Posts Made By: James Brown

Originally Posted by James Brown

Richard, is there one example you can point to where Trump is being denied due process?  Anything?

Still waiting on this one.  Maybe Alan Dershowitz, whom I often admire, can chime in with a lifeline Rich?  Where, when, or how is Trump being denied due process?  

Is he in jail without charges?
Was he denied an arraignment?
Held without bond?

I need to know.  FWIW, I think he'll beat Bragg in court, but I sure do not see any due process violations.

p.s. 

Denied the right to confront his accuser?
Denied pre-trial investigations?
Denied a speedy trial?
Lots of other possible due process violations.   

Enlighten us please.

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

Sure, Bragg, and if you want to go to Impeachment, the fact is that Nancy Pelosi literally changed the process FOR impeaching a President to go after Trump.  

Now as far as anything else, I'm really not interested in hashing out anything with you.  

I stopped reading after this line. It looked like a lot of hashing out though, for someone who is done hashing things out.   

FWIW, Bragg is a person, not a due process violation.  Do you disagree?  His prosecution may very well be politically motivated, at least in part.  Still political motivation is not a due process violation.  Bragg convened a grand jury, obtained an indictment, had an arraignment in front of a judge and protected all of Trump's due process rights as far as we know.   If there is a due process violation, Trump's lawyers will use it for sure to obtain his swift acquittal, or perhaps a dismissal of the charges.   

This is one RINO who passionately believes in the rule of law.  If you ever do come up with some sort of example of a due process violation, or any other violation of Trump's rights, I'll listen.   Jim

Originally Posted by Maurice Clark

Hi James and Jim,

Sorry to add a little astronomy to the discussion, but I arrived back in WA last week and then drove to my observing site where I have been staying since.

The first night I was using my 18" dob to observe many of the southern highlights... 30 doradus, eta Carina, ngc 2808, 3532, 4945, centaurus A, and many others. 

One thing I noticed, my eyes might not be as good as they used to be. Could not for certain see Centaurus A naked eye like I  used to. Old age I guess. 🙁

Was waiting for a local workshop to make me a pier for my C14. That was finished yesterday and the telescope is now mounted. So what do you think has happened? One guess... 

After 5 superbly clear and dark skies, the clouds have rolled in! 😫  B...y Murphy!

That location looks seriously remote Maurice!  I bet the skies are incredible.  Certainly better than I have ever seen in my life!  Hopefully the clouds will pass soon.  Enjoy yourself!

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

Nah, you read the whole thing.

When Bragg bastardizes the entire basis of the Justice System as he did, ignoring the statute of limitations, which had run out years ago, and then wants to charge Trump w/ Federal crimes when he isn't a Federal prosecutor, that's what most reasonable people would deem an abuse of his power.  

So many Lawyers out there, very prominent ones have commented on just how outrageous this is, and what an abuse of Power Bragg is engaged in, but of course you're not bothered one bit by it.

You just can't defend his actions, but then you usually ignore the Constitution, due process, and the rule of law when it goes against Donald Trump.

What your TDS has turned you into is essentially the Lavrenty Beria of the forum, looking for a crime to pin on Trump.

You know it, I know it, and anyone who has the most basic understanding of how the legal process is supposed to work knows it.  

But then, that's how "Lawyers" like yourself roll these days, they completely throw their professional integrity, any honesty, and for sure any principles they may have once had, right out the window in order to Get Trump.  

We've seen it with leftist hacks for years now.  They are all over "News" networks of ill repute 

A person can argue that Bragg has abused his power, or at least over zealously exercised his discretion as a prosecutor without that person looking like a fool.  You, on the other hand, have argued repeatedly in these intertwined threads  that Trump is not receiving due process.  I get it that I am a lawyer and you are not, but due process is well defined in the vast body of law arising out of the 14th Amendment.  

You ought to concede that you were dead wrong about Trump not receiving due process.  Unless you want to look foolish of course.   

If you then want to politely say, "even so, I think Bragg is abusing his discretionary authority as a NY prosecutor,"  we could have a conversation, and I think you might have a point to make.  

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

Dude, Hunter Biden and Jared Kushner will have no real impact on the race, and neither will the silly Durham report. These are all distractions for those that will chase laser pointers.

Great image!  

The economy will have an impact of course.  If the 3rd or 4th quarter recession that so many predict materializes, Biden may become unelectable.  This is my big fear.   I really would like to see him step aside and let someone else take over the Democratic mantle, assuming Trump is the GOP nominee.  

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

This is my new eclipse-chaser. Rock-climb if necessary to get to clear totality.

Sweet!  They let you own something that bad-ass in California?

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

Seems Rich doesn't want to answer my question concerning his original posting.

Durham Report: Two indictments. Two trials. Two seperate 12 person juries unanimously rejected them.

Four years and seven million dollars for what?

Hi Jim:

I've read some of the report now, and a lot of commentary.   The Durham Report was definitely worth 7 million dollars, whether it resulted in convictions or not.  It does a good job of exposing biased top level decision making at the FBI, decisions made with the encouragement of the Democrats in power at the time.  This bias resulted in the unwarranted investigation of  a fictitious Trump - Russia collusion story.   The FBI ignored their own checks and protocols in the rush to investigate and prove collusion, a lie that was spoon fed to them.  The FBI decision to institute Crossfire Hurricane was clearly biased, at best.   

As you know the collusion story dominated the press for three years, resulted in an impeachment (but not for any collusion), and in many ways hampered the Trump presidency.

I get it that many people hate Trump, I also understand that he brings this sort of thing upon himself.  He is his own worst enemy.   But put that aside if possible, and look at this objectively.  The FBI, one political party, the DOJ, and the press nearly took down a US president on fabricated pretenses.   The conclusions very well detailed in the Durham report are well worth 7 million dollars.   This report should scare anyone who can summon the objectivity needed to put Trump out of the discussion for a moment.  The FBI, DOJ, and one political party must not be permitted to act as they did, even if one believes the target "deserved it" in this instance.

Jim

This is going to be TLDR for almost everyone, but it is the last few pages to the Durham report.   Well worth 7 million dollars:

Throughout the duration of Crossfire Hurricane, facts and circumstances that were inconsistent with the premise that Trump and/or persons associated with the Trump campaign were involved in a collusive or conspiratorial relationship with the Russian government were ignored or simply assessed away. Indeed, as set forth in Sections IV A.2 and 3, from even before the opening of Crossfire Hurricane, some of those most directly involved in the subsequent investigation had (i) expressed their open disdain for Trump, (ii) asked about when they would open an investigation on Trump, and (iii) asserted that they would prevent Trump from becoming President. As discussed throughout this report, our investigation revealed that the stated basis for opening a full investigation "to determine whether individual(s) associated with the Trump campaign [were] witting of and/or coordinating activities with the Government of Russia" 1746 was seriously flawed. Again, the FBI's failure to critically analyze information that ran counter to the narrative of a Trump/Russia collusive relationship exhibited throughout Crossfire Hurricane is extremely troublesome. The evidence of the FBI's confirmation bias in  the matter, includes, at a minimum, the following information that was simply ignored or in some fashion rationalized away: 

• The Australian diplomats told Crossfire Hurricane investigators that Papadopoulos never stated that he had any direct contact with the Russians nor did he provide any explicit information about an offer of assistance. 

• There was a complete lack of information from the Intelligence Community that corroborated the hypothesis upon which the Crossfire Hurricane investigation was predicated. • The FBI generally ignored the significant exculpatory information provided by Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, and Trump Senior Foreign Policy Advisor-! during recorded conversations with FBI CHSs. 

• The FBI failed to pursue investigative leads that were inconsistent with their theory of the case (e.g., Page's recorded denials of having any relationship with Paul Manafort, a fact about which there was available evidence). 

• The FBI failed to take Page up on the written offer he made to Director Commey to be interviewed about the allegations contained in Michael Isikoff s Yahoo 1 News article and instead opted to seek FISA surveillance of Page. 

• The FBI was willing to make use of the completely unvetted and uncorroborated Steele reporting in multiple FISA applications targeting a U.S. citizen, even after the Crossfire Hurricane investigators had determined that there were major conflicts between the reporting of Steele and his primary sub-source, Igor Danchenko conflicts the FBI incredibly failed to resolve. 

• The Crossfire Hurricane investigators did not even ask Steele about his role in providing information to Michael Isikoff as contained in the September 23, 2016 Yahoo! News article -information that essentially accused Carter Page of colluding with the Russians. And thereafter the same investigators demonstrated a willingness to contort the plain language of the article to suggest it was not Steele but Steele's employers who had given the information to Isikoff. 

• The FBI ignored the fact that at no time before, during or after Crossfire Hurricane were investigators able to corroborate a single substantive allegation in the Steele dossier reporting. 

• There was a complete failure on the part of the FBI to even examine -never mind resolve -the serious counterespionage issues surrounding Steele's primary sub source, Igor Danchenko. 

• The FBI leadership essentially disregarded the Clinton Plan intelligence, which it received at almost the exact same time as the Australian Paragraph Five information. This was despite the fact that at precisely the same time as the Clinton Plan intelligence was received (i) the Clinton campaign made public statements tying the 304 DNC computer hack to Russian attempts to help Trump get elected, (ii) the FBI was receiving the Clinton campaign-funded Steele Reports, and (iii) the Clinton campaign-funded Alfa Bank allegations were being prepared for delivery to the media and the FBI. 

• The Crossfire Hurricane investigators essentially ignored information they had received as early as October 2016 regarding Charles Dolan, a longtime Democratic operative with ties to the Clintons who also possessed significant ties to Russian government figures who would appear in the Steele reporting, and never interviewed him. 

• The Crossfire Hurricane investigators provided only partial, and in some instances misleading, information to Department attorneys working on the Page FISA applications while withholding other highly relevant information from those attorneys and the FISC that might cast real doubt on their probable cause assertions.

Finally, the results of the OIG's Audit of 29 Applications also establish significant problems in the Page FISA applications, problems that point to bias and other factors. Following the Audit, the Department and the FBI "notified the FISC that the 29 applications contained a total of 209 errors, 4 of which they deemed to be material." 1747 We note that because the Audit did not look for omitted information -a major issue in the Page applications -the results of the Audit and the review of the Page applications are not directly comparable. Nonetheless, at least on the surface, the difference is notable: in the four Page applications, there were a total of 17 material errors and omissions, 1748 far more than the four material errors found in the larger group of29 non-Page applications. Given the foregoing, and viewing the facts in a light most favorable to the Crossfire Hurricane investigators, it seems highly likely that, at a minimum, confirmation bias played a significant role in the FBI's acceptance of extraordinarily serious allegations derived from uncorroborated information that had not been subjected to the typical exacting analysis employed by the FBI and other members of the Intelligence Community. In short, it is the Office's assessment that the FBI discounted or willfully ignored material information that did not support the narrative of a collusive relationship between Trump and Russia. Similarly, the FBI Inspection Division Report says that the investigators "repeatedly ignore[ d] or explain[ ed] away evidence contrary to the theory the Trump campaign ... had conspired with Russia .... It appeared that ... there was a pattern of assuming nefarious intent." 1749 An objective and honest assessment of these strands of information should have caused the FBI to question not only the predication for Crossfire Hurricane, but also to reflect on whether the FBI was being manipulated for political or other purposes. Unfortunately, it did not.

E. Possible FBI reform 

One possible way to provide additional scrutiny of politically sensitive investigations would be to identify, in advance, an official who is responsible for challenging the steps taken in the investigation. Stewart Baker proposes having a "career position for a nonpartisan FBI agent or lawyer to challenge the FISA application and every other stage of the investigation." This would be done in investigations that "pose partisan risk." In Baker's view, the Attorney General, through the Supplemental Reforms Memorandum, has already taken "a good step in this direction by requiring that politically sensitive surveillance and search applications be reviewed by a special agent from a field office not involved in the investigation." 1750 Similarly, Adam Klein said that "DOJ and FBI leaders should consider whether a regularized practice of internal red teaming in the most sensitive cases, whether within the FBI or in collaboration with attorneys at the National Security Division, could serve as an effective check on confirmation bias without unduly delaying time-sensitive applications." 1751 As a way to ensure full consideration of the issues in applications that may present very difficult -and vitally important -issues, we recommend that the Department seriously consider Baker's proposal for an official to challenge both a politically sensitive FISA application and other stages of the investigation. 1752 "Nothing," former Attorney General Levi warned, "can more weaken the quality of life or more imperil the realization of the goals we all hold dear than our failure to make clear by words and deed that our law is not the instrument of partisan purpose." 1753

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

That's all fine and good, except for one glaring thing: 

Trump: "Russia, if you are listening, go F up my opponent for me"

Imagine if in 1936 FDR said of his Republican opponent "Hitler, if you are listening, release any dirt you have on Alf Landon"

Trump will never live down or erase this incredible display of his character. It's sad that this may not even make the top 10 of his evil deeds. It should have disqualified anyone from higher office, but THAT is a display of American character.

PS We also tend to forget the Russians DID release embarrassing DNC emails prior to the election.

Agreed - Trump is a horrible person.  My point and Durham's point is that The FBI opened and prosecuted Crossfire Hurricane with overt bias.  The press was complicit after the fact and amplified the error, thus abdicating their duties to the nation.  The Ds motivated it, but even I am not naïve enough to expect otherwise from a political party or campaign. We as a nation must take steps to assure that this sort of attack almost never happens.   The failure to prove criminal conduct gives blind partisans a cheap victory, but it is hardly dispositive.  Hopefully no rational person concludes that overt political bias in the FBI is OK, so long as they do not cross the line into criminal activity!

Jim and Russ - I know that you are not "ends justify the means no matter what" guys, and that you appreciate the big picture.  Although your choice of words Russ, "that is all well and good" does make it sound like you don't think the bias demonstrated in the opening and prosecution of the investigation by the FBI is that big of a deal, because Trump is such a scoundrel.   As you know, this is a dangerous way to think.  Next time it will not be Trump who is subjected to a biased attack by a politicized FBI.

Rod - I personally trust my own assessment more than the partisan writer at Politico.   Have you read the report, or at least the summary portions?   7 million is a small sum compared to the crap we spend money on as a nation.   I don't have enough zeroes after the decimal point in my keyboard to type how insignificant this expenditure is.  I think this could be the best 7 M the government spends this year.    Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

I haven't forgotten and it's one of the main reasons I hate the man so much. Coupled with what he said in Helsinki and now recently about Ukraine I just don't understand the support he still gets from the GOP. Yeah, he also said in that "town hall" thing if he gets elected the war will be over in 24 hours. With Putin in charge.

This is something I think about a lot, because I know a lot of Republicans and few "support" him.

Here is my take, probably repeating myself, but:

1.  An extremely large class of working men and women feel greatly disrespected by the press and Washington elites.  Trump speaks directly to this class with right-populist rhetoric.  He positions himself as a hero figure who will stick it to the man.   By now everyone, even the most die-hard Maga type know Trump is scum, but still, he fights their fight so he must be supported.   He is certainly better, flaws and all, than the uninspired and nearly catatonic alternative leading the Ds.

2.  The R power brokers hate Trump.  But they want power, so if the MAGA class has the numbers in the primary to nominate Trump, look for the Washington Rs with a few exceptions to fall into line.  As Rich, Greg, and other Republicans correctly point out, Trump's policies, separated from his slimy persona, were not that bad to an R, the first time around.

That said, I am hoping that opposition to Trump has hardened in enough Rs that he will not get the nomination.  Look at Rich and Greg again, I think they both have said that Trump is not their first choice.  So at least here on Astromart we have zero Rs identifying Trump as their first choice.   He is definitely the first choice of the press and Democrats though, and unfortunately in 2024 primaries, like 2016, that may be the thing that gets him the nomination.

Jim