Last edited by LA Ute; 12-19-2018 at 09:59 AM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Actually, the judge was out of line. I’m no Flynn fan, but he was not even charged with the egregious offenses the judge accused him of — at sentencing! The judge has already walked back some of what he said and there will likely be some additional consequences. What got into that judge?
Last edited by LA Ute; 12-19-2018 at 10:00 AM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
My theory: He has seen all the unredacted documents and knows Flynn did a lot more potentially illegal stuff than lying to the FBI. He didn't like the fact that Flynn's lawyers and Trump (and Huckabee Sanders) were accusing the FBI of entrapping him. He thought Flynn's lawyers were trying to have it both ways--accepting responsibility to get no jail time but not really accepting responsibility.
More important, he didn't like Trump's tweet yesterday morning basically encouraging Flynn to hang tough. He knows there is a lot of stuff that Flynn could cooperate with, and wants to make sure that Flynn is not pulling a Mantafort by backchanneling to Trump while supposedly cooperating with the prosecutors. he put off the sentencing to make sure Flynn cooperates, and wanted to scare the crap out of Flynn with a long prison sentence if he doesnt cooperate fully
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Including a capital offense (treason)? Of which there is no adversary testimony but only the prosecution’s documentary evidence? Sorry, I’ve just become a skeptic about ambitious prosecutors generally. My clients have had bad experiences.
Anyway, it looks like this judge has a reputation as irascible and outspoken.
I guess how one feels about that depends on which side of the case one’s sympathies lie.
Judge in Flynn Case Has Frequently Faulted the Government
Emmet Sullivan threw out Ted Stevens conviction and has threatened IRS commissioner in contempt
https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-i..._copyURL_share
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
It doesnt have anything to do with one's sympathies. Whoever prepares the presentence report would talk to lawyers for both sides, and make a recommendation to include it or not. And the judge could follow it or not. If i were Flynn's defense counsel, I would not care that much about what the judge said. he was blowing off steam, which judges do from time to time. I would be glad my client was not charged; the judge's comments don't amount to much. But I would tell my client, "you heard what the judge said, we need to make sure that we completely cooperate," and then get him out of there.
That did put an immediate end to Flynn's utter bullshit 'I was framed by the FBI' defense. So that was nice.
Also, Flynn, as retired military, is still accountable to the UCMJ. It is not out of the realm of possibility the Army will bust him down to Private and strip his retirement, give him time in the brig, and tell him how lucky he is they don't march him out to the square and hang him for treason.
As of now we have Flynn, a retired 3-Star General, agreeing to plead guilty to accepting a $600k bribe to directly influence US policy, in his position as National Security Advisor, on Turkey, on Ukraine, and on sanctions against Russia. With the follow-on that he was promised $15M if he could kidnap Gulen and send him to his certain torture and death at the hands of Erdogan.
There is much more to the story, and it seems Mueller is holding a significant amount back, for now, to guarantee compliance when Flynn's testimony is needed down the line. I assume the judge knows all of it.
Also, the RNC is being subsumed into the Trump 2020 Campaign. Time is short for the good Republicans of the world to take back their party from the lunatic fringe and build it into the strong center-right party they want it to be.
If not, then Trumpism = Republicanism = Trumpism = Republicanism. No discernable distinction in any way.
This is why the general reaction was Flynn's lawyers made a bad miscalculation. "Judge Sullivan didn't appreciate the 'Flynn was ambushed by the FBI!' angle."
The pinnacle of this alternative line of reasoning was Judge Jeanine, who suggested Sullivan, known to crack down on governmental overreach, might summarily declare Flynn not guilty of all charges.
Ooops!
Apparently, Trump is ignoring the counsel of his advisors on Syria: https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/polit...ess/index.html
Congressional Republicans are upset, too.
It's a good assumption that Trump doesn't really understand the Syria situation all that well. It's complicated and requires focused attention to understand any analysis he might be provided.
My guess(es):
1. Putin is applying leverage, knows this wounded Trump has no recourse to being exposed with the Kompromat Putin holds. (Re-watch the Helsinki press conference for reference.)
or
2. Pompeo's vision of private contractors is ready and being implemented.
I've heard so much "the end of the RNC/Republican Party" since the election it is hard to take seriously. We used to hear the same about the Democrats. In fact, it is getting disturbingly close to the election with no real candidates in sight. Pelosi as speaker shows there is no real motivation to make the changes necessary to put themselves in a place to win by a landslide. Another loss to Trump may be a very real possibility. That would be incredibly disappointing.
If that happens I think the demise of the Democratic Party is far more likely than the Republican.
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Last edited by LA Ute; 12-19-2018 at 11:10 PM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/...113100797.html
Ugh...
In this case US allies suffer - notably Israel - while Assad, Hezbollah & Iran are net winners.
At least Republicans on the Hill are getting an increasingly clear view into what's happening... and why.
(And anyone who pays attention and is still on the fence about Mueller's investigation gets a sizable dot to connect.)
Last edited by Ma'ake; 12-20-2018 at 07:20 AM.
This resignation letter from Mattis. Oh my!
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ar...letter/578773/
Hard to view that letter from Mattis as anything but scathing of the President. The wheels are coming off... I had a small measure of peace knowing that guys like Kelly and Mattis were in the room. What are we to do now?
The stock market doesn't like any of this either.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Earlier this year an engagement occurred in Syria at a place called Deir Ezzor between Russian "irregular" troops / contractors, and a small number of US troops, who found themselves pinned down. From Russia at first there was denial there were Russians in Syria at all, then admission a few Russian mercenaries were killed. The US troops found themselves in a bind and called in airstrikes. The best estimates after all the smoke cleared is 100-200 Russians were killed, and a handful of Americans.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com...zzor-in-syria/
Fast forward to Wednesday - Trump makes a snap decision against all his advisors to pull out of Syria immediately, Mattis resigns, a very strong reaction by all kinds of Republicans erupts, and Putin says in his press conference: "Donald's right, and I agree with him"
Back here in the US, Trump crows that Syria, Russia and Iran are all fearful of the US's move out of Syria because "now they'll have to fight ISIS (who is defeated, right?) all by themselves, and we're building the greatest military ever!".
"Wall" & a government shutdown are immediately trotted back on the stage to divert attention.
Last edited by Ma'ake; 12-21-2018 at 07:49 AM.
I believe I said a week or two ago when Kelly resigned that that was likely the beginning of a flurry of craziness all designed to distract the public from Donald Trump's real issues.
Mattis' letter is so telling. Letters written like this are from a professional who want to say something but possess the decorum to be respectful even when it is undeserved.
People on both sides of the aisle should have nothing but the utmost respect for Mattis, even if they don't agree politically with him on all things. The fact that the president can't listen to a guy like him with four decades of direct experience is so so troubling.
Who is leading the president down this path? Is it Bolton or Miller? Has he just gone rogue and making wild decisions. Is he literally a puppet of Putin?
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Oh, to have the loyalty and resolve of Hugh Hewitt. This guy must be a joy to work with.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have mixed feelings about pulling all of our troops out of Syria, but it seems inconsistent with some of Trump's strongest positions. He pulled out of the nuclear freeze deal with Iran because, as he claims, it gives Iran money to create greater instability in the Mideast and threaten Isreal. Pulling out of Syria will give Iran a more powerful foothold in Syria, and a free path to arming Hezbollah. Doesn't this increase Iran's ability to foment trouble in the Middle East, and threaten Isreal? Isreal certainly doesn't seem to like the move. Is he that fractured in his thinking, is it fulfilling a campaign promise or is he bowing to Russian requests? The only thing that would save it from major inconsistency is if Trump has decided that Syria is gone, and there is no way we can prevent Iran from gaining far greater influence there, while wasting resources and soldiers. But that would mean we haven't won.
On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your level of confidence with what will go on in D.C. in general, and the national economy, over the next six months, with 10 being the future is so bright global warming will speed up by a decade, and 1 being whoopy we're all gonna die.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
https://althouse.blogspot.com/2018/1...rting.html?m=1”Such gratuitously negative reporting undermines the credibility of the press without Mr. Trump having to say a word."
Writes the Editorial Board of The Wall Street Journal.
They are talking about the first 2 paragraphs of the Washington Post's report on Trump's trip to Iraq:
President Trump touched down Wednesday in Iraq in his first visit to a conflict zone as commander in chief, a week after announcing a victory over the Islamic State that his own Pentagon and State Department days earlier said remained incomplete.
The president’s visit to Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad, which was shrouded in secrecy, follows months of public pressure for him to spend time with troops deployed to conflicts in the Middle East and punctuates the biggest week of turmoil the Pentagon has faced during his presidency.
In the words of the WSJ: "[C]an anyone reading those opening two sentences wonder why millions of Americans believe Donald Trump when he tells them that he can’t get a fair shake from the press?"
I'll just add that I can barely read the news these days (and I absolutely cannot watch it on TV). The negativity toward Trump is so relentless, cluttering up everything. It's crying wolf times a thousand. If anything is worth taking seriously, I'm afraid I won't be able to notice.
Last edited by LA Ute; 12-28-2018 at 12:16 AM.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
--Yeats
“True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”
--John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell
I get the sense a lot of people have tuned out on the day-to-day news, but feel comforted that the House is in a position to be a counter balance, and that Mueller is doing his job.
The poll numbers for Mueller & Trump reflect the general sense that Trump simply isn't credible, and Mueller - though he never speaks - has America's interests at heart.
For those who pay close attention, the unfolding story is pretty intense. Those who were around for Watergate - Dean, Woodward, Bernstein, many others - say this makes Watergate look pretty tame.
There's speculation if money came from Russia and the evidence is as strong as Mueller seems to demand, support among DC Republicans could erode substantially. I have a hard time seeing how Republican support could evaporate as quickly as it did for Nixon - 55 down to 15% in a couple of months - but if somebody like Romney wants to lead a revival of the orthodox GOP, the opportunity might be coming up.