Congress, Constitutional Law, Lawyering, Politics

Report: Coats and Rogers Told Investigators That Trump Asked Them To Publicly State That There Was No Evidence of Russian Collusion

That did not take long.  Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers met with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to discuss the subjects that they declined to discuss with Congress.  Congress then released the information.  It now appears that congressional briefings from the Special Counsel are proxy press conferences in this increasingly strange process.  As expected, Coats and Rogers admitted that Trump did in fact ask them to tell the public that there was no evidence of collusion between his campaign and the Russians.  That was, again, an inappropriate and ill-considered request.  However, the disclosure raises a far more worrisome questions with regard to the role of White House Counsel Donald F. “Don” McGahn II.  The two intelligence chiefs said that they took anticipated the questions over their conversations and asked McGahn if there was an executive privilege assertion. McGahn simply never responded.  That is a highly disturbing account.  Executive privilege is not some tactical toy. It has been defended as a core protection of inherent presidential powers.  No high ranking officials should be sent into a committee without a clear understanding of the status of information or conversations relevant to congressional inquiries.  The non-response was either negligence by the White House Counsel or, more likely and more seriously, a conscious decision to avoid the politically risky decision of either allowing answers or publicly preventing answers.

The failure of the White House counsel to answer the question led to the embarrassing and ham handed responses by Rogers and Coats before the Committee where they did not claim executive privilege but still refused to answer the questions.  I have written that it is not uncommon for witnesses to reserve answers pending review of such questions for either permission to answer or a formal invocation of privilege.  However, the two witnesses in this case clearly raised the issue in anticipation with the White House.  More  importantly, there has been indication that Rogers or Coats or Attorney General Jeff Sessions have indicated that they will inform the Committee on a final answer from McGahn on the status of the information.  Instead, the White House put the witnesses in the untenable position of having to either risk a disclosure of privilege presidential communications or risk the ire (and possible contempt) before the Committee.  Few high-ranking officials would speak without a direct assurance that privilege has been waived.  Frankly, a better approach would have been to say that they had raised the matter with the White House but that the White House had not made any decision on the issue of privilege.

Instead, Rogers testified that “In the three-plus years that I have been the director of the National Security Agency, to the best of my recollection, I have never been directed to do anything I believe to be illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate, and to the best of my recollection during that same period of service I do not recall ever feeling pressured to do so.” Coats gave a more nuanced answer:   “In my time of service, which is interacting with the President of the United States or anybody in his administration, I have never been pressured — I have never felt pressured — to intervene or interfere in any way with shaping intelligence in a political way or in relation to an ongoing investigation.”  The answer about “feeling pressured” stood out as opposed to a denial of being asked.  It may have not been intended in that way but that is the problem when the White House leaves it to witnesses to free lance in the area of executive privilege.

In the end, the leaked statements do not materially change the profile of the investigation.  Trump still has an obvious defense that would work against an obstruction charge.  He had been told that his subordinates that there was no evidence of collusion. Indeed, before his notorious meeting with Comey, Comey reportedly told Congress that there was no such evidence and Trump was not a target.  Trump could easily say he wanted that information to be disclosed to the public because the swirling rumors were hampering his new Administration.

The more alarming information rests with the process (and failure) of the White House in addressing executive privilege claims.  For Coats and Rogers, the White House put them between a rock and a hard place. The question is whether the hard place is willing push the question of contempt if the rock is refusing to answer the question of privilege.

184 thoughts on “Report: Coats and Rogers Told Investigators That Trump Asked Them To Publicly State That There Was No Evidence of Russian Collusion”

  1. Comey had been down this road before. He said that the Clinton email investigation was closed, then had to say publicly that it had been reopened. (not sure that “had to” is right choice, but it’s the one he chose) IF he said publicly that Trump that wasn’t under investigation and additional information came forth, which was highly likely, he would then have to say publicly that the president WAS under investigation. He didn’t want to go down that road again.

    Considering the number of highly placed campaign people were known to have been meeting with the Russians, is it likely they were doing so without the candidate’s knowledge? Possible, but not likely. The investigation into the Russian hacking of our voting systems was underway with more evidence being found as the investigation continues. So far, no indication has been made public that the Trump campaign knew anything about it. Operative words: “so far”, “public”. I’m sure there is evidence in the investigations that we haven’t heard about.

    Since the president released the information that he was not under investigation at the time and has since released the information that he is currently under investigation based on new evidence, Comey was, imo, correct. The FBI gets to do its job and it doesn’t need to confirm or deny the president’s statements. And the president is happy that the word is out. Win-win.

    1. Please, by all means, I only encourage you and every single Progressive Liberal, to continue riding your chosen horse (or elephant) right into oblivion from here to infinity and beyond: “No, we did NOT become irrelevant because of our policies and attitudes, because our corrupt, crooked leaders in unison with our MSM sycophants manipulated the process to nominate likely the all time worst candidate, with enough negative personal and political baggage to fill a large library. Rather, we are only irrelevant because the dog ate our homework-scratch that-Putin stole our votes by paying money to Trump and his administration.”

      Yes, by all mean, do indeed continue with your march toward righteousness, looking backward forever, offering the nation nothing for the future except, “The dog ate my homework,” and, regardless the stench in your pants, “No, mommy, I did not poop my pants…”

      And please, never, ever, change your head coach Nancy Pelosi. Your losing record establishing a state and national low bench mark since 1920 (only a mere C ago), portends only good things to come. A losing state and federal record for seven years straight means it can only get better. Nancy is so well loved, so well received, and so respected throughout this great nation.

      1. You seem to be assuming I’m a Democrat. Not so. I have also been critical of President Obama. I’m actually an independent because both parties are corrupt.

  2. Looks like the left managed to work in every bit of no burger they have except perhaps shutting down government and it all read like ho hum same old marxist leninist crapola

    1. And the asking to have a public stgatement made of no evidence is the exact same in reverse as a public statement of gujilt so what’s tghe big deal besides just another nothing brick in a big wall. Stupid is as stupid does. of course you would ask for that? BFD

      1. Now if the opposite were true and you asked for a cover up that might mean something but when it’s not true? Dems better get in practice. If Mueller doesn’t go after the known guilty parties in all of them he’ll be castrated in the minds of the pubic as another sell out to the left. The answers we want haven’t been touched on yet.

  3. Everyone seems very excited about what a couple of “directors of national security” said, but no one seems to notice that anything that anyone says to the Special Counsel in in the news media the very next day. Does this special counsel work as an investigator of wrong doing, or is he a member of the media? I was under the impression that special counsel investigations were not supposed to be held in the public forum, unless they are being held for the express purpose of discrediting the subject of the investigation.

  4. Is there evidence of “Russian collusion”.
    Journalism has some elements: who, what, where, why, when.
    Russian: officials, business owners, media, army, etc
    Collusion: meaning what? cut a deal for sale of goods; send Hillary the photos of Trump with some hooker; send Trump the photo shown n this blog all the time of Hillary on her dumbphone;
    collusion to alter the election; collusion to start a war;

    When: still going on? Back in Clinton era? Back in Obama era? After the Trump nomination? Before? After Trump victory?

    How was I to know? She was with the Russians too.

    Yes I spoke to the lady at the desk at Southwest Airlines but how was I to know?

    Oh: name one issue in the campaign which was altered by Russian collusion.

  5. How President Trump has been treated has been a disgrace. There’s no evidence of collusion. The Democrats along with Comey was dangling this over his head to annoy him.

    He has every right to be angered.

    No President has ever been treated so unfairly and he has been wrongly accused. It’s human nature to want the truth to be know.

    Trump did nothing wrong.

    1. Agree. This has become a ludicrous shit-show. The professor needs to find another hobby.

    2. How do you know there is no evidence of collusion? Are you being briefed by the FBI? If so, lucky you! There are multiple people being looked at here, not just Trump. Usually, investigators look at the little fish first before concentrating on the big fish.

      If they’re all innocent, then why the hell do they act so guilty? All Trump has to say is, “Neither I nor anyone in my admin was involved. I welcome Mr. Mueller’s investigation because we will be cleared.” But they look as guilty as hell.

      1. If they’re all innocent, then why the hell do they act so guilty?

        Your lefty “slip” is showing. It couldn’t possibly be you believe them to be guilty therefore justifying what you see their actions to be? Let me guess, if Clinton were guilty, why the hell does she act so innocent? Yeah, it’s that obvious.

        1. Well, Sessions lied under oath more than once and only admitted it once he was outed by the WAPO. . Sessions, Flynn, Kushner “forgot” about meetings with Russians and left them off security forms, considered a serious lapse. Nobody remembers the memorable Kislyak. Trump tries to get Comey to end investigation into Flynn. Trump admits that he fired Comey to ease the pressure he felt about Russia investigations – tells Lester Holt AND the Russians this in the Oval Office. Various members of his team keep lying about what Dir. Clapper said about collusion [he said that he was never briefed on this topic so that’s why he saw no evidence].

          No, I thought Clinton was lying about the emails and was not satisfied with her answers.

          1. ZOMG, desklamp! With all that, conviction of the whole lot of them should be right around the corner, right????

            1. Boy, that response is the weakest of teas – LOL.

              I imagine that Mueller has, oh, say 10000X more information and evidence than I do. Probably more.

            1. LOL – sneezes.

              I’d say more like a potentially fatal, Russian acquired, antibiotic resistant, double pneumonia.

                1. Saying he’d better hope there are no tapes is not “a lie.” Trump was bluffing and it put pressure on Comey to tell the truth — to admit that he had told Trump on 3 separate occasions that he was not under investigation.

                  You think Comey wouldn’t lie under oath? Trump knew Comey was a leaker and his tweet put Comey on notice.

                  1. TBob – a man who would leak memos thru a 3rd party is not to be trusted.

        2. “Well, that’s it. You see what you want to see and you hear what you want to hear.”

          —Nilsson, The Point (1971)

          1. George,
            I don’t trust the whole lot of them, R’s or D’s. That being said, at some point you put down the shovel before you bury yourself.

            1. Olly – there are more registered Independents in AZ than either Republicans or Democrats. When primaries come we are allowed to select one party to vote for their ballot. Lately, the Democrats have been too chicken to put their major candidates on the primary ballot opposed, so they knock out the others in caucus. The major candidates for the Dems are pre-selected before the Independents get to vote.

          2. “People do not believe what they see – they see what they believe.”

            –FFS (2017)

      2. Mueller and his crew of liberals do not act with impunity.

        Mueller, Rosenstein, their staff of Clinton donors et al.

        must be impeached and convicted

        for abuse of the power of government against the People,

        as a conspiracy to conduct a coup d’etat in America,

        through execution of a scheme to falsely accuse and

        illegally remove a duly elected President of the United States.

  6. Gotta roll back the video on this. The Arab uprisings, Ukraine, North Korea & Israel under Obama & Clinton years.

    Life wasn’t that bad in Syria & Ukraine before the civil wars started. Elders who were interviewed, said the markets were open, people went work, students went to school, homes were cozy & food was on the table.

    But Obama & Hillary pushed for change. Spent $5 billion in Ukraine to stir up trouble.

    So the Russian investigation needs to include the time of trouble in Obama’s years.

    1. Life wasn’t that bad in Syria…..

      Oh, for FFS. Syria has been a police state since the 1960s under both Assads.

  7. It doesn’t matter how he gets the boot as long as he gets the boot. Yup, create jobs by lowering taxes on the top few percent, gut the EPA, bring back coal, use the most expensive yet least effective border controls, and lots more. The man is an idiot. We need to admit the mistake and put someone with some self respect in the White House. There is no way Trump has any self respect; ego, oh yeah, but no self respect. Or, he is sociopathic to a ‘T’rump.

    1. Do I remember you saying you lived under a bridge, I can’t remember?

    2. Admit the mistake? One side had more votes than the other. We all accept the results. Might want to consider that Trump’s side is just a little bit heavier armed if you want to go down the road of over turning elections based on poor decisions by the electorate..
      Maybe you might apologize to your brethren for not taking a little bit more care in motivating Bernie Sander’s voters to vote for HRC.
      That was the mistake my friend, alienating anyone who dared question HRC’s right to be queen.

      1. The difference between the lesser of the two evils, who happened to lose, and the quintessential evil, who happened to win, is simply that, the lesser of evils. Along with being the lesser of the two evils, Clinton is vastly more experienced, connected, self made, and is the choice of her party. Trump is a buffoon, born rich-privileged-connected-etc, has no idea what he is doing, and doesn’t even enjoy the support of his party. As regards the good old check and balance system routine that might be a good thing. However, when you step back, Trump spells failure.

        1. You have to admit Trump is evolving. He told an Iowa crowd his latest idea: solar panels on the southern border wall he’s building. He’s so, so outside the box. Say, hey Willie!

          1. Steve Groen – assuming the illegals did not break the solar panels, it would help with electricity in the SW.

          2. He also told them he wanted a bill that was already passed by Bill Clinton 20 years ago re: immigrants receiving benefits only after five years. And on cue, his useful idiots all cheered.

        2. Why is Trump knocking Syrian planes out of the sky? Why is he expanding these wars when he has no idea what he is doing?

          1. frankly – oddly enough, Trump has not been personally knocking any planes out of the sky.

                1. Paul, First she’s Joe, now she’s frankly, our favorite mom of Swarthmore may be doing a Bruce Jenner!

                  1. Don’t like to hear the fact that Trump is breaking another campaign promise by increasing US involvement in Mideast wars and especially Syria, eh? Have a nice day.:)

                  2. At NATO headquarters’ cafeteria, a soldier dropped his fork during dinner. Obviously, Trump knocked it out of his hand, breaking a campaign promise to support NATO.

              1. bettykath, I always will be intellectually honest and find agreements w/ disagreeable people. I voiced my fears when Trump won that he might try and be a tough guy to impress the generals. Trump went to military school and has the mindset that generals are the cool guys. My concern is increasing. Ironically, it’s the guy you hate, Steve Bannon, who is trying to counterbalance this.

                1. Nick,
                  I don’t believe Trump has any more interest in impressing Generals than Obama had in depressing them. What I believe appears to be “alarming” is a CinC with a different worldview than what we’ve seen from the previous administration. As an example, when I first went to instructor school in the Navy they taught about how to manage a classroom. They emphasized that you need to initially be a strong leader to set the right tone. It was from there you could ease off as needed. If you instead came in weak, then it would be a very difficult task to gain the respect of the class. President Trump is following a weak leader from which this country (and the world) has been conditioned to expect the last 8 years. The shift in worldviews from Obama to Trump will be unsettling to many, many people. Don’t forget Obama sought to fundamentally transform America. Well, Trump is also trying to do the same thing. Don’t be too concerned with this CinC, Obama may have eliminated many flag level officers, but we still have many patriots serving this country that will put country before politics.

                    1. Me too Nick. I’m still not comfortable with him and like most politicians, I don’t trust him. That being said, he’s been a pleasant surprise.

                    1. There you go again, making assumptions. No words about Bannon means no words about Bannon, one way or the other. You’re badly misinformed about a lot of things, now I know you’re just like Trump and make things up to suit yourself.

          2. Why is Trump knocking Syrian planes out of the sky? Why is he expanding these wars when he has no idea what he is doing?

            Do you bother to read your own posts? You ask a question and then follow it with an answer to your own question. How do you know he has no idea what he is doing? Unless you are receiving the same intel briefings and have access to the ROE provided to the area commanders, I would suggest it is you that has no idea what you’re talking about.

            1. Olly, I mostly agree with your comments, but I do not see where the U.S. has any right to shoot down another country’s plane in their own territory. It’s just not our business. How can we possibly justify that action? If another country shot down one of ours over Florida, we would declare war immediately.

              These proxy wars are going to put us in WWIII, much to McCain’s delight and profit.

              1. FFS,

                I also agree mostly with your comment. In principle, I don’t believe the US has a right to violate the rights of a sovereign nation; not for resources or any other utilitarian purpose imagined by our leaders. If however a nation-state like Syria harbors entities like ISIS or other terrorist organizations that have harmed our country or our citizens, then our leaders have a duty to respond as necessary. Personally, I would prefer congress to debate declaring war but that would mean their vote would go on record and put their reelection efforts at risk.

                If Florida harbored terrorists that had attacked Syria, then Syria would be well within their right to defend themselves.

          3. He has an investigation he is trying desperately to distract attention from. When he gets freaked out enough, he’ll shut it down. Then we’ll see which congressional GOP members have been thoroughly castrated.

        3. Trump is a buffoon, born rich-privileged-connected-etc, has no idea what he is doing, and doesn’t even enjoy the support of his party.

          Every time you post your ridiculous rants regarding Trump I chuckle at the reality that he is the President of the United States. If there were an ounce of truth in what you post, how pathetic does that make the best candidate the Left had to offer,to lose to him.

          Nicely done! Bwahahahaha 🙂

            1. NickS

              Have you seen the report on Seth Rich just released by the Georgetown volunteer group? As a PI, you might enjoy this:

              Who The Profiling Project is:

              – An all-volunteer group of current and former George Washington University forensic psychology graduate students and instructors.

              Why we came together

              – To aid the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police (MPD) utilizing forensic psychology skills and tools in hopes of providing at least one actionable item to MPD

              What we found

              – After a three-month review and investigation into the death of Seth Rich, The Profiling Project notes the following:

              1. Seth’s death does not appear to be a random homicide

              2. Seth’s death does not appear to be a robbery gone bad

              3. Seth death was more likely committed by a hired killer or serial murderer

              4. There may be additional video surveillance of the crime and crime scene

              5. The resolution of prosecuting the individual(s) responsible appears to be hindered both actively and passively

              6. Seth’s killer(s) most likely remains free within the community

              https://www.scribd.com/document/351805646/The-Profiling-Project-Seth-Rich-Report#from_embed

              The full report is at the link. There is also a youtube video. The questions start at 1:58 into the video.

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iszcVK5SBI

              And here we are, discussing Trump asking two guys to just tell the truth???

              Squeeky Fromm
              Girl Reporter

              1. http://www.newsweek.com/seth-rich-murder-report-profiling-project-627634 “If this were a professional hit person, they failed,” says Doherty, the team member. “Nothing we’ve seen supports [the theory of] an assassin.”

                The Profiling Project is funded by GOP lobbyist Jack Burkman, who last September announced he was offering a $100,000 reward for information into Rich’s death. “I’m not here to expound on anything even remotely conspiratorial,” he told Newsweek at the time. “The objective here really is just to get closure for this family. This is a young kid in our profession. This could have happened to any of the young people who work for me.”

                Bauman, the family representative, says, “The family hopes that the general public takes the findings at face value—valuable experience in research collection and report writing for students at George Washington University—but in no way should [it] take any findings contained within as new, credible or otherwise lending credence to conspiracy theories surrounding the circumstances of Seth’s death.”

                Doherty says the group will continue to follow the case and investigate new leads or information. “We’re personally tied to this,” he says. “This is a case that we want to solve. We want to provide closure on this.”

                1. That family is scared shitless. And have obviously been bought off. What parents could accept the murder of their beautiful young son so callously?

                3. Monica Lewinsky’s family supported Bill Clinton even after she was crapped on by him and his army. Dem blood is thicker than family. Or, is it fear??

              2. Squeek, Thanks a lot. You are someone I would hire. i will take a look; and w/ such a quick spin from the Dem operative SWM..err, frankly, I am even a bit more interested!

                1. Frankly— I am not surprised that you picked up on that, too. Oh, aren’t we a devious pair? How ever do we manage to uncover such things? Either we are geniuses, (geniui???), or some Dem operatives are just incompetent. I’ll never tell. 🙂

                  Squeeky Fromm
                  Girl Reporter

                2. Squeek is of the infowars variety as are many here. They think Sandy Hook was a false flag and they seem to take joy in harming the aggrieved parents

                  1. frankly – so is the new meme to tar-brush everyone with infowars, just because Meygyn got her a** handed to her?

                3. Squeek, I just read the very thorough report. Many red flags, among them A SANITIZED crime scene including NO SHELL CASINGS!! That is not your typical shooting scene by any stretch. It means this “robber” left all kinds of booty behind but took the time to pick up the shell casings?? That dog don’t hunt.

                  Here’s the thing, Squeek. It took college students to look at this. Why not ANY investigative journalists? Reverse roles, a RNC leaker hurting Republicans and he gets clipped. Every reporter available would be on this looking for Trump hit men.

                  1. That is sooo true! The investigation is far from over, but what I found most interesting is that there is $345,000 reward sitting out there. And if it was just a gangbanger, they would have already been finked out. Because that is a pretty good amount of money.

                    Squeeky Fromm
                    Girl Reporter

                4. Not employed by anyone and have never worked for the dem party. Worked for Jimmy Carter and some legislators years ago. Since then I have volunteered for a variety of candidates. If that gives me cred as an operative so be it. Wonder what fake news organization y’all work for.

            3. Nick,
              There’s a few deeply entrenched ideologues here that have zero credibility in their critique of our government. Issac has proven he can form articulate posts but he lacks a constitutionally-principled foundation for his arguments. He certainly has no respect for the guiding principles this nation was founded on, and for that he will be considered (at least by me) as the very thing he routinely calls Trump; a buffoon.

              1. Olly, He loves Canada and France, where he was born and spent time, respectively. And, he hates the US. It’s no more complicated than that. And yes, his left wing blindness is tedious and does make him our Rain Man/court jester.

    3. The left wing extremist programmers has spoken and usually made The Collective look like stupid in rush hour traffic.

    4. Marin County/San Francisco ultra liberal Progressive Democrat icon Representative Nancy Pelosi was two heartbeats from being POTUS. Cook some popcorn, then pick any of the following videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Nancy+Pelosi+gaffes

      I double-triple dare Isaac to post competing Trump videos.

      Putin, Trump, and the entire Republican Party can not buy as many votes as this apparent drug popping mentally deranged dumber than dirt horses arse Pelosi freely grants. God bless and keep Nancy Pelosi, the gift that keeps on giving.

  8. The more alarming information rests with the process (and failure) of the White House in addressing executive privilege claims.

    Why is that alarming? Because your process wasn’t followed? What’s alarming is the process by which the deep state is trying to undermine a sitting president. Let’s talk about that failure.

  9. Where is the proof of Russian collusion in the 2016 US election? Still waiting…but no evidence has been provided. Instead, it’s clear that Hillary Clinton committed crimes in EmailGate; Pay2Play; Election Fraud–but this is covered-up by the corporate MSM & Deep State.

    Mueller is hiring Clinton acolytes and seems to be intent on avenging Hillary’s loss and his pal Comey’s firing. The entire RussiaGate fraud stinks & this will go down as a sorry affair devised to avenge the Clintons’ loss; coverup Clinron crimes; and perpetuate Clinton lies.

    Refer also to: https://consortiumnews.com/2017/05/11/the-scandal-hidden-behind-russia-gate/

  10. Engaging in diplomacy, discussions, negotiations, trade, educational exchanges with other countries, especially Russia, is what I want my government to do.

    A Trump investigation is needed, not for engaging with Russia, but to fully expose Mr Trump’s astounding lack of knowledge about the world, about history, about science, about the US political system, about the English language, sentence structure, uttering a complete thought, about etiquette and social skills, and about personal grooming so as to stop looking and behaving like the creepiest of used car salesmen.

    1. You hady our chqnce prior to November 8th. So did the rest of the voters. We chose the outsider lottery ticket cdandidate as far more preferable to the shit show the business as usual poltician insiders were offering. Our lottery ticket won. Your 100% sure thing lost. Mostly because of arrogant stupidity which continues to this day. Go play stupid in the street. No one who counts really cares.

    2. I thought we weren’t supposed to judge others by their appearance? Hard to keep up with the Left’s ever-changing rules.

  11. This article proves I’m living in a planet of idiots . Why it is unreasonable to ask people to speak the truth ?

    2. Except the truth to the left is what the party says it is and that changes daily. Programming stupidity is not very hard when you have a corner on the market.

  12. That was, again, an inappropriate and ill-considered request.

    Only in the mind of a lawyer, not in the mind of a human being.

  13. So which time were they lying? America is sick of hearing about this nonsense.

  15. I would hope that even loyal Trump supporters see he is not someone for whom you would want to work.

    1. You’re kidding, right ?
      If your vote is a business decision, as it should be, this guy is the master.
      I knew he would be phenomenally successful, as he has been. Small business owners around this country are in awe of his raw honesty and stellar business acumen.

      Plus “As expected, Coats and Rogers admitted that Trump did in fact ask them to tell the public that there was no evidence of collusion between his campaign and the Russians.”

      Asking your staff to speak the truth publicly? Oh the horrors…….

      1. Inleagle, I don’t disagree w/ much that you said. I’m thinking of all the times WH staff were given talking points only to have Trump hang them out to dry. Maybe it’s just me? I was a small biz owner and always had my employees backs. I lost biz defending my people. I don’t see that in Trump.

    2. Keep hoping is he answer to your programmer. Be careful The Party does not like people who show signs of thinking.

  16. Me and my turtles ae watching The Three Stooges on a television set up at the dock. The show is relevant to this Trump discussion.
    Moe!, Larry! . Cheese! Yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk.

    1. Turtle Joe says that those DC folks don’t know nuthin bout birthin babies. I have not read him any of this blog material yet.

  17. So an innocent man asks those who can prove he’s innocent let Americans know I’m innocent so I can do my job and that’s bad how? Yet Comey goes before America lists more reasons to indict Clinton but then says no reason to indict and it’s OK.
    I have had enough of the lies, innuendo and corruption, can we move on to giving Americans a better life?

    1. Exactly right. And so is DDS, that this is only a problem in the fevered imagination of a lawyer. I say, So What??? When is asking somebody to tell the truth a bad thing???

      Squeeky Fromm
      Girl Reporter

      1. Squeeky, “When is asking somebody to tell the truth a bad thing”?, for me it’s BAD when they knowingly don’t. Everyone here should be outraged that this lie has been perpetrated on America for as long as it has.

  18. I am going to blame the DNC, Hillary, CrowdStrike, the FBI and the MSM for it all.

  19. Sticking to the topic:
    http://hotair.com/archives/2017/06/21/nyts-brooks-lets-face-theres-really-no-evidence-russian-collusion-stuff-isnt-watergate/

    Money Quote:
    “I’m actually getting more uncomfortable with this whole deal, thinking that maybe we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. And I’m bothered by the lack of emerging evidence about the underlying crime, that there was actually collusion or coordination between the Trump White House.

    And so what’s happened is we’ve surrounded the president with this legal minefield, and Donald Trump being Donald Trump, steps all over the legal minefield and blows them up six ways from Sunday. But it’s become an investigation about itself. And you know, I’ve lived through Whitewater, I’ve lived through a lot of these. And there’s a lot of shady behavior that don’t rise to the Watergate level. And I’m just afraid we’re being swallowed up by the politics of scandal, when there’s less and less evidence that they actually colluded. And maybe that’ll come out, but so far it hasn’t, and it bothers me.”

  20. I think one might find the whole American electorate in contempt of Congress.
    Play games, avoid hard work, ignore rules, enrich themselves while ignoring the needs of the people and deficit spend recklessly. That is the American way brought to you by our fine leadership in our government.

    1. and like Stephen Colbert said (approximately), “Congress will soon be on recess. That’s when they like to play their favorite game, Dodge Voters.”

      1. Yeah, that whole monologue was a keeper.
        I like the line about leaving a sock on the door so no one would barge in while they were trying to screw the poor.

      2. Especially if they kill the part of medicaid that pays for nursing home care for the elderly.

        1. OMG, you really do believe this stuff, don’t you? Yes, all those old folks are going to be dumped in the streets, without any Depends, or even wheel chairs! Run in panic! Scream and shout!.

          Squeeky Fromm
          Girl Reporter

            1. I scanned thru your link, and found that Medicaid pays for about 40% of the births in the country. Hmmm. Sooo, maybe a choice will have to be made whether to cover the huge number of irresponsible single mothers or take care of Granny in the nursing home. This is a good thing! Because I am betting that Granny is going to win this one. Instead of:

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUeeEyh7aPM

              Squeeky Fromm
              Girl Reporter

              1. Squeek, It’s the old playbook, scare the elderly. It doesn’t work anymore but it’s all they got. Look @ the Georgia election. They poured the most money ever into it, and still lost. The Dems need young blood and some mainstream ideas. They have old Pelosi/Hillary and old, stale ideas.

                1. And out of the other side of their mouth they whine that the bill is secret and nobody gets to see it. So how do they know we’re planning to throw Granny into the streets, which will be running with raw sewage at that time?

                  1. If they got off their dead couch potato asses and attended the meetings…showed some interest that sort of thing….but no… they have to play stupid in rush hour traffic

                  2. The Democrats offer paradise if you vote for them.

                    Vote for the DNC and you will have the most tolerance, most fairness, and you will be cared for and cherished from cradle to grave.

                    Like the Deep Blue Meccas of Detroit, Illinois (which now has a Republican governor at a loss as to how to deal with the big labor union pension plans that are once again leading to bankruptcy) or California (where they are throwing away billions on a vacation train to San Francisco while we have the most potholed roads in the Union, and they instilled a gas tax and road diet to try to force people out of their cars and into public transpiration that nobody can afford and nobody wants.) Or there is the Flint poisoned water crisis, where everyone who made a decision in that flow chart was a Democrat.

                    So, do they keep their promises? When you vote for Democrats for President, governor, or local governance, do they come through on their promise to make your life wonderful? Did life in Chicago become bliss when they had a Democratic President and Blagoyavitch as Governor? Did gang violence, poverty, and drug abuse grind to a halt? Did employment skyrocket?

                    No, no it didn’t. In fact, we had the lowest homeownership in decades, lowest job participation in decades, and unemployment figures only lowered when people dropped out of the job market entirely. The only thing that rose was food stamps and Welfare rolls. Oh, that business boomed. If the Democratic Party really led to a better life, then we would see a better life in Deep Blue areas. But we don’t. So apply critical thinking.

                    After Trump took office, I had my doubts. But unemployment dropped, business boomed, and my IRA had the fantastic returns. And Democrats are starting to learn that people care most about the economy and jobs. They want to make a good living, not eke it out on stale government bread. So what are the Democrats doing in those hotly contested areas? Trying to sound like Republicans, and promising tax cuts to businesses. You know…businesses…otherwise known to Democrats as the Devil Who Didn’t Build That. I’m sorry, but it’s those who never paid a dime in taxes in their lives who didn’t build that. Taxpayers have built every government infrastructure in the country, and businesses pay enormous taxes. Small and large, they keep the country humming, so that we have the funds to care for the indigent, the helpless, those down on their luck, the handicapped, the elderly, as well as those who won’t get up off the couch. We can take care of them all when the economy hums.

                    How many people is Venezuela taking care of? Where most of the country goes hungry, but, hey, they are the Socialist Nirvana paradise promised, right? It’s all “fair” and the evil business owners and farmers have been broken. Power to the people! Now go starve and fight over toilet paper in a paradise of equality of condition – privation.

                    That said, Republicans offer to be business and job friendly, but they are for sale, too. Anyone with money can buy a Democrat or Republican. Take the money out of politics, I say. And emphasize individual liberty and the Constitution and stop mucking about with Socialist utopias. It always ends in deprivation for the people.

                    1. Excellent post Karen!

                      I struggle trying to understand why anyone clings so tightly to a political party that accomplishes the exact opposite of what they market. The Democrat base is the Charlie Brown to their Lucy ‘football holding’ party leadership. I agree that the political class in general is corrupted, which is why I no longer affiliate with any party. I would love to see the day where only the hardcore left and right registered D and R and everyone else registered Independent. Let those two parties sweat out how to reel in those 40% to 50% that won’t buy into their con any longer.

                    2. KarenS, You are someone whose comments I ALWAYS read. Great one!

              2. So, Bottle Blondie, you assume that the 40% of births in this country are all to “irresponsible single mothers”? Are you bucking for a job of Fixed Non News? You are dumb and apparently blonde enough for consideration. Just be sure to show a lot of skin.

                BTW: in a prior career, I was a public health nurse. Most of our Medicaid maternity patients were married. Their husbands were employed, but in low-wage jobs.

                1. BTW: in a prior career, I was a public health nurse.

                  So what? In a prior career Kermit Gosnell was a doctor.

                  1. So what? I know what I’m talking about in challenging a dumb bleached blonde who assumes that women who cannot afford maternity care are both unmarried and irresponsible. BTW: providing maternity care saves money for taxpayers, because a healthy birth helps prevent conditions such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy.

                    1. How about women who cannot afford maternity care be responsible enough not to get pregnant in the first place? And if they cannot afford maternity care then who’s paying for the costs once the child is born? I’m not sure what they are teaching in nursing school but empathy without reason is a dangerous combination.

                    1. Olly knocked out Natacha, she just is out on her feet and still swinging. Ref stopped fight in the 1st Round.

                  1. No, Honey, you educate yourself. How does “unintentional” pregnancy equate to irresponsibility? This piece implies that 43% are married. Maybe the “unintentional” pregnancies are due to closure of Planned Parenthood.

                    1. How does “unintentional” pregnancy equate to irresponsibility?

                      Wow! Is that supposed to be a serious question from an educated nurse? Give it a think.

                    2. ??? You asked, ” How does “unintentional” pregnancy equate to irresponsibility?”

                      Uh. . . er. . ., uh. … because girls who take their birth control pills, or use other forms of contraception don’t usually get unintentionally pregnant.

                      What, were you asking a trick question? I, myself, used to have sex, and I didn’t get pregnant. Because I was careful to take my pills. Guess what? No babies, and no baby daddies! And don’t forget, some of these chicks have multiple unwed births and multiple baby daddies.

                      How about you? Have you popped out any little illegitimate kids? If so, how many? If not, why not?

                      Squeeky Fromm
                      Girl Reporter

                    3. Squeeky,
                      My late father-in-law gave his teenage daughter a coin; on one side it said: “Place this side against the inside of the left knee, on the other side it said place this side on the inside of the right knee”. He told her she was to do this until she got married. It worked, well until she met a sailor. 😉

              1. Guessing got you to assuming and assume makes an ass out of u but not me.

        2. Frankly – please research how Obamacare caused deep cuts to Medicaid. I assume you were equally outraged? Under the ACA, Medicaid payments were to be cut $716 billion from 2013 to 2022. In fact, under Obama, Medicaid rates were cut so drastically that many providers would cut access.

          Leaving Grandma out in the cold (if you want to utilize the same tactics that the DNC commonly employs against Republicans.) Or you can picture her being thrown off a cliff in her wheelchair, with her pink fuzzy slippers flying.

          What else was cut under Obamacare? Access to cancer treatment. Not only was the drug formulary sharply curtailed, with off formulary benefits completely axed, but providers were restricted. Unless you miraculously lived close to a cancer treatment hospital that specialized in your disease, AND accepted an Obamacare individual policy, you were going to lose your chance at remission. Obamacare individual policies cut remuneration so badly, in order to at least slow the premium skyrocket due to all the “free stuff”, that most providers do not accept it. So if you had cancer, not only would many of the top cancer treatment hospitals not accept your shiny new ACA individual policy, but there would be no off formulary benefit if your cancer drug was not covered.

          That means death, literally, to many people.

          What a despicable thing to do to human beings. And what was more despicable is that Democrats refused to believe that anything was wrong with the ACA until they started losing elections. And then, all of a sudden, they were interested in “fixing it.” There are counties without a single ACA provider, and without a provider, there are no subsidies, which means that they’ve jacked the cost of healthcare up so high that no one can afford it without the subsidies. Which, by the way, all of us taxpayers pay for.

          The DNC’s ham handed attempt to “fix” healthcare was homicidal, in my opinion. It removed access to life saving healthcare from many people, but they refused to admit it for so long.

          For shame. There is no defense. No excuse. And certainly no moral high ground for Democrats.

          1. Big pharma runs healthcare in this country and will continue to do so until we get Medicare for all.

            1. Canada, UK, have just what you want, “frankly.” Don’t let the door hit ya’ where the Good Lord split ya’.

                1. And you dear woman, are the classic narcissistic socialist. I don’t doubt you “love it.” Actually, I’m pleased you’re happy. But can you come out of your box for just a few freakin’ seconds and understand maybe EVERYONE IS NOT LIKE YOU??

                  “There is no freedom without choice”

                1. I am sure you could. It is only 1% black. But, I wonder if you could easily live in Memphis? Or Baltimore? Or Detroit??? No, I don’t wonder. You couldn’t.

                  Funny, how liberal Democrats just luvvvves them some mostly White Canada.

                  Squeeky Fromm
                  Girl Reporter

                    1. Good. Then you need to move there! The population is really decreasing for some unknown reason. I can only assume that more people are allergic to crab cakes??? Sooo, you should be able to find a really good deal on house! I hear the Monument Street neighborhood is really affordable!

                      Happy House Hunting!

                      Squeeky Fromm
                      Girl Reporter

                    2. PS: Speaking of Baltimore, I just ran across this story! Talk about Syncopation, or whatever that word is. . .

                      Despite spending more per pupil than all but two large school districts in America, at least half a dozen government schools in Baltimore were unable to produce one single student who was proficient in either English or math last year.

                      The schools include Booker T. Washington Middle School, Frederick Douglass High School, Achievement Academy at Harbor City, New Era Academy, Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High, and New Hope Academy. At Frederick Douglass High School, some 90 percent of students received the lowest possible score, with just one student coming anywhere near proficient.

                      http://freedomproject.com/the-newman-report/242-six-baltimore-schools-can-t-produce-a-single-student-proficient-in-english-math

                      Sooo, maybe in addition to an inexpensive house, you could get a part time job teaching,too? IIRC, Baltimore even offers “combat pay” for some schools. Oh, your new life in Baltimore is just screaming for you to come!

                      Squeeky Fromm
                      Girl Reporter

                    3. Squeeky – Baltimore is where they filmed The Wire, right? I would be hesitant to go there as a visitor, much less live.

                2. Loved Victoria Island. Going to Nova Scotia and PEI next month to celebrate our 40th. I plan on falling in love w/ those 2 places as well. I love most places we have traveled to, but this is the only country where I want to live.

                  1. Wanted to go to those two places fora long time but after traveling the British Isles again recently I am not as interested for now but would still like to get there.

                  3. Nick,…
                    I think you should consider living in Canada.
                    You could reside their, get Canadian citizenship, and constantly tell the Canadians how f***ed up they are.
                    We’ll call it “The Isaac Exchange Program”.😊

                    2. Olly – I might consider donating to the Issac Exchange Program. Set up correctly, I could see great value in it.

                    4. tnash, LOL! He gives Canadians, in large very nice people, a bad name.

          2. I suggest you read the Senate bill if and when it becomes available to the public .

            1. At a minimum, expect to see it available as soon as multiple, reliable sources leak it to the WaPo and NYT’s.

              2. Olly – it was officially released several hours ago. Democrats are already condemning it.

                1. So is Rand Paul and three other republicans. It will be scored on Monday.

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