Send Better Apologists! NY Times Loses Plot On FBI Surveillance-Not-Spying On Trump

The NY Times covers the special assignment by AG Barr of the US Attorney for CT John Durham to explore the origins of Crossfire Hurricane, the controversial FISA wiretap warrants on Carter Page, the use of the Steele dossier, and so much more. [Spoiler: The sought-for correction runs a week later.]

They correctly note that the wiretaps on Carter Page were sought only after he left the Trump campaign. However, they immediately lose the plot (my emphasis):

Law enforcement officials have also drawn intense criticism for using an informant — a typical investigative step — to secretly report on Mr. Page and Mr. Papadopoulos after they left the campaign and for relying on Democrat-funded opposition research compiled into a dossier by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer who was also an F.B.I. informant.

"After they left the campaign"? C'mon. Page and Papadopoulos were appointed to Trump's foreign policy commission in March of 2016. In light of his previous brushes with the Russians Page was of immediate interest to the FBI; their informant, Cambridge don Stefan Halper, took his first pass at Page at a Cambridge symposium in July 11-12 2016, before Crossfire Hurricane was officially opened on July 31. Page left the campaign in September 2016 and the FISA application went in thereafter.

Halper met Papadopoluos in September 2016, while he was still doing whatever he wasn't doing on the fringes of the Trump campaign. He was described by the Times as a "Trump aide" in their 'don't call it spying' story of May 2, 2019.

The Times ought to fix this. Do let me volunteer my assistance in the blame-storming: their April 9 2019 piece describes Page and Papadopoulos, with Page, as another "former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser".

Well, sure - they are former aides now, in 2019. Back in July-September of 2016 when Halper was surveilling-not-spying, they were future former aides.

Wasn't this sort of timeline confusion covered in Endgame?

Comments

[Jane]

First? I'm shocked!

[Buckeye]

Jane, how is your foot doing?

[Buckeye]

It turned out to be a major learning experience and I never made that same mistake again.

The blog has reached a new milestone.

TomR admits fallibility.

Just teasin' Tom:)

[Jane]

It's fine Buckeye - covered with bites but only a little swollen, and alcohol and benedryl help with the itching. I figure it will probably take a week.

[Jim Eagle]

Good Morning, America!

Still somewhat unsettled weather. Overcast with a cooling breeze out of the North East. Sun trying to poke through.

I see where more loose threads have been found on the IC Spygate sweater and this guy Dunham has been charged with pulling them even faster than before.

[MissMarple2]

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

China will be pumping money into their system and probably reducing interest rates, as always, in order to make up for the business they are, and will be, losing. If the Federal Reserve ever did a “match,” it would be game over, we win! In any event, China wants a deal!

[Extraneus]

Good catch, TM. Apparently they don't want to confirm the not-spying on the campaign.

[Narciso79]

The lagr Phillio Kerr filled in some of the details in one of end notes

https://nypost.com/2019/05/13/fake-history-rashida-tlaibs-grotesque-distortion-of-the-making-of-israel/?utm_campaign=iosapp&utm_source=facebook_app&fbclid=IwAR01lNlvnpv92mLxMszc4Zc1wfgKsoWvtQePg8bT0o19VOY17AKha6gtqpw

Haj Amin husseini, was considered as a wae criminal.

[MissMarple2]

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/443531-anthony-weiner-finishes-his-stay-at-halfway-house-its-good-to?__twitter_impression=true

[MissMarple2]

Meanwhile, at Killington, Vermont...#May14Snow pic.twitter.com/WtGpYnn6mq

— E. Horst, MU WIC (@MUweather) May 14, 2019

Photo at link!

[Comanche Voter]

Hey, back in the day when Mueller was investigating, he was only looking at dastardly villains who were at the very heart of the Trump campaign, and who were also "besties" with Vladimir Putin. Now that the Mueller investigation proved to be a damp squib, the Feebs were only investigating folks who had no connection at all to the Trump campaign. Times change--and so does the NYT story about all this.

[Buckeye]

This should be taken with a grain of salt since it is ZH, and the crypto angle is not the point I want to make.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-14/chinas-capital-outflows-are-suddenly-soaring-again-and-why-great-news-cryptos

China is in a bit of a box regarding what they can do to respond to the tariff situation.

[Buckeye]

BTW, the capital outflows have been confirmed by friends "on the ground" in China.

The Chinese people are getting a bit panicky.

[Davod]

From previous blog.

From the same Roscoe tweets

"Barr has appointed a prosecutor named John Durham that specializes in corruption. He took down the corrupt FBI agents involved in the Whitey Bulger case. He took down the corrupt Gov of Connecticut. This guy has a reputation of taking out corruption regardless of party."

Why wasn't Mueller taken down with the other FBI agents.

https://twitter.com/RoscoeBDavis1/status/11

[GUS]

All the news that's shit to print.

[Jim Eagle]

Frederick has several ChiComm kids on his Football, Wrestling, and Crew Teams as well as his Dorm. He says they never want to talk about politics, global issues, or even this trade stuff. He's convinced that the ChiComm government pays for their tuition since most live in tower-bloc apartments outside the major cities.

I have no idea if he is watching too many Alex Jones podcasts or is just deducing from boy's talking together in the lounge:)

[Extraneus]

Joe Biden: ‘Not a Single Bit of Evidence’ Son Asked Me to Help Him in Ukraine

Which is not the same as saying he didn't.

[MissMarple2]

John Roberts
‏Verified account @johnrobertsFox

Per our Jake Gibson: Sources tell @FoxNews that CT US Attorney John Durham has been working on the investigation into the origins of the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and the Trump Campaign for “weeks.”
===========================

Ned Ryun
‏Verified account @nedryun
2m2 minutes ago

Ned Ryun Retweeted John Roberts

This is what is interesting: I honestly thought Barr would wait for Horowitz’s FISA report before appointing someone to get to bottom of Russia hoax. Barr clearly felt he already had enough information before FISA report released to appoint Durham. That’s telling.

[GUS]

Jack, the kids have been instructed on what behaviors are allowed and what aren't. They aren't free to speak as they like.

[MissMarple2]

In the continuing "You all should be scared of Bolton" campaign:

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/policy-strategy/443533-trump-admin-considering-plans-to-send-120000-us-troops-to?__twitter_impression=true

This is entirely based on the New York Times story.

[RattlerGator]

I'm feeling rather triumphant this morning, how about y'all?

Is the ever-impatient Ledge feeling any less impatient this morning? I know, I know . . . still waiting on those perp walks, right?

Well, time for a quick review of the prior thread comments and this one. I'm planning to hang out with JOM this morning after making it through my Mother's Day sorrow.

We're getting closer and closer to total celebration time and President Trump continues to impress. And I mean *truly* impress.

[MissMarple2]

Adam Housley
‏Verified account @adamhousley
8m8 minutes ago

Seriously a winter storm warning in the Sierra in mid May?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--If DiGenova is right...--

I think I see the flaw in your argument, clarice.

He and Judge Napolitano should have their own show; Law and Order; Special Knucklehead Unit.

[Extraneus]

Great tweet to the guy listening to Free Bird, RG. (Someone posted it here the other day.)

[Davod]

A friend e-mailed me this.
Never made the news
"A chaplain, assigned to the Pentagon, told of an incident that happened right after Flight 77 hit the Pentagon on 9/11. A daycare facility inside the Pentagon had many children, including infants who were in heavy cribs.

The daycare supervisor, looking at all the children they needed to evacuate, was in a panic over what they could do. There were many children, mostly toddlers, as well as the infants that would need to be taken out with the cribs. There was no time to try to bundle them into carriers and strollers.

Just then a young Marine came running into the center and asked what they needed. After hearing what the center director was trying to do, he ran back out into the hallway and disappeared. The director thought, "Well, here we are, on our own."

About 2 minutes later, that Marine returned with 40 other Marines in tow. Each of them grabbed a crib with a child, and the rest started gathering up toddlers. The director and her staff then helped them take all the children out of the center and down toward the park near the Potomac and the Pentagon.

Once they got about 3/4 of a mile outside the building, the Marines stopped in the park, and then did a fabulous thing - they formed a circle with the cribs, which were quite sturdy and heavy, like the covered wagons in the Old West. Inside this circle of cribs, they put the toddlers, to keep them from wandering off. Outside this circle were the 40 Marines, forming a perimeter around the children and waiting for instructions. There they remained until the parents could be notified to come get their children.

The chaplain then said, "I don't think any of us saw nor heard of this on any of the news stories of the day. It was an incredible story of our men there. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. The thought of those Marines and what they did and how fast they reacted; could we expect any less from them? It was one of the most touching stories from the Pentagon.

It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for the military, please pass this on and pray for our men and women, who have served and are currently serving our country, and pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom."

[GUS]

Hey Rattler. Things are going better in D.C. I'm glad you've kept the faith. I have as well.
Unfortunately, there is was no 4-D thingy. Keep riding that pony brother.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Interesting note at the end of that hilarious Babylon Bee someone linked earlier;
Report: All Six Men Attracted To Feminists Deeply Affected By Sex Strike.

A Babylon Bee subscriber contributed to this report. If you want to get involved with the staff writers at The Babylon Bee, check out our membership options here!

[Davod]

"--If DiGenova is right..."

When DiGenover started appearing again, I hoped what he was saying was good. In the past, many of his predictions did not pan out.

[MissMarple2]

This is war. Economic WAR. Remember: we have the upper hand. A deal WILL happen — and though it may mean volatility in the markets in the near term, a market sell-off is a small price to pay for the sake of our future and our children’s’ future. #China #ChinaTariffs #TrishRegan pic.twitter.com/qTCZTvmyrz

— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) May 14, 2019

4-minute video talk at the link.

[Davod]

DiGenova .

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Brave Pro-Abortion Legislator [Brian Sims] Challenges Group Of Nuns To Fistfight.

"Several nuns were about ready to perform a double reverse elbow-drop on him from the rafters, but a priest stopped them, according to witnesses."

[Threadkiller]

Barr clearly felt he already had enough information before FISA report released to appoint Durham.

Barr inherited the single largest cold-case file in American History. Once he ended Mueller's charade it was clear how much evidence was gathered and left unused.

[JimNorCal]

Tom R: It turned out to be a major learning experience and I never made that same mistake again.

Buckeye: The blog has reached a new milestone.TomR admits fallibility. Just teasin' Tom:)

I like how Tom says "I never made *THAT SAME* mistake again." Deduction: other mistakes were made LOL

[Beasts of England]

RattlerGator!!

[henry]

RG, the problem is there is still no way to tell if the Agean Stables are being cleaned or whitewashed. Those perp walks are the key. So far the Awans walk free, McCabe is in the doghouse but not the big house. Beyond that, Barr just assigned a guy to look into FISA stuff?

[Old Lurker]

RG!

Love it when you stay away until there is MAYBE some evidence that you were not 110% wrong about EVERYTHING.

:-)

Yes, Trump does continue to impress against steeper odds than any of us might have imagined.

[Narciso79]

The trip wires are sharper, Whitaker cut himself on them,

[MissMarple2]

henry,

The guy in Boston has been on the case since 2018. I don't know what aspects, but definitely Baker. This tweet has screen caps from a letter sent to Durham by Mark Meadows and James Jordan, dated around October, 2018.

Please take a look both at the letter and the partial transcript attached to it.

ADDENDUM:

Here is the letter from Rep Jim Jordan and Rep Mark Meadows regarding Baker/Durham. The NYT said the investigation was unrelated to Russia, but if it was I bet it isn't now. https://t.co/AzzyYzQ9Sl pic.twitter.com/nwNyTFQLk0

— Shem Horne (@Shem_Infinite) May 14, 2019

[Davod]

The New York Post's article rebutting Tlaib’s comments didn't include an important fact - The Arab countries getting ready to invade Israel gave the Palestinians living in Israeli portion of the map an ultimatum 'Leave or you will be killed.'

They didn't want the Arabs to contribute to the new state of Israel. Mind you, the sweetener was that the Arabs could take over the Israeli businesses and land once the invasion killed off the Israeli Jews.

Even with the Arab threat, many Arabs stayed in Israel.

https://nypost.com/2019/05/13/fake-history-rashida-tlaibs-grotesque-distortion-of-the-making-of-israel/?utm_campaign=iosapp&utm_source=facebook_app&fbclid=IwAR01lNlvnpv92mLxMszc4Zc1wfgKsoWvtQePg8bT0o19VOY17AKha6gtqpw

[Old Lurker]

And of course Henry is correct. Just as Dems all suffer from confusing good intentions with actual results, our side gets easily reassured by suggestions of future justice.

Everybody should move to Missouri.

[henry]

Miss M, that says unrelated to Russia... while the FISA issues we know about were directly related to the Russia investigation. So that part is new. (Not sure who was sweeping what under which rug before).

[Threadkiller]

MM, I believe Baker was being "investigated" so his attorney could tell Congress that he has immunity from certain questions.

This doesn't give Durham a distinctive hat color. He is simply another DoJ drone just doing his job.

Now his job has changed.

[Davod]

TomR.

Re a lesson learned. A friend of mine and I were attending seminars where some lectures lasted a long time.

He would get up hand leave half way through a lecture. Later, I noticed he was standing at the back of the room.

He mentioned that when he was in the US Army, the instructor said the worst thing you could do was fall asleep during a lecture. Go to the back of the room and stand up against the wall.

[MissMarple2]

Once in a while I try to offer encouraging evidence.

I spent a lot of time looking for that letter, but I see that it does sno good.

Oh, well. I would rather be hopeful than constantly pessimistic. I may end disappointed, but at least until that happens I can be of good cheer.

[Jim Eagle]

RG,

My status on The Ledge is dependent on achieving perp walks or 5:00 AM SWATing in this order:

Glenn Simpson
Nellie and Bruce Ohr
James Comey
Sally Yates
Ben Rhodes (even if had nothing to do with it:)
James Clapper
John Brennan
Valerie Jarrett

I leave Barack Hussein Obama to his own devices as the above perps surely will sully his Presidency more than an arrest. Let him live with his own treasonous soul.

[clarice]

DiGenova might be right this time--Horowitz is investigating DOJ/FBI conduct and in his first report charted who spoke to which (unnamed) reporters..in connection with leaks.

[Narciso79]

He was Netanyahu's usual foil now shes on global Hollywood squares:

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/us-news/u-s-rejects-top-palestinian-official-hanan-ashrawi-s-visa-request-1.7238219?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR1hJELEgnwDt3cWdYmUB0EXDpGk0sV0HNyFzpFaN660gNhPr15WErdXcxQ

[Buckeye]

Everybody should move to Missouri.

Classic OL!

I have to work at that kind of pessimism, with OL it just comes natural:)

[Threadkiller]

The letter to Durham was in January, MM. Well after the DoJ's stall tactics cost us control of The House. Once they heard that Trump picked Barr for AG, they gave Durham another chance.

[Threadkiller]

I spent a lot of time looking for that letter

I wish you had told me. I posted it on the first page of the last thread.

:-)

[Tom R]

Unfortunately, there is was no 4-D thingy.

Events indicate the 180 degree opposite. It’s OK to give Trump full credit if you don’t want to admit RG and I were correct all along about him having a long term strategic plan to drain the Swamp.

[Threadkiller]

Tom Fitton, who Trump retweets on many occasions, has a good collection of links and coments on his Twitter.

https://twitter.com/TomFitton

He has had his eye on the ball the whole time.

[henry]

4D, the AGW of the right.

[Captain Hate]

I've already done battle with the Horde members defending that dipshit Kavanaugh this morning. Fuck that guy in particular. I'm not backing down even if it's just Ol' Yeller and me against everyone else.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

That John Paul Steven's tripe from yesterday about Heller should nullify every decision that imbecile ever authored.

A right's constitutionality and existence is determined by the number of times a criminal uses it for unlawful purposes?
I guess muslims have no right to practice their religion, and defamation negates freedom of speech.
Extending that theory to judges, they should be entirely outlawed because of idiots like him.

BTW, I had not heard before that Roberts used Kavanaugh's reasoning in the Barrycare case.
Good gravy; if I'd known that I might have been cheering on Blasey Ford.

[MissMarple2]

TK,

The TESTIMONY was dated October 3, 2018. Also, I don't know how the news of the investigation would have turned the election, since at that time, as far as I know, it was Baker only and him being investigated for unauthorized leaks.

My point was that Durham wasn't a last-minute sop and that there were things going on that were not publicized, since obviously Meadows and Jordan had just found out when Baker testified.

Trump has some sort of plan, just like he has an economic plan in dealing with China. THAT plan he has had since he gave an interview to Oprah back in the late 80's.

I remain convinced that the first part was to remove funding for the bad apples, while increasing his support by actual accomplishment as president. He is well into that now, and we are now starting to see investigations opened.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I see CH and I came to the same conclusion independently re Kavanaugh. :)

[Threadkiller]

Rep. Jim Jordan

@Jim_Jordan

2h

AG Barr appoints US Attorney John Durham to examine the beginning of the Russia probe. Durham’s investigation finally raises legitimate prospect of criminal charges for wrongdoers who unlawfully spied on the President and his political advisors. nytimes.com/2019/05/13/us/…

[emphasis mine]

Finally indeed. Jordan has been stuck waiting like the rest of us and his tweet shows it. Barr has Durham doing the right thing now.

[MissMarple2]

A helpful hint on how things work in DC:

Jason Chaffetz
‏Verified account @jasoninthehouse
19m19 minutes ago

Normal & customary for an IG to give the AG their report weeks prior to it going public. GUESSING AG has the report, he read it, and determined he needed Durham to potentially prosecute and look at personnel outside DOJ. Perhaps IC, Dems, etc.

[Threadkiller]

Mark Meadows

From the other previously stonewalled congressman:

@RepMarkMeadows

13h

John Durham is an outstanding choice for special prosecutor investigating 2016 pre-election activities—his selection further demonstrates Bill Barr’s tenacity and determined desire to get to the truth and restore credibility at the top tier of the DOJ and FBI.

Credits Bill Barr.

[Neo]

Joseph Mifsud told Papadopoulos in April 2016 he learned the Russians had possession of “thousands” of Clinton-related emails.

[Captain Hate]

My point was that Durham wasn't a last-minute sop and that there were things going on that were not publicized, since obviously Meadows and Jordan had just found out when Baker testified.

One thing I'll give Sessions credit for is having no leaks about any of this which probably means that he had lots more going on than I believed.

[Captain Hate]

Good to have you onboard, Iggy.

[henry]

CH, leaking of things being swept under the rug is counterproductive to that effort.

[Melinda]

Yep.

[Melinda]

to CH, not the lumpy carpet.

[Threadkiller]

I don't know how the news of the investigation would have turned the election

News of the investigation is unimportant and would have had the exact same effect as thd ongoing Mueller charade. It was all designed to keep the voters thinking that Trump did something wrong.

What I am talking about is Baker's answers to Jordan if Baker wasn't protected by the "ongoing investigation." Jordan was all over Baker's involvement in the dossier and if Jordan were to get Baker to admit the fraud that took place, he could have released that information prior to the midterms. Instead the DoJ put a procedural childhood on our favorite wrestler and ultimately on all of us.

Baker should not have been protected.

[rse]

New post up that relates to that Highland Ranch STEM vision I put up last week as well as the Reimagining American History Education that made sbw wish he had skipped breakfast.

http://invisibleserfscollar.com/aspirations-of-controlling-consciousness-a-new-kind-of-thinking-beast-another-school-shooting/

The 1968 book I am quoting from was written by Margaret Mead's daughter and the convener of the conference that actually took place in austria was Gregory Bateson who wrote Ecology of the Mind. The book, which I was already working on when the shooting happened, is like being in the midst of all these discussions by now mostly long dead people.

Mary Catherine would go on to be a President of both ISSS--International Society for Systems Science and the American Cybernetics Society. She also attended the Rockefeller and Carnegie funded World Order Models project meeting in Moscow in 1987.

I guess I am proving why actual facts from history are such pesky impediments to all these plans for transformation.

[Captain Hate]

I don't think so, henry; I don't like being wrong but in this case it works to our benefit. So I'll take one for the team...

[henry]

Not even a union controlled school board is putting up with the union's nonsense:

The school district’s current annual premiums amount to $60.1 million under the WEA Trust, with premiums projected to increase by $10 million, were the plan renewed. The new plan under United Healthcare is projected to cost $41.8 million in annual premiums.

http://www.maciverinstitute.com/2019/05/kenosha-schools-kicks-wea-trust-to-the-curb/

[Jim Eagle]

Although Kavanaugh is Kennedy2, he was treated like shit by the Dems. If he had withdrawn, it would tell any prospective justice nominee that the Dems would find a way to slander you on national TV like they did Kavanaugh.

He may be a swing vote now but he didn't deserve that set-up and abuse.

[Captain Hate]

Love the Horde

Loretta Lynch == Chocolate Cankles

[henry]

CH, i hope you are right, however these are government workers with admin support by other government workers which makes tight execution extremely unlikely.

[Threadkiller]

obviously Meadows and Jordan had just found out when Baker testified.

Sounds like the DoJ sprung a trap on Jordan and Meadows. I would think that they would have been told that Baker was subject to an investigation prior to the hearing.

News of the investigation came out after Baker was asked an uncomfortable question. Convenient.

I don't know what credit Sessions deserves since he would have had nothing to do with this if it was Russia related. RR or Mueller had to put Baker under Durham's protection scheme.

[Captain Hate]

Chris Hayes
@chrislhayes
The Justice Department is being turned into a political weapon for the President before our eyes, day by day...
Posted by: Deep State is In DEEP SHIT at May 14,

Somebody toss that bitch a midol.
Posted by: Vanya at May 14, 2019 10:39 AM (vXoNP)

[MissMarple2]

Video at link, which should wake everyone up.

Do not miss this. pic.twitter.com/sV3MrDDtvw

— Brit Hume (@brithume) May 14, 2019

[MissMarple2]

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2019/05/14/trade-war-china-n2546303

This reviews all of President Trump's trade tweets from this morning.

[Tom R]

CH @ 10:28

I’m about 99.99% certain you are 100% correct.

[Buckeye]

Although Kavanaugh is Kennedy2, he was treated like shit by the Dems. If he had withdrawn, it would tell any prospective justice nominee that the Dems would find a way to slander you on national TV like they did Kavanaugh.

Trump has done reasonably well given the opposition. I suspect he knew what he was getting with Kavanaugh, and also knew someone more conservative wouldn't get confirmed.

Granted, the complexion of the SC is a big deal, but reshaping the district courts probably has more day-to-day consequential impact.

[Buckeye]

RSE, would you be pissed off if we started a movement to have you replace DeVos??

[James D.]

CH @ 10:19

I'm with you on Kavanaugh.

I really wish Trump had nominated Amy Coney Barrett (or is it the other way around?)

The Dems would have gone totally insane, but they do that regardless, and them trying to destroy a pious Christian woman with 5 (or was it 7?) kids would have turned off everyone who isn't a frothing at the mouth lunatic prog.

[JimNorCal]

Watched a couple of fun guitar-analysis vids.
"Fil" of the band Pegasus has a generally appreciative and positive take on other musicians which shows esp for other genres.

Could Elvis play guitar?
https://youtu.be/GMkyIJ0g5sg

A really charming look at an early 1960s Beatles performance. Im not a huge Beatles fan but this vid and accompanying analysis is heart warming and sentimental.
https://youtu.be/QSIoGiLUs98

[Jane]

Son didn't have to ask. His success was solely dependent on Biden's corruption.

[Captain Hate]

I really wish Trump had nominated Amy Coney Barrett (or is it the other way around?)

Kavanaugh may have been Kennedy's condition for stepping down.

[Narciso79]

Yes but she couldn't get past McCain flake Corker et al.

[JM Hanes]

I'm only about up to midnight on the last thread, so pls. forgive me if the questions about John Durham's mandate have already been resolved.

Between Jim Jordan's letter to Durham and the Lawfare link TK posted, it seems clear that Durham was originally tasked with a straightforward leak investigation, which may not, at least originally, have had anything to do with the contacts under discussion in the Baker hearing. Assuming Durham's portfolio at the time was independent of the Russia collusion case, he could easily have been appointed by Sessions. And in fact, back in November of 2017, Sessions announced, "We're investigating 27 leaks of classified information," which he called, "a sharp increase from recent years." Given Sessions' commitment to rooting out leakers, a Durham assignment is certainly plausible.

While that question may be moot, additional reporting does make it clear that Barr has assigned Durham an entirely new portfolio, which is neither a continuation nor an expansion of his previous investigation. His mandate sounds like the combo of internal and external investigations with the power to secure indictments all in one office, which some makeshift combo of Horowitz and Huber was never going to be able to provide. Extrapolating from the Barr appointment of Durham, I think we'll find out that Huber was never granted the kind of authorities he needed to pursue the FISA matter, among other politically generated pieces, to conclusion. I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the Horowitz report, but I'm not optimistic that it will bring anything remotely resembling closure to any of the issues which concern me most.

[Jane]

"Why wasn't Mueller taken down with the other FBI agents."

That's my question too.

[sbwaters]

In the Apple case, Brick bars indirect consumers -- those more than one step away -- from bringing charges of Clayton Act violations against suppliers.

According to the Brick precedent, rather than sue Apple, the app purchasers should sue app vendors for passing through Apple’s fixed 30 percent extortion fee.

On the other hand, suppose the guy from the Mob came into the developer and hinted that you might not want to sue the Mob because it would be a shame if something happened to your app so that it didn’t get placed on the market shelf.

Brick would leave app users no recourse to challenge the fixed fee in court.

In other words, maybe Brick isn’t the precedent that fits the case, and maybe Kavanaugh got it right.

The decision didn’t decide the merits of the case. It decided that the case deserved to be tried in the first place.

The press reports that paint Kavanaugh as a Souter, Stevens or even a Roberts are premature.

[Extraneus]

I guess Undercover Huber's looking for a new name, huh? (The PowerPoint apparently didn't go over well with the new boss.)

[Jane]

MM<

Barr is also up against a 5 year SOL.

[Melinda]

Jane-

Ever heard of the Chicago band, The Ides of March? They had one huge hit before splintering on to other things.

Vehicle.

[Melinda]

sbw-

30% is still usury.

[henry]

exactly sbw. 30% or you can't get any business on the iphone (along with other restrictions in that agreement)is not something a small app developer can survive taking to court. Apple would shut them down instantly. Apple is not alone with than kind of structure (the control they have preventing an end around to their App Store is unique).

[Melinda]

Apply salt.

Laura Jarrett has caught on that a broader, multi-agency investigation is underway.

[Captain Hate]

So Apple should just let every dipshit developer be able to stick malware loaded apps on the iPhones until they all start running so poorly that they get other types of phones?

[Extraneus]

Yeah, Google can banish GAB from their app store, but you can get the app from GAB's website and install it on any Android phone. Seems like a big difference, anti-trust wise.

[Jane]

RG,

Wanna do a podcast?

[Beasts of England]

Has the full House voted on Barr's contempt of Congress, or is it only the committee's charge?

[JimNorCal]

From S Green at Instapundit

Somewhat off topic, but my favorite joke of the last few months was, “What’s the difference between Donald Trump and a leftwing Jew? Trump has Jewish grandkids.”

[Jane]

Holy Cow! That Britt Hume video!!!!!