The reason republicans were fixated on leaks in the hearing is because

[shraby]

they had mapped out their strategy before the hearing on the premise that Comey would say nothing about the investigation, or even there was one going on. Comey upended their plans bigtime right out of the gate.

Since none of them can think for themselves, they forged ahead with the leak strategy as planned and in the process making them into a bunch of clowns to complain about leaks in the face of a very serious investigation.

[OldHippieChick]

1. I actually think that's giving them too much credit.

True, they cannot think for themselves, but they would actually prefer our Pres collude w/ an adversary than consider the possibility of losing their agenda. They are traitors as well.

[shraby]

3. I agree. Particularly Nunes and Gowdy are in it up to their eyebrows.

[L. Coyote]

2. They want to prosecute the past administration and politicize the investigation.

This is why Trump tweeted blame upon Obama. They want to besmear the legitimacy of any DoJ actions under Obama, make it appear the Obama administration violated the law in going after the Trump campaign and Trump. The White House was served papers before they ordered preservation of all related documents, and then Trump tweets. they were responding to the DoJ serving them notice of the investigation when Trump tweeted. They were not surprised at all, their strategy was revealed by Trump's tweets. Mark my words, they will abuse their current position of power to try to put Obama in jail. That is their way out of this mess, they think, make it a political crime to have investigated them. Hillary isn't the only one they want to lock up, and we might be on the list too.

Is Trump the Swiftboat Admiral?

[MineralMan]

4. Well, one thing's certain: They looked like fools.

The Democrats were laying out the foundation and asking crucial questions. They knew that Comey wouldn't answer any of the specific ones, so they spent their time covering the framework of what had happened. They got Comey to say there IS an investigation and that Trump is full of crap about the wiretapping.

The Republicans just mouthed their usual inanities that were irrelevant to this hearing.

We saw it. The news media covered it. There it is.

[Lucinda]

5. Interesting observation! They certainly didn't seem well prepared, or able to shift gears

as the hearing went on...