Rick Wilson: Republicans Thought Peter Strzok Would Be a Punching Bag. He Just Knocked Them Out.

[babylonsister]

Republicans Thought Peter Strzok Would Be a Punching Bag. He Just Knocked Them Out.
He was supposed to be a key in the imaginary conspiracy Trump’s congressional lackeys and media fantasists have desperately tried to write as history. He was having none of it.
Rick Wilson
07.12.18 4:04 PM ET


Those who forget the lessons of televised congressional hearings are doomed to repeat them, which is why the morning segment of the Capitol Hill show trial of veteran FBI agent and former head of the Bureau’s Counterespionage division Peter Strzok turned into a disaster for Republicans.

Donald Trump’s congressional enablers, sycophants, and political suck-ups wanted a punching bag, but Strzok instead delivered one of the rarest of moments: the full Joseph N. Welch.

Welch, the chief counsel for the U.S. Army during the infamous McCarthy hearings in 1954, had reached a breaking point. After McCarthy’s tendentious badgering reached a fever pitch, Welch delivered a famous rejoinder that ended the Wisconsin senator’s career. Watched by millions on live television, Welch went full beast-mode.

“If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty I would do so,” said Welch. “I like to think I am a gentleman, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me… You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

This morning, it was Strzok’s turn. After an hour of drama-queen badgering from Trey “Benghazi” Gowdy and Bob Goodlatte, Strzok issued two passionate statements that will be the takeaways from an otherwise disorganized and contentious shitshow of a hearing before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees.

The first was a ringing defense of the FBI, with Strzok showing the kind of real passion that makes for great television. The FBI lifer issued a ringing defense of himself and his agency, punching Gowdy hard in the nose.

“I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, at no time, in any of these texts, did those personal beliefs ever enter into the realm of any action I took. Furthermore, this isn’t just me sitting here telling you you don’t have to take my word for it. At every step, at every investigative decision, there are multiple layers of people above me, the assistant director, executive assistant director, deputy director, and director of the FBI, and multiple layers of people below me, section chiefs, supervisors, unit chiefs, case agents and analysts, all of whom were involved in all of these decisions. They would not tolerate any improper behavior in me any more than I would tolerate it in them.”

“That is who we are as the FBI. And the suggestion that I in some dark chamber somewhere in the FBI would somehow cast aside all of these procedures, all of these safeguards and somehow be able to do this is astounding to me. It simply couldn’t happen. And the proposition that that is going on, that it might occur anywhere in the FBI, deeply corrodes what the FBI is in American society, the effectiveness of their mission, and it is deeply destructive.”

The second was a shot across Donald Trump’s bow: “I understand we are living in a political era in which insults and insinuation often drown out honesty and integrity. I have the utmost respect for Congress’s oversight role, but I truly believe that today’s hearing is just another victory notch in Putin’s belt and another milestone in our enemies’ campaign to tear America apart.”

more...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-thought-peter-strzok-would-be-a-punching-bag-he-just-knocked-them-out?ref=scroll

[Sophia4]

1. I saw only a little of it, but what I saw was a beautiful sight to see.

And intelligent, honest, humble, upright man facing Republican accusers unworthy of chasing down stray dogs.

He really made the FBI look good.

Hurrah for Peter Strzok.

[Dawson Leery]

2. Screwy Louie is a rabid ape.

[joshdawg]

9. As was jordan, gowdy,

and that piss-poor excuse of a chairman who allowed republicans to shout over Democrat's points of order.
republicans: What are they good for? Absolutely nothing!

[GulfCoast66]

3. Reminded me of the hearings about obscene music in the 80s.

They had that rocker guy from Quiet Riot or some other shitty band in the 80s testify. They were so used to interviewing people beholden to them they never imagined that someone would flat out tell them to fuck you. Which is pretty much what he did did. Because we don’t lose our right to free speech when we speak to congress. Shut that whole conversation down!

Congress was told fuck you in a much more polite way today. But it was all the same.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Mean-spirited and not-so-bright. A deadly combo.

Republicans have sure-fire formula for failure.
It's like watching them step on a rake over and over.

[Amaryllis]

5. But they are reallly good at stealing elections.

[orangecrush]

6. K&R!

[Marcuse]

7. Strzok kicked Gowdy's butt almost as thoroughly as HRC did.

[spanone]

8. K&R...

[Cha]

10. Wow! Good for that last part.. Peter Strzok!!

First time I've seen that.. Whoa!

Link to tweet

[calimary]

11. Ouch!

I’d love be to see a diss-off pitting Rick Wilson, who wrote this one, against the equally lacerating Steve Schmidt whose rants grow more epic every day. Hell hath no fury like a devoted old-style Republican betrayed. Unless it’s TWO of ‘em at the same time!

Who can most viciously and savagely slay the dragon? That’d be monstrous fun to watch. We’d all need extra popcorn!

[Kind of Blue]

12. As Rachel Maddow said, "Turns out the pinata is alive"

[greyl]

13. "and has his own bat!"

That was hilarious.

[Kind of Blue]

14. Yes, indeed!That was good.