The Humiliation Of Jeff Sessions

Fox News ^ | 7-20-2017 | Chris Stirewalt

[blam]

There is something more than a little jarring in the ongoing humiliation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

In an ill-timed, ill-focused interview with the NYT, President Trump revisited his disdain for Sessions, his first, most-ardent and most-loyal supporter in the Senate.

When supporting Trump was still considered career suicide, Sessions donned the red cap anyway. Maybe it will prove fatal for Sessions’ career, after all.

The president has not made a secret of the fact that he blames Sessions for the scandal that now engulfs the Trump administration, claiming in contravention of all available evidence that somehow if Sessions had not recused himself from the investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign that his White House will not be under siege.

“How do you take a job and then recuse yourself?” Trump asked reporters rhetorically. “If he would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, ‘Thanks, Jeff, but I’m not going to take you.’ It’s extremely unfair – and that’s a mild word – to the president.”

Sessions seems an odd target for Trump’s blame, given how other members of his inner circle including his son, his son-in-law, his former campaign chairman and his former national security advisor have all laid the president open to the scrutiny of special counsel Robert Mueller.

(snip)

[Rusty0604]

Yea, I’m just waiting it out before I form any opinions. The fact that he went to the NYT in itself makes me wonder what he’s up to.

[FreeReign]

To speak so disrespectful of someone who has been so loyal in their support, crosses the line.

Trump didn't say anything disrespectful. He said...

“How do you take a job and then recuse yourself? If he would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, ‘Thanks, Jeff, but I’m not going to take you.’ It’s extremely unfair – and that’s a mild word – to the president.”

A lot of people are thinking the same thing. The point is too important not to make it.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

To speak so disrespectful of someone who has been so loyal in their support, crosses the line.

Sessions is wrong.

By recusing himself without discussing the matter with the president shows no respect at all for the president. To allow the Obama holdovers to run wild at the Justice Department and leave his president defenseless less than one month after being sworn in does more than cross the line.

It leaves the Justice Department in the hands of the anti-Trump forces and endangers the presidency.

Democrats are still laughing and high-fiving at the ease with which they took Sessions out of the game.

He was a pushover.

[RitaOK]

I was around for Sessions as well, before the Goliath Trump hit it out of the park on his announcement.

Sessions is a gentleman, always knows the score, kept his head down, was no power seeker and was honest— is still honest.

Which brings us back around to his being a gentleman. We need Goliath.

Trump is just as honest. Clearly sessions recused himself without first reporting to Trump. That recusal broke Trump’s back.

Trump is now in a jam because of it. We will have to see where it all leads, but it’s to nowhere good.

Sessions had the precident to go after the enemies of the State. Eric Holder cracked the whip, unleashed the dogs against conservative voters and organizations, and threw in with a socialist invasion.

Sessions couldn’t face a fake news hang nail before he fled with his hat held on.

A gentleman in righteous retreat can not beat back sharks pulling under a president.

[Cboldt]

-- Sessions testified before Congress that he knew before he was confirmed that he would have to recuse himself from the Russia investigations should he become AG. --

Transcript of Sessions Confirmation Hearing, Jan 10, 2017

What page of the transcript is that on? Link to transcript above.

Having searched the transcript yesterday, for the word "recuse," I don;t believe your assertion is true. But I am certainly willing to be corrected.

Jeff Sessions confirmation hearings, Day 1 (summary only)

Sessions said he would recuse himself from an investigation of Clinton if Trump follows through on his promise to prosecute her, given his criticism of her on the stump for Trump.

[hinckley buzzard]

There is no doubt that Sessions' self recusal was a blunder of the first magnitude. He did not have to do it. He could have simply said he would carry out the law wherever it led. The media would have barked and barked, the caravan would have moved on, and we wouldn't have the unethical nightmare of yet another partisan and tendentious "special prosecutor" undermining the administration.

Sessions could be devoting his time to serious matters like filling his department's vacancies and getting rid of the swamp creatures still polluting the DoJ.

And I agree with Trump-- If Sessions knew he was going to recuse himself, he should have told Trump before he was nominated.

[heights]

Sessions accepting the position knowing full well he was going to trecuse himself from the One Issue Democrats were attacking the President with is anaglous to a Women marrying you than telling you, “By the way, I screwed every guy on the block”.

[rightazrain]

“First of all, Chris Stirewalt is a certified never Trumper and somewhat of a swarmy, arrogant little pr##k.”

Thank you for your perfect description of Stirewalt. It expresses what I’ve felt about him for a long time, but couldn’t put into words.

[txrefugee]

Stirewalt is a NeverTrumper. He will always be critical of the President. A.G. Sessions understands that the pressure on the President by his enemies would drive anyone crazy, so he chose to forgive him, which is admirable.

[Sacajaweau]

The Times creates a maze for themselves with no exit.

Both Trump and Sessions are busy behind the scenes.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I don’t understand why Sessions ever recused himself.

His "Honorable collage and dear friend" Mr Al "Diaper" Franklin said that he should and so Sessions did what he years of training in the senate told him to do. He barked and rolled over.

This is why senators are worthless after a couple of terms.

[pgkdan]

Jeff Sessions should resign. His recusal was unnecessary and very damaging to the president. Thanks to Sessions we now have Mueller on a complete witch hunt with every intention of bringing down this Presidency.

[Political Junkie Too]

The worst thing about Sessions' recusal is that he let Al Franken do it to him.

I agree with you that Sessions should overturn his recusal, stating that enough time has passed to show that there is no evidence of collusion, and that after six months he is no longer tainted.

Then let's see if Sessions can be an effective AG in reining in Mueller.

-PJ

[luvbach1]

I don’t understand why Sessions ever recused himself.

To avoid even the slightest appearance that he was Trump's man and thus would not pursue the Russian thing with zeal.

[The Cuban]

Yea let me defend Civil Forfeiture southern good ol boy Sessions.

[Parley Baer]

“As for the Never-Trumper Stirewalt, he can go to hell.”

My thoughts exactly.

[Alberta's Child]

Anyone discussing the merits and wisdom of Sessions’ recusal at this point in time is really missing the whole story.

[Chainmail]

Sessions has been lousy at the job and left the President out to dry.

Why is Lois Lerner still running around free? Why are Susan Rice and Valerie Jarret running loose?

We need a tiger as AG - a loyal tiger.

[heights]

Chris Stirewalt is a worthless Globalist dog.

[heights]

“Anyone discussing the merits and wisdom of Sessions’ recusal at this point in time is really missing the whole story”

Pray tell o wise one, what is the “Whole Story”?