The Comey Letter: It Sunk Her, It Sunk Her Not

From the failing NY Times we get Nate Cohn of 'Upshot':

A 2016 Review: There’s Reason to Be Skeptical of a Comey Effect

And that other poll-watching Nate, Mr. Silver of 538:

The Comey Letter Probably Cost Clinton The Election

So why won’t the media admit as much?

Oh, my.

On a related note, and this is especially poignant for Hillary-watchers: when you've lost the Times... How is it the Times is presenting a political piece that is not transparently Trump-phobic? Well, maybe they are now writing based on conviction rather than political agenda. OK, April Fools was a month ago.

But maybe the Times team, individually or collectively, has realized that Hillary is not the future of the Democratic Party or the progressive program (nor is Chelsea) so they want to help the rest of us Move On. 

I love a mystery!

Comments

[Threadkiller]

Last page:

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2017/05/the-comey-letter-it-sunk-her-it-sunk-her-not/comments/page/99/#comments

[Captain Hate]

So Rodham was a helpless victim and calling large numbers of citizens "deplorable" had no impact?

[henry]

i guess a side of beef doesn't float.

[dublindave]

Sally Yates is a freakin Goddess.

[narciso]

They find a thousand reasons to excuse red square and an equal number to excoriate anyone connected with trump,

The propublica piece relied on appeals to authority but not actual facts. The York piece actually looked through the pile of ordure and found nothing.

[narciso]

Sally Yates is a southern version of wise Latina, sbe doesnt let the law get in the way of her feelings.

[dublindave]

We're just better than you.

And.......I think you know that.

After seeing Jimmy Kimmel and Sally Yates....I think Republicans know deep in their hearts that Democrats are simply better people.

[narciso]

In answer to your earlier question, captain, pence revealed in the debate he still believes in those bothan (I mean Syrian tebels) as do most of the Washington think tanks that max Abrahams for one,looks askance at and russia is still enemy number 1.

[Thomas Collins]

Although I disagree with Yates's assessment of the constitutionality of President Trump's immigration order, I think it is perfectly fine for a governmental official to refuse to carry out an order the official thinks is unconstitutional. The honorable thing to do is resign and indicate the official's view in the letter of resignation.

It's simply not the case that only SCOTUS has a role in interpreting the US Constitution. The Senate, the House and the POTUS all have a role. And an Executive Branch official is not acting improperly by refusing to carry out a POTUS order the official has concluded is unconstitutional (with as I mentioned above a letter of resignation being the honorable way to go).

[matt, deplore me if you must]

Funny how the media have ignored the Clintons in Putin's pocket while still trying to keep the Trump-Putin meme alive.

Since we're $20 trillion in debt on just the federal budget alone and the Boomers are retiring en masse, I think that the next few years will put paid to the drunken sailor budgeting that has occurred for the past 50 years.

The can has been kicked, mauled, squashed, shredded, sliced and diced. Not much left to kick down the road.

[henry]

DHS now ignoring Dem holds on deportations. The Dems used to write "private bills" to stay a deportation, but these are now ignored per EO. Let's think, "ones whose cases were strong enough to rise to the notice of members of Congress" might just equal "ones with enough cash to buy Congressional attention." Yup, that EO is draining the swamp in two ways at the same time.

[narciso]

Yes but it was in contravention of the olc opinion, son tommassino.

I know Jack goldsmitb thinks one plc opinion is as good another but thatsvhis business.

[sbwaters]

Focus, MSM! Comey’s letter didn’t sink Hillary; Hillary sank because of what Hillary did.

[narciso]

Yes whether it was the 6th or 7th compartment the hms red queen was going down.

[narciso]

Clearances determine access to info, which in turn establish access to policy circles, re winik, even though Reagan had campaigned against detente the lead negotiators nitze and burt, were certainly from that wing of the party

[Captain Hate]

After seeing Jimmy Kimmel and Sally Yates....I think Republicans know deep in their hearts that Democrats are simply better people.

Do you say that with the same mouth you perform cunnilingus on your mother with?

[rich]

far behind and never will catch up. big surprise those hearings turned out to be a big nothing- the GOPe sucks.

I suppose her not going to Wisconsin or Pennsylvania (in addition to CH's mention) didn't have any effect either.

[rich]

the silent dog ...

http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/30/stepmom-says-house-it-scandal-figure-threatened-kidnappings-of-pakistani-kin/

[narciso]

Just another day ending in e, rich (francophone version)

Reflecting on rattlers admiration for the chracter Rowan pope, the real Ronan the accuser. He contradicts a notion that Mark Steyn has about casting minority chAracters, they have to be virtuous ala
Morgan freeman. Well Rowan the head of this version of the F ivision is utterly ruthless and similarly untouchable.

[BREITBART HACKERS]

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-08/yates-says-she-warned-white-house-flynn-was-at-risk-of-blackmail

Heh

[BREITBART HACKERS]

18 days Trump sat on it.

[BREITBART HACKERS]

FBI officials have privately acknowledged that Comey misstated what Abedin did and what the FBI investigators found. On Monday, the FBI was said to be preparing to correct the record by sending a letter to Congress later this week. But that plan now appears on hold, with the bureau undecided about what to do.
ProPublica is reporting a story on the FBI’s handling of the. Clinton emails and raised questions with government officials last week about possible inaccuracies in Comey’s statements about Abedin.

[Dave (in MA)]

Hillary is not the future of the Democratic Party or the progressive program (nor is Chelsea)

How about Hugh, Tony, or Roger? (Oxford comma in use when referring to the extended clan of a cigar-shoving Oxford scholar)

[narciso]

Yes it's the whole lannister clan, dave.

[henry]

Anyone wonder why Silicon Valley sucks? It's filled with escaping swamp critters from DC.

[BREITBART HACKERS]

She's a little thin for me dublin.

But what a foundation!

She's definitely doable.

[Ten Talents]

More christian Beattitudes

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20170507/NEWS/170509890?utm_source=modernhealthcare&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20170507-NEWS-170509890&utm_campaign=am

[Old Lurker]

See Henry, that's the trouble with pests. If you don't just kill them in place, they move to the next apartment until it is safe for them to return.

Come to think of it, that is a good metaphor for the downside of using an EO to counter a bad law. Nice while they last, but eventually the bugs come back.

[Old Lurker]

And don't forget to kill the eggs at the same time...

[Ten Talents]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-obamacare-repeal-wont-sink-us-in-2018/article/2622485

Oh, ok hotshots...lol

[narciso]

My view despite what Thomas wictor says,,is it shows bad chAracter to have let general Flynn go, it three blood in the water and the strigoi's pounced.

He should have ignored Yates tapping and stood by someone who was loyal to him

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Blackmail for what, Sally? See you next Tuesday!

[dublindave]

"She's a little thin for me Dublin"

Fair enough, but my commentary on Yates is one of the few times I'm not motivated by what's in my pants but what's in my heart. It's rare, but I do have the capacity for decency and morality.

It's the woman's morality and principles that got me.

It's clear we're heading for a 2nd Civil war in the U.S, blind partisanship has overtaken love of country, common sense and reason. We may not come to blows, but we'll rip ourselves apart before it's all over that's for sure.

Yates is like a throwback to the time of sensible Americans. It's why I dig her so much. She exudes Grandma wisdom and decency.

[narciso]

She really thinks she's on the West wing or Madame secretary, on scandal or house of cards she wouldn't make it to the second episode.

[narciso]

So miss Yates you say general Flynn engaged in actionable communications with ambassador kisyak show us the transcript.

[Ten Talents]

You have her on a pedestal, but they want her on a scaffold.

Isn't it amazing how angered they are by evil, but only during eclipses? Or is there some other coincidental motivation, like fair-weather christianity?

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Yates is a throwback to preliteracy and incest.

[dublindave]

"Yates is a throwback to preliteracy and incest"

She will weather the storm.

[narciso]

Like I say she would make a great zampolit, say in 1937 Soviet union.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Funny how the media have ignored the Clintons in Putin's pocket...--

I believe the correct formulation is Putin is in the Clintons' holsters.

[Old Lurker]

Hey! "preliteracy and incest"

We WVa natives represent that remark...

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Didn't I just read yesterday that the FBI said they had found no wrongdoing by Flynn re Russia?

[Old Lurker]

Yes you did, Iggy.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Yes she fit in well with the Uniparty pretend show trial.

[henry]

Iggy, that was Clapper.

[narciso]

Yes but like existence of private Ogilvy and the victorious Malabar front.

[rich]

good grief.

[Old Lurker]

The radio story yesterday said it was Flynn, Henry.

[narciso]

It's like one needs an extra set of alien glasses.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

-- The honorable thing to do is resign and indicate the official's view in the letter of resignation.--

The honorable and professional thing to do is to go to your boss and explain the issue.
If he doesn't relent, the honorable thing to do then is resign or recuse oneself.

The dishonorable, dishonest political hack thing to do is walk about DC signaling your virtue to everyone while still working for the guy.

[Appalled]

narc:

The right answer is for Trump to declassify whatever Yates told him, or explain why declassifying that information is a bad idea. Then we can figure out whether it was a big deal or not that he waited 18 days to remove Flynn.

Until that happens, Yates will say that the information is classified, and people's imaginations can run wild, and Trump will remain vulnerable to having his Presidency disrupted by ongoing Russia spasms.

Ball is back in the Donald's court. Let's see what he does with it.

[Old Lurker]

...Not just walking about DC signaling virtue, but taking affirmative steps to disobey the boss, while still cashing the paycheck.

[narciso]

Ask dick Cheney how that worked out appalled.

I imagine the conversation with kisyak was much like I sketched out monthes ago with the latter pointing out the category error therein.

[rich]

Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkywatzky | May 09, 2017 at 10:56 AM

indeed. BUT, how can we question the judgment and honor of people like Yates or Clapper-they obviously are only thinking of the US and her best interests.

[Ten Talents]

"The dishonorable, dishonest political hack thing to do is walk about DC signaling your virtue to everyone while still working for the guy."

So,..honor is the issue?

And you see Trump as honorable?

[Toddler Spengo]

He'll wait 18 days appalled.

Golf and chocolate cake come first.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I guess I misunderstood. Someone posted a link saying FBI clears Flynn of wrongdoing re Russia. I just didn't realize they cleared him three months ago.

I guess the theory is Russia could easily bend him into committing treason rather than saying to Pence, "Oh yeah, I guess I did mention sanctions in a general way to that Russkie dude a few months ago".

[rich]

didn't miss much with the failure theater.

[Toddler Spengo]

Sorry no one picked up on your subtle suggestion Ignatz.

It is a bit of a stretch.

[rich]

yes just talking to a dirty Russkie can compromise someone.

[Old Lurker]

If only Kill File would offer an option to block all but whitelisted posters.

[narciso]

No it was mostly what is the best saddle to put on a unicorn, it will amusing to reflect on that after the emp.

[Appalled]

narc:

There are reasons to question Yates' credibility:

http://www.lawfareblog.com/yates-changes-her-tune

The linked article suggests a propensity to adjust her memories to the fashion in legal opinions which is a touch disingenuous.

Yates looks like a credible witness on TV, and she is in legal danger if she testifies what she said to Trump about Flynn. That's a deadly combination -- she can insinuate about what she knows, and not be called on it, unless the President declassifies the information.

By the way, Trump is President, not Vice-President. That gives him ability to declassify on his say-so. Too bad Miss Marple's scenario (Grassley with a letter from Trump declassifying Yates' info) didn't come to pass.

[Old Lurker]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/laws-tackle-climate-change-exceed-1-200-worldwide-143243087.html

If THAT doesn't remind you of Gulliver on his travels, nothing will.

Also our Declaration of Independence...list of grievances.

[In Awe of Trump]

Narciso,
What Thomas Wictor says re Flynn makes sense. Flynn was a spook for 33 years and we are supposed to believe that all of a sudden he became a Russian traitor? Wictor's ideas are compelling when you follow his timeline.

[narciso]

So why not take him back? Yes I read field of battle and I found it very compelling,

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

This Daily Beast story [hardly Trump fans] says Flynn was complying with the law in his relationship with Turkey.

So perhaps Yates thought Flynn would be ruthlessly blackmailed because "legal experts say Flynn was complying with the law as currently written—or enforced."
She's a lying partisan hack.

[narciso]

You have to dig through a lot of ouvno to get there.

[narciso]

The Obama administration was in the banya and the Turkish bath so long they reserved then a towel.

[henry]

Great, Senate will fix HealthCare by making it even more socialist than the ACA. Yeah this guy is a doctor. Economics are not in the med school curriculum. He proves it.

[rich]

Posted by: Old Lurker | May 09, 2017 at 11:12 AM

sorry OL. I'm trying for the nattering nabob of negativity spot.

[rich]

yeah henry! In time, maybe the GOP will adopt a maoist, barefoot doctor and shaman approach.

[narciso]

This is why the fujimori solution seems more appealing.

Insert hans Gruber quote here.

[Thomas Collins]

Ignatz, I don't know whether Yates set forth her position to Trump or anyone else in the Administration. But my main point is that the notion that a governmental official shouldn't consider the constitutionality of what he or she is doing when receiving an order from POTUS is flat out wrong.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Well, I posted a whole bunch of links at the end of the last thread, not realizing there was a new one.

Of interest is the press conference in Copenhagen, Mattis and the Danish defense minister, as well as Mnuchin's beta test for a government money-spending tracking site.

Also, Terry Bransted is out of committee by voice vote.

[Clarice Feldman]

Their new darling is apparently Sally Yates.

[donald]

Yates was a decent Federal prosecuter in Atlanta.

Then she got to New York City!

Tattnall Square and Hebron. Round three.

[narciso]

Like George the bunny rabbit,

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Thomas Collins,

I believe I agree with you but I also think she should have just resigned. She obviously wasn't going to like working for Trump.

If you ask me, she stayed on in order to spy and leak, and her meeeting with the president was to stir up more trouble.

I see on Twitter that they are now on the 18 days thing.

1. Why would Trump take her word for it? She was apparently making vague accusations.

2. I believe I remember that the White House launched an immediate investigation.

3. I don't think 18 days, given the situation, is such a bad thing, especially since Flynn was cleared of any wrong-doing.

4. He was fired for lying to Pence (even if inadvertently) and not for any other wrongdoing. Trump has since been complimentary of him.

Wictor thinks he was bait in a trap. I don't know what to think, except that this Russia thing is getting pretty ridiculous.

[Thomas Collins]

Sally Yates will need to get by this one if Sally wants to be the torchbearer of the next Dem generation.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article149309374.html

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

From henry's link;
--Approach Mitch McConnell with an idea that will lower those premiums for the folks who need it.--

I hope someone can identify one thing that idiot proposed which would reduce premiums.
Apparently it takes no more brains to become a doctor than a Senator, a thought that should scare the living daylights out of everyone.When they said Barrycare was a waystation on the way to single payer, I was naive enough to think it would be the Dems who would deliver the Holy Grail of progs.

[henry]

TC, she could borrow Rachael Dozeals' skin toner.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I agree TC, but suggested there are reasonable alternatives to simply resigning.

[narciso]

Ah yes daddy knows that McClatchy chimp, never willing to give the huntress an even break.

[Thomas Collins]

I agree that she simply should have resigned, MM. I also agree that she viewed her role as part of the resistance. Hillary Clinton actually used the word, I believe. It's an ongoing effort to delegitimize President Trump. I don't think it would have been any different with any other GOP POTUS implementing policies Trump is (which are actually for the most part quite mainstream conservative policies).

[Thomas Collins]

Speaking of skin toner, henry, did you see that academia is apparently all atwitter about the notion that change of racial identity is as justifiable as change of gender identity?

http://thephilosophicalsalon.com/if-this-is-feminism-its-been-hijacked-by-the-thought-police/

[In Awe of Trump]

Narciso,

I can only guess about Flynn's own wishes. But my guess is that he did not plan to be in the Trump administration but welcomed the opportunity to root out the Obama administration leakers. If you subscribe to Wictor's take, the goal of finding the leakers was Trump's, and the plan to do so was Flynn's.

[narciso]

In the 80s the incantations were central America was spelled Vietnam, there were a few analysts who took issue with the very sensible white paper Reagan had put forward re do salvador.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I can very easily see Kamala Harris as president.
She has Obama's clean articulatedyness down pat so that she allows those appalling moderates to pretend she's not a disastrous far left prog; something she most indubitably is.
She's the broad we've been waiting for.

Let me conclude by saying;
Kamala Harris may very well be president.

[henry]

Here's the Mnuchin government spending tracker tweet that Miss M mentioned.

[rich]

thanks Iggy.

a bigger disaster than the Obama Administration.

[Thomas Collins]

I agree that there were alternatives, Ignatz. I think that Yates probably acted the way she did because of her role in the resistance.

Now that I think of it, If Yates and Kamala Harris constitute the new generation of leadership for the Dems, give me Billary and San Fran Nan and Comrade Sanders and Biden any time!

[narciso]

But apophis wasn't supposed to show up till 2029.

[narciso]

It turns out he was a founder of that later peanut gallery, Richard Clarke because there was one

http://www.spectacle.org/0506/thieme.html

[Toddler Spengo]

For once I agree with rich.

Harris?

[Old Lurker]

That wasn't for you Rich...you know that!

[narciso]

Like yogi berra said:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/colombias-
perilous-deal-with-the-farc-1494187574

[Jane]

Dudu,

Where have you been? I've been dying to know for weeks where and when you lived in Framingham?

[Old Lurker]

If we are going to institutionalize and encourage holdover employees to become active resistance in favor of the team which lost the election, then I think we should remove all civil service protections for all employees so that the incoming POTUS can replace any or all that he wants on day one. As part of that, the incoming POTUS should be able to put in place all appointees as soon as they are nominated, subject to removal by the Senate if a confirmation vote fails when the senate gets around to holding one.

It makes no sense to delay the will of the people when a change in government is mandated.

[narciso]

So it was with the negotiations with the Salvadoran guerillas in the early 90s, one of their most ruthless cadre leaders is now president,