I have a theory that when Comey said that nobody knew what he was about to say, he wasn't talking about the final decision to not indict Hillary, but that he was referring to the damning amount of information he was about to lay out that proved that Hillary in fact broke the law. Then at the end, he did exactly as he was instructed, to say that he would not recommend that she be indicted. I'm pretty sure almost everybody knew that was coming.
They would not have let her NEAR AF1 if the Democrats were within 60 minutes of having no candidate.
Watch Comey . . then watch the shooting in Baton Rouge and ask yourself how much you trust those folks you've been taught to place your trust and safety in the hands of.
It's possible that Lynch told him there is no way Hillary was going to be indicted.
It's possible he was quietly told that unless he played ball, his family was at risk. ( just because the numerous people who died around the Clintons were all declared suicides and accidents has nothing to do with reality. The Clintons are perfectly capable of ordering a murder. And Obama brags about how good he is at exactly that. )
What is telling is FIRST the FBI head detailed the fact that they had evidence of multiple crimes committed by Hillary and her minions. Not in a nebulous way, but laid out just exactly as he would if he was announcing her arrest.
Then as much as declared the fix was in, and in a not too subtle way implied he didn't think it wise to endanger a Prosecutor by pitting them against the "most transparent administration ever", and their Stalinist tactics for destroying those who oppose them.
I suspected the fix was in the moment Lynch stated, explicitly and curiously, "We will follow the recommendation of the FBI", immediately after meeting with Bill Clinton.
It seemed then like the fix was in. Lynch and Comey are half selling out, and half being played. Both made sure they only have *some* of the blame, and everyone is making sure there isn't any human being actually accountable. Lynch and Comey can just blame each other.
My respect for the FBI, which perhaps naively was as high up the chart as respect gets, just sunk to somewhere around "petty bureaucrat". And it is aiming towards "hired thug".
Without the rule of law, millions will die. It has always worked that way, and will always work that way.
Comey made his case for not having a case, based on the idea that it was just carelessness without intent. The thing is, she gave these files to her lawyer, who I remember reading, did not have a security clearance. How is that any different from Petraeus giving records to his biographer? It's not careless handling of information at that point, it's willful violation of the law, complete with intent.
Can she really be allowed to have a security clearance again? (I hate to say, I already know the answer to that.)
Mark and Tom, please refrain from posting any comments that could lead to a mysterious disappearance. You guys contribute too much to this board to not be around
I was a little concerned watching it live about how Comey drifted from the facts and presented opinions unsupported by the facts he had just stated. I think the guy has some serious credibility but why he would venture from the facts into speculation does not serve him well.
I can understand how spending all those months looking into a bunch of emails and fragments of emails only to come up short would be frustrating. He seemed to spend a lot of time praising his organization for their professional and thorough investigation. The agents working on this certainly deserve some praise for what must have been a very mind-numbing and boring investigation.
Seems like this Clinton avoided the coverup that so frequently becomes the larger issue.
"Come has got to feel like a total dick . . . . these folks REALLY think the people of American are that stupid . . . ."
The problem is...there are enough Americans that ARE that stupid. Political correctness, safe zones, not knowing what restroom to use and entitlement. All that on top of mouth breathing douche canoes that couldn't care if Obama or Hillary murdered 1000 babies. We must vote for them because its history in the making a woman president, a black commander in chief..wheee!!!!
No . . but Hillary is speaking in front of the closed Trump casino in AC (about the nastiest town in the world) . . . this makes me think we will see Trump speaking in front of Solyndra and General Motors next week.
I think (maybe hope?) Comey said what he said, the way he said it, to make his point without disobeying what he was told to do. "Yep, she's a criminal but nope, they won't let me prosecute" would have been more direct...but said just about the same damn thing.
Sad to say, especially in the year when we lost my dad (Cmdr, USN Ret.), that I couldn't bring myself to fly the flag on July 4. I'm just...ashamed of what this country is becoming.
I'll order a Betsy Ross flag. So I can be proud of what flies on my house.
Seems to me Comey pretty much confirmed that Hillary was guilty of a coverup.
I'm currently under legal hold for several different cases as part of my job. If I did half of what she did in self vetting then permanently removing information, the judge would rightfully declare that all removed information should be assumed to be damning, and both myself and my company would be sanctioned accordingly.
I'd be fired, the courts would rule against whatever defense my company was trying to make, and that would be the end of it.
But the rule of law apparently doesn't apply to Hillary Clinton and her staff. That's the only conclusion here. Cormey, and the entire FBI, ought to be ashamed.
I'm currently under legal hold for four different cases as part of my job. If I did half of what she did in self vetting then permanently removing information, the judge would rightfully declare that all removed information should be assumed to be damning, and both myself and my company would be sanctioned accordingly.
I'd be fired, the courts would rule against whatever defense my company was trying to make, and that would be the end of it.
I was talking policy. Criminality is obviously in the eye of the beholder. I knew she'd never get indited, and I'll put money on that she'll get pardoned as one of the last things the big o does. I'm registered Independent, and vote Libertarian, and leaning towards Anarchy. Demopublicans nad Republicrats have been the same since Reagan in my view. But what do I know, I'm drain-bamaged
I have restrained myself from reacting to this absurd press conference from what's-his-name for 24 hours or so. However, I just can't hold it back any longer.
There is no doubt in my mind that Hillary just got away with something that 99.99999999% of the rest of this country would have been indicted for a felony on. I wish I could say that I'm surprised, but I'm not. And what does that say about the corruptness of this country.
I've, in the past, been accused of being a pessimist. However, I've contended that realism is more accurate.
It doesn't get more realistic than the bullshit that this situation entails.
Folks that hate conservatives or their values or morals... also don't care much about the second amendment... and the USA as she is today. They want to change it... they have horse blinders on,... on a train... they just don't care about you (if your a conservative) or this country it seems. I sometimes feel like these folks watched a lot of that Star trek first generation. Maybe, if Trump gets a baldy...he will appeal to them. The more I think about it, the more I think that might work.
I had a long talk with my F-I-L last night who is a retired FBI agent (still a member of the retired FBI association). He is embarrassed and ashamed of how this whole thing played out. He is also confused as to why it is even up to the FBI director whether or not charges are brought against Hillary. He is of the understanding that it is not the FBI's call whether or not to bring charges and that decision should be up to a grand jury or the justice department. The FBI is there to gather information and present the facts of the case, not make that decision as it is not supposed to be in their charter. It's like having the police decide to bring charges against someone. That is not their job.
He also thought the Director looked pissed and acted as if someone else was pulling the strings.