Show me the money (tax returns), turns into show me the recordings in an issue of he said/ he said.

[sjoes006]

The Comey memo! Not to be be unseated by Trump leaking unowned intel from our allies to their adversary. The two actually go pretty well together on this same Russia bias theme.

So we've got different papers presenting this from different angles. The NYT is focusing on the Comey wants to testify but not in private before the Senate but in a public hearing.

The Washington Times is doing their part to give the Whitehouse's rebuttal to the following part that of the memo:

“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo cited by The Times. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

On Foreign Policy and 'the job' of President Trump did say on the campaign trail I'm a smart guy I'll learn as I go. Telling the VP and AG to leave the room before having this one on one does seem to allude to the fact that he knew this was bending the rules at best and didn't want to have anyone to testify. If he said it amongst common company I'd say it was learn as I go maybe.

My pure opinion is he's a charmer who is hard to resist he flatters and understands how to win people over. His mistake is not understanding Comey's commitment to deciding ethically in his actions over anything else. It's what led him to reopen the Hillary email investigation days before election. He felt even if there was nothing there as of yet, and even with the bad timing he had an ethical duty to do so.

I didn't like it due to it being a timed leaked by Russia, as popular fear, but I also couldn't blame Comey and he wrapped it up before the election which was the best he could do.

Now we have a case of He said/ He said.

Trump is threatening Comey that he better hope there isn't a tape. If there is a tape bring it, why threaten as it would absolve him? Comey is saying I hope there is tape it will clear things up.

We have a Director of the FBI, who upon his firing, his temporary replacement boldly corrected the president's portrayal of Comey's reputation in the FBI as to shaky to admired and greatly respected by his staff.

Comey has a spotless record and what, we are supposed to believe he's butt hurt over the firing and is trying to flame the president of the US?

He deserves a public hearing in front of Congress, the people deserve it. The people that voted for Trump deserve it.

[Izumiblu]

I have been wanting an investigation into the whole Russia thing for a while. If I put my conservative hat on, I'd say it's good if there's a smoking gun here. To pull a line from chronicles of riddick, you keep what you kill and have a shot at unifying a badly split party. The only question is when do you go for the kill if at all.

If I put my democrat hat on (as opposed to liberal) I'm not sure removing Trump is the best thing... I might wanna take the odds that leaving him in makes for a unified party and keeping a tighter association between Trump and conservatives is better long term.

For the budget thing, I'd give the dems an 8/10 and the reps a 2/10.

For the Trump care thing I'd give the reps a 1/10 and the dems another 8/10.

It's complicated, there are a thousand ways to skin this cat at this point.

[sjoes006]

I like the first part of what you said. I think we all want the smoking gun and that's Comey. The thing is it is he's done so many things that are pushing he lines of the constitution so we all want to smoking gun to point to and say you're done.

As a fiscally conservative social liberal... my duty is to my country before politics. As a citizen I put the interest of my country and of allies first. He has to go. I didn't like Bush but I never thought he should be impeached.

Trump simply doesn't know anything about international affairs, he's a liar and he's now committed impeachable offenses with leaking intel from another state to Russia and with a this Comey business.

If Comey is allowed public hearing its over.

Then we're left with Pence. I'm okay with that.

I don't like a "billionaire" appointing a whole bunch of white males who we actually billionaires creating tax cuts for themselves and stripping people of health care.

[OlderAndWiser]

There is evidence that a murdered DNC staffer had contact with Wikileaks a few weeks before he was murdered. That is consistent with Julian Assange saying that the DNC emails did not come from Russia but from someone inside the DNC.

Comey describes all of the horrible things Hillary had done and then amazingly concluded that there were insufficient grounds for her to be charged with any crime, but that decision is supposed to be made by the AG, not the FBI.

Anyone who believes they know what has happened, based on what the media tells us, has been seriously duped.

[sjoes006]

I appreciate your insight. I'm going to defer to Comey on this one.

I'm going to defer to information we can validate through multiple governmental agencies.

[OlderAndWiser]

. . . which, so far, is nothing.

[OlderAndWiser]

And fired employees always have a motive to lie/distort/slant/spin their story against the one who fired them. . . right?

[BellePepper]

I think that if you're citing this Seth Rich thing you're allowing yourself to be be distracted. www.buzzfeed.com/.../how-the-pro-trump-media-responds-to-a-crisis-in-just-4-steps

And like it's kind of funny that you say people who are fired when the guy who still has a job lies so much

[OlderAndWiser]

@BellePepper I never vouched for Trump's credibility. If you are a liar, walking into a room full of liars does not make you more credible.

[BellePepper]

I'm not saying you did. I'm just saying isn't it funny to think about something in a certain way when this other thing is happening?

[OlderAndWiser]

@BellePepper No. Everything in Washington must be understood in context. Trump fires Comey for doing a bad job but Comey is possibly investigating Trump. Hmmm? Comey says bad things about Trump but Comey just got fired. Hmmm. Comey is "above reproach in his ethics"; he has a press conference in which he lays out a compelling case against Hillary but concludes there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, usurping the function of the AG. Hmmm? Washington responds by saying Russia "hacked the election" (meaning DNC emails) but Assange says it came from a DNC insider and a DNC staffer who had contact with Wikileaks is murdered one week later. Hmmm?

Personally, I would be much happier with Mike Pence at the helm. But I am not jumping to conclusions about what has happened because EVERYONE in Washington has a bias and any common citizen who thinks they know what is happening in DC is living in ignorant bliss.

[BellePepper]

Well if trump is convicted like we're hoping he's going to be his entire administration would be out and then I think the presidency goes to the speaker of the house

[OlderAndWiser]

@BellePepper No, articles of impeachment would be brought against the president only. If there is evidence against Pence, the House would need to vote separately on articles of impeachment against him. Unless that happened, the vice-president would assume office if the president was convicted on the articles of impeachment.

[BellePepper]

Why do you have to rain on my day like this 😢

[OlderAndWiser]

@BellePepper Don't shoot the messenger!

[sjoes006]

@BellePepper love you Bells!

[BellePepper]

Ty both for putting up with me 😭

[sjoes006]

@BellePepper you're my home girl, march on!

[madhatters4]

when congressmen, even republican congressman start publicly mentioning the word "impeachment" it seems you are on a downward spiral to doom

if he truly did try to convince comey from investigating Flynn (and this memo needs to be produced) you have a clear obstruction of justice case

but the real question if you don't like trump are you really feeling better about Pence led white house?

[jacquesvol]

A special prosecutor has been named:
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller named special prosecutor for Russia investigation www.latimes.com/.../...r-1495058507-htmlstory.html

[sjoes006]

@jacquesvol this. Gives me no comfort. DOJ can't be trusted they are tainted.

Am I looking at this wrong?

[jacquesvol]

Robert Mueller is rather old. (72)

[madhatters4]

@jacquesvol and very well respected. i don't think the DOJ is tainted really unless you listen to Trump who thinks anyone who is not on his side is corrupt.

all i hope is that all this investigation actually leads to something, and i imagine it would, otherwise it would be a lot of time and money spent for nothing

[sjoes006]

As for Pence yes. He's horrible but he at least has an idea about foreign affairs. Look the Obama's did embarrass me during their first 6 months or so with mishandlings ofbrelationshipsnwith Britain and others.

Those were missteps Trump refused to shake Merkel's hand and was painfully rude to her. He's insulted many of our allies.

For me this is so painful because while we can perhaps fix the domestic damage he is doing it will be hard to rebuild the international ones.

While O love the country I was born in I'm a dual citizen but even if I weren't I just think world collaboration and cooperation is key on so many issues. Globalism is here and there's no turning the clock back to 1904.

Pence will be a place holder until midterms help sort things out. He's a Ford and I've accepted that.

[jacquesvol]

After 6 months wrestling with Trump's lawyers he'll give up... like a raped girl.

[jacquesvol]

Mueller will not fight long.

[jacquesvol]

Pretend Clinton did what Trump has done... www.usatoday.com/.../

Just imagine it...

https://i.imgur.com/ZUWmM4a.jpg

[BellePepper]

Especially if she was in the White House omfg. There would be *riots*

[jacquesvol]

@BellePepper This guy is under inquiry today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFBAjhxjQ90

[BellePepper]

Sometimes I feel like there's no point since he's just going to lie

[sjoes006]

Deomcrats want to govern and things to go well. The GOP wants less government and free market. This is what makes the democrats slower and weaker to react. Because they try to respect the democratic process and do their jobs. It does make them come off as spineless sometimes.

But democrats, much like the courts, do get emboldened when people crowd the streets to say HELL NO.

I remember being taught in school that the 60's protests didn't matter and didn't have any effect over and over but the truth is they did. Things did change and it too a whole lot of ass whippings to get there.

If the people don't speak things don't change. But if people hadn't flooded the airports to say "let them in" the courts wouldn't have acted as quickly.

The courts need the support of the people to do the right thing. They can never stray to far ahead or behind if public opinion.

But sadly when white people with money Scream this shit ain't right changes happens quicker. #whiteguilt

[sjoes006]

@BellePepper she would have been an amazing president. I was ready to experience history and have The UK, US and Germany lead together.

I'll never get over this but together we can get past it.

France broke the wave. France is saving our liberty by any means necessary.

I think it's more important than ever for us in The West to operate as a common body bitbexcluding certain bad actors. If one collapses we are all at risk.

[BellePepper]

Did you guys hear that Trump is even looking to get Flynn BACK in the White House? How is this even real?

And I agree with you both. People can make change real change when we stand together.

[jacquesvol]

@BellePepper Flynn was calling to get Hillary jailed.
Now it could happen to him.
Karma is a bitch.
<3 Karma

[BellePepper]

LMFAO it's a beautiful thing!

[abc3643]

When GOP chairman of committees start issuing orders requesting any and all information about the dealings of a GOP president, expect an impeachment. If the GOP does not impeach and remove Trump from office before the 2018 midterms, they will have a disastrous midterm election.

[sjoes006]

That's what it's going to come down to. They aren't going to let Comey speak and this is just going to continue to unravel. Trump won't be impeached until after midterm.

[jacquesvol]

Trrump will be impeached when Pence gathers enough support.

[coolbreeze]

We have to see how all of this all plays out. It's probably going to get worser before it gets any better.

[sjoes006]

Well yeah... if Comey is actually allowed a public hearing shit is going to go down but I don't know if the Senate will allow it.

[coolbreeze]

They won't allow the public hearing. I would be very surprised if they did.

[avengergirly]

For heaven's sake, Donald Trump is the most honest and ethical president we have ever had. When I look at him I see a halo around his head and white light shining down from above. Also, I am the Princess Anastasia reincarnated and living in NY as a thirteen year old girl *S*

[BellePepper]

All of this is so exhausting. Can we just convict trump and get it over with already?

[AustinMan]

With the appointment of Bob Mueller as Special Counsel, Comey will get his day in the sun and Trump may very well end up like Tricky Dick, run out of town on the proverbial rail.

[sjoes006]

I don't know his background but I don't think we can trust any DOJ special counselor. He was picked by Trumps inside team.

They fired Comey and picked up this guy who I'm not old enough to remember.

The press is pretty much silent on his record at this point.

I don't like it. The Senate needs to do their job and allow Comey a public address if he is agreeable.

[AustinMan]

The press is anything but silent on his record. He is held is very high regard by both sides of the aisle and has a spotless reputation as a prosecutor and investigator.

[sjoes006]

Yeah I know now. Hevwasnt a very good one in he Bush Admin but he's legit.

[jacquesvol]

Mueller is 72 : after 6 m wrestling with Trump's lawyers he'll give up. Case closed !

[AustinMan]

Former FBI Director Mueller is as sound a person to do this as anyone around. He served as FBI Director for 12 years, the longest of anyone since Hoover. I'm confident he'll get to the truth.

[jacquesvol]

He won't have the energy and stubborness a 40 yro young ambitious man has.

[AustinMan]

@jacquesvol Oh, you couldn't be more wrong about that. He's like the old bull: he walks and gets it all.

[jacquesvol]

Wait till he meets Drumpfs legion of lawyers.

[AustinMan]

@jacquesvol He has his own legions of lawyers. They're collectively called the United States Department of Justice.

[jacquesvol]

Isn't the DoJ Secretary appointed by Trump?

[AustinMan]

@jacquesvol He's called the Attorney General and he lied to the Senate about contacts with Russia so he's had to recuse himself. Rod Rosenstein, the Deputy AG, is Mueller's boss and since he appointed him, safe bet is he'll support him with whatever he needs.

[jacquesvol]

Sessions recused himself concerning the Russian inquiry, not concerning the general conduct of the DoJ. No money for lawyers, no lawyers.

[AustinMan]

The special counsel is absolutely the right move and Mueller is absolutely the right guy. As for Senate Intel Committee, Comey is set to testify in open hearing after Memorial Day. Don't you watch CNN?

[jacquesvol]

I watch CNN but here it's CNN Europe : it has less US news. I (partly) read USA Today and the US edition of the Guardian online, as well as Politico. com, Reuters, Vox and the Huffpost.
When something special happens I look at the NYT and/or the Washpo.

[jacquesvol]

I like the LAtimes and Chicago Tribune too.

[sjoes006]

Okay Austinman but you have to realize the news we listen to and that presented by Fox or Fox and friends aren't even related.

Fox News only briefly covered the Comey situation as bad leakers. Trump can do no wrong and Fox listeners have no idea who any of these players are.

Best hope is that only 25% of the GOP is die hard Trump. But the majority of the right simply aren't getting news on the story at all.

Middle America isn't informed and doesn't care. They've checked out.

I listen to Fox, CNN, NPR Andrews the NYC, BBC online and radio as well as the Washington Post and Wallstreet amongst others.

People not engaged in politics are like oh okay Comey is a liar and show boating. They don't blink an eye. Unless the GOP starts to take it seriously things won't change.

They seem to think it is funny when the president insults the UK and German leaders both women.

[sjoes006]

@jacquesvol yes the Attorney General is appointed by the President. But The current AG couldn't haveva hand in selecting the special prosecutor. The Deputy AG who wasn't selected by Trump had to take oncthat duty as Sessions had to recuse himself.

The deputy AG is Trump free and there's no reason to believe he's been strong armed by Trump. He was too low bar to warrant such until recently.

Deputy AG isn't complicate and made a strong wise choice in Mueller.

The obstruction of justice evidence just keeps flowing out as two more intel officials indicate they too were asked to drop the collusion investigation by Trump.

Mueller is the best chance we have to get nonpartisan evidence and trial.

My thoughts are there may have been absolutely no collusion. But Trump will go down for obstruction of justice. You can't say I'm the president quit investigating my gang.

This is what happpens When you confuse PODUS for CEO. Accountable to country not the board.

[Dumbbong]

Yeah agree with you.