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This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

So many bastards, so little time.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Innocent people do not delay justice.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

You are here: Home / Politics / Goddamned Traitors / The Cyber (Open Thread)

The Cyber (Open Thread)

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Via The Post:

Mueller adds veteran cyber prosecutor to special-counsel team

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has added a veteran cyber prosecutor to his team, filling what has long been a gap in expertise and potentially signaling a recent focus on computer crimes.

Ryan K. Dickey was assigned to Mueller’s team in early November from the Justice Department’s computer crime and intellectual-property section, said a spokesman for the special counsel’s office…

Legal analysts have said that one charge Mueller might pursue would be a conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, if he can demonstrate that members of Trump’s team conspired in Russia’s hacking effort to influence the election.

“Alexa, order ALL the popcorn.”

UPDATE: Trump indicates he won’t submit to an interview with Mueller in response to a question from a journalist during a press briefing with the Norwegian PM. Via The Hill:

President Trump said Wednesday it is “unlikely” he will have to sit down with special counsel Robert Mueller for an interview, arguing that there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia.

Trump repeatedly dodged whether he would submit to an interview with Mueller by citing his claim there was no collusion during the 2016 presidential election.

“We’ll see what happens,” the president said when pressed by a reporter on Wednesday. “When they have no collusion … it seems unlikely that you’d even have an interview.”

Yeah, keep telling yourself that, lumpy.

Reader Interactions

129Comments

  1. 1.

    Adria McDowell

    See, I read “Ryan K. Dickey” as “Barron Trump.” Isn’t he, like, super ridiculously good at the cyber, too? /s

  2. 2.

    Immanentize

    I am rooting for a Brad Parscale investigation/charge/prosecution. That guy is one of the most obnoxious dudebros of our time. Totally incompetent but thinks he’s a genius. I am certain he is in up to his neck with Cambridge Analytics and Russian tomfoolery.

  4. 4.

    schrodingers_cat

    From the last thread:
    Will we ever find out how much active help from Republican operatives that the Russians got? Data mining is not magic, who gave Cambridge Analytica the inputs or told them what data to collect, for their number crunching and analysis ?
    There must have been people who work on political campaigns if their data mining operation was that specific that they could micro-target their audience with specific propaganda/ads.

  5. 5.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    This is good news. But the really good news will be when they have to add 3 more “cyber” law experts due to all the evidence they need to review.

  7. 7.

    hueyplong

    Anytime anyone is added to the team, it’s good news for us and bad news for Trump.

    Pretty sure you don’t add an expert as you’re “wrapping things up” and getting ready to exonerate Trump.

    What’s the line? Something like, “Tick-tock, motherfuckers.”

  9. 9.

    burnspbesq

    I’m in favor of a grand jury subpoena for trump. Just so I can watch Jay Sekulow stroke out on live teevee.

  10. 10.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Remember the Hyman Roth tried to buy asylum to get away from Michael Corleone ? Who would take the Mercers?

    Oh yeah, there might be one foreign country that would happily welcome them, and their money.

    What the Russian for “hedge fund”?

  11. 11.

    SFAW

    @hueyplong:

    What’s the line? Something like, “Tick-tock, motherfuckers.”

    NO tick-tock! NO tick-tock! YOU’RE the tick-tock!

    [Note: Yes, I realize that makes no sense. Since when has Shitgibbon made any sense?]

  12. 12.

    Marci Kiser

    I’d be willing to bet that Trump’s comments reflect the fantasy his handlers have spun for him: the investigation will be over soon, he’ll be exonerated, no need to do an interview. Trump is probably arrogant and hotheaded enough to demand an interview otherwise, just so he can close this deal once and for all.

  13. 13.

    SFAW

    @burnspbesq:

    I’m in favor of a grand jury subpoena for trump. Just so I can watch Jay Sekulow stroke out on live teevee.

    You’re an evil person.

    No, that’s not it … what was I trying to say? Hmm … oh yeah …

    Co-sign

  14. 14.

    schrodingers_cat

    @MomSense: It is not likely that Russians got all that detailed information without American help and not just any John Doe from the street but persons with detailed knowledge of campaigns.

    ETA: Don’t forget how well leftier-than-thou peeps were targeted too. I used to get all the T talking points from a BS supporter before I saw them in the media at large. She used to get it from Facebook by her own admission.

  15. 15.

    Chris

    @Aleta:

    What rhymes with Mueller? There needs to be an epic ballad.

    “Untouchables” was on the other night, and I kept thinking “I really hope someone makes a movie like this about Mueller and Trump some day.” (I hope the outcome is similar enough for there to be a movie).

  17. 17.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    how is it no reporter can figure out how much TV coverage they’ll get if they’re the one who responds to this

    arguing that there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia.

    by asking
    “Could you explain how your son’s “I love it!” response when told of the Russian government’s interest in helping your campaign wasn’t collusion?”

  18. 18.

    JGabriel

    President Trump said Wednesday it is “unlikely” he will have to sit down with special counsel Robert Mueller for an interview, arguing that there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia.

    Nope, it wasn’t collusion – it was conspiracy.

  19. 19.

    Aleta

    Maybe mentioned. Other good news:

    The Senate Judiciary Committee will welcome its first African American members in this century after Democrats added Sens. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to the panel that handles judicial nominations and appointments to the Justice Department.
    …
    No African American senator has sat on the Judiciary Committee since the 1990s, when Carol Moseley Braun, a Democrat from Illinois, became the first black woman elected to the Senate. There had been pressure on Democrats to elevate Harris; in the end, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opted to elevate both of the Senate’s black Democrats.

    Harris’s appointment was possible because Democrat Doug Jones’s victory last month in Alabama shrank the Republican advantage on two committees. (Booker Republicans now have one-seat advantages on the Judiciary Committee (11 to 10) and Finance Committee (14 to 13); Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who is in his second term, will join the latter committee.

    (A bit more about new appointments of Dems to committees: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/09/democrats-add-harris-booker-to-senate-judiciary-committee/?utm_term=.0b8b75e9f3ea)

  23. 23.

    jl

    If Muellerr is going to look into attacks on state voter records, then I think that is a good thing. More important than stealing emails or whatever drivel RT puts out as news. Not that those latter are not important, just that I think they should have lower priority.

  24. 24.

    Jay S

    This hire supposedly happened in November. I could have sworn I read about this quite a while back.

  25. 25.

    JGabriel

    @Aleta:

    What rhymes with Mueller? There needs to be an epic ballad.

    Everything ending in -er rhymes with Mueller, unless you need the rhymes to be polysyllabic.

  26. 26.

    schrodingers_cat

    I think it totally must burn up Doll Hands that Mueller looks so much better in comparison than he does. Tall and lean instead of a like whiskey barrel left out in the sun, with great hair too.

    ETA: Someone pointed out that Mr. Mueller is actually older than Doll Hair.

  27. 27.

    sharl

    Aw man, the CFAA, a legal nuclear fission device that prosecutors have played damn near like it’s a wild card.* A number of us non-lawyer types were made aware of this law as a result of the travails of the late Aaron Swartz.

    I wish every misery to be afflicted upon President Stable Genius and his band of con artists, thieves, and determined racists, but THAT legal tool gives me the goddamn creeps.

    *Apologies for bad analogies and strained similes and whatnot. I’m still sad that Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was discontinued at Disneyworld (Florida), so I sometimes attempt to duplicate the concept behind that most excellent ride in my writing.

  31. 31.

    TaMara (HFG)

    Someone else has probably already said it, but I do believe Mueller was brought to investigate obstruction of justice when the second rate cheeto fired Comey.

    So, you know orange idiot, he could interview you about THAT.

  32. 32.

    jl

    @schrodingers_cat: Would have been a central casting AG!

    But media has much the same mindset as Trump. They are in full theater critic mode on Trumps televised BS session yesterday.

  33. 33.

    Ruckus

    @schrodingers_cat:
    Not sure the Russians would need a lot of help. It’s not like the republicans and especially drumpf were a closed book. It shouldn’t have been very difficult for anyone to see, if they weren’t brain dead.

  35. 35.

    Jeffro

    Betty, you were right about Fox always running these creepy-teacher-and-her-student(s) stories, there’s another one up right now. What is UP with that?

  38. 38.

    Waldo

    “When they have no collusion … it seems unlikely that you’d even have an interview.”

    I bet he sticks with the no-collusion story right up to his first parole hearing.

  39. 39.

    Hoodie

    Wonder if this requires direct involvement in or solicitation of the hacking itself, or could it extend to solicitation of emails that were already hacked? Arguably, Trump publicly asking the Russians to hack HRC’s emails could be a violation. The problem would be proving intent, but maybe you could have evidence of a pattern of behavior indicating that the campaign was generally seeking her hacked emails and he really wasn’t kidding.

  40. 40.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Given how prepared the Republicans were to find tiny populations of legal refugees to start deporting, I would find it laughable if they claimed they didn’t have similar statistics on exactly which voters in which zip codes to mess with.

  42. 42.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    The journalist should have asked him if he had something to hide by not submitting to an interview.

  43. 43.

    jl

    @Ruckus: I remember reading about some regional GOP campaign operatives who had contact with Russian sources, but that seems to have dropped out of the news. If there was anything to those stories, those people were competent enough to actively collude. Setting aside what the Trumpsters dreamed about doing, I think it is a good question, other than Manafort, whether they were organized or sane enough to do any active colluding (though IANAL so I have no idea how that works into the legal criteria for illegal collusion with foreign agents during an election).

  45. 45.

    Yarrow

    @Jeffro: Female teachers? Then it’s: “Women are predators who will harm males of any age. They are not to be trusted.” The same misogynist crap the spew all the time.

  46. 46.

    sharl

    Hmm, previous comment in moderation (can’t figure out why), so on a completely different topic…

    Those interested in the Cliven Bundy/Malheur stuff – especially non-lawyers like me who may not understand the full implications of the profound screw-ups by the prosecution that led to the recent case dismissal – might appreciate the (somewhat lengthy) thread that this J.J. MacNab tweet kicks off:

    If you think the armed Bundy confrontation in 2014 was about public land policy, grazing fees, land rights, and Mormon conspiracy theories, you are missing the big picture.— JJ MacNab (@jjmacnab) January 10, 2018

    According to MacNab, who has been following this for a long time, there is more going on there than a casual observer relying on cursory national news reports would be able to observe.

  49. 49.

    Jeffro

    “We’ll see what happens,” the president said when pressed by a reporter on Wednesday. “When they have no collusion … it seems unlikely that you’d even have an interview.”

    Oh sure, right-o, good and noble Mr. president* sir! We’ll just take your word for it and skip that pesky interview.

    I’M SO INNOCENT…THAT I HAD TO RUN AND HIDE FROM BOB MUELLER.
    I’M SO INNOCENT…I NOT ONLY TURNED DOWN A CHANCE TO TELL BOB EVERYTHING, AND CLEAR MY NAME FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL (including the history books)…BUT I DID THE ONE THING THAT MAKES ME LOOK TOTALLY GUILTY.
    I’M SO INNOCENT…I HAD TO FIRE JAMES COMEY WHEN HE WOULDN’T “let this go”
    I’M SO INNOCENT…I RAGED AT JEFF SESSIONS FOR NOT PROTECTING ME…FROM THE INVESTIGATION INTO THAT THING I DIDN’T DO

    etc etc

  50. 50.

    Jay S

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Who would take the Mercers?

    I thought the Mercers were Jewish? Israel’s asylum shouldn’t be a big problem assuming the unlikely event they need or want it.
    But I’m missing why they might need it.

  51. 51.

    kindness

    Trump may not know it but it’s called a subpoena and even the President of the US has to answer one if he/she gets one.

  53. 53.

    J R in WV

    Cyber is hard. I spent 4 years working really hard in a serious degree program, and after got a real job on a large system development project I realized I didn’t know anything yet.

    I’m glad Mr Mueller has found someone he regards as competent to investigate the R’s (Russians) project to own the 2016 election and how that worked with the R’s (Russian-controlled Republican) project to own the 2016 election.

    I don’t know anything much about the law, cyber-crime, etc, but just doing complex software correctly is really, really hard. Of course I’m talking about real world data, not games where what looks and feels best is correct.

    Best of luck to Mr Mueller’s team. I hope that the cyber-crime statutes (and related conspiracy statutes) are widely written enough to plainly sweep these bastards up into a neat little package facing life in Supermax… and of course I’m including the funders, the Mercer family, the Koch family, and all their little helpers in that package. Without millions of dollars, none of this would have been possible.

    Do hurry, Mr Mueller, we at least need to be past the Grand Jury parts and into trials by the time the 2020 election gets fired up. Oh, yes, please do subpoena Mr Trump to appear before a Grand Jury soonest!! Even if it happens in deepest secrecy, it is something Mr Trump needs to learn about. All by his lonesome with a barely respectful enough prosecutor giving him the works.

    Someday the video of that might be really valuable to the nation’s political stability and history.

  54. 54.

    trollhattan

    @sharl:
    Start here. I’m sure there will be much more to come.

    The three Bundy defendants spoke to reporters amidst dozens of onlookers outside the federal courthouse Monday morning. When asked whether another standoff would happen if the BLM again attempted to impound the family’s cattle that are still grazing federal land without the required permit, Ammon Bundy said: “I don’t know, you’d have to ask my dad. But I’m sure he’s going to do whatever it takes.”

    In response to the dismissal, Mike Ford, Nevada’s former deputy state director of the Bureau of Land Management, said in an email: “Regrettably, there is culpability to be shared, but many of the good people of the BLM, and others, will now be painted with the same brush of bad behavior based upon the lack of common sense, failed leadership, and irresponsible actions of a few perpetrated by Special Agent Dan Love.” Love led the failed 2014 impoundment and is a controversial figure in the West, known for his aggressive law enforcement tactics. Love was also the subject of federal investigations into alleged misconduct and was fired from the agency last year.
    It is not yet clear whether the trial of four more defendants in the larger Bunkerville standoff case, including two more of Cliven’s sons, Mel and Dave Bundy, will continue as planned. United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada released the following statement: “We respect the Court’s ruling and will make a determination about the next appropriate steps.”

  55. 55.

    gene108

    @Yarrow:

    Female teachers? Then it’s: “Women are predators who will harm males of any age. They are not to be trusted.” The same misogynist crap the spew all the time.

    Nah, I think it’s more a “hot for teacher” fantasy, to all the guys out there, who had an attractive teacher in HS and wished they’d gotten laid sooner.

  56. 56.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Sweet Jesus

    Eamon Javers‏Verified account @ EamonJavers
    President Trump says the Norwegian prime minister thanked him for how well her US stock investments have been doing.

    @Jay S: I thought hard-core fundie Xians, especially the father.

  57. 57.

    Ruckus

    @jl:
    I understand that election law is pretty specific about who can do what and what can’t be done, and that there is quite a bit about who has to keep their mitts out and off the process.

  58. 58.

    Yarrow

    @gene108: Could be both/and. I don’t look at Fox News, so I’m not sure how they’re spinning it. You’re probably right that’s part of it, for sure.

  59. 59.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    I see a live shot of a slow moving orange Bronco driving through DC in Trumps future.

  64. 64.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    @Yarrow:
    “Look, the president is about four months away from a psychotic break, you guys have to do something to get rid of this nutcase. You (GOP) already passed your tax scam, and Pence would be just as much a stooge as Trump is, just without the batshit craziness. There’s going to be a wave election destroying you this year. You have to get ahead of this. Ryan and McConnell are going to jail anyway. How would you like to be ‘Minority Leader Burr’, savior of the Republic?”

  66. 66.

    kindness

    @Jay S: I thought they were too but then how does a nice Jewish family own a Nazi clusterfuck like Breitbart and still talk to their rabbi? So now I figure they aren’t. Probably some branch of non-practicing hypocritical Protestants. (yes I was raised WASP so I can say that).

  67. 67.

    Jeffro

    @Waldo:

    I bet he sticks with the no-collusion story right up to his first parole hearing.

    50-50 on whether he cops to conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and money laundering in order to avoid RICO charges and forfeiture

    Part of me says he does it, but only if some schmuck Trumpista can convince him he’d be the ultimate martyr AND be able to monetize it. Take those rallies back on the road, Citizen Trumpov! Go make that cheddar after you resign your office in disgrace.

  68. 68.

    FlipYrWhig

    Re: rhyming with Mueller, I feel like most people in the media are pronouncing the “MUELL-” part like “mull” and not like “mule.” So “color” would rhyme but “fuller” and “puller” or “cooler” and “dueler” and “fooler” wouldn’t, alas. Useful rhymes might be

    luller (into a false sense of security)
    culler (of the weakest of the herd)
    cruller (you can eat one as you wait to find out what happens next)
    duller (well, you know)

  69. 69.

    The Moar You Know

    Betty, you were right about Fox always running these creepy-teacher-and-her-student(s) stories, there’s another one up right now. What is UP with that?

    @Jeffro: Sadly, I can tell you. My increasingly RWNJ neighbor refuses to put his kids into the local public school system (which is rated #3 in all of California, not shit schools by a long shot) because “the teacher’s union keeps pedophiles on the job”. Swear to God. So he’s going with charters (which don’t check and don’t care) or, I cannot make this up, Catholic school.

    So that’s why. Delegitimization of public schools is a high GOP priority, at least until they repeal Brown vs. Board of Education.

  71. 71.

    jl

    @? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: Big business already has a big chunk of goodies: very under reported destruction of socially responsible business regulation, and the passage of the tax heist/scam. So, if Trump decides to totally mess up renegotiation of NAFTA, and how to handle foreign trade after abandoning TPP, they may decide that Trump has served his purpose. If they do that before the GOP primaries, that will leave a lot of Congressional GOPers in a nice bind.

  72. 72.

    Jeffro

    @The Moar You Know: that’s just…that’s stupid. I mean I believe you 100%, I just can’t fathom someone being that dumb/brainwashed.

    “I don’t want my kids abused at school…so I’m going to send them to a CATHOLIC SCHOOL?” (sorry Catholics but hey)

    Or to a charter, which has no standards?

    Public schools, public water…man, if it’s public, it’s baaaaaad in RWNJ-land

  74. 74.

    The Moar You Know

    I don’t know anything much about the law, cyber-crime, etc, but just doing complex software correctly is really, really hard. Of course I’m talking about real world data, not games where what looks and feels best is correct.

    Best of luck to Mr Mueller’s team. I hope that the cyber-crime statutes (and related conspiracy statutes) are widely written enough to plainly sweep these bastards up into a neat little package facing life in Supermax… and of course I’m including the funders, the Mercer family, the Koch family, and all their little helpers in that package. Without millions of dollars, none of this would have been possible.

    @J R in WV: It is hard. The first few years of my job were working with a dev team, and that was the hardest job I’ve ever had in my life.

    I’ve been an IT admin/security geek working for/with DoD for 15 years, and a digital forensics examiner/expert witness for the last 8 (concurrent with the day job). I strongly suspect that they’re bringing in this guy, and probably an entire forensics team, just to process evidence – laptops, hard drives, servers. The FBI already did the investigations into the hacking, there’s nothing further there to be investigated, although the cyber-crime guy will probably work to integrate that aspect of it into the case.

    I doubt any of that would go to indictment or trial, BTW. The legal system doesn’t understand it, and juries REALLY don’t understand it, so you don’t bring it in unless that’s all you have.

    ETA: any charges that Mueller brings will be money-related. I’d bet the farm on that. The cyber stuff will probably never see the light of day.

  80. 80.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @MCA1: I’d bet that he brought the subject up, she gave some meaningless polite response, and he was off to the races

  81. 81.

    Bobby Thomson

    OT: Ugh – a 3-judge panel in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania just rejected a challenge to the map.

  83. 83.

    Jay S

    @Yarrow: Well yes, but I’m not sure how much legal jeopardy they have for that. While they may be central figures, I’m guessing they can play plausible deniability games for as long as it takes. Bringing down oligarchs is not a straight forward task.

  84. 84.

    Central Planning

    @JGabriel:

    order me a case of Barolo.

    The wine of kings, and the king of wines. Probably our favorite. We had been impatient drinking some from 2010. If you can find that at a reasonable price, I would pick some up and drink one, and let the others sit.

  85. 85.

    MomSense

    @piratedan:

    Our hopes all rest with the mighty Mr. Mueller
    as his team pursues the corrupt orange dullard
    Rid our nation of this monster in unison we holler
    Cut him off at the knees – make him a crawler

  86. 86.

    ? Martin

    Ok. We’ve knocked 2 out of 4 GOP incumbents out of Orange County races. Rohrbacher and Walters to go. Rohrbacher is polling -11 to a generic Dem, so he’s toast. He’s also a stubborn motherfucker who believes he’s doing God’s Putin’s work, so while he should be announcing his retirement, it might take a bit more convincing.

    Walters is harder. She’s only about -4 and she’s drawn a large and pretty talented Dem field. Given our top 2 system, that’s dangerous for Dems. Katie Porter (UC Irvine law professor) is the preferred candidate in the Dem field right now, mostly because she has the backing of Elizabeth Warren.

    I think this article did a pretty good job of capturing the viewpoint inside CA. We’re not backing down. We’re going to come out on top. First goal is to deliver the House of Representatives to Democrats. Along the way we sue the everloving shit out of the Trump administration. And if push comes to shove, we unleash the Oprah.

    If taxes are such a burden, why do so many rich people move to such a high tax state like CA? You’d almost think that the benefits of those taxes might outweigh the burden of them. Nah.

  87. 87.

    Adria McDowell

    @Jeffro: “(sorry Catholics but hey)”

    I is Catholic.
    I send my kid to Catholic school.

    You aren’t even wrong, tho! To volunteer in my kid’s classroom, I have to go to a “Don’t diddle kids” class and get fingerprinted. We make it clear to Mini-Me that no one is to touch her, even teachers/priests/grandparents/relatives/doctors, etc.

  89. 89.

    bystander

    @Aleta: It depends on whether you pronounce the “ue” as umlauted.

    “Dear Special Investigator Mueller,
    We’re really on the spot.
    ‘vanka is worried you will fool her,
    And throw Jarod in the pot.”

    Not a perfect rhyme by any means, nor does it scan, but it gave me something to do for a few minutes. Not touching the “Mull-er” pronunciation.

  91. 91.

    Trentrunner

    I’m not here to balloon your pricks; I’m here to prick your balloons.

    First, Mueller will not save us from Trump.

    We have ample evidence NOW of obstruction, collusion, and numerous violations of the emoluments’ clause.

    And what has the GOP done?

    Nothing.

    And what will the GOP do when Mueller releases his report/indictments?

    Nothing.

    So enjoy the show, and I desperately want Mueller to get to the bottom of this sludgy cesspool of nepotistic corruption and criminality. It matters.

    But it won’t make Trump leave the presidency.

    We have to do that.

  92. 92.

    different-church-lady

    @Yarrow: When Skynet takes over, everyone is just going to go, “Hey, fine, as long as I never have to get off the couch again I’m good with this.”

  93. 93.

    different-church-lady

    @Trentrunner:

    But it won’t make Trump leave the presidency.

    We have to do that.

    Don’t you think that will be a little easier for us with Mueller doing his thing?

  94. 94.

    different-church-lady

    OT: The guy babbling away on his phone here in this cafe just said, “You cannot measure the infinite with the finite!” and then he snickered and started talking about Fellini.

    I’m day dreaming about giving him a finite dope slap and shouting MEASURE THAT, FREDERICO!

  99. 99.

    tobie

    @kindness: I always thought the Mercers were evangelicals because of their support for anti-abortion groups and home-schooling, which is a big deal among evangelical Christians. I could be wrong but these two issues do align them with the Talibangelicals.

  101. 101.

    Bobby Thomson

    @different-church-lady: Mueller will help by getting Trump to score own goals and by uncovering facts that shift the terrain in the 2018 elections, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Trump will serve out his term and potentially get re-elected unless Democrats take the House and get subpoena power, and Democrats have to beat the spread to win.

  102. 102.

    Gelfling 545

    @GxB: Got a bottle of Cristal for Christmas. I’m saving it for indictment/impeachment/ resignation day (whichever comes first).

  104. 104.

    frosty fred

    @tobie: Also too, the spelling “Rebekah.”

    This is from an article in Town and Country: Pinning down the Mercers’s specific political motivations is tricky. Robert and Rebekah have directed money to anti-abortion groups and a Christian college, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, which also reports the father and daughter “don’t talk about religion.”

  106. 106.

    Patricia Kayden

    @hueyplong: Why anyone in their right mind would believe that Mueller is going to exonerate Trump (or his sycophants) in any form or fashion is way beyond me. It’s pretty clear by now that Trump is guilty of working with Russia to win the White House (or was aware that his cohorts were doing so on his behalf). This is the sleaziest administration since Nixon. Mueller probably feels that he’s doing the Lord’s work by taking down such an awful Republican and somehow redeeming his party.

  109. 109.

    different-church-lady

    AATA: KILL ME! HE’S NOW GOING ON ABOUT BARRY LYNDON!

    “Oh yeah, well I happen to have Stanley Kubrick right here…”

  110. 110.

    Gelfling 545

    @The Moar You Know: He might be interested to know that what has always billed itself as the preniere private school (not Catholic) in my area has just been exposed as having had multiple student/teacher incidents in the past and that the law (here, anyway) DOES NOT REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO REPORT THEM!

  112. 112.

    debit

    @Trentrunner: My dear, the only thing you have to do is take some yoga classes until you’re flexible enough to suck your own dick. Maybe that will keep your mouth occupied enough to stop you from running it here.

  113. 113.

    Jay S

    @frosty fred: Whatever their religious affiliation the the Times of Israel among others claims they are (probably ethnically) Jewish. I am not sure what the present state of Israel’s asylum policy is, which is where the question started (“Who would take them”). I am still not convinced that they are much in need of a place to go to avoid more than inconvenience from our legal system.

  115. 115.

    boatboy_srq

    @Jeffro: Shorter Fauxnews: “Public Ejamacayshun BAD!!11!1! SEE? Don’t send yer kids tuh public skewls: send’em somewhere SAFE! Or maybe hoamskul’em…”

  117. 117.

    J R in WV

    @Trentrunner:

    My favorite pies are maple-pecan (pecan pie made with maple-syrup instead of Karo corn syrup) and sour cherry.

    Trent, just how do you propose we depose President Trump? echos….

    Any idea, doesn’t have to be all that practical, just brainstorm a little before you make absurd comments about stuff you appear to know nothing whatsoever about.

    Pecan is best with vanilla ice cream to cut the richness of the pie. Esp when made with corn syrup, which is a disgusting ingredient.

  118. 118.

    Chyron HR

    @Trentrunner:

    My condolences on your defeat in the VA elections. Now get back into the giant bird suit, Messiah isn’t going to worship himself.

  121. 121.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Yarrow:

    Female teachers? Then it’s: “Women are predators who will harm males of any age. They are not to be trusted.” The same misogynist crap the spew all the time.

    Targeted male audience so your over thinking it; porn.

  122. 122.

    Ryan

    Remember, this guy professes to be innocent. I mean, all you have to do is look at how he behaves!

  123. 123.

    J R in WV

    @schrodingers_cat:

    HI! I just wanted to welcome you back after your (thankfully short) exit from the B J. While we don’t always agree about everything, ask my wife, I don’t always agree with anyone, we agree far more than we don’t.

    So welcome back, and don’t take arguments too seriously.

  124. 124.

    SFAW

    @J R in WV:

    Wow, your comment is like having a pie filter without actually pieing someone. Or so I’ve been told. I’ve never actually pied anyone.

    I’ve considered it, when Omnes gives me shit about the Jets. But then I realize, he’s not being malicious, just ignorant.

    [Omnes: I expect you know I’m kidding.}

  128. 128.

    Matt

    TBH, I can’t imagine The Orange One voluntarily talking to federal investigators ever – they could bring a “lying to federal agents” indictment prepped with fill-in-the-blank bits for specifics and be 100% sure that they’d need it.

  129. 129.

    Elie

    @Jeffro:
    Man, sometimes I think Mueller is having a little fun with Trump. He knows that the last thing Trump will willingly do is sit for an interview w him and that it would sweat him into a puddle. He probably doesn’t even need his testimony since the Jamokes under Trump have already given provable and synchronous facts that rule out lying. He might just want to watch Trump squirm and maybe inflame either Trump or one of his incompetent team to do or say something panicky that confirms some important piece of information

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