Ryan Vows To Gather The Facts, But Insists People 'Want To Harm' Trump

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo



By MATT SHUHAM Published MAY 17, 2017 10:46 AM

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said Wednesday that he supported “gathering the facts” with respect to President Donald Trump, while making it known that he believes “there are some people out there who want to harm the President.”

In his weekly press conference, Ryan was asked whether he thought that Trump was trying to “influence or intimidate” then-FBI Director James Comey when he allegedly asked Comey to quash an investigation into Michael Flynn, the day after the former national security adviser had been fired. Comey took down their conversation in a memo at the time, according to the New York Times.

“Do you still have the same level of confidence in President Trump that you had on Inauguration Day?” a reporter asked Ryan. “Let me tell you what I told our members just this morning: We need the facts,” the House speaker said. “It is obvious that there are some people out there who want to harm the President. But we have an obligation to carry out our oversight regardless of which party is in the White House. And that means, before rushing to judgment, we get all the pertinent information.”

Ryan noted that the House Oversight Committee already had requested Comey’s memo. “And I’m sure we’re going to want to hear from Mr. Comey about why, if this happened as he allegedly describes, why he didn’t take action at the time,” he continued. “So there are a lot of unanswered questions. What I told our members is, now is the time to gather all the pertinent information. Our job is to be responsible, sober and focus only on gathering the facts.”

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-get-the-facts-trump-comey

[ananda]

1. Got it backwards again!

45 wants to harm so many people!

[Initech]

2. We don't need to harm Trump, he's doing a pretty good job of that himself!

[riversedge]

21. yup

[montanacowboy]

3. When does this MOFER Go Down?

I have had enough of this rat fucker and I will even be more elated when he goes down the sewer because he and his kind are doing this to us, Drumpf is only their vehicle.

They have climbed on and they are not going to get off what they see as their gravy train to riches. Fuck them all to hell and back.

[TxVietVet]

16. I hope Drumpf stays in long enough

to destroy the conservanazis' Republikan Party.
Looking at the situation, the conservanazis are just so thrilled to have majority in both Houses of Congress and won't to push their chickenshit evil agenda on the country. If Drumpf stays in, he'll keep creating a new circus on a on a daily basis. The more he shows his ass and the conservanazis pretend he's okay, the worse it gets coming up to midterm elections.

[MountCleaners]

24. Absolutely

Great post. They thought they had it made - they hate Trump, but he's useful in getting into the WH. If Trump goes down, these cowards all go with him.

[Freethinker65]

4. Ok. So the talking points have been massaged over night and have been handed out

Expect the GOP to begin to do interviews parroting the same lines.

A slow process getting at the facts. Going after Comey. Accusing others of merely trying to hurt the President.

Of the three, attacking Comey will be the first to backfire.

Actually surprised they are not deflecting to Hillary Clinton or Obama...but perhaps that is plan B?

[Scarsdale]

9. Imagine

if a democratic president had done even a fraction of what the orange blob has done? Jobs for the whole family, Russian mobsters funding his casinos and hotels. Ryan and McConnell are up to their ears in the Russian $$$ that were donated to the RNC, then laundered. They HAVE to cover for tRump, to protect themselves, and at least until the US goes down the drain and becomes a banana republic. Repubs. are more dangerous to this country then ISIS. They are destroying all aspects of life that poor people depend on to survive. Then they are going after Social Security.

[vlyons]

5. Translation

I'll drag out getting an independent commission and prosecutor as long as possible, while doing my very very best to look and sound reasonable and not overly partisan..

[Scarsdale]

12. Too late

Ryan's true colors were exposed long ago. He is a tool, owned by Koch brothers.

[Honeycombe8]

6. How disappointing. I thought Ryan was at least ethical. All he's doing is doubletalk...

and obfuscating.

"Gathering facts" = kicking the can down the road, and further down the road, and further down the road...so people will forget about all this, and we can get our tax cut "reform" passed.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Don't know why you thought that...

Ryan just wants a tax cut for the richest Americans and to gut programs for the poor and struggling. Everything he does/says is in service of that goal. If/when Trump gets in the way of achieving those goals, he'll turn on Trump fast.

If you want a feel for the kind of life Ryan would like for the 99%, watch PBS' Victorian Slum House.

[Honeycombe8]

27. I know. But he was pretty up front about his goals.

He didn't go around saying stupid things like, "I want what's best for the poorest among us." He was up front. When asked how the health care bill would provide access for people, he said, "They just buy it."

He was, IMO, on a Presidential path, so was being careful not to ruin that goal.

He also didn't like Trump, and it showed, at a time when others were licking Trump's shoes. But that changed.

In retrospect, I feel quite the fool.

[Dave Starsky]

25. You thought Ryan was ethical?

What on Earth ever gave you that idea? If you don't mind me asking.

[Honeycombe8]

26. I hadn't ever caught him in a lie or a corruption tinged deal.

I know he's an Ayn Rand devotee, and focused almost totally on grabbing money. But I hadn't ever caught him in a lie.

He was even one of the few who didn't jump on the Trump bandwagon at first.

Disagreeing with his goals and ideology is different from thinking he's corrupt. He always seemed unabashadly greedy, and happy to say so.

[Dave Starsky]

28. I got you.

In Dungeons and Dragons terms, more of a "Lawful Evil" character than a "Chaotic Evil" one. There's some sort of code he strictly follows, even if it is horrible for all of us.

[safeinOhio]

8. It is obvious that there are some people out there who want to

appease this president.

[padfun]

10. The longer this drags out, the better Dem chances are to take Congress

So this might work out to the benefit of Dems, especially if we get protection from the courts.

[luvMIdog]

11. & someday they'll ask Ryan " Why didn't you do something at the time if you knew?"

[Botany]

13. Both McConnell and Ryan were involved with this Russian/Turmp coup too.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028671176 (NY Times Article)

Paul Ryan & Republican Establishment Used Hacked Info From Russia Against Democrats:

Let's not forget that a super PAC tied to Paul Ryan used material provided by Russia's hacking of the DNC and DCCC.

It was known that Russia had stolen material from the DNC and DCCC and a Paul Ryan Super PAC and as well as other Republican groups used it.

It wasn't just Hillary Clinton being attacked. It wasn't just Trump benefiting. There's potentially more collusion than just that between Trump's team and Russia.

[deurbano]

14. Snowflakes... and projection. He's remembering the real reason for their endless

investigations of Hillary Clinton.

[KPN]

15. Well, on your 2nd point, you are right about that lapdog Ryan. And ...

deservedly so. The frigging guy is f'ing up the whole f'ing world. It's either him or everybody else. Guess what -- he loses that one ... as well as anyone stupid enough to try to buoy his sinking ship up.

[turbinetree]

17. Hey Ryan where's the CBO report on your death panel vote you held

here one that might perk up your Ayn Rand Eddie Munster Ears................. for 2018


http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/

[bucolic_frolic]

18. Comey didn't quit because

he must have either known or surmised there was an ongoing investigation
and his job is to document information from - get this - INVESTIGATION

Ryan you smarmy chump, that's why they call it FBI

Comey took notes? No wonder: "Russia, if you're listening ...."

[bora13]

19. wtf

i'm sure none of the deplorables ever wanted to harm obama.

probably many in the IC are thinking about harming.

[ancianita]

20. Ryan has no idea who is using Trump as an asset. Ryan has no idea who his real enemies are.

Ryan's desperate hope is drives the outlook that has ruined countries invaded and sucked dry, unbeknownst to their leaders until it is too late; then controlled as satellites by the FSB, Kremlin and Putin.

The People of this country, and their FBI, cannot and must not allow leaders to drag us all down with them as their egotistical denials stall until it's too late to find out and/or change who controls this country.

[Solly Mack]

22. Ryan is full of shit but everyone knew that already.

[the_sly_pig]

23. Captain Obvious.

[WePurrsevere]

29. Message deleted by DU the Administrators

[MurrayDelph]

30. Shorter Ryan

"Not Guilty. Read the charge."

[Julian Englis]

31. Ryan's wrong: people are all for Ryan getting everything Trump's getting.

n/t