Twisting in the Wind

[H2O Man]

I remember my father pointing out that whenever a republican administration is in deep shit, they will select someone to serve as a lightening rod. The idea is to make someone other than high-ranking administration officials be the center of controversy. The best example of this came during the Watergate years, when John Ehrlichman said of acting FBI director L. Patrick Gray, “I think we ought to let him hang there. Let him twist slowly, slowly in the wind.”

Events this week demonstrate that the Trump administration assigned this role to Devon Nunes. More, it is apparent that they were willing to sacrifice any potential political career that Nunes may have been able to buy. Throughout the week, Nunes has been hung out for media attacks. More, he lacks the intellectual capacity to realize he has been left to twist slowly in the wind. At very best, he will become a footnote in history, a punching bag reduced to a punch line.

Despite the implosion of the House intelligence committee, it actually served its purpose. This was accomplished by last Monday's public hearing, particularly when director Comey spoke about exactly what the FBI is currently investigating. More, Nunes's panicked behaviors since last Friday have back-fired on him. His canceling of this week's meetings exposed the White House's attempt to derail a serious investigation.

While much of the media has focused upon Nunes's actions, the reporting has been largely negative. There have been increasing calls for him to, at very least, recuse himself from this investigation. Even another republican has called on him to step down. Nunes's recent media interviews have been awkward, as he refuses to answer questions about the relationship between himself and those who “shared” the intelligence reports that upset him so.

Further, the White House attempted to prevent Sally Yates from testifying to the House intelligence committee. And Nunes canceled the meetings the committee had scheduled for this week, without providing an explanation to the other members.

Fortunately, the Senate intelligence committee has begun their public hearings. This is where the public is likely to learn much more about the issues involving the Trump campaign/ administration's relationship with the Russians.

Also, it is being reported that Michael Flynn is attempting to secure a deal for himself: apparently, he will testify if he gets immunity. If the Trump administration felt it necessary to attempt to prevent Sally Yates from testifying, they have to be freaking out at the mere thought of Flynn testifying. By no coincidence, the administration was willing to sacrifice Flynn early on, and reportedly were ready to blame him for anything else that may come up. As terrible of a human being as he is – and he is horrible – he could do severe damage to all of the president's men. And the president.

[Warpy]

1. I sincerely hope you're right about Flynn

He could be trying to salvage his 33 year military career and reputation carefully built over the years. However, he strikes me as both intelligent and a thoroughly nasty piece of work. This could go either way. Either he falls on his sword with no fear of a stabbing or he gives up the worst of them, like Manafort.

I do agree with your assessment of Nunes. He's not a smart man and he's always thought of himself as the best and the brightest. Once he started making mistakes, he was the lightning rod, their twister in the wind.

[H2O Man]

2. I suspect that

the "intelligence" he saw at the White House included information that he recognized his own name -- though masked -- in. I do not think he was necessarily part of the Trump-Russian coordination. But he has business dealings with Russia, and was part of the transition team.

[tblue37]

3. K&R & to the Greatest page with this excellent analysis. nt

[H2O Man]

7. Thank you!

[Blue_Roses]

4. Nunes reminds me of the kid who runs to the teacher

to tattle. They are always looking for approval.

I think they should let Flynn sweat it out for awhile. Let's see what his next move is. I'm sure the vine is ripe for shaking.

[H2O Man]

9. Right.

He would have sported many a black eye in my school.

I agree on letting Flynn sweat it out. However, I'm glad that Trump & Co have to sweat it out, too.

[panader0]

5. "the implosion of the House intelligence committee" has served more

than one purpose. The Nunes debacle is helping to bring this corruption to light.
I almost hate to admit that I find this BS extremely amusing.
Sometimes I'm glad that I'm old.
The damning info on the Trump cabal is open to see.
What I don't really get is Comey's role in all of this. He had Trump's Russian
ties under investigation in July. He knew then. So why did he drop the bomb
on HRC 8 or 9 days before the election, and then recant 3 days before?
Did he want Trump to win to expose him more fully? What was the weird
motivation?

[H2O Man]

10. The system is

indeed corrupt. I've mentioned before that my daughters and I campaigned for a friend when he ran for a seat in the House. When it came time for his re-election campaign, he wasn't really invested in going all out. He told me that the system was so corrupt that it made him sick. And this was a guy who had been one of the best regional D.A.'s.

I think that Comey believed he would be able to address both investigations last summer. After speaking on Clinton, he was instructed not to speak on the Russian-Trump investigation by the Attorney General.

He had, of course, testified before Congress shortly after his press conference on Clinton. At that time, he stated the case was closed. When pressed, he stated he would inform them if anything new came up. Shortly before the election, as you note, he did so. But it was the republicans who leaked that to the press, not Comey.

[ms liberty]

6. K&R. n/t

[H2O Man]

11. Thanks!

[kentuck]

8. He could tell whether VP Pence knew about Sally Yates briefing to the WH.

I doubt that his hands are clean?

[H2O Man]

12. Key point.

The only "evidence" that Flynn was fired for lying to Pence is from the White House. That story never made sense, due to the timing of Yates's warning, etc.