Reflecting on the unmasking scandal and the railroading of Michael Flynn by the Justice Department, the COMMENTARY podcast wonders what Barack Obama could have been thinking at the time? Were the last administration’s concerns noble, or at least understandable, but their execution terribly negligent? Or was there something more nefarious at work? Also, we respond to listener emails.

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There are 8 comments.

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  1. FredGoodhue Coolidge
    FredGoodhue
    @FredGoodhue

    The Commentary Podcast is where I go for the New York perspective.  I already hear a great deal of flyover country thoughts.

    • #1
  2. JuliaBlaschke Lincoln
    JuliaBlaschke
    @JuliaBlaschke

    I think Obama is scared and babbling. He will be protected at all cost by the media, but he is still concerned. Telling.

    • #2
  3. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    @ChristineRosen credulity is basically the opposite of credibility.

    • #3
  4. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    I’m still sometimes amused and amazed when people like @ChristineRosen don’t realize that they are making their critics’ arguments for them.

    So, some of those “public school parents” from elite public school districts in NY and DC etc, had to “sacrifice” to send their children to Europe?  Like, what, give up going to Disneyland AND Disneyworld this year (which are closed anyway)?  How many hundreds of millions of people does Ms Rosen figure may NEVER get to EITHER Disneyland OR Disneyworld, over their entire life?  

    • #4
  5. Laptop Inactive
    Laptop
    @Laptop

    Speak of what you know! How meaningful an insight can the hosts have of day to day life elsewhere in the country?

    Every day I look forward to hearing their perspectives about the current situation, and their experiences under lockdown. Because of where they are, and how well they express their thoughts. The other topics, I have less interest in. The virus and lockdown is the story right now.

    I loved Noah’s very genuine response today, “I’d like to leave”.  It truly is wearing to live over here right now, day after day. That said it all.

    The disappointment of Noah’s kids (the birthday parade) and Christine’s kids (the trip) really is sad. Because you feel the loss of your 5th birthday party in New Jersey, and the cancellation of your 8th grade graduation in Harlem, and your European trip as a 14 year-old in DC, acutely. The scale of the expenditure on the event is irrelevant. Every parent tries to give the best they can to their child…. Each loss feels crushing to that specific child right then.

    I also like hearing about John’s kids. Including his experience of school at home with them. His concern about them perhaps losing their summer camp experience this year is so genuine. Those kids (and kids stressed and anxious everywhere) could surely do with a break after all this. I do hope it will happen for them.

    From the weekly episodes that led into the lockdown, to the current podcast, the four hosts have been very generous in sharing both professional thoughts and personal stories.

    Keep the candle burning John, Abe, Christine and Noah! It is much appreciated by this listener.

    • #5
  6. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    Noah Rothman makes a very definitive and damning statement about General Flynn at about the 13:30 minute mark:

    “I don’t think he is a good guy, I don’t think he’s worth lionizing, I think he has exhibited at the very least profoundly poor judgement which should disqualify him for the position which he was selected to serve”.

    I would hope after a statement so damning Rothman would at least enlighten his listeners with the instance or instances of “poor judgement” which make General Flynn a “bad guy” and which are evidence of Flynn being disqualified for the position of National Security Advisor.

    The point is, if you so adamantly believe a three star Army Lieutenant General and former Director of Defense Intelligence is a “bad guy” who has exhibited “profoundly poor judgement” to where he is disqualified for the position of NSA why would you simply assume everyone knows WTF you are even talking about.

     

    • #6
  7. Elaine Minamide Inactive
    Elaine Minamide
    @EEM

    kedavis (View Comment):

    I’m still sometimes amused and amazed when people like @ChristineRosen don’t realize that they are making their critics’ arguments for them.

    So, some of those “public school parents” from elite public school districts in NY and DC etc, had to “sacrifice” to send their children to Europe? Like, what, give up going to Disneyland AND Disneyworld this year (which are closed anyway)? How many hundreds of millions of people does Ms Rosen figure may NEVER get to EITHER Disneyland OR Disneyworld, over their entire life?

    But in Christine’s defense (not that she needs it), as I recall, the company that sponsored the trip didn’t or wouldn’t refund the parents’ money. I think they offered some kind of a voucher for another trip. As if that would make it better since this was apparently a once-in-a-lifetime school-related trip.

    Also maybe scrimping and saving and sacrificing is relative. Also, who knows? Maybe these kids started saving and working for this big trip years ago, doing extra chores, fund-raisers, etc. 

    • #7
  8. Elaine Minamide Inactive
    Elaine Minamide
    @EEM

    Laptop (View Comment):

    Speak of what you know! How meaningful an insight can the hosts have of day to day life elsewhere in the country?

    Every day I look forward to hearing their perspectives about the current situation, and their experiences under lockdown. Because of where they are, and how well they express their thoughts. The other topics, I have less interest in. The virus and lockdown is the story right now.

    I loved Noah’s very genuine response today, “I’d like to leave”. It truly is wearing to live over here right now, day after day. That said it all.

    The disappointment of Noah’s kids (the birthday parade) and Christine’s kids (the trip) really is sad. Because you feel the loss of your 5th birthday party in New Jersey, and the cancellation of your 8th grade graduation in Harlem, and your European trip as a 14 year-old in DC, acutely. The scale of the expenditure on the event is irrelevant. Every parent tries to give the best they can to their child…. Each loss feels crushing to that specific child right then.

    I also like hearing about John’s kids. Including his experience of school at home with them. His concern about them perhaps losing their summer camp experience this year is so genuine. Those kids (and kids stressed and anxious everywhere) could surely do with a break after all this. I do hope it will happen for them.

    From the weekly episodes that led into the lockdown, to the current podcast, the four hosts have been very generous in sharing both professional thoughts and personal stories.

    Keep the candle burning John, Abe, Christine and Noah! It is much appreciated by this listener.

    By this listener, as well.

    Agree with everything said here.

    I particularly loved John’s discussion at the end of this podcast about his family’s personal history with these summer camps. 

    • #8
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