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  1. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Hurry up IG Horowitz and Prosecutor Durham!

    Durham investigation is now officially a criminal investigation.

    • #1
  2. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    Columbo (View Comment):
    Durham investigation is now officially a criminal investigation.

    It seems like we are waiting for Fitzmas.

    • #2
  3. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part  of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    • #3
  4. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

     

    • #4
  5. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    Sea,

    I found Nunes very reserved in tone. He simply presented the truth as everyone with an IQ above 98.6 already knows. I think there is no choice but to beat the Dems over the head from the opening statement until the end of the day with the reality of their perverse lack of integrity.

    Schiff seems barely human. Like a dull-eyed robot pre-programmed on his course of destruction or perhaps there was a malfunction and the original programming got confused.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #5
  6. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    Those were just the talking points passed down before things even started and dutifully passed on right on cue to start the scripted narrative. 

    Remember: “urged” to presume so-called “good-faith.”

    • #6
  7. Jim George Member
    Jim George
    @JimGeorge

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    @seawriter, I spotted this post by and decided this video was something I had to put on my “do later” list, and then I saw the remark by @garyrobbins that Devin Nunes had “be-clowned himself” and that remark prompted me to fire up the video and watch it right away as one can describe Congressman Nunes’ actions over the last 2-3 years in different ways, but this is the first time I ever heard the word “clown” used about anything he has done in what I view as one of the most honorable terms of service in an otherwise disgraceful House of Representatives. I could not state my impression of his excellent statement better than did John Hinderaker on PowerLine a few minutes ago:

    POSTED ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019 BY JOHN HINDERAKER IN IMPEACHMENT
    NUNES TELLS IT LIKE IT IS
    As the Democrats’ sham impeachment hearing got under way this morning, ranking Member Devin Nunes delivered a blistering opening statement that attacked the Democrats’ sordid history and asserted the illegitimacy of the impeachment process. I thought it was a highly effective statement, highlighting a number of historical elements that deserve to be remembered. I think that, given the Democrats’ obvious bad faith, this sort of scorched-earth response is the only appropriate posture:

    I know we’re always to make the requisite disclaimer statement that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and I yield to no one in my fervent support of an untrammeled right of free speech. That said, I do not see any basis whatsoever for a characterization of Rep. Nunes’ opening statement as a “be-clowning” exercise and must note that the only support for that characterization was that it could have been written by — here clutch pearls tightly and gasp, especially if you’re a Never Trumper — Trump himself. By the way, anyone who viewed that video might have noted that Rep. Nunes closed his statement by reminding the world, once again, that it is the President of the United States who makes foreign policy, not Vindman or Taylor or Kent or the whistleblower — whose name is: Eric Ciaramella,  for those dozen or so people who have spent the last week in a cave — or any of these other faceless wonders who are, most decidedly, not the President of the United States. 

    Guess all this makes me, as John Kerry used to say, hopelessly simplisme, since I’m still naive enough to believe The Constitution and Bill of Rights really mean what they say. But, then, I did not donate to Eric Stalwell. 

    • #7
  8. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Great statement.  When all this started in early 2017 I didn’t know who Adam Schiff was and my first impression of Devin Nunes was he was a lightweight and his claims sounded outlandish.  How wrong I was.  All Schiff has done for 3 years is lie, and Nunes has proven the most reliable source in Congress on the continued attempts by the Democrats to unseat the President with bogus allegations.  We owe a thanks to his tenacity in hanging in there.

    • #8
  9. MichaelKennedy Inactive
    MichaelKennedy
    @MichaelKennedy

    James Gawron (View Comment):
    I found Nunes very reserved in tone. He simply presented the truth as everyone with an IQ above 98.6 already knows.

    Nunes is the hero of the Smith book.

    https://www.amazon.com/Plot-Against-President-Congressman-Uncovered-ebook/dp/B07MFKR1KN/

    Not only did the Democrats spend millions to try to defeat him in 2018 but they went after his family.

    • #9
  10. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    philo (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    Those were just the talking points passed down before things even started and dutifully passed on right on cue to start the scripted narrative.

    Remember: “urged” to presume so-called “good-faith.”

    No one who has even the slightest bit of conservative political leanings, and objectively watched the video of Devin Nunes opening statement, would ever use the word “beclowning” to describe it. No one.

    • #10
  11. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    The Democrats are making this into the dumb people versus the smart people (with a good number of smart people controlling them) and face it – peer pressure on the grand scale of our virtual high school we are living in.. This is a battle or the consciousness of the American people. Media keep manipulating, but only to manipulate the people they’ve already seduced. Hypnotized. 

    The media have awesome  power. They control what we pay attention to. They are hacking our thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears at every moment.

    I’m expecting that the more exposure we have to all of it, the more more people begin to see. It becomes obvious across the board. We are all upgrading our positions on the 2020 election. 

    And, it could be a trap. Get the trial in the Senate and  expose them. Interesting times. 

    I saw most of this today,  it was a very weak case. It’s clearly a policy/priority disagreement.

    One would expect some bombshell, maybe a cherry bomb? A firecracker. At best they produced a sparkler today.

    Meanwhile, Republicans made very strong cases. 
    It was great staging but no story.

    That these people , who I find so despicable in their fraudulent arguments and outright lies, so fear this President ,is a testament to that man and reason enough by itself to vote for him.

    • #11
  12. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Columbo (View Comment):

    philo (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    Those were just the talking points passed down before things even started and dutifully passed on right on cue to start the scripted narrative.

    Remember: “urged” to presume so-called “good-faith.”

    No one who has even the slightest bit of conservative political leanings, and objectively watched the video of Devin Nunes opening statement, would ever use the word “beclowning” to describe it. No one.

    So you are saying there is an agenda afoot that is not the one presented on the surface? Who knew?

    • #12
  13. DonG Coolidge
    DonG
    @DonG

    Franco (View Comment):
    The Democrats are making this into the dumb people versus the smart people

    I decided to engage with a friend at work on the impeachment topic.  Every time I would bring up a point (look at Manafort, look at Yevanovich, missing US aid, missing IMF aid,…) she would respond with “I don’t know anything about that.”  People on the Left are sooo ignorant.  I don’t understand how people can be so incurious and so gullible.

    • #13
  14. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    DonG (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):
    The Democrats are making this into the dumb people versus the smart people

    I decided to engage with a friend at work on the impeachment topic. Every time I would bring up a point (look at Manafort, look at Yevanovich, missing US aid, missing IMF aid,…) she would respond with “I don’t know anything about that.” People on the Left are sooo ignorant. I don’t understand how people can be so incurious and so gullible.

    Yes, it’s impossible to talk to people who take their cues from most of the media because the media has deliberately kept them ignorant of anything damaging to the Democratic narrative.  They simply won’t believe you.  It’s frustrating – I’ve spent a lot of time reading source documents – the FISA warrants, Page/Strozk texts, intelligence assessments, the Mueller Report, testimony released by the House Intelligence Committee, etc but it’s as if it doesn’t exist for most people.

    • #14
  15. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    Gary’s conclusion is quite independent of anything Nunes actually said or the way he said it. In fact his conclusion hasn’t changed since President Trump was elected.

    • #15
  16. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    DonG (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):
    The Democrats are making this into the dumb people versus the smart people

    I decided to engage with a friend at work on the impeachment topic. Every time I would bring up a point (look at Manafort, look at Yevanovich, missing US aid, missing IMF aid,…) she would respond with “I don’t know anything about that.” People on the Left are sooo ignorant. I don’t understand how people can be so incurious and so gullible.

    Yes, it’s impossible to talk to people who take their cues from most of the media because the media has deliberately kept them ignorant of anything damaging to the Democratic narrative. They simply won’t believe you. It’s frustrating – I’ve spent a lot of time reading source documents – the FISA warrants, Page/Strozk texts, intelligence assessments, the Mueller Report, testimony released by the House Intelligence Committee, etc but it’s as if it doesn’t exist for most people.

    Because it doesn’t exist for most people. The media are unfit for their stations in our society. Dumb and dangerously uninterested things like truth, fairness, morality, or even ferreting out the facts. From these people most of the rest of us are supposed to get information. God help us all. Except for those of us who’ve wised up and go straight to the source materials to inspect them ourselves.

    • #16
  17. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Today was day one of the political witch hunt. No bombshells but lots of second, third and fourth hand testimony & speculation. Democrats will have no problem moving forward with an impeachment vote based on their dislike of Trump and the lingering bitterness over losing the 2016 Presidency. Nunes and Jim Jordan were great today. 

    • #17
  18. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Tonight I heard (again)that the IG report release is “imminent.” Yes, I know, heard that before. Let’s hope it’s true this time and that imminent means this week. Please.

    BTW, I wrote a post a couple of years ago about Nunes. He keeps proving what a dedicated and honest man he is.

    • #18
  19. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Tonight I heard (again)that the IG report release is “imminent.” Yes, I know, heard that before. Let’s hope it’s true this time and that imminent means this week. Please.

    BTW, I wrote a post a couple of years ago about Nunes. He keeps proving what a dedicated and honest man he is.

    Curb your enthusiasm about the IG report.  I think the underlying facts will be devastating but, based on past experience, the IG will not attribute malicious intent unless there is direct evidence, as in someone saying “I intend to break the law”.  Horowitz will not attribute intent even if there is compelling indirect evidence.

    Moreover, the report will be released in the midst of the impeachment hubbub, dismissed as “old news” and presented as Trump’s “witch-hunt”.  It will get the minimal possible coverage in the media as they keep the focus on Ukraine.

    • #19
  20. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    The paper trail alone is enough to deligitimize this entire farce. They were already talking impeachment when he was being sworn in. Didn’t even wait till he took his hand off the Bible.

    ………………………………………………….

    • #20
  21. DonG Coolidge
    DonG
    @DonG

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Tonight I heard (again)that the IG report release is “imminent.” Yes, I know, heard that before. Let’s hope it’s true this time and that imminent means this week. Please.

    BTW, I wrote a post a couple of years ago about Nunes. He keeps proving what a dedicated and honest man he is.

    I wonder if the Intelligence Community is wanting that report to come out later, so the “USA Freedom Act of 2015” can expire and give them more surveillance powers.  The politics would favor an extension, if surveillance abuses came to light.  The FBI officially supports permanently extending some provisions that give them more powers.

    The USA Freedom Act of 2015 prohibited the wholesale collection of telecommunication records by the government as part of anti-terrorism programs. Those surveillance programs were part of the USA Patriot Act, which was put in place shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

    The restrictions enacted in 2015 will be eliminated and the original language of the Patriot Act will be restored if Congress fails to renew the USA Freedom Act by the end of December.

    Leahy said it’s hard to say if the legislation will be renewed “because the White House is so distracted by impeachment.” However, Leahy said, having the recent hearings where people from both parties noted similar concerns is “a wake up call to everybody,” including the Trump administration and the intelligence community.

    Leahy said a renewal of the 2015 law will ensure that the rights of law-abiding Americans are protected from unwarranted government surveillance, as well as help make anti-terrorism programs more effective.

    • #21
  22. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    I somewhat feel that God is resting and chilling out, after helping with the USA narrowly avoiding a Hillary Presidency one night in Nov 2016.

    This time it might be up to the US Senate. I think that the Republicans will come through, though. Whether God helps out or not.

    • #22
  23. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    One of the best parts was when Taylor laughed with Jordan when he said “You’re their star witness” hahaha

     

    • #23
  24. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Ed G. (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins

    Mind explaining to me in what part of this statement “Devin Nunes has continued to be-clown himself with his over the top Opening Statement.” And finish up by explaining what was “over the top” in it. Use small words because I am obviously to stupid to understand long ones since I see neither beclowning nor over-the-top statements. At least not by Devin Nunes.

    Meep! Meep!

    Gary’s conclusion is quite independent of anything Nunes actually said or the way he said it. In fact his conclusion hasn’t changed since President Trump was elected.

    Gary being so quick to the ‘send’ button on his post reminded me of back during the Bush 43 years, when one of the news outlets released an ‘analysis’ of his speech prematurely, since Bush hadn’t even delivered it yet….

    ….which isn’t to say Gary’s post was written in advance of the start of today’s hearings. Just than anyone who’s been on Ricochet for a while could have written Gary’s post for him in his own voice a day, a week, or a month ago, based on knowledge of his feelings towards Trump and his congressional supporters. He’s not at the Queen of Hearts “Sentence first, verdict afterwards” level that Adam Schiff and most of the media talking heads are. But before reading a word of his post, you knew he wasn’t going to be happy with Nunes’ opening statement (while even CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin was more skeptical of Schiff’s opening witnesses….)

    • #24
  25. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    DonG (View Comment):
    I decided to engage with a friend at work on the impeachment topic. Every time I would bring up a point (look at Manafort, look at Yevanovich, missing US aid, missing IMF aid,…) she would respond with “I don’t know anything about that.”

    I had a similar conversation today. Equal parts certainty and ignorance. The details don’t matter. Knowledge doesn’t matter. A basic acquaintance with the players doesn’t matter. The impeachment inquiry, for some,  is a framework for gathering together all the complaints about Trump into something with the official veneer of a legal judgment.

    • #25
  26. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):
    IG will not attribute malicious intent unless there is direct evidence, as in someone saying “I intend to break the law”.

    Only if the full statement was, “I intend to maliciously break the law,” and was signed in triplicate and notarized. And maybe not even then.

    • #26
  27. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    DonG (View Comment):
    I wonder if the Intelligence Community is wanting that report to come out later, so the “USA Freedom Act of 2015” can expire and give them more surveillance powers. The politics would favor an extension, if surveillance abuses came to light. The FBI officially supports permanently extending some provisions that give them more powers.

    The typical Republican response to abuse of police powers is to give the policers more power.  

    • #27
  28. namlliT noD Member
    namlliT noD
    @DonTillman

    • #28
  29. Bob W Member
    Bob W
    @BobW

    As a resident of the state of California I can say that I don’t think very highly of many of the elected we have sent to Washington. (or here for that matter) But Nunus is a bright spot. And I am glad that my vote counted in his reelection. The democrats spent a lot of money and slung a lot of mud here trying to get him out of office. His opening statements were a welcome bit of sanity in this kangaroo court. 

    • #29
  30. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    namlliT noD (View Comment):

    My God, they’d be going to booth review every five seconds with Adam Schiff as the referee (and using the line “After further review, the call on the field is reversed” just as much….)

    • #30
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