You’re Fired

This week, football, firings (real and alleged), and free trade. First up, the great Victor Davis Hanson, who’s National Review cover story is a balanced look at the pluses and minuses of Trump’s first year. After that, Philadelphia Eagles fan John Yoo (OK, he’s a law professor too) takes us through all the machinations, schemes, and strategies in the seemingly never-ending Mueller investigation. Take notes, this part of the podcast will be on the final exam.

Music from this week’s episode: You Gotta Be A Football Hero by Ben Bernie & All The Lads

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There are 44 comments.

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  1. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    I have a real problem with Victor Davis Hanson. He isn’t as bad as some Trump defenders. This is the first time I ever heard him admit that Donald Trump has flaws. But then he says it doesn’t matter. And if he you want to argue with him, and you don’t want to rude, you can’t. Because he just keep talking, and talking. And, with his ponderous delivery, when you do think he’s through, he will say he is not, and just keep on talking, as if he is owed an unlimited amount of time.

    • #1
  2. Rightfromthestart Coolidge
    Rightfromthestart
    @Rightfromthestart

    I’m only 5 minutes in but I’ll quote John Derbyshire :

    ‘midwestern nice will kill us all’

    • #2
  3. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):
    I’m only 5 minutes in but I’ll quote John Derbyshire :

    ‘midwestern nice will kill us all’

    And a lot of people have a problem with John Derbyshire. He got canned from NR. But then you probably hate NR too!

    • #3
  4. Romney/Haley 2020 Inactive
    Romney/Haley 2020
    @PettyBoozswha

    Hanson is one of my favorite pundits of all time, but how he and Peter could contemplate supporting Trump’s renomination is something I’ll never comprehend.

    • #4
  5. Jim Beck Inactive
    Jim Beck
    @JimBeck

    Evening George,

    Here is an article from March 16, 2016 https://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/godzilla-vs-king-kong/1/ mentioning how Trump says stupid and gross things all the time.  Since then I have  read probably over 20 VDH articles where he mentions the Sampson, pull off the scab, bull, crude, coarse Trump.  He has mentioned these characteristics in the Classicist Podcasts often as well.  I think you are mistaken.

    • #5
  6. Kim K. Inactive
    Kim K.
    @KimK

    George Townsend (View Comment):
    I have a real problem with Victor Davis Hanson. He isn’t as bad as some Trump defenders. This is the first time I ever heard him admit that Donald Trump has flaws. But then he says it doesn’t matter. And if he you want to argue with him, and you don’t want to rude, you can’t. Because he just keep talking, and talking. And, with his ponderous delivery, when you do think he’s through, he will say he is not, and just keep on talking, as if he is owed an unlimited amount of time.

    This just seems rude. But I guess it figures if you “have a real problem with Victor Davis Hanson.”

    • #6
  7. Belt Inactive
    Belt
    @Belt

    Oh… OH!  Peter is BUCKING James up.  Bucking.  With a ‘B.’

    • #7
  8. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Jim Beck (View Comment):

    Evening George,

    Here is an article from March 16, 2016 https://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/godzilla-vs-king-kong/1/ mentioning how Trump says stupid and gross things all the time. Since then I have read probably over 20 VDH articles where he mentions the Sampson, pull off the scab, bull, crude, coarse Trump. He has mentioned these characteristics in the Classicist Podcasts often as well. I think you are mistaken.

    Thank you for the link, Jim. I’ve bookmarked it, and will read it when I get the chance. I might very well be wrong. I can’t read everything. Notice I said this was the first I’d heard him say anything. I do have to say that I find it odd that, if we he really does think Trump is so crude he would still support him. See, I am one who believes that, despite the good he has done, a man who thinks and talks as Donald Trump does does not belong in the Presidency. I must mention this too: I am sure Hanson is a fine fellow, who means the best, but every time I have heard him, before today, he is always telling me why I didn’t vote for Trump: That I am too good for that kind of person; that I am not thinking of working men and women; and so forth. Frankly, Jim, I am offended by that. Nothing could be further from the truth. For anyone to presume to tell me why I did or did not do something is, indeed, offensive.

    But, as I say, I will read the piece. And I thank you for the link.

    Have a good night.

    • #8
  9. David Nelson Inactive
    David Nelson
    @DavidNelson

    I swear, one more podcast with continuous dog noises in the background and I will cancel my membership.

    • #9
  10. Jim Beck Inactive
    Jim Beck
    @JimBeck

    Evening Mr. Lileks,

    You worry that Trump or his appointees or sympathetic bureaucrats would weaponize the government agencies like the Obama admin.  Just to work the parallel universe out, Lerner at the IRS had coordination from the DOJ and the FEC, as Strassel recorded in “The Intimidation Game”.  How will we get conservatives in these positions in such a way that they can pull off a suppression of political opponents,  and how will we prevent whistle blowers from leaking this corruption.  Please go through the steps where conservatives are so entrenched in the bureaucracy that they can get away with this, even if we could collect such a corrupt staff, which assumes that we can find enough conservative folks who are the mirror image of Lerner.  Secondly, will the press now become a cover for conservative corruption the way they were for Obama and Lerner corruption?  This is not possible, any sniff of corruption by a Trump admin would be in Second Coming type, an even bigger bombshell than “Trump wanted to fire Mueller”.  I can not imagine how a Trump admin could succeed in the type of  weaponized government, there would be near universal resistance in the bureaucracy and microscopic coverage by the press.  If you could play the video of how this could happen that would be more persuasive.  Could you help us understand how your worries could ever happen?

    Secondly, when you say that a large group of Trump supporters would like to like to pay back, and have revenge by weaponzing government in return, are you suggesting that a large group of Trump supporters are the mirror image of Chicago style politicians, just as likely to choose corruption?  Here in Indy, I don’t know of any Trump supporter who wants Trump to mirror Obama’s corruption for any reason, even revenge.

    • #10
  11. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Jim Beck (View Comment):
    Evening Mr. Lileks,

    You worry that Trump or his appointees or sympathetic bureaucrats would weaponize the government agencies like the Obama admin. Just to work the parallel universe out, Lerner at the IRS had coordination from the DOJ and the FEC, as Strassel recorded in “The Intimidation Game”. How will we get conservatives in these positions in such a way that they can pull off a suppression of political opponents, and how will we prevent whistle blowers from leaking this corruption. Please go through the steps where conservatives are so entrenched in the bureaucracy that they can get away with this, even if we could collect such a corrupt staff, which assumes that we can find enough conservative folks who are the mirror image of Lerner. Secondly, will the press now become a cover for conservative corruption the way they were for Obama and Lerner corruption? This is not possible, any sniff of corruption by a Trump admin would be in Second Coming type, an even bigger bombshell than “Trump wanted to fire Mueller”. I can not imagine how a Trump admin could succeed in the type of weaponized government, there would be near universal resistance in the bureaucracy and microscopic coverage by the press. If you could play the video of how this could happen that would be more persuasive. Could you help us understand how your worries could ever happen?

    Secondly, when you say that a large group of Trump supporters would like to like to pay back, and have revenge by weaponzing government in return, are you suggesting that a large group of Trump supporters are the mirror image of Chicago style politicians, just as likely to choose corruption? Here in Indy, I don’t know of any Trump supporter who wants Trump to mirror Obama’s corruption for any reason, even revenge.

    Thank you for this, @jimbeck.

    I’m really get tired of these back-handed insults.

    What in the world would lead anyone to wonder (aloud! with a microphone! to paying customers!) that voters who support Trump would continue to do so if he acted like Obama?

    If Trump acted like Obama, then he wouldn’t be Trump, and wouldn’t enjoy support.

    And if you’re tempted to answer: because Trump supporters defend him no matter what; don’t bother. Maybe we wouldn’t be defensive if you weren’t so needlessly and relentlessly critical.

    And I’d add, since we don’t know what “no matter what” is, you’re obviously speculating. And then projecting.

    It’s unseemly.

     

    • #11
  12. DHMorgan Inactive
    DHMorgan
    @DHMorgan

    Romney/Haley 2020 (View Comment):
    Hanson is one of my favorite pundits of all time, but how he and Peter could contemplate supporting Trump’s renomination is something I’ll never comprehend.

    I didn’t hear such an endorsement during the podcast.  Did I miss something or was their support proffered at an earlier time?

    • #12
  13. Rightfromthestart Coolidge
    Rightfromthestart
    @Rightfromthestart

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):
    I’m only 5 minutes in but I’ll quote John Derbyshire :

    ‘midwestern nice will kill us all’

    And a lot of people have a problem with John Derbyshire. He got canned from NR. But then you probably hate NR too!

    I didn’t say I hated anybody, but after they dumped Derbyshire, Coulter, Steyn and then Trump I came to the conclusion that it’s the likes of me they don’t particularly care for so I simply  allowed my decades long subscription to lapse.

    • #13
  14. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    David Nelson (View Comment):
    I swear, one more podcast with continuous dog noises in the background and I will cancel my membership.

    I am so sorry. 11 AM is when he gets activated, and starts demanding attention. My daughter was supposed to keep him quiet – she had school off today – but she had to walk to the store to buy bananas, and then some workmen appeared across the street and Birch was uncharacteristically alarmed.

    I’ve found a new thick chew stick that should keep him busy for the entirety of the next podcast.

     

     

    • #14
  15. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Jim Beck (View Comment):
    You worry that Trump or his appointees or sympathetic bureaucrats would weaponize the government agencies like the Obama admin.

    No, actually, I don’t.

    Secondly, when you say that a large group of Trump supporters would like to like to pay back, and have revenge by weaponzing government in return, are you suggesting that a large group of Trump supporters are the mirror image of Chicago style politicians, just as likely to choose corruption?

    A large group? I don’t know about that. But if we’re supposed to play by their rules because we always get beat playing nice, then there will be defenders of Obama-style machinations, because the alternative is the End of America.

    It wouldn’t be seen as corruption. It would be seen as a necessary corrective – by some, anyway, and the loudest would calling any critics as  TruCon EagleCucks who are afraid to fight, and really wanted Hillary. (See also, Ace of Spades.)  Most on the right would be dismayed, but when the wagons were circled, would probably stick with their man, and concentrate on the good accomplishments.

    Or not; what do I know. But if it came out that Trump had instructed the IRS to go after Greenpeace, PP, Media Matters, anything with Soros money, Organizing for America, and any number of lefty groups, what percentage of the Trump base would be calling for a primary challenge in 2020?

    • #15
  16. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Annefy (View Comment):
    And if you’re tempted to answer: because Trump supporters defend him no matter what; don’t bother. Maybe we wouldn’t be defensive if you weren’t so needlessly and relentlessly critical.

    To put it in context, I was talking to VHD about a possible return to public civility, and he responded by citing the Obama / Clinton manipulations that weren’t really matters of civility at all; it changed the subject. That’s why I came back with the hypothetical about a GOP base reaction if Trump did what Obama did.

    As for being critical, yes – of the man, not the administration and its accomplishments. It may seem like a trivial distinction, but as the man said, here I stand, I can do no other, etc.

    • #16
  17. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):
    I didn’t say I hated anybody, but after they dumped Derbyshire, Coulter, Steyn

    NR did not dump Mark Steyn.

    • #17
  18. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Annefy (View Comment):
    And if you’re tempted to answer: because Trump supporters defend him no matter what; don’t bother. Maybe we wouldn’t be defensive if you weren’t so needlessly and relentlessly critical.

    To put it in context, I was talking to VHD about a possible return to public civility, and he responded by citing the Obama / Clinton manipulations that weren’t really matters of civility at all; it changed the subject. That’s why I came back with the hypothetical about a GOP base reaction if Trump did what Obama did.

    As for being critical, yes – of the man, not the administration and its accomplishments. It may seem like a trivial distinction, but as the man said, here I stand, I can do no other, etc.

    VDH did not change the subject; he simply stated that the civility you Long for was not lost because of Trump – it was lost Long before Trump became president. And then he gave examples

    As for your hypothetical – I stand by my previous comment. It’s a nasty accusation and made no sense for you to pose it to VDH. It’s no different than a hack reporter beginning a question with: Some people say …

    Ps. I am not capitalizing “Long” – it’s autocorrecting.

    • #18
  19. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):
    I’m only 5 minutes in but I’ll quote John Derbyshire :

    ‘midwestern nice will kill us all’

    And a lot of people have a problem with John Derbyshire. He got canned from NR. But then you probably hate NR too!

    I didn’t say I hated anybody, but after they dumped Derbyshire, Coulter, Steyn and then Trump I came to the conclusion that it’s the likes of me they don’t particularly care for so I simply allowed my decades long subscription to lapse.

    There are reasons they did that: Derbyshire is a bigot; Ann Coulter just wants to sell books; I like Steyn, and don’t know why he is not there, but he gets pretty extreme at times; and they had many reasons for not wanting Trump to be the nominee. But they are trying their best now to get behind him when he does something right. What you have told me is that you are not partial to those who disagree with you, which is certainly your right.

    • #19
  20. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    James Lileks (View Comment):
    As for being critical, yes – of the man, not the administration and its accomplishments. It may seem like a trivial distinction, but as the man said, here I stand, I can do no other, etc.

    Thank you, James. You speak for a lot of people. I wish our critics would try to understand the distinction.

    • #20
  21. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    David Nelson (View Comment):
    I swear, one more podcast with continuous dog noises in the background and I will cancel my membership.

    I am so sorry. 11 AM is when he gets activated, and starts demanding attention. My daughter was supposed to keep him quiet – she had school off today – but she had to walk to the store to buy bananas, and then some workmen appeared across the street and Birch was uncharacteristically alarmed.

    I’ve found a new thick chew stick that should keep him busy for the entirety of the next podcast.

    Cancelling a subscription over a few moments of a dog making noise? A little extreme, perhaps? Don’t worry, James. There are plenty of us who realize what Ricochet is trying to do, and its importance.

    • #21
  22. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    DHMorgan (View Comment):

    Romney/Haley 2020 (View Comment):
    Hanson is one of my favorite pundits of all time, but how he and Peter could contemplate supporting Trump’s renomination is something I’ll never comprehend.

    I didn’t hear such an endorsement during the podcast. Did I miss something or was their support proffered at an earlier time?

    I’ve only listened once, but if memory serves VDH made a passing comment about Trump running for reelection (like, such and such has to happen before Trump runs again) and @peterrobinson made a noise of assent. (As opposed to pounding the table and yelling in horror, I guess).

    • #22
  23. Jim Beck Inactive
    Jim Beck
    @JimBeck

    Morning Mr. Lileks,

    Concerning the size of the group, at approx. 25:40-50, you say that this will be my last question and ask VDH,  Do you think a large % of the base would support doing things Obama did? I am not quoting but close.  So, asking you the same question, do you think that a large % of Trump base would support Trump weaponizing the govt as Obama did? Is this what concerns you, if not worries?  VDH did not think a large % of the base would support Trump’s weaponizing, neither do I.

    VDH responds that Trump is under too much scrutiny and that his cabinet is not docile enough for Trump to be able to act like Obama.  I would add that the bureaucracy resists Republican presidents in general and hates Trump in particular and that would make it nearly impossible for Trump to mirror Obama corruption.  So to repeat my request, could you tell us how Trump could possibly weaponize the IRS, DOJ, FEC? Otherwise we can set that concern aside.

    Concerning civility, the media and especially journalists do not police themselves.  Uncivil journalists are not shunned by other journalists, or called out by name repeatedly and publicly.  Not only have journalists been uncivil, they have lied or passed on lies that were too good not to use, and those journalists have not been shunned by the civil journalists. I can only think of one journalist who would name names, Sharyl Attkisson, perhaps you would like to join in and tell who are the hacks, bought off mouth pieces, and liars.  The media is not alone in this, lawyers and docs are not good at self policing either.

    • #23
  24. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Jim Beck (View Comment):
    Concerning civility, the media and especially journalists do not police themselves. Uncivil journalists are not shunned by other journalists, or called out by name repeatedly and publicly. Not only have journalists been uncivil, they have lied or passed on lies that were too good not to use, and those journalists have not been shunned by the civil journalists. I can only think of one journalist who would name names, Sharyl Attkisson, perhaps you would like to join in and tell who are the hacks, bought off mouth pieces, and liars. The media is not alone in this, lawyers and docs are not good at self policing either.

    May I respond to this, Jim? This is concerning to me: Whenever we talk about in-civility, it is inevitable that a Trump defender will say, in affect, What about all the other in-civility? We have to fight back? I would say, “Why?” has all the fighting back, all the name calling caused reporters to do it less? By the way, I admire Sharyl Attkisson too. And I lament the fact that, instead of taking Jim Acosta to the woodshed for his outrageous behavior, CNN promoted him. Actually, I would argue that it is Mr. Trump’s verbal follies against CNN that causes them to behave the way they do. They say to themselves, “We’ll show him.” Of course other reporters are not calling to call out CNN. A few, like Brit Hume do. But most are very liberal, and very hateful of Trump, partially because of his behavior toward them. I am not saying they would stop the hatred of him if he would behavior responsibly. But, if he would just swallow it (he is President, after all; why dignify it?), people would see that it is mostly the fault of the news media.

    • #24
  25. Jim Beck Inactive
    Jim Beck
    @JimBeck

    Morning George,

    Good to hear from you this morning.  Since Mencken (Boobus Americanus) much of the press has held the average Joe and his beliefs and the country he loves in contempt.  The press has repeatedly lied about our citizens,  Dallas was not a “city of hate” and Dallas’s hate did not fuel JFK’s murder, Dallas children did not stand up and cheer upon hearing he was shot.  Dead bodies were not piled up in the SuperDome during Katrina and folks in New Orleans did not fire at rescue helicopters.  And racism was not the cause of Katrina’s rescue difficulties. Contrast what stories were omitted on purpose, folks from all over the country send food, and material to New Orleans, many churches in Indy sent semis of collections to the victims, not just the church we go to, and I am sure this response was nation wide, including the rebuilding effort in New Orleans.  Our country’s response to suffering anywhere, Haiti, you name it we will send money, Red Cross, Rotary, Southern Baptists, and many others, yet the press would have you believe that we hate the “other”and are selfish Americans hoarding all the world’s resources.  The examples of the press’s corruption are nearly endless.

    When wikileaks exposes a journalist wanting Podesta’s editing or approval, that journalist’s career isn’t over.  We can name the few journalist who have suffered permanent consequences for lying.  I think the press is the enemy of our culture and views us as deplorables.  I see no other journalist amped up about the discrediting of their profession.  Credibility once lost is hard to regain, yet their are no efforts by the press to regain their credibility.  If you see them, name them for us.

    So here we have Trump, and most journalists have their hair on fire, except Brit.  Trump sees the media as an enemy and he helps them further their own self destruction, I say good on him for doing so.  The press is a wicked gossip lying about their neighbors while all the while ignoring real dangers.

    • #25
  26. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Jim Beck (View Comment):
    Morning George,

    Good to hear from you this morning. Since Mencken (Boobus Americanus) much of the press has held the average Joe and his beliefs and the country he loves in contempt. The press has repeatedly lied about our citizens, Dallas was not a “city of hate” and Dallas’s hate did not fuel JFK’s murder, Dallas children did not stand up and cheer upon hearing he was shot. Dead bodies were not piled up in the SuperDome during Katrina and folks in New Orleans did not fire at rescue helicopters. And racism was not the cause of Katrina’s rescue difficulties. Contrast what stories were omitted on purpose, folks from all over the country send food, and material to New Orleans, many churches in Indy sent semis of collections to the victims, not just the church we go to, and I am sure this response was nation wide, including the rebuilding effort in New Orleans. Our country’s response to suffering anywhere, Haiti, you name it we will send money, Red Cross, Rotary, Southern Baptists, and many others, yet the press would have you believe that we hate the “other”and are selfish Americans hoarding all the world’s resources. The examples of the press’s corruption are nearly endless.

    When wikileaks exposes a journalist wanting Podesta’s editing or approval, that journalist’s career isn’t over. We can name the few journalist who have suffered permanent consequences for lying. I think the press is the enemy of our culture and views us as deplorables. I see no other journalist amped up about the discrediting of their profession. Credibility once lost is hard to regain, yet their are no efforts by the press to regain their credibility. If you see them, name them for us.

     

    It’s good to hear from you too, Jim. I hope all is well.

    But, to me, you paint with entirely too brought a brush. Not all of the press is as awful as you say. We need the press to keep us abreast of world developments. To paint them as the enemy is very unfair, and not very practical. The Constitution does guarentee a free press, after all. We just have to be discriminating as to who we read or watch.

    As far as Trump is concerned: He does us all a disservice by making out that the press is the enemy. As I said above, we do need them. You say he is doing right. I say nay. He may be meeting his emotional needs, but he is not helping our country. and, I warn you, if he does not stop, we may all pay a price, with more Democrats being elected to office. Do you really want that

    • #26
  27. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Jim Beck (View Comment):
    Secondly, will the press now become a cover for conservative corruption the way they were for Obama and Lerner corruption?

    All journalists are statists. Their job is to excuse and promote statism. They are all bad at math and anything related, so this is what they do.

    Larry Elder was talking about that damn “Jour-no-list” statist propaganda thing from 2008. Ezera Klien.  Now look at his Vox operation.  Despicable propaganda outlet. The media really is the enemy.

    Also, Alinsky tactics work. The whole left uses them reflexively. So does Trump.  Just reporting.

    • #27
  28. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    DHMorgan (View Comment):

    Romney/Haley 2020 (View Comment):
    Hanson is one of my favorite pundits of all time, but how he and Peter could contemplate supporting Trump’s renomination is something I’ll never comprehend.

    I didn’t hear such an endorsement during the podcast. Did I miss something or was their support proffered at an earlier time?

    They must have said it when Lilek’s dog was barking.

    • #28
  29. Jim Beck Inactive
    Jim Beck
    @JimBeck

    Morning again George,

    I hate the cold so even if it is rainy, I consider 45 a plus.  I am going to use two examples to support my claim that the media is a destructive force.  Other than Heather McDonald, who covers policing in the minority community honestly?  Look how the dishonestly of the media has poisoned the relations of the minority community and the police.  Locally, we had a 13 year old shot at a mall, nearly 20 other kids were there and all their parents have told them not to talk to the police, snitches get stitches.  At our church several of our minority young men have stated that relations with the police are the biggest evidence of discrimination in their lives, and one of these men is hesitant to have children in this environment.  Nationally, folks believe Ferguson represents the true reality where police are eager to use lethal force against blacks.  Not only is this false, but it ruins the relationships of minority communities have with the police. Often it is the poorer communities who need the police the most, including minority communities.  The media has created the myth that the biggest hurdle to success in America for blacks is the racism of whites and their enforcers, the police.  This lie is acid to assimilation and a healthy culture.

    If we take Mr. Lileks question about the weaponization of the govt. seriously, then who besides Kim Strassel and Sharyl have covered this with any depth.  When Sharyl had her computer hacked, did the media go nuts in protest?  The media couldn’t be bothered.  Sharyl has further catalogued the efforts of the FBI to deny that they have a file on her, even up to the point where she provided the files number!  She has also listed the misuse of the private information the government collects, again where is the media outrage, there is no outrage! Kim recorded the corrupt activities of the IRS, and while doing so she showed how the FBI was involved not only in hazing Tea Party leaders, but received thousands of private tax files from the IRS.  The FBI had no authorization to have these files yet no agent even protested.  Again, did the media think this was a big story, no.  Another example of FBI corruption was glimpsed when Grassley was questioning Comey (before the fall); Grassley noted that it his committee received less information than was released during FOIA precedeings, Comey shrugged.  Emails by agent Strzok show that this hiding of info by the FBI is not uncommon.  So who besides Kim and Sharyl are pounding the FBI corruption?  What has the media covered Russia, and oh my naughty words, the stories the media use to distract its audience.

    George, I do not think you and I will come to an agreement.  It is good hearing from you.

    • #29
  30. JuliaBlaschke Lincoln
    JuliaBlaschke
    @JuliaBlaschke

    George Townsend (View Comment):

    Jim Beck (View Comment):
    Concerning civility, the media and especially journalists do not police themselves. Uncivil journalists are not shunned by other journalists, or called out by name repeatedly and publicly. Not only have journalists been uncivil, they have lied or passed on lies that were too good not to use, and those journalists have not been shunned by the civil journalists. I can only think of one journalist who would name names, Sharyl Attkisson, perhaps you would like to join in and tell who are the hacks, bought off mouth pieces, and liars. The media is not alone in this, lawyers and docs are not good at self policing either.

    May I respond to this, Jim? This is concerning to me: Whenever we talk about in-civility, it is inevitable that a Trump defender will say, in affect, What about all the other in-civility? We have to fight back? I would say, “Why?” has all the fighting back, all the name calling caused reporters to do it less? By the way, I admire Sharyl Attkisson too. And I lament the fact that, instead of taking Jim Acosta to the woodshed for his outrageous behavior, CNN promoted him. Actually, I would argue that it is Mr. Trump’s verbal follies against CNN that causes them to behave the way they do. They say to themselves, “We’ll show him.” Of course other reporters are not calling to call out CNN. A few, like Brit Hume do. But most are very liberal, and very hateful of Trump, partially because of his behavior toward them. I am not saying they would stop the hatred of him if he would behavior responsibly. But, if he would just swallow it (he is President, after all; why dignify it?), people would see that it is mostly the fault of the news media.

    I want Trump to fight. I just want him to fight like a thinking adult. But then he wouldn’t be Trump.

    • #30
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