A Tale Of Two FISA Applications

The DoJ has released the heavily redacted FISA applications that led to the bitterly controversial surveillance of Trump associate Carter Page.

And what did we learn? That depends on which set of memos you read. Let's start with the Progressive Edition, described by Charlie Savage of the NY Times:

How a Trump Decision Revealed a G.O.P. Memo’s Shaky Foundation

WASHINGTON — When President Trump declassified a memo by House Republicans in February that portrayed the surveillance of a former campaign adviser as scandalous, his motivation was clear: to give congressional allies and conservative commentators another avenue to paint the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian election interference as tainted from the start.

But this past weekend, Mr. Trump’s unprecedented decision, which he made over the objections of law enforcement and intelligence officials, had a consequence that revealed his gambit’s shaky foundation. The government released the court documents in which the F.B.I. made its case for conducting the surveillance — records that plainly demonstrated that key elements of Republicans’ claims about the bureau’s actions were misleading or false.

"Plainly false"! Once again the progressives own the Trumpsters!

But hold on - the DoJ also released a boxed Conservative Set, described by Byron York:

FISA warrant application supports Nunes memo

Wait, what?!? Nunes is the House Republican who just got owned. 

The weekend release of a highly-redacted version of the FBI's application for a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant to wiretap onetime Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page has renewed the argument over the Nunes memo — the brief report produced by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes detailing problems in the application. From the time of the memo's release in February, Democrats and some in the press have denounced it as a collection of lies and mischaracterizations. On Saturday night, the denouncing started again. "The only thing the newly released FISA documents show is that Republicans have been lying for months," the lefty think tank Center for American Progress saidin a typical response.

Now, however, we have both the memo and the FISA application, if in a blacked-out state. We can compare the two. And doing so shows the Nunes memo was overwhelmingly accurate. Perhaps some Democrats do not believe it should have been written, or they dispute what it included and left out, or they do not agree with its conclusions, but it was in fact accurate.

"Overwhelmingly accurate"? That is not how we spell "plainly false". So what's going on?

We can cut through the thunder and fog and come to the key controversy. Back to the Savage response:

One central issue was whether the F.B.I. gave the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court sufficient information about the funding of Mr. Steele’s research to understand that he had been commissioned to dig up information about Mr. Trump’s links to Russia by someone with a political motive, even though he had been a neutral source in the past.

The Republican memo issued in February said the F.B.I. had failed to “disclose or reference the role of the D.N.C., Clinton campaign or any party/campaign in funding Steele’s efforts, even though the political origins of the Steele dossier were then known to senior D.O.J. and F.B.I. officials.” But Democrats at the time contended that the court had been told that the research had politically motivated origins.

The application contains a page-length explanation that does alert the court that the person who commissioned Mr. Steele’s research was “likely looking for information to discredit” Mr. Trump’s campaign. It goes on to explain why, notwithstanding Mr. Steele’s “reason for conducting the research,” the F.B.I. believed it was credible.

Republicans had also faulted the application for not explicitly identifying Mrs. Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee by name. But that criticism ignored the fact that law enforcement officials were following a general policy not to name Americans, even referring to Mr. Trump only as “Candidate #1” in renewal applications despite noting that he was now the president-elect and then the president.

David Kris, an expert on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act who served in the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, dismissed the notion that the intelligence court judges had been misled.

“Now we can see that the footnote disclosing Steele’s possible bias takes up more than a full page in the applications, so there is literally no way the FISA Court could have missed it,” he wrote on the blog Lawfare. “The F.B.I. gave the court enough information to evaluate Steele’s credibility.”

So, Mr. Savage describes this as a "central issue" and assures us it is all good because the applicants explained that the source of the allegations against Trump and his people may have had a political motive. Now back to the glorious son of York for his version:

The fifth paragraph:

a) Neither the initial application in October 2016, nor any of the renewals, disclose or reference the role of the DNC, Clinton campaign, or any party/campaign in funding Steele's efforts, even though the political origins of the Steele dossier were then known to senior DOJ and FBI officials.

That is accurate. Readers will search the FISA application in vain for any specific mention of the DNC, Clinton campaign, or any party/campaign funding of the dossier. For the most part, names were not used in the application, but Donald Trump was referred to as "Candidate #1," Hillary Clinton was referred to as "Candidate #2," and the Republican Party was referred to as "Political Party #1." Thus, the FISA application could easily have explained that the dossier research was paid for by "Candidate #2" and "Political Party #2," meaning the Democrats. And yet the FBI chose to describe the situation this way, in a footnote: "Source #1...was approached by an identified U.S. person, who indicated to Source #1 that a U.S.-based law firm had hired the identified U.S. person to conduct research regarding Candidate #1's ties to Russia...The identified U.S. person hired Source #1 to conduct this research. The identified U.S. person never advised Source #1 as to the motivation behind the research into Candidate #1's ties to Russia. The FBI speculates that the identified U.S. person was likely looking for information that could be used to discredit Candidate #1's campaign."

Democrats argue that the FISA Court judges should have been able to figure out, from that obscure description, that the DNC and Clinton campaign paid for the dossier. That seems a pretty weak argument, but in any case, the Nunes memo's statement that the FISA application did not disclose or reference the role of the DNC and the Clinton campaign is undeniably true.

So when Nunes et al say the application did not explicitly disclose the Democratic source they are, well, right but wrong in TimesWorld.

And why do we care? isn't hinting around at the source in a BIG footnote sufficient disclosure? I read that in the Times!

Oh, please. Start with a simple thought exercise by comparing these alternative FISA applications:

(a) The Obama DoJ wants to drop the power of the surveillance state on associates of the Republican nominee for President based on rumors and innuendo dug up by an establishment Republican backing more moderate candidates;

or

(b) The Obama DoJ want to investigate the Trump team based on rumors and allegations paid for by the campaign of Obama's anointed successor.

Which application seems more likely to be approved by a judge? Is "The Democrat heirs to the current Democratic administration bought some dirt on Trump and want us to check it out" really no different from "Some other Republican bought dirt on Trump but we think it is worth checking out"?

Seriously, if this is a tough question, well, the questions will get progressively more difficult. And since you ask, it was conservatives at the Washington Free Beacon that initially hired Fusion GPS. Steele only got involved after the project was picked up by Team Hillary surrogates. So who knows what the judges knew or guessed.

Or let's look at this from a different perspective. These FISA applications are double top secret and probably won't show up even on Hillary's email server. If (in the normal course) they will never see the light of day, why is the DoJ playing "Twenty Questions" instead of just writing the simple truth - this application relies on research funded by Hillary's campaign?

My guess - regardless of any rationalizations from TimesWorld, the DoJ applicants understood that telling the judges the unvarnished truth might create an awkward moment or two. I picture a response from the judge along the lines of "Seriously, Obama wants us to approve the of use of Hillary gossip to spy on Trump? Pull the other one, it plays the theme from 'Law and Order'".

To smooth the road the applicants opted for an "Ask me no questions and I'l tell you no lies" approach. One recalls the classic moment from M*A*S*H between the hapless Col. Blake and the omniscient company clerk Radar O'Riley, who was busily managing some paperwork:

"What am I signing Radar?"

"I'd tell you sir but then you'd know."

"Oh, right". Sighs, takes pen, signs.

I would hardly be surprised to learn that Washington Establishment judges of either party would be deeply concerned about the prospect of a Trump Presidency. But I also think they might prefer just a bit of cover before they sign off on allowing the current administration to unleash the FBI and the NSA on its political opponents. The FISA court is sometimes described as a rubberstamp, although supporters point out that the DoJ knows what an application needs to look like to get approved. And the judges do work with the DoJ on problematic applications. Which of course is my point.

I'm guessing, of course. No doubt in TimesWorld its an outrageous lie to suggest that the DoJ applicants were trying to write their way around a cosmetically ghastly problem. But I think the DoJ knew perfectly well the judges wouldn't or couldn't handle the truth.

Comments

[Tom R]

Bama #1

[narciso]

'There are four lights,' holy cardassians Batman.

[henry]

gets back to whether whatever the Rs paid for is anything resembling the Steele dossier of later use. My recollection is they are different things entirely, with Steele only coming in after the Clinton campaign picked up the project,

[henry]

Oil boom in Guyana?

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/20/the-20-billion-dollar-question-for-guyana.html?__source=twitter%7Cmain

[narciso]

Frisking Carlos slims is like shooting womprats

https://thefederalist.com/2018/07/23/confirmed-doj-used-materially-false-information-to-secure-wiretaps-on-trump-associate/

[Michael (fpa P4F) ... Stop the Witch Hunt - Stop the Coup !]

And in news totally unrelated to 4-D chess and theories about the Deep State . . .

Jonathan Gold, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times restaurant critic who richly chronicled the city’s vast culinary landscape and made its food understandable and approachable to legions of fans, died Saturday evening. He was 57.

One of the most widely admired voices of Los Angeles, Gold wrote about restaurants for four decades and became indelibly linked with the city in which he was born and raised.

Here is the tribute to Mr. Gold that the Times prepared . . . it is a touching story that honors a writer that had an uncommon touch for the written word, and the ability to describe food in ways that made you sense that you knew exactly what he tasted and experienced.

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-fo-jonathan-gold-obit-20180721-story.html

RIP Mr. Gold, you made quite a contribution, and you will be greatly missed.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

@AmichaiStein1

Amichai Stein Retweeted Amichai Stein

#BREAKING: Israeli official: Russia has agreed that Iranian forces will not be present 100km from the border between Israel & Syria, Israel has demanded 3 other points for a full Iranian exit from Syria.

Amichai Stein
‏Verified account @AmichaiStein1

#BREAKING: Senior Israeli official: 4 points in regards to the Iranian exit from Syria:
1. Moving of Iran forces 100km from border
2. No Iranian advance weapon
3. Closing of the Syria border w/ Iraq, Lebanone so no weapons come in
4. No developmemt of advance weapons in Syria

(Pictured with this Tweet is a photo of Lavrov and Netenyahu shaking hands.)

[Tom R]

Is there anyone on the Ledge who is willing to admit to the possibility that Rosenstein's reauthorization of the Page FISA warrant was all part of an elaborate sting operation against the Deep State Swamp by the Trump team?

[Dave (in MA)]

I didn't think the Trek and Batman universes intersected.

[henry]

Tom R, a very remote possibility... about on par with winning the lottery.

[Captain Hate]

God isn't fixing this newspaper:

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=376237

[Captain Hate]

Yes, Tom, it's possible.

[Tom R]

Henry,

The Senate staffer James Wolfe has already been indicted so instead of winning the lottery I would go with the Red Sox chances of making the playoffs this year.

[henry]

I don't follow baseball.

[FTL]

I didn't think the Trek and Batman universes intersected.

Just off the top of my head: Frank Gorshin in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," Julie Newmar in "Friday's Child," and Yvonne Craig in "Whom Gods Destroy."

[joan]

I was going to post this article, then saw Mr. Maguire's topic essay and thought I shouldn't, but since it appears to be a usual type of thread (free-for-all, and I'm not casting aspersions), I will go ahead and share. I think it is interesting, maybe some will, too. (TK) :)

One small nugget:

"Therefore, “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clearly means exactly what Senator Trumbull said it means: “not owing allegiance to anybody else.” A foreigner clearly owes allegiance to somebody else: the country in which he is a citizen or subject."

https://www.claremont.org/crb/basicpage/birthright-citizenship-a-response-to-my-critics/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notification&utm_campaign=PushCrew_notification_1512508066&pushcrew_powered=1

[Captain Hate]

4d or not 4d; that is the question:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/07/manafort-judge-orders-robert-mueller-to-publicly-name-five-witnesses-given-immunity/

[henry]

LOL CH, worth cracking a craft beer anyway.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Michael,

Thanks for bringing Mr.Gold's obituary over. I was unfamiliar with him, not being from LA, but it seems he had a huge influence on LA restaurants and was a gifted writer.

However, this sentence caught my eye:
“He so greatly enjoyed being there for people, and making people happy,” Mark Gold said.

Would that more journalists enjoyed making people happy.

[Ralph L]

I thought someone said Page was semi-outed and already being ignored by the Trump campaign in the months before the election. Why would they need an extension after the election?

[boatbuilder]

"My guess - regardless of any rationalizations from TimesWorld, the DoJ applicants understood that telling the judges the unvarnished truth might create an awkward moment or two."

Heh. Deadpan is hard to do in print, but you are the master, TM.

[henry]

Ralph L, my assumption was they needed the extensions based on the Kevin Bacon rule (or whatever the 2 or 3 hop thing is under FISA) to continue spying on anyone anywhere near Trump.

[Michael (fpa P4F) ... Stop the Witch Hunt - Stop the Coup !]

Tom R - It's a very remote possibility, imo.
But it doesn't fit the basic structure of a 'sting' operation in the slightest.

More likely, it *might* be just an initial step to lull the leftist cabal into believing that the ongoing effort to smear Pres. Trump, cripple his presidency, and possibly have him impeached and/or removed from office was still unknown to the president.

After all, failing to renew the FISA warrant would raise a huge red flag to the coup plotters, if that is what they are.

[Captain Hate]

Rand Paul, bitches

Wow. Sanders says the White House is looking at the security clearances of Brennan, Comey, McCabe, Clapper and Rice.
Posted by: JackStraw at July 23, 2018 02:48 PM (/tuJf)

[Tom R]

The judge who ordered the names of the 5 witnesses against Manafort unsealed is doing Trump a huge favor. If it turns out Tucker Carlson was correct and Tony Podesta is one of the witnesses, then that reinforces the Witch Hunt narrative amd should add a point or two to Trump's approval rating.

[Dave (in MA)]

Just off the top of my head: Frank Gorshin in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," Julie Newmar in "Friday's Child," and Yvonne Craig in "Whom Gods Destroy."

Don't forget the episode with not only green Batgirl, but also Lurch, who Kirk tries to use a giant stone dong against. But those are intersecting casting choices, not what I was ragging narciso about.

[boatbuilder]

Shorter NYT: The scandal is that the Republicans were not absolutely 100% accurate when they revealed that the whole "Russiagate" investigation is premised upon fake oppo research bought and paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign. Well, that part is true, and the DoJ knew that, but they didn't necessarily have to tell the FISA court because they had their fingers crossed behind their backs and what difference does it make, really, at this point?

[Dave (in MA)]

I wonder if TM ever looks at the comments and thinks *sigh*, why do I even bother?

[Ralph L]

It seems to me either the DoJ lied to the FISC about the applications being renewals of fruitless surveillance, or the judges are in on it, or are incompetent because they didn't ask.

Heads must roll in any case.

[Tom R]

Why would they need an extension after the election?

The likely answer to your question: 4D sting operation by Trump.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/07/22/oh-my-this-is-either-a-sting-or-the-most-corrupt-u-s-dept-of-justice-in-history/

[Dave (in MA)]

In on it and incompetent.

[Captain Hate]

I wonder if TM ever looks at the comments and thinks *sigh*, why do I even bother?

boatbuilder gave him positive feedback. That's like an editorial landslide.

[Dave (in MA)]

CH, there's a Reddit user who goes by "17D Hungry Hungry Hippos" who's posted memes making fun of the whole 4D/Master Persuader Dilbert guy mentality since at least last year (and I don't even read Reddit).

[Thomas Collins]

Tom R, is 7/1/2020 a reasonable date for the dropping of the Trump sting theory, if no one of Obama, the Clintons, Brennan, Comey, McCabe, Page, Rice, Yates and Strzok has been indicted? Should I add anyone else? This is a political battle in which Trump's legitimacy is being attacked and he is fighting back. The Manaforts of the world are Deep State collateral damage of the Mueller investigation. So is Flynn.

I think I'm being generous, because in a prior colloquy, I recall you predicting that the dominoes would start dropping before election 2018.

The released part of the FISA materials bolsters the case that no one from Deep State is going down over this. Playing fast and loose with the phraseology of who was behind the Fusion papers does not an indictment make.

The chance of an indictment of a Deep State member, or that Rosenstein is part of a pro-Trump sting operation, is about the same as the odds that Stormy Daniels will grant a patron of one of her performances a private "audience" in the champagne room for free.

[daddy]

Trish Reporting as Breaking News the following:

Trish: We are just getting word right now that the White House is considering revoking Security Clearances for 5 former Obama Intel officials, clearances from McCabe, Comey, Brennen, Clapper and Rice.

[Dave (in MA)]

yeah baby

[Captain Hate]

Why didn't those clowns lose their clearances when they left public office, or at least have an inactive status?

[Tom R]

I think I'm being generous, because in a prior colloquy, I recall you predicting that the dominoes would start dropping before election 2018.

I'm sticking with prior to the 2018 midterms. There are three months remaining. At the pace things are ramping up I think its a foregone conclusion something major will happen within the next 3 months. The hysterics we are seeing from Trump's enemies reinforce that belief.

[narciso]

Well that was next generation episode when the cardassians are torturing picard, much the way the mfm tortures the truth.

[Captain Hate]

They are acting nutty, Tom; but that could be their natural state.

[joan]

I don't know if it was Rand Paul or me, but in my email to the President last week (sending prayers), I asked him to revoke Brennan's clearance. :) (I didn't pray for that, it was a suggestion.)

Laugh, you guys, but childlike hope might somehow be rewarded. :)

[daddy]

If Rosenstein signed off on the 4th FISA Warrant request without there having been any new material of consequence included from the previous FISA warrant, did he break the Law?

[henry]

well this is surprising:

cнιℓℓ @TheChiIIum
10m

IMMUNITY:

James Brennan
Donna Duggan
Conor O’Brien
Cindy Laporta
Dennis Raico

Not a single Podesta in sight. Woooooo

[Dave (in MA)]

Stephanie Zuckerborged a "btnews" link claiming the Toronto shooter to be a "Muslim terrorist". Still can't find anything else.

[boatbuilder]

"I wonder if TM ever looks at the comments and thinks *sigh*, why do I even bother?

boatbuilder gave him positive feedback. That's like an editorial landslide."

It was one of those multi-paragraph posts, with content from the New York Times, too, and I made myself read the whole thing.

I think I'm almost as proud of myself as I am of TM.

[Beasts of England]

Holding a clearance is not the same as need-to-know - access requires both. I assume people at that level hold active tickets in case they need to be immediately brought back into a situation, re: past involvement, where it would be cumbersome or even dangerous to wait for a clearance reapplication.

[daddy]

Breaking:

Judge delays Manafort Trial until 31 July.

[James D.]

Just off the top of my head: Frank Gorshin in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," Julie Newmar in "Friday's Child," and Yvonne Craig in "Whom Gods Destroy."

And much more recently, William Shatner as the voice of Two Face in a direct-to-video animated Batman movie (Adam West's last role, as well)

[Dave (in MA)]

"James" Brennan? Is he pals with "John" Clapper? Manny Ortez?

[narciso]

This is the only vaguely Russian themed connection I can see

https://www.leagle.com/decision/innyco20171208375

[Captain Hate]

Beasts,

They can still read something classified that one of their insider buds puts in front of him/her without a crime being committed. I think that's really a security nightmare when they're hired by a network.

[Porchlight]

Haha Dave (in MA), I was wondering if it was just me.

[Eye Doctor]

Tom R

Is Podesta's immunity deal a good thing?

[Porchlight]

LOL

[–]DocterGrimblesUK 107 points 18 minutes ago

Revoke Hillary's Costco membership while your at it

[henry]

Is Podesta's immunity deal a good thing?

Podesta not listed as having immunity. (which may or may not mean anything).

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Saagar Enjeti
‏Verified account @esaagar

Briefing room audibly gasped when @PressSec said POTUS is looking into pulling the security clearances of Brennan, Clapper, Comey, Hayden, Rice, and McCabe.

=======================

Who will they use for a source now?

[daddy]

claiming the Toronto shooter to be a "Muslim terrorist"

Still no info on the German bus mass-stabber other than he was a man born in Iran holding German and Iranian dual citizenship.

[Tom R]

Is Podesta's immunity deal a good thing?

Did you post that to make yourself look even more foolish?

[FTL]

Don't forget the episode with not only green Batgirl, but also Lurch, who Kirk tries to use a giant stone dong against.

Green Batgirl was Yvonne Craig in "Whom Gods Destroy."

The episode with Ted Cassidy was "What are Little Girls Made Of?" I had forgotten he had been in Batman. The hot female costar in that episode was Sherry Jackson (the older daughter in "Make Room for Daddy"), who played Gorshin's Riddler's girlfriend in a couple of Batman episodes.

But those are intersecting casting choices, not what I was ragging narciso about.

I know. I'm just being a jackass.

[rse]

To beasts' point, when I was in college I was a member of an eating house named after former sec of state rusk. He was driving up from athens for the weekend and the state department was trying to reach him as he remained an expert on asia. This was in the days before cell phones and they knew what time he left and his typical highway habits so they had the SC state patrol looking for him between certain highway markers until they located his car. Had him pull over and then asked him to call whomever.

He joked about it after he finally made it to campus later. Those were the days before overt treasonous action as we apparently had with the last admin.

[Beasts of England]

'They can still read something classified that one of their insider buds puts in front of him/her without a crime being committed.'

The reader may or may not being committing a crime. The one who shares any such documents is on the hook for sure.

[Thomas Collins]

We all read and appreciate TM's thread starters. We simply have a Kagan/Ginsburg/Breyer/Sotomayor view of what is "on topic". The term evolves as the posts pile up.

[FTL]

Well that was next generation episode when the cardassians are torturing picard, much the way the mfm tortures the truth.

"Chain of Command" (two-part episode.)

That's one of the few TNG episodes I can name off the top of my head. I find the reruns unwatchable while I can find something to enjoy about nearly every episode of the original series.

[James D.]

TC @ 3:47

We are totally within the penumbra of the topic!

[Beasts of England]

Per the tale of two FISAs, I come at it like this: at least they're talking about the subject. Spin doesn't diminish the zeitgeist.

[narciso]

It riffed off Winston smiths scene in 1984 with O'brien, savage made his reputation with the evil w narrative in the 00s,

the sci-fiish channel does a lineup of the original series through to enterprise.

[Eye Doctor]

Let me rephrase it Tommy boy.

Do you still think Mueller is squeezing Manafort to get to Podesta, jackass?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

More proof of how the mullahs are ruining the name of "Iran" ...#IranRegimeChange pic.twitter.com/IyJv1Wsi0p

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) July 23, 2018

Video at link. I am sort of sorry for the guy and appreciate the information, but I think maybe traveling in Iran isn't exactly a good idea.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Mark Knoller
‏Verified account @markknoller
4m4 minutes ago

"Today we declare a simple truth," says @POTUS, "it matters where something is made. It matters to me.” Addressing "Made in America" event, he says the nation must live by "2 crucial rules: buy American and hire America."

[Dave (in MA)]

FTL, You have out Treked me. I was mis-remembering the young gal in a skimpy outfit in the Little Girls episode as Yvonne Craig. The shame. A coworker of mine runs a Yvonne Craig fan website, so I guess I'll have to report my infraction to him.

[Thomas Collins]

And the emanations of the penumbra, James D!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di0Ikm8UYAADJzv.jpg:large

I guess New York magazine has decided that Elizabeth Warren is the front runner.

I fail to see her popularity. She has the personality of a nasty schoolmarm and thinks she is funny when she is not.

[Kevlar Kid]

Since scientists have got the lead out of gasoline could we point them in the direction of JB Sessions?

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

How badly shopped was that picture of the asthmatic squaw?

[Eye Doctor]

Tommy boy

Explain how "4d Texas Hold Em" works

"Two possible prominent witnesses in the case – Washington lobbyists Tony Podesta and Vin Weber, whose firms allegedly participated with Manafort in a PR campaign campaign for Ukraine without registering a foreign agents – did not appear among the list of five immunized witnesses."

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/identities-of-5-witnesses-immunized-to-testify-against-manafort-revealed

[FTL]

Dave,

To be fair, I have been watching reruns for the last several months. It's mostly half episodes since I usually crash partway through.

The "sci-fiish" channel narciso mentioned is Heroes and Icons Channel, and that's about the only channel I ever have on anymore. I'm down to a little over an hour of TV per day during dinner and a little after.

[Tom R]

It would appear discovering he was 100% wrong about the Podesta immunity is causing Eye Doctor to have a conniption fit. Its quite entertaining to say the least.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Captain Hate,

I would guess it was photo-shopped a lot, too.

[Ralph L]

I can just picture rse and friends clutching the add-a-beads dangling over their Fair Isle sweaters while eating fruits and vegetables at Rusk House.

[Ralph L]

Warren needs a better bra, 'shopped or not.

[Dave (in MA)]

Is that Hillary in the foreground going down with a cankle injury while trying to throw a block?

[Kevlar Kid]

Fitton's "self-licking ice cream cone" reminded me of Strom Thurmond's comment about the federal debt and deficits "a hog's not going to butcher itself."

[narciso]

It's a reasonable cyborg representation.

But this as cavalier a,use of surveillance as when Kissinger tapped halperin lake and watts.

[Rocco]

If Rosenstein signed off on the 4th FISA Warrant request without there having been any new material of consequence included from the previous FISA warrant, did he break the Law?

daddy, considering the fact that all 4 FISA signers including Rosenstein, failed to inform the FISC that the Hillary campaign and the DNC paid for the phony dossier, I'd say yes!

[Eye Doctor]

Tommy boy

Do you think Podesta will testify without some kind of fix or deal?

[boatbuilder]

"I fail to see her popularity. She has the personality of a nasty schoolmarm and thinks she is funny when she is not."

But it worked so well in 2016...

[Eye Doctor]

Tommy boy

Do you still think Podesta is a target?

[GUS]

If POTUS revokes their CLEARANCES, does this mean they'll have to visit CARLOS DANGER in prison to see the CLASSIFIED STUFF??

[Dave (in MA)]

Is that Hillary in the foreground going down with a cankle injury while trying to throw a block?

Posted by: Dave (in MA) | July 23, 2018 at 04:04 PM

Apparently that's what it was supposed to be...

This one is un 'shopped or at least differently 'shopped.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Diz2jxoU8AUXPkq.jpg:large

[daddy]

I think this from Rocco on the previous thread makes lots more sense than Rod Rosenstein "White-Hatting" FISA Number 4:

I think Sessions was duped by a Trump hating Sally Yates appointee, Scott Schools. Schools immediately talked Sessions into recusing. He also told Rosenstein not to recuse involving any Russian collusion and finally, he advised Rosenstein to appoint Mueller.

I'm speculating that Schools also advised Sessions to rehire Rosenstien, Boente and Huber, after the president asked for their resignations. That puts all the coup pieces in place to take down the president.

Posted by: Rocco

YMMV.

[narciso]

You can see some of the players here:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/cheney/themes/rebellion.html

[Kevlar Kid]

The prophetic Mel Brooks on the difference between President Trump and The Bath House Rat:

"If presidents don't do it to their wives, they do it to the Country."

[Eye Doctor]

Do you think throwing the Podesta immunity out there is part of the game, Tommy boy?

Tell us the 4d rules you seem to know so much about.

[Porchlight]

I see that the goal is to make Warren, who IIRC is just as old as Hillary, look young and spry in comparison to Curb Dive.

[narciso]

Cheney was playing the contrary role to the said Ted outrage narrative then:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/cheney/interviews/savage.html

[Eye Doctor]

Tommy boy

Is the 4d game a fluid one?

[Kevlar Kid]

psychologists made a brief appearance on the last thread. forgot to post this yolk about "therapy":

"After years of therapy my psychologist said something that brought tears to my eyes 'No hablo ingles.' "

[Tom R]

How much grief did I get for this post?

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2018/07/news-overload.html?cid=6a00d83451b2aa69e2022ad3a25905200b#comment-6a00d83451b2aa69e2022ad3a25905200b

[Pinandpuller]

henry

Those five names sound like a NYC police blotter ca 1910.

[Dave (in MA)]

Just as old, but still capable of navigating stairs, and doesn't lurch around in a muu-muu with a life alert button hanging from her neck.