James Comey Committed Gross Abuse of Power, per former Justice Dept official

[pnwmom]

He has made public charges against Hillary that she will never have a chance to legally answer. He couldn't recommend criminal charges since none applied, so he decided to slam her personally instead. This was despicable.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/james-comeys-abuse-of-power/2016/07/06/7799d39e-4392-11e6-8856-f26de2537a9d_story.html

Matthew Miller was director of the Justice Department’s public affairs office from 2009 to 2011.

When FBI Director James B. Comey stepped to the lectern to deliver his remarks about Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, he violated time-honored Justice Department practices for how such matters are to be handled, set a dangerous precedent for future investigations and committed a gross abuse of his own power.

SNIP

In a case where the government decides it will not submit its assertions to that sort of rigorous scrutiny by bringing charges, it has the responsibility to not besmirch someone’s reputation by lobbing accusations publicly instead. Prosecutors and agents have followed this precedent for years.

These practices are important because of the role the Justice Department and FBI play in our system of justice. They are not the final adjudicators of the appropriateness of conduct for anyone they investigate. Instead, they build cases that they present in court, where their assertions are backed up by evidence that can be challenged by an opposing party and ultimately adjudicated by a judge or jury.

In this case, Comey ignored those rules to editorialize about what he called carelessness by Clinton and her aides in handling classified information, a statement not grounded in any position in law. He recklessly speculated that Clinton’s email system could have been hacked, even while admitting he had no evidence that it was. This conjecture, which has been the subject of much debate and heated allegations, puts Clinton in the impossible position of having to prove a negative in response.

In several instances, Comey made assertions that are outside the authority of the FBI. He inserted himself into a longstanding bureaucratic battle between the State Department and the FBI and intelligence agencies, making claims about classification practices at the State Department that do not fall under his jurisdiction. He raised the possibility of administrative sanctions that could be taken, another decision that is not his to make — any such sanctions, if appropriate, would be decided by the State Department, not the director of the FBI.

SNIP

[lunamagica]

1. Absolutely! His editorializing was completely out of place

[sc_progress]

36. Yes, the media is sad

Comey said Hillary was carless with national security. How dare he criticize the former Secretary of State who knows far more than he does about what is or is not classified. She just deleted emails about yoga and weddings, and had not deleted any emails containing national security information.

She should be commended for having the courage to operate a private email server. After all, that has never been done before.

[Gabi Hayes]

39. you're a comedian, right?

next time try polishing your act for a few years

not working very well

thanks for your time

[Cordy]

72. Hmm, why are you wrong?

Yes, Comey said she was careless with no factual basis in reality. And no, he knows less about the SS email system than Hillary and what is/or isn't classified. As the SS Authority on classification in her Department, she is the ruling authority over what is or isn't classified, not Comey. And it doesn't matter if she deleted the whole system and melted the harddrives in a fire, Hillary has Bush legal precedence to do that after he deleted 22 million emails during and investigation of his private system hooked into the RNC, Karl Rove, and his leaking National Security agent, Jeb Bush,...after being told to preserve those emails.

And yes Hillary should be commended for her private system that wasn't hacked, while the SD was hacked twice in the time frame she was SS. And after all, Reagan is first to have a private email system, along with Bill Clinton and Bush Jr. You really need to get up to speed.

Helping Conservatives recover from misinformation propaganda one post at a time.

[PJMcK]

2. Mr. Miller's column makes this clear

Director Comey had an agenda and I believe he was desperately hoping to be able to bring charges against Secretary Clinton.

Sucka!

[pnwmom]

4. He was Deputy Counsel on the Senate Whitewater Committee. He's been hoping to get her

ever since then. The Ken Starr investigation must have been extremely frustrating.

[SunSeeker]

127. Wow. I did not know that. It explains a lot.

Turns out Mr. Integrity is a partisan douchebag.

[bobGandolf]

151. WHAT? I can not believe he was Deputy Counsel on the Senate Whitewater Committee.

He should have had NO PART in this investigation after being a top gun on the Whitewater witch hunt.

[pnwmom]

152. Yup, it's a fact. The Rethug led committee decided she was guilty then

but couldn't prove it; and even the Ken Starr investigation didn't include it in his final recommendations, which only involved prosecuting Bill for lying about Monica.

[scscholar]

3. He wouldn't have scolded a male candidate like that (ntxt)

[spooky3]

32. I agree, and he would not have tried to control the AG's actions

By saying she would be unreasonable to bring charges. Not that I wanted Lynch to do so, but my point is that he could have simply said "we recommend that no charges be filed" which would have been deferential to Lynch's position.

[TeddyR]

43. So now Comey is sexist?

How long before Hillary supporters claim he's racist and a homophobe?

[PatSeg]

125. It was just a perception

There has been a lot of sexism surrounding for Hillary Clinton for the last 25 years. Whether we like it or not, women often are treated differently than men.

[seabeyond]

131. I am glad you recognize this. As women get older, we see more clearly, what we experience life time

different than our males in our life. We have been spoken too in certain manners, constantly criticized where our counterpart gets no blame, or even responsibility, the weight of all of humanity.... while being powerless. Quite a feat for us women, and getting to a certain age, it is so easy to hear and see. Because we have lived these hurtles right along with Clinton.

Like many privileged and entitled white will never really hear or see the racism the black community live, ... Many privileged men, will not see and hear the same. Women, too. That is more a difference between racial communities and gendered communities. Many women will not see or hear either, it is so subtle in our society, and so pervasive.

But ya, I agree with you. There has been behavior, that no, a man would not experience, nor would he be expected to, while apologizing.

[PatSeg]

133. Oh yes

Especially as we get older. One word that pops into my mind is "patronizing". How often have I encountered dismissive, condescending attitudes especially in the work place? What is often surprising is I catch myself doing it occasionally in my assessment of public figures. At least I am aware of it, but it is a learned response from years of demeaning attitudes, so it is not something I can just whisk away. I don't know if I have enough years left to totally unlearn it all.

I appreciate your comparison to racism, as that occurred to me as well. I can't honestly say that I will ever completely understand what it is like to be black or gay or native American etc., but I always try to imagine "walking a mile in someone else's shoes".

[seabeyond]

135. Good post. !!! Nt

[PatSeg]

136. Thanks!

Now I have to quit noticing what Hillary is wearing!!! I really feel for women candidates and first ladies. Men can put on a nice suit and tie, shave, comb their hair, and they are ready to go. Can you imagine what these women have to go through whenever they know they will be in the public eye?

[seabeyond]

137. See,.... lol, I have already done that. It really helps to let that shit go, and actually look at

a person. I am not mocking you. I seriously understand, lol.

[PatSeg]

138. I think Elizabeth Warren has it down

I can picture her throwing herself together very quickly and being presentable. Of course, I am old enough now that it doesn't matter that much. Often not looking like a total slob is enough. Still, I do envy how easy it is for men to get ready and leave the house.

I still get the urge to manage Hillary's clothes though..........."Oh no, not THAT color! Totally not you."

[seabeyond]

139. Lol lol. "Often not looking like a total slob is enough." My world. Nt

[PatSeg]

142. You know

after I wrote that, I thought if I were to advise a female politician, I would tell them that the clothes should never be a distraction. We rarely notice what men are wearing. When someone like Hillary gets up on that stage, we should see HER not some bright colored shirt or gaudy jewelry. I think Elizabeth Warren does it very well, tasteful and understated, so you are really paying attention to her and what she is saying.

You know, I just don't understand why they don't ask me for my advice!!!

[amandabeech]

154. School bus yellow leather is not for her or for many people.

Hot pink or fuschia look very nice, though.

[PatSeg]

155. Oh yes

That color yellow just does not seem to work for anyone other than children. Perhaps the color looks fine in person, but not on camera? I don't even like it on Michelle Obama and she always looks extraordinary.

[uhnope]

146. after the reaming they tried to give Bill Clinton and Obama you really think you can say that?

far far fetched. Save that card for a more appropriate time

[sheshe2]

5. It was abuse of power

To denigrate our Democratic Presumptive nominee. This was purely partisan and he should be asked to step down.

[Cordy]

78. Not a bad Idea!

Maybe we should wait until after he testifies in Congress.

[SunSeeker]

128. +1

[pnwmom]

7. She didn't lie to the FBI at all. n/t

[pnwmom]

10. No, she didn't. She never sent or received any email marked "classified."

That is the truth.

It is also the truth that Intelligence and State have different standards for what should be stamped classified, and she was caught in a turf war between the agencies. But as the agency Head, she had the full authority over her own Department's classification decisions. Neither Intelligence nor the FBI bore greater authority over her decisions; only Obama and Biden could overrule her and they never did.

As far as Comey's claim that she had a small number of emails that "bore markings" -- those were weasel words because they were never officially classified either. The State Department explained today that those two emails had a mark on them that indicated they would be followed up with phone calls. That "mark" was mistakenly left instead of being removed. It did not mean those emails were classified documents.

[larkrake]

11. You need to listen to Comey's findings

[seabeyond]

12. You ignore the points to make that comment. We get it, when it comes to dissing Clinton,

guesses work for many, too.

[pnwmom]

17. That speech was a gross abuse of power. "Extreme carelessness" is not a legal term,

it was a highly subjective judgment from a conservative, registered Republican who first went after Hillary in the Whitewater investigation -- and failed then, too.

It was a gross abuse of power for him to use his office to take political potshots since there were no criminal charges that applied.

[AgingAmerican]

111. This is what happens when Democrats appoint Republicans to key positions

They get bit in the butt

[Bill USA]

129. another 'reward' for Obama's dreamy belief in "Post-Partisan" politics.

[Gabi Hayes]

24. wtf are you TALKING about? huh?

do you know Anything about the Martha stewart case, and WHY she went to jail?

huh?

if they caught her lying, she'd end up in the same place as Stewart did

wtf are you doing here, anyway?

show us EXACTLY where she lied to the FBI, or STFU, thank you

[MFM008]

34. as much as I need to listen to

another syphlitic psychotic rant from tRump.
A republican is a republican no matter how small.

[obamanut2012]

119. Ken Starr's buddy Comey?

[DLCWIdem]

33. Is there a link to the State Dept explanation?

[pnwmom]

45. Is this what you're wondering about?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141510540

I hope you add to the recs. Too bad it went mostly unnoticed.

[DLCWIdem]

50. Thank you. And I did rec it.

[TeddyR]

44. wrong

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politics/how-the-fbi-director-systematically-dismantled-hillary-clintons-email-defense/2016/07/05/55c444ba-42da-11e6-8856-f26de2537a9d_story.html?client=safari#

[Gabi Hayes]

47. great job, digging up a bunch of excremento by a feverish ken Starr apologist

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2014/10/right-wingers-get-away-with-scumbaggery.html

nice work, there

here's a typical right wing loon site that loves their resident Hillary phobe's work

http://www.memeorandum.com/160525/p80#a160525p80

why are you posting stuff here from people like her?

want more examples? yours for the asking

[TeddyR]

70. So you can't refute the fact that Hillary

Misrepresented her actions or argue that the message is wrong so you instead continue to attack the messenger. Nice tactic. The WaPo editorial board, one of Hillary's biggest cheerleaders, said that Comey got it right - do you think they are partisan hacks too?

[Gabi Hayes]

80. I dispute the entire premise. the wapo, for your ignorant information

has been on her ass since before whitewater. do a little reading before you make such stupid comments

you can start with Fools for Scandal, and very gradually ease your way back to reality from there

you sound like the typical low information gobbler who doesn't bother to look under the gleamy shiny surface. the fact that you cite the hoary trope that the Post is actually behind her shows that you have no credibility whatsoever, and are a mere dilettante when it comes to evaluating the trustworthiness of your so-called news sources

she's had more bad press, including from the post, than ANY other candidate in this cycle



http://www.vox.com/2016/4/15/11410160/hillary-clinton-media-bernie-sanders

[pnwmom]

75. But the State Department's announcement explained that Comey

was wrong about classified emails.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141510540

[TeddyR]

77. Yet it didn't

State explained that two of the emails were wrongly marked. Unclear about the many others:

Kirby acknowledged that he could not say for sure whether "human error" accounted for all such instances of classification markings the FBI identified in Clinton's private email account because Comey said the FBI had recovered more such emails than the ones Clinton provided to State in December 2014.

"I can't speak to that," the State spokesman said. "We also don’t have full visibility on what the FBI — the documents that the FBI referred to yesterday. We don’t have full visibility on every document that they looked at as part of their investigation."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/07/hillary-clinton-classified-emails-error-225194#ixzz4DggZaLrJ

However, until this is resolved I should admit there is every chance that I am wrong and Hillary did not misrepresent this particular fact. We'll have to wait and see I suppose, although I would agree with those who have opined that the damage (to the extent it exists) was done well before Comey's statements.

[Gabi Hayes]

82. duh....sorry about the harsh response upthread. that said,

you hit it about the trust factor. the VRWC has been alive for precisely as long as Hillary called it about 20 years ago. they've been after the Clintons for longer than that; it just coalesced to the insane degree it did as the right wing noise machine reached the height of its power under the aegis of the Gingrich/Luntz/Limbaugh axis

tell me all you know about that without googling: ready.....set....GO!!!!

[sc_progress]

69. She never sent or received any email marked "classified."

Hillary was the SOS. Words out of her mouth or keyboard are classified, without having been marked classified. No one follows her around to mark her emails "CLASSIFIED" the way emails were marked SECRET, TOP SECRET etc.

[emulatorloo]

108. Videos by who? The 'Sane' Progressive?

[seabeyond]

8. Back up calling Clinton a liar.

[one_voice]

15. You must have been really sleepy...

hope you're well rested.

[KingFlorez]

21. I would suggest that you stop pushing the old tired memes

[The Second Stone]

13. Police and prosecutors do not scold for non-indictments

because it opens them up to libel suits. Clinton is too much a public figure and has no time to pursue such a suit, but this was out of line. It was given away by the gratuitous use of modifiers, such as "extremely" when all that was done was follow the precedent of Powell and Rice. The unspoken assumption that she ordered the construction of an unsecure system that was then recklessly used was and remains ludicrous.

[seabeyond]

20. Though Clinton's was the secure one and the others got hacked. That one is confusing.

And no saying, well, .... We have no evidence, track, proof.... it is still possible.

An X president server not secure? Seems to be better than most.

[triron]

126. No evidence her servor was hacked

As the Democrat from Massachusetts pointed out numerous government agency systems had been hacked (fact) but no evidence Clinton's was. So what conclusion can be drawn from that?

[seabeyond]

130. And X president and SOS took security more seriously than the others? Successfully? Lol. Nt

[The Second Stone]

25. I've never been a prosecutor, but it struck me as unethical and unprofessional

yesterday when he did it, and today it remains that way. There was no evidence of criminal intent, and when she delegated this task, she was not careless or sloppy, which have no legal significance in any event. That he described it as "extremely" careless makes it even more of a political jab.

It's a political jab, and that is part of politics. Democrats have to stop appointing Republicans to positions of deep responsibility, and this clown's appointment was just that. There is a tradition of appointing one cabinet level member of the other party in an administration, but that is usually to something like Transportation or Housing or some such. Since Bill Clinton, the appointment to Sec. of Defense has usually gone Republican, and that should stop. Republicans should not be rewarded for their obstruction.

Also, the investigation of all things Clinton for more than two decades hasn't resulted in the Democrats investigating for starting the Iraq war, or deleting emails, etc. Only when the CIA went ballistic over Plame's outing did that happen. We are letting them have free shots at us. We should follow the British example and investigate the Iraq war run up and the Republican example and Bush's deleting of 20 million emails.

[spooky3]

35. Well said. N/t

[cynzke]

140. Beginning To Wonder If There Is More Here Than Meets The Eye!

Good points. But is this merely bad judgment or a coordinated plan to lead this off into a new investigation. Priming the pump so to speak. If Comey had not made this unethical speech with enough insinuations thrown in on purpose, there would be little for the GOP to spin with to lead into another investigation. By throwing out red meat, the GOP has something it can justify to keep this circus going. And he played it well, giving the GOP the opening they needed, to ask the FBI to look into charges of perjury against Hillary in her testimony before Congress. It probably won't lead very far since I doubt the questions asked by the FBI were not much different than those asked by Congress and generalized, pat answers do not necessarily amount to willful perjury. Had Comey kept his comments professional and brief, not including to specific accusations, his appearance yesterday would have solicited anger against him, instead it gave the GOP the perfect opening to turn this back into the hands of the FBI with a NEW INVESTIGATION trying to pin Hillary with perjury. Now Comey and the FBI will be back to take another shot at Clinton. So not only is it unethical and unprofessional it beginning to appear to be a blatant, deliberate effort to bring perjury charges against Hillary. What do all these types of investigations usually lead to....perjury charges. So look where we've ended up here. Benghazi failed, emails failed, where do you go NEXT? PERJURY! This is beginning to stink!

[brer cat]

14. He is coming across as a partisan hack.

He needs to step down or be fired if he doesn't.

[sarae]

37. Agreed.

If a Dem was saying these things about the Repub nominee, can you imagine the ensuing outrage?

[okasha]

73. His days are numbered in any case.

It's customary for all cabinet-level administrators to submit their resignations when a new president takes office. Comey's will be accepted immediately.

[LiberalFighter]

81. His is not a cabinet level position unfortunately.

That asshole gets 10 years which doesn't expire until September 2023.

[pnwmom]

112. Unfortunately, his appointment runs till 2023.

[C_U_L8R]

16. All according to plan

and the GOP is rushing their grand inquisitions through before they get shut down.
It's all bullshit. Republican bullshit.

[LAS14]

18. It sure did sound biased to me. nt

[LAS14]

19. Exactly! I knew something was wrong with that statement.

"In a case where the government decides it will not submit its assertions to that sort of rigorous scrutiny by bringing charges, it has the responsibility to not besmirch someone’s reputation by lobbing accusations publicly instead. "

[pnwmom]

22. Yes. That is the key sentence. n/t

[DLCWIdem]

38. It seemed biased when

Comey said there was no evidence of hacking then said well it most likely was hacked. Since when does the lack of evidence prove the case? could have is not evidence it is a lack of evidence.

[Gabi Hayes]

42. that's what's called republican justice, from the clarence thomas

school of law

[Gabi Hayes]

23. kick it up for Miller....too bad he appeared only ONCE

admidst the onslaught of media/repug whitewater-like frothing

FOOLS for SCANDAL!!!!

gene lyons had this right over 20 years ago. they haven't let up all this time, and Comey was in on it from almost the beginning. he tried the same tactics back then, and even his own bosses on the whitewater committee weren't buying it. what an asshole.

I started a thread on this

[liberal N proud]

26. Power grab

[elleng]

28. Yes, on Miller's part.

[elleng]

27. Miller is a p.r. person,

not an attorney.

http://vianovo.com/people/matthew-miller

[pnwmom]

30. So what? He is a former Justice Department spokesperson and he knows

what is appropriate and what isn't -- and that Comey violated professional norms.

Prosecutors are NOT supposed to take their cases to the news media when they cannot make them in court. This is a basic ethical principle.

[Gabi Hayes]

31. so you contest the accuracy of what is quoted?

wow

wow

wow

I saw him last night on TV, and his words were a rare moment of sanity alongside all the whitewateresque BULLSHIT being spread, JUST as they did back then, JUST as they did over Benghazi, travelgate, rose law, you name it

seriously, what happened to you?

[seabeyond]

52. You have absolutely nothing to base your accusation on, but everyone knows....

[Gabi Hayes]

57. precisely, and she's taking the word of comey, one of the ORIGINAL

whitewater inquistors, over Hillary. it's going to be shown, that almost all, if not ALL the emails in question, were either incorrectly classified, marked, or read without headers warning of content. steve kornacki had a former congresswoman/undersecretary of state who told him, that, gee, steve, this is COMplicated. to all those simpletons who are falling for the great republican ruse of simple answers to not-so-simple questions, why don't you WAIT til this shakes out? if she was LYING, Comey, who put Martha stewart in the slam for LYING to the FBI, might have caught her, and had her indicted, yes? so STFU until you go after Comey for not finding the lies

I am NO Hillary fan and am deeply upset that she's the candidate, but I'm not going over the deep end and join ranks with the most organized propaganda outfit ever assembled and help a deranged narcissist take the reigns of power

jesus...what's WRONG with you people?

[seabeyond]

68. Down below we are told to move on, spent plenty of time on it. WTF? Right? Happened today. Nt

[spooky3]

29. Thanks to you and the author. As a layperson, I

Had wondered about this. His comments seemed extremely inappropriate and unfair (and needlessly detailed, as well as condescending both to Clinton and to Lynch). So I'm glad to see an expert explain exactly what was wrong.

[underpants]

40. Public airing of butthurt

[tonyt53]

41. I guess the guy is po'd because Hillary maybe has advised him that he will be out of job in January

[VOX]

46. More partisan fuckwaddery from the right wing...

It's all they do, it's all they have. No workable ideas, no compromise, never departing from their extremist agenda.

The wiser progressive souls of this country are in for a long, pitched battle against creeping fascism, blind nationalism and religious/racial intolerance. The right wing is like termites, constantly gnawing away at vital support structures. They will not stop, now or ever. They will run this country smack into the ground like they did with Kansas. Especially when mass media enables, as is the case with Trump.

[Cha]

48. KICK! THank you, pnwmom~

[runaway hero]

51. Really?

Can you guys let anything go?


It's over.

[seabeyond]

53. Seriously? This man can get on TV, throw out false implications and people are suppose to shut up?

[runaway hero]

56. She wasn't charged

It's time to move on. That is the past, focus on beating Trump. You can't fight every side battle out there.

[pnwmom]

66. This isn't a side battle. It's their attempt to swift boat her. She's FAR more

ethical and responsible than Trump and they're trying to kneecap her.

Remember what they did to John Kerry, war hero? Kerry made the mistake of not fighting back against their attacks strongly enough, because they were so obviously unfounded attacks.

Hillary can't let this go and none of us should, either.

[runaway hero]

88. John Kerry didn't hit back against Bush and an astroturf group hard enough.

That is completely different from an alleged violation of protocol.

[pnwmom]

91. Hillary is FAR more ethical, responsible, and cautious than the Don

and they're trying to paint her as the opposite -- as "extremely careless," which is absolutely untrue.

It is critical that we don't let them get away with that. And I still have to wonder whose side you're on.

[runaway hero]

95. The fact you expect less of her

I already, I'm clearly supporting the nominee. This is the fifth time today on and offline that I've gotten into an argument with a Hillary fan because "they're only picking on here because its Hillary." No it's because she's running for POTUS and people care about this stuff.

What are going to do once she completely pivots from this to DON in the next week. She won't talk about this that's for sure.

[pnwmom]

104. I don't expect less of her. She is obviously a careful, cautious,

conscientious person -- in overwhelming contrast to Trump.

So somehow they're trying to paint her as the opposite.

And your posts have helped me to see the tactic clearly, so thanks for that.

[runaway hero]

105. This is not about trump, or me, or you

Or anyone else. You keep going at me with the personal attacks why? Discuss the issue. I said she wasn't charged, it's over and it's time to move. I have, and you have not.

[karynnj]

153. Kerry did fight back but the media gave the liars credibility

In April 2004, JK put his entire Navy records, other than medical on his Web site. The media spoke of it being JK versus the liars. It was not - it was the liars vs the Navy's records.

What is true is that where all Democrats are out now challenging the accusations against Clinton, most did very little to defend Kerry. Most notably his VP would agree to do so for the csmpaign, then fail to do so. This I. Spite of there being so much they could have used, including:

The Navy records

Kerry's actual crew who were and are very loyal to him.

Rassman, the man he saved, a life long Republican was a strong advocate.

Republican Senator John Warner, who had been the Vietnam Era Secretary of the Navy defended him.

The Nixon tapes included comments that they investigated him and found he was a real hero and clean.

Kerry's own statement given to the Firefighters union that the media ignored even though it was about 2 minutes long.

The Doug Brinkley book, written before 2004, included a lot of research.

However, by November, there were very few who even would have considered JK who still believed the liars. This is why everyone - including you here, but also Republicans - uses the term swiftboating. Why? My guess is because it explicitly means polically motivated, personal destruction lies.

I think it is great that every potential VP and most Democrats are strongly defending HRC. I do think that before you criticize the 2004 nominee, you shoud note that the party actually failed him. Even though the SBVT stuff was not belirved, they stole the ability of the JK campaign using that to define his real integrity and character.

Now and in the 1990s, Democrats have done a good job defending the Clintons - even when there was some minor fault on their part. It is good that is the case, because HRC needs it.

[pnwmom]

156. Wasn't there a delay before he did that? I agree that he didn't get enough

support, but my memory is that he didn't respond as quickly as he should have.

[karynnj]

157. The SBVT first came out in April and that is when he put the records on his website

They returned in August and that is what you remember. Kerry did immediately say he would respond at the speech to the Fire fighters and did. However, the media gave it little or no coverage. Not to mention - giving them the Navy records was the equivalent of handing over your college transcript if others said you did badly in college. It was the official record and those questioning it should have been asked for proof -- not Kerry who simply put out the Navy records.

There was also a major problem with trying to use an ad to respond. Thanks to the fact that McAuliffe (before Kerry was the nominee) chose a date that was early - he had to use GE money for 13 weeks, while Bush needed it just for 8. Not to mention, answering with an ad to ads -- when the ads were given tons of free coverage would likely have made it even more "he said, they said".

Not to mention, the problem was the media which IGNORED that they had his full Navy records and the Navy gave him those medals. Note that media condoned the Republicans with bandaids making fun of his purple hearts at their convention.

This was something far better addressed by others -- because Kerry actually was a hero and him saying that would have been awkward. Some Democrats, notably Max Clealand were good, but many - especially the loathsome John Edwards - felt it was beneath them to defend Kerry.

[pnwmom]

159. Thanks for the reminders, karynnj. I'd forgotten much of this -- except the

feeling of helplessness as the lies kept spreading.

[seabeyond]

67. Hey, but you know, tarring Clinton with liar and worse is fine. It has only been happening 3 decades

No. I am a multitasker capable of handling a number of issues at once. This happened, what? Today? And you think we have spent to much time on it. This is the oddest demand I have seen in a while. Right up there with calling Clinton a liar and not needing any facts because EVERYBODY knows.

You can move on, ok? You can decide for ourselves what we want to address.

[runaway hero]

86. If you think you want to complain and complain, then do so

But let's be 100 percent honest here: None of this happens if she had just not used the private server. And she won't again.


And is no one supposed to criticize Hillary Clinton ever? I think she can handle herself without you guys.

[seabeyond]

94. Lets be honest.... See, we really don't get a lot of that. First move on, then she earned it.

[runaway hero]

98. Yes.

She's earned the nomination fair and square. She's not being charged.


Are we going to win this election or not?

[seabeyond]

99. How about you don't tell us what conversations we are allowed.

[sangfroid]

143. Absolutely.

If you have something to disprove the specific issues he raised, go to it. This personal attack stuff against Comey, however, just has the aroma of sour grapes.

[seabeyond]

147. Poppycock. The issue is, he did not raise specifics, just implications.

[sangfroid]

148. Balderdash

Do you think the word of the Director of the FBI carries the same weight as a couple of guys on the Internet? Really? He could insinuate that Jesus ate pork on Friday and get away with it.

You want to beat him, you're going to have to bring more to the party than "he's a stinky guy." Especially when the vast majority think he is pro-Clinton. If he isn't why didn't the FBI arrest him?

[seabeyond]

149. You guys are on the beating up shit. We are having a discussion on a discussion board, about a

topic that we found interesting and how a desire to converse about.

[sangfroid]

150. My apologies

I was not aware I was one of "you guys" or that discussion did not include counter arguments. Just a word of advice: don't use that argument in the GE or you'll be calling him President Trump.

[pnwmom]

54. How can you say it's over when the R's are having a hearing tomorrow

at which they are calling Comey to testify?

Whose side are you on, anyway?

[runaway hero]

58. Because it will lead to nothing

I support Hillary. I don't support tomfoolery and fighting ghosts. She won the primary and has to win the election. She has faced this for 25 years.


So who's side am I on? Hillary. Would you be doing this if Sanders or even O'Malley was the candidate?

[pnwmom]

59. Comey isn't a ghost. He's a highly influential figure who's well respected by the press.

And he doesn't deserve that respect.

[runaway hero]

61. He does

And that has nothing to do with this. Hillary won, so what exactly is your problem with, or should no one criticize her?


She's not being charged and she'll be more careful next time.

[pnwmom]

65. He abused the power of his office by publicly smearing someone

whom he lacked the evidence to indict.

He accused her of "extreme carelessness," which was just his personal opinion. He had no right to express it in that public forum, representing the power of his office. The official Department of Justice Manual for US attorneys specifically bars such statements.

But the fact is that her decision to use the private server was prudent -- if she wanted to carry out her job and archive her emails.

Because she used the private server, and not the .gov system, she was able to produce almost all of her emails. By contrast, according to a report issued by the OIG in 2015, the public .gov system during her time in office was preserving almost no emails -- .0006% in 2011 and even fewer in 2013.

And while there is ample evidence of the .gov system being hacked multiple times over the years, all Comey could do was speculate that her system had probably been hacked, too -- even though he found no evidence.

If you care about transparency in government, then you should be applauding her for using a system that preserved her emails. If she had relied on the State Depts' .gov system, then the State department would have had very little to produce when the FOIA request was submitted.

But yes, if she wanted to look good politically, and to save herself from attacks, then she would have been wiser to use the pathetic .gov system. Too bad she didn't.

From the OIG report dated March 2015:


https://oig.state.gov/system/files/isp-i-15-15.pdf


March 2015
Office of Inspections
What OIG Found

A 2009 upgrade in the Department of State’s system
facilitated the preservation of emails as official records.
However, Department of State employees have not
received adequate training or guidance on their
responsibilities for using those systems to preserve
“record emails.” In 2011, employees created 61,156
record emails out of more than a billion emails sent.
Employees created 41,749 record emails in 2013.
 Record email usage varies widely across bureaus and
missions. The Bureau of Administration needs to exercise
central oversight of the use of the record email function.

[sc_progress]

74. Hillary used a private server so she could archive her emails

"If you care about transparency in government, then you should be applauding her for using a system that preserved her emails. If she had relied on the State Depts' .gov system, then the State department would have had very little to produce when the FOIA request was submitted. "

Hillary should be praised for being courageous and bright enough not to use the state dept's .gov system. She was only doing it because she wanted to be transparent and use a system that preserved her emails.

Hillary is the only honest candidate. All the others lie constantly.

[pnwmom]

76. Welcome to DU, sc_progress! n/t

[karynnj]

158. I would agree IF she had given those archives to the SD when she left

rather than 2 years later after the SD demanded them.

Convenience is believable, transparency -- not so much.

[runaway hero]

84. This hyperbole.

You act like he woke up and tried to destroy her. She doesn't or didn't know, now she does and hopefully won't do it again. And just because other people did it, does not make it ok.

It's a dead issue. You either want your candidate to stop Trump at this point, or get bogged down in side wars. I choose the former.

[pnwmom]

85. Unfortunately for Kerry, he treated his Swiftboating as a side issue

and so he lost the war.

Hillary can't let this go and we can't either.

[Gabi Hayes]

93. I think it's time to let things go. no use arguing with

[runaway hero]

102. Name calling.

Of course.

[Gabi Hayes]

63. Fools for Scandal....The Hunting of the President

the media mostly swallow the perceived wisdom whole, even Larry ODonnell. he was sickening last night with his deepthroating of the Comey line

wonder if he'll wise up

[LiberalFighter]

83. So all of us should just let them attack without rebutting them?

If you don't fight you don't win.

[runaway hero]

90. And if you do fight at some point

You're opponent wins.


This is the exact same as Nasty Don doubling down on every mistake he makes.

[Gabi Hayes]

60. note to runaway hero:

run a WAY

you can't handle the truth, apparently, which is this is how the other side plays, and the only counter to never ending lies, repeated endlessly, is to tell the truth, and expose the liars as those whom they are

the truth MATTERS

duh

[runaway hero]

62. Excuse me? Hillary won?

Why get down in the mud with the pigs?

[Gabi Hayes]

89. excuse me? are you talking to me? I'm the only one in here.

your response makes no sense in context with mine.

that said, do you propose just swallowing all the mud, and allowing the pigs to win at the filthy game they play. that is EXACTLY what they hope happens, because they'll do ANYTHING to win. anything

[runaway hero]

92. So we should stoop to that level now.

"Win at all costs" sounds familiar...

[Gabi Hayes]

96. nice try. twisting words doesn't work so well here.

have a nice life

sorry I wasted so much time/energy. my poor poor little laptop is getting logy

buh bye

[seabeyond]

97. "win at all cost" Another wtf? Lol. Calling them out on lies ect, is what, cheating or something?

[runaway hero]

100. What lies?

That she wasn't supposed to have a private server? Why are so worked about a guy who can't even make the final decision? She is going to win the general. Not everything is a media conspiracy.

[seabeyond]

103. Why do you work at defining me as "so worked up"? Hey dude, relax.

[runaway hero]

106. You are

You're so determined to see Comey destroyed because... he'd didn't push for charges? Come on. She made a mistake and it won't happen again, what have I said wrong here? Tell me?

[seabeyond]

107. Now you have just gone all silly.

[leftofcool]

55. No, we can't. And we shouldn't allow our nominee to be swiftboated by a partisan hack.

[ismnotwasm]

121. "You guys"???

Who are "you guys"???

[UtahLib]

64. K&R. for the truth

[ismnotwasm]

71. Boom.

There it is

[kentuck]

79. Wow!

That shines a different light on it !

[pnwmom]

87. Here are some more lights:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512242235

[Gabi Hayes]

101. hey!!! dershowitz is on CNN right now, tearing into FBI abuse

lameass trog david gergen still defends Comey

wonder who will make a better case

that said, dershowitz is an accused child molester, tied to trump/Epstein. to be fair, he sued for defamation, but I don't know the outcome. THAT said, he helped round up the defense team that got Epstein OFF with a slap on the wrist, without the aggrieved getting a chance to sign off on the plea bargain

[Vattel]

109. very true

[still_one]

110. Thanks pnwmom

[The Second Stone]

113. I seem to recall that the White House has a petition program where if a certain

number of people sign, they will look into it. I think the guy is guilty of an ethics violation. Let's start a petition.

[Surya Gayatri]

114. Gross abuse of position and power...he should be forced to step down now.

I would've bolded this passage as well:

In this case, Comey ignored those rules to editorialize about what he called carelessness by Clinton and her aides in handling classified information, a statement not grounded in any position in law.

[Demsrule86]

115. I agree

Comey is a Republican and it showed during that speech...the bitterness that he could not indict was almost palpable. He slandered Sec. Clinton using his position of authority...abuse of power. I love the president ( I respect his effort at bipartisanship even though it has never worked), but Comey should not have been the FBI director; clearly, he can not separate his personal politics from his duty...Comey has failed in his fight against terrorism in a number of areas too...Boston and Orlando come immediately to mind.

[pnwmom]

116. I think this is an unconscious attempt at diversion from his failure in Orlando.

The FBI had Mateen in their sites. They had gotten recent reports of the weapons he was purchasing. And they did nothing.

[barbtries]

117. i did find his little dog and pony show disgusting.

i think i had once respected comey, but what he reminded me of in this case was ken starr.

[bigtree]

118. damn right he did

...and I expect Democrats at his hearing to set him straight.

[ismnotwasm]

120. This is truly a superior article

I thought Comey sounded unprofessional and an asshole. His double-speak gave republicans the opening they needed to be even bigger assholes. The whole thing has been a cluster from beginning to end. Glad it's over

[JTFrog]

122. And the Republicans want to give him more opportunities under the guise

of holding hearings.

Fucking assholes.

[Sheepshank]

123. I guess it's safe to say the Republicans are no longer afraid of a Trump Presidency.

GOTV

[NastyRiffraff]

124. Absolutely an abuse of power

At least he was honest enough to admit that no crime was committed, although he was weasly about even that. Here's the money quote:

In a case where the government decides it will not submit its assertions to that sort of rigorous scrutiny by bringing charges, it has the responsibility to not besmirch someone’s reputation by lobbing accusations publicly instead. Prosecutors and agents have followed this precedent for years.

[Gabi Hayes]

132. but besmirch, based on his OWN incompetence re: markings on emails,

is exactly what this sleazy, inquisitorial hypocrite did, and within the same sentence!

[Bill USA]

134. if you r outraged by the GOP's inquisitions & abuse of Govt power, I urge you to write, call your

representatives in government to tell them you want them to vigorously criticize - on the record - the GOP for their use of techniques of totalitarianism against their politcal opponents. Their abuse of Government power for political gain is a very real threat to our democracy.


The GOP's endless use of inquisitions as political hit squads & to intimidate Government employees in the performance of their duties - is a threat to our Democracy.

[L. Coyote]

141. Comey will be handing in his resignation. President Clinton will be choosing the next FBI director.

It will take a while for his testimony to be fully parsed, but he certainly was acting in concert with Republicans to influence the Presidential election.

What i want to see is the script. I'd like to know how well they stick to their lines.

[Native]

144. AND, his opinions in part were based on what we now know were emails erroneously classified. Moreover

his opinion is just that, one individual's opinion. An opinion that is completely subjective. My view of extreme carelessness, I'm sure, would be radically different from any number of others opinions. And he, at length, mentioned that sanctions in his department would be based on extenuating and mitigating factors - one factor of which would have to be the level of a person's computer skills and tech know-how. This whole witch hunt totally disgusts me.

[pnwmom]

145. I was also annoyed by the formulation of how he would have treated one of his employees.

Hillary wasn't a staffer. She was the agency head. As the agency head, she had the full authority to decide how State-created documents should be classified. The only people who could over-rule her were Obama and Biden.

And they clearly did not.