Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. Res Ipsa Loquitur: The Letter of the President’s Counsel Speaks (Loudly) For Itself

 

In the law, we would have occasion from time to time to use a Latin phrase which often proved quite useful in drafting documents, motions and briefs. The phrase was Res Ipsa Loquitur, and it means “the thing speaks for itself.” That was my first thought after my study of the letter of the Special Counsel to the President, Emmet T. Flood, to the Attorney General, William Barr.

It does, indeed, speak for itself — quite directly, bitingly, and bluntly — definitely not in the nuanced way so favored by the oh-so-polite denizens of the Deep State. I cannot urge too strongly a careful reading of every word.

As you do, would you agree with me that if the Three Stooges — Messrs. Comey, Brennan, and Clapper — have not already hired some of the best criminal defense lawyers in the country, they are crazier than even I think they are (and that’s a stretch)?

Final thought, and I regret I don’t have the Latin phrase handy for it: The fat is well and truly in the fire!

There are 19 comments.

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  1. toggle Inactive

    Jim George: Messrs. Comey, Brennan and Clapper, have not already hired some of the best criminal defense lawyers in the country, they are crazier than even I think they are, and that’s a stretch.

    … the following should not be forgotten. Government officials, with access to classified information derived from a counterintelligence investigation and from classified intelligence intercepts, engaged in a campaign of illegal leaks against the President. Many of those leaks were felonies.

    delenda est Cabal.

    Clapper: ‘No such wiretap activity mounted’ on Trump

    • #1
    • May 3, 2019, at 5:37 PM PDT
    • 7 likes
  2. Mark Camp Member

    Note to readers of this post:

    There is a link to the letter referenced, though at least on my computer it isn’t immediately visible. Look in the second paragraph for the words “the letter”. If you look closely, you will see that it is very faintly underlined.

    It is definitely worth reading. It gives me some encouragement that at least some of the people responsible for the Russian collusion hoax and coverup will be brought to justice, and that their crimes and misdeeds will not serve as a new platform of precedents for future attacks on American’s institutions of democracy and justice.

    • #2
    • May 3, 2019, at 7:00 PM PDT
    • 9 likes
  3. TBA Coolidge
    TBA

    Looks like hunting season is about open.

    • #3
    • May 3, 2019, at 10:37 PM PDT
    • 4 likes
  4. Jim George Member
    Jim George

    @markcamp,thanks for the heads up about the link not showing up — here is the link to the letter—-

    • #4
    • May 4, 2019, at 5:09 AM PDT
    • 4 likes
  5. Boss Mongo Member

    TBA (View Comment):
    Looks like hunting season is about open.

    I want them all to go down and get skin up, but I’d pay extra for a tag for a 6’9″ pious prevaricator.

    • #5
    • May 4, 2019, at 8:13 AM PDT
    • 7 likes
  6. Rodin Member

    From the letter:

    Not so long ago, the idea that a law enforcement official might provide the press with confidential governmental information for the proclaimed purpose prompting a criminal investigation an identified individual would have troubled Americans all political persuasions. That the head our country s top law enforcement agency has actually done so to the President the United States should frighten every friend individual liberty. Under our system government, unelected Executive Branch officers and intelligence agency personnel are supposed to answer to the person elected by the people – the President – and not the other way around. This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue; it is a matter having a government responsible to the people – and, again, not the other way around. In the partisan commotion surrounding the released Report, it would be well to remember that what can be done to a President can be done to any us.

    • #6
    • May 4, 2019, at 8:47 AM PDT
    • 8 likes
  7. Kozak Member
    Kozak Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    I’m not overly hopeful. I feel like Charlie Brown and the football. Time after time after time I’ve watched our side totally screw the pooch when on these issues going back to Clinton and Whitewater. But maybe this time….

    • #7
    • May 4, 2019, at 1:18 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  8. Steve C. Member

    Kozak (View Comment):
    I’m not overly hopeful. I feel like Charlie Brown and the football. Time after time after time I’ve watched our side totally screw the pooch when on these issues going back to Clinton and Whitewater. But maybe this time….

    Hope for the best. Plan for the worst.

    • #8
    • May 4, 2019, at 7:21 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  9. Steven Seward Member

    Kozak (View Comment):
    I’m not overly hopeful. I feel like Charlie Brown and the football. Time after time after time I’ve watched our side totally screw the pooch when on these issues going back to Clinton and Whitewater. But maybe this time….

    I am hopeful. Your reference to taking the football away from Charlie Brown comes from the fact that for years Trey Gowdy and the Republican House kept having hearings about things like Benghazi and Clinton e-mails –but as a legislative body they had no real power to do anything because Eric Holder and then Loretta Lynch were in charge of the Department of Justice. Then came Jeff Sessions who recused himself and twiddled his thumbs for two years. William Barr seems to be the first guy with real prosecutorial power to take the bull by the horns.

    Also, for the last year, Inspector General Horowitz has been very quietly investigating the spying on Trump scandal and has yet to release his report. Nobody, not even right wing news media seems to be talking about this.

    • #9
    • May 4, 2019, at 7:24 PM PDT
    • 6 likes
  10. Steve C. Member

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    Also, for the last year, Inspector General Horowitz has been very quietly investigating the spying on Trump scandal and has yet to release his report. Nobody, not even right wing news media seems to be talking about this.

    I respectfully disagree. Everything I’ve been reading for the past few weeks has been a version of “just wait, it’s coming, deus ex Horowitzina”.

    • #10
    • May 4, 2019, at 7:37 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  11. Steven Seward Member

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    Also, for the last year, Inspector General Horowitz has been very quietly investigating the spying on Trump scandal and has yet to release his report. Nobody, not even right wing news media seems to be talking about this.

    I respectfully disagree. Everything I’ve been reading for the past few weeks has been a version of “just wait, it’s coming, deus ex Horowitzina”.

    That’s okay. I do not keep up with current news media very much. Besides, you are my alter ego! My mother often calls me “Steven C.” My middle name was taken from a privileged White European who accidentally discovered America on his way to India.

    • #11
    • May 4, 2019, at 8:42 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  12. DonG (Biden is compromised) Coolidge

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    Then came Jeff Sessions who recused himself and twiddled his thumbs for two years. William Barr seems to be the first guy with real prosecutorial power to take the bull by the horns.

    Jeff Sessions might be an OK Senator, but he was a horrible AG. Maybe the worst ever. He really did look away, when he was the sole person in position to stop the soft coup. That is unforgivable. I cannot think of any greater failure of duty by anyone in history. Can you?

    Also, for the last year, Inspector General Horowitz has been very quietly investigating the spying on Trump scandal and has yet to release his report. Nobody, not even right wing news media seems to be talking about this.

    Maybe nobody is talking, because Horowitz is not really doing anything. He can only interview active employees an dig through paperwork. I am not expecting anything of consequence here. Maybe some recommendations for the next investigation of a former Secretary of State who ran a global grifting empire.

    • #12
    • May 4, 2019, at 9:02 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  13. Sash Member

    It does lay out the case against Comey, I wonder if he’s read it… of course he’s read it.

    Remember how smuggly he admitted to exactly what that letter claims, in front of Congress and all Americans he said he commit a felony to get Trump.

    I truly hope he spends a good long time behind bars.

    There is so much coming out now… I hope it all gets out.

    To that end: I saw quite the clip of Trump today saying he had some really bad information about Obama that he would discuss with the public at the appropriate time… well he used words, he never says it that clearly… it was cryptic… and made me think Obama was behind it all.

    • #13
    • May 4, 2019, at 9:42 PM PDT
    • 4 likes
  14. Sash Member

    Mark Camp (View Comment):
    Note to readers of this post:

    There is a link to the letter referenced, though at least on my computer it isn’t immediately visible. Look in the second paragraph for the words “the letter”. If you look closely, you will see that it is very faintly underlined.

    It is definitely worth reading. It gives me some encouragement that at least some of the people responsible for the Russian collusion hoax and coverup will be brought to justice, and that their crimes and misdeeds will not serve as a new platform of precedents for future attacks on American’s institutions of democracy and justice.

    That is what it is about. I have no real love for Trump, though the way he’s been treated and the way he’s weathered it, have made me respect him. But in the end… this can not be just another campaign trick by the incumbent President… it is too much power, and just too corrupt!

    From the moment Trump was elected the Democrats have tried to tear down this democracy… they set up a movement against a free and fair election and called it the resistence!

    Justice, freedom, democracy, the ability to govern ourselves, that is at stake!

    • #14
    • May 4, 2019, at 9:47 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  15. TBA Coolidge
    TBA

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Kozak (View Comment):
    I’m not overly hopeful. I feel like Charlie Brown and the football. Time after time after time I’ve watched our side totally screw the pooch when on these issues going back to Clinton and Whitewater. But maybe this time….

    I am hopeful. Your reference to taking the football away from Charlie Brown comes from the fact that for years Trey Gowdy and the Republican House kept having hearings about things like Benghazi and Clinton e-mails –but as a legislative body they had no real power to do anything because Eric Holder and then Loretta Lynch were in charge of the Department of Justice. Then came Jeff Sessions who recused himself and twiddled his thumbs for two years. William Barr seems to be the first guy with real prosecutorial power to take the bull by the horns.

    Also, for the last year, Inspector General Horowitz has been very quietly investigating the spying on Trump scandal and has yet to release his report. Nobody, not even right wing news media seems to be talking about this.

    Probably a good thing considering how helpful the RW media has been of late.

    • #15
    • May 4, 2019, at 9:57 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  16. Sash Member

    I know I’m taking up too much space, but I can’t find the video that had Trump saying that he had news he’d share later about Obama himself!

    Trump was saying how Obama destroyed the military, then he said there was something else he would never forgive Obama for… but he(Trump) would share it with us later…

    I believe that he said that today. The article was today, I remember checking the date to make sure it was current but I can’t find the article. I just can’t remember where it was.

    AT any rate, I’ve been frustrated this has taken so long, but if this is really about Obama’s abuse of power, not just Brennan, not just Clapper, not just Comey, but the big guy himself… I understand that they have to have every single fact correct and it takes time.

    I think this is bigger than the 3 stooges.

    • #16
    • May 4, 2019, at 9:59 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  17. Rodin Member

    Sash (View Comment):
    I know I’m taking up too much space, but I can’t find the video that had Trump saying that he had news he’d share later about Obama himself!

    Trump was saying how Obama destroyed the military, then he said there was something else he would never forgive Obama for… but he(Trump) would share it with us later…

    I believe that he said that today. The article was today, I remember checking the date to make sure it was current but I can’t find the article. I just can’t remember where it was.

    AT any rate, I’ve been frustrated this has taken so long, but if this is really about Obama’s abuse of power, not just Brennan, not just Clapper, not just Comey, but the big guy himself… I understand that they have to have every single fact correct and it takes time.

    I think this is bigger than the 3 stooges.

    Here is the link to the video.

    • #17
    • May 4, 2019, at 10:09 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  18. Sash Member

    Rodin (View Comment):

    Here is the link to the video.

    Yes, it’s just on line in the middle of it, but it could mean so much.

    • #18
    • May 4, 2019, at 10:23 PM PDT
    • 1 like
  19. Skyler Coolidge

    Wow, thanks for bringing this letter to our attention. Let’s hope that something comes of it.

    • #19
    • May 4, 2019, at 11:02 PM PDT
    • 1 like

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