Donald Trump

ikiT said:

The SIX-E material...SAD.   So six-E.

He was so surprised with no result and he was only trying to be a good guy and fix Mueller's Report to help the American people.

He called Bob, his buddy Bob. I'd like to hear what Bob has to say about Barr's representation of their meetings. 

This Graham/Barr back and forth is ridiculous.

The origins of that narrative?   

context, nature, and substance 

Bentleyspop said:

 

https://twitter.com/MrGeorgeWallace/status/1123062935750758400?s=19

https://twitter.com/lazersaurus/status/1123091668251574272?s=19

I don't really get why they went to the Trump White House at all. If they feel the way they look, they just should have boycotted - that sends a much more clear message IMO.

Kat said:

Opinion

James Comey: How Trump Co-opts Leaders Like Bill Barr

Accomplished people lacking inner strength can’t resist the compromises necessary to survive this president.

By James Comey

Mr. Comey is the former F.B.I. director.

People have been asking me hard questions. What happened to the leaders in the Trump administration, especially the attorney general, Bill Barr, who I have said was due the benefit of the doubt?

How could Mr. Barr, a bright and accomplished lawyer, start channeling the president in using words like “no collusion” and F.B.I. “spying”? And downplaying acts of obstruction of justice as products of the president’s being “frustrated and angry,” something he would never say to justify the thousands of crimes prosecuted every day that are the product of frustration and anger?

How could he write and say things about the report by Robert Mueller, the special counsel, that were apparently so misleading that they prompted written protest from the special counsel himself?

How could Mr. Barr go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and downplay President Trump’s attempt to fire Mr. Mueller before he completed his work?

And how could Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, after the release of Mr. Mueller’s report that detailed Mr. Trump’s determined efforts to obstruct justice, give a speech quoting the president on the importance of the rule of law? Or on resigning, thank a president who relentlessly attacked both him and the Department of Justice he led for “the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations”?

What happened to these people?

I don’t know for sure. People are complicated, so the answer is most likely complicated. But I have some idea from four months of working close to Mr. Trump and many more months of watching him shape others.

Amoral leaders have a way of revealing the character of those around them. Sometimes what they reveal is inspiring. For example, James Mattis, the former secretary of defense, resigned over principle, a concept so alien to Mr. Trump that it took days for the president to realize what had happened, before he could start lying about the man.

But more often, proximity to an amoral leader reveals something depressing.

continued at
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/opinion/william-barr-testimony.html

this is something I had mentioned as a very real possibility only a few months into his term (and I'm sure was mentioned or thought by many others). Glad to see Comey confirming it:

You feel this happening. It bothers you, at least to some extent. But his outrageous conduct convinces you that you simply must stay, to preserve and protect the people and institutions and values you hold dear. Along with Republican members of Congress, you tell yourself you are too important for this nation to lose, especially now.

I was also glad that he admitted to being complicit himself, if only about the inauguration size? a bit weak, I'm sure he was complicit in more substantially important ways, but at least he alluded to it. 

Yo while you weren't paying attention...

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/01/opinions/trump-administration-asylum-seeker-crackdown-zakaria/index.html

HughFreakingDillon said:

Kat said:

Opinion

James Comey: How Trump Co-opts Leaders Like Bill Barr

Accomplished people lacking inner strength can’t resist the compromises necessary to survive this president.

By James Comey

Mr. Comey is the former F.B.I. director.

People have been asking me hard questions. What happened to the leaders in the Trump administration, especially the attorney general, Bill Barr, who I have said was due the benefit of the doubt?

How could Mr. Barr, a bright and accomplished lawyer, start channeling the president in using words like “no collusion” and F.B.I. “spying”? And downplaying acts of obstruction of justice as products of the president’s being “frustrated and angry,” something he would never say to justify the thousands of crimes prosecuted every day that are the product of frustration and anger?

How could he write and say things about the report by Robert Mueller, the special counsel, that were apparently so misleading that they prompted written protest from the special counsel himself?

How could Mr. Barr go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and downplay President Trump’s attempt to fire Mr. Mueller before he completed his work?

And how could Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, after the release of Mr. Mueller’s report that detailed Mr. Trump’s determined efforts to obstruct justice, give a speech quoting the president on the importance of the rule of law? Or on resigning, thank a president who relentlessly attacked both him and the Department of Justice he led for “the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations”?

What happened to these people?

I don’t know for sure. People are complicated, so the answer is most likely complicated. But I have some idea from four months of working close to Mr. Trump and many more months of watching him shape others.

Amoral leaders have a way of revealing the character of those around them. Sometimes what they reveal is inspiring. For example, James Mattis, the former secretary of defense, resigned over principle, a concept so alien to Mr. Trump that it took days for the president to realize what had happened, before he could start lying about the man.

But more often, proximity to an amoral leader reveals something depressing.

continued at
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/opinion/william-barr-testimony.html

this is something I had mentioned as a very real possibility only a few months into his term (and I'm sure was mentioned or thought by many others). Glad to see Comey confirming it:

You feel this happening. It bothers you, at least to some extent. But his outrageous conduct convinces you that you simply must stay, to preserve and protect the people and institutions and values you hold dear. Along with Republican members of Congress, you tell yourself you are too important for this nation to lose, especially now.

I was also glad that he admitted to being complicit himself, if only about the inauguration size? a bit weak, I'm sure he was complicit in more substantially important ways, but at least he alluded to it. 

He was saved from having his soul eaten by being fired. Best thing that could have happened to him. Not enough resigned when they realized what kind of man the soul-eater was.

tbergs said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

Kamala Harris: has the white house ever asked you to investigate anyone?
Bill Barr: uhhh.....ummmm.....(looks around for help), um, can  you repeat the question?

LOL, what a weasel. 

Haha! That's it, I'm in. Harris for president or VP of the nominee.

Or AG !