As we all wallow in the absurdity of the self-proclaimed and false exoneration of Donald Trump, let us remember there were plenty of witches hunted and caught in the West Wing of the White House. Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, and Michael Cohen are, have, or will serve time in prison. It is hard to call men behind bars a hoax. Right now, we are relying on the four-page summary of a Trump appointee[AG William Barr]so smelly that the aroma is wafting across the Potomac.
There are three questions hanging in the air. One, why did Robert Mueller conclude not to recommend or recommend prosecution? As any lawyer will tell you, that was his ultimate job. Two, why did Speaker Pelosi put the kibosh on impeachment three weeks ago at approximately the same time Barr was supposedly told that Mueller was ready to submit his report. Was she alerted that Barr had conferred with the President? Three, when did the Attorney General write his synopsis, before or after he formally received the Mueller Report? In less than 48 hours he reached a decision on prosecution after 22 months of investigation
Barr who submitted his resume in the form of a 20-page manifesto excusing the President from indictment on obstruction of justice charges as far back as June of 2018 was, to paraphrase Donald Trump, sent in, to ‘rig’ the system. Mr. Trump eliminated opposition to his criminality by first firing James Comey, humiliating his confused flunky, Jeff Sessions, out of office and tainting the name of America’s intelligence services and the Department of Justice. Along with Mitch McConnell, Republicans rushed the net with conservative judges, then lobbed over William Barr; point, set, match. To that I say fault.
For months Mr. Trump, along with his propaganda network Fox News, told us that Mueller was not elected by a single American so how can he pass judgment on the President. I do not know about you but I have not seen the ballot with William Barr’s name on it either, but yet we are to accept with full confidence his interpretation of Mueller’s report.
Sure, you can say because Trump was elected that gives him the right to appoint people as an extension of his administration. I counter that argument by saying the legislature is a co-equal (not subordinate) branch of government and employing people to press their responsibilities is just as valid. Over the next few days, or as I have written previously until Trump steps on his tongue again, Republicans will say over and over Democrats said they will accept Robert Mueller’s conclusion. That is true but unlike the media machines that seek access, I am withholding judgment until I actually see the Mueller report, not a hastily assembled recapitulation issued by a partisan.
For the Glenn Greenwald(s) and Thom Hartmann(s) on the left who are wagging their fingers at what they feel is an empty liberal basket of conspiracy theories, I am old enough to remember the same charges leveled at the Washington Post in 1972. No backing off is needed by Democrats, no backing off for highlighting the facts we all saw; a meeting in Trump Tower with Russians, the passing along of polling data to Russians, secreting calls to discuss the lifting of sanctions before Trump officially took office with Russians. Backing off led us to Trump world and letting things slide never works in the long run. We need to hear from Robert Mueller.
Vote in 2020 for Change.