By PatD, a Trail Mix Contributor
Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation
Hi-Yo Silver!
More Posts by PatD
User-Supported News Commentary Hosted by Craig Crawford
By PatD, a Trail Mix Contributor
Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation
Hi-Yo Silver!
More Posts by PatD
I’m hoping the actual investigation is more like the overhead Library of Congress shot from All the President’s Men: long, hard serious drudge work, with the realization that this is too big to wrap up quickly.
Bob Woodward said in an interview that he realized after watching All the President’s Men people tend to be more truthful at night & tell lies during the day.
talk about loose lips possibly sinking some ships. a lot of schadenfreude in mudville today
excerpt from wapo story “House majority leader to colleagues in 2016: ‘I think Putin pays’ Trump”
A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy — made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trump could be the beneficiary of payments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring McCarthy’s assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.
Before the conversation, McCarthy and Ryan had emerged from separate talks at the Capitol with Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman, who had described a Kremlin tactic of financing populist politicians to undercut Eastern European democratic institutions.
News had just broken the day before in The Washington Post that Russian government hackers had penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee, prompting McCarthy to shift the conversation from Russian meddling in Europe to events closer to home.
Some of the lawmakers laughed at McCarthy’s comment. Then McCarthy quickly added: “Swear to God.”
Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: “No leaks. . . . This is how we know we’re a real family here.”
The remarks remained secret for nearly a year.
“No leaks…. this is how we know we’re a real family here.”
OK, who’s Fredo? (Or, Who isn’t?)
Pimlico – Always Dreaming. The track should be good (for Pimlico).
Now we should see a few names bailing the WH, both by leaving and by leaking a lot of stuff on others. Or I should say that those who have been around D.C. for awhile will do it. The rest of the floater family are going to stick together and create more chaos.
Published on May 17, 2017
The Trump-Russia probe gets a special prosecutor, and Fox News downplays a purported memo from James Comey suggesting Donald Trump may have committed obstruction of justice.
What I find this fascinating about McCarthy’s comments are the two different responses that the Republicans have had to the disclosure. First is that McCarthy was just making a joke. The second – made before the tape was disclosed- is it never occurred. Obviously number two is wrong. Number one? What kind of the jokester is McCarthy? Doesn’t strike me as one.
Donald won’t know what is happening unless his name is in the headline
Officials put Trump’s Name In Paragraphs so he will keep reading.
Watching this stuff in real time is amazing. I was too young to pay much attention to what went on during Watergate. And now it’s so easy with this internet thingy. All the resources at our fingertips. Back then, there was only the nightly news and a few political shows on PBS. My father had one Boston paper delivered daily and it was the one with the best sports page (The Boston Record).
It’s a great time to be a political junkie…
Hey Jamie…
I’m sticking with Classic Empire for the Preakness.
Editorial: House Speaker Paul Ryan needs to be replaced with an adult
Jamie, put me down for gunnevera please.
Roger Ailes Dead at 77. No details yet.
Jamie, I too am sticking with Classic Empire.
Boy Howdy a chance to use a great Betty Davis …line
“Good he’s dead”
I know it’s a blot on my own karma but I’m kind of hoping Pussy G will die soon too
Now would be a good time for people to be reminded that PG is not a good business man at all
Pat: A thousand cheers kemosabe! I hope having a special prosecutor means that the pissant’s tax records can be subpoenaed too!
Pogo: re trumplestiltskins commencement speech-I was nauseated to hear the egotistical lowlife speak to those young men who are about to put their lives at risk to protect our shores and relate only to his own fantasized traumas. Disgusting! I don’t understand why anyone ever want HIM to give any kind of speech. He’s the worst public speaker in the history of public speaking!
Craig: Hope you all have a wonderful celebration and I hope your dad especially has a joyous 90th birthday! Re Tab Hunter Confidential: I highly, highly, highly recommend that you & David watch the documentary which is available streaming on Netflix. It was made in 2015 and features a very attractive octogenarian Tab telling his own story with loads of commentary and reminiscences from very familiar names in the entertainment industry. It was an enlightening walk down memory lane and getting to see so many that I admired as a girl was a treat! I was flabbergasted to see Delores Hart in her Rev. Mother regalia sharing her loving memories! Lots of unexpected little tidbits like that! The story of his relationship with Anthony Perkins is heartbreaking. What a varied and amazing life he has had. His partner of 30yrs is one of the producers. I’ve watched it 3 times and notice something new each time. Very well done and interesting documentary.
If only this were still possible.
granny, i saw that documentary about a year ago, what prompted me to get the book for David last Christmas. Will watch it again with him after he finishes the book. Also got him Rod Stewart’s autobiography which he just finished and highly recommends.
They say Mueller is famous for running no leak shops. Darn. Could be awhile before we have substance to chew on, maybe not until any indictments come down, or at least a grand jury impaneled.
KGC
My karma took a beating today as well since I couldn’t resist tweeting The Hell of It. A reprise will certainly be in order for DJT
1. There goes the plan to make dana rohrebacher head of the FBI.
2. mar la ego is just a short helicopter hop to Cuba and safety.
So drumpf’s transition team, headed by who- wait, I know this- Mike Pence – was told by Flynn that he was under investigation before he was hired by the trump administration. So what do you ask? Were you, the trump administration transition team, particularly Mike Pence, when you said that Flynn was fired because he lied to Pense about his contacts with Russia, aware that he was being investigated, and if it was his Turkey connection why wasn’t that a problem?
pogo, imagine how some of those Kurdish soldiers feel about that…those who were waiting for our promised military aid that just recently got processed months after Obama’s admin had agreed to it and handed over to transition team to complete it.
the gang that couldn’t govern straight
ap via msn
Senate panel chairman: Flynn won’t honor subpoena
Perfect theme music: To-the-dump, to-the-dump, to-the-dump-with-drumpf…
If Trump tried to stop the investigation & Pence knew about Flynn, does that take us straight to Ryan 46?
Speaking of music..allahpalooza
Toby Keith Is Joining Trump In Saudi Arabia For A Men-Only Concert – HuffPost
https://apple.news/AWgdtQ5I6TPqRGLleOvXi5Q
I can’t believe people are seriously cheering-on the appointment of a 75-yo newbie to the FBI to be its director for the next 10-years
BB, if you can make meaningful contact with Manning, she’ll be very fortunate for it. Her treatment by our Army was despicable.
Had this been a ‘conventional’ case of espionage, I would not consider a 35-year sentence as being inappropriate. That sentence amounted to about one day for each 58-documents–a pretty good deal. But, as we were to learn, it was not a conventional case. The only good thing to come out of it is that she was able to have her reassignment surgery done while incarcerated.
I know that I have learned from her tragedy.
Nothing like destroying the educational means for unskilled people to get training for better paying jobs.
From Joy Reid
Meanwhile, while we’re all enraptured by Russiagate, Trump and Betsy DeVos are about to gut public education, especially for poor kids
flatus, joe lieberman? they must be kidding.
cbs news:
Rosenstein’s decision to appoint Mueller as special counsel could impede the congressional probes, senators said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said, “It’s now considered a criminal investigation and Congress’s ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited — probably in an appropriate way.”
“One of the big losers in this decision is the public,” Graham said as he explained that Mueller might try to prevent Comey from testifying before Congress. “I think that opportunity has been lost, maybe for the greater good.”
Durbin said that Rosenstein said that Mueller would draw the scope of the investigation, have sufficient resources and won’t be interfered with by the administration.
“That was very reassuring,” he said, adding that the scope of the probe will be “so broad” that Rosenstein refrained from commenting on too much.
Lieberman? Good lord. His firm represents trump – I call that a conflict of interest, bigly.
Lieberman….I thought we were done with that
I heard someone on some station (do not remember when) who pointed out how isolated the floater has been for his entire life. He never experienced anything outside of his arm stretch (stand up and put your arms out and twirl around – that is his world. He has no knowledge of what was beyond the lights and arm stretch on the sets of the television shows he was on.
You have to excuse me for not having any idea of who he was prior to his hate attacks on Obama, I am not om NYC and I do not watch television programs which focus on bounding through tractor tires. All I knew was a rich white guy was attacking the black American president. Even then I did not know who he is.
All that aside, the floater never experienced or knew of those who were not in his immediate inner circle. He could not connect with you if you needed a jumpstart to get your Yugo going after a day of cleaning out clogged traps in his bathrooms. On top of all that he seems to be illiterate and possibly dyslectic
Most importantly – he never expected to win the election.
He cannot fill positions because he requires absolute fidelity of his appointees. Fewer and fewer are accepting nominations. There is prestige to being asked to be a presidential appointee. Under the floater there is a lot less shine to those golden door knobs.
I doubt there are only three places he can go after destroying relations with Europe. Have fun running the trains.
In watergate it was all on tv……we kinda watched it, but it was “them”, the guv’ment ……….
we somewhat trusted our institutions and watched them like Ed Sullivan……
now, ladies and Germans…….it’s us…….it’s not on TV…..it’s like a python on our chinchilla farm…….
Trump unhappy he can’t land his helicopter on top of Masada.
craig, thanks for the “hi-yo, Silver” and all this time I tho’t it was hi oh. here’s wiki on that other special word:
Ke-mo sah-bee (/ˌkiːmoʊˈsɑːbiː/; often spelled kemo sabe or kemosabe) is the term of endearment and inventive catchphrase used by the fictional American Indian sidekick Tonto, in the American television program The Lone Ranger. In The Lone Ranger radio program, Tonto called Lone Ranger “kemosabe”.
Ultimately derived from gimoozaabi, an Ojibwe and Potawatomi word that may mean “he/she looks out in secret”, it is sometimes translated as “trusty scout” or “faithful friend”. Its use has become so widespread that it was entered into Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary in 2002.[3]
In the 2013 film The Lone Ranger, Tonto states that it means “wrong brother” in Comanche.
Being a strong believer in the power of ms Mitchell’s words, at least as regards those of Rhett Butler at the outset of her book, I’ve often kind of wondered why was there a civil war…….could we have somehow not pulled the stupid horse into the city?
I don’t know what Kemo means, but sabe means He, She, or it, knows
I always figured it meant one who names his dog after a form of cactus….
I thought sabe was a Japanese liquor …
what about the derivation of “hi yo” ? some movie writer corruption of the dwarfs’ “hi ho and off to work we go”?
Profound moment: hearing Senator Lindsey Graham tell reporters “This is now a criminal investigation …”
another version of the thread topic:
it’s a bird! it’s a plane!
it’s SUPER MUELLER!!
mild mannered retiree Robert swoops in as super Mueller to save the country from the joker
at what point in the planned 9 day trip does the twit have a full blown panic attack and insist on coming home under the guise of medical necessity… head cold, forgot his security blankie, needed to play golf therapy?
Published on May 19, 2017
A special counsel has been appointed to investigate Trump’s campaign ties to Russia.
Whereas three Confederate statues in New Orleans were moved in the dead of night, the fourth, General Robert Edward Lee, will be removed today in daylight. Interesting – history does cast long shadows but ultimately sheds more light. Just takes wise heads to realize this.
patd,
I’d prefer Mr Mueller to be like the guy who nailed Capone on taxes. Methodical is boring but building a sound foundation of facts is the way to go.
Several times the guy said he wants to be on the road only five days. That along with being told”No” by Israelis that he travels in a lift like everyone normal no drumpf hellofacopter. One writer posited he will be very unhappy with his diet too.
All in all… Sounds great. May he hate every minute.
The Lone Ranger (Brace Beemer on radio) as I remember him and Tonto. It was a wonderful broadcast
https://youtu.be/eQjcsjspkOA
so there’s tape of house GOP leader saying Putin paying trump.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/19/paul-ryan-reacts-kevin-mccarthy-recording-238602
“Spokesmen for both the speaker and majority leader initially denied that the conversation had ever occurred until the Post informed them that it had a recording of it, at which point Ryan’s spokesman changed tack and said McCarthy had been joking.”
Well, drumpf’s approval rating is at 38% at Gallup – that’s 5 points down from a high of 43% 3 weeks ago and 2 points above his low of 36% 2 months ago. Needless to say, he ain’t moving the needle in the right direction.
bb, for someone who had to sleep in his own beddy bye (whether own home or owned hotel) every night during the campaign and who needs (to the point of spending millions of taxpayers dollars) to stay every weekend at mal-a-ego away from the wh, it’s not likely he”ll be able to make the entire trip without a mental breakdown. I foresee something manufactured to come up that shortens the trip.
someone should start a rumor that he’s nominating Preet Bharara for fbi director…. scare a lotta folks.
He’s naming Preet Bharara for FBI chief !
Pass it on.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Imo, picking old man Lieberman to head the FBI would be like picking john stennis to listen to nixon’s Watergate tapes.
#Preet4fbi LOL
now, would you look at that: multiple folks, well-respected political blog, even a hashtag regarding the possible nomination for fbi of former u.s. atty and crusading prosecutor of public corruption preet bharara. remember trump assured preet his services would be retained and you know the donald always keeps his promises and never goes back on his word.
😉
ny times:
Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation
WASHINGTON — President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved “great pressure” on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting.
“I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
Mr. Trump added, “I’m not under investigation.”
The conversation, during a May 10 meeting — the day after he fired Mr. Comey — reinforces the notion that Mr. Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureau’s investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives. Mr. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing.
Preet4FBI
Ms, Dallas and Ms Pat, I phughking LOVE it.
The centipede just lost another shoe. Trump called Comey a “nut job” to the Russians and told them in the Oval Office that this would relieve the pressure on the Russian investigation …..
Patd has fast fingers
Air Force One executing gentle starboard turn towards Guantanamo
According to 2 people, the grand jury(s) produced two sealed trump indictments two weeks ago. Surely, the russkies knew that when they met the deadbeat in der fuehrerbunker.
I’ve got to go buy some geraniums–otherwise I’ll become a potted plant
patd, that Times article you provided really pisses me off.
And by the way, the only grandstanding Comey could be said to have done related to Hillary – he refused to comment at all on the Russia investigation. Exactly how could he have been putting pressure on or hampering drumpf’s ability to conduct foreign policy with Russia? BTW, my thanks to the Times for the story and to the Russian Foreign Ministry for the photo.
I said it before and I say it again – we are phugcked.
Flatus, LOL!!
NYTimes “nut job” firing takes the pressure of the inquiries about his Soviet love. HAH
WashPo “someone close to the president” HAH
One of the frustrating, and exceedingly tiring, things going on is the old norm was on Friday afternoon the stuff you wanted to not be noticed would be released. The new norm is everyday there is something released at five am and five pm, seven days in a row, week after week, month after month. There are no more weekends. This weekend we even have the floater going abroad to insult and abuse people who are not in the confines of America. Sigh.
BB, that could have been the WH Chief Usher, but he already fired her; something about mishandling the dirty laundry
Livestream of Robert E. Lee coming down in NOLA :
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/orleans/historic-lee-statue-coming-down/441105487
Will he urge that the saudis ban Muslims from Mecca ? Will he demand to visit the Empty Quarter alone, to see the stars all to himself ?
Will he demand to be ‘coptered onto Masada & flown into the Western Wall ? Will he demand to be parachuted onto the al Aksa Mosque ?
Will he eat hare stuffed sheep stuffed camel ? Will he take goat & lentil stew with the fingers of his left hand ?
Will he demand to wear the Pope’s triple crowned miter ?
And there’s this from the Times:
Hmmm, I wonder how trumpco decided on Rosenstein?
If the deadbeat gets himself done in by raging mobs, will the wolves descend on happenstance pence, the guy who knew flynn was a foreign agent but short-circuited the vetting, and gave flynn the keys to the NSA.
Hell, I thought last summer that comey deserved the hook. By election day, I believed he deserved the guillotine*.
* My usual over-the-top exaggeration. I don’t believe in the death penalty . . . . much.
XR, think we should start collecting torches and pitchforks?
This has gotta be some of the worst machinations to get rid of the sitting FBI director – or anyone for that matter – and worst kept secrets in the history of the presidency. I guess Comey’s reservations about Rosenstein were correct.
Mr Pogo, Esq,
Rosenstein’s and comey’s thoughts about each other could both be true. At this point, I have to side with Rosenstein. At a later point, who knows ? Anyway, I’ve got my pitchfork handy, and am fueling my torch.
Keep your powder dry and don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes. They may outgun us, but we outnumber them. With patience, discipline, and accuracy shall overcome.
Now, what did happenstance pence ( ha’ pence, for short) know, and when did the scoundrel know it ?
Do not vouch for this in any way shape or form, but Chris Hayes just tweeted
Do we have an alliance of two New York crime families?
This is a list of the WH power players with Trump on the trip. One or more of them is a target.
There may be a confluence of mobs soon. The mafia, the korean, the japanese, and the russian are all interested in something in NYC.
If you voted for Trump………you MAY be a redneck.
—Jeff Foxburger
“If you own a home with wheels on it and several cars without, and voted for Trump……you just might be a redneck.”
—-Jeff Foxenburger
If you’re employed by Goldman Sachs and voted for Trump, while you are probably not a redneck—- you might as well be.
I wonder if there was a large contingent of disgruntled German WW1 veterans who swelled the ranks of the early Nazi party.
Jamie,
Why isn’t kelly ann conway on that list ? I thought she was the WH strategic communications tsarina.
a musical interlude
You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for
Turn out the light
Don’t try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
You may be right
Kelly Ann isn’t on the trip and her role is now “counselor to the President”. More honorific spokesliar for pay not actual job.
The track is pretty muddy, but Jared looks good. If so, did he turn Ivanker to place? And for show, Flynn? Pence is a smart man. How could he not have known?
Actually, the only one in the list who would surprise me is Reince. He sticks out like a sore thumb in that he doesn’t belong there.
Renee, Flatus, you watching the game? Wholly schidt. Largest halftime deficit in NBA playoff history. 41 points. Lebron 22 pts, Kevin 18, Kyrie 14. No celtics in double figures. Wholly schidt. Go Cavs.!!??
Oh my god. Funny as schidt. Kimmel hits a grand slam with I’m Just a Lie. Can’t link it on my phone but go to cnet, google or YouTube and enter Kimmel I’m Just a Lie. Laughing my nuts off (almost).