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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Hoarse Whisperer - McCabe's replacement is Trump's worst nightmare
Great Twitter thread this morning from The Hoarse Whisperer
Link to tweet
@HoarseWisperer
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Stressing out about the day's news?
This may help.
A shortie on the doings at the FBI.
1/
Earlier today, it was announced that FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was leaving effective immediately.
With Trump's endless criticism of McCabe, it's pretty natural that the collective reaction was shock and fear... as if Trump had won here somehow.
2/
In reality, McCabe was poised to leave in two months anyway. He reaches full retirement in March-ish. His departure in and of itself isn't shocking.
The timing seemed sudden and sharp though of course.
3/
The key thing is looking at who Chris Wray appoints to replaces him.
Now, as background, Trump thought Wray was going to be a loyalist because Wray had been involved in helping Chris Christie during Bridgegate.
Wray ain't a dirty bird though.
4/
Wray is ex-Department of Justice. He worked under Jim Comey. He won the highest award for service in DOJ.
He's a Justice Department veteran. He ain't a Trump sleazeball hanger-on.
5/
As FBI Director he has now pushed aside two people Trump was critical of... James Baker and Andrew McCabe.
In normal times, those moves would raise an eyebrow. New bosses bring in their people.
In these abnormal times, they raise plenty of eyebrows.
6/
...but while people worry Wray may be less than a good guy, his actions thus far are incredibly comforting.
After he pushed James Baker aside he appointed someone SURE to rankle Trump. The U.S. Attorney closest to Mueller's investigation. Dana Boente.
7/
Today, immediately after apparently nudging McCabe out the door, Wray announced his replacement...
...and the guy he picked is in many ways Trump's worst nightmare.
David Bowditch. An FBI career man. A mini-Mueller.
8/
Bowditch isn't JUST an FBI veteran, he has the kind of pedigree Republicans would usually experience the kind of erection you have to call your urologist over.
He was a police officer. He joined the FBI and was a sniper on SWAT teams. He was on the Joint Terrorism Task Force
9/
He fought gangs and was instrumental in a history-making gang prosecution.
The guy is a caricature of the kind of "Law and Order" background Trump alleges he cares about.
In a word: he's unimpeachable.
10/
Andrew McCabe had become a distraction and Trump had found some storylines that were effectively muddying the waters.
Chris Wray just did exactly what he did with James Baker's role.
He not only robbed Trump of his ammo, he returned fire with a Howitzer.
11/
Wray just screwed Trump so damn hard, it's gonna leave a mark... and Trump is too dumb to even realize he just got game-set-matched by an appointee who ain't having any of it.
Wray just stole Trump's talking points AND turned up the heat on him.
12/
Even better, Bowditch's elevation entirely earns the trust of the rank and file FBI. They have now seen twice that Wray is on their side not Trump's.
Comey was their homey but now it's Wray all the way.
13/
The most delicious little morsel in this pie to the face is this though...
Chris Wray just sent a 90-decibel message right into Trump's earhole:
"Come after whoever you want. There are a million more behind 'em. There is no stopping the FBI."
So good. So damn good.
END
Sid
tblue37
(65,370 posts)olegramps
(8,200 posts)He will either play along with this evil administration or be shoved out like Comey. Sorry I don't share your enthusiasm. I will be surprised it he pursues a vigorous investigation. He won't imped it but give it lukewarm attention.
Great post.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)Should we verify? If so, how, where?
I follow HW on twitter and like him/her. Would like to know who it is.
Wounded Bear
(58,660 posts)but I'm not that certain that a career officer is a saint. You can tell by the enthusiasm with which ICE is rounding people up that there is a nasty element infusing much of our law enforcement nation-wide. And I worry a LOT about the NY office of the FBI, Giulianni's cronies. I'm pretty sure the anti-Hillary cabal was/is centered there.
hueymahl
(2,496 posts)ICE is a LONG way from the FBI. An apt comparison I have heard is they are basically dogcatchers vs. real cops. Both have a badge, but they are not in the same universe.
shanny
(6,709 posts)turned all Deep Throat on Nixon in order to protect the integrity and independence of the FBI. tRump will call it Deep State; I call it institutional memory.
cilla4progress
(24,736 posts)not sure I realized FELT was at FBI!
Wounded Bear
(58,660 posts)and it is something that is getting more common in the Repub party.
When Felt finally came out, assholes like Liddy and North (I hate that bastard) were opining how Felt had been a traitor, not to the US but to Reagan. They got that cult of personality thing ahead of what was good for the country. We saw a taste of that under Dubya, and Trump is that way in spades. He demands loyalty from people working under him, but offers none to anybody else. Classic authoritatian response, then and now.
brer cat
(24,565 posts)Good to see you.
sheshe2
(83,771 posts)Thanks Sid!
redwitch
(14,944 posts)I really need to be calmer and recognize that there are decent and competent people doing all they can to end this nightmare.
pamdb
(1,332 posts)McCabe is only 49. If it hadn't been for the big orange pussy grabber, I would imagine he was planning on staying for at least 10 more years. Now he has to find another job.
Does trump have to approve the replacement?
I guess the question is when McCabe has actually, completely, retired and is safe. Will he talk to Mueller? Apparently he knew what was going on.
onecent
(6,096 posts)This is GREAT!
Enoki33
(1,587 posts)Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)HIS man into that spot???
pangaia
(24,324 posts)irisblue
(32,975 posts)cp
(6,631 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Thanks for posting!
Nitram
(22,802 posts)Shared on Facebook.
R B Garr
(16,954 posts)vulgar punk like Trump get away with treason and with maligning them. I'm sure they have info galore on him that will be strategically leaked when useful or necessary.
Great find! Thanks for posting.
mountain grammy
(26,621 posts)uppityperson
(115,677 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)....they're in different positions, this is reminiscent of Nixon firing Archibald Cox. Turns out his replacement, Leon Jaworski, was even tougher and more relentless than Cox. Let's hope that's the case here, too.
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)Sick of getting my hopes up.
I remember the talk about General Kelly.
uponit7771
(90,339 posts)MontanaMama
(23,317 posts)and worried about getting my hopes up.
getagrip_already
(14,752 posts)Nothing to see under that sanctions rock. Nope. No need to look over there.
Media fell for it again.
FailureToCommunicate
(14,014 posts)Maeve
(42,282 posts)Which is not a bad thing, understand--just an indicator of what optimism/hope we still have!
(I found it on Daily Kos)
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/30/1737140/-Freaked-out-by-yesterday-s-news
SunSeeker
(51,559 posts)itcfish
(1,828 posts)I just don't feel comfortable with these changes. They are all distractions.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)So I don't know how the tweeter can make the argument he makes: "Trump...take that! You've been manipulated!" No, there's nothing to indicate that at all. Just a bio of the man's background. Which says nothing about impartiality and willingness to go against others when his livelihood and career are on the line.
But we'll see.
a kennedy
(29,663 posts)thanks Sid.
Gothmog
(145,264 posts)Desert grandma
(804 posts)originally, where he was an APD officer. His dad, whom I knew, Joe Bowdich is a former APD officer and a former Bernalillo County Sheriff. He is also a registered DEMOCRAT. David, the son, might be a registered Republican, but I do believe that he will be a FBI "Country First" professional. If that is the case, I don't believe we have anything to fear from him, although Trump and some of his party might.
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)due to the report that's comping out from the Investigator General claiming McCabe did something proper related to Hillary's investigation?
Gothmog
(145,264 posts)bdamomma
(63,849 posts)is most helpful.
"Come after whoever you want. There are a million more behind 'em. There is no stopping the FBI."
Farmer-Rick
(10,175 posts)I've heard good things about picks before only to find out later it was all spin. We'll see.