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

[lyle]

I’ve lost track of the cabal cast, Ext. Who is Clinesmith?

[Marlene]

Rocco,there are small mouth bass in the Penobscot. Our stream flows into the Penobscot. The only thing hubby fishes out of the river are the boom chains from the old logging days. We have quite a collection. :)

[Tom R]

Iggy @ 3:48

Maybe. I would go with the standard Democrat talking point from that timeframe that Comey deserved to be fired because of how he helped Trump get elected due to his "mishandling" of the Hillary email server case.

The Obama criminal cabal fully expected Hillary to win and if she had then we never learn about Obama spying on Trump. The cabal almost certainly made Comey the scapegoat because they were all in agreement he either 1) was not part of the cabal or 2) they knew he would spill the beans to Trump and inform him of their criminal activity.

[Narciso]

This one like john nash combiened with richard clarkes stalker gwinith todd.

[Extraneus]

Clinesmith altered the email that was then fraudulently used to get the FISA court to approve the Page warrant.

[Narciso]

The other creepy couple in fbi counterintelligence

[rich]

>>>Are they growing these psychos in vats?

Posted by: Narciso | May 20, 2020 at 04:02 PM<<<

jars full of snokes.

Clinesmith is the joker who changed an email regarding Carter Page which was used in a FISA warrant. It should be perjury and disbarment but we'll see. The courts seem to enjoy being lied to by the right sorts of people.

[Extraneus]

Serious felony, caught red-handed, he has no possible defense.

[henry]

Ext, he’ll claim he’s dislexic.

[Tom R]

BTW to reinforce my 4:04, AG Lynch directed Horowitz to conduct an IG investigation into Comey's mishandling of the Hillary email server case. IMO that IG investigation was intended to give Hillary justification for firing Comey as one of her first official acts and installing McCabe whose loyalty she had already bought.

[Captain Hate]

The courts seem to enjoy being lied to by the right sorts of people.

John Roberts rules with such an iron fist; or is that fists with such an iron rule?

[Jim Eagle]

Deja vu. I too have experienced, inexperienced, unqualified individuals decide to go glorified Whistleblowers where the press, without a smidgen of curiosity let them spout off on shit they are unqualified to talk ABOUT.

And now you have a governor, an ex-JAG officer having to take time away from running the state during this to health/politics as usual emergency to explain why this dingbat was let go.

A waste of braincells by him not the reporters without them.

[Jim Eagle]

..I have no idea where "inexperienced" came from....

[lyle]

https://www.redstate.com/streiff/2020/05/20/susan-rice-may-not-have-been-the-author-of-the-just-released-inauguration-day-memo/

This memo was not Rice’s idea. It was a deliberate cover-your-ass activity designed to give Obama plausible deniability should this episode ever blow up in everyone’s face. The White House Counsel dictated the memo to her. She was chose because she had nothing to do with any of the plans afoot targeting Trump and his transition team so she appears to be the most disinterested participant.

Gaylord damn right ordered the Code Red.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

And here we have a perfect example of progs listening to the science;
Wisconsin woman says she got coronavirus despite taking hydroxychloroquine for years.

[Jim Eagle]

lyle,

Where is Jack Nicholson now when we need him?

[rich]

this looks to me like building a fire line around the issues at hand ... focus on the Rice memo (and as stated before already known about for 2-ish years) and the January 5 2017 White House meeting ... the scandal goes much further back.

Rice would take one in the neck for Obama and so would the Pontiff of the Potomac ...

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Austin Bay; On Point: 2030 Scenario: US Navy Robots, Carriers and Mines Counterattack China

[Extraneus]

So why is it news that the WH counsel told her to write the email to file? This was stated by her lawyer in 2018, in response to Grassley's & Graham's excellent list of questions. Were these answers only recently released?

Did anyone instruct, request, suggest, or imply that you should send yourself the aforementioned Inauguration Day email memorializing President Obama’s meeting with Mr. Comey about the Trump/Russia investigation? If so, who and why?

https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-graham-uncover-unusual-email-sent-susan-rice-herself-president-trump-s

[lyle]

He’s on “that wall,” Jack. 😉

[hrtshpdbox]

@AmbassadorRice’s team confirms to #FoxNews that..

From Gillian's Turner tweet. Rice talking to Fox is interesting in itself, I'd say. I'll guess, though, that Lisa Page, who has called her affair with Strzok "the most wrong thing I've ever done in my life", will be the one who sings the loudest. So much fun ahead for the right, so much misery for the left!

[Narciso]

Carter page is the one that helped them nab a real spy and they put a ringer on him like michael weston in the second to last season

[rich]

Posted by: hrtshpdbox | May 20, 2020 at 04:23 PM

afternoon hrtshpdbox.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/planned-parenthood-coronavirus-stimulus-money-ppp-return

They are being told to return the money because they don't qualify.

[rich]

i'd be skeptical that NatSack Page would be willing to sing though ... i've got that true believer vibe.

[hrtshpdbox]

Rich, good to see you. CH, really poignant emails and thoughts about your lost JOM friend. Rocco, sorry to hear about your loss. Hi TK, and Ext and OL. By the way, I do live in south central PA and though I certainly agree with the fine paragraphs TM posted, I didn't write them.

[lyle]

Pontiff of the Potomac

Who’s this, again?

[rich]

i'll put Page down as one of the first to attempt to flee the country, then the Ohr's ...

[lyle]

Why did I think you were in FL, hrt? Oops. 😬

[MissMarple2]

Shannon Bream
@ShannonBream

· 15m
BREAKING: SCOTUS denies House Judiciary Comm Dems' request for Mueller grand jury material - grants DOJ request. Writ for cert (for SCOTUS to hear the full case on the merits) due by June 1st or stay expires - meaning materials could be released.

[Extraneus]

Hey box. How's Amazon doing?

[rich]

Comey.

reference:

https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/442278-james-comey-is-in-trouble-and-he-knows-it

[D]

Pre-firing actions in a proTrump light per TomR:
1. Being untruthful with Trump wrt the fact that he was NOT a target of an investigation
2.Giving his opponent a pass in the email investigation wrongly claiming no one else would have brought charges.
3. Exonerating Hillary in a letter in May before interviewing her with her lawyer present in July.
Bypassing his superior Lynch in grabbing the mic and giving Hillary a free pass.
4.
Wasting a month not looking at emails from Weiner’s laptop until forced to by New York office.
Hiding in the curtains during a meeting ( weasel move)
5.
After Jan 5th meeting giving an incomplete accounting to Trump.
6. Finally leaking a private conversation with Trump via his errand boy.
Gee these look like real pro Trump moves to me, she said sarcastically.

[Captain Hate]

Good to read you as always, box.

[lyle]

Speaking of FL:

https://twitchy.com/sarahd-313035/2020/05/20/gloves-off-florida-gov-ron-desantis-drops-massive-mic-on-the-media-for-predicting-his-states-imminent-collapse-from-covid19-video/

This is epic.

[henry]

To June 1.

@lawrencehurley

Supreme Court hold gives Trump administration time to appeal lower court ruling that required the docs to be handed over. Supreme Court says appeal must be filed by June 1

https://twitter.com/lawrencehurley/status/1263200137544970241?s=21

[Old Lurker]

Hi Hrts!

[hrtshpdbox]

Lyle, I'm sure I've told a horror story or two about times I have lived in the Miami area. Ext, I'm down to just weekends now (two 10-hr days), and it's been interesting watching an agile but gigantic adjust on the fly. Working during this has helped keep me sane (or as sane as ever, anyway).

[hrtshpdbox]

"an agile but gigantic adjust..."

Must've meant an agile but gigantic something adjust, just didn't fill in what the something was.

[Dave (in MA)]

Howie Carr has Roger Stone on live in his studio, not social distancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_ppUR1l1L0

[Jim Eagle]

And with typical response the left is claiming Desantis is hiding or clocking the numbers, My response to them on twitter was to prove it.

They can't but the media is all over those replies instead of Desantis statement. I am at the point where I will not accept or believe anything out of our media, even the ones who purport to be friendly.

FEMALL

/they think we are ingnorant but we aren't the ones who could only go to Journalism School.

[hrtshpdbox]

Don't know if you saw, PA's governor sees that New Jersey and Maryland are opening their beaches, and he can't wait to announce that PA residents can just forget about that.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/05/many-east-coast-beaches-open-for-memorial-day-gov-wolf-advises-pa-residents-not-to-go.html

I like the idea of the COVID beach ball, though, someone should mass produce them and sell 'em cheap.

[MissMarple2]

https://twitter.com/COsweda/status/1263192763186569218

Carlos Osweda (Thomas Wictor) thread about Mika Brzezinski's attacks. Includes Twitter users' replies.

[Marlene]

Yes,Dave,we're listening. Also,yay DeSantis!
This is Maine's bicentennial year. Remember your history and the Missouri Compromise. All bicentennial events have been postponed until the late summer and fall. Maybe Maine should still be a part of Massachusetts.

[Tom R]

Maryrose @ 3:58

Simple reason for making Comey the scapegoat.
Dems think he cost Hillary the election.

Maryrose at 4:31

Doesn't realize her #2/3/4 points contradict her 3:58 post where she was actually correct.

[rich]

good list D ...

my only complaint would be that the whole "hillary blamed comey for the election loss" looks like backward casting to me ... comey was going out of his way to turn that steaming pile of dung (the email investigation) into pumpkin pie. he had already exonerated her when the creepy pervert "married" to her long time rasputin got caught out and had an "insurance file" on his computer. more to the point-the email investigation was going no where because obama was emailing clinton using a private account and an alias. one of the documents was shown to abedin and reported on.

[D]

TomR:
Pl ease give me some examples of good things Comey did for Trump pre-firing and reopening the investigation does not count because he was forced to do that after stalling for a month.

[Tom R]

Rich @ 4:54

What was your personal reaction when Comey laid out his case of all the policies and laws Hillary violated but then said she wouldn't be prosecuted? Did it improve your opinion of Hillary that maybe she didn't deserve to be held accountable or did it piss you off? For me it was the latter.

[hrtshpdbox]

CH, I enjoyed your story about the friendly exchange you had with a fellow shopper at the drug store (the one who thought you should be wearing a mask). In PA they shoot at the sight of nose or mouth, so I comply, but a couple of times, as I've been herded into bizarre "distancing" configurations at stores while being told "it's the law!", I've not been able to avoid declaring "it's not a law, just some dumb thing the governor said!." Most people around here don't seem to mind new "laws" being declared daily...sigh.

[Captain Hate]

What did Low IQ Meeka tweet to provoke that reaction?

[hrtshpdbox]

For me it was the latter.

TomR, for everyone it was the latter, and it's why Hillary hates Comey. Trump hates Comey for entirely different reasons. Comey-hating is bipartisan.

[hrtshpdbox]

Off?

[D]

These Dem governors are going to be voted out of office for this tyranny.
Heart is right Wolf just ordered this nonsense.
It is not a constitutional law
Wolf needs to be schooled like Evers was in Wisconsin.

[Tom R]

Maryrose @ 4:56

You yourself said that Democrats think Comey cost Hillary the election. The Democrats have obvious reasons for thinking that. I think most people would agree that if Comey's actions cost Hillary the election then by default that means those same actions helped Trump win. Are you going to disagree with yourself?

[Tom R]

TomR, for everyone it was the latter

Heartshapedbox

No argument there. How many of those who were pissed off showed up in droves to vote for Trump?

[Jane]

D,

You might be right about the payback. Funny that doesn’t bother me at all.

[MissMarple2]

Hey @DailyMail - you wanna explain a way that you're supposed to eat lunch WITH a mask? 🙄 pic.twitter.com/tdAEnFu4cB

— Chicks On The Right (@chicksonright) May 20, 2020

Link goes to a Daily Mail sniffy article. Chicks on the Right caught this because they are here in Indy.

This is what the Left is reduced to - griping because you didn't wear a mask at lunch.

Pffft.

[rich]

>>>What was your personal reaction when Comey laid out his case of all the policies and laws Hillary violated but then said she wouldn't be prosecuted?<<<

as i have said before, and many times, it was his attempt at the "lieberman pivot" (in reference to lieberman's pivot during the clinton impeachment drama) ... he made a moralizing statement condemning the conduct, then pivoting, to technical and arcane rules he made up as to why the investigation ended. comey didn't have the light touch that lieberman had so it all came off as dishonest grandstanding. the graywashing lie worked again for the clintons in the end though-the story was announced by hillary at of all things a un press conference in 2015, the media fed her softball questions every time, and in the end it just became tired and old news.

why she really lost: her "pickle strong" health didn't pass the eyeball test; she didn't campaign in Michigan, Wisconsin (i don't even think she had a campaign stop here), or Pennsylvania; and she was the most unlikable, polarizing figures put up by a major party in a generation.

[Rocco]

A couple of dudes at TheWin were calling Kayleigh "Honey Badger" I like it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3WjnLn9p3U

[Marlene]

hrtshpdbox...on our trip back to Maine from Florida,we stayed in PA one night. When I checked in,the desk manager was behind plexiglass and wearing a mask. That was the first instance that I'd seen that. When we left at the crack of dawn the next morning,the overnight guy (who wasn't wearing a mask) told hubby that everyone had gone crazy. :)

[Captain Hate]

Box,

The social distancing crap is more fake science imposed on us by state decree. Even my PT daughter, who's the only member of the family I can discuss these things with calmly, admits that. She knows better than to try and snow me with idiotic talking points and even admitted that her best practices suggestions were untested hypotheses.

[JimNorCal]

GUS: "when it snows 30 inches in Buffalo, does Houston shut down?"

I am totes stealing that one.
(Sorry, been in and out today)

[Extraneus]

Sen. Lindsey Graham Demands ‘Unmasking’ Records on Trump, Members of His Family and Campaign

Did Tucker Carlson including Lindsey in his recent ass kicking of GOP phonies get Graham's attention?

[Old Lurker]

Cap'n, I heard it all called "Fear Theater".

My wife is now counting and claims "femall" is my most used phrase lately.

[hrtshpdbox]

Ext, also, re: Amazon. Since I started on April 5 there's been three COVID cases announced at my facility. There's only one entrance/exit, and we've all walked through the same turnstiles, etc. Masked, of course, and with every surface being wiped down continuously, and everyone having their temperature taken every time they enter the building - but still. Most workers just shrug and go about business.

[rich]

and lets catalog some of his other failures:

-the fbi let a walk in fly across the country and shoot up the baggage area of the miami airport

-the fbi had more than enough leads in the years leading up to the orlando shooting to have placed mateen under arrest. they let the doj bungle the prosecution of the wife and then released-to the surprised of no one-that pop was a long time fbi asset. said asset showed up at a hillary rally.

-the fbi allowed ms-13 to spring up in every field office district.

-san bernardino ...

-garland

and so it goes.

[Jim Eagle]

l don't wear a mask. I am not infected. I have been tested by my personal physician. I obey, the best I catan the one way arrows and 6 foot tapes at Publix, but its a joke and everyone knows it.

Given that, it is basically 50/50 at Publix and CVS as to mask wearers and not. Same at ABC. But then most there have other prophylactics to keep them free:)

[Extraneus]

Comey's insubordinate usurpation of the AG's authority to make prosecutorial decisions was clearly an apple-polishing move designed to curry favor with Hillary, and rightly got him fired.

[Captain Hate]

OL,

Have you had a similar discussion with YL. My daughter readily admits that being a doctor of PT doesn't have the same rigor as an MD and, unlike DR JILL, doesn't append that to her name; plus she knows I'd ridicule her mercilessly.

[GUS]

"we" accept your apology TomR. So you don't have a list of who "we" represents??? I didn't think so,
Carry on sir.

[D]

TomR:
Comey was forced to reopen the email case that upset the Dems
Rich is correct as to why Hillary lost.
Where is the list of positive things Comey did for President Trump before as Gus would put it he got -hit-canned?

[jimmyk]

And here we have a perfect example of progs listening to the science

OMG, is that not the stupidest story, and maybe the stupidest woman, on the planet? She thought HCQ would prevent her from catching the virus?? It might have saved her life, given that she has a serious chronic illness. But she probably wasn't taking zinc.

Were these people always this stupid, or did Trump just zap their brain cells?

[hrtshpdbox]

Marlene, PA residents are expert kool-aid drinkers, you can bring out the hoops and people will jump right through if the Governor suggests it. I wonder if some of these folks will ever be comfortable again if they're not being told what to do.

[rich]

and recall that the comey presser was july 5th, by-and-by, when the trump as putin stooge media campaign went live with a foer piece (late july 4th) and then dozens of stories afterwards

[Neo]

The lengths the hospitality industry has to go to be viable ...
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/sonesta-resorts-to-use-anti-pathogen-technology-in-sanitisation-programme

[Neo]

PA Gov Wolf is a lame duck

[mike in houston]

GUS: "when it snows 30 inches in Buffalo, does Houston shut down?"

I Just want to know, when we got our 30+ inches of rain why didn't other rainy parts of the country shut down? :)

As to maps, it is really amazing how some people have no sense of distance. We had good friends visiting from the northeast who wanted to visit El Paso for the day. I had to get a map and show them that driving to El Paso from Houston was driving half way to California.

[GUS]

Just got off the phone with STRAWBERRY FIELDS and SANDUNCE. A couple of Twitter Sleuths stopped by and had a couple brewski's. I've got the inside scoop now. And I'll be back later after a few CUT and PASTES.

[Rocco]

Marlene,

Smallies are a blast, they shoot out of the water like rockets when hooked. We have some nice smallies in Wachusett Reservoir. Part of the Quabbin system. But I've always chased those big lakers there, which I believe are called togue in Maine.

[JimNorCal]

So it wasn't 'box who penned the guest post.
Hmmm.

I wonder if we'll ever know. I'd guess it is a former-JOMer who left due to lack of enthusiasm for Trump.

[lyle]

wanted to visit El Paso for the day.

From Houston. Heh.

I’m always amused at folks I meet from back east who don’t really understand the vastness of out west.

[rich]

Maybe Neo?

Is Specter still around, i don't think he has posted since 2008?

[Another Bob]

John Fund, from a month ago.

https://news.yahoo.com/forgotten-hong-kong-flu-pandemic-004728750.html

[lyle]

And now that I’ve written that, it perfectly underscores the idiocy of these governors all falling for these insane “model” predictions of the commie flu and shutting down their states. Well, except SD and ND, of course. Gah.

[Rocco]

Techno Fog
@Techno_Fog

It's bad enough that Judge Sullivan is refusing to dismiss the case against Flynn.

It's even worse that his decision was influenced by a WaPo opinion column written by David O'Neil.

O'Neil is the lawyer for Sally Yates - who witnessed/participated in the effort to oust Flynn.
Image

https://twitter.com/Techno_Fog/status/1263194090788831234

[MissMarple2]

Sec. Wilbur Ross
@SecretaryRoss
·
4h
We heard the message from industry loud and clear that previous regulations were too restrictive. The new rule ensures that U.S. space companies will remain competitive in the fast-developing global mark

[GUS]

Rodham was never ON THE HOOK by the FBI. Strzok put the fix in, Comey ok's THE FIX. Then THE TARMAC incident changed things. Shortly thereafter (as I recall) Comey made prosecutorial decisions on stage on Mic, FOR Loretta Lynch. Rodham nor Lynch, nor BILLY THE RAPIST were held to account.
Lynch had every opportunity to chastise Curtains Comey the BIG SLEAZE himself. But of course she was in on it.
Rodhams' filth has gone unpunished, yet some folks think Comey did her in. His intent was exactly the opposite. The shit stew was bubbling and instead of RICE being the stooge, this time it was COMEY being the go-fer boy.
Rodham's filth and unpunished criminality was being swept under the rug. AMERICA didn't fall for the BANANA in the TAIL PIPE, this time.

[Another Bob]

“ a former-JOMer who left due to lack of enthusiasm for Trump”

Wasn’t Ballard in SW PA or WV?

[Rocco]

I'm with Fitton.

Tom Fitton
@TomFitton
Obama did it. And Barr just announced DOJ will do nothing about it. @JudicialWatch
will keep up the heavy lifting for justice. #Obamagate

https://twitter.com/TomFitton/status/1263230008123850764

[rich]

rick lives in washington iirc.

[Another Bob]

Yeah rich, I thought Washington PA.

[GUS]

Yes as I was emptying my desk and saying my SOCIAL DISTANCED goodbyes to friends from 8 years in the office, I packed up the picture of me and RODHAM, then I got OBAMA to sign a picture of the 2 of us together. I stood at my desk, as a SERVANT readied my boxes for transport to U OF DELAWARE, and my phone rang just ONE MORE TIME. It was the OBAMA WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL. He had a request for me!!!
He asked me to write a load of horseshit, saying that PRESIDENT ZERO, always did EVERYTHING "by the book, by the book, by the book." I chuckled, and I said, "that's not what REGGIE LOVE says".
We laughed a final WHITE HOUSE LAUGH, then I e-mailed myself, what HE TOLD ME TO E-MAIL".

Cheers
Susan Rice.

[rich]

pacific ocean.

[hrtshpdbox]

Overall, Barr has to get a B+; how many people has Trump hired that we can give that high of a grade to? Pompeo and Grenell an A, but then...it's difficult, this swamp-draining business.

[henry]

It would be more difficult if he drained any of it.

[Another Bob]

I have recollections of his talking with apparent native knowledge of SW PA / WV.

(shrugs). OK, never mind,

[hrtshpdbox]

Henry....no progress at all? Without Trump, the intelligence agencies would be unexposed. At least I, personally, had no idea that they were that corrupt and arrogant.

[lyle]

“ a former-JOMer who left due to lack of enthusiasm for Trump”

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

[henry]

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

[JimNorCal]

"how many people has Trump hired that we can give that high of a grade to"

I like (sp?) Mick Mulvaney