He said that he "knew the system better than anyone"...

[kentuck]

What did he mean?

He was talking about the political system. He was talking about bribing Congressmen and Senators for years and years to get what he wanted. Nobody did it better. If there was one thing that he was an expert at, it was politics.

But now, Paul Ryan is trying to tell us that he is a novice and knows nothing about politics and how our system works. That stretches credulity.

He is a politician, in the most negative sense that we have been taught. He is why people hold politicians in such low esteem. He uses money and power to get what he wants. Nobody does it better.

Do not be fooled by those novices like Paul Ryan, that would have us believe that Donald Trump knows nothing about politics. He knows more about politics than all of them.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Then he said 'believe me'

Never believe someone who says 'believe me'

[Hekate]

5. +1000000

[meadowlark5]

2. Trump said during his campaign that Bill meeting with Loretta Lynch was "illegal - lock her up"

So if he knew that much then, how is him meeting alone with Comey supposed to look any different?

He knew. But what he banked on is not getting called on it.

[MedusaX]

3. Laws regarding Efforts to coerce or influence a government official are applicable to all persons

They apply across all industries....

Obstruction of Justice is not unique to politics...

It is incumbent upon any newly employed person to familiarize his/herself with all aspects of their new duties...
and there is a universal expectation that one seek the advice of those who do know the rules PRIOR to taking any action.
Regardless of industry....
politics & governing included


Every business executive has had experience with and understands the protocols associated with superior/subordinate communications.


Business executives understand that they are ultimately responsible for knowing what protocols/rules they have authorized both directly and indirectly via delegation of protocol establishment responsibilities.

None of these are unique to politics...

And in the specific case of engaging in private direct discussions with the FBI Director, regarding possible or existing investigations, *45's own WH counsel/ Administration generated & memorialized the protocols which were applicable to communication with DoJ ... notice the date on the copy at the link below:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Alt_Spicerlies/status/872525673310679040/photo/1


NO EXCUSES...
time for *45 to put on big boy pants and
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY for his ACTIONS!!!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

4. the gop is pushing the "stupid trump" defense hard - that's all they've got. nt

[Grammy23]

6. Surely no one expected tRump to actually READ all that fine print.

That is for underlings who are to read it and then write a bulleted, concise summary. No big words. Use illustrations and stick figures when you can.

Does he have to tell them everything?? Sheesh....

[Nasruddin]

7. 45 years

Trump has a track record going back to the early '70's
with a federal lawsuit over discrimination in renting.
He's been dealing with feds and lawyers and politicians a long time.

He was a real estate developer in NYC and New Jersey starting
in the '70's - or maybe even the '60's - the second golden age of
the Mafia, the era of the Bonanno civil war, Paul Castellano, Gotti ....

Even if he's squeaky clean he has to know all about the bad and
the ugly with that background. His survival in business defies credibility.
Paul Ryan must think we all just rolled into town on the turnip truck,
to try to push a story like that at us.

[Lady_Chat]

8. The fact Trump wanted everyone escorted out of the room, except Comey

and himself, tells you something right away. If Trump had nothing to hide, others could have remained. Instead Trump wanted complete privacy and no witnesses to what he was about to ask of Comey. He wasn't being naïve, he was being careful. It's a good thing Comey kept notes and showed them to others.

But honestly, wouldn't you expect the President of the United States to be furious that a country tried to interfere in our elections, to begin with? That he would want an investigation, to know what was going on and how to prevent it from happening again. Instead we have Trump denying Russia would do such a thing, and despite being told by 11 intelligence agencies here and abroad, he calls it "fake news".

That's what's really wrong here, that he wanted to take no action. Why not? And it has nothing to do with "inexperience", it's downright suspicious. period.

[erpowers]

9. I Disagree

I strongly disagree with what you wrote. Like most of Donald Trump's statement, his statement that he "knew the system better hand anyone" was nothing more than hyperbole. In reality, he knew the system less than anyone else.

I think there were many people who did politics, even as a non-elected individual, better than Donald Trump. Giving money to Congressmen and Senators does not mean you know politics. It is very likely that politicians befriended Trump because he had money and he was willing to give them his money in exchange for them taking pictures with him and going to his events. I would not be surprised if it came out that Donald Trump never had a conversation about politics with politicians. More than likely it was Trump's lawyers who were doing all the policy work.

I think Donald Trump does not know what he is doing. However, that does not give him any excuses. He has to take responsibility for his actions. In addition, it can be argued that there are certain behaviors that you do not have to be a seasoned politician in order to know you should not engage in those behaviors.