Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Media, Politics

The One-Eyed Man In the Land Of The Blind: James Comey Set To Be Next FBI Director Despite Past Civil Liberties Controversies

Jcomey-100The Obama Administration has once again reaffirmed the new relativism controlling Washington in the nomination of James Comey as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, even as it struggles to put out the controversy over its attack on free press principles. Comey was a critical player in the abuse warrantless surveillance program of the Bush Administration and will now be put in charge of the people carrying out such surveillance. The Administration has been spinning the nomination by pointing out that it was Comey who opposed efforts of the Bush White House in a famous confrontation by the hospital bed of the Attorney General John Ashcroft. However, while that was admirable, Comey did what all officials in his position are duty bound to do (though few in the Bush Administration fulfilled that obligation). Comey however also was critical in other abuses of warrantless surveillance as well as the abusive treatment of Jose Padilla and Plamegate. He is no hero for civil libertarians by any measure.

Of course, this unconstitutional program and Comey’s role were not fully disclosed because the Obama Administration, like the Bush Administration, opposed (successfully) any ability of individuals or public interest groups to challenge the program in federal court.

Then there is Comey’s knowledge and role in the Bush torture program. While he is known to express reservations, he still went along with the torture program. Soon after taking office, President Obama promised CIA employees that they would not be prosecuted for torture and the Obama Justice Department has blocked every effort to hold officials, including Justice Department officials, accountable.

The media is again following the spin and only reporting Comey’s confrontation on the one surveillance program. Stories are only covering opposition from the right as opposed to his opposition among civil libertarians. Comey is an example that in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is King. His opposition to this one program has excused his failure to stand against a host of other violations.

Source: Guardian

65 thoughts on “The One-Eyed Man In the Land Of The Blind: James Comey Set To Be Next FBI Director Despite Past Civil Liberties Controversies”

  2. Blouise,
    Your two missing comments ended up in the spam filter for some reason. I rescued them for you.

  3. If that is what Glen Greenwald says it must be true, Blouise.:)

  5. Sorry … forgot to erase the Help I used for the other thread

    This is getting frustrating and, quite frankly, not worth the time and effort.

  6. SwM,

    Give it up … we all know the Bush years were better … 😉

  7. Mike Spindell 1, June 3, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Let’s see now Holder, Geithner, Brennan and now Comey, has a continuing pattern emerged of change that I wasn’t hoping for?

    Gene H. 1, June 3, 2013 at 9:34 am

    Some patterns are just impossible to dismiss, Mike.
    ==================================
    The remaining question, then, is who made this “pattern”, “road map”, or “compass” for them (and by extension now – US) to follow?

    If it is a “non-Traditional non-American pattern” (non-Constitutional), if it has a heading toward “the place we came from” long ago (“the king can do no wrong”), and the “road map indicates a flat Earth at the center of the universe” … it probably the machinations of the god “he whose name cannot be spoken“.

  10. I am ready for an old time cop to become head of the FBI instead of a politician. Somebody who started off as a patrolman, working his or her way up through the ranks by being smart, good at crime solving, educated and innovative, and good with people management skills. One of my first requirements would be a strong ethical and moral core, but in the land of DC, that kills any chance of promotion. Instead, we get nominees from the professional politician class who are sycophants to the business class.

    On top of that, the data mining capabilities of the government are downright scary. I am in favor of solving crimes, but am also in favor of that inconvenient Constitution thingee as well.

  11. From David Corn’s Mother Jones piece:

    “Comey’s role in the CIA leak story may or may not be a qualification for FBI chief. But it does show how government can work when top law enforcement officials play it straight.”

  14. seamus,

    You say that as if one cannot enjoy a baby chewing on a dog’s ear all while subverting authoritarianism and promoting true democracy and justice at the same time. I do not find these activities mutually exclusive. Now finding the kitteh? Yeah, I’ll stipulate you can’t do that and subvert authoritarianism at the same time.

  17. What with Google now cooperating with the DOJ in ratting out suspected fellow travelers, it’s not absurd to think that web sites such as this blog will soon be mined for persons of interest. So I would like to warmly welcome Mr. Comey and friends and assure them that this “Mike Spindell” character is the guy they’re looking for. The rest of us are just here for the cute pictures of kids and puppies.

    1. Seamus,

      The guest blogger formerly known as Mike Spindell hss left for an unknown foreign destination.

  18. Mueller, for the sake of the autocratic status quo;
    must be replaced by a Mueller in kind.

    Comey fits the bill so fully;. he may even improve upon the tyranny, cronyism and corruption;

    which has become the norm – rather than the exception!

  20. Let’s see now Holder, Geithner, Brennan and now Comey, has a continuing pattern emerged of change that I wasn’t hoping for?

Comments are closed.