A few things stuck out to me in today's hearings. Mueller went into this knowing he couldn't file and indictment against a 'sitting' president. He did note that once mango is out of office, charges could be filed. He laid out in his report that all three components of obstruction (a felony) were present in several instances. He was asked about the statute of limitations and he noted that could be an issue. While he didn't make any major comments about the statute of limitations, it came flooding back to me later in the hearings when he was asked about why he chose not to pursue actual testimony from Cheatolini when even the written answers to questions were evasive, incomplete, or not honest. He noted that it would take so much time to work through the court system to get to depose the man, therefore it wasn't worth holding up the report. He had enough information already on the obstruction to submit the report. The thought that he considered that if he waited, they'd lose the ability to prosecute after the accused was no longer shielded by DOJ policy. He had to pass the baton to congress. I also think that the conspiracy issues were not fully investigated because of the same stonewalling, and here again, do you postpone passing the baton and risk facing your slam dunk to the statue of limitations?
Did anyone notice mueller seemed to have a hearing impairment/confusion? Is this perhaps why he was reluctant to testify?
I found Adam Schiff's opening statements, questioning, and closing exchange with Mueller all very impressive. He spoke from his heart. He noted that while they didn't have the smoking gun to indict on conspiracy charges, he clearly noted that what was done was unethical, immoral and unpatriotic. Our country was thrown under the bus for mango's attempt to land a real estate deal in Moscow. I love that Schiff has no problem stating that in clear and concise terms. He's got clips of his time at the hearing on his Twitter feed. They are worth watching.
While Mueller could not make judgments about filing charges, the closing exchange is telling. It won't be something viewers see on faux news.
@jaidy, To me Mueller looked exhausted and very sad. But I agree it also seemed that he was physically challenged in some way. I also agree that might be why he didn't want to testify. He handled this investigation for the past 2+ years, and God only knows what pressure he was getting from the WH and the DOJ. Just the toxicity of it. That can take its toll on anyone, especially someone who is 75 years old. And I find it nauseating that after his testimony, some Rethugs were making fun of him.
@cindy, I've always liked Adam Schiff. I agree that he was quite impressive.
I didn't watch the entire hearing just exerts. I can't handle the anger when I watch the Reps ? a man who has more intergrety in his little pinky then they have ever had in their entire bodies. I do think he did exactly what he came to do. He made it clear that the only reason he did'n indict was th stupid statue that forbids indicting a sitting president. He made it quite clear that the Russians interferred and continue to interfere with our elections. I was extremely impressed by Adam Schiff. There is a man who has a brilliant inner light. As for Muellers physical appearence I agree this is a man who endured Viet Nam and a long life in law enforcement and here a traiter of a joke president, whom he knows was elected illegally, is trying everything to deminish him. I think he is tired and I,m sure the stress has been unsurmountable. As for the hearing problem, I have one too. When I'm in a room with a lot going on I can't always hear clearly. Moron Jr, that spawn of Satan, is trying to push a conspirasy theory that the man who testified was a look al like put forth by the evil Dems and the real Mueller is locked away somewhere because he found Moron to be the sonof god or some such. These people know no bounds.
With the exception of the moron minions, I believe the majority of the people of this country are disturbed by the truth of this report. When I was a kid the worst thing you could call anyone was a commie. Russia may not be communist anymore but they are worse now then before. Putin isn't a leader who canbe admired. Morons minions seem to forget that he was the head of the KGB and was and still is an assasin. He has stated openly and gleefully that he is targeting the US and is set to distroy our democracy. I truly believe he has something on Moron that is life distroying. At least treasonous.
This testomony is only the beginning to a longer fight. THe DOJ sent a letter this morning to Pelosi stating that Barr and the other guy whse name I never can remember will not be subject to obstruction charges. How can the DOJ state that when Barr is the head of the DOJ. It don't believe it means he can't be impeached though. I could be wrong on that. The last pic I saw of Barr he looked really bad physically. He may think his loyalty to Moron will make his career but I think he is way off base. I believe he will end up losing everything because of his loyalty to a sociopath. Serves him right karma is a pitch.
On another interesting note, lost in the news of the day yesterday, a group of 120 coal miners and their families traveled ten hours by bus to meet with Mitch to discuss their health care. I didn't know until I read the article, that there is a tax per ton of coal that is paid into a fund to help cover miners with job relate heath problems. This fund is being cut and these miners are worried about their care. Mitch showed up and gave a breif two minute statement then left. The leader of the miners group discribed him as rude and uncareing calling the trip a totle waste of time and effort. I think Mitch might have just lost the miners vote. I sure hope so! Bye Bye Turtle!
After all the underwhelming morning Mueller testimony, I think it's important to point out that the afternoon though did have a few good things. They impeached Clinton for lying about Monica, well Mueller did say that Trump's responses to his questions were generally false/didn't match up. SOOOooo, doesn't this now give Pelosi and the dems in congress more ammunition to go for impeachment? Perhaps this is ONE of the reasons Pelosi is taking her time in impeaching DJT? That and the money trail.... I'm thinking this now gives her the beginning ability to go for impeachment. I predict she will do that in the near future (not sure if it's days/weeks or what exact timing it is). Does anyone see this too?
Cindy, your link to Adam Schiff's questions are worth repeating. While Mueller would not agree to many characterizations of his report, he agreed to the points Schiff made. So lest anyone come away confused about what Mueller found, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWiFpxxWFlQ
The Slam DUNK:
1. Schiff: During the course of this Russian interference in the election, the Russians made outreach to the Trump campaign, did they not?
Mueller: That occurred. [. . .]
2. Schiff: The campaign welcomed the Russian help, did they not?
Mueller: We report indications that that occurred, yes. [. . .]
3. Schiff: The president himself called on the Russians to hack [Hillary Clinton’s] emails?
Mueller: There was a statement by the president on those general lines.
4. Schiff: Numerous times during the campaign, the president praised the releases of the Russian-hacked emails through WikiLeaks?
Mueller: That did occur. [. . .]
5. Schiff: Apart from the Russians wanting to help Trump win . . . Donald Trump was trying to make millions from a real estate deal in Moscow?
Mueller: You’re talking about the hotel in Moscow? Yes.
6. Schiff: When your investigation looked into these matters, numerous Trump associates lied to your team, the grand jury and to Congress?
Mueller: A number of people we interviewed in our investigation, it turns out, did lie. . . .
7. Schiff: When the president said the Russian interference was a “hoax,” that was false, wasn’t it?
Mueller: True. [. . .]
8. Schiff: In short, your investigation found evidence that Russia wanted to help Trump win the election, right?
Mueller: I think, generally, that would be accurate. [. . .]
9. Schiff: Russia committed federal crimes in order to help Donald Trump?
Mueller: You’re talking about the computer crimes charged in our case? Absolutely.
10. Schiff: Trump campaign officials built their strategy, their messaging strategy, around those stolen documents?
Mueller: Generally, that’s true.
11. Schiff: And then they lied to cover it up?
Mueller: Generally, that’s true.
This confirms the basic outlines of what the investigation has been about all along. The president and his advisers expected to gain from a foreign attack against our election system — one undertaken to elect Trump in 2016. Trump and his advisers repeatedly sought to coordinate with those efforts, in the full knowledge of who was behind them — the Russian government. Trump secretly pursued a lucrative real estate deal, with Kremlin involvement, while voters were choosing the Republican nominee. Trump and his advisers repeatedly lied to cover all of this up. -- https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/07/24/two-big-mueller-exchanges-that-capture-russia-scandal/?utm_term=.dbabaa309726
Most of you have probably heard that Turtle blocked two election security bills that were introduced in the Senate. This occurred only hours after Mueller warned about continued Russian interference in U.S. elections. The question is, why? Senator Mark Warner, who had introduced one of the bills, stated that the Thugs are too afraid of going against T. But I believe most voters would welcome the extra security, so it really wouldn't matter what garbage T. tweets about them.
So again, why? There's gotta be some really dirty stuff going on, that has yet to be revealed.
I want to know, is there anything that the Democrats can do about election security?