My biggest takeaways from the McCabe interview.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Rosenstein did not actually deny discussing wearing a wire and musing about the 25th Amendment.

His statement was a carefully crafted non-denial, simply stating that he did not authorize those things.

But McCabe has never claimed he authorized those things. He said they discussed them.

There is no inconsistent statement there, IMHO.

And I woke up and saw that the Madman is still attacking Rosenstein, so he knows the truth as well.

[Bradshaw3]

1. That is correct

I'm surprised by media reports that don't include that the response from the DOJ never included a direct denial of what McCabe says happened.

[empedocles]

2. The devil is in the headlines and chyrons.

[pangaia]

7. Boy, you can say that again...

[BN1914]

3. The bigger point is that the President of the United States is an active national security threat.

The Oath of Allegiance to the United States is taken by any Lawful Permanent Resident a national of this country.

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

"against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Turns out that this President is one of the latter, intimately tied to many of the former. So help us God, indeed!

[DontBooVote]

6. The Oath is fine if there is anyone willing to enforce it. Since there isn't, God help us indeed!

We are witnessing the end of the United States of America as we and as those who died to protect her have known her.

Plan accordingly, friends.

[RVN VET71]

13. It depends

If Mueller is not fired to prevent the completion of his investigation AND his report is made public either with or without the OK of the new AG prosecutions may ensue. If that happens, Trump and his fellow Putin-lackeys will be hard pressed to stop the calamitous end of the Russian conspiracy and, would might pray, the Trump seizure of power.

Of course, Trump could pre-pardon his fellow conspirators. Oddly, though, they would all be free -- I think -- to spill their guts about what they did, who they knew, and what were their goals. (Because tell all books sell.) (And I doubt his handlers would let Trump broach the idea of a pardon-with-NDA!)

Or Barr might fire Mueller -- finding some esoteric "probable cause" that will convince no-one and will certainly make history (if there is history written about this mess) look darkly upon Barr. Firing Mueller seems too risky a maneuver. Fully 70% of the American public would be upset, including a large number of people who will express their dismay through the courts and on the streets.

Regardless, barring a successful coup attempt by Trump's tribe, even if no one actually got to prison, Trump will lose in 2020, the Dems will elect someone who will put the nation to sleep -- I'm betting Klobuchar -- and that will be a good thing, giving the Republic time to heal its grievous wounds and examine its actual values by contrasting them with those that Trump and fellow Trumpers attempted to impose on an otherwise good, enlightened, and compassionate people.

[RVN VET71]

15. I want to add one thing:

Even 2 years ago I would have absolutely discounted the possibility -- even remotely -- of a coup. I no longer feel it would be impossible. Improbable still, yes. But given the outright scorn for the Constitution shown by so many Republican Trump-followers, including once seemingly principled "conservatives" like Lindsey Graham, and the borderline treasonous actions of Blackwater's founder and former Navy Seal (and brother of the despicable Betsy Devose) Eric Prince --- and others of the Birch wing of the GOP --- the degree of its "improbability" is becoming less and less comforting.

Seven Days in May, not The Manchurian Candidate, may be the true prophetic novel/film for the 21st Century, is what I'm saying.

[Achilleaze]

4. Good deductive reasoning, Tommy C. !

[lancelyons]

5. Im stunned that Trump has done Russia's bidding and the GOP want to go after the intelligence /doj

Im stunned that Trump has done Russia's bidding and the GOP want to go after the intelligence /doj

We have some treasonous activty by 45 and the GOP are protecting him. They are all traitors themselves.

I am stunned by the GOP's willingness to allow their guys to commit treasonous activity and its just normal now.

But if a democratic president gets in and farts wrong he will be impeached.

I am fuking beyond shocked.

After this is all done, we need to round up all the commies that did not act in our democracies best interest and throw them all in jail including news agencies like Fox.

[BSdetect]

17. Agree except that they are not "commies" but simply traitors.

They have been blackmailed or conned into thinking power is their right whatever that takes.

[peggysue2]

19. The only thing that makes sense about the GOP's refusal to . . .

buck the Trumpster is their desperate attempt to stay in power at all costs and kompromat.

We know they're willing to rig elections, suppress the vote and accept loads of dark money, even money from foreign entities (NRA back channels). What we don't know is how much compromising information was picked up when the RNC's files were hacked. This could be the leverage the Trumpster has on individual Republican politicians. Lindsay Graham, for instance, who turned on a dime from Trump critic to a Trumpster hugger, loving all things uttered by the Squatter-in-Chief.

Whatever the reason, we have one political party that has turned against the Republic. Anything to save their own wrinkled hides.

Never forget, never forgive!

These people are traitors any way you cut it.

[people]

8. My biggest takeaways . . .

I agree with you 100%. Also, I was really struck by the deadly level of seriousness by McCabe. It reassured me that Mueller, etc., won't let Trump skate.

[thesquanderer]

9. I think the inconsistency is about whether he was joking/sarcastic or serious in those comments. nt

[Javaman]

10. the orange asshole doesn't do details...

or facts.

or substance.

or reality.

or anything legally.

[PoliticAverse]

11. Rosenstein called "McCabe's recitation of events" "inaccurate and factually incorrect"...

As to the specific portions of this interview provided to the Department of Justice by 60 Minutes in advance, the Deputy Attorney General again rejects Mr. McCabe’s recitation of events as inaccurate and factually incorrect.

[empedocles]

12. Tailored response

[grantcart]

14. not a categorical denial

He could have said that McCabe's version is without any foundation in substance or context and Rosenstein never discussed using the 25th amendment in any way.

Instead he said that the recitation of events is inaccurate meaning that he could differ in the context or order things were discussed.

Really the most outrageous claim is that Rosenstein offered to wear a wire to the WH, something that Rosenstein admitted saying but said it was a joke. Rosenstein doesn't seem like the kind of a guy that would joke about something like that but in any case he confirmed McCabe's most unbelievable claim.

https://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/rod-rosenstein-made-wire-comment-as-joke-according-to-justice-officials-1326913603972

[hughee99]

18. Didn't the IG find that McCabe wasn't honest during the IG investigation?

I would be careful not to take anything McCabe or Rosenstein says automatically as fact.

[grantcart]

16. Rosenstein has already confirmed that he "joked" about wearing a wire

Except I don't think that Rosenstein would joke about something like that