If They Don't Indict, It's Alright!

AG Barr addressed 'Obamagate' yesterday. The NY Times headline reprises the Clinton-era standard for Democrat behavior - if they don't indict, it's alright:

Barr Dismisses Trump’s Claim That Russia Inquiry Was an Obama Plot

The attorney general said that an investigation into the Russia inquiry was focusing on others, not the former president.

Hmm, really? Deep in the Times story we see this:

“We saw two different standards of justice emerge: one that applies to President Trump and his associates, and the other that applied to everybody else,” Mr. Barr said. “We can’t allow this ever to happen again.”

Mr. Barr called the Russia investigation and the investigation of Mr. Trump “a grave injustice” that was “unprecedented in American history.” He also spoke of a trend in recent decades of “increasing attempts to use the criminal justice system as a political weapon.”

“This is not a good development,” he said. “This is not good for our political life. And it’s not good for the criminal justice system.”

Even so, Mr. Barr would not criminally implicate Mr. Obama or Mr. Biden, and he said that improper actions by the previous administration may not turn out to be criminal offenses. “Not every abuse of power, no matter how outrageous, is necessarily a federal crime,” the attorney general said.

Is it possible Obama presided over an abuse of power, even if it was not criminal? The firebrands at NPR led with more or less that possibility:

Barr Doesn't Expect Russia Probe To Lead To Criminal Investigation Of Obama Or Biden

U.S. Attorney General William Barr told reporters Monday he does not expect a Justice Department probe examining the origins of the inquiry into Russian election interference will result in criminal investigations into either former President Barack Obama or his vice president, Joe Biden.

A year ago, Barr tasked John Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, with investigating the origins of the Russia probe. The review, which was upgraded to a formal criminal investigation later in 2019, seeks to determine whether there was impropriety in the FBI's investigation into whether Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 White House race in Trump's favor.

"Under the longstanding standards of the department, criminal charges are appropriate only when we have enough evidence to prove each element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. That is the standard we're applying," Barr said in response to a question about whether the department would investigate Obama and Biden.

"There's a difference between an abuse of power and a federal crime. Not every abuse of power — no matter how outrageous — is necessarily a federal crime," Barr said at an unrelated news conference to discuss last year's shooting at a U.S. military base in Pensacola, Fla. "Now, as to President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement, based on the information I have today, I don't expect Mr. Durham's work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man. Our concern over potential criminality is focused on others."

That is a pretty soft exoneration. My emphasis on "impropriety", which is hardly a synonym for "illegality".

Comments

[MissMarple2]

Mark R. Levin
@marklevinshow
·
24s
For those who are interested, I won't be on Fox this Sunday. Also, I'll be back on radio next Tuesday (after Memorial Day). Thank you for your understanding. God bless you.
======================================
I have no idea what prompted this.

[John S]

If it is a crime to lie to the FBI even if you have not been sworn in or told you are being investigated, is it a crime for the FBI to lie to the President?

[rich]

Posted by: MissMarple2 | May 20, 2020 at 06:33 PM

i think he is sick.

[Extraneus]

Heh. Techno_Fog - whose cred is pretty high and was retweeted by Trump just last week - retweeted that thread from the guy who said Sullivan has laundered money and has two violent sons, one of whom beat and violently raped an underage girl, both of whom skated due to Dad's intervention.

https://twitter.com/Johnheretohelp/status/1261480070683688967

[Tom R]

Rich @ 5:16

In your response you didn't say what your reaction was. Were you pissed off at Comey like me?

[rich]

Posted by: Another Bob | May 20, 2020 at 06:29 PM

he may have.

[Extraneus]

Good question, John S.

[Tom R]

So you don't have a list of who "we" represents???

Based off the responses so far, the number of JOMers who think Rice was lying in her email to protect Obama applies to everyone here except you.

[MissMarple2]

Good hires by Trump:

Pompeo
Alsar
Ross
Mnuchin
MacEneny(press secretary)
Meadows
Mulvenny
Grenell

[Tom R]

Rodham's filth and unpunished criminality was being swept under the rug.

I think I can safely say Gus was just as pissed off as Heartshapedbox and I were with how Hillary wasn't held accountable for her actions. Where Gus and I differ is I don't think anyone decided to vote for Hillary because they were under the misguided perception that Comey cleared her of any wrongdoing. I think the large majority of undecided voters shared Gus's opinion on the matter and they ended up voting for Trump.

[henry]

No minds or votes were changed by anything Comey did.

[Captain Hate]

I certainly don’t proclaim to know precisely why RB left, but I can damn well guarantee it wasn’t for this.

Really? He was uncharacteristically insulting to Miss Marple and her MAGA support before leaving. He went to Patterico's asylum as long as he could stand the stench. To be clear, I liked Rick quite a bit but something with MAGA didn't agree with him.

[lyle]

There’s probably too many double negatives in these comments floating around, CH, re Ballard’s departure but he didn’t leave because anyone was too unsupportive of MAGA.

[MissMarple2]

Csptain Hate,

The funny thing is now he is pretty much pro-Trump. I follow him on Twitter and when I talk to him he is pretty friendly. LOL!

[Narciso]

I know he contributed to ted stevens death, through the fraudulent conviction, which was only partially remedied by the schuelke report,

[Captain Hate]

Ok, that makes sense.

[Narciso]

And the subsequent reprimands that were reversed.

[Captain Hate]

Well that's great, Miss Marple; probably the best thing I've heard today.

[Narciso]

And he tiptoes around questiond of the clinton servers, giving them extension after extension.

[Narciso]

Omars friends?

https://mobile.twitter.com/iandcosta/status/1262958021438779393

[Captain Hate]

It moved

https://accordingtohoyt.com/2020/05/20/i-do-not-consent/

[Narciso]

Taters got to tater

https://mobile.twitter.com/ComfortablySmug/status/1263127034945028098

[Another Bob]

MM, is RB as witty and sharp tongued on twitter as he was here?

I thought he was great until the unpleasantness started.

[rich]

why did i even engage?

good news about rick. he was very kind to me when my mom died.

[Narciso]

Is it this one

https://mobile.twitter.com/rballard/status/1241797705032060928

[Captain Hate]

That looks younger than Rick.

[rich]

no i don't think so narciso.

[Narciso]

This was the tell tale link.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Techno_Fog/status/1263199039203561474

[Jim Eagle]

McEneney is going to toss a few idiots into the into the woodpile. She malkes Sarah look like an amateur. Where does Trump and his team find these specimens of snark?

[Captain Hate]

I wouldn't characterize Sarah that negatively. I think DJT gave the enemedia a chance to play nicely with her and when they acted like feral vermin went to Plan B.

[Narciso]

This carp again

https://mobile.twitter.com/ShannonBream/status/1263201473091055618

[Ralph Tacoma]

lyle, Mike in Houston,

On the subject of people not understanding distances in the States the most extreme cases I've seen have been from Europeans.

I used to work for BASF. Their US headquarters was in Parsippany,NJ. It was always amusing when we'd have a German Delegation come to the States for a few days. When asked what they planned for the weekend you find that they were hoping to see Yosemite, and Grand Canyon, and the Florida Keys. The Germans who'd been here long enough to be "Old America Hands" had more fun with the situation than we native Americans did!

On the other hand the thing that most struck me about Europe was how old everything is.

On my first trip to the UK, I tried to meet up with H. Russel Robinson, a curator of armour at the Tower of London. I had corresponded with him several times over the years and thought that since I had a half day free I should try to speak with him. (The trip had come up on sufficiently short notice that I'd not had a chance to set anything up with him. It was in the days BEFORE the Internet!)

His office was in the New Armoury. The receptionist asked me to wait in the library while she tried to locate him. Ultimately she couldn't find him so the meeting never took place. While she'd been gone to seek him I'd notice the size of the oak beams in the ceiling --- they were at least 2x3's as in Two FEET by Three FEET! I asked her when the building was constructed and commented, "Oh, in 1640 or so!" And she didn't think that at all unusual.

Of course we have a similar situation though not so extreme just within the US. Anything over 100 years old is unusual in Wyoming, but our farmhouse in NJ was built before 1820 and was not that unusual.

Stay safe and healthy and drive the Karens nuts!

[Momto2]

If you liked Ralph Kramden...you'll appreciate this! :)

https://www.tiktok.com/@dknarf1/video/6828018183178308869?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Pointing to the murder hornets nest is not the same as eliminating it.--

No, but it's a lot better than not knowing it's there, which regarding the depths of corruption and willingness to actually try and overturn an election I don't think many if anyone knew.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Taters got to tater--

LOL

[Extraneus]

Wife unit just mused while jabbering with her friend on the phone in Southern (I hardly ever hear them but just happened to catch this) whether Pelosi's "morbidly obese" reference might be a way to get Trump not to wear a bullet proof jacket. That's my girl. :-)

[Porchlight]

Wisconsin woman says she got coronavirus despite taking hydroxychloroquine for years.

Moron.

But if the media would actually cover the news the way they're supposed to, she wouldn't have had such stupid ideas.

[Porchlight]

I certainly don’t proclaim to know precisely why RB left, but I can damn well guarantee it wasn’t for this.

Really? It sure read to me like he didn't want to have anything to do with knuckle-dragging Trump supporters.

[Manuel Transmission]

Re MT and WY, being born and raised in MT and having flown and worked all over WY, I don’t consider them much alike. The western half of MT is mostly mountainous, but with fairly wide fertile valleys for grazing/ranching. The eastern part is mostly rolling plains like Alberta and east and south across the Great Plains. WY, by contrast is more divided in thirds with the middle being pretty much a wasteland except along the southern edge. The eastern third has a few spots that support ranching as some here have experienced, but percentage-wise is pretty limited. The eastern part of both states suffer from limited rainfall so grazing is fairly few cows/acre compared to a lot of other ranching country.

[Extraneus]

Susan Rice’s now-infamous memo was blatant bid to cover Obama’s butt

By NY Post Editorial Board

[lyle]

Okay, Porch: what I was saying in fewer words is that RB left because he didn’t like the Trump support here. Obviously I mangled my intent if you and CH read it just the opposite. My apologies.

[Jane]

Boy I wish Rick Ballard would come back. Talked to Hit today. Miss him too!

[Threadkiller]

I certainly don’t proclaim to know precisely why RB left, but I can damn well guarantee it wasn’t for this.

It was Trump praise that did him in. He went nuts. I can dig up comments if you so require. He was very, very rude when he jumped ship. Cecil Turner lasted a little longer but he finally went berserk as well.

MM, please link his Twitter.

[Jim Eagle]

Off to sleepy time.

Slaap Lekker. Tot Morgen.

[Extraneus]

It wasn't Rice's memo/email that was the CYA, it was the meeting itself. That was the whole point of having it.

[Narciso]

Priorities

https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2020/may/invisible-in-the-fields

[lyle]

Thanks, TK. RB was not a Trump fan early on. But then, neither were a lot of us. My vote for Trump was 90% anti Hilligula. I had no idea how he’d govern but I hoped for the best and he delivered something I never dreamed any R would do. I know I’m not alone in this regard. I pray for him and this country every day. Again, I know I’m not alone.

[lyle]

Bingo, Ext.

[Threadkiller]

RB was anti-birther and it skewed every comment he had about Trump.

[Narciso]

Ewok is on fire

http://ace.mu.nu/

[Captain Hate]

We all had our come to the Golden Scalpweasel moments. Miss Marple, Porch and clarice formed the original bandwagon here and I went hmmm. Ann was probably on it too under the JOM radar. I jumped on after it was pretty clear he was running the primary table and as time went on he kept looking better.

He's still the most positive surprise of my not short life. Negative surprises are another story...

[GUS]

TomR, are you the same type of weasel as ROSENSTEIN.

Asking for a friend.

[Narciso]

Charge up the atomics.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.avclub.com/renowned-musical-futurist-janelle-monae-admits-that-our-1843559467/amp

[Narciso]

Speaking of vienna convention violations they are preparing a 4 hour cut of justice league, for hbo max,

[Narciso]

More of that other nights kjom

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r59WZyaF2U4

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

I was a Cruz then under the radar Trumper. Only Beasts knew for the longest time. I walked into the voting booth and was 'what the hell let's do this' and never looked back.

[Narciso]

From the crappy software departmemt

https://www.redstate.com/joesquire/2020/05/20/meet-the-tech-company-that-wants-to-appear-to-like-trump-but-support-his-opponents/

[Jane]

It just finished being 20 20 20 2020 in military time!

[Jane]

Oh I miss Cecil too!

[clarice]

I miss Hit, Cecil and Rick.

[Jane]

You learn more around people with different opinion...

[Narciso]

May 19th was the patrick henry moment in cuban history may 20th the independence day.

[Narciso]

The first was jose martis failed incursion in 1895, so more like nathan hale.

[clarice]

I don't know why but I always thought Rick lived in California.

[clarice]

If you speak to any of these guys pls send him my regards and say I miss him.

[Threadkiller]

I don’t miss any other f them.

[lyle]

I thought so too, Clarice. San Diego area, IIRC.

[Threadkiller]

...any of them...

[Threadkiller]

Miss Marple, Porch and clarice formed the original bandwagon here

Chopped Birther again... ;-)

[Threadkiller]

oops

[Threadkiller]

SoCal is Danube of Thought.

[lyle]

I miss Hit

Interesting since his swan song to us was, “I hate all you people.”

[Narciso]

Cecil lives in kentucky or alabama?

[mike in houston]

Ohio Judge Deems the State's COVID-19 Lockdown 'Arbitrary, Unreasonable, and Oppressive'

https://reason.com/2020/05/20/ohio-judge-deems-the-states-covid-19-lockdown-arbitrary-unreasonable-and-oppressive/

[DrJ]

I don't know why but I always thought Rick lived in California.

He did, in the Delta area near Sacramento. About a decade ago he moved to Washington State, near where Man Tran lives.

[henry]

Oracle is very Silicon Valley. No surprise the people there hate Trump. Sandra Catz and Larry Ellison included. They like power and are complete assholes to partners and customers.

[Jane]

I don’t remember that Lyle. He’s a great guy!

[Narciso]

I liked janel in hidden figures,

[Narciso]

And their software was cooked up on mt doom.

[Another Bob]

“his swan song”

Concur Lyle. And that was after he’d IMHO developed a bit of an attitude when TM gave him the keys.

[Tom R]

Gus @ 8:16

For a couple of weeks there you were being nice. What triggered the return to juvenile personal attacks? Surely it wasn’t the fact you and I shared the same pissed off reaction to Comey’s announcement that Hillary wasn’t going to be held accountable for her email server.

[henry]

Narciso, it isn’t particularly bad (unlike the shit from Seattle), but it has little capability beyond the free stuff (which also applies to the shit from Seattle). So they are buying up the free stuff (Java, MySQL, etc) and charging for it. Requires a bit of dancing, but you can legally flip to free system software and not pay them. Just don’t miss one autoupdating driver on a PC.

[Buckeye]

New

[JimNorCal]

new

[GUS]

Tom, I'm really really nice, when you're not around, and not being RUDE and such a CRY BABY.
Grow up and treat people nicely and maybe even a jerk like yourself will be treated nicely.

Have a nice day. MAGA.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

KK... Wayne is my dad's name.

[D]

I have to disagree with TK’s characterization of exit of Rick Ballard and Cecil Turner.
They neither went”nuts” nor “berserk”.
They probably just disagreed with some posters.
Last time I checked, that was permitted here.
I personally would like them both to return as I welcome all opinions.
Jane,
Did you get a nap today and how is Hit doing?
His children must be college age by now.
Would also like for him to return.

[D]

Lyle:
That was Hit kidding around or being sarcastic.

[D]

TK
I am sure they don’t miss you either.

[D]

No Lyle , you are not alone.
Donald Trump was my last choice for a Republican candidate.
I voted for Cruz in the primary.

[CCGirl]

Woah! Great fireworks going off just down the way! Fun!

I tried to copy and paste, but epic fail. Anyway, Gretchen Whitmer is Lord Farquaad from Shrek. She was on tv, and my husband remarked, “she has a huge head.” All I could see was the jerk king from Shrek.

It the nutso world of hardware and Cape Cod, the place is packed - my store and the general area. People are everywhere, yet saying to us we will get slammed with cases as all people are here - yet they come in every day. It’s a long day surrounded by needy people who insist on giving one advice on how best to be during this mess. I bite my tongue and wonder if they read or hear anything about Fla or Georgia, or Tenn. Opening up and declining cases.

Just to fill you in on the logistics scene. My major supplier, True Value (my store is independent) is hanging in, but overwhelmed as many warehouse pickers have gone on UI. Orders still delivered late. Many items unfilled, but in the warehouse. This is one of our busiest times, and the reports are that the warehouses have more orders than ever, and so no news on when we will have delivery, or what’s on the truck. Luckily, my great father set us up well, and so we can order from other distributors. Good to know people are fixing up their real estate. My yard may look awful - no time to shop for flowers.

[JimNorCal]

New

[Porchlight]

Obviously I mangled my intent if you and CH read it just the opposite. My apologies.

Oh, no worries, lyle, I did read you wrong but I also wondered for a moment at first if I had done so. We agree re: RB.