Opinion: The more we learn about Comeys firing, the worse itgets

[napi21]

http://jaybookman.blog.myajc.com/2017/05/11/opinion-the-more-we-learn-about-comeys-firing-the-worse-it-gets/?ecmp=newspaper_email&user-access=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE0OTQ1MzI4MDIsImV4cCI6MTQ5NDY0Nzk5OSwicHJvZHVjdHMiOlt7InBpZCI6Ind3dy5teWFqYy5jb20iLCJleHAiOjE0OTQ2NDc5OTksImF1dGhlbiI6ImJ5cGFzcyJ9XX0.hJTn0u1-n19GQ65RQaoQnrWzerGUyU36YiKd8RqMZjE&uuid=8C2ABE50-01CA-4AB5-8A69-FD89F3C0866C

By the White House official account, Trump became angry watching Comey’s testimony last week in which he confirmed on ongoing investigation into possible collusion with Russia.  On Monday, Trump demanded that the Justice Department provide him reasons for ousting Comey, which it obediently did. On Tuesday he pulled the trigger.

We also know now that instead of petering out for lack of evidence, the Russia probe has been accelerating in recent weeks.
As the Wall Street Journal reports: “Mr. Comey started receiving daily instead of weekly updates on the investigation, beginning at least three weeks ago, according to people with knowledge of the matter and the progress of the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe. Mr. Comey was concerned by information showing possible evidence of collusion, according to these people.”

CNN’s Jake Tapper, citing a source close to Comey, reports that Comey believed that he had been fired for two reasons: He would not pledge personal loyalty to Trump; and he would not agree to end the Russia probe.
The New York Times may have given that source a name: “With a president who seems to prize personal loyalty above all else and a director with absolute commitment to the Constitution and pursuing investigations wherever the evidence led, a collision was bound to happen,” Daniel C. Richman, a close Comey adviser and former federal prosecutor, said on Wednesday.

American voters' opinions of several of Trump's personal qualities are down:
61 - 33 percent that he is not honest, compared to 58 - 37 percent April 19;
56 - 41 percent that he does not have good leadership skills, little change;
59 - 38 percent that he does not care about average Americans, compared to 57 - 42 percent April 19;
66 - 29 percent that he is not level-headed, compared to 63 - 33 percent last month;
62 - 35 percent that he is a strong person, little change;
56 - 41 percent that he is intelligent, compared to 58 - 38 percent;
64 - 32 percent that he does not share their values, compared to 61 - 35 percent.
"There is no way to spin or sugarcoat these sagging numbers," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"The erosion of white men, white voters without college degrees and independent voters, the declaration by voters that President Donald Trump's first 100 days were mainly a failure and deepening concerns about Trump's honesty, intelligence and level headedness are red flags that the administration simply can't brush away," Malloy added.

(This poll was taken BEFORE he fired Comey. I expect next week to be worse!)