Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Republicans in disarray!

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Second rate reporter says what?

Infrastructure week. at last.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

This really is a full service blog.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

You are here: Home / Politics / America / An Informed Expert’s Initial Views on James Comey’s Testimony Tomorrow

An Informed Expert’s Initial Views on James Comey’s Testimony Tomorrow

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Benjamin Wittes is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and the editor in chief of Lawfare. He is also a friend of James Comey. Earlier this evening he shared his initial thoughts after reading the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s release of former FBI Director Comey’s prepared opening statement tomorrow. While I highly recommend the whole thing, here are the final three paragraphs that tie Wittes’ thoughts together.

But I will make three general observations based on this document alone.

First, Comey is describing here conduct that a society committed to the rule of law simply cannot accept in a president. We have spent a lot of time on this site over seven years now debating the marginal exertions of presidential power and their capacity for abuse. Should the president have the authority to detain people at Guantanamo? Incinerate suspected terrorists with flying robots? Use robust intelligence authorities directed at overseas non-citizens? These questions are all important, but this document is about a far more important question to the preservation of liberty in a society based on legal norms and rules: the abuse of the core functions of the presidency. It’s about whether we can trust the President—not the President in the abstract, but the particular embodiment of the presidency in the person of Donald J. Trump—to supervise the law enforcement apparatus of the United States in fashion consistent with his oath of office. I challenge anyone to read this document and come away with a confidently affirmative answer to that question.

Second, we are about to see a full-court press against Comey. I don’t know what it will look like. But the attack instinct always kicks in when a presidency is under siege. And Trump has the attack instinct in spades even when he’s not under siege. It is important to remember what the stakes are here. They are not about whether Comey was treated fairly. They are not about whether you like him. They are not about whether he handled the Clinton email investigation in the highest traditions of the FBI or the Justice Department. They are not about leaks. The stakes here are about whether what Comey is reporting in this document are true facts and, if so, what we need as a political society to do about the reality that we have a president who behaves this way and seeks to use the FBI in this fashion. It is critical, in other words, that people not change the subject or get distracted when others try to do so.

Finally, it is also critical—though probably fruitless to say—that we eschew partisanship in the conversation. Tomorrow, this document will be the discussion text when Comey faces a committee that, warts and all, has handled the Russia matter to date in a respectable and honorably bipartisan fashion. It is not too much to ask that members put aside party and respond as patriots to the fact that the former FBI director will swear an oath that these facts are true—and was fired after these interactions allegedly took place by a man who then told Lester Holt that “when I decided to just do it [fire Comey], I said to myself … this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story,” and boasted to the Russians the day after dismissing Comey that “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”

 

Reader Interactions

206Comments

  1. 1.

    Adam L Silverman

    I apologize for not doing a substantive Qatar post this evening. This sinus infection is still kicking my dupa and I just don’t have another substantive post in me today – including handling all the follow on questions in the comments.

  4. 4.

    Corner Stone

    Hold those pieces of shit under contempt and toss them under the fucking jail cell. I’d like to punch Adm Rogers in his stupid fucking face a few dozen times. Asshole.

  6. 6.

    Smiling Mortician

    @Adam L Silverman: Never apologize for not doing more than the significant benefit you’re providing here. You are a tremendously valuable resource for me, as a citizen, and as a teacher of evidence-based argumentation (which I view as another important part of my citizenship).

    Thank you.

  8. 8.

    Chris

    We can’t eschew partisanship. Republicans will not cooperate, and that’s all there is to it. People who think Trump is a danger to the nation need to face that fact.

  11. 11.

    BBA

    On the other hand, nothing matters anymore. If the GOP can abolish Medicaid and the capital gains tax, they’re cool with Trump nailing their heads to the floor.

  12. 12.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Oh, for god’s sake, man up, take shot of whiskey, and write the damn post!

    Seriously, get better. We love you and your work here.

  15. 15.

    JPL

    On Thursday, I have a weekly date with the farmer, and that takes precedence. I’ll be home by eleven, so I expect detailed info when I return.

  16. 16.

    Adam L Silverman

    @West of the Rockies (been a while): At one point this afternoon I was trying to review any new information and then planned to go back and look at revisions for something I’m working on for work (the Qatar thing actually overlaps). I went and lied down because the other options was basically doing a hard reset through the desk.

  19. 19.

    Adam L Silverman

    @schrodingers_cat: I have had almost 40 ounces of Irish breakfast tea today. I will give your recommendation a try. The good news is that the antibiotics are working, the sinus pressure is better than it was Monday and I no longer want to claw my eyes out. But I’m just dragging tuchas.

    I’ve also had a strange craving for a bacon cheeseburger since early Monday morning.

  28. 28.

    p.a.

    @Chris:

    Never apologize for taking sick leave. Health first.

    fixt: America Amerika 2017. It’s the new normal.

    also too, who else was here during the great neti pot era?

  31. 31.

    BCHS Class of 1980

    Any TL;DR on the Qatar situation? Good information seems hard to come by.

  37. 37.

    Mnemosyne

    We have spent a lot of time on this site over seven years now debating the marginal exertions of presidential power and their capacity for abuse. Should the president have the authority to detain people at Guantanamo? Incinerate suspected terrorists with flying robots? Use robust intelligence authorities directed at overseas non-citizens?

    A side note to any lurking GG fans: if you claimed for 8 years that all of the above were your primary concerns, but you now have nothing bad to say about Trump, you’ve revealed that your “primary concerns” were nothing but excuses for clinging to your deep-seated racism.

    If you consider yourself to be a civil libertarian and your primary concern right now is not shutting down Trump’s agenda, you’re not a civil libertarian. You’re a racist trying to construct an intellectual excuse for your racism.

    (In case it’s not clear, I am amplifying Mr. Wittes’ point, not disagreeing with him.)

  39. 39.

    debbie

    Bummer. That website is broken. I was hoping to share it to aggravate my Trumpster family members.

  40. 40.

    MisterForkbeard

    Tomorrow, this document will be the discussion text when Comey faces a committee that, warts and all, has handled the Russia matter to date in a respectable and honorably bipartisan fashion.

    I mean, other than Republicans dedicating absolutely zero importance or staffing to the Russian probe and constantly downplaying it’s significance, it’s been completely bipartisan and honorable!

  45. 45.

    piratedan

    finally struck me what watching the Trump Presidency unfold is like… it’s like reading a Flashman Papers folio but with an even more irredeemable lead character with fewer abilities and honesty.

  51. 51.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Chris:

    Never apologize for taking sick leave. Health first.

    Sinuses schminuses, so long as you’re healthy.

  56. 56.

    GregB

    In some regards the window is closing on mitigating the damage Trump is doing to the US and the world.

    The American Century is buried under a blizzard of lies. The post war order in shards. The Middle East is getting teed up for one hum-dinger of a war.

    To quote Condi Rice, the proof of Trump’s evil intentions and incompetence may very well come in the form of a mushroom cloud.

  59. 59.

    Mnemosyne

    @MisterForkbeard:

    I think I see what he’s saying, though: we shouldnt give the Republicans an opening to whine about how this is all a “partisan witch hunt.” Stick to the facts, follow the evidence, and let the chips fall where they may.

  60. 60.

    psycholinguist

    Comey doesn’t do anything the accident. I[m surprised nobody is focusing on Comey’s careful inclusion of the AG and the acting AG. He just slipped a knife in each of them, while giving himself a reason for this not coming forward – Comey did take it to his bosses, at least twice, and THEY did nothing. He’s trying to pull the whole house down.

  62. 62.

    Chris

    @BCHS Class of 1980:

    Qatar is one of the family of Gulf oil kingdoms which often differs with its relatives. It has just been diplomatically cut off by most of them. The stated reason is Qatar’s support for terrorist and dissident groups throughout the region, and general promotion of instability in the region. Trump has thrown oil on the fire by claiming to be behind the move. This has many concerned, because we have a massive military presence in Qatar.

  63. 63.

    kindness

    I suspect Comey won’t say much more than his opening statement. You have to figure Mueller talked to the intel cheifs & Comey. We’ll see.

  69. 69.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Adam L Silverman: I’m just saying you’re doing very well for having a sinus infection. I am also impressed by Wittes’s having his post up within an hour or so of the release of Comey’s testimony. Although since they are friends, he may have had an advance start.

    Sometimes I can whip a post out and other times it takes longer.

    @schrodingers_cat: There will be kittehs.

  70. 70.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Adam L Silverman: Not that you need MORE sick advice, but I have a “sick soup” I use whenever I’m not feeling fantastic:

    1. Chunk or dice 2-3 spicy italian sausages and dice 1/2 an onion. Sautee in a large pot.
    2. Pour a quart or so of chicken broth in, and heat to just short of boiling.
    3. Add a can of Great Northen white beans (or navy beans)
    4. Add a few handfuls of kale.
    5. (Optional): Add either parmesan rind while it’s cooking, or some parmesan when served.

    Between the chicken broth and the spicy oils from the sausage, it does wonders for sinuses. Meanwhile, the kale and beans provide body and nutrients. The parmesan adds some nice flavor but otherwise isn’t important.

    It also freezes well. I keep a few servings of this in the freezer for bad days.

  71. 71.

    Adam L Silverman

    @BCHS Class of 1980: A couple of quick points:
    1) This had been building/on again-off again for a long time.
    2) Because the Emir of Qatar turned everything over to his much younger son about 4 years ago.
    3) As a result Jr. is still growing into the position and doesn’t have the seniority to real deal with the Emir of the UAE and the King of Saudi Arabia.
    4) Part of this is rooted in Qatar using its tremendous wealth to fund lots of different violent extremist groups – from Muslim Brotherhood to al Qaeda affiliates – throughout the Middle East and the Maghreb.
    5) Part of this is rooted in Saudi doing something similar and feeling like Qatar was screwing up its proxy campaign against Iran for regional political and religious hegemony.
    6) The new leadership of Saudi Arabia is much more overtly aggressive than the previous king and crown prince.
    7) Obama is no longer around, so the US is no longer trying to use the GCC as a forcing function to get Saudi, the UAE, and Qatar to play nice.
    8) Instead the President prefers bilateral relations, which has emboldened and empowered Saudi and the UAE to crackdown on Qatar.
    9) Russian active measures are driving the immediate cause of this through a faked news report planted to cause maximum disruption.
    10) My take is that Russia did this to cause problems for Qatar and the US and to take advantage of the foreign policy weaknesses of the new President and administration. CENTCOM’s forward HQ in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) is in Qatar. If Russia can get Qatar crosswise with Saudi, the UAE, and especially the US, and push them towards Iran for survival, this puts US operations throughout the CENTCOM AOR at risk because it places the forward HQ at risk.

    That’s it for now.

  76. 76.

    MisterForkbeard

    @sukabi: Nah. I think Trump is basically going to stick to these in broad strokes. It’ll be easy, since it boils down to “Trump is awesome, Comey vindicated Trump and Trump is awesome, and Comey is horrible and Trump is awesome.”

    He can stick to those.

  77. 77.

    efgoldman

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I’ve also had a strange craving for a bacon cheeseburger

    Ah, as kosher as i am. Good.
    (I took care of my fix a week ago. We tried a new diner, and it was reeaaallly good)

  78. 78.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Does anyone know what time the Comey testimony is scheduled to begin? There’s a live Ossoff-Handel debate starting at 9:00 a.m. and lasting certainly an hour, perhaps 90 minutes. I need to game out how and on what devices I’m going to follow everything I want to.

  80. 80.

    efgoldman

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Here’s some of that full-court press mentioned in the second paragraph.

    These fuckers lie when they say “good morning.”

    Fuckem

  83. 83.

    Chris

    @GregB:

    I think the degree to which the entire GOP is willing to cover for Trump is closing the window pretty damn fast. The entire world is seeing and noting that half the American political class is completely bugfuck and unreliable. Even if a Democrat goes back into office, what’s he supposed to say? “Please deal with us, and just pray that four years from now some freak doesn’t wipe the slate clean?

  85. 85.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Omnes Omnibus: @Yoda Dog: It is important to remember that SecDef Carter and DNI Clapper had recommended to President Obama last Fall around the election that Admiral Rogers be relieved of his commands (he’s dual hatted as Commander CYBERCOM) and thereby retired from service.

  91. 91.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Kayla Rudbek: I’m tone deaf. I don’t hum. I don’t sing. I don’t whistle. It violates several of the Geneva Conventions against torture.

  94. 94.

    Adam L Silverman

    @MomSense: I get one to two sinus infections a year. It happens. I know the signs. I get to the docs right quick and get on the meds. And I’m usually good to go within four or five days.

  96. 96.

    encephalopath

    What resources could the Trump administration have to their disposal to attack Comey at this point?

    Who with any authority or credibility is going to do it?

    This pickings are going to be thin for that role at this point, especially after Coats and Rogers soiled themselves in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee today.

  97. 97.

    efgoldman

    Jeebus in a Fiat. Just mention that you have a sniffle around here, and everybody’s an old wife, a doctor, or both.
    Someday I’m going to tally up this shit (if Majorx4 doesn’t do it first) and see how many of the remedies directly contradict each other.
    He finally went to the shaman and got antibiotics, which is what he should have done for a sinus infection in the first place.

  99. 99.

    Adam L Silverman

    @sukabi: I have no doubt. Lot of day drinking going to be going on within the White House Counsel’s Office.

  100. 100.

    Peale

    So I guess the talking points are that Trump fired Comey for not investigating him? + Hillary Clinton.

  101. 101.

    sukabi

    @MisterForkbeard: that was today. Tomorrow there’s bound to be something or someone that pissed him off. I fully expect that he’ll hate tweet some stupid shit or other and dig his hole deeper. It’s what he does.

  102. 102.

    hovercraft

    @Smiling Mortician:

    Never apologize for not doing more than the significant benefit you’re providing here. You are a tremendously valuable resource

    Stop that, we pay him handsomely for his work here, don’t compliment him, it will go to his head. We have high expectations here! He hasn’t even posted any recipes recently!

  106. 106.

    Cheryl Rofer

    The Republican talking points are inconsistent. But attacking them for that is beside the point. Misinformation is intended to confuse and make people uncertain of what to believe. Internal inconsistency helps with that. It’s a principle that Russia has been using.

  108. 108.

    Peale

    @encephalopath: they can buy ads, which btw, I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Like all that time, Obama could have bought anti-Benghazi hearing ads.

  109. 109.

    MomSense

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I hate sinus infections. I used to get them all the time. Hope this passes quickly for you. I’ve been feeling rundown but I think it’s trumpsomnia and stress.

  110. 110.

    randy khan

    It’s nice to see that the Republican information security for their talking points is about as good as I’d expect. Also, their proofreading is about where I thought it would be.

  113. 113.

    dm

    So, are you people going to just reminisce about neti pot discussions, or is anyone going to recommend one to Adam for his sinuses? (Glad I searched before making the newbie mistake of just blurting out, “Hey, try a neti pot!”)

  115. 115.

    Peale

    So could someone tell Trump that firing someone to protect a friend is kind of the same thing as firing someone to protect yourself? If you read the talking points, you’d think there was no one named Flynn involved here.

  116. 116.

    jl

    @Cheryl Rofer: So, we should just laugh at them? Or maybe act like it is a hoax, tell the GOP we are sorry that hackers broke into their site and posted this drivel?

    Seriously, what is the best response to these asinine talking ponts. I read through them and they are sad and desperate, and also funny.

  118. 118.

    Patricia Kayden

    @dm: Looked up neti pots on YouTube and the whole thing looked too scary for me. The whole forcing liquid in nostrils thing wouldn’t work for me but a lot of people swear by them so they must work.

  119. 119.

    dm

    @Adam L Silverman: my guess is the drinking in the White House counsel’s office will start with the first *pling* of an arriving tweet — maybe at three this morning.

  121. 121.

    jl

    @efgoldman:

    ” He finally went to the shaman and got antibiotics, which is what he should have done for a sinus infection in the first place. ”

    What the hell kind of shaman is that? When I go to the shaman I expect ‘shrooms.

  123. 123.

    MisterForkbeard

    @jl: I think mockery might be the only answer. Actually engaging on the merits is a losing game – too much to rebut within an easily readable timeframe. No one will pay attention to your rebuttal.

  124. 124.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @efgoldman: what you want is a witch hazel tincture, and Doc MacArthur’s Health tonic, but only after 10 pm

  126. 126.

    rikyrah

    The Dinner Table Doc‏ @dinnertabledoc

    Both Yara Shahidi AND Malia Obama are headed to Harvard in the fall! How dope is that!?

  127. 127.

    Adam L Silverman

    @efgoldman: It is what I did in the first place. As soon as I was even remotely concerned it wasn’t just bad allergies given all the oak pollen in the air I made an appointment and got in first thing.

  128. 128.

    jl

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: If Adam would get out West, we could get him to a Medicine Show and get him some snake oil. But I think he insists on hanging out back East in them little rinky dinky states. You know, those old fashioned antique ones.

  129. 129.

    efgoldman

    @Peale:

    If you read the talking points, you’d think there was no one named Flynn involved here.

    Flynn? What’s a Flynn?
    Erroll?
    Joe?
    Jeremy?
    Sean?
    Raymond?

  132. 132.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Cheryl Rofer: They’re learning from the best autocrats around. They hope they can become the United Russia of America

    Pathetic they may be, but they’re not aimed at us. They’re aimed at the base

  133. 133.

    efgoldman

    @jl:

    What the hell kind of shaman is that? When I go to the shaman I expect ‘shrooms.

    Florida has MUCH looser licensing requirements.

  135. 135.

    Corner Stone

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Qatar will be a hot topic for weeks to come so no rush.

    I think you mean Qatar will be a glass top parking lot for centuries to come.

  139. 139.

    Adam L Silverman

    @jl: I’ve lived in Colorado, part time in New Mexico, and Arkansas. I spent six months assigned at Leavenworth and living just on the Missouri side of the state line. I’ve lived in south central Pennsylvania. I’ve lived in rural Georgia and Atlanta.

  140. 140.

    MisterForkbeard

    @randy khan: They’re pathetic, but keep in mind that Trump voters are the people who heard Trump says “No one cares more about health care than me” and bought it.

    @Mnemosyne: Hadn’t heard of it, but it seems pretty close. I HAVE made it with potatoes substituting for beans before, and it works. It makes the whole thing a little heavier than I liked, but it was good.

    I think Caldo Verde tends to go with less spice in the sausages as well, but that’s a core component in my soup. The spice really kicks your sinuses and helps you feel better.

  142. 142.

    Mnemosyne

    @Patricia Kayden:

    I could never get the hang of the ones that look like a little teapot, so I had a special squeeze bottle with a slightly bent neck that did the same thing. I didn’t have to tilt my head in strange directions to get it to work like I did with the teapot-shaped one.

  145. 145.

    Adam L Silverman

    @manyakitty: What’s disturbing is that he didn’t go through with it. Calm and cool is one thing. Over cautious is another. And we could have used a lot less over cautious last year.

  146. 146.

    efgoldman

    @Adam L Silverman:

    As soon as I was even remotely concerned it wasn’t just bad allergies given all the oak pollen in the air

    We’re surrounded: two big maples in the front yard, a huge red maple next door, a big old oak across the street, two old conifers (pine? I guess) just across the backyard fence, and a couple of hickories and a birch in the back. The arborist loves it – apparently decades ago somebody decided on purpose to plant many species native to RI – but OH the pollens.
    My dark blue car isn’t worth washing this time of year.

  147. 147.

    Corner Stone

    @Adam L Silverman: Man I hit that cheeseburger today about 1PM CT or so and by 2PM CT I was stumbling around looking for a couch. That shit was like an AC-130 bringing the rain!

  148. 148.

    Waratah

    I wish Comey had just told Trump he could not make public he was not under investigation at this time because he might at a future date.
    That is what they are big on right now. I hope that that point is made clear tomorrow.

  151. 151.

    rikyrah

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    I’ve now had 7 various conversations & here is what appears to be happening with Trumpcare. Starting with the biggest news… 1

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    If McConnell has his way, the public will only have two days to read the bill, with a day to debate & a vote 6/28. 2

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    This is gonna be a long one so bear with me. A lot happening. 2a

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    That means no hearings, a CBO score, no chance for public debate & little time to read language. CBO score, perfunctory debate & vote.3

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    McConnell had a small mtg, then the full R caucus, then a recap meeting. Then a Trump meeting. They put the PR machine on full blast.4

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    They downplay prospects while folks are home last week to minimize pressure. Blare up inevitability now & probably for Trump’s benefit. 5

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    Opened the mtg with “we cannot fail”– a different tone. Said ACA will fail (most know due to Trump sabotage) so they have to act… 6

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    Opened the mtg with “we cannot fail”– a different tone. Said ACA will fail (most know due to Trump sabotage) so they have to act… 6
    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    Had a thin .ppt presentation. A “feel good” package. Longer slope on ending Medicaid expansion. Adjustments to pre-ex. More $ 4 tax creds.7

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    It was like adding ketchup to rotten food. Still Medicaid caps, still end expansion, still ⬆️ prems. Still all 2 fund a massive tax cut. 8

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    To be clear, “feel good” is to make them feel good, not you. E.g., improve pre-ex, but allow services not to be covered.

    Feel good yet?9a

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    Idea is 2 have CBO review in pieces– that’s started. But have it in by the end of the weekend. They have to fill holes & make decisions.10

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    And then use June to “buy” the incremental votes they need. Most ppl. think it will pass w 50 & there are 43 in now. 11

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    So expect attempts to buy Murkowski w an Alaska goodie, opioid $ for dift Senators & other pet issues. Doing this while keeping Cruz/Lee. 12

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    Now for the good part.

    What can be done. 13

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    No 1: Demand to see the damn bill.

    There needs to be a #showusthebill campaign. More it sees the light of day, quicker it fails. 14

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    No 2: Do NOT get bought off.

    If your issue is opioids & it slightly improves, remember hundred of billions of care goes away 4 millions.15

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    No. 3: Don’t let your Senator get bought cheap.

    From my yrs running the programs & the private sector, ppl cannot survive these cuts.16

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    No. 4: Don’t buy the window dressing.

    And with no time to review actual language & before a CBO score, it’s all window dressing.17

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    No. 5: If they stumble, they fall.

    They have no time to spare and if they miss by a few days, they are home 4 recess. 18

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt

    No. 6: Follow @TopherSpiro, @IndivisibleTeam 4 latest on applying pressure to the Senate. One more hard no early will change the course.19

    Andy Slavitt‏Verified account @ASlavitt
    Replying to @ASlavitt @TopherSpiro @IndivisibleTeam

    That’s it. Back to work.

  155. 155.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @efgoldman:

    My dark blue car isn’t worth washing this time of year.

    My silver car looks gold after a visit to my parents’ place at this tine of year.

  158. 158.

    Mnemosyne

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Nasal irrigation is a good idea when pollen is high — silly as it sounds, washing the pollen particles out of your nose actually helps.

    If you don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of a neti pot, you can get a spray can of nasal saline that does essentially the same thing.

  163. 163.

    Aleta

    @Adam L Silverman: The key is the follow up after you’ve finished the tea, ginger, cardamon pod, hot water, whiskey, lemon, honey, whiskey, two soups and whiskey. Pack one or both nostrils with wasabi, place a slice of sashimi over each eye, then wash down a portion of wasabi equal in size to your thumbnail. Faint, repeat as needed.

  164. 164.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mnemosyne: I have one. I’m looking at it right now. Believe it or not I have managed to survive for a long time before receiving all this wonderful folk remedy wisdom.

  167. 167.

    Corner Stone

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Calm and cool is one thing. Over cautious is another. And we could have used a lot less over cautious last year.

    Shit. That’s a damn yoog co-sign.

  170. 170.

    rikyrah

    Bree Newsome‏Verified account @BreeNewsome 4h4 hours ago

    “White Lies” [a thread by @breenewsome] 1/27

    The crisis confronting the American republic at this moment is not the fault of Russia, it’s the fault of US racism. 2/27

    White America rallied behind Trump 2 relieve it of an existential threat posed by a black president elected by a multiethnic coalition 3/27

    Trump descended the golden escalator of his tower & announced his candidacy for president to a room full of folks paid to applaud him. 4/27

    What set Trump apart from other GOP primary candidates was his unabashedly racist rhetoric and his white nationalism platform. 5/27

    Soon as Trump was elected, enormous amounts of energy went 2 explaining y whites rallied 4 him, mainly 2 argue it wasn’t about racism… 6/27

    Except, sike! — analysis shows it was primarily racism. ? 7/27

    Nevertheless, both sides of white power structure, right & left, prioritized defending white Trump voters against charges of racism. 8/27

    Not only was focus placed on defending few thousand voters who tipped electoral college for Trump (he lost popular vote by 3 million)… 9/27

    …but blame for his win was placed on non-white voters for demanding too much focus on “identity politics” (read: civil rights) 10/27

    Now, predictably, as Trump goes down & threatens to take the republic w/ him, there’s already effort underway to rewrite history… 11/27

    …and cast Trump as an anomaly disconnected from the political & religious right. Trump came out of nowhere apparently. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 12/27

    No one recalls the racist birtherism movement that marked his ascendancy in the conservative political sphere. 13/27

    No one recalls GOP presidential candidate Romney holding a special press conference to announce he’d been endorsed by Trump. 14/27

    Trump is now cast as being single handedly responsible for the crisis of the modern American republic. 15/27

    But that’s false and we all know it’s false. And this is why the institutions of America are shaking at their foundations in 2017. 16/27

    “Trump” is not simply Donald J. or a building in Manhattan. Trumpism is a movement that represents a racist police state… 17/27

    …a reifying of the white supremacist ideology that shaped the nation’s institutions from prisons & labor laws to housing & education. 18/27

    “Make America Great Again” 19/27

    How Trump rose to power, peddling racist conspiracy abt 1st black prez w/ complicity of white power structure, shouldn’t be forgotten. 20/27

    152 years after US Civil War, we’re still dealing w/ the consequences of deliberate miseducation & historical erasure re: slavery. 21/27

    Even the current US president is ignorant about the history of a war that killed more Americans than all subsequent US wars combined. 22/27

    Consequences of living in active denial of how US arrived @ Trump crisis (again: racism) are immediate, potentially fatal to republic 23/27

    Only hope 4 US democracy is 4 US to vigorously defend it by securing democracy and human rights for ALL people living in this nation… 24/27

    …something this nation has refused to do generation after generation since its founding. 25/27

    No, we won’t stop speaking on so-called “identity politics” when we’re repeatedly denied civil & human rights b/c we aren’t white. 26/27

    Democracy & human rights must be fully realized for all or US institutions will collapse under the weight of their inbred racism [end]

  171. 171.

    Steeplejack

    Heh, Colbert show just opened with a “nitro funny cars” style drag-racing promo for the Comey hearing tomorrow.

  172. 172.

    Waratah

    @Adam L Silverman: Adam if all of the above does not work I find some really good Mexican hot sauce and chips. Something in those peppers and the vitamin C in the tomatoes really works and your non working taste buds can taste. Then I like to eat good Mexican food because it is spicy, it can reach the taste buds and because I just love the food.

  174. 174.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Waratah: Thanks. I had some great salsa at a local place where I was watching game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals with a buddy last week.

  175. 175.

    FlyingToaster

    @efgoldman: Most of the remedies I see cited seem to be “relieve the symptoms while the meds do their thing for 4-5 days”. I’ve made doctored teas — pretty sure I just used the powdered cardamom in the spice cabinet — and the variety makes it easier to drink the volume of liquids required. I also tend to alternate chicken soup with onion soup (minus the crouton and gruyere), so that I can survive the boredom of the same damn thing for several days until the virus kicks it.

    I do not want to be like my idiot brother who gets the meds and then doesn’t drink anything but diet Coke and ends up with pneumonia.

    All I’ve had this spring is allergies, which are no fun, but far less catastrophic than sinus infections.

  177. 177.

    CaseyL

    So many cold remedies!

    What would happen if you tried ALL of them, all at once? Would you be the healthiest person in the world, or would they all gather in one place in your body and implode?

    I don’t have a favorite cold remedy – Mucinex and strong hot honeyed tea work best for me – though I do have a favorite when-I’m-sick comfort food: wonton soup, delivered.

    I hope you feel better soon, no matter how you get there.

  178. 178.

    trollhattan

    @Steeplejack:
    “Sunday, Sunday, SundayThursday, Thursday, Thursday, at Dysfunctional Speedway, Open Class umbrage-fueled Comey cars. BE THERE!

  179. 179.

    Mnemosyne

    @CaseyL:

    I discovered that the Chinese place near me makes a terrific BBQ pork wonton soup. The only thing that annoyed me last time was that they dropped some broccoli in it to fill it out — yuck!

  185. 185.

    dww44

    @Lizzy L: I second the appreciation to Rikyrah and as a measure of my appreciation I’m posting that tweet storm on our local indivisible FB page and the Democrat page and urging everyone to start calling. We may not win, but we don’t know for sure unless we try to raise the biggest stink that we can. I’m gonna do my part.

    Anyone watch Chris Hayes tonight and see his little comments at the end with a couple of female guests, in which he posited that perhaps Russia was helping the GOP to push through its healthcare bill?

  187. 187.

    BlueDWarrior

    @dww44: it could only be helping in that it isn’t causing even more outrage. But honestly, the GOP is going to repeal the ACA because they believe they can do anything and thier voters (and donors) will enthusiastically approve of it.

    The only thing that will stop this will be for the left, such that it exists, to finally get thier heads out thier asses and organize into a real electoral bloc, instead of hoping squishy voters get it after we protest. Or to put another way, drum circles at Berkley ain’t getting Pelosi the gavel again, only a marching band leading others to the ballot box will.

    Thankfully, aside from some Leftier-than-thou trolls, nearly all of us get it.

  189. 189.

    Mel

    @schrodingers_cat: Cardamom makes almost anything taste better. Our “medicinal purposes” drink of favor is hot tea with a shot of whiskey, some ginger and honey, and a pinch of ground cardamom.

  190. 190.

    Fair Economist

    Patented cold remedy: eat lots of raw garlic. It won’t help with your symptoms but at least people will leave you alone and not pester you with cold remedies.

  191. 191.

    Marcopolo

    @Yoda Dog: Really, at this point anyone who goes to work for the Trump Admin has to be considered a toady. All the evidence points to him asking everyone he might have work for him for their loyalty (and I think we have to infer he expects that before loyalty to the Constitution). He has demonstrated in spades that he does not feel the need to reciprocate that loyalty in return (except maybe Flynn). That’s why all the “knowledgable” people can talk about how good this new pick for the FBI Directorship is and all I can think is NOPE stick with the acting Director till Trumps term ends. At least he isn’t someone who Trump picked.

    Of course, this is all of a piece with what the Lawfare post is saying. Trump cannot be trusted.

  192. 192.

    Gretchen

    @Adam L Silverman: Always pay attention to cravings. When I was pregnant, I couldn’t keep food down, and the only thing I craved was lettuce. My doctor said vitamin B6 deficiency caused morning (or all-day, in my case) sickness. Best food source of B6? Lettuce. In the ninth month, I craved cheddar cheese with butter spread on it. That’s not something I’ve ever eaten before or since. Needs in late pregnancy? Lots of fat to support childbirth and breastfeeding. Since then, if I crave something, I assume there’s a reason for it. Eat the cheeseburger. Maybe your body needs the protein to make more antibodies.

  193. 193.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Gretchen: I do, but thanks for the reinforcement. Because of my work out routine I do a lot protein supplementation. But I also pay attention to cravings. So I have lots of available protein sources in the house. And at this hour I’m going to bed, not in search of a cheeseburger. Even if there is a SteakNShake just a few minutes up the road.

  194. 194.

    NobodySpecial

    My cold remedy is a bit different: Mongolian Beef, from my local restaurant, extra spicy.

  196. 196.

    lowtechcyclist

    The only argument that we’re not already past “Nixon Resigns”-level obstruction of justice and abuse of Executive power is that Comey isn’t telling the truth. That’s it.

    And I’m not talking about the level where the House Judiciary Committee voted 27-11 to impeach Nixon on obstruction of justice and 28-10 on abuse of power. I’m talking about the level where the Judiciary Committee was ready to go back in and change their vote to 38-0, and only one Congressman* was still willing to openly support Nixon.

    And yet we know Jonathan Chait is right: impeachment just isn’t happening in this Congress, because these Republicans, as opposed to the 1974 Republicans, will support Trump nearly unanimously no matter what.

    There’s that expression, “Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line,” but I never fully appreciated the truth of the Republican part of it until the last several months. They’re good soldiers, they fall in line, they’ll destroy millions of people’s lives and quite possibly the country rather than step out of line.

    There is no goddamned reason left why any thinking person should be a Republican.

    *Earl Landgrebe of Indiana. Cripes, there’s still a ton of Watergate trivia kicking around in my head.

  197. 197.

    pluky

    @jl: Well considering the roots of a lot of antibiotics (e.g. penicillin) are in fungal extracts . . .

  199. 199.

    Sherparick

    @BBA: Yes, exactly. Senator McConnell read his colleagues the riot act & gave them the message from the thousand or so top donors who now call the shots in the Republican Party. They want their tax cuts, they want Obama care & Medicaid repealed, & since Trump will sign those bills he can steal all the gold in Ft. Knox & give Alaska back to the Russians, it’s okay with them.

  202. 202.

    JoeyJoeJoe Junior Shabadoo

    “Don’t confuse me with the facts. I’ve got a closed mind. I ‘I I will support my president even if I have to be taken back and shot. I Recall eArl landgrebe’s famous line. Even the almanac of American politics mocked that guy.

  203. 203.

    aimai

    @rikyrah: I’m kind of sad! In an alternate universe my kid would have been going off to Harvard in the fall. Instead she is heading to a different school. I would have liked to bump into Michelle and Barack at the parents festivities.

  204. 204.

    Chris

    @lowtechcyclist:

    There’s that expression, “Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line,” but I never fully appreciated the truth of the Republican part of it until the last several months. They’re good soldiers, they fall in line, they’ll destroy millions of people’s lives and quite possibly the country rather than step out of line.

    The fact that all of them are happy and willing to collude on something as blatant as Russian tampering in the elections, of all things, is what’s still staggering to me. I always thought that they had it in them, but thought it would take an event on the scale of Russia taking over the U.S. (i.e. something that would never happen) or, at the very least, America losing its superpower status to some other major powers, before they sold out this way. Nope.

  205. 205.

    Matt McIrvin

    @BlueDWarrior: The leftier-than-thou trolls don’t want Pelosi to have the gavel, they want a revolution that brings down all institutions and utterly destroys the corporatist world order, etc., etc. They are really not that different from Steve Bannon, except that he actually figured out how to get what he wants.

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