Byron York has put down the crustless triangle sandwich and white wine spritzer long enough to finally discover the October 20th, 2017, scope memo written by Rod Rosenstein that authorized Weissman and Mueller to target Michael Flynn Jr.
[…] The Justice Department has recently allowed members of some congressional committees to view the scope memos, and out of that has come the news that there was a third scope memo to Mueller. Dated Oct. 20, 2017, its contents remain a secret. But its very existence suggests something was going on behind the scenes in the relationship of Mueller and his supervisors at the Justice Department. (read more)
York continues… “At the moment, the third scope memo, like most of the second scope memo, remains a secret.“… Good grief, seriously? Funny how AG Barr is now letting congress look at the scope memos, meanwhile -despite the authorization to release provided by President Trump- the public is blocked from them. I digress.
The October 20th, 2017, Rosenstein scope memo was specifically so that Weissmann and Mueller could target specific people for maximum political damage; including the targeting of Michael Flynn Jr. to generate leverage so that Flynn Sr. would have to accept a plea or see his family crushed under the weight of the weaponized special counsel.
The original authorization for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller was May 17th, 2017. However, the released Weissmann/Mueller report shows there were two additional scope memos authorizing specific targeting of the Mueller probe. The second scope memo was August 2nd, 2017, OUTLINED HERE, and is an important part of the puzzle that helps explain the corrupt original purpose of the special counsel.
The third scope memo was issued by Rod Rosenstein to Robert Mueller on October 20th, 2017. The transparent intent of the third scope memo was to provide Weissmann and Mueller with ammunition and authority to investigate specific targets, for specific purposes. One of those targets was General Michael Flynn’s son, Michael Flynn Jr.
As you review the highlighted portion below, found on pages 12 and 13 of the Weissmann report, read slowly and fully absorb the intent; the corruption is blood-boiling:
This third scope memo allowed Weissmann and Mueller to target tangentially related persons and entities bringing in Michael Cohen, Richard Gates, Roger Stone and Michael Flynn Jr. Additionally and strategically (you’ll see why), this memo established the authority to pursue “jointly undertaken activity“.
With Paul Manafort outlined as an investigative target in the original authorization and the second scope memo, the third scope memo authorizes expansion to his business partner Richard Gates and their joint businesses. This memo also permits the investigation of Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen and all of his interests; and in ultimate weasel sunlight, Rosenstein authorizes an investigation of his boss, AG Jeff Sessions.
Before getting to more targets, notice the underlined passage about starting with a lot of investigative material because the special counsel was picking up a Russian interference investigation that had been ongoing for “nearly 10 months.”
I would also note that our CTH research indicates all of the illegally extracted FISA-702(16)(17) database search results would be part of this pre-existing investigative file available immediately to Weissmann and Mueller. However, in order to use the search-query evidence, Weissmann and Mueller would need to backfill some alternate justification; or find another way to “rediscover” the preexisting results….. I digress
The four identified targets within the original July 2016 investigation, “Operation Crossfire Hurricane”, were George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page. (See HPSCI report):
General Flynn was under investigation from the outset in mid-2016. The fraudulent FBI counterintelligence operation, established by CIA Director John Brennan, had Flynn as one of the early targets when Brennan handed the originating electronic communication “EC” to FBI Director James Comey.
The investigation of General Flynn never stopped throughout 2016 and led to the second investigative issue of his phone call with Russian Ambassador Kislyak in December 2016:
Back to the Page #12 October 20th Scope Memo:
The first redaction listed under “personal privacy” is unknown. However, the second related redaction is a specific person, Michael Flynn Jr.
In combination with the October timing, the addition of Flynn Jr to the target list relates to the ongoing 2016/2017 investigation of his father, General Michael Flynn, for: (1) possible conspiracy with a foreign government; (2) unregistered lobbying; (3) materially false statements and omissions on 2017 FARA documents; and (4) lying to the FBI.
This October 20th, 2017, request from Weissmann and Mueller aligns with the time-frame were special counsel team lawyers Brandon L. Van Grack and Zainab N. Ahmad were prosecuting Michael Flynn and attempting to force him into a guilty plea.
Getting Rosenstein to authorize adding Mike Flynn Jr. to the target list (scope memo) meant the special counsel could threaten General Flynn with the indictment of his son as a co-conspirator tied to the Turkish lobbying issue (which they did) if he doesn’t agree to a plea. Remember: “jointly undertaken activity“.
The October 20th, 2017, expanded scope memo authorized Mueller to start demanding records, phones, electronic devices and other evidence from Mike Flynn Jr, and provided the leverage Mueller prosecutors Weissmann, Van Grack and Ahmad wanted. After all, Mike Flynn Jr. had a four month old baby.
The amount of twisted pressure from this corrupt team of prosecutors is sickening. A month later, General Flynn was signing a plea agreement:
IT seems to me that Barr bailed out Mueller from his lies at the 9 minute press conference.
Barr has praised Wray time and time again. I hope Barr is playing chess.
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He might be.
He’s smart enough to play.
But I also get the sense that he might be slow to mistrust everyone who used to be an ally–I was that way as my colleagues went the way of the left–from people who could disagree in an amiable way to seething with hatred toward political opponents. I’d been close friends w/a number of them.
I didn’t want to believe what seemed to be happening. It took time to really see them as they are.
Barr might be the same way.
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Barr knows he needs to be careful in his public statements. As long as he brings the heat behind the scenes who gives a $hit what he says publicly?
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Not playing chess or checkers. IMO-Barr will clean this up and no one goes to jail. I will be SHOCKED if anyone is held to any real account.
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These are all friends for many years to me you cant trust a single one of them Mueller and Comey have been on the Clinton payroll for years as has McCabe Rottenstein. I dont know which one i hate more Rottenstein stands out as a true POS weasel.Everyone of these bastards are compromised in some way they are all blackmailed and on the take from day one way campaign contributions.
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Amen American brother! I drink to that .
Be uninformed, misinformed or informed. It is painful but I have hope in us , American and President DJTrump .
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Look at the facts here. Barr should have excoriated and mocked the Weissman report. He’s an experienced prosecutor. For him to accept that 400 pp hit job on an American, any American, as a legitimate and proper SC work product was astounding and disheartening.
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franz, he is doing what our President always does – compliment them that gets them feeling safer or wanted,and then wam bam that are caught in the net. Trump even did on The Apprentice and it worked. AG Barr knows this and works similarly. I cannot accept the thought that both Trump and Barr are killing our country by not doing what so many think should be done when we are mostly on the outside and need to have patience as that criminal world finally comes crashing down and so very many off to the gallows and never ever in prison as too expensive in upkeep but also they could still work from “inside”. All good things come when they are supposed to or don’t open your Christmas gifts before Christmas arrives.
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Flynn and his new attorneys were due in court this week for a status hearing.
It is also disgustingly shameful that they went after the AG Jeff Sessions.
There must be a lot of hatred in The Kenyan and his whole Klan. We knew it was there in the Crooked Clinton’s and their Klan.
I think these are hangable offenses when all is said and done.
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Sorry, Jun 24th is the date Flynn & Team are due in court, this next Monday.
Flynn ordered to appear in court with new Trump-approved lawyer
Michael Flynn appears to be sticking with his cooperation deal, despite speculation that his new attorney signaled an intent to cancel a previous guilty plea.
by DARREN SAMUELSOHN
14 Jun 2019
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/14/michael-flynn-lawyer-sentencing-delay-1365626
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Could be going in a number of directions… https://thefederalist.com/2019/06/18/5-ways-michael-flynns-new-lawyer-expose-spygate/
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Likely a motion to dismiss based on prosecutorial misconduct after the OIG report comes out. They had no right to spy on Flynn. JMO
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Oh Flynn was a big part of Iran deal he is a opportunist and was set up.Moist all former Generals are used for contacts by the MIC big $$$$$ after they retire and many are blackmailed and compromised for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Easy money for them if they play the game of corruption payola. Flynn is not who you think he is greed gets in the way of their thinking. They are all slimey why $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ many $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.Flynn is a gecko he changes colors daily Obama blames him for everything.Only 2 can sort this out Rogers and Assenge .
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It is politico, after all. Not a source I trust at all.
That said, I’m all worn out on hope porn.
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Too bad these “reporters” never do any research. The new “Trump-approved” attorney is actually Joseph Flynn approved (Gen Flynn’s brother).
Last Nov 2018 Joe Flynn participated in a conference sponsored by “conspiracy theorist” John B Wells (Caravan To Midnight), met Sidney Powell, and spent two hours in consultation with Ms Powell. (the conference was very informative)
15 June 2019 Joe Flynn spoke again with John B Wells and filled Wells in, as much as possible, with what is going on with Gen Flynn.
According to Joe Flynn, Gen Flynn’s nightmare is expected l to wrap up in about 90 days.
We shall see.
Oh yes – Gen Flynn’s Obama-sanctioned spying began in 2012.
Gen Flynn spent 90 hours (yes, NINETY HOURS) testifying to Mueller’s cartel.
Shameful. Totally shameful.
May Our Lord bless and keep safe Gen Flynn and fam.
The ~1 hour interview starts about 1 hour 20 min in.
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Flynn is guilty on one thing GREED $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. He was set up because of his GREED $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Payola
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Sundance reported very recently that Flynn’s new lawyer is the inimitable Sydney Powell (terrific news).
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It would not surprise me in the least, and it is likely, “Not all of the cards are being revealed about the third scope memo.”
But I fail to see the connection…
“…Rosenstein authorizes an investigation of his boss, AG Jeff Sessions.”, in the third scope memo.
As for the four charges against Mr. Flynn Sr, the background on them is the third rail of the orgination mess, IMHO.
And, all of it pre-dates PDJT by a long shot.
The nature of which fits the Judicial presentation made to the Judge hearing Mr. Flynn case. In which the DoJ asserts it is NOT relying on Mr Flynn’s phone call with Russian Ambassador Kislyak during the transition to establish the charge of lying to the FBI. Since his FARA declaration is a Federal Form, making materially false statements and omissions on it is a form of LYING to FBI.
This where it gets interesting, as Sundance presents…
“Dated Oct. 20, 2017, its contents remain a secret. But its very existence suggests something was going on behind the scenes in the relationship of Mueller and his supervisors at the Justice Department.”
That something very well be… The swamp was being challenged internally to voices saying, “The Collusion Narrative is being spun to cover tracts for illegalities that orginate within the Obama adminstration.
Two and years of biting down on a falsehood, to cover up the BS that orginates elsewhere tells me, “The TRUE SCOPE is very, very ugly.”
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The 3rd one was about Obstruction of justice why because all else failed.Weissmen should be executed he will rot in hell.All we see now is political theatre for the masses.Barr is more of the same hope I am wrong remember all involved friends for many years.Only way to clean it up without deals being made is to bring someone in who has never been in DC as a power broker.a non lawyer even.
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Nunes explains that the expanded scope memos were CYA memos.
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That makes sense since they were spying on them anyway before.
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i thought the 3rd scope memo was to specifically target Flynn, Jr. for political purposes
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My takeaway from the video:
Pelosi hands out subpoenas like and cookies and Paul Ryan sure as heck didn’t. Grrrr.
The second scope memo was entirely based on the Fake Trump dossier.
The third scope memo was a CYA document. I’m still struggling to see what they could say in it to do that well. Did they try to base some of their clearly erroneous findings on something other than the Trump dossier?
And finally, Devin Nunes does think the entire scandal will come to light, but he is unsure anyone will end up incarcerated.
Thank you for posting, Sundance!
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Nunes: “We sent over eight criminal referrals. I expect some of them will be acted on.”
Only some? So the other referrals will not be acted upon.
SMH.
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Also noteworthy, Ryan removed Nunes from his position as HPSCI chairman, but Pelosi ignores that Schiff has done worse than what Nunes was accused of.
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I think when all is said and done we are going to find out that Paul Ryan was complicit in the coup attempt…he knew exactly what he was doing by not allowing subpoenas and basically “throwing” the 2018 midterms to the Dems…what I find interesting is that NO ONE called him out on it at the time…
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Ryan was at the March 2016 conference of RINOs and tech CEOs–how to stop Trump.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/aei-world-forum-donald-trump_n_56ddbd38e4b0ffe6f8ea125d
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No one called him on it? Really?
Try watching a little Lou Dobbs! Lou was a pit bull at Ryan’s heels for the last two years – it was glorious.
And of course plenty others in our media also pointed out Ryan’s swampiness.
(If however by “no one” you mean the yellowstream media, well, no point expecting them to attack their comrades in communism/corruption/globalism, of whom Ryan is most certainly one.)
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Old pervey congressmen asking questions they asked
when they were young pervey congressmen
Some things truly never change.
https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/cold-opening/n10108
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OMG Krashman. Laughed so hard that I hurt.
And the bit is remarkably relevant with Sloppy, Creepy Joe’s current campaign. Not to mention that the actor playing Sen. Simon is very reminiscent of Al Franken.
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the actor playing Sen. Simon is very reminiscent of Al Franken
Because it IS Al Franken.
Amazing to rewatch that clip.
Anita Hill crawled out from under a rock at the 11th hour to “Bork” Clarence Thomas.
The Sen Judiciary Commitee called an “emergency” session IIRC the very day this aired.
I remember turning on SNL to see IF and HOW they would handle it.
They did so brilliantly—NOT by picking a side per se…..but by taking an ABSURDITY (and irony in the case of Kennedy) and AMPLIFYING THAT.
The country was roiled by this controversy and SNL with some spot-on impressions by true comedic geniuses–at least for a moment- relieved the pressure cooker and gave perspective.
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SNL’s funny days are gone forever now, gone in a puff of leftist smoke.
But at least now we have Intellectual Froglegs and Greg Gutfeld.
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I have no faith anymore that government will correct it self. It will take some external force to stop the shenanigans.
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At this point, it will take a convention of the states. Short of that, it will take physical force. This is unacceptable.
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Dewalt,
I have repeatedly put my faith in AG Barr and PDJT. Evidence thus far backs my support.
Should AG Barr prove to be Bondo, as Sundance suspects, then it will be left to patriots to seperate the seditious from the non seditious and restore the integrity of the rule of law.
One way or another, these seditious bass turds and Biyotches are going to face justice in front of patriots.
Your move AG Barr.
If you do your job, you will be remembered like Horatio at the Bridge, your rule of law enforcement will echo in history. You will have tens of millions covering your 6.
No finer legacy could be written for you, sir.
Do it. I will drop my plow reins to defend you, PDJT, and our republic.
Millions would join us if our President were to declare the need.
“Against all enemies foreign or domestic.”
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Barr and Mueller are friend as their wives and family that my friends leads to a coverup in my book prove me wrong please I beg you.Assange is our only hope.Roger Stone my play a big part in bring down Mueller. It’s the server
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DeWalt, do you think a big tool could be used as an external force to stop the shenanigans?
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“The amount of twisted pressure from this corrupt team of prosecutors is sickening.”
Gen. Flynn’s hiring of Sidney Powell should reap great truth dividends. If anyone can fully expose the malicious antics of Weissmann and his puppet Mueller, it will be Sidney. But, the Judges always have the final say and while SCOTUS came through in the Anderson case etc many of the corrupt individuals that allowed the threats of unjust prosecution and injustice to continue were never punished due to SCOTUS’s refusal to hear their complaints and IMO, the misguided decisions of a few Lower Court Judges. But Sidney the author will reveal the entire truth one way or the other.
With numerous activist Judges scattered throughout the Justice System, the outcome on any case is still a crap shoot despite Justice Roberts’ misguided confidence.
(another great sundance article. This is always the case but it’s still worth mentioning occasionally)
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Why hire Sidney and fire your attorneys if you’re going to continue your plea deal?
I don’t take Politico seriously at all. Mostly fake news. I’ll wait and see what goes down.
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They spied on Jeff Sessions to freeze him and ensure he would not fire Rosenstein or Mueller. After knowing from jumpstreet there was no collusion since the scope memo relied on an unverified dossier. What a corrupt government! And they all show up at his retirement party? I wonder if McCabe and Comey were there as well. Terrible.
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28 CFR 600.1 states that the Deputy A.G. may appoint a special counsel “when he or she determines that criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted”. In the absence of a “specific factual statement” describing the criminal matter requiring investigation, the Code of Federal Regulations does not authorize appointment of Special Counsel.
I don’t think the Code of Federal Regulations empowers the Deputy A.G. to appoint special counsel for the purpose of carrying out subsequent mutinous remedial measures when a treasonable design to sabotage a presidential candidate fails and leaves you and your cohorts in jeopardy.
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I gotta say SD this is one masterful piece of analysis working through the black magic marker bits and all. If there isn’t a gang of you I’m gonna just die. I’m not tying to pry but there’s got to be a former US attorney and a brilliant contrarian economist in the mix. Dang. Impressive.
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Nobody is going to jail.
PDJT and AG Barr are doing what they can to drain the swamp going forward rather than looking backward.
Any tick tocks or expectation raising is just to get audiences and MAGA folks fired up for the Neilsen ratings and the 2020 elections.
Dont believe me? Fine with me. Tell me what magic 8-ball, I mean Q-ball you will be trusting after the 2020 elections.
We all need to work our butts off for PDJT and THOSE HE ENDORSES. All other is just chaff and shiny objects.
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Rosenstein may be a coward, but I think he wanted this political hack job to continue.
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That’s an interesting take. All of the candid photos of Rosey in which he is smiling no matter who he’s with suggests either complete comfort or nervous discomfort.
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Was this third scope memo issued when Rosenstein offered to wear a wire against the President?
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But Sundance… MikayesFiona totally ASSURED me Rosenstein was White Hat. S/he’s so clever and sure. How could this be? 😉
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A reasonable person would expect that expansion would only be justified if SOMETHING/ANYTHING had been found along the way. However, we know this was an exercise in getting Trump from the beginning.
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They had to expand because everything was coming up dry!
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I’m the meantime, Congress is digging into Trump’s businesses, family, friends and Mueller leftovers.
They are going to unleash some dramatic gotcha in the next few weeks to justify the impeachment. I’m sick of this crap. No help from Republicans, especially Lindsay. The Dems will be well into their gotcha routine before we have the unclassification or Horowitz report and they’ll be off to the races with media’s help.
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They won’t impeach Trump. They know better. But they will talk about it until 2024.
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All these “big talk’ posts I’m seeing here about how the DOJ unconstitutional, and/or get rid of all the alphabet agencies, FBI, CIA, NSA, etc etc… are pure fantasy. Sorry… but it’s true.
Because just who in our gov’t is going to actually do that? NOBODY… that’s who.
I dare anyone to name one person who might get it done?
If Trump tried to do it… he would not only get impeached, the senate would also remove him from office.
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Somehow one million or more American loving citizens need to descend on the Swamp and call these traitorous POS out. The French did it, Hong Kong did it.
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July 4th, 2019. Washington, DC
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I think the thing that has me the most concerned about the gross corruption within the DOJ, is how a former FBI director, mewler, can stand there and basically say that Trump is guilty until proven innocent.
Yet not ONE congress creature, that I know of, would stand up and loudly voice “This is America, and we dont do fascism here”
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Actually, several Congressmen have done just that.
The problem is that there are 535 people in Congress and only about 5 – less than 1% – that will say that.
The country is done unless the states take it back. The states will HAVE to take this back. As much as I love what Trump is doing, his reign, even for two terms, is temporary. SOMETHING has to be done to permanently check the federal government’s power. That is up to the states. That is what we have left, period.
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Exactly
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Many repetitive comments are tiresome here, but amongst the worst are the stentorian declarations that shout some variation of “NOT ONE on our side.” It’s silly and in my opinion does nothing but attempt to sow FUD.
Thankfully there are still plenty of treepers who recognize that we do have some, though few, extremely stalwart fighters, in every arena. Some of them right here!
And all we have to do is look at VSGPDJT to see what one man can accomplish.
People talk about hope porn, but most of what I see around here some days is despair porn.
I am not a Cher fan, but we need the GIF of her slapping Nicholas Cage in Moonstruck and declaring “Snap OUT of it!”
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AG Barr is protecting the Swamp cretins of the DOJ……Past and Present.
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We shall see. This is the third strike, though. Horowitz, Huber, and now Durham/Barr.
If we get nothing, I’m shifting to secession mode. I will support secessionists and a convention of the states, but won’t support Senators or House Reps any further. Of course I will support a Trump second term. But that’s as far as I go down this road. Get it done, or we’re moving on.
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I hate to have to agree with you but I do. All political theatre I have lost most all hope prove me wrong…….PLEASE
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Well, Barr is career government, and he is operating by the rules. What that means is that he will first expect the government to police itself. He will be looking for internal reforms and that won’t involve the public unless he has no other choice…all other options are exhausted. Bringing the paperwork to Congress is a massive big deal if you are inside government, even though it might not seem like it from the outside. PDJT’s authorization of declassification is the nuclear weapon, which it’s better to have than to have to use. IMO.
I don’t distrust Barr so far. He’s working on the inside first, as expected, and I don’t expect to see any declassified documents until after people pay a price…..unless he fails. If we see those documents before people are held accountable, IMHO, in significant contrast, I’d be looking for some massive changes coming soon after. That would mean that Barr thinks the FBI is not save-able, and it means he will have tried every internal route first, and then all hell will break loose.
I’m 50:50 on what happens. The FBI has historically been corrupt. I don’t believe the “99% are good people” comments, because realistically it can’t be true. Somewhere between 70-80% is more reasonable. I’d be glad if Barr can sort it out without having to use the nuclear weapon he’s been handed, but I think there’s also a fair chance we might just be too far gone for that. And that would be really bad.
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The DS has something on Barr-the DS has something on everyone. IMO a deal has been struck as to how this thing will be soft-landed…and I think POTUS suspects the same thing.
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We are wasting valuable time and energy waiting for the big boot of justice to step on all the bad actors in this failing attempt yo bring PDJT down. They think they will beat him in 2020 and, as long as none of them get prosecuted for anything, they will. I have no faith left in our system to root out the kind of corruption brought to our government by the King from Kenya.
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Regarding this image, and the first redaction which sundance describes as “unknown”:
That is one long-ass name.
Without doing all the timeline and fact-checking because I don’t have the spare time, Can anyone think of a single target of the Mueller lynch mob other than George Papadopoulos with a name long enough to fill that redaction? I can’t.
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Hey, is that first unknown name possibly Admiral Michael Rogers???? He’s been amazingly quiet since leaving the feds.
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