87 Comments

As every good con man knows, the mark participates in the con.

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I have no faith in the FBI. They're as crooked at Biden and his son, Bill and Hilary, and the Pelosi's. We have got to get the next two elections right or we are done. Personally, I would rather see Desantis run than Trump, but I'll for anyone with an R after their name at this point.

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Believe what you will. I for one do not believe anything that that comes out of the FBI or the DOJ or any other department that is connected to the administration.

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How do we know "they did not find the smoking gun they were looking for"? We don't know anything yet about what they found, whether it's something relevant to January 6 (or not) or something relevant to Soleimani or the nuclear codes (or not). And we won't be finding out for an unknown period of time, correct?

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Aug 13, 2022·edited Aug 13, 2022

I think almost everybody posting here lives on 5th Avenue: you know, the place where Trump could shoot somebody and lose no support.

Classified material is not the kind of stuff that is just lying around on the coffee table. It's awfully hard to miss because even at the lowest classification level, it has this great big stamp on it saying, "CLASSIFIED." That said, could someone please answer for me just one question: Why did he take it?

I mean, even if Trump declassified it on his way out the door, the question remains: What legitimate use could he have for anything that even used to be classified, thereby constituting a good reason for him to take it?

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5th Avenue? Fat chance. I'm a middle class working Joe Schmo like most others. Part of a military family that has served for generations. You don't get rich that way.

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Excellent question. I've asked myself that more than once? Whatever the answer, how is it good for the United States?

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Okay, I'm going to give you another "wild card" theory. What if...what if the whole point was to "enrage" Trump and his supporters? To get a bunch of angry MAGAs shouting and protesting against the FBI? To attempt to recreate another "January 6th" with scenes of violence and rage...that they could run 24/7 in the media from now until election day in November? To cause an incident between the FBI and ARMED Trump supporters? Then the DOJ acts all innocent and "we were just doing our jobs, protecting the national security", and "look how these unhinged UltraMAGA Trump supporters really feel about law and order"...vote them into office at your peril!

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Machiavelli would blush at this level of Machiavellianism.

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The United States government has managed to convince huge swathes of the population that their sex is arbitrarily “assigned” at birth, and that people are often “born in the wrong body”. I think they left Machiavelli behind years ago.

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I don't think huge swathes of the population are at all convinced of these woke theories on sexuality that are being pushed by the feds. People are just afraid to express their objections publicly.

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Probably true…but even scarier. They are voting into absolute power people they fear to disagree with publicly.

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What if the whole point was to protect classified material and enforce the law?

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Anything’s possible. Would have been a whole lot easier to believe if their track record of political bias wasn’t so obviously partisan.

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I think it's exactly what it looks like--a political hit job, Garland trying to take out Biden's political opponent. The whole thing is a bridge too far for me and Garland has further diminished the authority and respect of the DOJ.

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Aug 13, 2022·edited Aug 14, 2022

If it's a political hit job, it certainly hasn't accomplished the goal you suggest: just the opposite. And the blowback was so predictable that one might question whether Garland's hypothetical "grand scheme" was to ensure Trump's renomination, on the theory that he would be the easiest Republican to beat in 2024. The Dems have certainly been following that strategy in this year's primaries.

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Well said, Mary.

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Aug 13, 2022·edited Aug 13, 2022

If they had not found the stuff, that would be quite another thing. But since they would seem to have indeed found classified material in Trump's possession, what it looks like is the Justice Department protecting classified material and enforcing the law.

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The problem with your and other theories is that they ignore the cunningness and street smarts of Donald Trump. The Raid likely happened just the way he wanted it to happen. Look at the incredible boost he got from this cluster phuque the Feds just created. Even some Democrats have stated that what happened in MAL gave Trump the 2024 nomination and likely the election. If this is where he goes he is very likely to have a Republican House and Senate. No more impeachment. Congress gives him the power to terminate any federal employee he chooses. He uses this power to clean up the FBI, Justice Department, EPA, FDA and every other agency dominated by the self-serving Deep State, which has engendered the Elites now trying to take the Country away from the People. In doing so he diminishes the increasingly likely chance that we are going to have a second civil war: Elites versus Proles. Is this far-fetched? Who knows. But Trump could just end up being the leader this country needs to clean up the mess the Left and Bureaucracy along with compliant and complicit Republicans have made in this formerly great nation.

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Yeah, he is a genius in a Pee Wee Herman, "I meant to do that" sort of way.

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Maybe so, but most likely Occam's Razor is applicable and the simplest solution is probably most likely to be correct. I wouldn't lean toward ascribing brilliance on either side.

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On one hand we have staggering evidence pointing to the weaponization of the FBI as high-level agents colluded with the DNC to create Russiagate. But on the other hand, Trump's behavior often reminds me of the old Chris Rock skit "How not to get your @$$ kicked by the police!" He is provocative ALL THE TIME, so one can't disregard the possibility that he somehow brought this upon himself, perhaps even intentionally. I'm gonna' withhold judgment on this until more details become available.

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I like that analogy. Trump loves to wet willy the left. My other analogy would be that Trump is the heckler from Happy Gilmore, "You suck, you jackass." ...then the media, Biden lackeys, etc. proceed to screw up with him in their head.

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LMAO!!!!

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Even if you believe there wasn't "a master plan to overthrow the government," and see the actions taken by Donald Trump, et al between the election and January 6 as ad hoc, those actions and perhaps more importantly his non-actions, suggest he is a threat to our republic.

We had a chance to rid ourselves of this menace with the second Impeachment. But to the Republican Party's everlasting shame, they refused to convict him. The Republican Party and America would be better off today if they had.

I don't know if this piece by Jonah Goldberg is behind the paywall but, if not, y'all should read it. https://gfile.thedispatch.com/p/yearning-for-a-banana-republic

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There was no threat to overthrow the government and there was not, is not and never will be a threat to the republic from Trump or his supporters. Jonah Goldberg, sadly, because I used to really like reading his columns, went bat sh-- crazy with TDS just like a few others.

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For 224 years the United States was unique among nations, you might say exceptional, in one almost miraculous, sui generis aspect; the peaceful transfer of power. While I expect we'll have many more in the future, no one can be as confident today as they were prior to January 6, 2021. That day was an attempt to change the outcome of an election in an effort to keep Donald Trump, UNLAWFULLY, in power.

Donald Trump had the power to stop the violence of January 6. For over 3 hours he ignored people beseeching him to take action. He did nothing for over 3 hours. A person like that is a threat to the republic. Anyone who can't see that, chooses not to.

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It is extremely sad that there are people who believe what you wrote. Every bit of evidence indicates that the relatively small riot was instigated by feds. Yes, some very gullible people joined in to meander through the capitol. There was no risk of anything like an unlawful "changing the outcome" of an election. That you and some others actually believe this is disturbing. You will easily be convinced of anything. Trump offered up National Guard days prior to the rally. Both Pelosi and the mayor of DC declined. Now smart people ask exactly why they did that. And quickly figure it out. The threat to the republic is coming both from the democrat party and from people who are willfully blind, as you are.

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Aug 14, 2022·edited Aug 14, 2022

Yes, Trump offered National Guard support prior to the rally, when the events of January 6 were still unknown. But as the events were actually unfolding he failed to activate the Guard, he failed to do ANYTHING. People were being injured and killed, and rioters were hunting for Mike Pence threatening to hang him. Trump was watching. For three hours. "Smart people ask exactly why [he] did that. And quickly figure it out" that Trump was OK with disruption of the peaceful transfer of power. How can you focus on the one thing and ignore the other, Kathy?

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Well, if that is your take on why Pelosi and the DC mayor failed to activate the Guard, you are very confused. Trump cannot order the guard in, he can only offer it up. So you still have it all wrong. Only one person was killed, one of the protestors, by a Capitol officer. How can you not know these things?

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Aug 14, 2022·edited Aug 14, 2022

I didn't present any "take" on why Pelosi and the DC mayor failed to activate the guard.

Trump certainly could have ordered the Guard in: Mike Pence finally did, when Trump wouldn't. And they came. One person was killed but several others died during or after the riot from medical issues which were likely exacerbated by the stress of the situation. The attitude you express, that everyone who doesn't see things the way you do is confused, ignorant, sadly misinformed, etc, is quite condescending. You haven't answered my question: why are you OK with Trump sitting and watching the riot and doing nothing for 3 hours while even his own family members and staff were begging him to do something? Is there anything at all that Trump could do, or fail to do, that would shake your allegiance to him? - https://meaww.com/mike-pence-praised-call-national-guard-capitol-riot-donald-trump-internet-reactions

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In a "justthenews.com" article was a link to a "USCPJan.6timeline.pdf" document that brought up the request for National Guard troops by Capitol PD Chief of Police Sund which was denied by the Sargeant at Arms of both the House and Senate. They suggested contacting General Walker at the DC National Guard to see what he could provide, "if needed." He said he "could quickly repurpose 125 troops" that "would need to be sworn in as USCP." Wow, 125 troops. But here's the point, the Trump administration didn't offer these troops, the Pentagon was not involved in any of this.

Criticism of the House and Senate Sargeant's at Arms is they refused to ask for the troops even after a revised assessment on Sunday January 3 revealed that "Due to the tense political environment following the 2020 election, the threat of disruptive actions or violence cannot be ruled out," the new assessment declared. "Supporters of the current president see January 6, 2021 as the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election. This sense of desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive to become violent."

Question; why do you refuse to address Trump's unwillingness to ask the rioters to stop? You may recall he was asked to intervene by Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone. Remember what Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Cipollone? "He (the president) doesn't think they (the rioters) are doing anything wrong."

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Oh, what irony. For 30 years I was sympathetic to or a member of the Libertarian Party. When I didn't vote Libertarian, I voted Republican. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I finally abandoned the LP because of their myopic foreign policy positions.

I find myself therefore attracted to what one might call the traditional Republican Party. But not THIS Republican Party. I'm politically homeless, homeless because people like you control the Republican Party.

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Aug 13, 2022·edited Aug 13, 2022

I beg to differ. A Trump supporter just shot up an office full of FBI agents, not a single one of whom was even involved in executing that search warrant.

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Yeah he shot up the place with a nail gun.

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Aug 14, 2022·edited Aug 14, 2022

He was also armed with an AR15, which he reportedly fired at officers at one point and then raised toward officers before he was shot. And he was apparently on social media promoting the idea that people should prepare for "combat" and shoot FBI agents "on sight." Lies about the 2020 election have created a dangerous situation. This man is dead because of lies Trump promoted. - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/armed-man-shoots-fbi-cincinnati-building-nail-gun-flees-leading-inters-rcna42669

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Your response is emotional as evident by your not reading viewpoints that you do not agree with. In my experience those who will not read both sides of an issue are also not watching the January 6 committee hearings, relying instead on others to tell them what occurred. That is censorship.

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Your response is emotional as you jump to a conclusion that I don't read both sides of an issue. And you clearly have no idea what censorship means. It is also clear that you are very gullible and easily convinced of the most improbable events.

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If this thing falls apart, which it appears it may already be doing (though I’m still waiting for the fat lady to sing), will Rachel Madcow’s show finally be canceled?

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‘The compliant media’. This is part of a core problem. What can be done to encourage those claiming to be journalists to keep both sides in line? They’ve ceased seeing any good in traditional American conservative values, blind to the fact that these values make up much of the tendons that have held are country together. Traditional liberals would agree with this. So, the question remains for thoughtful people, how can the legacy media be coaxed back to doing the essential job of watchdog for our republic?

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Are you aware that Tucker Carlson admitted on video that the lies on his television show? You can google it.

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Well, even if that’s true, which I doubt, that’s not really a response to my post. The legacy media is undeniably, unequivocally, on the side of the democratic party. That’s horrible for our country.

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The opposition is milking Jan 6th to the point of the absurd. The Mar-a-Lago search is a dramatic ruse and smacks of something personal (while we’re at it). This coupled with the “IRS agent” glut becoming a stage for the establishment of a new “KGB”?! Treacherous times for the American people.

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The most logical reason I’ve read to date, Erick. Excellent hypothesis…

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After getting away with so much since the summer of 2016 or at least thinking they did, thanks to their compliant media, this is just another miscalculated, partisan stunt on part of the DOJ. The bubble they exist in and that you often refer to, is no longer clear. Now, it's like a two-way mirror and they're on the side that can't see out. Just more to start investigating come January 2023 when the shoe is on the other foot.

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We can only hope that will be the case. Please encourage friends, family, co-workers, everyone to get out and vote! The media makes it sound like a given, but it's not!

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Since I've lost all trust and confidence in our "leaders," I don't trust them not to plant something in the seized papers incriminating enough to discredit him.

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News flash: Trump is not denying that this stuff was in his possession.

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Understood. But once taken, anything could be planted amongst the papers. Who's in control? The FBI? WOW, that makes me feel so much better! NOT!!

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