Trump to FBI Director Comey: You're Fired!

[Jeremiahcp]

Back on Topic....

This should be becoming painfully clear that Trump did this just to interfere with the Russia investigation.

Trump had grown angry with the Russia investigation — particularly Comey admitting in front of the Senate that the FBI was investigating his campaign — and that the FBI director wouldn’t support his claims that President Barack Obama had tapped his phones in Trump Tower.

Behind Comey’s firing: An enraged Trump, fuming about Russia

Several people familiar with the decision say the President grew increasingly frustrated at Comey after his congressional hearing last Wednesday when he testified that he was "mildly nauseous" over the idea that he helped sway the election. Even the health care victory in the House one day later couldn't take his mind off Comey, two people close to Trump said.
"He wouldn't hear it (that he should be encouraged)," the friend said. "It's Russia. Russia. Trump and Russia." The President complained, with expletives, about Comey's "mildly nauseous" answer and said his answer when pressed on leaks convinced the President he was far less concerned about the leaks than Trump thought he should be.

A 'white hot' Trump stewed over Comey's fate - CNNPolitics.com

However, the current acting director said that the FBI would not stop the investigation.

I think this plays out badly for Trump in many ways, and only inflamed the investigation. I think this is a result of him reacting emotionally rather than rationally. This would be a prime example of the bad temperament that many of his competitors pointed out during the campaigning.

I was no fan of Comey, he should have kept the FBI out of the election, but Trump could have handled this better, and Trump's apparent reasons for firing Comey are very disturbing.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

An interesting article below. I think my favorite piece from it is this.....
"The question has to be asked searchingly of the Republican members of Congress: Will you allow a president of your party to attack the integrity of the FBI? You impeached Bill Clinton for lying about sex. Will you now condone and protect a Republican administration lying about espionage?

Where are you? Who are you?"


Referenced article.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

It wasn't only Trump who praised his work. But Sessions as well! The very same guy who recommended his termination. I do not believe this is a coincidence.

Which is strange considering he was supposed to be recused of anything having to do with the election or Russia....

 

[Dirty Penguin]

In case you haven't noticed, there are a ton of shops closing. 100,000 jobs may have been created, but we've been hit with loosing so far this year over 3,000 stores. The number may top 800,000 by the end of the year.

But what is causing this?

I'd venture to say in part they're closing when patrons don't have the funds to buy goods and services. Couple that with the fact that big box sell it all stores like Walmart play a role in this as well. I'm sure there are other mitigating factors...

 

[Quetzal]

Couple that with the fact that big box sell it all stores like Walmart play a role in this as well.

In regards to retail, there has never been a worse time to open up a physical store. Between large department stores and Amazon, there isn't any room for mom n'pop stops anymore.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I think you are already seeing the fruits of this idea. Say what you want about Trump, but he is (and always will be a) a businessman; he knows how to create jobs. This is also one of the main reasons I voted for the guy.

Business and government are two different things....and given his track record with both I'm beginning to believe he doesn't understand either as much as his supporters believe.....

 

[metis]

Which is strange considering he was supposed to be recused of anything having to do with the election or Russia....

Is this any surprise since this administration contains some, including at the top, who believe they are above the law and that anything they say or do is justifiable? "Truth" and "honesty" means nothing to them-- only wealth and power. Sessions is just as dishonest as Trump as we've seen.

Nothing out of this administration surprises me any longer-- literally nothing, and yet they still are blindly supported by those who simply cannot visualize the dangers that go with this kind of behavior.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

In regards to retail, there has never been a worse time to open up a physical store. Between large department stores and Amazon, there isn't any room for mom n'pop stops anymore.

I agree. I was going to add that.

 

[BSM1]

Business and government are two different things....and given his track record with both I'm beginning to believe he doesn't understand either as much as his supporters believe.....

Seems he has done more for the economy and jobs in his first 100 days than Obama did in 8 years. Go figure.

 

[Lyndon]

How do you figure that, BS.

 

[BSM1]

How do you figure that, BS.

(I know I'm wasting my breath, but...) Businesses not leaving and/or returning back to US; 100,000 more jobs added last month than expected; stock market over 20,000; lowest unemployment rate in ten years; etc,etc...

 

[Quetzal]

(I know I'm wasting my breath, but...) Businesses not leaving and/or returning back to US; 100,000 more jobs added last month than expected; stock market over 20,000; lowest unemployment rate in ten years; etc,etc...

The problem is you cannot credit that to any legislation presented and ratified by Trump because he hasn't completed any processes that would argue otherwise. We can speculate that it happened due to his election, but we can't prove that. At least, not yet. While this is good news, I am not quite ready to throw the confetti at his party.

 

[Jeremiahcp]

Seems he has done more for the economy and jobs in his first 100 days than Obama did in 8 years. Go figure.

As if you could tell the difference.

 

[Nous]

An interesting article below. I think my favorite piece from it is this.....
"The question has to be asked searchingly of the Republican members of Congress: Will you allow a president of your party to attack the integrity of the FBI? You impeached Bill Clinton for lying about sex. Will you now condone and protect a Republican administration lying about espionage?

Where are you? Who are you?"


Referenced article.

The number of Republicans in Congress expressing concern about Trump's firing of Comey is growing:

GOP senators critical/concerned (13)

Sen. John Boozman (Ark.): Boozman said in a statement that "Americans deserve a full explanation as to the circumstances of the decision to immediately remove Mr. Comey from his post. Our country has lost faith in many of our institutions and a better public accounting of this situation.... can help restore some of that broken trust."

Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.): The Senate Intelligence Committee chairman said in a statement that he was “troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination.”

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.): Capito told ABC News that "I think we need to find out what's happened and why."

Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.): Corker said in a statement that “while the case for removal of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey laid out by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein was thorough, his removal at this particular time will raise questions.”

Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.): Flake said in a tweet that “I’ve spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing. I just can't do it.”

Sen. John Hoeven (N.D.): Hoeven told Bloomberg Trump was acting on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's recommendation but "the timing raises some questions because of the interference of the Russians in our election."

Sen. John Kennedy (La.): Kennedy told NBC News that "the White House timing on this was less than impeccable" and Comey's successor "might be one of the most important decisions of his presidency."

Sen. John McCain (Ariz.): McCain said in a statement that “while the President has the legal authority to remove the Director of the FBI, I am disappointed in the President's decision to remove James Comey from office.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska): Murkowski said in a statement that “whether or not you are a supporter of Mr. James Comey’s actions as FBI director, the timing of his firing — in the middle of an investigation into Russia’s interference in our election — is serious cause for concern.”

Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio): Portman said in a statement that “given the timing and circumstances of the decision, I believe the White House should provide a fuller explanation regarding the president’s rationale.”

Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.): Sasse said in a statement that “regardless of how you think Director Comey handled the unprecedented complexities of the 2016 election cycle, the timing of this firing is very troubling ... I have reached out to the Deputy Attorney General for clarity on his rationale for recommending this action.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan (Alaska): Sullivan said in a statement that “President Trump has the authority to choose the director of the FBI whom he believes will best lead the agency. The timing of the president’s firing of Director Comey raises questions that will need to be answered by the administration."

Sen. John Thune (S.D.): Thune told a local TV station that "there are questions about timing that the administration and Justice Department are going to need to answer in the days ahead."​

GOP senators on Comey firing: Where they stand

 

[leibowde84]

Ignorance of the law is not a defense.



It is an excuse but one that hold no weight it in court.

"I am sorry your honor. I didn't know selling crack was illegal."

So, just to make sure we are on the same page, what statute do you believe that Clinton violated?

 

[Nietzsche]

(I know I'm wasting my breath, but...) Businesses not leaving and/or returning back to US; 100,000 more jobs added last month than expected; stock market over 20,000; lowest unemployment rate in ten years; etc,etc...

Errr, it's only been a hair over 100 days. It's far too soon for any of Trump's work to have made any serious changes. Those numbers, bar maybe the stock market one, are due to Obama's policies. Without question the unemployment change is Obama's.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

The number of Republicans in Congress expressing concern about Trump's firing of Comey is growing:

GOP senators critical/concerned (13)

Sen. John Boozman (Ark.): Boozman said in a statement that "Americans deserve a full explanation as to the circumstances of the decision to immediately remove Mr. Comey from his post. Our country has lost faith in many of our institutions and a better public accounting of this situation.... can help restore some of that broken trust."

Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.): The Senate Intelligence Committee chairman said in a statement that he was “troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination.”

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.): Capito told ABC News that "I think we need to find out what's happened and why."

Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.): Corker said in a statement that “while the case for removal of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey laid out by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein was thorough, his removal at this particular time will raise questions.”

Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.): Flake said in a tweet that “I’ve spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing. I just can't do it.”

Sen. John Hoeven (N.D.): Hoeven told Bloomberg Trump was acting on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's recommendation but "the timing raises some questions because of the interference of the Russians in our election."

Sen. John Kennedy (La.): Kennedy told NBC News that "the White House timing on this was less than impeccable" and Comey's successor "might be one of the most important decisions of his presidency."

Sen. John McCain (Ariz.): McCain said in a statement that “while the President has the legal authority to remove the Director of the FBI, I am disappointed in the President's decision to remove James Comey from office.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska): Murkowski said in a statement that “whether or not you are a supporter of Mr. James Comey’s actions as FBI director, the timing of his firing — in the middle of an investigation into Russia’s interference in our election — is serious cause for concern.”

Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio): Portman said in a statement that “given the timing and circumstances of the decision, I believe the White House should provide a fuller explanation regarding the president’s rationale.”

Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.): Sasse said in a statement that “regardless of how you think Director Comey handled the unprecedented complexities of the 2016 election cycle, the timing of this firing is very troubling ... I have reached out to the Deputy Attorney General for clarity on his rationale for recommending this action.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan (Alaska): Sullivan said in a statement that “President Trump has the authority to choose the director of the FBI whom he believes will best lead the agency. The timing of the president’s firing of Director Comey raises questions that will need to be answered by the administration."

Sen. John Thune (S.D.): Thune told a local TV station that "there are questions about timing that the administration and Justice Department are going to need to answer in the days ahead."​

GOP senators on Comey firing: Where they stand

Yay democracy and real patriotism at last......but will they walk the walk?

 

[Lyndon]

(I know I'm wasting my breath, but...) Businesses not leaving and/or returning back to US; 100,000 more jobs added last month than expected; stock market over 20,000; lowest unemployment rate in ten years; etc,etc...

How I know that is BS is because I run a business and business has completely died since Trump became President, you can believe government propaganda figures all you like, but for those of us here in the trenches, business has never been worse.

 

[Nous]

Yay democracy and real patriotism at last......but will they walk the walk?

I said earlier that this incident would nudge a few fence-sitters toward impeachment. I especially believe that given the events since--the fact that the lie about how the whole firing of Comey began is coming to light, and the fact that the Russian investigation seems to be heating up. There is no rational reason to believe that Trump didn't know what deals Manafort was making with the Russians. Such facts haven't even begun to come out.

On the other hand, Trump is so mentally unstable that impeachment might not be the way he gets out of the White House.

 

[BSM1]

The problem is you cannot credit that to any legislation presented and ratified by Trump because he hasn't completed any processes that would argue otherwise. We can speculate that it happened due to his election, but we can't prove that. At least, not yet. While this is good news, I am not quite ready to throw the confetti at his party.

But...but...don't we do that with every President? The previous Prez wanted credit for the sea levels going down? Do you think anybody would have insisted to see proof that President wasn't responsible for this apparent miracle?