|
Post by YankeeFan on Dec 18, 2018 19:33:23 GMT
In what way was Michael Flynn "fucked" by the FBI? There was no reason to even interview him. The FBI had a transcript of his phone call. If he had done something wrong, they could have just charged him. He didn't do anything wrong in that phone call, and in fact, the WaPo ran a story the day before that said the FBI didn't see anything wrong with his phone call. Nonetheless, the FBI, using a potential Logan Act violation as the reason -- which even the Judge mocked today -- decided to interview him. They didn't alert Justice, and Sally Yates was apparently pissed when she found out they interviewed him without telling her, and without going through the WH Counsel's office. Now, he should have told the FBI to piss off. And, he shouldn't have lied to them. It's still unclear to me why he even did. He knew his call must have been monitored. He referenced that in his conversation with them. But, it's quite clear that Flynn, Manafort, Gates, and Cohen's real crime is being associated with Donald Trump. None of them would have faced prosecution -- hell, Manafort had already been investigated, and a decision not to prosecute had been made -- save for their political involvement with Trump. We've criminalized politics, and while you may be cheering it today, you'll be lamenting it when it reaches your doorstep.
|
|
|
Post by doctorquant on Dec 18, 2018 19:33:29 GMT
THIS COULD BE THE END OF TRUMP! “All along you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the national security adviser,” the judge told Mr. Flynn. “Arguably that undermines everything that this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out.” Don's take: Liberals will regret this overreach! They must learn to be more centrist! It seems you're kind of overlooking other comments from both the judge and the prosecutor ...
From the judge: "I wasn’t suggesting he was committing treason. I was just curious if he could have been charged. Lots of conspiracy theories out there. Not taking any uncalled offenses into consideration. Was trying to consider benefit. I’m not suggesting treason."
From the prosecutor: "The government has no reason to believe the defendant committed treason."
|
|
|
Post by YankeeFan on Dec 18, 2018 19:34:25 GMT
THIS COULD BE THE END OF TRUMP! “All along you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the national security adviser,” the judge told Mr. Flynn. “Arguably that undermines everything that this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out.” Don's take: Liberals will regret this overreach! They must learn to be more centrist! You must have stopped paying attention to the proceedings once they took a break.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:37:46 GMT
“All along you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the national security adviser,” the judge told Mr. Flynn. “Arguably that undermines everything that this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out.” Don's take: Liberals will regret this overreach! They must learn to be more centrist! You must have stopped paying attention to the proceedings once they took a break. Hey, remember when you said Cohen, Gates and Flynn's deals weren't going to be traded for anything, and they were just pleading guilty to absolve themselves of minor crimes?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:41:11 GMT
We've criminalized politics! Their only crime is loving Donald Trump so much!*
*Except that other part, where they committed crimes while in the employment, or while working for, the administration of Donald Trump!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:42:17 GMT
Sometimes I really do wonder where you come up with these interpretations of what I post. It's very simple: Every two days since c. summer of 2016, I hear about how the latest banner headlines forebode the imminent end of Trump. This is because you exaggerate immensely about this position and, even though you are someone who demands nuance and precise language when it comes to your favorite arguments(.) You are a working journalist who, just hours ago, seemed to express frustration that your standing as such is not granted the deference you believe it is owed. It flummoxes me, then, that you seem to think that "nuance and precise language" is a mockable ideal.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:42:35 GMT
They won the election. Absolutely nothing matters in the 21st-century GOP other than winning elections.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:45:29 GMT
Cliff's Notes:
"THIS COULD BE THE END OF TRUMP!" = Satire of people's excitement over each latest Trump development, when it feels apparent by now that the fucker is a cock roach who survives anything and everything.
Asking for consistent, precise language in works of straight journalism and/or debate = Straight journalism/debate is not satire. Thus, precise, well-articulated language is called for.
|
|
|
Post by YankeeFan on Dec 18, 2018 19:45:55 GMT
The judge was a little hysterical this morning. He seems unfamiliar with the facts of the case before him. He embarrassed himself, and had to apologize after the recess. But, somehow DD and others didn't catch any of this. Judge Says He Regrets Treason Suggestion (12:50 p.m.)
Sullivan resumed Flynn’s sentencing hearing and expressed regret for an earlier statement in which he falsely suggested that Flynn’s activities as an unregistered foreign agent continued into his time as Trump’s national security adviser. Sullivan had asked whether that would be treason.
“I feel terrible about that,” Sullivan said, adding he had never presided over a treason case. Prosecutor Brandon Van Grack confirmed the facts and said that “the government has no reason to believe that the defendant committed treason.”www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-18/ex-trump-aide-flynn-to-be-sentenced-in-washington-court-updateHe appeared especially troubled by Mr. Flynn’s lobbying work for Turkish interests, incorrectly stating that Mr. Flynn was an unregistered lobbyist while serving in the White House. The judge later amended his statements to clarify that the Turkey work ended before Mr. Flynn joined the Trump administration.wsj.com/articles/mike-flynns-sentencing-will-depend-on-courts-leniency-11545129000
|
|
|
Post by Da Man on Dec 18, 2018 19:48:27 GMT
They won the election. Absolutely nothing matters in the 21st-century GOP other than winning elections. You really think that's limited to one party?
|
|
|
Post by YankeeFan on Dec 18, 2018 19:49:05 GMT
You must have stopped paying attention to the proceedings once they took a break. Hey, remember when you said Cohen, Gates and Flynn's deals weren't going to be traded for anything, and they were just pleading guilty to absolve themselves of minor crimes? What were they traded for? Evidence of Russian collusion? LOL. Nope. Gates flipped on Manafort. Cohen flipped on Trump in regards to payments he made, that will never result in a finding that Trump violated campaign finance laws, and on his taxi medallion buddy, and Flynn flipped on his Turkish lobbying partners, for their FARA violation. I was promised treason. I was promised coordination with Russians. I was promised a fucking pee pee tape.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:50:17 GMT
Cliff's Notes: "THIS COULD BE THE END OF TRUMP!" = Satire of people's excitement over each latest Trump development, when it feels apparent by now that the fucker is a cock roach who survives anything and everything. Asking for consistent, precise language in works of straight journalism and/or debate = Straight journalism/debate is not satire. Thus, precise, well-articulated language is called for. People aren't repeatedly saying THIS COULD BE THE END OF TRUMP! is the point. At least not people here. There's discussion about where Mueller goes next. You're mocking that discussion by moving everyone onto THIS COULD BE THE END OF TRUMP! It's OK to acknowledge that it's a really bad thing when a sitting president's top campaign officials are paraded into court for sentencing, and to discuss whether this will lead to charges against the president -- or, as it's written in legal documents, Individual-1. Seems significant.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:51:07 GMT
They won the election. Absolutely nothing matters in the 21st-century GOP other than winning elections. You really think that's limited to one party? The dismissal of criminal behavior and collusion with an enemy government? I do think that's limited to one party, yes.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:52:44 GMT
Also, stating that Democrats should do more than play identity politics, which I think has been my position =/= A demand that Democrats be more "centrist."
I say this over and over and over again: Ten to 15 years ago, my positions on issues like free speech were virtually treasonously far left. (That's intended as hyperbole. Thus, "precise and nuanced language" not called for.) Now, those positions are considered right of center. Democrats and Republicans don't have principles. They have constituencies. (Again: Hyperbole. But not overly so.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 19:54:13 GMT
This is because you exaggerate immensely about this position and, even though you are someone who demands nuance and precise language when it comes to your favorite arguments(.) You are a working journalist who, just hours ago, seemed to express frustration that your standing as such is not granted the deference you believe it is owed. You know what, I never suggested any such thing, but go ahead exaggerate a little more. What I said was you pick and choose what deference to give journalists. The ones you like, you're happy to swoon over them. The ones who made you sad, you post 10 times a day, on multiple threads, talking about what horrible people they are. I don't expect any deference. I really don't care at all how you feel about my career, or my posting history, or my politics. You can dismiss them all you like. That's great! I don't give a shit. I don't think I'm some important figure in journalism, nor to I care if you respect my opinion on Laura Wagner or anyone else. I wasn't talking about me, and you know that. And if you don't, you're a piss poor reader. I just enjoy pointing out how utterly inconsistent you are on this stuff, and since you love to generalize and making sweeping statements like "Liberals keep telling me Donald Trump is about to be destroyed!" without actually pointing to any pieces suggesting as much. Even the most generous hate-reading of your man Charlie Pierce, apparently something you do far more than I do, would not suggest liberals think Trump is on the verge of being ousted. But if you want, I can text you important developments if following the news is too complicated.
|
|