In the early evening on Tuesday, mob boss Donald Trump sent his personal bodyguard to hand-deliver a letter to James Comey at the FBI. Comey was actually in LA at the time, just hours away from making a speech to federal agents in California, so Comey did not get to see his official walking papers before the news broke on TV and online. So, yes, Emperor Bigly has fired the FBI Director. This comes after Bigly fired: Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, all of the US Attorneys (especially Preet Bharara, who was investigating Trump’s business ties) and of course, Mike Flynn.
We don’t need to get into all of the details here, but suffice to say, no one is buying Bigly’s story that he fired Comey because of the Deputy AG’s recommendation. The Deputy AG’s letter was basically “Comey has damaged the credibility of the FBI because of his mishandling of the Clinton-email saga.” While I don’t doubt that Bigly was irritated that Comey has not LOCKED HER UP, let’s be real: Comey was fired by Trump because Comey was overseeing the investigation into Trump’s Russia connections. Reportedly, after Comey testified last week before the Senate, Trump made the decision that Comey had to go and he tasked Jeff Sessions with finding a reason why they should fire Comey. Politico reports that Trump’s decision was based almost entirely on his frustration with the Russia investigation. Oh, and this was the dismissal letter Trump sent to Comey:
Dear Director Comey:
I have received the attached letters from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the United States recommending your dismissal as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have accepted their recommendation and you are hereby terminated and removed from office, effective immediately.
While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.
It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.
I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Donald J. Trump
“While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.” THE FACT THAT TRUMP SAID THAT OUTRIGHT. The fact that Trump A) lied his ass off in a dismissal letter and B) released the letter publicly so that everyone would know the real reason for the dismissal.
Obviously, there needs to be a special prosecutor and/or an independent counsel. I also have a little bit of faith in the career FBI people too. I mean, I hear the New York FBI field office is “Trumpland,” but there are many career FBI people who do their jobs apolitically. Comey’s firing came during the same time that the FBI and federal prosecutors issued subpoenas in the Flynn investigation too. And now that Comey has been sh-tcanned, what are the chances that we’re going to get a TON of leaks from the FBI?
Photos courtesy of Getty.
So I guess someone who is pro Trump and Russia will be hired now… great.
Jared Kushner will do it. He does everything.
All I can think of is the lyrics from “Totally F*cked” in “Spring Awakening “:
🎵 Yeah, you’re f*cked all right and all for spite
You can kiss your sorry a$$ goodbye
Totally f*cked, will they mess you up?
Well, you know they’re gonna try. 🎶
Obviously. I was working late last night, so I didn’t hear the story until I turned on the 11pm news. And then I was so livid, I couldn’t get to sleep. The nerve! The NERVE! To say you’re going to hire someone who can restore public trust and then to back that up in a tweet talking about restoring integrity?? How about restoring the public trust and integrity of the White House?? Start with having him investigated by someone he can’t hire and fire. Jesus. How can his supporters be so stupid as to continue to believe in this man? I just don’t get it. I mean, I know they do. I live in an area where I hear people talk about what a great job he’s doing EVERY DAY. And Sean Spicer telling reporters repeatedly that a special prosecutor isn’t necessary because the system “is working.” Yeah, a system where Trump can fire anyone who has the power to investigate all his stinking sh*t and hire someone else who will parrot back whatever Trump tells him totally works for Trump. Doesn’t work so much for the American people.
+1
I’m pretty you were the first one to ask for his firing when he meddled in the election. Why are you complaining now?
Of course. How Nixonian of him. This just proves that both Trump and Sessions are deep in Russian mud and are panicking. Rumor has it that one of the two grand juries in Virginia has finished its deliberations. One of them apparently was about money laundering (something Trump has experience with). To fire Comey in mid-week, giving it maximum attention, rather than on the weekend means Trump is especially desperate to deflect from something coming up very soon.
He made it seem like it was about the e-mail saga (fat chance, if anyone believes that — I have a nice bridge to sell you, lightly used, just a few blocks from my house), hoping that Hillary people (many of whom have wanted to see Comey fired) will not see through the ruse and will applaud President Tweeter for firing Comey. Some actually have done that, proving that gullibility and failure to see one step ahead are non-partisan traits. But we’re not all that dumb. We know that Comey was our best chance to keep the FBI pursuing this investigation.
I hope Trump and Sessions share a jail cell after all this. They’re both corrupt and trying desperately to cover up the Russia connections, whether involving money-laundering or/and colluding with the Russians to sabotage our election in Trump’s favor.
The Senators just have to smash them down about this and become even more motivated to pursue this investigation in earnest. They must know this means Trump and Sessions are, in the words of that other Trudeau during another corrupt Presidency, “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty”! They must fight any nomination Trump makes to replace Comey because he just wants the FBI to drop the investigation.
Are we surprised the Orange Soprano manipulated a lesser thug, then waited for a predictable misstep to throw him (in the river) under the bus??
Totally f**ked I know there’s a protest in DC today hopefully there will be lots of uproar and calls for and IC. It needs to happen or the Russia investigation will be shut down
The investigation will NOT be shut down. Loyalists to Comey are on it and subpoenas on Flynn have been issued.
You cannot fire the FBI, only the Director or Dep Director. They are compiling and copying info as we speak.
I admire your optimism. But I think they are fully capable of shutting the investigation down for the foreseeable future. Who is going to stop him, honestly?
The truth about this isn’t going to come out in full for a long time, I think and by that time, 45 will have tied up safety from prosecution for himself at least.
Eric, Let’s hope so, but I am losing faith. During the watergate era Republican congressmen and republican senators had enough integrity to push forward with the investigation and made it possible for justice to be served. I see no such integrity in this GOP. I see a power hungry mob of rich asses who are willing to sell this country and just as long as the president is Republican they will back him. No matter that it is obvious that he is a) a liar b) smarmy c) out for financial gain d) incompetent and e) likely mentally ill. I mean even George Will is worried About 45’s mental health. George Will! The GOP have demonstrated that they are more beholden to their “side” than to justice. I am honestly just hoping that Bozo doesn’t involve us in some horrific war to distract from his obvious crookedness. When will this nightmare that started in November 8, 2016 end?
Read up on Nixon and J Edgar Hoover it’s no coincidence that Watergate happened after Hoover’s death. If JEH was alive Nixon would have completed his second term.The Head of the FBI has a lot of latitude.
Grabbyhands– Trump’s assumption is that he can be pardoned by Pence or Ryan, who are next in line of succession. Just like Ford pardoned Nixon.
I hope that if they can’t get Trump jailed, they make it hot enough for him that he decides to relocate somewhere without an extradition treaty. Let him bunk with one of those murderous dictators he so admires.
It’ll take a longer time to shut down, but I think you are right in a way. Even if the rethugs were somehow able to jam through another Trump lackey, like Ghouliani or Perpetual embarrassment Chris Christie, the head of the FBI does not really run the investigation. It can be slowed down to the point that it seems that it is ineffective but, it can still go on. Comey is still testifying in public on Thursday. He also had a lot of supporters in the FBI, maybe this is the fuel they need to actually wrap this up and start arresting people- if they aren’t actively working on it now.
Given the leaks that have been coming out about the administration, I truly believe that there are still some morally good people left in the DOJ. They do need to shut down that NY office though.
Acting Director Andrew McCabe is testifying on Thursday in Comey’s place. (It’s an annual hearing on worldwide threats, so this substitution is not unexpected given Comey’s dismissal.)
What is McCabe’s affiliation if Comey won’t testify?? I think I have an emotional flu over this latest thug move, complete with BarfPeeing. I’m ILL.
Trump as of now with Republicans in power can do anything he really wants and get away with it. The Republicans are giving Trump the power and he is using it. They will back him up because they always put party before country because lets face their actions say they hate normal Americans. Hate us. I will be shocked if anything comes of it unless a big bomb is dropped and it will be have to he huge. Putting Senate and house seats in jeopardy. Until they are threatened, Tump will get away with it and many others things to follow. If if evidence is found he colluded think many of Republicans will still protect him.
I agree. It’s so depressing but I can’t imagine anything Trump could do at this point to turn the GOP against him.
Maybe the pee tape?
These idiots don’t learn anything from history.
It always comes back in full circle, sooner or later
I am just besdie myself. Our democracy is cracking and the Republicans have their fingers in their ears and their eyes closed.
Corruption is so obvious. It takes very little cynicism to understand Drump’s move – very little…and the resistance is strong. Do not be dismayed. We are the land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave!
With all the media coverage and even a child’s understanding of motivation, his alternate reality will crash. I believe in America – we are rich in values. Watch PBS, so he can’t sway with his charges of “fake news”. He is a goner now – it’s quite possible that he will first try to destroy PBS.
The greatest damage that Donald Drumph has made to the American political system is trust – in one another, and our system of government – which was Russia’s plan in the first place.
I wanted to take a vacation in America next year but I just can’t as long as Drumpf is president.
Trump may be gone by then. In any case, the U.S. will be here when you’re ready.
I am American and I want to take a vacation from America so I don’t blame you.
Now or never GOP, do you love your party or your country more???
Same here Tate.
“Now or never GOP, do you love your party or your country more???”
^^^^^^^THIS!!
But, I having a sinking feeling as o their choice 😞
+2
Same here. Real shame though because I enjoy going to Orlando.
I am on vacation in Spain, but I still can’t resist to check the news in America and I can’t resist reading Celebitchy every day. Anyhow, I can’t believe that Trump has fired the very man who helped him get elected. He is truly despicable.
My job has me in Orlando (and in the parks!) each month. Don’t feel hesitant to visit Orlando. It’s a pretty liberal city and in particular, those in the themepark industry are very liberal. You’ll be in good hands.
I live in 10 minutes from Disney World and go to the parks all the time. Great to see all the people from all around the world here having fun. Don’t stop coming here. Enjoy yourself. You have the right to do what you want and forget about the Trump situation and have a good day
Same here as well! A friend and I were talking about going to NYC but then we realized it might be better for us to stay home. Not only is she half Egyptian but I’m Palestinian and went to the Middle East last year for a wedding, so have “bad stamps” in my passport. I joked with her that we’d be lucky not to get arrested on sight, regardless of the fact that neither one of us are Muslim.
It’s funny but sad at the same time, because I’ve visited the US several times before and have always had a blast. Of course, that was back in the Obama days, sigh.
Ladymtl as an American who loves to meet people from around the world, to travel myself, and has pride in our great cities of the Northeast I want to tell you it just breaks my hear that you feel this way. I can’t believe it has come to this. I understand why you feel this way, completely.
Sane and moral Americans must continue to fight to get our country back!
I used to live and work in the US and now that I am back in Canada we used top travel and shop across the border al the time… but not anymore. We even cancelled the kids’ hockey tournament in Buffalo this year. (Goalie family Muslim. we don’t need the hassle…) #biglysad
Canadian here. I made my last Cross border Target run ahead of Inauguration Day. I fully expect to not go back till Emperor is impeached.
There has already been at least one instance where CDN born citizens with Brown skin have been turned away from The New Republik of Amurka and advised to first seek a visa (one that doesn’t exist btw) to cross over. Screw dat!
The states, in particular Florida and Arizona (red states)have a LOT of Canadian snowbird money keeping their economies’ afloat. I have no desire to drop my dollars into the US market for the foreseeable future. And I know of many non US travelers who also feel this way.
krAkken, don’t forget, just being impeached won’t do anything much (Bill Clinton was impeached and stayed in office). Drumpf needs to be INDICTED and CONVICTED as well.
Same here. Canadian who loved to hop across the border for wonderful American tourist stuff and your excellent consumer products. We bailed on FL this spring and won’t be back until the Cheeto Mussolini is out of office. It’s too volatile for my blood. I love you guys, but no way. Pretty much everyone I know (Canadian and peeps in UK and NZ) feels the same. No US travel for the foreseeable future.
I’m a dual citizen living in Canada and even though 75% of my friends and 100% of my extended family is in the USA, I’m going to only pass thru the US briefly to see elders and that’s it. Canada has beautiful vacation spots and it’s a lot safer and less tense.
Yep, I’m in NZ and instead of going on hols to NYC we are going go the glorious beaches in Thailand instead. Likewise, I berate any douche bag here who spends money in corrupt military controlled Fiji. Many other Pacific islands to visit. Get some standards.
Phase two of any dictatorship is to purge any threats. The press is already being intimidated so that was phase one. I am sure a Trump flunky will be appointed and the GOP will sit on its hands and watch as democracy is dismantled right in front of us
Giuliani ‘s name has been mentioned and he was seen at Trump’s hotel in DC last night. If that really happens, it will time to take it to the streets again. And not stop.
+1
In other words “Russia” was about to blow up right in his face and that’s why he fired him.
Think its after Sally Yates gave that beat down and those grand jury subpoena went out. He fired a few hours after those subpoena were served.
Yes to this. I am Canadian and love to do the cross border thing to Montana/Idaho/Washington. Not this year. We’ll go camping in Saskatchewan and avoid dropping our tourist dollars into Drumpf’s coffers.
I was appalled when the news broke about FBI firing. I have to ask though: Where is the outrage? There seems to be a lack of outrage. That should scare the h*ll out of everyone.
Believe me, a lot of us are incandescent with outrage.
I have an emotional flu- political outrage is coming out both ends. My 11 year old nephew was callously questioned by a flight agent for residency. (yes he is dark skinned) We are in every kind of hell over here in the USoS.
Real life is stranger than fiction. I couldn’t have made this up if I tried
I know. And keeping up with the news every day is a full time job. It was already an exhausting day, news-wise, and this news late in the day took everything up several notches. My FB feed was completely blowing up about it, when it had quieted down a ton lately.
Trump’s letter was so strange.
I’m considering moving to a remote Scottish island and going completely off grid. And I’m only half joking.
This news broke as I was writing a memo to a client about whether or not we would be able to defend the termination of an employee through the various administrative agencies and reviewing his draft termination letter. Suffice it to say that the letter I approved looked nothing like the unprofessional, unsupported, childish crap that Trump sent out. And Comey learned that he was fired from television. Everything about this was handled in the most unprofessional manner possible.
LP, it looks completely unprofessional doesn’t it?
And the whole issue of the circumstances of the firing, what anyone thinks of Comey, was completely irregular.
@Becky, the timing was highly suspect. The document items in the letter all occurred over 8 months ago. If they were grounds for termination, it should have been in January if he was so concerned about the integrity of the FBI OR he could have waited for the completion of the ongoing internal investigation into Comey’s acts. But no, instead, he suddenly just this week orders yet another investigation into something that is currently being investigated, our tax dollars at waste here, which concludes in the space of a day, based on absolutely no new information. And acts on the same day the grand jury issues subpoenas. This smells very bad
Never in a million years did I think I would be calling my senators to demand they investigate the president’s ties to Russia with an independent review. I felt like I was living in a movie.
He’ll meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today… I doubt all this is a coincidence.
AND the only photographers in the meeting were from the Russian gov’t news agency. NO American press pool photojournalists were admitted.
If you believe this was about Hillary, I got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
“THE FACT THAT TRUMP SAID THAT OUTRIGHT.”- amen, Kaiser. That letter is unbelievable.
I believe this was about the grand jury subpoenas.
This.
Also, NYT and CNN among others are reporting that sources say that Trump made the decision to fire him AND THEN asked the DOJ to find legal justification. This is why the AG and DAG memos are dated on the same day he was fired. Ordinarily a recommendation that grave would never be actioned on the same day much less same week. Remember there is already an investigation on how Comey handled the election period. One would probably wait for that to conclude before becoming the second president to ever fire an FBI director. Trump is in panic mode for sure
Rumour in legal circles has it that indictments are about to come down. While none are supposedly for Emperor Baby Fists, they are for his very close allies. It will not be difficult
to connect the dots. Obviously if any of them decide to cooperate and spill their guts to avoid prosecution, things could get really horrible for Cheeto Mussolini and his cronies darn fast.
As an aside, the release of this letter shows what an idiot Bigly Easy D is. The second paragraph might as well say, “Trump is DEFINITELY under investigation.” Law enforcement can lie to targets of investigations; it is totally permissible. And anyone who thinks Comey spontaneously and voluntarily told our fascist Dear Orange Leader that he was not being investigated is foolish. No, I suspect Dictator in Chief called Comey and demanded to know what the FBI was investigating re: Russia and the election, and Comey wisely refused to confess what his agents had uncovered and what they were still exploring.
And how specific he was to state three times. It’s also odd to fire the guy while he’s doing a speech across the country, and he has to find out about via the teievision screens in the room. That is incredibly unprofessional and humiliating.
This morning, someone mentioned there were even questions about how he’d travel back to D.C., since he was no longer an employee. Apparently they proceeded with the private jet, but there was reportedly confusion about what to do.
I wonder if DT fired Comey purposely when he was across the country. The better to seize files and info from Comey’s office. I wonder if when Comey landed there was someone there to strip him of his credentials and remove his parking tag. Today he probably can’t even get in the building.
Also Comey HAD JUST ASKED for more funding regarding the Orange Soprano’s ties w Russia.
Under the advice of the AG…who recused himself from the Russian investigations…yeah not suss at all.
The fact he even put that line in about him being cleared into a letter where he’s firing someone….f*cking hell.
Baby fists must be the worst poker player ever.
They made the firing memo about Hillary because if they had made any mention of the Russian investigation, Mr. Recuse Myself Sessions wouldn’t have been able to sign off on it.
Excellent and frightening point!
But apparently he is also recused from any investigation into Hillary’s e-mails. (I wasn’t aware of this, but it was discussed on Rachel Maddow last night) So this excuse does not make Sessions look any better.
Someone missed HR 101 when writing that mess!
Or someone completely ignored what the HR attorney said. It happens.
@Lightpurple – true! But methinks it never occurred to Don the Con to have an attorney with employment law knowledge write this letter.
They are running scared, Comey was clearly getting too close. Plus Sessions should never have been involved as didn’t he ‘rescue’ himself? Breach of ethics right there. These clowns clearly don’t care about the law, they are acting like they are above it.
And yes that 2nd para says it all – not only has he admitted that there is something to investigate but he really can’t help portraying himself as some sort of innocent victim of an Obama conspiracy.
Trump and his cohorts have made the US so vulnerable in so many ways – he still hasn’t filled the vacant overseas diplomatic posts. But I think thats part of the Mercers and Bannon’s plan, to destabilise the US gov from within and use the resulting chaos to create an authoritarian regime with someone like Pence in charge. Trump is their fall guy.
Please FBI/CIA please leak more facts before these lunatics destroy not only the US but Western democracy. If the US collapses into chaos it WILL affect the rest of us.
+200 Exactly. Donnie Dipsh*t is definitely getting nervous about the investigation and not being able to blame Obama for it has hI’m in a panic. Good grief!
Let the leaks flood the press. this is such a bad look, even for our most lunatic “leader.” I made several calls last night. We need to keep calling our reps and pushing for an independent bipartisan commission and a special prosecutor.
And they clearly either didn’t consider or didn’t care how it would look that the first person Trump was meeting with after firing Comey was…a Russian diplomat! i don’t know which of those two options is worse, but it either shows total stupidity or breath-taking cynicism.
Well now Trump will never be cleared of this accusation, not that I though he was innocent but now it’s crystal clear.
IKR? If he is as innocent as he claims, he should be welcoming an investigation. But his endless tweets during and after Sally Yates’ revealing testimony on Monday and the constant leaks about Russia from the FBI etc. have made Trump sh*t his pants. An Independent investigation is the only solution to this fiasco. The Republicans have a lot to answer for. I hope this is the last straw for some Repugs. Lindsey Graham seemed over this BS yesterday. Hopefully it sticks. God help America.
Lindsey Graham is all talk and no action. Republicans will do nothing about this.
Investigations won’t stop. And it’s not just the FBI, but also the House Intelligence Committee, and Senate investigating.
They talk, but end up walking the party line. I don’t have a lot of confidence in country over partisan loyalty right now. Hope I am wrong.
Yep, he is such a dumb ass treasonous criminal.
And what will happen next? Except that he will hire a person who kisses his a$$?
Cheeto jeesus really wants to cover something up. Andrew McCabe will be the interim director, McCabe has deep roots with the Democratic party. The fact that Trump fired Comey to risk having a Democrat in charge, even for a little while, is telling.
McCabe is being setup as another fall guy, he has links to Clinton via his wife, links that will be used against him to smear the investigation. Hopefully McCabe rescues himself by setting up a special prosecutor to handle it.
The FBI director doesn’t have the ability to appoint a special counsel — that can only be done by the AG’s office. Unfortunately.
It’s telling all right, but I think it says more about his lack of anything resembling impulse control – my guess is that he was staring so hard at what he was aiming for that he missed anything around it. It will be interesting to see how he and his minions deal with that particular interesting little hiccup.
Trump will hire very quickly bet it will be within the week.
FBI Director requires confirmation, he can nominate someone quickly but it will then be in the hands of the Senate.
Even though McCabe has links to Clinton, his true loyalty is to Trump. It was reported yesterday by several reporters that McCabe leaked information to Reince Priebus about the Russian investigation. He told them about the Dossier.
I’m shocked that the US let them do what they want.
Same here.
I don’t know, really, I have always considered the US a great country, and I can’t understand why Orange Voldemort is so blatantly allowed to do all this crap.
America deserves better than this.
In a normal political environment there are checks and balances that are usually enforced. But this is no longer a normal environment. Who knows where we are headed. It’s very frightening.
When half your politicians put their political careers over the country you get what we are dealing with now. The GOP has allowed this man to spit on the US constitution since the election and its eroding daily. Because they want to win after 8 years of a black man putting them in their place. Hence why they were so gleeful about passing a bill that would kick 24 million off insurance…a bill that none of them read or scored before the vote.
They are traitors and I cannot wait to fire them in 2018
Exactly, Nicole. The GOP has always been Greed Over People but the current incarnation is GOP on steroids. This is not normal, this is unprecedented corruption the likes of which our country has never seen before.
Its not us necessarily allowing him to do it. The Republicans who have the majority in both houses are backing him up. They have all of the power in removing, question, holding Trump accountable .They are a huge reason why he can do anything he wants and as far as the voting public in America. A lot make excuses, badly informed, not that bright, apathetic and don’t vote. Until the Republican are removed Trump basically has the freedom to do things like this.
Excuses from the right:
Comey wasn’t investigating Trump
Yates wasn’t investigating Trump
Her emails!
Had people on my FB gloating the new FBI director will now investigate Hillary instead of Trump.
Oh, and we now have a President who has referred to a sitting Senator as “Cryin’ Chuck Shumer.” On the official POTUS twitter account. The official archived account. For posterity. Forever.
So unpresidented. Bigly. I would weep if I wasn’t so numb.
He has no idea of the dignity that should go with the office.
Me too, Esmom. I’ve been sitting here in bed with the worst flu of my life, just reading all this and getting chills up my back from dread and loathing. I don’t have the energy to comment more, but your post about weeping if you weren’t so numb described my own feelings exactly.
I get the feeling Trump has Comey’s replacement waiting in the wings. The investigation was getting too close for comfort and Comey had to go.
Seeing how some of the rumored shortlists include Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, and David Clarke, I’m not confident that the FBI will have the leadership to continue the Russia/Trump investigation.
If it were any other administration but this one, I would have to do a double take on if the source was the Onion or a mainstream media source. I know some people started thinking that way during the GWB administration, but I don’t think him or Cheney would have had the nerve to think about appointing someone like Christie or Giuliani. Both of them have been under federal investigation at some point in their careers.
Clarke and multiple senior Milwaukee County personnel are under investigation currently for multiple suspicious deaths of inmates in custody. At least two have been indicted and our cowardly governor with his expanding bald spot is resisting requests to remove Clarke from office.
Mr. Rice & I saw this on BBC this morning while getting ready to leave home. We’re both shocked but not shocked at the same time. Folks started talking about Watergate and how this firing is a big mistake on Trump’s part.
Just one question, can the POTUS be asked or subpoenaed to appear before an investigation committee, or is he/she exempt from such requests?
It is more difficult to compel or subpoena POTUS and the executive branch, due to executive privilege, but it’s not impossible. Nearly all the modern-era presidents have invoked executive privilege at some stage, with varying degrees of success. Nixon and Clinton are I think the only two that lost the legal challenges brought for their refusals and were compelled to give evidence.
Dear Alien Overlords,
We’re ready. Come quickly, clearly we don’t have a lot of time left.
Yeah, I don’t think aliens even want to touch this planet. Too much cheeto dust.
I don’t like sounding hyperbolic but American democracy maybe at risk. The U.S. is facing a constitutional crisis with this authoritarian madman in the White House. Mango Cheeto is taking a page from the DictatorGuide and running over anyone he perceives to stand in his way. There’s an accountability issue with Trump & his administration and they are being aided and abetted by the Republican Congress. Country has to come before party or otherwise there will be no country left.
Wonder if dictator 101 was a class offered at trump university? Negate the importance of a free press..check..raise doubts about judiciary..check..install family to keep the secrets..check. This is huge, politics aside.
You are not hyperbolic. This is real, and it is terrifying.
It’s not hyperbolic at all, in my opinion. We were just dealt a serious blow and for all the outrage, no one has a plan to stop him or rein him in. And he knows it.
A lot of people are pinning hopes on the 2018 mid terms, but that is a long way off and he can do a lot of damage before then and that includes gerrymandering to the degree that it becomes statistically meaningless how people vote.
And a sizable number of people are still cheering all this on – I’m ashamed of this country.
We are definitely in a crisis and it is f@cking scary.
I’m legitimately scared by this. As grabbyhands said, “for all the outrage, no one has a plan to stop him or rein him in. And he knows it.” That’s the scary part – if Republicans refuse to act I don’t think there is much Democrats can do right now.
I did see on Twitter several Republicans are decrying Comey’s firing as not normal and an overreach of power, but we’ve all heard them bleat before and then refuse to act.
baby fists and his gangster administration are purging everyone who knows has knows that he, baby fists, and his monstrous political posse colluded with the Russian government. This latest firing proves to me that our dictator is in big trouble. And shame on every Republican who is quibbling and making excuses for baby fists.
We must focus on the 2018 elections to elect Democrats and to get back the Congress. baby fists is a dangerous, evil collaborator with Russia and is salivating at the thought of dismantling democracy, not to mention the opportunity to make billions in Russian deal. Putin has plenty of stuff with with to blackmail him and his family. He is just waiting for the right moment to blackmail baby fists.
The government is collapsing. Yesterday, a reporter asked Spicey a specific question about the IMF, and Spicey’s face turned even more blank than usual. They have no idea what they are doing.
And while visiting West Virginia, Price had a reporter arrested cause the guy dared ask him a question about the healthcare, I mean, deathcare law.
Trump’s deathcare has a ring to it. Seems fitting.
This is horrifying. The reporter was trying to get an answer as to whether being a victim of domestic violence was a pre-existing condition (seems a very legit question) and Price had him arrested.
What were the charges for the arrest? Shaking my head – it may never stop shaking at this point in time.
Since women laughing seems to be a felony now, the charges for arrest are not important anymore. If white/orange men in charge don´t like it, it´s good enough of a reason.
Welcome to the shiny new dictatorship…
He was charged with “disturbance of the peace” by asking (they say “yelling”) questions. Basically doing his job.
Comey will have something to say about this. I wonder if he is more than “mildly nauseated” now … should be interesting. Trump’s lying reason to fire him shows he knows no bounds to his self-aggrandizement. His decision on Comey is a continuing unraveling of a thread. Sessions, incidentally, should be fired for participating in the seemingly more and more corrupt Trump circus.
One can only hope Mr. Self-Righteous Comey will do what’s right and sing like a bird. Given his “high morals and principles” though, I’m not holding my breath and waiting for him to speak out like he should. Although, now that he’s fired, perhaps the shackles and constraints are somewhat released and he can speak more freely. We’ll have to see what happens.
Whatever he has to say, I’m sure it’ll begin with “Lordy.” This is fucking nuts.
Cant wait for Comey’s book.
Karma striking swiftly it seems
Comey and his precious conscience finally get their payback for ruining America’s future
Yeah, I have no love loss for Comey cause his self-righteous actions are a part of why we’re in this mess with a Mango colored wannabe dictator. But Comey’s firing was all about the Russian investigation and had nothing to do with Clinton. Comey was getting too close for comfort.
I Agree.
I just think its a fitting lesson to all those who blindly supported Trump
To him, his own interests will always come first
I think he and ivanka and jared can all throw each other under the bus to save their own neck.
That’s why I mentioned Karma.
For whatever reason Mike was fired, he deserved it. Maybe now he realises how insignificant Her Emails were.
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library Twitter account was trolling Trump brilliantly last night. – And that’s an official account operated by federal employees.
You know it’s bad when Tricky Dicky’s people are trolling you.
He makes Tricky look like a choirboy by comparison. This is their dream come true!
Yet another phenomenon I wouldn’t have imagined possible before last election day: the Nixon Presidential Library being in the position to troll anyone ever. Equal parts hysterical and disturbing!
Nixon was the most disgraceful president until now. At least he wasn’t a traitor. Is capital punishment still out there for treason? Because that’s the only way this should end now.
Tricky Dick is rolling in his grave: “Don’t compare me with that lunatic!! I’m trying to RIP here!!”
Well, we’re boned. To paraphrase Yoda – ” Now matters are worse.”
I imagine that Giuliani is the lead contender to take this position as he has been one of Cheeto Mussolini’s most dedicated water carriers.
And I hate to be a downer, but an independent investigation is a laughable concept at this point-all but two of the Republicans have zero problem with what he did and of those two that oppose it, one – John McCain, is a worthless little toady that will fold as soon as his fellow brethren put the pressure on him, just like he ALWAYS does. And as for the Democrats – I wouldn’t be looking to them for salvation any time soon. The party leadership has been largely silent and toothless – directionless. Rhetoric doesn’t impress me. Action does. So unless they’ve got some master plan that they’re keeping under deep cover, I don’t think they know what they’re going to do.
Worse now, matters are
<3 Yoda
🙂
I am putting my faith in the press. Journalists are working around the clock on this. And now the FBI is going to start leaking to them like crazy.
“While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.”
Anderson Cooper asked Kellyanne Conway repeatedly last night when those three separate occasions occurred. Her answer was: “but the Democrats …” She could not answer the question. And this sentence did NOT belong in a termination letter.
How much you want to bet Orange Cheeto contacted Comey directly to ask that question and each time Comey wouldn’t tell Orange🤡 what he wanted to hear. Hence, the firing.
LP, could he take action against this? I’m not an expert in employment law, but similar circumstances in the UK I think someone could sue for unfair dismissal.
There are a lot of variables here. The FBI director does serve at the pleasure of the President and most in executive branches, who aren’t union, know that they can be out on a whim. However, this was not handled properly by any stretch of the imagination. I’m not familiar with what Comey’s contract looked like so can’t really say if he has a cause.
is he allowed to sue for wrongful termination?
what about this law firm trump hired to defend him against the investigation?
Like when they say “But, but Hillary did…” or ” But, but it’s Obamas fault for…”. They don’t know what the hell to say, so if it’s about something bad, they automatically thow someone else s name in they conversation. Time for them to stop the blame game
In watching Kellyanne on the other thread, I think she also said something to the effect that it was Trump’s business when he said this and no one else’s. She was deflecting bigly.
The Night of the Long Knives V2.0 – this time in colour and surround sound!
We. Are. Hosed.*
Oligarch playbook, page one.**
*unless the piss tape surfaces (ALLEGED)
**unless congress steps up
I’m just hoping that evidence wasn’t destroyed as part of this firing. The shadiness is so shady.
The fact that they did it when Comey was out of DC makes me very worried about that possibility.
Supposedly they are conserving the evidence. And comey was in DC right before apparently with evidence hence the subpoena. Govt agencies have been hiding info ever since the cheeto was elected.
The Intel Agencies will have been taking precautions – lets not forget that the foreign intel agencies have basically stopped sharing intel with the US because of the fear it will find its way to the Russians.
The FBI clearly has evidence that proves something was going on with Trump, his campaign team, GOP, the Russians and the election result.
It will all come out in the wash, the intel agencies have leaked before and they will again. The very public and nasty sacking of Comey will only piss them off.
Executive branch basically running around unchecked right now. Trump hasn’t been seen in public for 5 days, which is chilling. This is starting to feel like a Banana republic.
I’m sure Trump’s twitter storm will be most violent & prolific today. Let’s hope there are still enough patriots in our country & our government who will do the right thing and help save our democracy from going under. Or is the U.S. fated to go the way of the Roman and other empires?
If he gets away with this the country is lost forever.
Have faith. Nixon did this, and the country survived. Germany thrives today. It might not be in your lifetime, but it will find the right path again.
My only consolation is the stupidity of that firing letter. This shows me how amateur Bigly really is. Which gives me hope he can be taken down, and quickly.
Trump is a Pinky who thinks he’s The Brain (hope someone gets this reference).
“Same thing we do every day, Pinky. Try to take over the world!”
And keep failing miserably. Oh how I loved that show!
Kristen820, thanks for giving me my first smile of the day!!
Pinky was my favorite. I need to dig up my old Pinky and the Brain icons. I think I used them for hard disks in ancient times.
It really shows what a wimpy jerk Trump is when he couldn’t tell Comey himself that he was fired. Comey found out at the same time as the world when it was said on TV
On the other side of the country, no less. Why not wait until today? What was the big rush to do this at that particular time? So many questions.
Because EasyD has a candlelight dinner with Russia today! No time for peasants, Trump must touch up his roots, polish the silver ware, and tape down his bigliest tie.
Tape down the made in Chynnna tie! Oh, is it check on the laundering day? How lovely.
We need to start “Trump’s so dumb that…” jokes.
“Trump’s so dumb that he runs his laundered money through the dryer.”
That too long fire engine red tie with a little piece of scotch tape on it was ridiculously hilarious. I guess Trump doesn’t make tie clips to go with his ties made in Chynna.
And on DT’s twitter, there’s been 4 tweets about Comey and 2 retweets from The Drudge Report (vomit). Before 8:30 EDT.
What’s going on in this country is mind-boggling. Watergate pales in comparison to this. ALL Republicans should be tried for treason.
It’s very fascinating (and scary and sad and mind-blowing) to witness how someone tries to establish an authoritarian government in a Western nation.
I can’t believe this.
Just wanted to add, I don’t live in the USA. And the international media is questioning whether this was a cover up for Russian Investigation.
So even if it was a cover up, it is a very poorly done job when other countries can easily suspect the most probable cause and not just merely speculate. They are pinpointing that it was a cover up for This and that.
None of the Members of this administration has an ounce of brain or discretion.
People are laughing over their excuse for firing.
“Watching Senator Richard Blumenthal speak of Comey is a joke. “Richie” devised one of the greatest military frauds in U.S. history. For…. “years, as a pol in Connecticut, Blumenthal would talk of his great bravery and conquests in Vietnam – except he was never there. When….” “caught, he cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness…and now he is judge & jury. He should be the one who is investigated for his acts.” This is real life. This is what the President of the United State of America wrote about a Senator. What the hell!
Comey is known as a stubborn simpleton in my country (he said something super offensive about us and then didn’t want to apologize due to his ignorance), but he’s still way smarter than the Oompa Loompa on crack, whom you have to call your President and who must have felt super threatened to fire him like that. I’d love to know the dirty details.
This presidency is so effing exhausting! What will it take to save our democracy?!
Getting rids of Republicans in the house and voting them out in the midterms. Trump has little power without them.
This is seriously a moment in history. You legit could not make this sh*t up. And the fact that spineless Republicans are willing to sit on their hands as this happens. I’m so pissed off I can’t even think straight.
They aren’t sitting on their hands for no reason though. Remember, the GOP emails got hacked, too? My guess is that there is kompromat or blackmailable material aplenty in there. Remember when Chaffetz was anti-Trump (because he had a daughter; never mind that women are people even if they aren’t genetically related) and then suddenly he was all in and even tried to throw one of the investigations?
Bingo. Any GOP leader defending Tr*mp right now is most likely compromised. Including Tr*mp himself, of course. It’s no coincidence that he did this right as the Russians are visiting in the WH today. He had to do something big to show Putin that he has things under control over here. His hand was forced, and it was a huge misstep. His criminal organization is not equipped to take over our democracy–even though things look very scary today. He runs his operation behind rules and regs designed for corporations. That is not how Washington works. He has really screwed up, and enough subpoenas and indictments will get some of the actors to flip. We have to play the long game. Oh, and call your legislators again. And again. And again.
@adastraperaspera
I have. Now I’m adding Republicans who seem to be getting their ovaries back like McCain, Flake, Burr…. I’m still polite, but my subject matter is much more direct.
Is it true that Trump has retained personal legal counsel because there may be an investigation into his business dealings with Russia?
A few random, unconnected thoughts about this subject, because I can’t get connected!
– my guess? Russia ordered this.
– my feeling, backed up by the detective work of Mike Farb on twitter, is that the VOTE was hacked. Yes, there are an appallingly high number of buffoons who voted for him – but not a majority.
– soothe yourself with the words of Laufer Law on twitter, who said that Comey has been planning for this firing since January. It’s already on.
– hey, foreign intel who will probably save our bacon in some sense: if you guys have the SIGINT on Trump, Pence, Ryan, Sessions, Flynn, Bannon, Cohen talking with Russians, would you do us all a solid and share it with True Facts Stated or Louise Mensch or Palmer Report on twitter?
– I hope when this is all settled, Citizens United is kicked to the curb and the Mercers and the Kochs rot in a chilly jail cell.
Agree
Our machines are vulnerable to fraud and malfunction without paper backup. Malware can come along with the ballot, for instance. We need to fix this before 2018 or it will be another game of Outrun the Hackers and we still won’t know who really won.
But I really began to seriously doubt the 2016 vote was valid when the Trumpian lawyers went to court to block the recounts in three states that donors had already paid for. When Bush did this in 2000, an unofficial continued recount revealed Gore actually had won Florida and thus the Presidency. Really, there is no reason for a winner to block recounts unless he or she is afraid the win will be reversed.
I’m posting this on two threads so it’s not missed.
A reporter was arrested in WV for asking HHS Sec price a question. What do you think is next: food rationing? deputizing children to spy on parents? forced labor of intellectuals? The destruction of the Cobstitution marches on.
http://www.newsweek.com/tom-price-reporter-arrested-us-capitol-dan-heyman-606510
I just saw that. Seriously. This is so scary, and since trump probably owns most news networks, no one is going to hear about this.
I’m an American living in toronto, my extended family lives in the states. When I speak to them on the phone and ask questions like, “have you heard what’s happening at the canadian/us boarder?” “Have you heard about the health care bill that just passed?” They don’t really know about it. They are working class and don’t really watch the news. I inform them with “they re detaining us for hours and making us give up passwords to our social media and email. Isn’t that insane?!” They aren’t getting this info!
A large number of Americans don’t know this sh!t is happening!!!!! I’m thinking I’m going to start posting flyers in people’s work kitchens and on telephone poles. Let’s canvass. This is so beyond corruption. The mob is less corrupt then Congress at this point! Honestly. This is like a movie.
Spicer in the Bushes…
again, you can’t make this sh*t up
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sean-spicer-bushes-white-house_us_59133322e4b0a58297e1721f?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
They’re ALL (the Republicans at all levels of government) a bunch of craven treasonous sh*ts.
From Canada here and am alarmed
At the outright thuggery happening just south of our border. Please call your government reps esp if they are of the Repiglican Party- demand that an independent investigation be set up. There is darkness before dawn and I’m now more convinced that the whole Russian fiasco is gonna blow up on Donnie “My daughter is a fine piece of ass” Trump’s ugly face and criminal charges will be laid. But American citizens who care about law and justice need to keep up the pressure on their elected officials and demand further investigation!
Also, can Comey sue for wrongful dismissal?
Serves at the pleasure of the president so it’s not clear.
Doubt he’d want to.
Hoping he still is ready to share what he knows, as a private citizen.
Uh huh, tried to. His office isn’t taking calls, his inbox is full. Have faxed him numerous times, no response. Anyone have any ideas?
This is so insane and terrifying I’m having a hard time focusing at work.
Aw. Me too. Anxiety. Calling my senators and representative helped me refocus. Now i’m looking up the judiciary and intelligence committees. Taking action helps.
I am too. I work in corporate government affairs, so I have all of this running through my news feed plus what I am actually supposed to be working on (finance-related issues). I am so distracted by the Comey news stories and very, very worried. I did just receive a brief udate that Comey has been invited to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee next Tuesday (May 16). It is unclear if this will be an open or closed session. In any case, that sounds like a good thing.
Who needs Netflix when you can watch US politics. It’s not really a laughing matter.
I call BS on the “it has nothing to do with Russia” claim. He’s such a weasel-faced liar. Comey was probably getting way too close to something substantial so Trump got rid of him. I’m flabbergasted McConnell will not call for a special prosecutor – but, then again, these Republicans are the most spineless and corrupt individuals I’ve seen in a LONG time.
It really feels like he has been president for 1000 days rather than 110 days.
Following this shit show start to have an impact on my mental health. It’s beyond me how his supporters still find excuses for him.
The WH is already destroying information. It is being reported that Comey asked for more resources for the Trump Russian investigation and now the DOJ is saying that it never happened. Which means that they probably spent yesterday destroying information. They seem to think that destroying it will make it completely disappear, as if no one sees what they are doing.
Enough is enough. When is the GOP going to put people before the party? At what point when they put their feet down? Trump fires Comey, in the letter flat out gives a reason as to why he claims that Comey told him 3 times that he wasn’t under investigation, and then after having Kellyanne and Sarah give interviews about how Comey’s firing had nothing to do with Russia turn around and have a meeting with Russian government people in the WH? It’s safe to say that just about every GOP member must be compromised.
Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell could end this treason right now and yet they aren’t. They need to have their political careers end in infamy over this.
Did any of the reporters bother to ask Trump about his claims that Comey told him that he was not under investigations 3 times? Like when, how, and where did this conversation take place? Now Pence is on tv repeating what Trump said like a parrot, that Comey told Trump several times that he wasn’t under investigation. It would be nice if the press bothered to their jobs. Now that both Trump and Pence have stated that Comey told Trump 3/several times that he wasn’t under investigation, it’s time to stop protecting Trump and Pence.
Trump’s plan to interfere with the Russian investigation worked. Comey won’t be testifying tomorrow, but McCabe, who leaked information about the Trump Russian investigation to Reince P is. What was Comey going to reveal tomorrow that had Trump running scared.
I forgot to add. The press should also be asking why Trump and 3 of his WH staffers aren’t being held accountable for using Devin Nunes and the NSA to interfere in the HIC investigation. Trump has tried to stop these investigations over 6 different times, from firing Sally Yates and Preet B to demanding that the GOP cancel Sally Yate’s hearing on Monday to using Devin Nunes to reverse manufacture support for his lies about Obama.
They need to ask Pence if he himself was actually present when Comey told Trump he wasn’t under investigation and exactly how Comey said it. If Pence only was told that this occurred, remind him that he has been told things before that weren’t true.
And of course we need to know the approximate dates. The investigation has been going on for a long time, and things can change rapidly.
They’re all cover your ass liars. Don’t expect any truth from any of the traitorous sh1ts.
I have the answer to one of my questions. Trump lied when he said that Comey told him 3 times that he wasn’t being investigated. It was McCabe, not Comey, who told Trump that he wasn’t being investigated, the same man who is temporarily replacing Comey and who leaked information about the investigation to Reince P. It is being reported that Trump had a long meeting with McCabe yesterday. So Trump is using McCabe to interfere in the FBI Trump Russia investigation just like he used Devin Nunes to interfere in the HIC Trump Russia investigation. This is wrong. Most importantly why did Trump lie and say that it was Comey who told him that he wasn’t being investigated when all along it was McCabe? Did Pence know that it was McCabe, not Comey, who told Trump that he wasn’t being investigated when he went on tv and parroted Trump’s lie?
Leaking is downright patriotic in this mess. True patriots need to leak like a sieve.
Trump is not known to own any TV networks. Also, Trump has not put himself into any position to answer questions from the press. Thus, questioning Trump’s surrogates is all that is available at this time.
Remember that you can contact both of your Senators and your District Representative via email. Yes, you must list your name, address, email and phone number. But so what? If you are registered to vote (or even if not) you are doing nothing wrong in contacting your representative
Pleas let your Representatives know that you are interested in them supporting the appointment of a Special Prosecutor. That is the next step here. It will happen. Writing or calling will make it happen more quickly. Remember, your Representatives want to be re-elected. You are a constituent. So while they may support their party, they must also be attentive to their constituency because otherwise they will lose their next election.
Resist! Do what is within your power to do!
I tried to discuss this with my parents today and they said they don’t want to discuss politics anymore. These were msnbc watching liberals who somehow turned because they hated Hillary so much and then somehow voted for Trump and now they won’t even discuss it!!! This is major but because I guess it is so bad, they don’t want to hear I told you so. I don’t get people anymore especially my own family. Thanks America for putting us in this mess—now please for all that is holy let’s get out of this ASAP!
Even scarier: There are something like 140 vacancies in federal judgeships, and DT is nominating people 10 at a time for them. His sole criteria is whether or not an individual is personally loyal to HIM.
We are so fucked.
I can only hope that the last sentence of that termination letter comes back to haunt DT: “Best of luck in your future endeavors.” I hope all of Comey’s future endeavors are directed toward taking DT and all his minions DOWN.
People power! My favorite quote of the day: A citizen at a town hall loudly … firmly … asks his Republican Senator, “When are you going to act like an American, NOT a politician?”