James Comey is damaging our democracy

[workinclasszero]

James Comey is damaging our democracy
By Jamie Gorelick and Larry Thompson October 29 at 11:29 PM

As former deputy attorneys general in the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, we are troubled by the apparent departure from these standards in the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server. First, the FBI director, James B. Comey, put himself enthusiastically forward as the arbiter of not only whether to prosecute a criminal case — which is not the job of the FBI — but also best practices in the handling of email and other matters. Now, he has chosen personally to restrike the balance between transparency and fairness, departing from the department’s traditions. As former deputy attorney general George Terwilliger aptly put it, “There’s a difference between being independent and flying solo.”

As it stands, we now have real-time, raw-take transparency taken to its illogical limit, a kind of reality TV of federal criminal investigation. Perhaps worst of all, it is happening on the eve of a presidential election. It is antithetical to the interests of justice, putting a thumb on the scale of this election and damaging our democracy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/james-comey-is-damaging-our-democracy/2016/10/29/894d0f5e-9e49-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html

[Jason1961]

1. Hillary will have his head

It never pays to bet it all on the losing horse.

From what I've been reading seems like everyone knows that Comey is doing this for Trump and thus can't be trusted.

The Public sees through this.

Life is good

[Raster]

2. Comey isn't doing this for tRump. He's doing it for down-ballot rethuglicans...

...he's trying to mitigate the tRump damage to the GOP as much as possible.

[dalton99]

6. Yep, it's more about keeping the nasty woman in check

[Raster]

8. Yes, it is more about keeping The Nasty Woman in check, and exerting influence...

...on any other Nasty Women that would get "bad" ideas about confronting the Freedom Caucus and their agendas.

Let's be clear: the Rethuglican/Teapublican/Freedom Caucus ideology is fading with each generation, and the Rethugs will do anything they possibly can right now to influence years to come. SPECIFICALLY, THEY KNOW IT WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ANY CLINTON SCOTUS NOMINEES TO TAKE THE BENCH WITHOUT A SYMPATHETIC DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CONGRESS!

Prominent Republicans have already started to make noise about limiting Clinton's capacity to shape the SCOTUS. This would be a moot point IF this would be a Democrat-controlled Senate, which it looked like it could be before Comey. Perhaps the odds now change.

[vi5]

3. Let's make zero mistake about the cause of this....

...this happened because Dems feel compelled to take the high road. Because they believe the beltway media bullshit of needing to be "bipartisan", even as the Republicans are never expected to do the same.

This is the end result of our constant bringing flowers to the gun fight that is American politics.

The Republicans don't give them credit for it.
The media doesn't give them credit for it.
And voters don't give them credit for it.
No matter how above board and qualified our candidate is, and no matter how reprehensible and evil their candidate is, the media will still play their "both sides are at fault", horse race bullshit.

I don't think this will cost HRC the race, and I'm hopeful there is another Trump bombshell in the wings.

But make no mistake about it, Comey knew what he was doing, knew the impact it would have, and Comey is only in this position because President Obama was obsessed with the "Republican Daddy" narrative and a bipartisanship that will never exist.

[dem in texas]

5. Totally agree

Democrats took the high road when Bush/Gore went bad in Florida. Dems stood back to let "justice" take its course while the Repubs called in every trickster and high powered attorney they could lay their hands on. The Repub's out-maneuvered the Dems and the Dems lost that election even though Gore had half-a-million more popular votes than Bush.

I totally agree that there is a 'fix" going on with Comey involved. The only way this can be fixed is for Comey to tell what is in these Email within one or two days. He should be fired as director of the FBI, he dirtied his hands in politics way too much.

[workinclasszero]

9. +100!

Excellent post! You nailed it!

I sincerely hope the new Clinton administration will not appoint any republican or former republican to any post in her administration!

Just look to the snake in the grass Comey for the reason why. They will sell us out in a heartbeat even the so-called never trumpers.

Never trust a f***ing republican....NEVER!

[yallerdawg]

4. "James Comey is damaging our democracy."

That sounds really, really bad.

Trying to influence a presidential election with self-described "misleading" and "misunderstood" assertions explains to us he knew exactly what he was doing!

The FBI Director is appointed to a 10-year term but serves at the pleasure of the President.

Time to write our president!

[UCmeNdc]

7. Agree!

Comey knows what he is doing!