What the Mueller Hearing Was Really About

[Tree of Life]

Neither the Democrats nor Republicans were seeking any information or clarification. Mueller said that he would not go outside the language or information already provided in his report. And he was true to his word on this.

The Democrats put this thing together in order to create a groundswell of support for impeachment proceedings among the public. They knew that Americans don't read, and they especially don't read boring stuff. Americans didn't read the Mueller report. So they wanted 3 hours of airtime to rehearse what they view as the most damaging info from the Mueller report in the hopes that America could get the audio version.

There's no question now that the Democrats want to move in the direction of impeachment proceedings. The question is were they successful in stirring up momentum and support for such proceedings through today's theatrics. What do you think?

 

[Albion]

It failed.

 

[A_Thinker]

Neither the Democrats nor Republicans were seeking any information or clarification. Mueller said that he would not go outside the language or information already provided in his report. And he was true to his word on this.

The Democrats put this thing together in order to create a groundswell of support for impeachment proceedings among the public. They knew that Americans don't read, and they especially don't read boring stuff. Americans didn't read the Mueller report. So they wanted 3 hours of airtime to rehearse what they view as the most damaging info from the Mueller report in the hopes that America could get the audio version.

There's no question now that the Democrats want to move in the direction of impeachment proceedings. The question is were they successful in stirring up momentum and support for such proceedings through today's theatrics. What do you think?

I agree that the hearings were held to educate a non-reading audience ...

 

[Tree of Life]

I agree that the hearings were held to educate a non-reading audience ...

While providing some partisan commentary.

 

[A_Thinker]

While providing some partisan commentary.

Yes ... from both sides ...

 

[paul1149]

We're watching Watergate in reverse. Media and Dems attempt to take down a Repub president blowing up in their faces. And like Watergate, fallout will be generational. At some point even a non-reading electorate will yield to the plain logic of occam's razor. Imagine if half this effort had been put into good governance by the Dems over the past 30 months.

 

[Tree of Life]

We're watching Watergate in reverse. Media and Dems attempt to take down a Repub president blowing up in their faces. And like Watergate, fallout will be generational. At some point even a non-reading electorate will yield to the plain logic of occam's razor. Imagine if half this effort had been put into good governance by the Dems over the past 30 months.

I think that whether or not this is blowing up in their faces is yet to be seen.

 

[thecolorsblend]

I think that whether or not this is blowing up in their faces is yet to be seen.

What I’ve seen of his rambling, incoherent testimony, I’d say it’s not working out very well for the Democrats. Whatever they hoped to achieve will be lost in his incomprehensible testimony. Even David Axelrod is hoping that Mueller gets hooked off the cameras.

 

[The Barbarian]

I agree that the hearings were held to educate a non-reading audience ...

Yes. Surprisingly, a very large number of people had no idea that the report confirmed that the president had attempted to obstruct the investigation (which is a crime), and many others were unaware that the report asserted that Trump could not be indicted until he left office.

So, it was good that both of these were adequately exposed. And yes, the posturing of democrats and republicans, each trying to make the most of the event for themselves, was interesting. It explains why Trump really, really wants to be re-elected. It's not just obstruction of justice; there are a number of other crimes for which several state AGs are waiting for him to leave office.

 

[The Barbarian]

Mueller seemed very, very cautious, trying his best to avoid republicans or democrats leading him into conclusions he felt were outside of the investigation.

 

[Yarddog]

Neither the Democrats nor Republicans were seeking any information or clarification. Mueller said that he would not go outside the language or information already provided in his report. And he was true to his word on this.

The Democrats put this thing together in order to create a groundswell of support for impeachment proceedings among the public. They knew that Americans don't read, and they especially don't read boring stuff. Americans didn't read the Mueller report. So they wanted 3 hours of airtime to rehearse what they view as the most damaging info from the Mueller report in the hopes that America could get the audio version.

There's no question now that the Democrats want to move in the direction of impeachment proceedings. The question is were they successful in stirring up momentum and support for such proceedings through today's theatrics. What do you think?

How's maybe? Mueller did have compelling testimony because most people didn't read the report. (They wanted to wait until the movie came out)

 

[The Barbarian]

How's maybe? Mueller did have compelling testimony because most people didn't read the report. (They wanted to wait until the movie came out)

The biggest fall-out will be when all the Trump believers realize that the report not only didn't "exonerate" Trump, it provided the evidence to indict him as soon as he leaves office.

 

[Yarddog]

The biggest fall-out will be when all the Trump believers realize that the report not only didn't "exonerate" Trump, it provided the evidence to indict him as soon as he leaves office.

I was wondering if someone would ask about the statute of limitations and it threw Mueller off. It was as if he never thought about that.

 

[Yarddog]

The biggest fall-out will be when all the Trump believers realize that the report not only didn't "exonerate" Trump, it provided the evidence to indict him as soon as he leaves office.

I also noticed how Barr's DOJ restrictions on Mueller's testimony frustrated Republicans far more than it did the Democrats.

 

[The Barbarian]

Most legal scholars say the clock starts ticking after he leaves office. But it would be a moot point if he doesn't get re-elected. That's why he's so frantic to get re-elected. It would give him at least a prayer of not getting indicted.

 

[The Barbarian]

I also noticed how Barr's DOJ restrictions on Mueller's testimony frustrated Republicans far more than it did the Democrats.

Yes, I don't think Barr thought that through very well. Trump is likely not pleased.

 

[Yekcidmij]

Ratcliffe's comments and questions were particularly good and pretty devastating:

Mike Turner's were really good too and along the same lines as Ratcliffe:

I think the two of those probably destroy Mueller's credibility.

.

 

[The Barbarian]

I thought Trump wasn't allowed to have defense lawyers at the hearing. Only Congressmen should be allowed to ask questions. They let Mueller make them look bad, but it's the principle here.

 

[Yarddog]

Ratcliffe's comments and questions were particularly good and pretty devastating:

Mike Turner's were really good too and along the same lines as Ratcliffe:

I think the two of those probably destroy Mueller's credibility.

.

I laughed listening to this diatribe during the hearings and do the same now. They know they can get by with it because of the rules in Congress and what the DOJ applied to Mueller. They also know the base is prejudicially listening for what strings they can grasp to justify their ignorance of the law or just what the Special counsel was called to do.

Mueller's report followed regulations. It was not intended for the public but for the Attorney General. It was to present the facts to the AG who would make the determination if charges would be filed. Mueller made no decision whether to charge or exonerate Trump for his part in the investigation because DOJ rules keep sitting Presidents from being charged with a crime.

These guys knew Mueller was limited on what he could testify to and took advantage of that and did not let him respond to what he could.

In short, they were preaching to the choir.

 

[Albion]

I was wondering if someone would ask about the statute of limitations and it threw Mueller off. It was as if he never thought about that.

Agreed. That moment during the testimony and his not knowing what Fusion GPS meant were very telling, weren't they? Both, of course, have been talked about so much that it wouldn't take an FBI man to at least recognize both of those items and, we would assume, be prepared for them.