Ric Grenell Should Stay in the DNI Job a Little Longer

DB Daily Update ^ | David Blackmon

[EyesOfTX]

Before we get into the main topic for this morning, we need to call this out. The San Antonio city council has been completely overrun with Marxists. From the Mayor all the way down to the lowliest rookies on that body, it is now all-consumed with Marxist thinkers.

On Thursday, that council unanimously passed a resolution that literally turns San Antonio citizens and law enforcement official into Orwellian thought police. Check it out:

Jaie Avila @JaieAvila Resolution being voted on by San Antonio City Council this morning labels terms "Chinese Virus" and "Kung Fu Virus" as hate speech and "all persons are encouraged to report any such antisemitic, discriminatory or racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation".

View image on Twitter 509 9:43 AM - May 7, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 2,459 people are talking about this

“…all persons are encouraged to report any such antisemitic, discriminatory or racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation”. Be good citizens, comrades: Report your family and neighbors for speaking objective truth.

The Wuhan Virus comes from China. It is LITERALLY a “Chinese virus.” That descriptor, along with Wuhan Virus, is the most accurate descriptor of what the virus actually is. And the Marxists on the San Antonio city council just made it a crime to speak that plain, objective truth.

If you think this kind of crap is just happening in places like Seattle and San Francisco, you are living in a dream world. It’s happening right in your back yard.

Today should be a very interesting day. – On Tucker Carlson’s program last night, Fox News reporter/anchor Ed Henry reported on a “tip” he had received indicating that Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell had hand-delivered a satchel filled with additional key documents to Attorney General William Barr on Thursday. The delivery came shortly after Grenell had forced Adam Schiff to release the long-withheld transcripts of 53 interviews conducted by the House Intelligence Committee during its 2017-18 Russia collusion investigation.

Ed Henry says Ric Grenell spotted carrying documents to William Barr (Fox News screengrab)

From a report at the Daily Caller:

“But breaking tonight, Schiff may be even more panicked right now because I am hearing from two sources familiar with this that as early as tomorrow, Rick Grenell, the acting Director of National Intelligence, is going to reveal even more documents shedding light on the Russia probe of President Trump and how Schiff and other investigators knew for a long time there was no collusion even though they kept saying they had direct evidence there was,” Henry said.

“What’s also new tonight, Fox is learning there is a second set of documents that Rick Grenell, who now has the job Clapper had, brought to the Attorney General William Barr today in a satchel,” Henry said as Fox News producers played a clip of Grenell presumably delivering the satchel.

[End]

Henry went on to say that he had been told that some of the contents of what is in those documents would be made public as soon as today. While that may seem improbable, what we appear to be learning is that Grenell’s involvement makes anything possible.

The pace of document releases and other revelations about the Obama-era conspiracy to fix the 2016 election and then to take down a duly-elected President has been quickening for several weeks now. Much of that is due to the decision by President Trump to fire former DNI Dan Coates, who was in the job to protect all the Obama flunkies, and ultimately replace him with Mr. Grenell.

Through his own force of will, Grenell is not only reforming the IC, he is also forcing Attorney General William Barr to move more quickly or be seen as a force of obstruction. As more and more of the documents that we know John Durham has been looking at for over a year now become public thanks mainly to Grenell’s efforts, pressure is also applied to Durham to get his job done more timely as well.

Senator Chuck Grassley, in an interview on Fox last night, said that he thinks that we will start seeing results in some form from Durham “in 2 or 3 months,” which would put it in the July/August time frame. Grenell does not appear to be interested in waiting around for that long, however, especially given that he stands to be replaced in the DNI job soon by nominee John Ratcliffe. So long as Grenell remains in that job, there is no reason to expect him to delay his actions to fit anyone else’s slower time frame.

All of this raises an interesting conundrum for President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. While there is every reason to believe that Ratcliffe is one of the good guys in this ongoing drama, anyone coming into a position as pressured and intense as the DNI job is going to have a pretty steep learning curve, which means the passage of some time before he gets fully up and running. That learning period would present prime opportunity for the myriad career deep state skunks within the IC to undermine processes Grenell has put in place to to ensure all of this information comes to light.

With the November elections looming just six months away, this is time the Administration does not have to spare. Given all of that, it might behoove the President to lean on McConnell to delay a full senate vote on Ratcliffe’s confirmation until Grenell has been able to force the critical mass of withheld information out into the light of day.

As “acting” DNI, Grenell is able to remain in the job for a six month period, which would terminate in mid-August. Given the stunning results he has produced in just three months on the job, it would be a good idea to leave him there for another three. No one in U.S. history has been as adept at strategically-delaying Senate action than Mitch McConnell.

While every person of good intent for the country is likely happy that Ratcliffe is now likely to be confirmed, the timing of his confirmation now appears to have risen to one of very high importance, thanks to the courage and sheer force of will shown by Ric Grenell.

That is all.

[ConservativeInPA]

Jaie Avila @JaieAvila Resolution being voted on by San Antonio City Council this morning labels terms "Chinese Virus" and "Kung Fu Virus" as hate speech and "all persons are encouraged to report any such antisemitic, discriminatory or racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation".

Maybe this wetback needs to leave America.

[Flick Lives]

Through his own force of will, Grenell is not only reforming the IC, he is also forcing Attorney General William Barr to move more quickly or be seen as a force of obstruction. As more and more of the documents that we know John Durham has been looking at for over a year now become public thanks mainly to Grenell’s efforts, pressure is also applied to Durham to get his job done more timely as well.

Barr and Durham are like a couple of old tired bloodhounds sleeping under the front porch. One needs to poke at them with a broom to roust them.

[marron]

I think the McConnel senate will be doing backflips to get Radcliffe approved and Grennell shut down.

For me, I’d leave Grennell where he is and let Radcliffe take his place in Germany.

[JPG]

The ‘Spanish’ Flu now demands equal time. C’mon, San Antonio, you can do it!

[cotton1706]

Ratcliffe will be just as good as Grennell.

Trump used a pincer move on Burr and the Senate. They hate Grennell, but if they fail to confirm Ratcliffe, Grennell can be extended.

[norwaypinesavage]

Ric Grenell’s releases are certainly appreciated, and he deserves many kudos for his work. The same goes for President Trump, AG Barr, and a few House members, as well. That said, why are there not hundreds more Swamp creatures doing the same?

These men are extraordinary only for their stand far above others in the DC Swamp. It should be common valor for all but the most corrupt denizens of the Swamp to do the right thing.

[McGavin999]

Grenell is absolutely fearless.

[lodi90]

It was not a coincidence that Fox had a camera outside DOJ when Grenell walked the documents over. He obviously wanted it known the ball was in Barr’s court now.

[Dan in Wichita]

About 10 years ago I met an Hispanic woman who complained the name of the 1918 pandemic, the “Spanish Flu”, was racist. So that line of thought has been around for a while.

[Hojczyk]

If Trump is not elected it will all disappear...

the media and democrats will say Barr and Trump are working together...and Shift will lie on the house floor and the press will repeat it as fact...

[tiki]

I knew his appintment was a masterstroke from the beginning.

[DoodleDawg]

Ric Grenell Should Stay in the DNI Job a Little Longer

Grenell should be the last DNI. Trump should leave the position empty if he can't do away with it altogether. It's been nothing but an impediment for him.

[Mouton]

There is the right way, the wrong way and the DC way. That is why nothing is being done because they are all members of the club. In their view, biggest problem with Trump from day one, not a member of the Club. Reagan faced that to a lessor extent as he had been a governor. DC is known as surrounded by water on three sides and on one side by reality.

[Texas Fossil]

Solution to the problem.

Confirm Radcliff and keep Grenell on board to continue exposing effort until Radcliff is up to speed.

Problem solved. ComDem’s nightmare.

[GnuThere]

I think he’s terrific. He’s got Trump’s back.
I’ve been following him on Twitter as Ambassador to Germany - he has the audacity to stand up for America.

[volunbeer]

Ratcliffe will be just as good as Grennell.

Trump used a pincer move on Burr and the Senate. They hate Grennell, but if they fail to confirm Ratcliffe, Grennell can be extended.

---

I concur and excellent analysis. Ratcliffe is a very sharp guy with a keen sense of how the intel community works from the congressional side. He will pick up the baton and Grennell will be there to help him get his feet under him.

Trump found a solution to the “game”. The second term is going to be a thing of beauty.

[FLT-bird]

Grenell is doing a great job just like he did as ambassador to Germany.

[Ann Archy]

GO RIC!! DON’T STOP!

[Bratch]

Delicious Dynamic – John Ratcliffe ODNI Confirmation Hearing Tomorrow – Senate Intel Committee 9:30am ET

Posted on May 4, 2020 by sundance

An interesting dynamic unfolds tomorrow as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) will be holding the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s nominee, John Ratcliffe.  As a result of earlier political moves the SSCI is between a rock and a hard place.

The SSCI is the drain-plug in the swamp. They use their corrupt oversight power and confirmation authority to control the intelligence apparatus (swamp guards) and ensure that no executive branch officer can disrupt or disclose their corrupt Senate schemes.

President Trump nominated Representative John Ratcliffe, an intelligence community reformer, for the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI).  The SSCI previously rejected Ratcliffe because his existence is adverse to their interests.  However, in response Trump installed honey badger Richard “Ric” Grenell as the acting DNI.

The SSCI hates Grennel with the ferocity of a thousand supernovas because Grenell doesn’t give a f**k about their swamp life. Better yet, Grenell smacks them around publicly on Twitter whenever the SSCI dispatch the orcs from the deep swamp intelligence apparatus.  Every time orcs poke their heads out of the DC labyrinth, Grenell smacks them with a billion mega-watt sunlight hammer. They shriek and retreat to the dungeon.

The good news for the SSCI is that Grenell can only stay in the ‘acting’ role until September of this year.  However, the bad news is if the SSCI rejects John Ratcliffe then Ric Grenell gets another year to antagonize the corrupt senators, swing the sunlight hammer & expose the darkest secrets of their beloved swamp.  {{Grumble – Grumble}}

As a result President Trump has pinned the SSCI into the corner of their cave.  If the SSCI rejects Ratcliffe, they are stuck with Grenell; and Ric really is a guy who doesn’t give a f**k about the SSCI’s indulgent self-interest and thirst for power.

As Senator Angus King said: “If we vote down Ratcliffe, we’re stuck with Grenell.”

[Insert Angus sad face here]

Too darned funny.

New York Times -President Trump first picked Representative John Ratcliffe of Texas to be the nation’s intelligence chief last summer, but resistance in the Republican Senate was so firm that Mr. Ratcliffe’s name was withdrawn before his nomination ever became official.

Eight months later, Mr. Ratcliffe is back. On Tuesday, he will step before many of those same lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee for a confirmation hearing to be the director of national intelligence — this time as a full-fledged nominee whose prospects have vastly improved as Republican opposition has softened.

[…] The reversal in fortune has been remarkable, even by the standards of Trump-era Washington. It arguably has as much to do with Richard Grenell, the acting director of national intelligence, as it does with Mr. Ratcliffe, officials involved in the confirmation process said.

Key Republican senators including Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, the Intelligence Committee chairman, are uneasy about Mr. Grenell, an aggressive defender of the president who has moved to reshape the office while making liberal use of his Twitter account to spar with the news media and Democrats. (Mr. Grenell also continues to serve as the ambassador to Germany.)

[…] Mr. Ratcliffe will say that depoliticizing the intelligence agencies would be one of his top priorities as director — a promise that could alarm Democrats who see such comments as a euphemism for pulling the agencies closer to Mr. Trump’s views.

[…] Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the panel’s top Democrat, said he would give Mr. Ratcliffe a respectful hearing but made clear he viewed him as part of a broader attempt by Mr. Trump to politicize the nation’s intelligence apparatus.

[…] The White House has made clear the only alternative to Mr. Ratcliffe is Mr. Grenell, the acting director, who can continue in the role through September, although his term would be extended further if the Senate rejects Mr. Ratcliffe.

Even on an interim basis, Mr. Grenell has declared that he is “not a seat warmer” and set about remaking the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, beginning a review aimed at shrinking the office, replacing the leader of the National Counterterrorism Center and studying whether to reduce intelligence sharing with countries that criminalize homosexuality.

Senators acknowledge that the vote could come down to their preference between the two men.

“The fellow that is the acting is just as partisan, if not more so than Congressman Ratcliffe,” Mr. King said. “If we vote down the congressman, we are still left with a partisan in the position. In effect, we are choosing between Grenell and Ratcliffe.” (read more)