Had to take a walk to absorb all of this, but it just confirmed what I've been thinking all along. I no longer want to understand Trump supporters; I just want to get away from them. Second, to continue to support Trump and Co. is a good way to wind up dead or dismembered. Dodge the Don.
I've done my share of criticizing Merrick Garland, both in this space and elsewhere, as have others. What follows is a lightly edited post I earlier put in the comments of Charlie Sykes' Morning Shots at The Bulwark this morning. Since I've offered criticism in this space, I thought it appropriate that I post it here as well...
There's been a lot of criticism of Garland, and I've been among those to question whether or not he was the right pick for the job. After recent events in general, this past week in particular and yesterday especially, I think that I and others owe Mr. Garland an apology. To wit:
Mr. Garland, I apologize. The often painfully slow turning of the wheels of justice often feeds the cynicism and doubt of jaded old [deleted] like me. That you are, in fact, in the driver's seat with your hand steady on the throttle and driving those wheels should now be evident.
And thank you for reminding us what the pursuit of justice sans influence and obstruction from a would-be autocrat looks and sounds like.
Robert, your spot on: "[I]t appears that Trump will continue to fight the DOJ’s justification for the search...in the court of public opinion. The DOJ’s next comment on the subject may be an indictment."
I'm keeping my 🤞🤞🤞 you're 100% right regarding the DOJ's next comment.
Great right up today Mr. Hubbell. Thank you as always for your diligent work and making it easy to digest everything that is going on. Especially the part that Trumps lawyer was there and he could've handed over these materials months ago, or at least not made this into a public spectacle. It wouldn't even surprise me if someone in his Secret Service detail informed the FBI and DOJ of the documents that were still being held there and the threat to national security.
As usual, we see that Trump doesn't believe that the rules of law apply to him. The existence of the subpoena is significant, I'm actually frustrated that Fox News and other right wing talking heads aren't being held accountable for their lies insinuating that there was no subpoena issued or Trump had already turned over all the documents. The idea that Trump tried to manage the subpoena or negotiate what was going to be returned is astounding to me. The documents don't belong to him and they were top secret documents related to national security, thus the DOJ is justified in enforcing the law via a search warrant. These documents don't belong to Trump. They belong to the people of the United States. You don't "negotiate" regarding things that don't belong to you. You give them back period.
An additional concern that I have related to the GOP and their voters though is that according to a "Trafalgar Group/Convention of States Action survey, 83 percent of likely Republican voters said the F.B.I. search made them more motivated to vote in the 2022 elections. Over 75 percent of likely Republican voters believed Trump’s political enemies were behind the search rather than the impartial justice system, as did 48 percent of likely general election voters overall". I find it astounding that in 2016 when Comey released the Clinton Memo, they were in love with the FBI, and they sure loved to "Back the Blue" in recent years. But the minute one of their own members is held accountable they want to burn the place down. At what point are they going to be held accountable for also inciting violence? They had a banner at CPAC last week where they said they were "Domestic Terrorists" and MTG and Boebert spend time online telling people to rise up and keep making references to a civil war, however none of them took responsibility for one of their followers trying to kill FBI agents yesterday.
The normal political rules no longer seem to apply to Trump or the GOP. Usually when a politician gets investigated, charged or has followers that constantly talk about violence against other citizens they would lose elections and popularity. That doesn't seem to be the case in America. Hopefully the DOJ and FBI stand their ground and do their job, and can stop some of this madness. The only thing that may stop this, is if these folks start getting held accountable.
Robert, an early sentence, "Trump is a master of disinformation.", gives the man more credit than due. It's an understandable mistake in the moment, but should not be made in retrospect. A true master of disinformation is so clever the information seem plausible, possible, and even believable. In contrast, Trump's targeted mouthings are none of those. The man is a buffoon, a clown bully, and the sad reality that he holds the allegiance of a credulous population of deplorables, should not elevate him to a master of anything.
What still baffles my mind is the number of US Citizens, walking among us daily,
that endorse lying, cheating, lawlessness, tax evasion, thuggery and and bastardizing the Constitution…under the direction of elected officials! These people are very comfortable with survival of the fittest, an attitude of what’s mine is mine and overall Christian white superiority. I feel we are living out a Stephen King novel of good vs evil.
Thank you Merrick Garland for standing up for Democracy and the Law. Today I am feeling a little like one of my kids that was so impatient for my answer to something that they needed…but I always had a reason for withholding information. Lol.
What you describe as baffling, I find more ominous even sitting here in Blue State California. The thought that - as I walk through the aisles of a grocery store, sit in a movie theater, or eat in a restaurant - one-third, one-half, or more of the people around me are so gullible and ignorant of fact is truly troubling. They shop like me, watch my kind of movies, and enjoy the foods I enjoy. But they are not like me in basic, ethical and moral ways. If I lived in an open-carry gun state, would I be at risk for holding up a realistic plastic rifle in the Toys section? Or am I protected by being a white man? TFG has made so many previously unthinkable thoughts not only thinkable, but actionable. And we are worse off for it. Will we ever see that rump population return to sanity through an epiphany and with contrition? Or will it be more violent, enabled by state and local autocrats who will evaporate from their responsibility?
Somehow these past 6+ years have left me feeling like I am either in The Twilight Zone or have fallen down the "rabbit hole." I still have hope for a return to a responsible form of democracy..but it's waning.
"no one “wins” or “loses” when justice is done." With all due respect for an excellent description and summary, I disagree. When, especially in this case, justice is finally done as now appears more likely than it has for several months (19 and counting), we will all win, including the failed insurrectionist who will, at last, have a clear picture and a firm legacy of his time in office. The greater victory and more important is for those of us who respect the rule of law and the Constitutions under which our government and the governments of the several states are established. A dramatic reassertion of respect for law as it is written and applied to all citizens equally should also bring to a screeching halt the ridiculous attempt to assert that state legislatures operate independently of the documents that bring them into being. We may even see some reconsideration of the value of sanity to the campaigns of Republicans seeking elected public office.
On MSNBC, Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Atty for Eastern District of Michigan, explained that the DOJ does NOT need tRump's permission to share the subpoena and warrant. Usually it is the DOJ which does not want this information to be public, but in this case, the truth could set America free.
I’ll just say this, “ I love it when a good plan comes together!”
For those who may not have watched the A-Team…Hannibal (leader) lays out plans and works them to suit each of his team member’s individual strengths, enabling him to create ingenious and unorthodox strategies that, against all logic, work out in the end.
FYI: excellent contrast between Michelle Goldberg and David Brooks in 8/11 NYTimes on whether to follow the law or yield to political considerations in deciding whether to go after Trump. Yay Michelle!
Woe unto you, scribes, Republicans, and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
I definitely agree that Garland’s brief but powerful speech was spectacular for its defense of the FBI and DOJ and for its continued reliance on the rules of law, ethical behavior and commitment to nonpolitization. Maybe time for a full throated recognition that Garland has been doing his job the way it should be done and not in the news.
Well, it certainly appears that the "Pied Piper of Mar-a-Lago" is leading his Republican "rats" to their just reward. At long last Merrick Garland has come out swinging. It wasn't a "walk off home run" but his statement certainly let his detractors and those who had hoped he would show signs of life, that he's really engaged. Knowing Trump, I'm sure that whatever he took with him when he left the White House was for the purpose of monetizing its value for his personal benefit. When the contents of the warrants are revealed Democrats should excoriate the "rats" and indict the Piper.
I’ve never been happier to be wrong!
Now—how’s it going to be spun?
Had to take a walk to absorb all of this, but it just confirmed what I've been thinking all along. I no longer want to understand Trump supporters; I just want to get away from them. Second, to continue to support Trump and Co. is a good way to wind up dead or dismembered. Dodge the Don.
RE: Merrick Garland
I've done my share of criticizing Merrick Garland, both in this space and elsewhere, as have others. What follows is a lightly edited post I earlier put in the comments of Charlie Sykes' Morning Shots at The Bulwark this morning. Since I've offered criticism in this space, I thought it appropriate that I post it here as well...
There's been a lot of criticism of Garland, and I've been among those to question whether or not he was the right pick for the job. After recent events in general, this past week in particular and yesterday especially, I think that I and others owe Mr. Garland an apology. To wit:
Mr. Garland, I apologize. The often painfully slow turning of the wheels of justice often feeds the cynicism and doubt of jaded old [deleted] like me. That you are, in fact, in the driver's seat with your hand steady on the throttle and driving those wheels should now be evident.
And thank you for reminding us what the pursuit of justice sans influence and obstruction from a would-be autocrat looks and sounds like.
Robert, your spot on: "[I]t appears that Trump will continue to fight the DOJ’s justification for the search...in the court of public opinion. The DOJ’s next comment on the subject may be an indictment."
I'm keeping my 🤞🤞🤞 you're 100% right regarding the DOJ's next comment.
Great right up today Mr. Hubbell. Thank you as always for your diligent work and making it easy to digest everything that is going on. Especially the part that Trumps lawyer was there and he could've handed over these materials months ago, or at least not made this into a public spectacle. It wouldn't even surprise me if someone in his Secret Service detail informed the FBI and DOJ of the documents that were still being held there and the threat to national security.
As usual, we see that Trump doesn't believe that the rules of law apply to him. The existence of the subpoena is significant, I'm actually frustrated that Fox News and other right wing talking heads aren't being held accountable for their lies insinuating that there was no subpoena issued or Trump had already turned over all the documents. The idea that Trump tried to manage the subpoena or negotiate what was going to be returned is astounding to me. The documents don't belong to him and they were top secret documents related to national security, thus the DOJ is justified in enforcing the law via a search warrant. These documents don't belong to Trump. They belong to the people of the United States. You don't "negotiate" regarding things that don't belong to you. You give them back period.
An additional concern that I have related to the GOP and their voters though is that according to a "Trafalgar Group/Convention of States Action survey, 83 percent of likely Republican voters said the F.B.I. search made them more motivated to vote in the 2022 elections. Over 75 percent of likely Republican voters believed Trump’s political enemies were behind the search rather than the impartial justice system, as did 48 percent of likely general election voters overall". I find it astounding that in 2016 when Comey released the Clinton Memo, they were in love with the FBI, and they sure loved to "Back the Blue" in recent years. But the minute one of their own members is held accountable they want to burn the place down. At what point are they going to be held accountable for also inciting violence? They had a banner at CPAC last week where they said they were "Domestic Terrorists" and MTG and Boebert spend time online telling people to rise up and keep making references to a civil war, however none of them took responsibility for one of their followers trying to kill FBI agents yesterday.
The normal political rules no longer seem to apply to Trump or the GOP. Usually when a politician gets investigated, charged or has followers that constantly talk about violence against other citizens they would lose elections and popularity. That doesn't seem to be the case in America. Hopefully the DOJ and FBI stand their ground and do their job, and can stop some of this madness. The only thing that may stop this, is if these folks start getting held accountable.
Robert, an early sentence, "Trump is a master of disinformation.", gives the man more credit than due. It's an understandable mistake in the moment, but should not be made in retrospect. A true master of disinformation is so clever the information seem plausible, possible, and even believable. In contrast, Trump's targeted mouthings are none of those. The man is a buffoon, a clown bully, and the sad reality that he holds the allegiance of a credulous population of deplorables, should not elevate him to a master of anything.
What still baffles my mind is the number of US Citizens, walking among us daily,
that endorse lying, cheating, lawlessness, tax evasion, thuggery and and bastardizing the Constitution…under the direction of elected officials! These people are very comfortable with survival of the fittest, an attitude of what’s mine is mine and overall Christian white superiority. I feel we are living out a Stephen King novel of good vs evil.
Thank you Merrick Garland for standing up for Democracy and the Law. Today I am feeling a little like one of my kids that was so impatient for my answer to something that they needed…but I always had a reason for withholding information. Lol.
What you describe as baffling, I find more ominous even sitting here in Blue State California. The thought that - as I walk through the aisles of a grocery store, sit in a movie theater, or eat in a restaurant - one-third, one-half, or more of the people around me are so gullible and ignorant of fact is truly troubling. They shop like me, watch my kind of movies, and enjoy the foods I enjoy. But they are not like me in basic, ethical and moral ways. If I lived in an open-carry gun state, would I be at risk for holding up a realistic plastic rifle in the Toys section? Or am I protected by being a white man? TFG has made so many previously unthinkable thoughts not only thinkable, but actionable. And we are worse off for it. Will we ever see that rump population return to sanity through an epiphany and with contrition? Or will it be more violent, enabled by state and local autocrats who will evaporate from their responsibility?
Somehow these past 6+ years have left me feeling like I am either in The Twilight Zone or have fallen down the "rabbit hole." I still have hope for a return to a responsible form of democracy..but it's waning.
"no one “wins” or “loses” when justice is done." With all due respect for an excellent description and summary, I disagree. When, especially in this case, justice is finally done as now appears more likely than it has for several months (19 and counting), we will all win, including the failed insurrectionist who will, at last, have a clear picture and a firm legacy of his time in office. The greater victory and more important is for those of us who respect the rule of law and the Constitutions under which our government and the governments of the several states are established. A dramatic reassertion of respect for law as it is written and applied to all citizens equally should also bring to a screeching halt the ridiculous attempt to assert that state legislatures operate independently of the documents that bring them into being. We may even see some reconsideration of the value of sanity to the campaigns of Republicans seeking elected public office.
On MSNBC, Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Atty for Eastern District of Michigan, explained that the DOJ does NOT need tRump's permission to share the subpoena and warrant. Usually it is the DOJ which does not want this information to be public, but in this case, the truth could set America free.
I’ll just say this, “ I love it when a good plan comes together!”
For those who may not have watched the A-Team…Hannibal (leader) lays out plans and works them to suit each of his team member’s individual strengths, enabling him to create ingenious and unorthodox strategies that, against all logic, work out in the end.
FYI: excellent contrast between Michelle Goldberg and David Brooks in 8/11 NYTimes on whether to follow the law or yield to political considerations in deciding whether to go after Trump. Yay Michelle!
Matthew 23:14 (New American Version)
Woe unto you, scribes, Republicans, and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
I definitely agree that Garland’s brief but powerful speech was spectacular for its defense of the FBI and DOJ and for its continued reliance on the rules of law, ethical behavior and commitment to nonpolitization. Maybe time for a full throated recognition that Garland has been doing his job the way it should be done and not in the news.
Yes.
Well, it certainly appears that the "Pied Piper of Mar-a-Lago" is leading his Republican "rats" to their just reward. At long last Merrick Garland has come out swinging. It wasn't a "walk off home run" but his statement certainly let his detractors and those who had hoped he would show signs of life, that he's really engaged. Knowing Trump, I'm sure that whatever he took with him when he left the White House was for the purpose of monetizing its value for his personal benefit. When the contents of the warrants are revealed Democrats should excoriate the "rats" and indict the Piper.
Just jaw dropping. Selling nuclear documents? Bad movie we live in.