Rip Van Winkle Wray wakes up after long slumber and announces…
…that the FBI will be investigating itself to see if “current employees engaged in misconduct,” and whether any “improvements might be warranted to FBI procedures.”
Now that the cat’s been let out of the bag by others, I guess Christopher Wray figures he has to pretend to care, and the FBI has to pretend to investigate itself. Maybe it could even arrange to entrap itself.
Please forgive my cynicism here, but it’s well warranted.
What the H is the matter with Wray?
It didn’t happen on his watch. He is a very weak reed in the shadow of his boss, Mr. Barr. And apparently Wray does not learn from experience or history.
I do not understand how he can be so limp-wristed about at least trying to re-establish the FBI as an actual, reliable, non-political investigative agency.
Heads must roll; many heads. It seems increasingly clear that the talk of “many good, decent, upright FBI people” is just blather for the drones.
It would do well to note that nearly everyone implicated in this scandal is no longer a current employee.
I am shocked- shocked- to find that gambling is going on in here!
Belmont:
Everyone we know about so far.
But I basically agree. It’s fairly meaningless. Wray is just going through the motions in a half-assed way. If that.
And although most of them are gone from the FBI, I would imagine plenty of confederates are left to carry on their fine work. And will the culprits who are gone from the FBI ever be punished, or will they just continue to be MSM media stars?
Belmont said: “It would do well to note that nearly everyone implicated in this scandal is no longer a current employee.”
Joseph Pientka is probably a cooperating witness, because he is still employed.
This announcement is a parody, right?
For anyone who has been observing what has transpired, cynicism is the only evaluative mechanism which makes sense; evaluate everything from the most cynical possible position, and you will probably get things right; find the truth of it.
Wray is totally useless, a Swamp creature, one of many people who–instead of, right off the blocks, kicking asses and taking names–has a studious lack of enthusiasm for turning over rocks and looking under them.
Ineffective, incurious Wray (see former AG Jeff Sessions) must feel that he is only steps away from being fired–he feels the hot breath of the President on his neck–so he makes this placating move, designed to stave off that dismissal.
Having the organization in question investigate itself it just a useless exercise, a waste of time, and just another opportunity for that organization to dissemble, to delay, and finally to clear itself–to say, “all is well, nothing to see here.”
Neo: And although most of them are gone from the FBI, I would imagine plenty of confederates are left to carry on their fine work. And will the culprits who are gone from the FBI ever be punished, or will they just continue to be MSM media stars?
I’m putting my money on no. Barr has made it quite clear that he is far more interested with preserving the institution of the FBI than taking any real action, even in the face of clearly documented, provable crimes. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a coward. Meanwhile, all the bad actors walk free and get appearances on TV and book deals. Also, anyone who would ever trust or speak to the FBI again is an idiot of the most superior caliber.
One of the puzzling things in all this is that quite a few of the appointments President Trump has made to key positions have turned out to be such disappointments, have clashed with the President or, in some cases, may have been part of the “Resistance,” and/or just apparently refused to do the job that Trump likely wanted them to do—see former AG Jeff Sessions.
Why is this?
Well, I used to think that perhaps it was because Trump was just getting bad advice on who to appoint to these key positions.
Either because those giving that advice lacked the experience and knowledge to be able to correctly evaluate people, to pick good candidates, or they perhaps took the advice/recommendations from the wrong people, or that, perhaps, those giving that advice were actually also—to some extent–part of the Resistance, and out to “restrain” or to sabotage the President and his Administration’s agenda.
But, now, I’m wondering if a large part of these failures isn’t just that, of those who might have the requisite experience and be qualified—“old Washington hands”–almost all of them are to one extent or the other–creatures of the Swamp, and protective of it.
That individuals who are actually on President Trump’s wavelength–true “Agents of Change” and “disruptors”–are few and far between in Washington, and while likely thicker—perhaps much thicker on the ground elsewhere in the country—that those people outside of Washington—observing the viciousness of inside the Beltway politics, and the attacks by the Left/Democrats, the MSM, and proxy groups against Trump Administration appointees (and increasingly their families as well)–are just not willing to put up with the attacks on them and their families that accepting a job with the Trump Administration will almost invariably expose them to; its just not worth it—see General Flynn.
And that drying up/scaring off of the applicant pool is exactly one of the key aims of those attacks by the Left.
During Clinton, even through Bush II and of course during Obama the FBI recruited like minded far left thinking bright young, from the right colleges, candidates who were dedicated to proper thinking for the good of the people and diversity and Clinton was elected 28 years ago. That means they have loaded the FBI with a staff of toe the line, don’t make waves and don’t get hung out to dry people who have climbed the ladder by being careful and damn it, they don’t think like we, us old folks with conservative values, think at all.
Once more there is a different reality in the DC professionals, most everywhere that differs from us, a different language and an ability to put the blame for anything that happens on the conservative right. For the last 30 to 40 years the grad schools have been turning them out and they were hired and promoted to champion the progressive, leftist thinking and Wray is well entrenched with that background along, I am thinking, all of his staff.
That part of our government is broken and I don’t have any idea how to fix it because they don’t know how badly their compasses have been set.
“the FBI will be investigating itself”
I’m reliably informed that there will be “all hands” meetings at which PowerPoint slides will be displayed. So I guess we can check this one off as solved.
The FBI is investigating itself? This says it all.
I think Trump failed at the beginning to build a personnel office at the White House who had his interests in mind rather than the Republican establishment’s interests. I bet you you look under the hood, and you’ll find that office was staffed with Priebus men and McConnell men. Rosenstein and Wray were horrendous appointments. NB, unless he’s a great ham actor, Wm. Barr is the Republican equivalent of Jonathan Turley, a book man who is offended at the misfeasance of government employees the last five years.
IMO, this experience is strongly suggestive of the following courses of action: (1) to re-organize protective services in this country, putting different functions in different departments as we do on the state and local level and, in particular, breaking up the FBI; (2) we need to scarify the federal criminal code, calibrate its stated penalties so they are similar to state code medians, excise offenses already covered by state codes, and limit the capacity of prosecutors to stack charges; (3) we need in law and practice to restrain federal police from stomping all over the turf of state and local police; except in rarefied realms, consultative services are the responsibility of state police; (4) we need to provide a system for prosecutorial offices to indemnify defendants for the cost of defense, contingent on the share of initial charges for which a conviction cannot be obtained; (5) we need to institute vicious disciplinary boards which can maul crooked and abusive prosecutors and judges.
We should do these things. We will do none of them.
Old Texan-A similar process has apparently also been going on at the DOJ, so, for instance, if I recall correctly, there was at least one article several years ago–probably in the WAPO–which discussed how AG Holder had–almost to a man–packed/staffed the DOJ’s “Civil Rights Division” with Leftist lawyers.
NB, Wray was employed by the federal government for 9 of his first 13 years in law practice. He crossed paths with government lifer Rod Rosenstein during that time. If you want to criticize Trump’s performance in one area, it’s that he did not see Rod Rosenstein for what he is until he was boxed in.
What has changed is that the ADA in Missouri is looking into the same stuff- if Wray were convinced there was no one else looking into this, he would sit on his ass and do nothing. However, with Jensen actively looking into the matter, and actually making headway, Wray suddenly needs to be seen being busy.
The American Dental Association is looking into it? The American Dairy Association? Americans for Democratic action? Seriously, what the hell is the ADA? People use TDMA if you ask me.
I know that these are the end times because I cannot distinguish between reality and parody.
The Devotions – Rip Van Winkle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryPksnix2yw
The solution is simple: disband the Federal Bureau of Intimidation, take away all pension benefits, and point fingers at them in public with mocking comments. Plus tattoo their foreheads: I worked for a corrupt FBI. There is no redemption for the employees of the FBI. Those who didn’t engage in direct corruption remained silent. Guilty, period.
I was only following orders doesn’t matter, as it didn’t post 1945. Hound them and banish them from polite society.
Cicero, the American Republic is dead. Trum is trying to revive it but so far the Deep State is just as powerful if not more powerful.
Trying to Get DS to prosecute DS is like getting the mafia to prosecute the mafia. It does not work as well as American slaves think it will.
This also calls into question every government and alphabet “investigation” of various crimes like JFK’s assassination. So the fake news media was correct back then, when they are not… why, because the internet didn’t exist back then to contradict them?
Literally everything people have been told is now questionable and always has been.
The American Experiment was created in liberty and blood was expended to keep it away from Service to Self powers…. but sooner or later, some human decided to sell all their descendants into slavery and here we are. Enjoy kicking the can down the road until it ends up on current desk.
Google’s corporate company is literally called ALPHABET. It’s like they are spelling it out for you.
One of the puzzling things in all this is that quite a few of the appointments President Trump has made to key positions have turned out to be such disappointments, have clashed with the President or, in some cases, may have been part of the “Resistance,” and/or just apparently refused to do the job that Trump likely wanted them to do—see former AG Jeff Sessions.
Why is this?
This video explains things well. Trum was volunteered to declare emergency rule because that or a coup de tat was what it took to defeat the enemy. I do not know if this is a new speech or not but this audio is directly from the President it seems. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1037302636455188
It explains quite well what he thought he was up against. Although not everything.
And that drying up/scaring off of the applicant pool is exactly one of the key aims of those attacks by the Left.
The Trum admin is running on fumes. There are dozens if not hundreds of appointments that Trum hasn’t gotten through in 3 years, because your lovely democracy has blocked it somehow.
I have warned for some time now, that the Deep State is not some surface bureaucracy like CIA or FBI. There’s a lot more going on under the waves than that. The lack of imagination on the part of citizens, wage slaves, and human slaves, makes things difficult. I know very well what Q Anon and others who support the T Agenda, have to do. Just telling people online will get the same reactions I got. You have to show them the truth. When the Left slams their face into the concrete, then they will realize the truth through the pain. They will learn Through Suffering. That is how a slave learns.
That is 2020.
Ymarsakar,
That video sounds stitched together. At best.
Parker’s proposal to disband the F.B.I. is 100% correct.
Anyone familiar with it’s history understands that it has ALWAYS been political and it has ALWAYS been corrupt.
Unfortunately, most Americans get their view of the world – and the F.B.I. from stories ( news? ) in The Mass Media.
TV shows are NOT reality. Not even so-called ‘reality TV’.
In cases like this cynicism and sarcasm are badly needed. Not only do I forgive you, I thank you.
All they have to do is give lip service to this “investigation”, while working extra hard over the next several months against the trump administration, and then come november when he’s gone, it will be back to business and open season on conservative citizens will continue more vigorously than ever before.
I wonder if Trump has just been reprising the thoughts of Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part II when he said “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”? This quote comes after an assassination attempt on Michael, when he advises one his underlings to pretend like he’s cool with the guy who ordered the hit. Has Trump just been biding his time to mete out justice at a time of his own choosing? I will note Sun Tzu had a similar philosophy.
https://www.shmoop.com/quotes/keep-your-friends-close-and-your-enemies-closer.html
I already know what Wray will conclude. We need new cover sheets for the TPS reports.
He’s already done this, with “new training”, after the Strozk hearing.
On the matter of Trump not putting together an administration pursuing his goals, well, Reagan got the same criticism. And it wasn’t false then, either. The problem is that the Republican right includes a lot of poseurs, along with those who are the real deal. So it’s almost impossible to put together a good team.
There is also Stan Evans’s rule, that whenever one of our people reaches a position to help us, he stops being one of our people. Taken literally, it’s strictly false. But it expresses a truth.
Wray will not contribute anything, but since he’s an expert on “knowing which way the wind is blowing”, it’s at least a good sign that he thinks an appearance is needed. Like a new “better training” program. Problem solved.
NeverTrumper GOP establishment bootlickers stealth captured the Trump appointment process. Flynn was one of the few “top guys” with experience who were on Trump’s wavelength and really on his side. Another reason he was a special target.
Trump was always vulnerable to the Deep State, including the deep state Dem criminals. Even if he wins in 2020 with a double Rep majority, the Dem deep state remains dedicated to opposing him.
We need term limits on Fed gov’t bureaucrats – after 10 years they stop getting raises. After 12 years their Fed. salaries get cut.
These and other such reforms need to be made by a Rep majority, and done soon enough.
Here’s a way for a Rep majority to clean up the FBI. Pass a budget withwout FBI funding (or only for the political appointees?) – all (others) get fired. Congress can do that. The cops can all find other jobs.
Trump needs to, personally, get more appointments who are sync with him. And his next term should be de-regulation and gutting of the deep state.
Fantasy off.
If the last four yours or so of “unpleasantness” has clarified or revealed anything, it is just how deep the Deep State actually runs; how different things are under surface appearances in our Federal government.
Just how many in the Federal government profess to be guardians of our Rights and Liberties, to uphold the Republic and the principles embodied in the Constitution it was founded on, when—from what they do and actually say when the cameras and lights go off–the system they are actually working for and upholding is the Leftist/careerist Deep State—and their “Iron Rice Bowls”–not the Republic, not its Constitution and its principles, and not the Freedoms and Rights they have nominally sworn to uphold and defend.
And us actual citizens?
To them we are apparently merely meaningless “background noise”–objects of contempt–a no-account bunch of “smelly” annoyances, impediments to their wishes who can safely be ignored.*
Given this scenario, I view President Trump and his appointees as the equivalent of a small unit of commandos that have been parachuted in behind enemy lines, and how—always vastly outnumbered–and without true access to, and fighting against the power of the State that all those opposed to them have perverted and command–they are tying to foment a Revolution; to steer us back onto the right path, and towards the Republic we mistakenly thought we actually had, and were living in.
* See the video of former Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s “smelly” quote here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkzRZFZ5YIw
TWIP abridged
Watergate vs Obamagate.
https://i2.wp.com/www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2020/05/Untitled-3.jpg?w=586&ssl=1
https://i0.wp.com/www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2020/05/can-you-explain-obamagate-spying-no-evidence-because-youre-a-journalist.jpg?w=480&ssl=1
Ymarsakar I do not know if this is a new speech or not but this audio is directly from the President it seems.
are you nuts? its a hack job… not a speech… a clever cut and dice of audio and video and makes no attempt to put it as a real speech full of content.
The video explains NOTHING… its not that kind of imagery… IF this is how you think and what you think as real evidence or explaining, no wonder you say such idiotic things… and have the thoughts you have…
Ymar may be on the same page with the rest of us from time to time,
but his thinking may be loose. At least that’s the conclusion I reach from reading his intentional “Trum” and other peculiarities.
Solipsism?
As Mike Tyson said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” It’s as true in politics as in boxing. The deep state/left will keep pulling this BS until some of their prominent people are frog-marched out of their homes at 4am to face serious charges. It’s time, but I’m not optimistic.
Michael Towns on May 22, 2020 at 10:09 pm said:
I know that these are the end times because I cannot distinguish between reality and parody.
* * *
That’s why The Babylon Bee is now the paper of record.
Does anybody still wonder why Trump trusts his family members more than anyone else?
In an earlier comment here I pointed out that it wasn’t just a few high profile actors who were involved in various Coup efforts but that, just on the FBI side alone, there had to be a whole supporting cast of agents and others who were involved, none of whom—as far as we know—has made any public protest about what went on, or became a whistle blower.
The inference that can be made is that they were either afraid to say something publicly or, that they were, indeed, just fine with helping construct the frames–“just following orders.”
To get some idea of the numbers, look at just one mention alone, of the 40 FBI agents and other FBI personnel detailed to work on the Special Counsel’s investigation.*
See https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/05/24/sunday-talks-andy-biggs-discusses-why-now-as-chris-wray-initiates-an-fbi-investigation/#more-192615