Discussion: Mueller And House Dems Tussle Over Terms Of His Testimony

jonney_5 · May 21, 2019, 2:43pm

In fact, Anything else is the definition of political

castor_troy · May 21, 2019, 2:46pm

…Who suddenly stop in the middle of the street, and begin dancing at the sheer joy of freedom, as the music crescendos and Bollywood moves take over as the camera backs away and up into the sky and we see crowds waving American flags and cheering Trump in front of the Lincoln Memorial (cut to credits).

aiddon · May 21, 2019, 2:49pm

Yeah, we’re WAY past this being politically neutral. The second the special counsel even started it was politicized.

jonney_5 · May 21, 2019, 2:49pm

That ship sailed the day he was appointed.

Just like dems shouldn’t be afraid of going left because of what the media or Republicans would say about them or their policies.

They are going to scream socialism anyway, regardless.

Time to speak up Mr Mueller because “Silence is Consensus”

ncsteve · May 21, 2019, 2:53pm

Jesus, people. Just calm the fuck down, already.

First:

Sourcing for the CNN report: “according to sources familiar with the matter.”
Sourcing for WaPo report: “people familiar with the matter.”

This is the lowest species of source, the kind most likely to be garbling and interpreting or working an agenda based on self importance. It’s how they identify a source with double hearsay information and no personal involvement in the matter being discussed.

Second:

Saying “I don’t want to voluntarily testify in public because people might think I have an agenda” is how lawyers tell other lawyers “I need for you to subpoena me/my client so people don’t think I/my client have a pro-you agenda.”

Third:

After two years of this madness, all of our fear and anxiety levels are wound up to the breaking point, to the point of being physically unbearable. And, as it happens, getting people into that state is the Fox News business model and the objective of all totalitarian propaganda ministries. And they do that because when you are wracked with anxiety over things beyond your control, you are more than willing to buy damn near anything they tell you that validates your fears or prejudices because the spasm of rage it creates gives you a little temporary relief from the constant fear and anxiety. And so, please, FFS don’t be your Fox-watching gampa. Please.

tsp · May 21, 2019, 2:51pm

Interesting that the AG’s office has become an entity that can now unequivocally be seen to be working against the rule of law, and undermining the validity and sanctity of the Constitution here in the US.

Democrats do not negotiate the conduct of justice.

Ken_a_roni · May 21, 2019, 2:53pm

Maybe it is a coincidence, but the problem with coincidences is they are too hard to schedule. Barr comes on board and Mueller’s investigation ends within a couple of weeks. Yes there were news reports that Mueller was winding down his work at the same time, but that was reported many times before and it was always wrong. I have forgotten where I read them, but it was reported that Whitacre played around in the Mueller probe as did Rosey. It was someone at DOJ who limited Mueller’s inquiry based upon prosecutable evidence (unlike Starr’s which was preponderance of evidence). That is specious at best, since DOJ policy wouldn’t allow Mueller to actually indict Trump. If you aren’t going to prosecute no matter what you find, why hold yourself to the prosecuting standard?

BTW, one other area where I want to hear from Mueller is he said it was difficult in following the investigation to its conclusion was because of many of the witnesses were reluctant to be truthful and thorough in their testimony. It’s hard to break the veil of conspiracy if at least one conspirator isn’t piercing said veil. Who did he think was holding back?

And finally, are there still any sealed warrants or subpoenas or other documents? IIRC, there were several gaps on one of the court’s docket.

sickneffintired · May 21, 2019, 2:53pm

Just cut to the chase
They work for Trump now
Rename the DOJ
The Trump Law Enforcement and Legal Interpretation Department
We decide what’s against the law and when to enforce it

c_stedman · May 21, 2019, 3:04pm

With the future of the country at stake, Mueller has GOT to come off as Democratic Party-free as possible.

I agree with that but after playing it totally straight right down the line with no hint of bias on Mueller’s part and then getting trashed by trump I certainly wouldn’t hold it against him if he decided to take trump down a bit in public.
OT but what I’ve never understood about Mueller’s military service is how he was able to go to jump school and Ranger school from the USMC infantry. Usually you go to those schools if you’re from a Force Recon unit. He had to have some connections to do that. It’s very unusual from what I saw in the Marine Corps. I think it’s too bad that sending officers from the USMC infantry to Ranger school was so rare. It’s the jump school that baffles me. I wonder why he didn’t just go ahead and get 5 more jumps so he could at least have worn the Navy Marine Corps gold wings. They look waaay cooler than the Army wings.

squirreltown · May 21, 2019, 2:55pm

Thank you Steve.
In the future, could you make rounds a little earlier?

castor_troy · May 21, 2019, 2:59pm

If a life-long Republican is considered to be a Democratic operative, then we’re in far worse shape than I thought, and might as well move on with Northern Secession and Civil War II.

c_stedman · May 21, 2019, 2:59pm

Pull the thread. If the fabric is that rotten bolt the party and start a new bolt of cloth.

thomasmatthew · May 21, 2019, 3:00pm

Mueller doesn’t want to appear political? That rationale appears to be based on a misunderstanding that his perception by the public is based solely on his own public acts. If he really doesn’t want to appear political, he should testify publicly that he is not trying to be political, and that he did not run the investigation as a political one. The public has been getting fire-hosed with the opposite message for over a year.

ncgirl741 · May 21, 2019, 3:02pm

How can telling the truth whatever it is appear political?

valgalky23 · May 21, 2019, 3:06pm

If I were Bob Mueller, and obviously I’m not, I’d be thinking along the lines that I will be off the OSC gig in a short time and perhaps that would be a good time for Nadler to send me a subpoena once I’m a private citizen again and that would provide with some political cover when I go into the third ring of this circus.

Just saying.

Bri2k · May 21, 2019, 3:08pm

This “deal” stinks to high heaven and I hope Mr Schiff doesn’t fall for it.

h/t to esva for seeing this for what it is.

dougsanders · May 21, 2019, 3:11pm

How about you come off as a patriotic American concerned about our future, you feckless coward?

lestatdelc · May 21, 2019, 3:14pm

Which seems seriously undermines the dubious assertion that Barr et al impeded his investigation (yes, I loath typing that). BTW Mueller stated this, witnesses impeded getting to the bottom of the conspiracy question, in the report itself.

Bri2k · May 21, 2019, 3:15pm

Comey is a man without a country because he put his fat thumb on the scale during the election by violating DOJ regs with his letter about buttery emails.

Silent Bob would have no such fate if he acted honestly.

@lestatdelc Ain’t it obvious? For some unknown reason Silent Bob didn’t look at tRump’s finances among other major stones left unturned. Either he half-assed it or he was reined in by higher-up.

paul_lukasiak · May 21, 2019, 3:15pm

Seriously dude?

You’ve been accused of organizing a witchhunt with 18 angry Democrats you hired, and you are afraid of looking “political”?

#MAYBE YOU SHOULD SAY THAT IN PUBLIC, ON THE STAND, SO EVERYONE KNOWS THAT TRUMP SUCCEEDED AT INTIMIDATING YOU AND OBSTRUCTING YOUR INVESTIGATION.

/rant mode off…

damn I’m pissed