As I Trudge Through The Mueller Report...

As I page through the Mueller report I cannot shake an alternative script: The DNC learns they've been hacked, probably by the Russians. Embarrassment looms! Unless... what if, suggests some bright light at Democratic or Hillary headquarters, we can link the Russian hackers to the Trump campaign? Then the emails and documents (eg, Hillary's Goldman Sachs speech) become toxic, Trump is a Russian stooge and the media will cover for us!

This sets the Maltese Phantom in motion against George Papadopoulos, and away we go. Obviously, the plan was not a complete success, even though (IIRC) the Democrats did manage to get leaks of the investigation into the media before the election.

That sort of hypothetical scheming answers one of the glaring questions of the whole story - why not just ask Team Trump WTF was going on? George P had not been with the Trump campaign long enough for his coffee to get cold and was away from the action in London. Who in their right mind could have thought that the Trump inner circle would protect him rather than drop him? Or, if they did not drop him, that would be revealing.

Obviously we (and Andrew McCarthy) have the same questions about Carter Page, who had previously cooperated with the FBI - why not just ask?

Well. As a straw in the wind, the NY Times splashes some ink today on the likelihood of renewed scrutiny of the Steele dossier and the FISA warrant is spawned.

Comments

[clarice]

SIMPLY DISMISS

[Dave (in MA)]

Deputy D.A. Paddy is Li'l Footballs without the styrofoam hat.

[JM Hanes]

Love Leon Russell!

[Captain Hate]

JMH,

Some weird acquaintance of mine went to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage fest a while back. Saw Leon Russell in some small tent with a gospel group. Said they blew everyone away.

[Pinandpuller]

POOOOOOTER sought others to AGREE with him.

SOUND FAMILIAR???

Posted by: GUS | April 20, 2019 at 10:29 PM

Isn’t there some kind of Rent A Posse in South Central?

[Narciso79]

I burn the bridge pin, and you cross over it:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1116895/Spain-Election-2019-poll-EU-european-union-catalonia-catalan-independence-pedro-sanchez

[Buckeye]

Jr. is on his way to the Jazz Fest this coming Thursday.

Amazing the number of acts, guessing north of 400.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

I'm now stuck in moderation and just called him a chicken shit for not broadcasting my banning by highlighting my comment in banning me like HF, narc and others.

Weasel.

[Captain Hate]

That's why I don't bother trolling that cowardly lunatic; he holds all the cards. Trashing him here and Ewokville is enough.

[JM Hanes]

Elton John and Leon Russell Hey, Ahab

And from the sublime to the ridiculous:

Leon w Willie Nelson and Ray Charles in one of the strangest trios ever A Song for You

When you put three iconic (ha) performers up there at once, though, it's just kind of hard not to listen...

Here's one to watch just for kids now must surely call the old timey video, Leon and Joe Cocker The Letter.

[Narciso79]

Now you're trapped in a mime box like marcel marceaux.

[Captain Hate]

JMH, that The Letter link doesn't work for me. Ironically it was the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour of Cocker's and the Bengala Desh concert of George Harrison's that introduced Leon to a wide audience. He's featured in some of The Wrecking Crew's documentaries with hair so short I was never sure it was him.

[Narciso79]

Is this it:

https://youtu.be/xhlvQen4mWw

[Narciso79]

I guess sibsriam candidate is a closer parallel:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-met-mueller-report-kass-20190419-story.html?fbclid=IwAR1Lb_Xb2RAsrwbUsFoOMOKB1iuSPBBA9rc5bm7J88wMi6yriWs1iGgZNBc

[Captain Hate]

Yes, that's it.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

"I just banned narciso ... Since then he has [been] his usual unscrutable self"

I'm sure he meant "inscrutable" but anyway ... glad to hear narciso is consistent across different blogs. :) :)

[JM Hanes]

Sorry Captain: The Letter.

Here's Elton John, introducing Russell at his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which includes a little bio video, as well as a "Song for You." Elton John read a sampling of people Russell has played and it's really pretty incredible (as is the story of how they got together). It's nice when a mega star like Elton John turns out to be a decent human being too.

[JM Hanes]

Narciso:

Inscrutable. And fast!

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

Inscrutable is one of those words like disgruntled.
You never see "scrutable" or "gruntled" used.

On the topic of word play, here's the current Insty open thread lead-in

OPEN THREAD: Don’t just sit there. Say something.

[Dave (in MA)]

Back in '77 I taped the complete show that ended with this show off the radio on my 8-track deck and filled up the blank space afterwards with some other pieces, starting with this. I made a copy of it once I got a cassette deck, and played the hell out of it. Now I have an online download of the show, and I still half expect to hear the 2nd piece at the end.

[Dave (in MA)]

Tonight's selections:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/14712/
followed by,
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/304821/

[Narciso79]

Joe cocker seems nearly relaxed in that one, which I must have heard a dozen times

[Captain Hate]

Elton John's first few releases had him pretty well earmarked for big things. Some guys I used to play basketball with wore out multiple 8 tracks of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

[clarice]

No thoughts on my question about Barr simply dismissing the case against Flynn?

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

WTF? Y'all mentioned HF and now my FB is covered in Pikachu ads for Pokemon. Kill me now!

[Narciso79]

It would be great clarice, but I imagine theh set a tripwire to prevent thag.

[Narciso79]

Its Japanese for beetle juice.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

It should come with restitution for his troubles, Clarice. The combo would produce enough liberal tears to flood the coasts.

[Narciso79]

Hes more like the good pigeons from animamiacs .

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

Finished VDH "The Case For Trump".
Recommended.

Current, thus some evidence of hurry, typos and so on.
But excellent, fair coverage. I'm sure VDH loved writing Chapter 11 Trump the Tragic Hero, but I'll predict that's not how it ends. On the topic of Mueller, the case against Hillary (e-mail server, Uranium One, sedition by Deep State, ...) and related topics there's a lot of material but not as clear and lucid as I'd wish. Still, obviously the best book I've seen on the topic. Historian Doug Wead has a good book on the campaign but that space is largely covered by lib-prog jackals.

[JM Hanes]

Continuing right along with my strange combos theme:

Janis Joplin and Tom Jones

[JM Hanes]

John Lennon and Chuck Berry! (maybe not among the most successful collaborations).

[Captain Hate]

clarice, the continued lack of resolution of the Flynn case is one of the most puzzling things I've ever witnessed. It's like everyone's pretending it doesn't exist. I have to take it on faith that Barr will do something.

[Dave (in MA)]

More Joe Cocker:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ryce5

[JM Hanes]

And to make up for the last one: B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins & Buddy Guy. Together!

[clarice]

What trip wire? Mueller kept asking for additional time before sentencing and Flynn agreed. Is it possible the request was because he wanted to keep this pending until his report was issued which disclosed Flynn's surveillance began well before his work for the campaign? And on what basis?

[Narciso79]

It would make sense, I assume the two Turkish lobbyists are still up on the docket.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

CH: "the continued lack of resolution of the Flynn case is one of the most puzzling things I've ever witnessed."

Agree.
The lack of interest in the Awan Bros is another one that's mystifying.

[JM Hanes]

Feeling Alright -- great song, although Cocker is not exactly the picture of health... . Oh, now I get it! Belusi is dead on, isn't he? LOL. Talk about duos from the Twilight Zone!

[Manuel Transmission]

Marlene,

When your nephew gets the wanderlust, we’re just a hop and skip north of Bainbridge. By early summer the Orca are hanging out all around.

MJW,

The Astro nerds get their chests all puffed up when they see the left shift on their spectrum analyzer. Almost every theory from that point forward presumes that is caused by everything receding from everything else. By itself, that’s harmless enough even if it gets all tangled up in the presumed age of the Universe and a bunch of other stuff. But once you nail your foot to the floor for that somewhat arbitrary assumption, the death spiral leads to Quasars and dark matter and energy and other quests for how many angels are dancing on the head of a bunch of pins. I consider it to be quite similar to the epicycles that were necessary to describe planetary motion when we were the center of the Universe. YMMV :)

[Captain Hate]

Since we're being guitar centric, I was listening to this earlier

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ouv4aEqrQLg

[Dave (in MA)]

I keep meaning to pick up those two albums, CH.

[Narciso79]

Yes jm right on the mark.

Turns out that Charles mccarry passed on last month at 88, at the beginning of that month.

[Captain Hate]

They're the best things the group has done imo, Dave. The first two were ok but nothing more than the sum of the parts; parts of three musicians I like but no real synergy. In Ours and Theirs they played more like a group plus Formanek was more assertive instead of being lost in the mix.

[Captain Hate]

Dave, how was Sun of Goldfinger?

[Dave (in MA)]

I have a ton of releases off that label, but I've tended to go pretty far back in time, for instance,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPScSycH95U

The label owner hangs around at progressiveears.org, which is where I do most of my music reading and posting these days.

[Dave (in MA)]

I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I'm not sure my brother was too thrilled, although he'd probably go see anything with Torn in it. I wisely left the Mrs. at home, I think. I spent the earlier part of this evening listening to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcHEavtXHjw and the 2nd set that follows.

[Dave (in MA)]

I was about 5' from David Torn's table of electronic gadgetry.

[Captain Hate]

That 12:33 is a stunningly good document of that group at the time, particularly Mike Osborne and Harry Miller although everyone brought their A game.

[Pinandpuller]

Now I ain't no Big City Law-yah, but I have to think that things are looking pretty good right now for one Mr President Donald J Trump.

But like I said, I ain't no Big City Law-yah.

[Narciso79]

John Surman is a new discovery for me,

[Captain Hate]

John Surman was a BFD around that time and through the 70s. His output's been spotty since then and I don't know if he's touring at all these days but he was a major player at the time.

[Manuel Transmission]

I’ve probably mentioned it in the distant past, but my all time fave gathering of musicians is from Marty Scorsace’s Red White and Blues DVD he did as part of a 10 piece set of the history of the blues. One of the best of the surprises was Tom Jones jamming some of the best blues ever. Much of the studio work was at Apple records on a totally laid back basis that felt like you were hanging with them. Prolly could find some of it on video.

[JM Hanes]

Just a couple more from the side bar:

Keith Richards, Chubby Checker & Jerry Lee Lewis

Tina Turner & Rod Stewart are a bit bizarre, but hey, they get to do what they want.

Captain and Dave, I'm enjoying your jazz, too! Makes for an interesting mix tonight.

I'll just sign off with this ode to sleepy land from John Lee Hooker and…. Carlos Santana.

[Dave (in MA)]

Something a bit more contemporary that I recently picked up:
https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/album/fractal-guitar

[jim nj]

Clarice,

I wrote about Gen. Flynn last night. I still don't habe an idea of what the predicate was for having him under surveillance prior to the Kislyak phone conversation.

If Mueller is done now can Flynn change his plea and claim coercion?

[Dave (in MA)]

I'd like to see Flynn back in the administration.

[Captain Hate]

Thank you, JMH.

One last musical offering that I listened to earlier. Brazilian tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman sporadically floods the market with releases but this live duet with pianist Matthew Shipp is a cut above the rest

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzAjHjCqYWt8JU1HrmTRqXk36vapQ1Fu_

[Captain Hate]

Nytol and Happy Easter to all.

[jim nj]

I also think Barr was very deliberate in picking Thursday for his press conference and the release of the report.

He could have delayed it to Monday in deference to the Christian and Jewish high holy days. But didn't, so while the Jews are celebrating deliverance and the Christians redemption, the politicians and the press (redundant) are taking the exact opposite tack.

I think they got suckered into this. IMO the optics are atrocious.

People are going to go on the Easter Sunday talk shows and...WHAT?

Spin lies. Falsely accuse. Impugn people and their motives. Horrible optics to anyone who still values the Judea-Christian values and ethics.

[jim nj]

Dave,

I'd like to see Gen. Flynn leading the investigations into all the spy agencies.

[Dave (in MA)]

That would be the best outcome, jim nj.

[jim nj]

via Insty,

https://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/democratic-party-shadows-over-passover-2019/

[Pinandpuller]

Just Add Water

[jim nj]

Breaking.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sri-lanka-police-say-more-than-50-people-killed-in-blast-at-a-church-in-katuwapitiya-north-of-colombo/ar-BBW8BGd?li=BBnb7Kz

"Easter Day bomb blasts at three Sri Lankan churches and three hotels killed more than 20 people and wounded nearly 300, a hospital official and police sources said." fr\Fom an earlier report, number of dead has increased since then.

Time for more Notre Dame speculation?

[jim nj]

An old feel good story.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/this-hiker-saved-the-life-of-an-alaskan-timber-wolf%E2%80%944-years-later-the-wolf-still-remembered-him/ar-BBU55mU?li=BBnbcA0

[jim nj]

Death toll rising in Sri Lanka.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48001720

BBC reporting over 100 dead.

[hoyden]

Coffee and Clarice's Pieces come together.

Things the Media Ignored in the Mueller Report

[jim nj]

Sri Lanka reports getting worse.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48001720

"Sri Lanka blasts: At least 138 dead and more than 560 injured in multiple church and hotel explosions."

My heart goes out to these people. It's just so wrong that somebody would launch an Easter Sunday terror attack. Absolutely no respect for the holiest day in Christianity.

For we Christians it is a day to rejoice in the promise of our redemption in the risen Christ. For our Jewish friends the days long celebration of the Pesach deliverance continues.

I'm trying to enjoy the day, but my thoughts are mostly evil.

[anonamom]

Statins speed up aging process, impair stem cells.
Buyer, beware!

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/608210/statins-age-you-faster-new-research-suggests-long-term-use-warning

[jim nj]

Excellent pieces Clarice. You're always good, but this is the best I've seen from you.

Like you I want to know the predicate for why Gen. Flynn was already under surveillance. What could they have used to justify that? It smells big-time. I think that needs to be explored quickly.

[anonamom]

I think they got suckered into this. IMO the optics are atrocious.

jim nj, if you are still up, please explain.

Do you mean THE PRESS got suckered into THis being the whole collusion thing? Or having to deal with it over this most holy of weekends?

Because I will agree that they are, as a group, certainly stupid and clueless and suffering from TDS enough to have "fallen" for it, but there are plenty of them who are involved Knowingly. The Resisters.

The ones who took $$$ from Fusion (who we will see soon, I hope) and the ones who were leaked to.

[jim nj]

Anonamom,

I've been a skeptic of statins for years. It's nice to see the medical community swing my way.

The most recent nail in the coffin for me was a report that 40-50% of the population should be using statins as a preventive measure.

That's a statistic that just boggles this mind.

[MissMarple2]

This is an article which Sean Hannity linked on Twitter and which President Trump retweeted:

https://kerrypicket.com/prior-reporting-confirmed-that-some-fbi-agents-were-fed-up-with-comey/

This is in response to April Ryan's attack on Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

[jim nj]

Anonamom,

The press were already suckers for believing in collusion.

I meant that the press got suckered into covering this over the holiest days for Christians and Jews.

What they are doing is diametrically opposed to what both religions are celebrating.

Redemption and deliverance.

[MissMarple2]

This article was linked by Byron York on Twitter and retweeted by President Trump:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/kushner-cleared-of-seeking-russian-money-to-pay-real-estate-debt

I remember this. In the article it is pointed out (with a trace of glee, I think) that the Washington Post wildly speculated that Kushner could face criminal charges.

[jim nj]

I should have gone to bed, but the Sri Lanka thing is really bugging me.

Anyone who goes on Sunday TV to talk about Trump and ignores this is evil.

[MissMarple2]

The Spectator Index
‏ @spectatorindex
12m12 minutes ago

SRI LANKA

- Eight bombings, including in churches and luxury hotels

- Over 185 people killed, 400 wounded

- 35 foreigners among those killed

- Churches: Kochikade, St Sebastian and Batticaloa

- Hotels: Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury

[MissMarple2]

jim nj,

Have you seen anyone say who did it?

[jim nj]

MM,

The death toll rises with every new report. It's absolutely horrific.

[MissMarple2]

The Spectator Index
‏ @spectatorindex
29m29 minutes ago

BREAKING: Sri Lanka has shut down social media and messaging services in the country

[jim nj]

MM,

No attribution yet. Speculation that it is ISIS.

Sri Lanka was torn by war for many years with the Tamil separatists, but the Tamils, to the best of my knowledge, never targeted churches.

[MissMarple2]

Why would ISIS target Sri Lanka?

[MissMarple2]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/fbi-had-doubts-about-top-trump-dossier-source-before-carter-page-fisa-warrant-renewals

[MissMarple2]

https://www.thisisinsider.com/sri-lanka-easter-bombings-us-embassy-warns-citizens-to-find-shelter-2019-4?utm_content=bufferce5e5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer-insider-twitter

Embassy warning expats and tourists to find shelter and exercise extreme caution.

[jim nj]

189 dead per the NYTimes

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/21/world/asia/sri-lanka-bombings.html

NYT says the churches were Catholic and the hotels were favorites of foreigners.

No surprise that Sri Lanka has squashed communications - tamp down rumors and guard against a follow-on attack.

[MissMarple2]

clarice or anyone else who subscribes to the Washington post,

Greta Van Sustern has linked an article which says a legal dispute between Barr and Mueller drove the end of the Mueller investigation.

I sure would like to know what it is, because the openening sentence (all I can read) says:

"It doesn't make any sense". Mueller's legal view stumps lawyers and frustrates senior justice department officials.

[jim nj]

I need to back away from this now. nytol.

[MissMarple2]

The Spectator Index
‏ @spectatorindex
15m15 minutes ago

BREAKING: Sri Lankan government blocks Facebook, Whatsapp and Viber and brings forward curfew with immediate effect.

[MissMarple2]

Night, jim. I will rey to keep an eye on what's happening over there so you can catch up this evening.

A Blessed Easter to you.

[MissMarple2]

David Rutz
‏Verified account @DavidRutz

"Oh how I wished I had been fairer to Romney about Russia in 2012" is the close cousin of "wow McCain used to be a bloodthirsty psychopath but now I think he is Good"

[MissMarple2]

https://www.foxnews.com/world/blasts-rock-3-churches-3-hotels-in-sri-lanka-multiple-fatalies-reported

[MissMarple2]

https://nypost.com/2019/04/20/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-plans-to-visit-kentucky-despite-being-uninvited/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow

[MissMarple2]

https://thefederalist.com/2017/10/29/obamas-campaign-gave-972000-law-firm-funneled-money-fusion-gps/#.XLvWfu1FtrQ.twitter

[anonamom]

You know you are getting old when watching the 2011 Hall of Fame induction of Leon Russell makes you cry.

jmh, 11:37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT5aYRgmgyM&frags=pl%2Cwn

[James D.]

Happy Easter to all!

[hoyden]

Clarice, thank you for another enlightening Pieces. I hope you are correct that the truth, slow in coming, is coming.

Truth coming would fasure be a propitious Easter and Passover.

MT, what's the paint status?

Now I'm off to the kitchen to make the cheese cake Clarice posted recently, followed by Lemon Ricotta Cake, and steak/onions/mushrooms for breakfast.

[MissMarple2]

The article I linked from The Federalist at 6:29 is from October of 2017. Sean Davis relinked it on Twitter this mroning so I assumed it was new.

However, the question remains as to why Obama for America was paying Perkins Coie since April of 2016. The law firm should be able to show what work they did.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
10m10 minutes ago

Heartfelt condolences from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka on the horrible terrorist attacks on churches and hotels that have killed at least 138 million people and badly injured 600 more. We stand ready to help!

======================
He's going to have to correct that typo.

[MissMarple2]

Reuters Top News
‏Verified account @Reuters
1m1 minute ago

Pope condemns Sri Lanka Easter attacks as 'such cruel violence' https://reut.rs/2GxUph5