Politics Thread

[paulxu]

Mr. Flynn’s request that Russia avoid ‘escalating’ tensions in response to U.S. sanctions in an effort to mollify geopolitical tensions was consistent with him advocating for, not against, the interests of the United States,” Shea wrote. “At bottom, the arms-length communications gave no indication that Mr. Flynn was being ‘directed and controlled by … the Russian federation,’ much less in a manner that ‘threatened … national security.’”

Looks like someone read the transcripts. (DOJ has had them all along of course. They were ordered to release and never did.)

Makes you wonder why Flynn would lie doesn't it.

[paulxu]

We seem to have a desire to "shoot the messenger" if we don't like the message.
Or attribute something to a set of facts if we don't like who is giving them.

With all this back and forth, I would again recommend to you Marcy Wheeler's site and her analysis.
She backs everything, and I mean everything, up with reference to documents, court transcripts, files, etc.
You might find her thoughts on what the judge can do with all of this interesting.

https://www.emptywheel.net/2020/05/0...-flynn-volume/

And here's some information on people who were interviewed who did read the actual transcripts and then spoke to the White House.

https://www.emptywheel.net/2020/05/0...d-sally-yates/

[Masterofreality]

Keep spinning Paul.

Marcy Wheeler is a clear Leftist Hack who was Howard Dean's Campaign Manager and only writes for Leftist leaning publications.
In other words she is a Steve Bannon, who I don't read either, on the Left.

Do better.

[Masterofreality]

Looks like someone read the transcripts. (DOJ has had them all along of course. They were ordered to release and never did.)

Makes you wonder why Flynn would lie doesn't it.

The DOJ hasn't released them because they are embarrassing as hell- to the FBI and the old DOJ. Barr is probably doing the Department a favor.
And no. Doesn't make me wonder at all. just read the Bloomberg article, or any of the many others that lay the timeline out, including in the Wall Street Journal, and how Peter Strzok (you know, the Agent in the Flynn & Mueller Investigation who was texting with his side piece Lisa Page about undermining Trump's administration as a "back-up plan") pressured Flynn to plead-after assuring him he DID NOT NEED A LAWYER PRESENT in what was supposed to be a casual interview about his contacts months earlier. Then there was manufactured evidence to pressure Flynn to plead- after not even showing HIM the transcripts. Even the majority of the agents that were on the record after interviewing Flynn have said that there was no evidence that he lied, but Mueller was so desperate for a "KILL" in his case that they went after Flynn anyway threatening to prosecute his son too.

This was malfeasance on the highest order. And something that we should all be fearful of when a renegade Justice Department, as was the case under Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, just throws ethics to the wind to get "Gotchas".

[paulxu]

Keep spinning Paul.

Marcy Wheeler is a clear Leftist Hack who was Howard Dean's Campaign Manager and only writes for Leftist leaning publications.
In other words she is a Steve Bannon, who I don't read either, on the Left.

Do better.

Stop with this shooting the messenger. It's her own site. Just read the links to actual documents instead of spinning yourself.
Read some files and transcripts. Then make up your own mind.

[Masterofreality]

Stop with this shooting the messenger. It's her own site. Just read the links to actual documents instead of spinning yourself.
Read some files and transcripts. Then make up your own mind.

I read the links. She's still a Leftist Hack. See Paul, I actually read things.

Do you read Breitbart for a differing opinion? Would you shoot that Messenger?

And how about addressing the statements made in the Bloomberg article and the items I noted above? Or do you don't want to bother to read that either because it would ruin your pre-concieved mindset?

[paulxu]

I did read the article. Although persuasive to one side of the story, it omitted some key factors.
It asks this quesion:

But it’s also fair to ask why, just before a new president took office and against its own investigators’ recommendation, the FBI’s leadership kept the case open without proper predication.

You might find the predication by reading the actual interviews of the people involved, rather than just commentators.
You don't like Marcy Wheeler, but she links to documents. I would recommend reading those, including the ones that answer the Bloomberg article question.

You'll find the investigation into Flynn's activities continued because of DOJ concerns with Russian influence in our election process, a concern that even the Republican senate agreed was warranted, and that the intelligence committee rightfully was worried about.

As to how it all might proceed, these two articles (especially the second) might be helpful...despite the source which I'm guessing you might not like:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...691_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...691_story.html

[Masterofreality]

I did read the article. Although persuasive to one side of the story, it omitted some key factors.
It asks this quesion:

You might find the predication by reading the actual interviews of the people involved, rather than just commentators.
You don't like Marcy Wheeler, but she links to documents. I would recommend reading those, including the ones that answer the Bloomberg article question.

You'll find the investigation into Flynn's activities continued because of DOJ concerns with Russian influence in our election process, a concern that even the Republican senate agreed was warranted, and that the intelligence committee rightfully was worried about.

As to how it all might proceed, these two articles (especially the second) might be helpful...despite the source which I'm guessing you might not like:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...691_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...691_story.html

And I’m guessing that Paul does not like the NEW YORK Post. Probably doesn’t care for Bloomberg either, but this from the NY Post and the previously cited Bloomberg article in Post 5667 of this thread lay it all out.

http://nypost.com/2020/05/07/michael...omplete-fraud/

[paulxu]

Sure, I read that. I hope you keep an open mind that there are a lot of facts missing in that article.

You might try her review this morning of missing information:

https://www.emptywheel.net/2020/05/1...l-transcripts/

Or of a career prosecutor that can now speak out (those still at DOJ still can't).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...appened-again/

Perhaps someday we'll see the full transcripts. The concern of people like Sally Yates was that by Flynn lying, he set himself up to be blackmailed by the Russians. That is always a legitimate concern for national security, especially for a brand new administration. You don't want your national security advisor in a position to be compromised. Flynn understood that when he plead guilty twice.

[Masterofreality]

Sure, I read that. I hope you keep an open mind that there are a lot of facts missing in that article.

You might try her review this morning of missing information:

https://www.emptywheel.net/2020/05/1...l-transcripts/

Or of a career prosecutor that can now speak out (those still at DOJ still can't).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...appened-again/

Perhaps someday we'll see the full transcripts. The concern of people like Sally Yates was that by Flynn lying, he set himself up to be blackmailed by the Russians. That is always a legitimate concern for national security, especially for a brand new administration. You don't want your national security advisor in a position to be compromised. Flynn understood that when he plead guilty twice.

Aaaaaaand you just keep going back to that truly EMPTY wheel.

The agents had the full transcripts yet didn't close the case. I don't need to hear or read them. 53 people saw them and agreed that there was nothing there, but just go ahead being comfortable in your TDS and delusion.

I have nothing else to say here.