What’s exculpatory about those two lines that were removed?Originally Posted by thethe
What’s exculpatory about those two lines that were removed?
Andrew Sullivan on what a real conservative looks like in 2019.
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/...ooks-like.html
This week, two eminent Republicans did something quite novel in 2019. They committed conservatism. By conservatism, I mean a philosophy of limited, constitutional government, individual rights, trust in tradition, love of country, prudence in foreign policy and restraint at home. Restraint means not doing something that you could. It means conceding the right of your opponents to run the country for a while — for the sake of the common good. It means admitting that sometimes you’re wrong. It means give as well as take. It often means compromise.
First up, Robert Mueller. I think it’s worth reiterating how impeccably he has behaved in what has become an extremely tense constitutional moment. He kept his cool and maintained his silence in an era of massive and deafening oversharing. His bland affect is attuned to the role he plays: as a neutral enforcer of the rule of law. He strikes me, in this sense, as a classic conservative — dedicated to existing institutions and liberal democratic norms. And he felt the need to explain this week, in the wake of the obfuscations and misdirections of William Barr, what his report actually outlined, its reach, and, most importantly, its limits.
Any objective reading of the report would come to the conclusion that the president clearly obstructed justice — several times. In fact, Volume II is proof of the president’s multiple attempts to rig, stymie, pressure, and prematurely end the investigation into Russian interference in our elections — including witness tampering, and alteration of documents. Mueller did not need to go into all this, but he restated why it matters: “When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of their government’s effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable."
Then, critically, Mueller explained why nonetheless he hadn’t indicted the president — solely because it was outside his authority under Department of Justice rules: “Under long-standing department policy, a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view, that, too, is prohibited.” So Mueller disappointed everyone who wanted him personally to get this dangerous and deranged president out of office, but it was emphatically not his role. Instead, he reiterated the proper remedy: “the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing.” That is to say: impeachment. And with that, he left the stage. Less is more, he seemed to say. It’s Congress’s job now.
And then another actual conservative, Representative Justin Amash, Republican of Michigan, did another actually conservative thing: He read the report closely, and expressed his view that impeachment was obviously the only appropriate response to President Trump’s attack on the rule of law. He did this in clear and simple English, in a Twitter thread, more effectively than anyone else in Congress, including the Democratic leadership. Then he went back to his district and explained himself further.
If you have a couple hours, I recommend watching the town hall. I found it hard to tear myself away from the YouTube video of the two-hour grilling. In the years we have lived with a strongman threat to our system of government, this was the first time I discovered someone deep in the congressional GOP who recognizes the profound danger of doing nothing, and may have the fortitude to live up to his constitutional duties. It was, in a word, thrilling. The simplest case against Trump is a deeply conservative one — as Amash, a founding member of the Tea Party and Freedom Caucus, understands. It’s about constitutional order, the restraint of Executive abuse, and resistance to tribalism.
Amash understands how a tribal mentality — and the mutual hatred and fanaticism it generates — devastates our form of liberal democracy. Here he is responding to a woman who says that he’ll be attracting more Democrats than Republicans in his desire to hold Trump accountable and still run for office:
I represent the entire district. So it doesn’t matter to me if a person voted for me or didn’t vote for me, or donated to me or didn’t donate to me … That’s not going to change my principles and who I am … I agree with you that many of the people cheering me on aren’t going to support my campaign … It doesn’t matter to me. This is what it means to be a bigger person. It doesn’t matter to me that some people won’t support me or are hypocritical. You have to do the right thing regardless.
This is a central struggle of this time: Do we acquiesce to tribalism or aim for the citizenship the Founders hoped for? Do we worship a cult leader or practice self-government? This week, Amash has done something important: He has opened up a tiny space within the congressional GOP to debate this question. In a very dark room, he’s the light that begins to seep through the crack under the door. It may not be much, but it’s enough to allow your eyes to adjust and see.
Last edited by nsacpi; 06-01-2019 at 02:45 PM.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
Peacetime Conservatives.
Getting destroyed by the Progressive movement for decades...a
Natural Immunity Croc
Abandoning your values to own the Libs.
To save the republic.
Pfft, you fell for it
They are proving they have no values except power
Absolute power is all they cared about
"For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
Hahahahaha...absolute power with a limited government.
Literally makes no sense.
You just got done arguing for supporting authoritarian power grabs in the spirit of going to war with liberals.
goldfly (06-02-2019)
Means to achieve an end which is no socialism and stupid SJW agenda.
you forgot to add the part about otherwise we'd end up like Venezuela
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
goldfly (06-02-2019)
You'll be a nice pet if the Progressive take power again.
Natural Immunity Croc
I really don’t think he knows he’s gaslighting or knows what it means
"For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
he's more gaslit than gaslighter but there is some of both going on
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
Im sure George Nader was a reliable witness
Apparently renigged (?) on ammunity deal with Mueller.
Charges arraigned carry 15-40.
So no, not a reliable witnesss.
At least not for the reasons you think
Reneged.
Forever Fredi
57Brave (06-04-2019)
Trumps campaign manager was transferred to Rikers Island.
He'll be sent to solitary confinement.
A prominent House member is arguing on his behalf that SC is cruel and unusual punishment
The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to make sure he doesn’t get a gun.
If this is seriously your stance, how can anyone take you seriously?
We couldn't charge Nixon under this rule either. Does that mean an investigation shouldn't have been done?
"For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
Is that that quaint voice recording of the President's personal lawyer committing witness tampering and obstructing justice?
FFF - BB, BB, 2B, HR, 2B, HR, 1B, BB, BB, 1B, BB, BB, HR
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