So, ya still think Mueller is a swell guy?

[vlyons]

Not me. I think he's just another Republican asshole, pretending to be virtuous. If he were truly a patriot, he would gladly testify to congress in a public session. And say with no equivocation, that but for DOJ rules, he would have indicted Trump for obstruction at the least.

[JoeOtterbein]

1. I agree.

He's a Republican tells you all you know in the time of Trump.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. 100%... ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY!! Been saying since day 1 that Mueller was NOT to be trusted!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[struggle4progress]

2. Why not give it a rest?

The responsibility for saving our country falls upon us all, not upon Mueller alone

[vlyons]

4. Because I don't want to give it a rest

nt

[FarPoint]

25. He did his job....

He just didn't go outside the lines....so, we live with that....The roadblock to Democracy is build by the GOP and the Senate....there is the treason...

[uponit7771]

33. No he didn't, he told congress to pound sand on questions related to to the investigation ...

... I don't see how that's doing his job.


https://www.vox.com/2019/5/29/18644237/robert-mueller-remarks-transcript

And the report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before congress.

[StarfishSaver]

34. Suppose he had found some evidence of obstruction but believed that Trump really didn't obstruct

and said so in the report or his statement "Although there was some indication that Donald Trump may engaged in activity that could be interpreted as obstruction of justice, after reviewing all of the evidence, I believe that the evidence is largely circumstantial and much of what he did was based on his belief that he was being persecuted, therefore I have concluded that he has not obstructed justice within the parameters of the law" .... people around here would have blown a gasket because, among other things, he went way beyond what he was supposed to do.

But they're upset because Mueller didn't "go outside the lines" to reach the conclusion THEY wanted to reach.

[Kaleva]

35. But you aren't doing anything about it other then making posts.

You might be making calls and sending e-mails to Congress too but that's about how much effort one takes when trying to get a post office named after a local dignitary.

[vlyons]

49. you don't know what I am or am not doing

So don't project your suppositions on to me. FYI: Contacting my Texas senators is a complete waste of my time, given that they are Cruz and Cornyn. My congress woman is already in favor of beginning impeachment investigation.

[Kaleva]

50. So you aren't doing anything.

If you were actually doing something, you'd post about it.

When faced with a serious situation, it's human nature to take serious actions. Your lack of effort tells us that this isn't a serious issue for you. For you, Mueller's actions or lack of actions is a nothing burger and that's okay.

My advice to you is not to get worked up over things you actually don't care about. You'll have a happier and more productive life if you do that.

[vlyons]

52. Thanks for you unsolicited advice and unwanted projections

nt

[LanternWaste]

60. Much like your OP.

[Kaleva]

67. This is a discussion board.

It's normal for people who express fake anger to get blow back.

[StarfishSaver]

70. You should call all of them anyway. It ISN'T a waste of time

And it takes only a few minutes anyway.

How odd that some people are demanding that Congress go all out to impeach NOW and even if it won't actually result in Trump being removed from office, they should pull out all the stops and DO IT ANYWAY!!! ...

But in the next breath they say they can't be bothered to take a couple of minutes to pick up a phone and call their representative because "it's a waste of my time."

[USALiberal]

43. Maybe self delete! nt

[GemDigger]

77. Nah, I am glad it was left for me to see. nt

[LanternWaste]

58. To what positive end or accomplishment?

[uponit7771]

32. Mueller is a part of "us" and telling congress to pound sand isn't helpful (link to his own words)

https://www.vox.com/2019/5/29/18644237/robert-mueller-remarks-transcript

And the report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before congress.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Yes, actually.

[Mme. Defarge]

18. Moi aussi!

[EleanorR]

5. yes nt

[samnsara]

6. yes i do. Hes doing his job now we have to do ours....

..i never thought Muellers report would say any thing different than it did. Im putting all my bets on the SDNY and allllll the other investigations going on now. I have always thought that would be more damaging.

[ZZenith]

7. If I had to bet

I would say he’s done more for this country than you have.

[we can do it]

15. Thank you.

[Maven]

8. I think he's playing it by the book. It's just amazing how many more liberties can be taken

when it's a Democrat suspected of minor wrongdoing vs. a Republican whose criminality is so blatant it's absurd.

See also: Comey, James.

[hlthe2b]

9. Yes, I do. An honorable man

He was not autonomous like Ken Starr--who worked under an entirely different and now defunct Independent Counsel authorization. Mueller had to work within DOJ rules & regs under this new Special Counsel legislation. Yet he still gave a roadmap to Congress for impeachment. He did not exonerate Trump nor give him what he wanted. It is up to Congress and all of us to see that that happens.

[happybird]

17. +1

Exactly. You articulated it more succinctly than I could.Thank you.

[Sugarcoated]

41. Do you have a link to explain that?

Debating this right now with someone

[hlthe2b]

44. Here's a basic start... I've heard countless interviews and followed Neal Katyal's twitter feed

(he was responsible for drafting the current Special Counsel regulation) so there is more out there...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Justice_Office_of_Special_Counsel

[Sugarcoated]

48. Thanks!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

62. Honorable? That's questionable, but he certainly gave Congress MORE than enough to impeach

the lyin' fuck!! Just do it already!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[hlthe2b]

65. I doubt any here have record of service that would prove superior "honor". I know I can't myself

Volunteered for Vietnam despite a serious knee injury

After waiting a year so a knee injury could heal, Mueller was accepted for officer training in the United States Marine Corps in 1968, attending training at Parris Island, Officer Candidate School, Army Ranger School, and Army jump school. Of these, he said later that he considered Ranger School the most valuable because he felt "more than anything teaches you about how you react with no sleep and nothing to eat."[23][24]

Received Bronze Star with Valor for saving his remaining platoon
In July 1968, he was sent to South Vietnam, where he served as a rifle platoon leader as a second lieutenant with Second Platoon, H Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.[11][25] On December 11, 1968, during an engagement in Operation Scotland II, he earned the Bronze Star with "V" device for combat valor for rescuing a wounded Marine under enemy fire during an ambush in which he saw half of his platoon become casualties.[26][27]

Recieved Purple Heart and multiple Navy and Marine Corps Medals, Ribbons, Four service Stars, and others

In April 1969, he received an enemy gunshot wound in the thigh, recovered, and returned to lead his platoon until June 1969.[28] For his service in and during the Vietnam War, his military decorations and awards include: the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat "V", Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Parachutist Badge.[11][28][24][29]

After recuperating at a field hospital near Da Hong, Mueller became aide-de-camp to 3rd Marine Division's commanding general, then–Major General William K. Jones, where he "significantly contributed to the rapport" Jones had with other officers, according to one report.[23][30] Mueller had originally considered making the Marines his career, but he explained later that he found non-combat life in the Corps to be unexciting.[24]

Reflecting on his service in the Vietnam War, Mueller said, "I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have made it out of Vietnam. There were many—many—who did not. And perhaps because I did survive Vietnam, I have always felt compelled to contribute."[31] In 2009, he told a writer that despite his other accomplishments he was still "most proud the Marine Corps deemed me worthy of leading other Marines."[24]

30 years combined public service following return from Vietnam

His ten years as FBI director came after bipartisan vote to extend his 8-year limited term to serve Obama. In total, he has served 30 years in public service since returning from Vietnam in positions from US. Asst Attorney/US Attorney, DOJ Director of Criminal Division, and FBI Director.


Honorable? Hell yes. He played it by the book which obviously is less than satisfying for us, but that hardly makes him dishonorable.

[UniteFightBack]

10. I can think of about 65 million more Republicans who are much WORSE. nt

[earthshine]

11. I think he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

That having been said, this is not a man who will defy his superiors (Trump and Barr) to step up and find a place of greatness in history.

He wants to wiggle out and disappear.

I think that from the start, he underestimated how difficult the republicans would make it for him.

[guillaumeb]

12. Mueller did his job within the parameters of the DOJ.

It is up to Congress to proceed.

[Hoyt]

13. Agree. He beat around the bush today and said absolutely nothing that was not

Last edited Wed May 29, 2019, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

almost verbatim in his Report.

The biggest problem is that it is unlikely Obstruction will take trump down. Heck, Clyburn says Pelosi doesn’t have the votes to Impeach.

Mueller let us down with his wishy-washy report and today. Mueller should have said more than he couldn’t find sufficient evidence of collusion/conspiracy. Colluding/conspiring with Ruskies was only thing that would have brought trump down, short of a tape of trump threatening to kill the families of Cohen, Manafort, Flynn, etc.

[uponit7771]

31. +1, and since he's telling congress to pound sand no one can ask him why he narrowed the conspriacy

... to only the Russian government and not Russians period know Russia acts via cut outs.

Mueller said this,


https://www.vox.com/2019/5/29/18644237/robert-mueller-remarks-transcript

And the report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before congress.

I'm disappointed.

[deist99]

42. Agree

Obstruction won't do it. I have read all of part I and most of part II. What we needed was for Mueller to find evidence that Trump, or people in his organization, conspired with the Russians. They "were not able to establish" this. Without proof of that underlying crime the Repukes will say "how can you obstruct justice if there is no crime". Actually they went even farther in the report and stated that the Russians were working to elect Trump and Trump was working to elect Trump but it appears they were working in parallel not in cooperation (Im paraphrasing there). With hard evidence that Trump conspired with Putin to win the election I think you would have had repukes jumping ship and voting for impeachment. Without it there is no chance. Hopefully the investigations in the house can turn up something, but I doubt it.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

61. He very clearly was telling Congress to impeach.

He said that there was evidence of a crime. That he wouldn't have been able to prosecute but others could.

What do you want him to do?

[Hoyt]

84. Obstruction won't take trump down. If it would, he would have been Impeached and convicted by now.

Everyone knows he obstructed justice because he did it in the open.

Yet, only 40% of public supports House pursuing Impeachment, it is questionable whether House would vote for Impeachment, and it is highly unlikely Senate would convict.

Obstruction just isn't enough, unfortunately. Mueller should have pursued collusion/conspiracy more, done more than praise Barr, looked into finances, etc.


He wimped out. He was like Paul Revere riding through the night with a small sign rather than yelling "The British are coming."

[we can do it]

14. Yes I do and this is counter productive.

[SoCalDem]

16. Just another lawyer, being a lawyer..

Truthfully, we kind of did it to ourselves, in several ways..

1. Dems put the memos in place that have now bitten us on the ass.. It was done to sort of protect Clinton.
2. We have a LONG history of being "soft" when investigating republicans, and let them weasel out of danger. (see. Iran Contra,911 commission, Valerie Plame, and many more I've forgotten)
3. Watergate (which we claim) was lightyears-ago, and was largely due to republicans eating their own,and hoping Gerald Ford would save them
4. We have been historically wishywashy and lost too many key elections which turned power over atjust the wrong time
5. Our penchant for "working across the aisle" has been a stupendous failure, and usually leaves us standing there holding a bloody feather (our blood) while the rifle-toting repubs laugh at us.

Nancy may have been awesome as speaker, but I don't think she understands the power of the internet and the overall lack of smarts the general public has these days.

I won't be here that many more years, but I truly fear for the younger folks who will have to endure the shitstorm ahead

[Caliman73]

19. HE is an evil man because he didn't go up to Trump and put him in cuffs!

There was even a video about it happening and it didn't work out like I wanted to so HE is horrible!

Just in case.

Yes, Mueller is a decent public servant. Do I have criticisms? Yes, yes I do, but I have criticisms about almost everyone in government. Mueller operated within the bounds of his job and he did what he was supposed to do within the constraints of the law. People are expecting Mueller to be "the heroic cop who steps outside the law to save the law" which only works in movies. You know what happens when the "heroic cop steps outside the law to save the law?" The bad guy gets acquitted because due process wasn't followed.

If Mueller is asked to testify, he will testify. He will testify within the constraints of the job he was supposed to do which was to investigate to see if elements of criminal activity existed in two narrow areas. Mueller will not give his opinion because that is not what he was commissioned to do. As much as we all want to hear that Trump is 100% guilty, Mueller was not commissioned to prosecute anyone he was commissioned to gather information and present that information. He wrote his report and laid out the findings for Congress to do their jobs. The ball is now in Congress' hands.

[emmaverybo]

22. Well done. I do think he stepped a bit outside DOJ policy, which, if I understand correctly is

to not discuss the subject of an investigation if subject is not charged with a crime; not only not to
discuss, but as well, not to release evidence about that subject to congress or the public.

[uponit7771]

30. Nah, telling congress to pound sand wasn't helpful though

https://www.vox.com/2019/5/29/18644237/robert-mueller-remarks-transcript

And the report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before congress.

[tymorial]

40. Quite frankly if he had done that I think a lot of these people would still complain

They would point out that the cuffs were too loose and that's evidence of Republican bias.

[GulfCoast66]

20. Yep. What he did today was more effective than him screaming treason!

At that point he becomes seen as just another partisan player.

But saying that if they thought trump were cleared of obstruction the report would have stated it will in the long run be more effective. Very legally and staying well within the bounds of his legal mandate.

Not at impeachment and conviction. That won’t happen. But at insuring trump is not the-elected.

[emmaverybo]

21. Stuck in Mueller derangement land. Enjoy. nt

[JI7]

23. yes, it's not Mueller that is the problem.

[Bradical79]

24. But more are calling for impeachment now than before Mueller spoke

Not sure what this is all about. Considering this was all done under the supervision of Trump DOJ political appointees, it was a pretty good job. The report lays out a pretty good roadmap for impeachment if we were under normal, sane conditions.

[uponit7771]

28. Mueller said he's not providing testimony "in any appearance before congress". How in the world are

... we supposed to make an iron-clad case against red don if we don't the investigator testify.

[Claritie Pixie]

26. Yes I do. You may not like it but he's by the book.

He did his part and now Congress and the American people need to act.

[uponit7771]

27. NO !!! Telling congress to fuck off isn't swell at all

https://www.vox.com/2019/5/29/18644237/robert-mueller-remarks-transcript

And the report is my testimony. I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before congress.

[mcar]

29. Yes

[Pachamama]

36. Yes I do

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

37. well

that's one way to look at it..........

[bluestarone]

38. YES!

He did OPEN the Houses door a little bit! With his hands TIED behind his back, he sent a signal to the House! ( i do believe this) Nancy will do the right thing at the RIGHT TIME! We need to win BIG in 2020! (which is what Nancy is got up her sleeve?)

[tymorial]

39. Oh for ffs.

[themaguffin]

56. My reaction too

[Freelancer]

45. Agree 1000% -n/t

[dem4decades]

46. Mueller needs to address Barr's inaccurate statements at the least. Or is Barr above the law too?

[obnoxiousdrunk]

47. Yes and a

patriot too.

[stillcool]

53. What I think, is that..

people watch too much tv.

[nolabear]

54. Yes. He's trying to do right in a gov't. gone mad.

You mistake the investigator for the arresting officer, judge, jury and executioner. He cannot do their jobs. He did his.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

55. Very interesting thread by Seth Abramson on

How no one realized how narrow Mueller's scope was. I know here I must have read a zillion times, no worries, Mueller's looking at that. You see it too in older articles you read the would insert the same comment as well.

Long thread, you have to pull it up to read it all...

Link to tweet

?s=20

[hlthe2b]

66. Yet, his follow-up tweet makes clear Abramson is not "blaming" Mueller

Link to tweet

[Laura PourMeADrink]

73. Yes, that's true. Now we are seeing the bad consequences

of all the Mueller secrecy I suppose. Trump and GOP probably knew all along what his limited scope was. Just think if we had known..Mueller is only looking at X.

[democratisphere]

57. Mueller is not the problem.

Our system of government is horribly flawed. If a sitting President commits crimes, he should be indicted. Since a sitting President can't be indicted while in office, the President is above the the law. No President should ever be above the law. THAT is the problem.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

75. I thought it was interesting to hear Mueller talk

about how he couldn't even consider sealed indictments for trump. Not a lawyer, but sounded like sealed indictments were a legal option but because he thought they might be leaked out, and trump couldn't defend himself in court, that wouldn't be right. Is this just an overcautious interpretation? Not sure if really true, but heard Gingrich say Ken Starr spelled out crimes in his report.

[democratisphere]

86. Mueller is an absolute straight arrow and stayed the course

with his mandate to the very end, and beyond. I believe Mueller has left behind ample evidence for Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi to ultimately take drumpf down, one way or another. I would even like to see a challenge against the position that a sitting criminal President can't be indicted.

[melman]

59. No

I never did. I've always found veneration of this guy to be bizarre and seemingly based on a fantasy version of who he is. If you take just a couple minutes and look up his actual history to see who he really is...it ain't so great.

[treestar]

63. He is adhering to the rules

That does not provide emotional satisfaction, but it makes it so that the evidence will not be tainted or issues raised by the Dotard's lawyers. No reason to make everything about people and personalities, like the Dotard does. The Orange Menace is dissing Mueller, so that ought to show us that Mueller is doing right. He does not think he should say what you quote, but he did say no exoneration.

[SouthernProgressive]

64. Seems swell enough. Yep. NT

[RichardRay]

68. Yes, please do give it a god damned rest.

How about asking the lazy ass Congress to get off its ass and do its job. Mueller did his.

[fishwax]

69. I think he did his job and in so doing made it clear that the evidence suggests trump obstructed

[marlakay]

71. I think he is trying to stay non partisan

In a very partisan world and it’s impossible. It’s like he is walking a tight rope afraid to give help to either side and wants to stick with facts.

But when the facts clearly go on one side and it’s not his parties side he is driven even more to show republicans he is being fair to them.

I think he looks sick from the whole thing and just wants to crawl in a hole, doesn’t want to be “the one who could change things” but he is.

Haven’t we all at sometimes in our lives had to do something we didn’t want to? Times that by important to the whole country with very opposing views. And facts go on the side you don’t belong too.

He wants to belong to government again where sides don’t matter the job does, doesn’t want to accept how it is. He is purposely speaking in such hard to understand language for the little guy no wonder most of country doesn’t know what truth is.

Most of country probably heard him say can’t put president in jail, I am done. Rest was a bunch of double negatives and went over people’s heads. Which is why he needs to testify and in public but good luck with that!

[ehrnst]

72. +1000. (nt)

[Blue_Tires]

74. yes, next question

[Irishxs]

76. Yes, I do!

[MyNameGoesHere]

78. Emotionally no, he didn't do what I wanted him to do.

Intellectually I can see why he believed in his reasoning. As always when I put my expectations on other people I am almost always disappointed in the outcome.

[awesomerwb1]

79. Swell guy, yes but.....

But he's still a republican and I don't know if he would've been more vocal/proactive if the POTUS had a D before his/her name??

He looked scared. He needs to testify in public -yesterday-.

No respect for him not wanting to do that.

[PJMcK]

80. Are you an attorney?

The reason I ask is that the Special Counsel is not a vigilante. That’s not how these things work procedually.

Congress needs to fulfill its Constitutional responsibilities.

Nonetheless, I share your frustration.

[Cousin Dupree]

81. He thinks he can keep himself above the fray. He must be living in an alternate universe

[stonecutter357]

82. Robert Mueller is a rwnj ....

[StevieM]

83. He certainly behaved more honorably than James Comey did.

Comey dominated that election from start to finish.

[get the red out]

85. Agree!

Thank you!