to the putrefaction that is Trump and his associates here and overseas.
As for James Comey, imagine for a moment, if he'd divulged in June 2016, that he was investigating Flynn, Manafort or anyone else in Trump's campaign? What evidence would we have now? Would there be a record of Jared Kushner's meeting and requests of Ambassador Kislyak? Word is that campaign staffers were using self-destructing chat programs to communicate. How much less would we know now?
We need to focus on Trump and his band of traitors - not the man who will have brought him down. He did his job.
---
Treason In The Age of Trump: Impeachment & Prosecution Won't Suffice
http://www.rimaregas.com/2017/05/treason-in-the-age-of-trump-impeachment...
158
Everyone fits the facts into a narrative that supports their own beliefs system. People see a few facts about what Comey did and then infer what kind of person he must have been to do what he did. He was put him in a no-win position by what was revealed by the investigations about the emails . The actions he took likely affected the outcome of the election, but I have seen no evidence that he took those actions in order to affect the election. From what I know of him, he is a straight shooter and did what he understood his duty to be. It's no more complicated than that,
7
If a crime was committed -- obstruction of justice -- executive privilege cannot be invoked as a defense. (I'm not a lawyer...feel free to fact check me).
1