Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump moves to silence critics (by revoking security clearances)
Collusion News Network ^ | Updated 7:20 AM ET, Tue July 24, 2018 | Stephen Collinson

Posted on 07/24/2018 6:02:11 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Washington (CNN) -- President Donald Trump's latest gambit to choke off the flow of information for past spy chiefs who have criticized him is a disturbing move that again exposes an imperious streak out of place in American democracy.

The President's threat to rip security clearances from some of the nation's most decorated former intelligence officials may turn out to be a classic Trumpian distraction play that whips up a media storm and drowns out stories that are damaging to the White House. But the idea that it is being seriously contemplated will send a chilling effect throughout Washington. The wielding of presidential power to punish prominent critics would take this White House perilously closer to potential abuses of executive authority -- perhaps moving it onto territory not tested by any commander in chief since Richard Nixon.

Singling out dissenting former public servants in this way is a norm-busting power play that might seem tame in political systems ruled with an iron grip by Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, who Trump admires. But it would be fueled by a strongman's instinct that both those leaders might recognize.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: boycotttimewarner; cheeseandwhine; clinton; cnn; dnctalkingpoints; fakenews; mediabias; nationalsecurity; obama; timelies; trump; trumpdoj
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 last
To: 1Old Pro
Just when I think it’s impossible for the media to become MORE unhinged, they do.

Wait until President Trump is re elected with large % of support in Congress and several new Supreme Court Justices.

Then, we will see the unhinging.

61 posted on 07/24/2018 7:29:03 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Investigate how Mexico has manipulated, meddled & interfered in our elections, since Ike was POTUS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: JayGalt
Quiet now. Don't let the other side know what President Trump is doing to them. Let them flop around like beheaded chickens.

President Trump is also all about branding. By associating the known two who were fired for malfeasance (and don’t have clearance) with the others, he brands the rest with the same brush. All the fish in this barrel stink.

62 posted on 07/24/2018 7:33:39 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Investigate how Mexico has manipulated, meddled & interfered in our elections, since Ike was POTUS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Thank God, Trump wasn't President after we left office. - BJBJC to Sloppy SB

63 posted on 07/24/2018 7:59:42 AM PDT by conservative98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

ANY former security person that officially keeps his clearance after his need to know has vanished is breaking the law.

Why would a retired CIA employee, regardless of the position of the employee, be allowed to keep access to Confidential, Secret, Top Secret and SCIF information after he no longer works for the CIA?


64 posted on 07/24/2018 7:59:59 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Splodeyhead is the only cure for MAGAphobia)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21

Right you are. Many great replies on this thread from people who obviously have held different levels of security clearances. Not mentioned however is a special difference from past presidents, Trump is not Telegraphing his moves, and is slowly discovering who is doing it against him. When the rat pack seems to be doing the same thing, the most efficient way to stop them is to stop the flow of information. No need to go after them one by one, or spend time tweeting endlessly about their indiscretion, or violation of the law. Simply remove them from receiving the information at the source.

I agree that if your not currently employed, you do not have a NEED TO KNOW, which is imperative to security requirements. This should happen automatically when anyone stops employment on a specific project or at higher levels of management.


65 posted on 07/24/2018 9:07:00 AM PDT by Rustybucket
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Barf


66 posted on 07/24/2018 9:17:50 AM PDT by enumerated
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Did you notice there is no way to post comments at the site? They don’t want people calling out their lies.


67 posted on 07/24/2018 11:12:50 AM PDT by keats5
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise
I think back to Clinton’s crony using his post-term access privileges to remove and destroy compromising notes relating to the 9-11 attacks and the Clinton administration.

Hey now he had his security clearance suspended for five years for that little trick. How much tougher do you think they could have been on him? </s>

68 posted on 07/24/2018 11:50:23 AM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

So, since they don’t work for the government any more, who’s secure server do they have to visit to get this classified information? Or do they just use their own private server?


69 posted on 07/24/2018 1:03:50 PM PDT by Trteamer ( (Eat Meat, Wear Fur, Own Guns, FReep Leftists, Drive an SUV, Drill A.N.W.R., Drill the Gulf, Vote)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

If you change the name of this idiotic CNN writer by two letters, it goes from “Collison” to “COLLUSION”.

How is that for a Freudian slip? Oh wait, I’ll have to ask Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon about Freudian slips. I think they were recently seen at a “Dress Barn” store in NY City’s bowery.


70 posted on 07/24/2018 6:25:42 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #71 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson