Whitehouse upset by Ratcliffe letter but now saying that it's a fact that Trump colluded with Russia. (It is not) But I'll go ahead and agree with Whitehouse about the problems of selective declassification. Declassify everything!— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 30, 2020
Whitehouse very upset about entire investigation into FISA abuse but says that he agrees it's important to look into FISA abuse. I don't quite understand what he's trying to say. Graham just did an excellent summary of what the problems with the Russia collusion investigation were, how everything Trump-related was investigated fully and no collusion was found. And that Clinton's working with Russian sources to smear Trump was never investigated at al
Whitehouse interpreting Ratcliffe's letter on Russia finding out Hillary Clinton was planning to run a Trump-Russia op. Says she was just saying she would highlight collusion (that never existed) not that she had come up with a smear campaign (even though she ran one)
Senator Cruz asks if Carter Page issue was handled in a competent and honest way. Comey says it was. Cruz says he assumes Comey read IG report that found 17 omissions to the court. Comey says there were failings, denies there were lies. Cruz brings up falsification of evidence.
Cruz notes that Clinesmith falsified document to make fraudulent submission. "You believe that is honest or competent"? Comey says he doesn't think IG found that. So now Cruz reads directly from report. Asks if it was his practice in FBI to falsify evidence to courts.
"Difficult to say an investigation that featured fraudulent evidence was competent and honest." -- Cruz. Comey says he never figured out that Clinton funded dossier, never knew that primary subsource was investigated as Russian agent (FBI knew this in 2016)
Cruz asks Comey about May 2017 testimony that he'd never been an anonymous source. That he'd never authorized someone else to be an anon source. Notes McCabe says Comey authorized his leaks. Cruz asks Comey who is telling the truth. Comey says he stands by his testimony.
Cruz says investigation was corrupt, that agency was weaponed, that he was willfully corrupt or woefully incompetent. That this has done severe damage to honorable people at FBI because law enforcement should not be political -- that this is Comey's legacy.
Now that the dust has settled, I am thinking that the president is going to benefit from the debate.
Die-hard conservatives/Republicans are not changing their minds. Die-hard liberals/Democrats are not changing their minds. So, if there are actually very many squishes who are actually wanting to find out more about the candidates, I would imagine what is being searched for today is corruption information. Hunter Biden. The coup. Pay for play, etc. The president did a good job of driving that home for the unwashed masses who don’t keep up on things like we junkies do.
It is also quite likely that people are actually looking up what Slo Joe has said in the past, what he’s supported, etc. They can look up information about the riots, Antifa, etc. There is nothing that the president said that he can’t back up with what he’s been saying and doing for 4 years. He’s consistent....heck, even 30 years back!
The other “win” he had last night was replacing Candy Crowley as the worst moderator in history. Priss Wallace now holds that very demeaning and damning title, and well deserved.
I think that Senator Cruz would be a very good choice for President Trump’s next Supreme Court appointment.