I’m mostly in agreement, but I’d be wary of hopping on the AOC Sparkle Pony Express. She is so dazzled by her own success in her Dem +29 district that she thinks getting rid of non-believer House Dems from states she can’t find on a map is the fastest way to her (and Bernie’s!) Green/Socialist dream where everyone just obeys her edicts.
I like her clarity, but I can already see “works well with others” will never be in her skill set.
The numbers for Biden don’t suggest flagging enthusiasm
When that “hive mind” isn’t even 1/3 of the voting public?
yes, because otherwise we have to ask ourselves if they’re too cowardly to do what needs doing. insanity is doing the same thing, etc. etc…
Something feels different here. In McGahn’s case, the White House expressly came out and instructed McGahn not to comply with the Democrats’ subpoena. So we know what is going on there. This will go through the courts for resolution.
Yet in this Mueller instance, all we have heard is that they are still working on scheduling a date. They have been working on it for some time. Curious what the hold up is. Is Mueller reluctant to testify? What is the delay?
Exactly! EVERY Dem needs to walk up to every microphone and scream these lines:
“Barr AND Mueller are Unelected Bureaucrats!”
“YOU PAID for this investigation, but Trump WON’T LET YOU SEE IT!”
“Just how BAD is it for Trump?”
“Trump pays NO TAXES ever!”
“Russia HACKED Florida for Trump!”
“Hillary WON FLORIDA!”
I’m sure this will buy Dems a little time if they don’t want to start impeachment hearings just yet!
Here’s a thought for you…Most of the Dems in the House have passed a lot of the kind of legislation that the vast majority of Americans want, both Dems and Repubs, but the problem has been and always will be Mitch the Bitch won’t allow any of that legislation to be brought up. If he did, he knows at least some of that legislation would pass and he would be stuck with an unpopular president vetoing popular legislation. Can’t have that now, can we?
Our problem is that we are focusing almost exclusively on the Presidency when we should be equally focused on taking back the Senate. I can’t for the life of me see what Schumer has done so far to make the large number of Republican Senators up in 2020 have to fight for their seat in Congress with some top-notch opponents. The messaging for Dems against all the kinds of illegality and corruption going on, should be the easiest thing on earth to point to, and yet…crickets.
My nit to pick with Mueller is that he’s too cautious, and too deferential to bad OLC policy. As soon as Barr was confirmed, Mueller should have been able to see the writing on the wall and adjusted his strategy to counter the obfuscation that we all saw coming from a mile away.
Not that he’s potentially compromised in any way.
Mueller goes by the book and adheres to the rules. His job did not include violating OLC policy, even if it’s a crap-o-licious policy.
That’s what we want—even when the results don’t give us the pony.
Because the media will chase every tennis ball the GOP throws, but ignore Dems or even criticize. That is the environment we live in. Chuck Todd is the devil.
Actually, I think the White House will continue to say that Congress does not have investigative powers, and refuse to testify or hand over anything. They will stonewall until it’s handled by the Supreme Court, where they think that they have enough support to get away with anything and everything (and they may be correct in believing this). The Founding Fathers had not envisioned that we would have an utterly lawless Executive combined with an utterly lawless Senate. The House can itemize the long list of abuses of power - - and the President will simply boast that this is true, done in the open, and that he is proud of everything on the list. The problem is not that he’s a tyrant, but that the Senate supports his tyranny.
Completely agree. That’s why I only used language as strong as nitpick. As both a federal employee, and former military guy… I totally get it. I just wish he had seen the exceptional situation we’ve gotten ourselves into, and reacted exceptionally.
Worked for GOP, playing the refs. It needs to be called out more. Replace the faux “liberal media” with “right wing media.” Over and over again. Make them scared.
Sorry, but that says you don’t get it.
Mueller did the only thing he could do.
Two theories I’ve seen advanced are:
The DOJ may have been warning Mueller that he is still an employee and his boss Barr claims an overextended executive privilege, perhaps along with other threats.
The agreement being worked out includes other members of the SCO team, who have mostly all gone on to other jobs, making scheduling a bit complicated.
Agreed. Mueller’s continued silence on whether he wants to testify is a disservice to our country. He can put heat on Barr with public statements that do not violate any DOJ guidelines. The time has come for Mueller to end his silence.
If Mueller had overridden the OLC policy, it would just add to the deafening trumpian blather about how traitorous and conflicted Mueller is. This way, he gave them no extra leverage.
Part of me still wishes he would have done it though - blasted right past the policy, named and shamed. But I know that’s just a fantasy.
I believe he will testify and remain objective and straightforward. The only stumbling block will be Republican obstruction.
And Mueller’s own willingness to be a profile in courage rather than the picture of professional fastidiousness. There’s a way he can publicly put pressure on Barr to allow him to testify without violating DOJ guidelines. The question is does Mueller have the stomach for it?
Is there any reason to believe Mueller will be a compelling witness? Speaker Pelosi had better come up with something to counter the Banana Republicans’ insistence that Trump “exoneration” means no more investigations are possible.
Suppose theory #1 is in play, how should the Dems respond?