So the memo is a nothingburger, which leads me to conclude: Rosenstein will be fired & soon.

[kpete]

The PURPOSE of the memo is to STOP Mueller. Trumpsters won't care, won't read it. The end. kp

In Oval Office just now, Trump is asked by reporters:

Does it make you more likely to fire Rosenstein? Do you still have confidence in him?

"You figure that one out," Trump responded

Link to tweet

It appears to confirm the NYT’s scoop — which was that the counterintelligence investigation began BEFORE the FISA applications against Page. Papadopoulos was already under investigation. Wow:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[mr_lebowski]

1. I've never read ANY suggestion in any news source not even Faux that Strzok 'started' the

FBI's Russia investigation based on the Papadopoulos info.

I find it very hard to believe that this wasn't leaked to Faux at minimum LONG AGO as they've been harping on the Strzok texts for MONTHS.

If that blurb is true (and he actually had the authority just up and start up an investigation ... which I also definitely question) it's potentially a bit of a big deal/piece of news.

[lagomorph777]

2. That IS what I've heard.

Memo contradicts its own premise.

[mr_lebowski]

3. What I'm getting at is that if it's true Strzok was literally the instigator of the very first FBI

investigation into Trumprussia (and had the level of authority to do so of his own accord) then that fact sadly somewhat undermines the 'importance' of there already having been an investigation started before the Dossier was even received ... GOP has 'evidence' of bias on his part ... even if his texts themselves are relatively weak AFA proving that point, the fact of his having been removed from by Mueller from his team suggests Mueller found him 'too compromised'.

I really was hoping that Strzok was in no way 'involved' with starting up any of the previously-begun investigations prior to the dossier.

You saying you've heard Strzok STARTED the Papadopoulos investigation prior to today, as this memo casually seems to suggest?

[lagomorph777]

4. Oh, right obviously an agent doesn't have enough authority for that.

Would have had to get higher-level sign-off for such a big case.

[mr_lebowski]

5. THat's what I'd have thought but unsure if he was a mere 'agent' ... Nunes casually implying ...

That Strzok was the 'one who started TrumpRussia investigation' would've been really big news that I'd thought we'd have heard long ago if true.

I think he's totally full of shit on that one.

That being said I hope he was totally uninvolved i.e. in no way the 'instigator' of getting it started otherwise it isn't the best look.

[lagomorph777]

6. Nunes full of shit?

Hell yeah, on every topic he ever talks about.