Wednesday, May 17, 2017

2017 Political Reporting - innuendo and embellishment rule the day

What percentage of the recent stories damning President Trump have actually had a known source, direct quotes attributed to a real person, or some form of publicly seen documentation backing up the claim.

In just a couple of days the Washington post came up with two whoppers, based on anonymous sources that were contradicted by both the people in question, as well as the documentation involved.

  • The first was the reports that Rod Rosenstein threatened to quit because he was being blamed for the firing of James Comey.  The implications was that Rosenstein (popular on both sides of the aisle) would have understood the folly of firing Comey and would have privately been against it. Not only did Rosenstein deny the claims, but it turns out he wrote a very in depth employment review on James Comey that clearly provided his opinion that the FBI would benefit from a change of leadership. 
  • The second was the reports that James Comey had requested additional funds for the Russian probe just before being fired by Trump. The implications of course was that this request prompted the firing, because Trump was trying to shut down the investigation. Not only did the Deputy Director and others in the FBI deny such a request was made, but there was also no available record of such a request.

This moves us to the Washington Post reporting another story based on anonymous sources claiming that during a meeting with Russian diplomats, President Trump gave away sensitive national security secrets,  putting international relations at risk, and intelligence sources in grave danger. 

There were four Americans in the meeting, including Donald Trump. The other three all have stated that no such sensitive materials were discussed. General McMaster went a step further when he explained that Trump couldn't have possibly put sources in danger, as he wasn't briefed on any sources for any of the information discussed.

Note: By all accounts, the highly sensitive information being discussed was the recent ISIS threat of laptop computers being turned into bombs.  I hope I didn't just expose national security secrets by including this. 

So we can be assured that none of the sources in question were at the meeting. In fact, the Post described one of the main sources as being a "former" member of the intelligence community. By nature, it would be impossible for a former member of the intelligence community to have any first hand information.

  • So how is it that a former member or the intelligence community has information on what took place in a meeting that is described differently by everything in attendance?  
  • Why is it that we are supposed to believe that everyone in attendance, McMaster, Tillerson, Powell are all lying? 

New "speculation" by those defending the story suggest that someone (most likely McMaster) went to members of the intelligence community after the meeting and dropped the bombshell about the highly sensitive national security information being given away by the President. The information was then passed from that meeting to the former member of the intelligence community, who then passed the information to the Washington Post. 

This would also suggest that at least one of the sources got information from someone else who got information from someone who was at the meeting. Now in general, many people are prone to believe these sorts of anonymous sources. regardless of how far removed they may be from a situation. But after the Washington Post provided two false stories based on anonymous sources, and everyone with first hand account is rejecting the claim....

why do we still give them that benefit of the doubt? 

Simple... because in 2017 we no longer worry about facts, proof, or evidence of anything we read. We are only concerned about whether or not it fits our preconceived notions. 

54 comments:

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

"Everyday we awake to more incompetence, scandal, treason, and out right fascism. How does this affect the psyche of this country? How many are becoming increasingly jaded by the lies proven and the lies never denied, even when proven as prevarications? Are we losing our faith in democracy? Is their no end to the blatant stupidity and arrogance of the current administration and Congress? Republicans are proving to be poor at governance, and honesty is lost in a blizzard of false pretense, and they have never taken responsibility for the wrongs but always blaming others. much like children in the first grade often do.Is the American dream damaged to much to repair? These people are the ruination of this nation." And you are buying into the nightmare. The Coldheartedtruth has stage of Trumpism. #sadday

opie said...

Sources??? Who needs them with so many leaks coming from trump himself!!! Names, why do names bother you now since all you post is opinion which don't need a source. Keep defending him and follow him down the tubes since no amount of BS and bullying is going to work anymore. Hold your ears and stomp your feet like donnie....it is very becoming of weak minded sycophants.

James said...

Gosh, Ch, you make such a tight argument. Why aren't Republicans uniting behind your "facts"?

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

You keep denying any resemblance of this scandal to WaterGate.

I was in my early twenties, and watched the Senators and read the Washington Post.

Your arguments are identical to the Nixon supporters. Deep Throat was the anonymous source that sank the USS Nixon. You actually believe that the reporters are making up anonymous sources to attack Trump. You probably wouldn't object to the imprisonment of the reporters who make up "FAKE NEWS"

You have lost any analytical abilities. Trump is always right. #sad.

James said...

The Summer of Comey

First Read: “The ground right now has certainly shifted on Capitol Hill. We are about to enter The Summer of Comey (congressional testimony, the possibility of more memos, and other developments). And Republicans have a political decision to make: Do they circle the wagons? Or do they run for the hills? It’s still very early, but it looks like Option #2 is much more realistic than it was a day ago.”

James said...

The Criminal President?

Richard Painter and Norm Eisen: “After the revelations of the past 24 hours, it appears that President Trump’s conduct in and around the firing of the F.B.I. director, James Comey, may have crossed the line into criminality. The combination of what is known and what is credibly alleged would, if fully substantiated, constitute obstruction of justice. It is time for Congress and a special counsel in the executive branch to conduct objective, bipartisan inquiries into these allegations, together with the underlying matters involving Michael Flynn and Russia that gave rise to them.”

C.H. Truth said...

Roger - Watergate, huh?

Two major differences:

1) The actions of Watergate were illegal. The actions of firing Comey and sharing information about lap-top bombs is not illegal.

2) The "deep throat" source was only the precursor to actual evidence that proved the break-ins and bugging. So far, not a single anonymous source fed story from the Washington Post has been backed with any actual evidence.

Anonymous said...

Roger Amick said...
You keep denying any resemblance of this scandal to WaterGate.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

just because cowardly asshats in the media CLAIM resemblance doesn't mean there is any.



The Comey memo offers no proof for impeachment of Trump

BY JONATHAN TURLEY, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR - 05/17/17 06:00 AM EDT

However, Nixon’s impeachment involved a host of clear criminal acts from slush funds to burglaries. There is still no compelling evidence of an actual crime at the heart of the Russian investigation. Flynn is facing allegations of basic reporting or disclosure violations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) which is rarely actually prosecuted. Indeed, there have been only seven prosecutions under FARA since 1966, when the law was revised.

The investigation of Flynn has not produced any reported evidence implicating Trump. A FARA violation is a relatively minor federal violation for a president if that is the scope of the FBI investigation. Obviously, if there is some undisclosed major crime implicating the president, the seriousness of the alleged statement would grow in the same proportion. However, Trump has insisted that he was told repeatedly by Comey that he was not under investigation.

Impeachment is not meant to be an alternative for criminal cases that cannot be submitted to a grand jury. It is also not meant to be politics by other means.

Finally, it is not a vehicle to redo an election for those with morning-after regrets. Ironically, for those who charge that Trump has compromised the legal system, the same objection can be made over demands for criminal charges or impeachment based on his still undisclosed memo.

Fortunately, there is ample reason to expect answers to these questions. There is a paper trial and witnesses. Moreover, by discussing aspects of these conversations with Comey, Trump has undermined claims of privilege and has made it easier for Comey to speak to Congress. However, absent tapes, this could well end up as a “he said, he said” dispute.

These men were obviously not fond of each other. Comey reportedly said that Trump was “outside the realm of normal” and possibly “crazy.” Trump has called Comey a “showboat” and equally disdainful remarks. Whether it is a memorandum for record or a diary entry, one-sided accounts of conversations generally fall short of compelling evidence with this type of history of tension.

For all of these reasons, we need to move beyond the hyperventilated pronouncements of criminal conduct or impeachable offenses based on this memo. This conversation in the Oval Office is a valid matter of concern and worthy of further investigation. It is not proof of an impeachable offense any more than it is proof of a crime.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He testified during the Clinton impeachment and serves as the lead defense counsel in the last impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate for Judge Thomas Porteous.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/333764-opinion-the-comey-memo-offers-zero-proof-to-impeach



in other words alky, impeachment is not a remedy for your post-election ass ache.


Anonymous said...

(CNN)House oversight committee chairman Jason Chaffetz said Tuesday that if a memo FBI Director James Comey wrote detailing President Donald Trump's request to end an investigation exists, then his committee is willing to issue subpoenas to get it.

".@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready," Chaffetz tweeted.
Chaffetz later sent a letter to Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, asking for all FBI notes and information on Comey's communications with President Donald Trump.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/politics/congress-reactions-trump-michael-flynn-memo/index.html


so...

rather than taking the liberal tack of masturbating to WaPo & ny times anonymous sources and bullshit conjecture, chaffetz is going after whatever actual evidence there may be.

what a novel idea.

opie said...

IOW'a DF rat......trying to deny everything as being wrong worked out how well for nixon????? Yes, there was an illegal break in....but trying to hide and lying about your reasons is perjury in a court of law. Oh well, keep digging boys, the circle is tightening around your necks. Good.

Anonymous said...

Blogger C.H. Truth said...

Roger - Watergate, huh?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

to liberals, the fact that trump won the election IS the crime here.

opie said...

DF rat said....
what a novel idea.

Imagine that, a republican actually doing something.....maybe. We shall see how long he makes a public show and does nothing. I won't hold my breath waiting for something substantial to be done. LOL

Anonymous said...

.but trying to hide and lying about your reasons is perjury in a court of law.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

d0pie,

if i'm forced to choose between accepting your logic, or the alky's vs. the legal reasoning of a tenured law professor from a top tier law school, i'm going with the law prof every single time.

btw, your pharmacy called. the prescription for your daughter's crotch rot is ready.

opie said...

DF Rat hole said...

btw, your pharmacy called. the prescription for your daughter's crotch rot is ready.


Your mother called, she said get out of the basement and go play outside!!!!! Go suck on loretta, you deserve her stink. LOL BTW, you go with a reasoned approach about every other year....IDIOT...

opie said...

I wonder if any of the trump sycophants here would be honest enough to answer what this site would look like and be convicting obama if his hand was caught in the cookie jar like trumps. Other than spam by the pedo and DF rats inane belief trump is guiltless....this place would have obama convicted and in jail 20 times over by now. Instead, we have defense of the indefensible and whining about sources....Seems the latest source of comey has a lot of traction and causing trump to lash out like the loretta he is. Sad, how the oval office has been disgraced by our turd in chief. His speech at the CG academy was a friggin joke, just like this place.

KD said...

Under Obama, a new record was set.

More adults are living at home then at any other time in modern US History. Creating a welfare dependent class was the goal of the Lost Years.

That is going to change, Rat and I agree, the only issue that President Trump has is that he won, he beat the Establishment Republicans and the Media and lastly the feckless Democrats.

A News source reported that a conversation between minority leader Polosy and Minority senate leader Cuckold Schmucker talked about how this is really all about raking in millions to fund the 2018 elections and not about actually having Impeachment Hearings in the US House.

opie said...

Anonymous KD said...
Under Obama, a new record was set.


Trump broke a new record for lying and beat the record low approval numbers at this point in time....Obama ain't potus anymore, goat fucker.

opie said...

GF KD said....

Rat and I agree,

Now there is a giant who gives a shit!!!!!!!!

KD, oDopie your up , you have the Mic said...

hand was caught in the cookie jar like trumps"

I would love to see you or the alky or even JANE, lay out the Democrat Case as it stands to day for Impeachment?


With out that we don't know what Cookie Jar you believe Obama/Trump hand is caught in do we.

KD said...

oDopie, you are more angry then ever before, same with Alky, Jane is to stupid to have emotions.


Yesterday The Home Depot Best Earnings per share, beat total top line sales --- all in what Alky declared was a nose diving housing market.

James said...

Taegan Gpddard: Five days before we learned that ousted FBI Director James Comey had written a memo saying President Trump asked him to stop the investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, the former top Justice Department spokesman tweeted this:
_____
“One thing I learned at DOJ about Comey: he leaves a protective paper trail whenever he deems something inappropriate happened. Stay tuned.”
_____

Today, Miller told the Washington Post: “We have no idea who made the decision to leak this, whether it was Comey himself or it was people at the FBI. And we don’t know what their complete strategic goals are. But if you were really looking to damage the president, you wouldn’t leak the most damaging memo first. So who knows what comes next?”

KD, Winning Biggly in the Heartland said...

Obama ain't potus anymore" oDopie

I know President Trump/Pence is and it burn you up that Hillary was defeated, the best part of the Defeat is it came on the hands of Democrats in key so called battle ground states that she forgot about.

Loretta said...

Spam by the pedo

KD, Comey under arrest said...

Comey, former FBI Director clearly broke US Law when he release some notes he took post meeting with the Sitting President.

Maybe Comey can get with Hillary , again about how to save his own ass from US Federal Prison.

KD, said...

.Is the American dream damaged to much to repair? " Alky clearly drunk again


Nope, in case you have not noticed the Trump Economy is building homes, factories, jobs, pay checks -------- replacing the Lost Years.

Anonymous said...




well, well, well...

comey has been a clinton hack for over twenty years -

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/369782.php



this is getting good.

KD, said...

I would love to see you or the alky or even JANE, lay out the Democrat Case as it stands to day for Impeachment?


With out that we don't know what Cookie Jar you believe Obama/Trump hand is caught in do we.


Jane, do tell, what exact USC has the sitting president violated, surely you know, I mean as much spam you bring here, you must be able to cite the crime.

DO what Alky and oDopie have been unable to do.

James said...

Trump Gave Russians Secrets Media Asked to Withhold

“Some of the intelligence President Trump provided to Russian officials is so secret that American news organizations are still being asked not to report it,” two U.S. officials told NBC News.

“The requests by U.S. intelligence officials cast doubt on the assertion by the president’s aides that the sharing was appropriate.”
___________
"Wholly appropriate," that is.

KD, Trump Beats Dems again w/ Devos Win said...

this is getting good. " Rat

Yep, Comey has been told to bring his notes, memo's and other related documents.


Topic

Those pertaining to the investigation into Hillary/Bill/Lynch/Obama and their interactions.

After all we know now form many in-identified but highly creditable sources he keep it all to CYA.

Anonymous said...

“I rise today with a heavy heart,” Green said. Raising his voice, he continued, “I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America for obstruction of justice.” Green then added, “I do not do this for political purposes, Mr. Speaker.”


every time a member of the congressional black caucus rises to say something a bucket of stupid tumbles out.

C.H. Truth said...

More adults are living at home then at any other time in modern US History.

I am an adult...

I live at my home with my two sons...

What's the problem?

Where did most adults "used" to live if not at home?

Hmmm...

Anonymous said...

two U.S. officials told NBC News.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

only 2, pastor pederast?

geez. the WaPo is up to 30 anonymous sources per fabricated report.

nbc news has some catching up to do.

Loretta said...

Spam by the pedo

Myballs said...

All I'm seeing are accusations by people hiding in​to bushes to smear trump and a willingly complicit media obsessing over it.

Presidents can share intel - Clinton with China, obama spilling secrets on Israel, bush with russia.

This is all bullshit.

C.H. Truth said...

Parts of the quote is missing, rat.

“I rise today with a heavy heart, again...” Green said. Raising his voice, he continued, “I rise today, as I have several times over the past few months... Mr. Speaker, to call for the impeachment of the President of the United States of America... this time for obstruction of justice.” Green then added, “I do not do this for political purposes, Mr. Speaker. I do this as a matter of habit."

KD, SO far not one of the Three Liberal Stooges posted the Crime Commited by Trump said...

Jane, I clearly understand your confusion, let me help, the President is the keeper of all us secrets, who he cares to tell is up to him, no crime, but keep hoping.

I suggest you spend less time spamming this the adult blog, go to the hospice blog, and post away.

Anonymous said...

obama spilling secrets on Israel
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


aaaaaaaaaaaaand CUBA

wphamilton said...

Hypothetical: if Trump's situation continues to deteriorate, at what point is it best for the country for him to resign? When there is a Special Prosecutor and Trump knows that it's going to drag out his entire term and hamstring him?

When Trump realizes that he's going to find enough to build a plausible case, is that the time?

When it starts to spread out, like with Bill Clinton, and gets into his business dealings for instance. Can Trump function effectively as President (with the benefit of the doubt) if he's on the defense about, well, everything?

Or would you wait until a charge is taken up by Congress? What is your breaking point, where would you want to draw the line?

Myballs said...

I hope he stays until the final minute. What I am seeing from the left and the media is very wrong. All this shit storm they are manufacturing is damaging the country more than anything trump has said or done.

Myballs said...

The news media and the intolerant left have declared war on non-liberal voters. They don't care how much they damage the country.

C.H. Truth said...

Gee W.P...

My breaking point is when there is actual proof that he did something illegal that would warrant impeachment.

Firing the FBI director or discussing Laptop bombs with the Russians is not cause for impeachment.

Moreover, considering a special prosecutor is by definition supposed to investigate "crimes" - there can be no need for a special prosecutor because as far as I can tell, nobody has identified any crimes committed by anyone other than whoever it was that hacked the DNC and Hillary email servers.

According to Comey himself, the deduction that it was the Russians is based more on logic then evidence - so they probably couldn't make a criminal case against the hackers (especially since they technically don't know specifically who they are)... much less make a case of anyone colluding with them.


As far as the media is concerned... they can create fake scandals till the cows come home and it won't matter to me. I would argue that if you allow the Press to destroy a Presidency (because their collective tantrum wears you down)... then you would do nothing but encourage the behavior moving forward.

It's like giving in to the temper tantrum of the toddler... once you start giving in, the tantrums keep coming and keep coming harder.

Anonymous said...



wp,

the GOP controls both houses of congress. if they would only ACT LIKE IT, they could essentially do to the democrats what issa is accused of doing to that politico reporter...

...give the dems the finger.

so far trump has committed no crime. if a crime HAS been committed, it's been by an obama holdover with a liberal axe to grind who leaked to the press. note the lack of a single named source in the hundreds of articles written since this whole shitshow began.

the entirety of the msm declared war on this president the day after the election. they have one collective mission in life - to take trump down.

trump needs to punch back twice as hard, find the leakers and prosecute them so they don't get out of prison unless it's in a hearse.

what many on my side of this debacle fail to realize is that even if trump is ousted, we get pence. we NEVER get hillary, and ultimately liberals are foiled again.



Anonymous said...

The news media and the intolerant left have declared war on non-liberal voters. They don't care how much they damage the country.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

essentially, they're asking for a civil war.

they had better be very careful what they wish for. if the coastal queefs ever DO clash with rural america on a grand scale, a shitload of snowflakes are going to melt.

Anonymous said...




On April 10, 2016, President Obama publicly stated that Hillary Clinton had shown “carelessness” in using a private e-mail server to handle classified information, but he insisted that she had not intended to endanger national security (which is not an element of the relevant criminal statute). The president acknowledged that classified information had been transmitted via Secretary Clinton’s server, but he suggested that, in the greater scheme of things, its importance had been vastly overstated.

[...]

Trump is said to have told Comey, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

Other than telling us that Comey replied, “I agree he is a good guy,” the Times provides no context of the conversation. Its report gives no indication of whether the memo provides such context.

On its face, the statement does not amount to obstruction of justice. Trump could be said to be putting pressure on his subordinate, just as Obama was putting pressure on his subordinates (Comey included) last April. But assuming the Times is right about the memo, Trump did not order Comey to drop the case. In fact, Trump’s statement is consistent with encouraging Comey to use his own judgment, with the understanding that Trump hoped Comey would come out favorably to Flynn.

[...]

There is no question that obstruction of justice is an impeachable offense. But media hyperventilating notwithstanding, the basis for claiming at this point that President Trump obstructed justice is not there . . . unless you also think President Obama obstructed justice last April.




Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/447710/donald-trump-obstruction-justice-james-comey-russia?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Trending%20Email%20Reoccurring-%20Monday%20to%20Thursday%202017-05-17&utm_term=NR5PM%20Actives

Indy Voter said...

So you will give in to the toddler, and shut down the inquiries. And no inquiries means your breaking point can never be met. And the toddler will keep throwing tantrums every time someone questions the legality, propriety, or even the basic wisdom, of any of his actions.

KD said...

Click CHT, Correction, More adult children LIVE at Home then at any other time in the last 130 years, this story was during the LAST year of the LOST YEARS

KD, This is so good said...

MUELLER APPOINTED SPECIAL COUNSEL

ok

KD, Hi WP how is your meltdown going? said...

The news media and the intolerant left have declared war on non-liberal voters. They don't care how much they damage the country."

Exactly, it started around 3 am center time on Nov 9th, 2016, when Trump won.

That is after all what has all liberals in a freaking out full blown meltdown, they embrace every conspiracy theory floated.

IN Breaking news, Metal's companies that produce TIN have announced a shortage on the east and west coast.

wphamilton said...

I'm watching the meltdown, with a Special Council just appointed while Trump's approval polling is at an abysmal 40% and dropping. With his self-inflicted injuries it's only going to get worse.

The questions I'm asking here now, you're going to be seeing again in the coming months as they occur to more and more people.

Coldheartedtruth Teller said...

A Special Counsel has been started.

Myballs said...

I also think Republicans in Congress should get off their collective asses and help the president.

Instead we have jackasses like McCain and Amash piling on.

Indy Voter said...

Help him how? Suspend the Constitution so Trump can do whatever he wants?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Indy Voter said...
Help him how? Suspend the Constitution so Trump can do whatever he wants?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

really?

a public statement of support and confidence would be nice. at least fake it for chrissakes. after all, trump was elected with an "R" after his name.

trumps problem is that EVERYONE in DC is trying to take him out. including republican leadership in both houses of congress.

opie said...

including republican leadership in both houses of congress.


Pretty ironic DF Rat....seems the chickens are coming home to roost as they realize making pacts with the devil will get a spear shoved up their ass. But, you will keep defending the fraud because you think he can do something and it is painfully obvious you have made a gross error in judgement. Oh well, that's what happens when you flunk out of ag school.