Feinstein held these claims for the specific reason that bringing them out NOW makes it that much harder to get Kavanaugh confirmed by a week from Friday.
This is made particularly clear in Jones call for an FBI investigation before she testifies. This is ludicrous, and she knows it. She is, after all, a professor of stupid shit. Which is to say, she TEACHES mental health because she can’t DO it.
In any negotiation the strongest position is the one which has the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. The Democrats presumably think that, if they can kill Kavanaugh’s nomination, and if they can get back the House in November, that they can force Trump to nominate someone more moderate.
I think Trump, in response to this reckless, shameless, utterly morally repulsive thuggery, needs to tell senior Democrats that he is still the President, and that if Kavanaugh cannot be confirmed, that the next nominee will be even MORE conservative. This means they can spent two years playing politics, or confirm a more sturdy Constitutionalist.
And it is far from clear that the Democrats, in this latest atrocity against common decency, courtesy, civility, and indeed the American Way, which has always included compromise, will not pay a price with the electorate. It is far from clear that Republicans will not only hold both the Senate and House, but perhaps even GAIN. There will be a march on Washington just before the election of former Democrats who have #walkedaway.
James O’Keefe will continue releasing his videos.
And Trump has ordered the declassification of, as I understand it, everything which initiated Mueller’s abusive run. This promises to be very embarrassing.
I will emphasize, though, that Trump has to draw a hard line with these people. He ordered the Kennedy documents released, but almost nothing got out. The spooks won.
He needs a way to put fear into these people. NONE of them ever face the court system. The worst case scenario is not even losing their retirement. The worst case scenario is losing their jobs, and possibly their security clearances. This, in response to treasonous attacks on our election system. And of course all these people are snatched up in various ways, by consulting companies, by lobbyists, by foreign governments: God only knows. God, and the CIA/NSA/ETC, and the CIA ETC is not telling, because Trump does not have them under control.
People need to go to jail, for long periods of time. This is the only way.
Particularly with regard to the McCabe/Comey texts, he needs to give them a deadline, and he needs to play hardball with them. Nothing should be redacted. Nothing censored. These are the same people–people who allegedly work for Trump’s alleged “ally” Jeff Sessions–who have been stonewalling Judicial Watch’s legitimate FOIA requests for many months now. They can be counted on to stonewall, to hem and haw, now.
As I understand the process, they are supposed to be gathering everything, and presenting it to the President with their recommendations of what to release, and what to hide (a synonym for “redact”)
I had a fantasy conversation in my mind this morning:
DoJ Jackass: Sir, these are the text. We STRONGLY recommend you not release these here.
Trump: (reads them). I don’t see anything here which affects national security.
DoJ: Sir, they relate to the public trust. We really feel like they will be damaging to the FBI’s ability to do its job.
Trump: HAS it been doing its’ job? Do these texts not reflect real problems?
DoJ: Sir, as long term professionals, we really think it best for all concerned if we redact them.
Trump: I want them released, as is.
DoJ: Sir, we strongly recommend against this.
Trump: Who is in charge here?
DoJ: Sir, we feel the damage could be. . .
Trump: According to the Constitution, who is in charge of the Executive Branch?
DoJ: The President, Sir.
Trump: Who is the President?
DoJ: You are, Sir.
Trump: Does that mean you work for me?
DoJ: Yes, Sir.
Trump: When someone works for someone else, do they tell them no, when asked to do something lawful? Is there anything I am asking you to do you think is illegal?
DoJ: Just a bad idea, Sir.
Trump: Bad idea. You mean like trying to use your power to make sure I wouldn’t get elected?
DoJ: Sir, we have many on-going investig-. . .
Trump: RELEASE THEM AS IS, AND DO IT NOW, OR YOU’RE FIRED.
Again, this is most likely fantasy. And I will point out that as far as I know, this conversation WOULD be happening with the DoJ, which, again, is supposedly run by Jeff Sessions, who supposedly is a Trump ally.
With friends like that, who needs enemies.