Thursday, July 7, 2016

We Know What Happens When Politicians Are Above The Law

Posted on Facebook by Danielle Vermeule

Today, I took my civil test for naturalization. I was sitting with all the other applicants who came to this country legally, despite all of the legal hoops, tomake a better life. The news was on, and we were watching Comey give his report on Clinton...

There I was, the South African, speaking with a Mother of 4 from Mexico, an attorney from Venezuela, and a Greek student. Flabbergasted. All of us with a feeling of deja vu. We have seen this before. We know what happens when politicians are above the law. We know what it is like to watch your country crumble before your very eyes because of corruption.
We also know the heartache of having to leave your country and everything you know because you fear for your safety and that of your children. 

You will always be a foreigner in a new country, despite your love, loyalty and gratitude toward that country. But, in 20 years, where will Americans go? Who will be America's America?

I don't care which party you support. If you can't see that today was a sad day for this country, then you are a fool.


(h/t Darcy)

78 comments:

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Two wrongs make more wrongs.

Once you take that lady justice blindfold off, it's coming off again and again.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Comey channeled Chief Justice Roberts when Roberts said "It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."

Who is going to wash their hands next?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

As if that was not bad enough... Nobody seems to be resigning in protest.

Goes to show what they care more about.

Leland said...

The sad part is exactly their job to do so, and when they fail to do their job, the results are bloody.

I thought July 5th was a sad day for this country, and I work with immigrants who understand it better then seemingly most Americans. I however agree with almost everything Comey said. The only part is that the FBI should have still recommended charges. The reason is in what he said. Most people would suffer consequences. He knew when he was speaking that Hillary was on her way to getting an endorsement from Obama, not punishment. The reason Hillary should be prosecuted when others have not (and that seems to be a lie), is to hold her to the higher standard she supposedly accepted when taking the office of SecState. She sure as hell violated her oath of office to uphold the laws of the United States of America.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Six figure incomes.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

You know Leland I had forgotten about the oath. The recommendation not to pursuit the case is much worse in this case.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rVxLzs4YQPY

There she is taking the oath.

ndspinelli said...

It's much more than just money, April. It's wanting to be part of the cool club, the elitists. It's about power, being someone in a city[DC] that produces nothing. Now, I don't diminish the money. DC has become the wealthiest city in the US. Politics has devolved to the point that it attracts the exact opposite of people we should have leading us. That's why we need to take back our govt. And the WH is not as important as taking back Congress. However, taking back Congress will require a truly grassroots, nonpartisan, movement. Vote EVERY incumbent out.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

8 years of the Clinton Crime Family. Are we then faced with that horrid girl Chelsea? and her corrupt husband?

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Well said post. It is a sad day.

edutcher said...

I know what's on the basic test - a Russian co-worker had me grill her on it when she was prepping for citizenship.

I know they don't make people understand the Gilded Age. If they did, they'd know we're living through Gilded Age II. The irony is one of the things that ended the Gilded Age was the Progressive movement.

So, we have to start from Square One yet again. Seems like every century or so, we have to re-invent the country.

ndspinelli said...

That's why we need to take back our govt. And the WH is not as important as taking back Congress. However, taking back Congress will require a truly grassroots, nonpartisan, movement. Vote EVERY incumbent out.

Exactly. We've been through this before and that's what it takes.

The Uni-Party has to go. Even some Lefties seem to feel this way.

And another thing has to happen.

Finally.

Term limits for Congress. And the Federal judiciary. And, if we want to be serious, the Federal civil service.

AprilApple said...

8 years of the Clinton Crime Family. Are we then faced with that horrid girl Chelsea? and her corrupt husband?

No, Chelsea couldn't get elected dog catcher. She's going to be a brood mare.

And we don't know her husband is corrupt.

Yet.

No charges, no allegations.

bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

""It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices."

Their job is to uphold the law, period. What both Roberts and Comey did was exactly what they foolishly think they were not doing. They were protecting specifically Democrat voters from the consequences of their political choices. Hilary's indictment would have made Sanders the nominee - an incredibly stupid option - who polling suggests would beat Trump. Sanders would be a terrible president, but that's the political choice made by nominating a corrupt liar just because she's next in line. So, I would accept his presidency in a way I cannot accept Hillary's, because it is corruption of the law that allows her to even be in the race, and the following of the law that would put Bernie in. I think the voters would turn down the abject stupidity of Sanders, especially in light of Venezuela, but I fear that too many find the corruption we see with Clinton to be a form of intelligence that they believe can tamed, but how can that be if the law is subservient to the corruption right from the start?

ricpic said...

So whoever said civilization was more than a fragile rope bridge above the abyss?

edutcher said...

They never saw a Lynch mob.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

As if that was not bad enough... Nobody seems to be resigning in protest.

Goes to show what they care more about.


Yep. As my husband said yesterday. Pensions over principles.....every time.

ricpic said...

I'll bet Danielle Vermeule is Afrikaans, or was Afrikaans. Think of it. Think of coming from a People destroyed, utterly destroyed because of its color and its hateful European heritage. Schmendrik will tell you. He'll come along and froth at the mouth about how horrible the Afrikaans were and how their ELIMINATION is deserved. And not anyone anywhere will defend the Afrikaans or even object to what has and is being done to them in the name of JUSTICE! Debased degraded world. Our world.

edutcher said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jim in St Louis said...

I’ve been reading about the Wars of the Roses. I had wondered why the general population would even care which dynasty held royal power. If you were just a filthy serf, what impact could a King York or King Lancaster make on your daily life?

One answer was in the enforcement of justice. The King appointed sherriffes and judges, and supporters would get favored treatment. Often terrible criminals got away with murder, just because they were members of the correct affinity. This caused resentment among the common people. A King who promised good governance became a more important qualification than bloodline inheritance, or whipping the French.

Jim in St Louis said...

Vast sections of the public have lost respect for government justice. BLM leadership may be a sham, but they tap into a real distrust of the police among blacks. The Tea Party pulls in large crowds of white middle class folks, saying that the Obamacare law is a theft. Occupy wherever had thousands of young people in the street yelling that the banksters ripped off the people and never went to jail. Ten million Illegal imigrants also have contempt for law, and mock its enforcement. I’d bet you that I could buy grass in your home town with only a cell phone and some cash. The SCOTUS is blatant in outcome based rulings rather than what the law says. Not to mention the huge number of non-voters who see no value in even going to the polling place.

Is there any group that thinks the system is just fine and dandy the way that it is? Can anyone dispute Trump’s simplistic claim that the system is rigged?

edutcher said...

Dust Bunny Queen said...

As if that was not bad enough... Nobody seems to be resigning in protest.

Goes to show what they care more about.


Yep. As my husband said yesterday. Pensions over principles.....every time.


Comey probably doesn't have to worry.

He could get a good job elsewhere, although you can bet the media would do their best to destroy him if he really tried to pull down the rafters, but a lot of the guys in a place to know would be looking at starting over after 20 (or 30)+ years. A good many would also have families working for the Feds and they could be harassed quite nicely.

Not laudable, but understandable. In any case, the next big thing will be leaks, if any, as nd and I have both suggested.

If none are forthcoming (doubtful, but...), then we know the G-men will have to be cleared out.

Tell me again how bad J Edgar was.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

"Comey will resign in protest." Anther wish-fact down the toilet.

The whole election is wishful thinking.

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...
Sorry - even the leftwing press were saying an indictment would end her campaign.


July 6, 2016 at 10:26 PM


Prosecution rests.

But she keeps wishing Trump will lose.

ndspinelli said...

I was quite surprised when Comey testified that the 15-20 person FBI team on this were unanimous in not prosecuting. I was surprised it was unanimous and that Comey actually testified under oath that to be the case.

As I watch this hearing I get agita regarding the buffoonery of these idiots on BOTH sides. Although, the Dems are All-Star buffoons, Hall of Fame buffoons. I would love to be able to write little bubbles above Comey's head as to what is going through his head as he listens to these assholes.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Spinelli- I don't believe that unless 15 allegedly smart, experienced FBI people think the servers set themselves up with no human intention. And that is some tortured reasoning IMO.

Chip Ahoy said...

Comey's credible because he almost resigned under Bush. That's good I'm encountering him for the first time. Until now blissfully unaware.
Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Comey's credible, wouldn't you say?
Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Everybody agrees Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Comey's credible
There is a singular fact Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Comey's credible
Comey's credible

Observation:
Comey's five agents interview H.C. BUT NOT UDER M*ERHT89ING OATH.
Comey accepts their report and concludes no reasonable prosecutor would bring the case based on intent. No precedent for such a thing. Nothing quite like this shit ever happened before.
Poor little bag lady uses her husband's server
The one who nicked WH artifacts by a feeling of privilege. Who had to be told to return them. And who said to the world, the portion that listened, she considers Republicans her nearest enemies during a televised debate. To applause. By the people who now defend her. Again, televised.

Conclusion: Comey dishonorably corrupted as all those other fiercely partisan Democratic dopes today who spoke only about everyone else being partisan.

And now poop. I hate people all over again. I'm too misanthropic for this. I guess it's true. I guess I'll just have to accept what both my parents would tell me repeatedly here and there throughout childhood, "Little Boy, come here, let me hug you and whisper in your ear, come now, here you go, here we are, Little Bobby, sometimes you're just TOO GODDAMN SENSITIVE !" And you better get over it.

edutcher said...

ndspinelli said...

I was quite surprised when Comey testified that the 15-20 person FBI team on this were unanimous in not prosecuting. I was surprised it was unanimous and that Comey actually testified under oath that to be the case.

And here we were told by the media that the G-men were going to demand the case be prosecuted.

Somebody's lying. Could be they were setting Comey up somehow, but this guy has made a joke of himself. Resign and be done with it.

Unless, of course, he's on the same drugs as Hillary.

PS Maybe I'm wrong (since we don't know all the names under consideration), but I think nd may be on to something with Pence as Trump's VP, if only because he might mend some Conservative fences. Not my choice, but we don't have the full list.

edutcher said...

Is this OT or not?

Off Ras, Trump up 2.

Then there's this, Comey says Hillary not under aath, not recorded, and he didn’t attend the questioning.

He must think his name is Hans Schultz.

Methadras said...

She's dead on because I basically said the same thing yesterday, We are fucked and these government fools have balked for personal and political expediency and do not realize the damage they've done to this country.

Amartel said...

In other above the law news, the Senate just blocked two bills aimed stemming illegal criminality - the Kate Steinle bill that would have blocked federal grants to 'sanctuary cities' and a bill requiring minimum mandatory sentencing for repeat illegal entry offenders. Democrat spokesmen pointed out that these bills would systematically and prejudicially impact voter fraud efforts. "That's unacceptable," said Nancy Pelosi, while lunging for someone else's money.

Methadras said...

edutcher said...

Then there's this, Comey says Hillary not under aath, not recorded, and he didn’t attend the questioning.

He must think his name is Hans Schultz.


When I read this I laughed so hard that I nearly pissed myself in the sheer and utter absurdity of the entire notion. I was so in disbelief that I thought I was reading comedy. How is this even possible? How? And then it hit me. CYA. This has all been CYA from the very beginning. It doesn't matter that Comey was put in place by a republican and may be a republican himself. In his position, he is a political animal, not a pragmatic one. He has his ass to look out for too. I wonder what the regime is going to do for him? I have a couple of guesses.

Given that, it is abundantly clear and I don't give a fuck what anyone says because Comey said it himself, that no one in the DOJ, even if Comey would have given the recommendation to indict HRC, would have followed through. They would have said, even though the FBI has sent over the recommendation, we will not pursue to prosecute because the evidence is insufficient or whatever other excuse required not to. But you see, Comey short circuited that process and instead recommended not to indict. Why? Because he had conversations with DoJ that they basically kicked back to him that if he did recommend to indict, they would not. Now he had a problem on his hands in that DoJ would not have his back, so fuck everyone and craft a carefully worded statement indicting her with the evidence of her criminality, but let her skate process wise. All a giant FUCK YOU to everyone and the country.

Comey cares in this case only about himself and he proved it. He too is susceptible to the ego brandishing that Washington incited in its servants. He is now a character of infamy, not of sympathy. He kicked Lady Justice in the cunt.

edutcher said...

And continuing with "Dumb And Dumber 3", Comey, "It's possible Hillary didn't know c meant classified".

If you don't want to see her elected, this really is turning out to be the best of all outcomes.

Chip Ahoy said...

Listening to the Democrats defend this bint and listening to Comey's dissimilation is making me hate people all over again.

My focus on this has sapped mah creativtah.

Now Cummings is using his platform to press his racist stinking horseshit. He want FBI to help him get a ahold of this painful situation of black governed cities failing with their black legislatures their black administrations, their black courts and their black police. Please, FBI Chief, help us rid this nation of its hopeless awful racism.

Every time I listen to Cummings, every single time, I hear somebody incredibly stupid, I actually see an orangutang picking his butt. That's what I see. [senate sit in] He's doing that orangutan pose on purpose. I read he is genyouwine hero, but I've never seen that. I've only seen orangutan. That's all.

And what does he do? Fling his own poo at you.

Methadras said...

This isn't just a criminal comedy of errors, but a criminal comedy of incompetency. The levels to which suspending disbelief to understand the sheer horror of the numbers of idiots running this country is beyond imagining. HRC would truly be the nadir of that horror show.

edutcher said...

If Cummings is screaming, "Race", then he's just admitted they lost on this one.

I'm serious here. Whomever's bright idea it was not to invoke executive privilege and let Comey say his piece will be soon found scuba diving the Potomac with cement flippers.

Like it or not, this has turned into a disaster of epic proportions. Instead of exculpating Cacklepants, it's made her look guilty (which, of course, she is) to the point several service members prosecuted and convicted for the same offenses have announced their intent to appeal (I wish them tons of luck).

From some of the headlines off Brietbart, apparently, even though the Beast wasn't under oath, it's still a crime to lie, and with that in mind, Chaffetz wants to recommend a perjury investigation for her for Benghazi.

http://www.breitbart.com/video/2016/07/07/comey-hillarys-fbi-testimony-wasnt-under-oath-or-recorded-but-it-would-still-be-a-crime-to-lie/

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/07/07/perjury-hillary-clinton-chaffetz-comey/

While much of this is the same song and dance to which Chip refers, one can make a case some may realize the whole thing has been so incredibly bungled, she's not exonerated, exculpated, exfiltrated (maybe excomunicated) just yet.

To wit:

All those NeverTrumpers in the House may be hearing from their constituents Better than 200 House Rs (out of 247) gave Donald Trump 2 (count 'em, 2) standing ovations when he visited today.

You'd think the NeverTrumpers would be stronger than ever.

(don't tell April)

I'm Full of Soup said...

Chip - you have Cummings mixed up with John Lewis of Georgia.

And it is such an act by Cummings. I saw him give a commencement talk at Goucher College about ten years ago and he was smart and reasonable and well spoken. He left the ghetto histrionics at home I guess. He was actually the best of the three speakers though one was the Doonsebury writer jagoff Gray Trudeau and the other was a jagoff who made a bundle in Silicon Valley and bought a big historic horse farm in Virginia.

bagoh20 said...

"Comey says Hillary not under oath, not recorded, and he didn’t attend the questioning."

So she could have sat in front of those agents and told them:

"I'm going to be President soon, and I can make sure that works out real well for you, or I could make it the end of your career. I'm not getting indicted no matter what you guys say. That's a done deal, so I'll be going now. Have a nice day."



Chip Ahoy said...

Oh.

Chip Ahoy said...

I still can't get over the woman stepping up to the stage, closing Hillary's notebook for her, taking it, and ushering her off the stage. Managed. The woman will not have Hillary answering any questions.

See? We all see that. That and things like it. They add up.

Depressing as all this shit is, imagine how depressing it is for democrats generally. All of this stuff tamps down their customary crackpot level turned to 11, in general their enthusiasm is way down because of Hillary.

Hold me, I feel a laughing fit coming on.

While everyone else's enthusiasm for smashing in their faces is way up. Way up. Tectonic shifting way up. The noise to signal ratio inverted. Hard @ssed Republicans taking their buttplugs and going home. Sanders supporters going elsewhere some to Trump.

We've always had Democrats and media describing Republican candidates for us, now we have FBI and Republicans and media splaying in open livid vivisection describing Hillary for us. Ain't she dumb inside? Whoa.

Our Lizzie Borden trailer park queen just got served.

I realize now this is what it looks like when a political party's capo IS prosecuted. This is her prosecution. Every agency, we see, even FBI, goes full on Nikko Monkey and surrounds the subject of their project, cocoons them to the fullest of all their abilities to the fullest extent and beyond, clearly beyond, very clearly beyond what is reasonable so that explanations hinge once again on intent here and motive there, between very careless here and grossly negligent there. Brilliantly weaving a protective cocoon of sophistry and shifting definition and values and scope. He said flat out, we found A.,B.,C.,D., Alphabet of prosecutable wrongdoing but we were looking for [.]

And we're all going whuh?? *dog head tilt* Because you'd sure as hell not be protecting anybody else by limiting your scope so drastically. After listing all things that you found.


We must now meditate.

Oooooooooooouuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmm. There.

Sounds like popcorn. I'm sensing the vibrations of thousands of minds independently thinking fuck this shit bomb the bastards with Trump.

*snap* That was fun.

ndspinelli said...

Few observations based on working for decades w/ FBI, having been questioned by the FBI[friendly] and having FBI friends. As I said before, the FBI invented "No comment." Comey was the antithesis of that credo. He was as open as any FBI agent I have ever encountered, including friends. Regarding not recording interviews, that is how the FBI operate. It's almost always suspects and defense attorneys who bitch about this, not those wanting to see someone prosecuted, so one must appreciate that irony.

I don't agree w/ his decision by a long shot. And, here's where nuance comes in. When the FBI want someone they GO AFTER THEM W/ VENGEANCE. They tip toed here. The biggest tip toe was regarding not having questions for Clinton ready based on her testimony under oath to Congress. Comey says it's because he didn't have a referral from Congress. BULLSHIT!! If the FBI want someone they would have requested a referral or just would have been loaded for bear w/o a referral in order to get her in a trick bag regarding what she testified under oath @ the Benghazi hearing. Now, the way Comey answered it appears Clinton was not questioned in that adversarial regard but, Comey deferred to the 302. Those are reports made by FBI agents summarizing an interview. Again, they are not recorded.

Here's another fact some good reporter should pick up on. Comey talked about how you not only treat a homeless person like the wealthy, you also don't "Celebrity Hunt." BULLSHIT! The FBI and DOJ Celebrity Hunt routinely. They use Celebrity Hunt around 4/15 every year to arrest celebrity. In recent times Comey was the KING of Celebrity Hunting when he went after Martha Stewart as a US Attorney. And, here is a key point, Comey went after her for lying to the FBI in an interview. They were loaded for bear w/ Martha, they played SGT. Schultz w/ Hillary.

A very knowledgeable person, Jonathan Turley, hates the Clinton's and has railed against giving Pagliano immunity. It appears Turley is right. Pagliano gave them jack dog shit. It took forever for these fucking imbeciles to get to it. And, it took until the end for these court jesters to get to the point that Clinton gave access to all classified info for her attorneys that did not have clearance. Another fact that jumped out @ me was Comey simply accepting that the attorneys deleted w/o reading the emails and not being directed to delete by Clinton. That does not pass the smell test.

Comey is a typical bureaucrat. He, in some ways, played Solomon. He did not prosecute Clinton OR ANY AIDES, but bloodied her pretty badly. Today, he as much as said the allegedly "Smartest woman in the world" is dumber than a bag of hammers when it comes to computers. That is Machiavellian in that he needs to say she's stupid so as for there to not be intent, but it is great campaign fodder.

Instead of the FBI playing like this was the Super Bowl they played like it was the first preseason game. They not only didn't leave it all out there like you would in a big game, they played not to get hurt, or to hurt their opponent. But, there's no smoking gun. No email. No secret meeting. It's all subtle. All a wink and a nod. Congress are buffoons as well so the bitch is bloodied but will still continue the fight.

On a personal level, Wisconsin continues to put out some of the most EMBARRASSING politicians. We had a gay Senator Herb Kohl that made me leave the room whenever he was on TV so as to not puke. Dumb and dull. We have Tammy Baldwin who should not be Clerk of Court much less a US Senator. And today, I got to see Glenn Grothman. I thought he was going to ask Comey about cheese or Friday fish fry? What a rube Cheesehead!

ndspinelli said...

Understand this, people are put in prison ALL THE TIME for lying to the FBI. And it's always based on 302 reports, a summary of what a person said to the FBI. It's not under oath or recorded. That is ENORMOUS control and power by the FBI. Remember that if, God forbid, the FBI ever call you in for questioning. I would never submit to an interview if I were a target or even superficially involved. Those mofo's will lie. If they want you they will lie, cheat and steal. They didn't want any part of Hillary.

ndspinelli said...

AJ, All those old Negroes look alike.

edutcher said...

bagoh20 said...

Comey says Hillary not under oath, not recorded, and he didn’t attend the questioning.

So she could have sat in front of those agents and told them:

"I'm going to be President soon, and I can make sure that works out real well for you, or I could make it the end of your career. I'm not getting indicted no matter what you guys say. That's a done deal, so I'll be going now. Have a nice day."


Be interesting to see what happens when she loses.

ndspinelli said...

Holmes the DC Dolt, and that bow tied idiot from St. Louis were 2 of the bigger bozos on the bus today. The Buck guy from Colorado was one of the better questioners, never heard of him before.

The Dude said...

Nikko Monkey - I saw all three of them. Recently posted that picture. Great wood carvings. Great site. You know that Shogun who ran that place had the power of life and death over his subjects. As my friend from Kyushu so elegantly stated it "Chop head!"

Now lovely bag lady has all the ginzu knives.

edutcher said...

From the headlines on my AT&T homepage - which runs off Yahoo! News (so you know what direction it goes), I saw this headline

Rep. Trey Gowdy totally dismantles Clinton's email claims while questioning FBI Director James Comey.

Why do I get the feeling Comey is going to become intimately familiar with the undercarriage of a Greyhound?

edutcher said...

FWIW, looks like the Ozarks aren't out of the woods quite yet.

It appears the G-men are still investigating the Global Slush Fund.

The soap opera continueth.

edutcher said...

One of the more trenchant tweets of the day from Ann Coulter.

FBI's Comey is right - READ HIS STATEMENT He's Jeremiah Denton blinking out, T-O-R-T-U-R-E

Think about it.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

What law did she break, foreigner? And where was there evidence strong enough for an indictment?

There go the Republicans. Reducing themselves to getting foreign non-lawyers to lecture Americans about the workings of American law.

Haven't you Republicans taught them yet that money buys justice and government in this country, anyway? That's the system the way you like it. You can't say that policy and congressional seats should be bought and sold to the highest bidder but not the justice system - not that I'm convinced you can even prove that that happened, anyway. But this is America. Justice is for sale the same way government and policy is and don't bullshit me into pretending that you can credibly object only when it's conveniently enough this lady.

edutcher said...

Ritmo proves he can't read, yet again.

Also that he doesn't know who the real Corruptocrats are.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Citizens United needs to be expanded into Well-Moneyed Suspects and Defendants United

Since when do Republicans believe that justice shouldn't be for sale the same way they made policy and the government itself for sale?

Justice has always been for sale. When have the best-paid, most-talented and most respected attorneys declined to represent the richest clients?

Even Trump agrees that justice should be for sale.

Stop making policy and the government for sale and I can guarantee you we'll have an easier time cracking down on the courts and agencies. You make this stuff harder and harder with every policy and congressional seat you guys sell.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Also that he doesn't know who the real Corruptocrats are.

No one BUYS it, dude. Who have you got... a couple atypical immigrants or foreign resident applicants?

Can you import enough of them fast enough to make a difference? Doesn't sound like it. America is hopelessly stupid and unconcerned.

This whole thing will just be a faded memory in a month or two. And then you'll have nothing to run on.

As I said, there IS a fix. Stop making policy, the states and legislature for sale and then people will be concerned enough to take stuff like this more seriously.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. You keep outsourcing all policy, etc. to the corporations and this is what you get.

Agencies and courts will never be that much less corruptible than the people's government itself. Stop bidding off policy if you want any other arms of government to retain any independence whatsoever. The people will never take notice until you let them know that it's ok for them to take their government back.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Balls - Devolving into the "everyone does it" canard.

I'd expect more from you,.

Name a republican who set up a private server in their basement... while conducting state business - but actually sold favors for access? Name a person who then forensically deleted what was supposed to be transparent.

She took money from the poorest nations on earth - like the Congo. She took money from corrupt leaders of third world nations who keep their people poor, all for access to the Clinton power-broker machine.

Name for me anyone else who does this, Balls.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Balls - Devolving into the "everyone does it" canard.

I'd expect more from you,.


I'm not excusing. I'm explaining.

Name a republican who set up a private server in their basement... while conducting state business - but actually sold favors for access?

Who says they would have been prosecuted, either?

We don't know. We don't have that test case.

She took money from the poorest nations on earth - like the Congo. She took money from corrupt leaders of third world nations who keep their people poor, all for access to the Clinton power-broker machine.

Yeah, she's horrible. DIfferent, but related, issue.

I'm not the one you have to convince, though. I'm not voting for her. I never was.

Name for me anyone else who does this, Balls.

No one does it as well as the Clintons, I'd suspect. Unless they do it even more secretly.

All I'm saying is that unless people are involved and allowed to feel that they control their government, then we're going to have rich corrupt people fighting it out to no avail. And getting away with much more than the average folks can or do or would.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Bernie is selling out and he's going to stand with Clinton. It's all a joke.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Looks like Obama is raiding the tax payer to pay-off the top 8 mega-insurance companies he bashed to sell the big lie -- that Obamacare would save us all $2500.00

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Ok, I just watched the TMZ Harvey Levin video.

You're right. It should have been prosecuted.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Who says they would have been prosecuted, either?

You're kidding? The GOP is harassed over made-up charges all the time. REAl charges - they are filleted.

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...

Bernie is selling out and he's going to stand with Clinton. It's all a joke.

You thought it wasn't going to happen?

He might drag it out, but, if he wanted to play with the Demos, he had to.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Right now the media are crucifying Trump over a non-issue of a Star of David shape that means nothing.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

I don't know why it was that I put so much stock in Comey. He seemed very credible.

Why would he have been willing to say such damaging things about her if he wasn't willing to do the right thing legally in recommending they move against her?

I think he must have figured that she could have beat the rap even if they had moved against her legally, and then feared even greater retribution.

The TMZ guy's a lawyer IIRC. I think he's right.

Either way, if people aren't involved in a system where money doesn't run the show, these things are bound to happen.

The Clintons are monsters. Maybe the pay-for-play system works for Republicans. But look at what the Clintons can do with it.

Time to clean it up.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Right now the media are crucifying Trump over a non-issue of a Star of David shape that means nothing.

People tend to notice when he activates an army of online trolls who believe he's the greatest thing since Hitler and make long lists of (((Jews))) to tell to "get into an oven!"

You gotta admit, no other candidate's appealed to them as well lately as he has. Yes, it's noteworthy. Brings his anti-everyone else statements into even greater disrepute/skepticism.

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...

Right now the media are crucifying Trump over a non-issue of a Star of David shape that means nothing.

Hardly crucifying, after all, his favorite daughter, her husband, and kids are all Jewish, but it's all the smear merchants have.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

...but it's all the smear merchants have.

Ok, so your friends and fellow Trump-supporters who target Jewish Twitterers with demands that they "get into an oven!" are not smear merchants then, I take it.

Powerful or not, it's a story to tell that Trump is appealing to them so affectionately. It's been a while since hateful racists openly felt they had a candidate who made them feel so vindicated.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

...his favorite daughter, her husband, and kids are all Jewish...

No one said his online trolls (or any other Nazis, really) had to make sense or be logical.

edutcher said...

Rhythm and Balls said...

...but it's all the smear merchants have.

Ok, so your friends and fellow Trump-supporters who target Jewish Twitterers with demands that they "get into an oven!" are not smear merchants then, I take it.


You have proof, beyond your own say-so, these people are paid and directed by him?

Sounds more like Lefties, but such a paltry distinction.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

when R's pay-to play -they get caught and thrown in jail. The media kills em. See Jim McDonnell (although that was all theater to clear a path for mcAuliff)

You won't get an argument from me that Trump has attracted some unsavory supporters. And he hasn't told them to piss off, which is startling. Trump doesn't like to be told what to do. I don't think Trump is a racist or anti-Semitic. I think he's an inarticulate rage-fulfiller. (rage fulfiller is not a word, but it should be)

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I'm cutting and pasting this comment from Insty because it hits the truth bell, hard.

"The number of Americans who might possibly be persuaded to vote for Trump -- as a means of stopping Clinton, at least -- is overwhelmed by the number who will never allow Trump to become president. This fact will be in evidence on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 8, when the election is called shortly after the polls have closed and Trump has been crushed, taking down the Senate, the Supreme Court -- and possibly the House as well Arizona and Georgia et al. -- with him.

Perhaps they wished to give the establishment the middle finger. But whatever the reason, Republican primary voters, given the choice of several attractive candidates, opted instead to nominate an imbecilic buffoon. And by that act they withdrew from the field and forfeited the contest. Nothing remains for us to decide; the decision has already been taken.

I myself didn't want to run up the white flag and allow that corrupt hag to become president. Those of you who backed the imbecilic buffoon decided that for us. We should now be on the verge of victory and of taking our country back. Clinton could have been vanquished. But you wanted instead to vent your frustration and rage. After all, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan haven't performed as if they were Genghis Khan.

So here we are, awaiting a defeat from which we and our country will not recover. I hope your vote for the buffoon was at least cathartic."

(someone named Hephastion)

edutcher said...

AprilApple said...

I'm cutting and pasting this comment from Insty because it hits the truth bell, hard.

"The number of Americans who might possibly be persuaded to vote for Trump -- as a means of stopping Clinton, at least -- is overwhelmed by the number who will never allow Trump to become president. This fact will be in evidence on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 8, when the election is called shortly after the polls have closed and Trump has been crushed, taking down the Senate, the Supreme Court -- and possibly the House as well Arizona and Georgia et al. -- with him.


Some NeverTrumper jerk posts his opinion and we're all supposed to buy it without question?

Yeah, you're pulling for Hillary. Probably working for her, too.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

You have proof, beyond your own say-so, these people are paid and directed by him?

They don't have to be. They perceive that there will be benefit to him by his winning. The same way other groups (minority groups etc.) perceive that there will benefit to them by a Democrat winning. You always make the case that (insert minority group here) will get free stuff from a Democrat, and the white supremacists are just the same way. So if "merchant" was metaphorical, so be it. But they definitely feel there's something in it for them.

Either way, it's a stupid point. It's subterfuge. Both candidates have Jewish sons-in-law. (You're right). Both will probably not do anything too reckless to Israel, and even if Hillary tries, they've got a government too right-wing to go along with it, and will continue to have one for the foreseeable future.

I just think it's unfortunate that they've become so vocal, so visible, and so accommodated by Trump. Maybe Trump's clumsy, maybe no matter what he does they'll still love him so there's no point in saying anything. But I still think it's just another sad story in the middle of this insanely, unprecedentedly sad campaign and election season. Both the lobbyists/donors and Nazis got more brazen than ever.

You were right what you said in that other thread about Bernie supporters. I have had no candidate for a month and a half and I intend to watch on the sidelines and call out every act of bullshit on all sides. I'm as uninvolved as a true libertarian or anarchist this year. No candidate speaks for me. We've got evil all around. I slightly like Trump more, but still not enough to vote for him. I don't trust Hillary at all. I'm not voting for Stalin or Hitler, though. This election just needs to disappear in a time-warp suck and be blotted out from the space-time continuum as if it never happened. How ugly. The only thing you can say for it is hopefully that this is as bad as it can get and nothing will be worse, which means light (comparatively) at the end of the tunnel.

But sometimes things do get worse.

Erase it all. Just make it stop.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

when R's pay-to play -they get caught and thrown in jail.

speaking of hatred, didn't that happen to that other hairpiece-wearing weirdo Jim Trafficant?

It should happen more. Throw more Democrats in jail. Throw half the Democratic caucus in Congress in jail! I don't care about them any more. Their party is worthless. THROW THEM IN JAIL if you keep power in November. Lessons need to be learned.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Well Balls, I know we don't agree on all the ideological stuff, but we do agree about this election. Time warp - or meteor of death! Please!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off for my evening bike ride.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Enjoy, April!

Sorry Trooper's been giving you such a hard time, lately. I find he usually means well. But he must just be way invested in this current election. Like he thinks it will finally be the arrow that slays Big Dragon Hillary Clinton.

Maybe it will. But it's good to see past it all to the bigger picture.

Recreation in CO is nice. Enjoy. I'll probably be out there next month. (Was planning on swinging by in a week or so but it didn't pan out with my travel buddy).

bagoh20 said...

April, I think the comment you brought over from Insty is spot on, and you don't have to be a nevertrumper to see it that way. It's just the way it is. His primary victory was driven by emotions and butt-hurt, and blinding confirmation bias. Unfortunately, it's already done. Hillary would be slipping in the polls by now, if she was facing anyone but Trump, because the nevertrumpers are a huge swath of the electorate - not the ones on the right, but in combination with all the others in the middle and left, it's a juggernaut that will not budge now.

I'll vote for Trump anyway, but I don't see him winning, and that will leave us with two things:

1) The actual real end of a nation of laws, individual liberty, as well as a whole host of issues that we will lose via executive order, and Supreme court activism. They will be done, ruined, dead.
2) We will have the endless debate about who's fault it was - the Trumpers or everyone else.

We'll be like crabs in bucket. Maybe we can agree to skip that crapfest before it even gets started, because it's doomed to go nowhere.

ampersand said...

Republican primary voters, given the choice of several attractive candidates

Pure nonsense. Jeb Bush? Gang of Eight Rubio? Miss Priss from South Carolina? Cruz would've gotten the same back of the hand that Trump is getting. The only candidate worth while (at least to me) was Walker. But he folded early and was a squish on amnesty as well. I had to hold my nose many times when I voted for some GOPe crappy candidates, Romney being the last.
No more.
Love the fact that the GOPe indicates they intend to vote for Rodham, even though she craps directly on their heads. Hopefully Karma kicks in and they'll gladly hold her purse while the old bitch is kicking them in the balls.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Thank you Bagoh. That post nails it all perfectly. It's over no matter how much the butt-hurt beg everyone to get on board. Sure, I'll fill in the square next to his name. I know it will mean nothing. No matter how many times they howl -'you must vote for him or it's your fault!", it doesn't change the game. He's still gonna lose. He's a terrible candidate. I go one step further - I think Trump's disastrous intrusion is all part of Bill's big game.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Balls -this time of year it's lovely almost everywhere, esp in the evening.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Fix is in - Trump hands it to Hillary. Get used to it.