Benjamin Wittes is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and the editor in chief of Lawfare. He is also a friend of James Comey. Earlier this evening he shared his initial thoughts after reading the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s release of former FBI Director Comey’s prepared opening statement tomorrow. While I highly recommend the whole thing, here are the final three paragraphs that tie Wittes’ thoughts together.
But I will make three general observations based on this document alone.
First, Comey is describing here conduct that a society committed to the rule of law simply cannot accept in a president. We have spent a lot of time on this site over seven years now debating the marginal exertions of presidential power and their capacity for abuse. Should the president have the authority to detain people at Guantanamo? Incinerate suspected terrorists with flying robots? Use robust intelligence authorities directed at overseas non-citizens? These questions are all important, but this document is about a far more important question to the preservation of liberty in a society based on legal norms and rules: the abuse of the core functions of the presidency. It’s about whether we can trust the President—not the President in the abstract, but the particular embodiment of the presidency in the person of Donald J. Trump—to supervise the law enforcement apparatus of the United States in fashion consistent with his oath of office. I challenge anyone to read this document and come away with a confidently affirmative answer to that question.
Second, we are about to see a full-court press against Comey. I don’t know what it will look like. But the attack instinct always kicks in when a presidency is under siege. And Trump has the attack instinct in spades even when he’s not under siege. It is important to remember what the stakes are here. They are not about whether Comey was treated fairly. They are not about whether you like him. They are not about whether he handled the Clinton email investigation in the highest traditions of the FBI or the Justice Department. They are not about leaks. The stakes here are about whether what Comey is reporting in this document are true facts and, if so, what we need as a political society to do about the reality that we have a president who behaves this way and seeks to use the FBI in this fashion. It is critical, in other words, that people not change the subject or get distracted when others try to do so.
Finally, it is also critical—though probably fruitless to say—that we eschew partisanship in the conversation. Tomorrow, this document will be the discussion text when Comey faces a committee that, warts and all, has handled the Russia matter to date in a respectable and honorably bipartisan fashion. It is not too much to ask that members put aside party and respond as patriots to the fact that the former FBI director will swear an oath that these facts are true—and was fired after these interactions allegedly took place by a man who then told Lester Holt that “when I decided to just do it [fire Comey], I said to myself … this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story,” and boasted to the Russians the day after dismissing Comey that “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
Adam L Silverman
I apologize for not doing a substantive Qatar post this evening. This sinus infection is still kicking my dupa and I just don’t have another substantive post in me today – including handling all the follow on questions in the comments.
Corner Stone
@Adam L Silverman: You bastard. I’ve been putting off reading some Jack Higgins all night waiting for that post.
Corner Stone
I want to see both Coats and Adm Rogers rotting in a jail cell.
Corner Stone
Hold those pieces of shit under contempt and toss them under the fucking jail cell. I’d like to punch Adm Rogers in his stupid fucking face a few dozen times. Asshole.
Omnes Omnibus
@Corner Stone: I read that as Aaron Rodgers and was momentarily confused.
Smiling Mortician
@Adam L Silverman: Never apologize for not doing more than the significant benefit you’re providing here. You are a tremendously valuable resource for me, as a citizen, and as a teacher of evidence-based argumentation (which I view as another important part of my citizenship).
Thank you.
Omnes Omnibus
@Smiling Mortician: Come on, let’s guilt trip him. It’s more fun.
Chris
We can’t eschew partisanship. Republicans will not cooperate, and that’s all there is to it. People who think Trump is a danger to the nation need to face that fact.
Mary G
@Adam L Silverman: The Middle East will still be messed up hundreds of years from now. Pace yourself and feel better.
Chris
@Adam L Silverman:
Never apologize for taking sick leave. Health first.
BBA
On the other hand, nothing matters anymore. If the GOP can abolish Medicaid and the capital gains tax, they’re cool with Trump nailing their heads to the floor.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Adam L Silverman:
Oh, for god’s sake, man up, take shot of whiskey, and write the damn post!
Seriously, get better. We love you and your work here.
schrodingers_cat
@Adam L Silverman: Have you tried ginger tea? My friend also adds a whole black cardamom to the brew, it is very effective in clearing sinuses.
Chris
@Corner Stone:
I discovered those books in grad school. Great stuff to relax with, the book version of action B movies.
JPL
On Thursday, I have a weekly date with the farmer, and that takes precedence. I’ll be home by eleven, so I expect detailed info when I return.
Adam L Silverman
@West of the Rockies (been a while): At one point this afternoon I was trying to review any new information and then planned to go back and look at revisions for something I’m working on for work (the Qatar thing actually overlaps). I went and lied down because the other options was basically doing a hard reset through the desk.
Cheryl Rofer
@Adam L Silverman: I dunno, Adam, I’ve been working on my next substantive post a couple of days now, and I don’t even have a sinus infection.
Omnes Omnibus
@Chris: “Eventually the game is playing you.”
Adam L Silverman
@schrodingers_cat: I have had almost 40 ounces of Irish breakfast tea today. I will give your recommendation a try. The good news is that the antibiotics are working, the sinus pressure is better than it was Monday and I no longer want to claw my eyes out. But I’m just dragging tuchas.
I’ve also had a strange craving for a bacon cheeseburger since early Monday morning.
NoraLenderbee
Expert’s (apostrophe before the s). And thank you for everything you do.
schrodingers_cat
@Cheryl Rofer: Substantive posts are overrated, post some kittehs instead.
Cheryl Rofer
Here’s some of that full-court press mentioned in the second paragraph.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: I’m not sure how to respond to this.
manyakitty
@Adam L Silverman: Hot water with whiskey, lemon, and honey. Chicken soup. Lots of sleep. Feel better. Marathon ahead.
Omnes Omnibus
@Adam L Silverman: Dupa, and now tuchas. How many languages are we going to use?
schrodingers_cat
@Adam L Silverman: Add some fresh grated ginger to the tea leaves when you are brewing it, and a pod of black cardamom (badi elaichi). Add sugar and milk. Drink it, piping hot.
Sab
@Smiling Mortician: I second this. Thanks, Adam.
p.a.
@Chris:
fixt:
AmericaAmerika 2017. It’s the new normal.also too, who else was here during the great neti pot era?
Adam L Silverman
This should be fun!
Yoda Dog
@Omnes Omnibus: Bears fan, I reckoned…
BCHS Class of 1980
Any TL;DR on the Qatar situation? Good information seems hard to come by.
Omnes Omnibus
@manyakitty:
Hot water withwhiskey, lemon, and honey.debbie
@Cheryl Rofer:
The only missing bullet point is that Trump did it all for Hillary.
Adam L Silverman
@schrodingers_cat: I have a fun dog post for later if AL doesn’t show up first.
Omnes Omnibus
@Yoda Dog: I have my issues with CS, but he’s not a fucking Bears fan.
Adam L Silverman
@NoraLenderbee: Thanks.
Mnemosyne
A side note to any lurking GG fans: if you claimed for 8 years that all of the above were your primary concerns, but you now have nothing bad to say about Trump, you’ve revealed that your “primary concerns” were nothing but excuses for clinging to your deep-seated racism.
If you consider yourself to be a civil libertarian and your primary concern right now is not shutting down Trump’s agenda, you’re not a civil libertarian. You’re a racist trying to construct an intellectual excuse for your racism.
(In case it’s not clear, I am amplifying Mr. Wittes’ point, not disagreeing with him.)
Adam L Silverman
@manyakitty: I had a lot of chicken soup today. Also bagels. Am considering ice cream. And I’ve been sleeping a lot.
debbie
Bummer. That website is broken. I was hoping to share it to aggravate my Trumpster family members.
MisterForkbeard
I mean, other than Republicans dedicating absolutely zero importance or staffing to the Russian probe and constantly downplaying it’s significance, it’s been completely bipartisan and honorable!
schrodingers_cat
@Omnes Omnibus: I was reading the bio of an Indian politician, an old socialist called George Fernandes, apparently he was fluent in 10 languages, including Latin!
manyakitty
@Omnes Omnibus: That works, too, but the hot water (or tea) is great for clearing sinus drainage.
Mnemosyne
@p.a.:
Me! I miss General Stuck and our epic neti pot conversations.
Smiling Mortician
@Omnes Omnibus: OK. Do more, Adam! Jeez! Make us all smarter!
piratedan
finally struck me what watching the Trump Presidency unfold is like… it’s like reading a Flashman Papers folio but with an even more irredeemable lead character with fewer abilities and honesty.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: All of them Katie.
Yoda Dog
@Omnes Omnibus: Joking aside, Rogers’ behavior was infuriating today. Obvious toady is obvious.
Omnes Omnibus
@Mnemosyne: Ew.
Adam L Silverman
@schrodingers_cat: I’ll give it a shot. Now I have to go get ginger and black cardomom…
manyakitty
@Adam L Silverman: Unsurprising. Maybe it’s time for that bacon cheeseburger?
SiubhanDuinne
@Chris:
Sinuses schminuses, so long as you’re healthy.
debbie
Mucinex and lots of water will drain those babies.
Omnes Omnibus
@Yoda Dog: Yes, the flag rank military folk in this administration are not covering themselves in glory.
Kayla Rudbek
@Adam L Silverman: try the tea suggestions above and also try humming.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16406689
MisterForkbeard
@Cheryl Rofer: Wait, does the last bullet point invalidate the previous 4? :)
GregB
In some regards the window is closing on mitigating the damage Trump is doing to the US and the world.
The American Century is buried under a blizzard of lies. The post war order in shards. The Middle East is getting teed up for one hum-dinger of a war.
To quote Condi Rice, the proof of Trump’s evil intentions and incompetence may very well come in the form of a mushroom cloud.
MomSense
@Adam L Silverman:
Sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well.
schrodingers_cat
@Adam L Silverman: Sounds good! I am not talking to my cat right now. He just bit my knuckle because I was typing instead of petting him right now. I think he may be a Republican.
Mnemosyne
@MisterForkbeard:
I think I see what he’s saying, though: we shouldnt give the Republicans an opening to whine about how this is all a “partisan witch hunt.” Stick to the facts, follow the evidence, and let the chips fall where they may.
psycholinguist
Comey doesn’t do anything the accident. I[m surprised nobody is focusing on Comey’s careful inclusion of the AG and the acting AG. He just slipped a knife in each of them, while giving himself a reason for this not coming forward – Comey did take it to his bosses, at least twice, and THEY did nothing. He’s trying to pull the whole house down.
Omnes Omnibus
@schrodingers_cat:
He might just be an asshole.
Chris
@BCHS Class of 1980:
Qatar is one of the family of Gulf oil kingdoms which often differs with its relatives. It has just been diplomatically cut off by most of them. The stated reason is Qatar’s support for terrorist and dissident groups throughout the region, and general promotion of instability in the region. Trump has thrown oil on the fire by claiming to be behind the move. This has many concerned, because we have a massive military presence in Qatar.
kindness
I suspect Comey won’t say much more than his opening statement. You have to figure Mueller talked to the intel cheifs & Comey. We’ll see.
sukabi
@Adam L Silverman: it really doesn’t matter what the GOP talking points are, Drumpf will undercut all of them in the first 4 hours, tweet by tweet.
Smiling Mortician
@psycholinguist:
Good. Will it work, though?
Mnemosyne
@Omnes Omnibus:
We all have our different memories of the dear departed.
schrodingers_cat
@Adam L Silverman: Black cardamom may be hard to get unless you have an Indian grocery store nearby but ginger should be easy.
SiubhanDuinne
@p.a.:
:: Raises hand ::
Cheryl Rofer
@Adam L Silverman: I’m just saying you’re doing very well for having a sinus infection. I am also impressed by Wittes’s having his post up within an hour or so of the release of Comey’s testimony. Although since they are friends, he may have had an advance start.
Sometimes I can whip a post out and other times it takes longer.
@schrodingers_cat: There will be kittehs.
MisterForkbeard
@Adam L Silverman: Not that you need MORE sick advice, but I have a “sick soup” I use whenever I’m not feeling fantastic:
1. Chunk or dice 2-3 spicy italian sausages and dice 1/2 an onion. Sautee in a large pot.
2. Pour a quart or so of chicken broth in, and heat to just short of boiling.
3. Add a can of Great Northen white beans (or navy beans)
4. Add a few handfuls of kale.
5. (Optional): Add either parmesan rind while it’s cooking, or some parmesan when served.
Between the chicken broth and the spicy oils from the sausage, it does wonders for sinuses. Meanwhile, the kale and beans provide body and nutrients. The parmesan adds some nice flavor but otherwise isn’t important.
It also freezes well. I keep a few servings of this in the freezer for bad days.
Adam L Silverman
@BCHS Class of 1980: A couple of quick points:
1) This had been building/on again-off again for a long time.
2) Because the Emir of Qatar turned everything over to his much younger son about 4 years ago.
3) As a result Jr. is still growing into the position and doesn’t have the seniority to real deal with the Emir of the UAE and the King of Saudi Arabia.
4) Part of this is rooted in Qatar using its tremendous wealth to fund lots of different violent extremist groups – from Muslim Brotherhood to al Qaeda affiliates – throughout the Middle East and the Maghreb.
5) Part of this is rooted in Saudi doing something similar and feeling like Qatar was screwing up its proxy campaign against Iran for regional political and religious hegemony.
6) The new leadership of Saudi Arabia is much more overtly aggressive than the previous king and crown prince.
7) Obama is no longer around, so the US is no longer trying to use the GCC as a forcing function to get Saudi, the UAE, and Qatar to play nice.
8) Instead the President prefers bilateral relations, which has emboldened and empowered Saudi and the UAE to crackdown on Qatar.
9) Russian active measures are driving the immediate cause of this through a faked news report planted to cause maximum disruption.
10) My take is that Russia did this to cause problems for Qatar and the US and to take advantage of the foreign policy weaknesses of the new President and administration. CENTCOM’s forward HQ in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) is in Qatar. If Russia can get Qatar crosswise with Saudi, the UAE, and especially the US, and push them towards Iran for survival, this puts US operations throughout the CENTCOM AOR at risk because it places the forward HQ at risk.
That’s it for now.
schrodingers_cat
@Omnes Omnibus: Take that back! He can be the sweeetest kitteh in the world when he is not in his fighty bitey mood.
Adam L Silverman
@debbie: Which website?
jl
@Cheryl Rofer: Qatar Kitties will be in the post? I’m not sure what to expect.
HinTN
@Adam L Silverman: Feed a cold, starve a fever. GO GET THAT CHEEBURGER
MisterForkbeard
@sukabi: Nah. I think Trump is basically going to stick to these in broad strokes. It’ll be easy, since it boils down to “Trump is awesome, Comey vindicated Trump and Trump is awesome, and Comey is horrible and Trump is awesome.”
He can stick to those.
efgoldman
@Adam L Silverman:
Ah, as kosher as i am. Good.
(I took care of my fix a week ago. We tried a new diner, and it was reeaaallly good)
SiubhanDuinne
Does anyone know what time the Comey testimony is scheduled to begin? There’s a live Ossoff-Handel debate starting at 9:00 a.m. and lasting certainly an hour, perhaps 90 minutes. I need to game out how and on what devices I’m going to follow everything I want to.
Omnes Omnibus
@schrodingers_cat: Asshole is more better than Republican, no?
efgoldman
@Cheryl Rofer:
These fuckers lie when they say “good morning.”
Fuckem
JPL
@Mnemosyne: That was the good old days. Now we are scared shitless because a narcissistic maniac is in the whitehouse.
piratedan
@SiubhanDuinne: i would give preference to the local thing because Comey is going to be parsed well thru the weekend is my guess.
Chris
@GregB:
I think the degree to which the entire GOP is willing to cover for Trump is closing the window pretty damn fast. The entire world is seeing and noting that half the American political class is completely bugfuck and unreliable. Even if a Democrat goes back into office, what’s he supposed to say? “Please deal with us, and just pray that four years from now some freak doesn’t wipe the slate clean?
Gravenstone
@Omnes Omnibus: Cat – asshole, same thing.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: @Yoda Dog: It is important to remember that SecDef Carter and DNI Clapper had recommended to President Obama last Fall around the election that Admiral Rogers be relieved of his commands (he’s dual hatted as Commander CYBERCOM) and thereby retired from service.
jl
@Adam L Silverman: Thanks. Good luck with your sinus. Hope you feel better soon.
HinTN
@Omnes Omnibus: They most certainly are not.
schrodingers_cat
@Omnes Omnibus: Sure! Anything is better than a Republican. He is the catriarch of the house.
Major Major Major Major
@Adam L Silverman:
Well, that’s about what I was expecting.
schrodingers_cat
@Cheryl Rofer: Ceiling Cat approves!
Adam L Silverman
@Kayla Rudbek: I’m tone deaf. I don’t hum. I don’t sing. I don’t whistle. It violates several of the Geneva Conventions against torture.
debbie
@Adam L Silverman:
Lawfare. It wouldn’t open on my iPad but now seems okay on my laptop. Never mind.
Cheryl Rofer
@SiubhanDuinne: The Comey hearing starts at 10 Eastern time. I expect that Adam will post a video here. I understand it will be on all the major networks and cable channels. Probably CSPAN as well.
Adam L Silverman
@MomSense: I get one to two sinus infections a year. It happens. I know the signs. I get to the docs right quick and get on the meds. And I’m usually good to go within four or five days.
Chris
@Adam L Silverman:
Huh. On what grounds?
encephalopath
What resources could the Trump administration have to their disposal to attack Comey at this point?
Who with any authority or credibility is going to do it?
This pickings are going to be thin for that role at this point, especially after Coats and Rogers soiled themselves in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee today.
efgoldman
Jeebus in a Fiat. Just mention that you have a sniffle around here, and everybody’s an old wife, a doctor, or both.
Someday I’m going to tally up this shit (if Majorx4 doesn’t do it first) and see how many of the remedies directly contradict each other.
He finally went to the shaman and got antibiotics, which is what he should have done for a sinus infection in the first place.
debbie
@Cheryl Rofer:
NPR will also be carrying the hearing.
Adam L Silverman
@sukabi: I have no doubt. Lot of day drinking going to be going on within the White House Counsel’s Office.
Peale
So I guess the talking points are that Trump fired Comey for not investigating him? + Hillary Clinton.
sukabi
@MisterForkbeard: that was today. Tomorrow there’s bound to be something or someone that pissed him off. I fully expect that he’ll hate tweet some stupid shit or other and dig his hole deeper. It’s what he does.
hovercraft
@Smiling Mortician:
Stop that, we pay him handsomely for his work here, don’t compliment him, it will go to his head. We have high expectations here! He hasn’t even posted any recipes recently!
Adam L Silverman
@MisterForkbeard: So basically a Caldo Gallego or an Italian Wedding Soup, but with sausage? Interesting!
Major Major Major Major
@Peale: yep, blaming the black guy and history’s greatest monster.
@hovercraft: true, I haven’t seen the word spatchcock in ages.
schrodingers_cat
@debbie: Which pundit will be tut-tutting? I have my money on either David Brooks or Ruth Marcus.
Cheryl Rofer
The Republican talking points are inconsistent. But attacking them for that is beside the point. Misinformation is intended to confuse and make people uncertain of what to believe. Internal inconsistency helps with that. It’s a principle that Russia has been using.
Adam L Silverman
@SiubhanDuinne: 10 AM. I’ll have a life feed post up like I did today.
Peale
@encephalopath: they can buy ads, which btw, I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Like all that time, Obama could have bought anti-Benghazi hearing ads.
MomSense
@Adam L Silverman:
I hate sinus infections. I used to get them all the time. Hope this passes quickly for you. I’ve been feeling rundown but I think it’s trumpsomnia and stress.
randy khan
It’s nice to see that the Republican information security for their talking points is about as good as I’d expect. Also, their proofreading is about where I thought it would be.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: I always recommend booze.
MisterForkbeard
@Omnes Omnibus:
As a sick remedy, or just in general?
dm
So, are you people going to just reminisce about neti pot discussions, or is anyone going to recommend one to Adam for his sinuses? (Glad I searched before making the newbie mistake of just blurting out, “Hey, try a neti pot!”)
Patricia Kayden
@Adam L Silverman: Take it easy and hope you feel better soon. Qatar will be a hot topic for weeks to come so no rush.
Peale
So could someone tell Trump that firing someone to protect a friend is kind of the same thing as firing someone to protect yourself? If you read the talking points, you’d think there was no one named Flynn involved here.
jl
@Cheryl Rofer: So, we should just laugh at them? Or maybe act like it is a hoax, tell the GOP we are sorry that hackers broke into their site and posted this drivel?
Seriously, what is the best response to these asinine talking ponts. I read through them and they are sad and desperate, and also funny.
Peale
@dm: Ayr is just as effective and cheap.
Patricia Kayden
@dm: Looked up neti pots on YouTube and the whole thing looked too scary for me. The whole forcing liquid in nostrils thing wouldn’t work for me but a lot of people swear by them so they must work.
dm
@Adam L Silverman: my guess is the drinking in the White House counsel’s office will start with the first *pling* of an arriving tweet — maybe at three this morning.
Omnes Omnibus
@MisterForkbeard: Yep. Teetotalers and people in recovery should never listen to my advice. Whether others should is an open question.
jl
@efgoldman:
” He finally went to the shaman and got antibiotics, which is what he should have done for a sinus infection in the first place. ”
What the hell kind of shaman is that? When I go to the shaman I expect ‘shrooms.
Omnes Omnibus
@Patricia Kayden: I also refuse to waterboard myself.
MisterForkbeard
@jl: I think mockery might be the only answer. Actually engaging on the merits is a losing game – too much to rebut within an easily readable timeframe. No one will pay attention to your rebuttal.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@efgoldman: what you want is a witch hazel tincture, and Doc MacArthur’s Health tonic, but only after 10 pm
Adam L Silverman
@Chris: Concerns with his performance.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-and-intelligence-community-chiefs-have-urged-obama-to-remove-the-head-of-the-nsa/2016/11/19/44de6ea6-adff-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/us/politics/obama-remove-nsa-leader-michael-rogers.html
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/306894-report-clapper-carter-recommended-obama-fire-nsa-head
rikyrah
The Dinner Table Doc @dinnertabledoc
Both Yara Shahidi AND Malia Obama are headed to Harvard in the fall! How dope is that!?
Adam L Silverman
@efgoldman: It is what I did in the first place. As soon as I was even remotely concerned it wasn’t just bad allergies given all the oak pollen in the air I made an appointment and got in first thing.
jl
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: If Adam would get out West, we could get him to a Medicine Show and get him some snake oil. But I think he insists on hanging out back East in them little rinky dinky states. You know, those old fashioned antique ones.
efgoldman
@Peale:
Flynn? What’s a Flynn?
Erroll?
Joe?
Jeremy?
Sean?
Raymond?
Adam L Silverman
@MomSense: This too shall pass.
randy khan
@MisterForkbeard:
Mockery seems to be the best (and most amusing) option. And, really, the talking points *are* pathetic.
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Cheryl Rofer: They’re learning from the best autocrats around. They hope they can become the United Russia of America
Pathetic they may be, but they’re not aimed at us. They’re aimed at the base
efgoldman
@jl:
Florida has MUCH looser licensing requirements.
manyakitty
@Adam L Silverman: Whoa. That’s disturbing.
Corner Stone
@Patricia Kayden:
I think you mean Qatar will be a glass top parking lot for centuries to come.
Mnemosyne
@MisterForkbeard:
It also sounds like Caldo Verde, except with beans instead of potatoes.
Omnes Omnibus
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: What Adam really needs.
ETA: Rugby parties to the rescue.
Corner Stone
@Omnes Omnibus: What do you mean, “issues”?
Adam L Silverman
@jl: I’ve lived in Colorado, part time in New Mexico, and Arkansas. I spent six months assigned at Leavenworth and living just on the Missouri side of the state line. I’ve lived in south central Pennsylvania. I’ve lived in rural Georgia and Atlanta.
MisterForkbeard
@randy khan: They’re pathetic, but keep in mind that Trump voters are the people who heard Trump says “No one cares more about health care than me” and bought it.
@Mnemosyne: Hadn’t heard of it, but it seems pretty close. I HAVE made it with potatoes substituting for beans before, and it works. It makes the whole thing a little heavier than I liked, but it was good.
I think Caldo Verde tends to go with less spice in the sausages as well, but that’s a core component in my soup. The spice really kicks your sinuses and helps you feel better.
debbie
@schrodingers_cat:
All of ’em!
Mnemosyne
@Patricia Kayden:
I could never get the hang of the ones that look like a little teapot, so I had a special squeeze bottle with a slightly bent neck that did the same thing. I didn’t have to tilt my head in strange directions to get it to work like I did with the teapot-shaped one.
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Corner Stone: At this point, I’m worried that the US will become a glass-top parking lot
Omnes Omnibus
@Corner Stone: You know what you did.
Adam L Silverman
@manyakitty: What’s disturbing is that he didn’t go through with it. Calm and cool is one thing. Over cautious is another. And we could have used a lot less over cautious last year.
efgoldman
@Adam L Silverman:
We’re surrounded: two big maples in the front yard, a huge red maple next door, a big old oak across the street, two old conifers (pine? I guess) just across the backyard fence, and a couple of hickories and a birch in the back. The arborist loves it – apparently decades ago somebody decided on purpose to plant many species native to RI – but OH the pollens.
My dark blue car isn’t worth washing this time of year.
Corner Stone
@Adam L Silverman: Man I hit that cheeseburger today about 1PM CT or so and by 2PM CT I was stumbling around looking for a couch. That shit was like an AC-130 bringing the rain!
Waratah
I wish Comey had just told Trump he could not make public he was not under investigation at this time because he might at a future date.
That is what they are big on right now. I hope that that point is made clear tomorrow.
Adam L Silverman
@Mnemosyne: It is basically Caldo Gallego, which is similar to Caldo Verde.
manyakitty
@MisterForkbeard: I use potatoes and beans. So there. Last time, I threw in a handful of barley, too.
rikyrah
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
I’ve now had 7 various conversations & here is what appears to be happening with Trumpcare. Starting with the biggest news… 1
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
If McConnell has his way, the public will only have two days to read the bill, with a day to debate & a vote 6/28. 2
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
This is gonna be a long one so bear with me. A lot happening. 2a
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
That means no hearings, a CBO score, no chance for public debate & little time to read language. CBO score, perfunctory debate & vote.3
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
McConnell had a small mtg, then the full R caucus, then a recap meeting. Then a Trump meeting. They put the PR machine on full blast.4
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
They downplay prospects while folks are home last week to minimize pressure. Blare up inevitability now & probably for Trump’s benefit. 5
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
Opened the mtg with “we cannot fail”– a different tone. Said ACA will fail (most know due to Trump sabotage) so they have to act… 6
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
Opened the mtg with “we cannot fail”– a different tone. Said ACA will fail (most know due to Trump sabotage) so they have to act… 6
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
Had a thin .ppt presentation. A “feel good” package. Longer slope on ending Medicaid expansion. Adjustments to pre-ex. More $ 4 tax creds.7
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
It was like adding ketchup to rotten food. Still Medicaid caps, still end expansion, still ⬆️ prems. Still all 2 fund a massive tax cut. 8
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
To be clear, “feel good” is to make them feel good, not you. E.g., improve pre-ex, but allow services not to be covered.
Feel good yet?9a
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
Idea is 2 have CBO review in pieces– that’s started. But have it in by the end of the weekend. They have to fill holes & make decisions.10
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
And then use June to “buy” the incremental votes they need. Most ppl. think it will pass w 50 & there are 43 in now. 11
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
So expect attempts to buy Murkowski w an Alaska goodie, opioid $ for dift Senators & other pet issues. Doing this while keeping Cruz/Lee. 12
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
Now for the good part.
What can be done. 13
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
No 1: Demand to see the damn bill.
There needs to be a #showusthebill campaign. More it sees the light of day, quicker it fails. 14
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
No 2: Do NOT get bought off.
If your issue is opioids & it slightly improves, remember hundred of billions of care goes away 4 millions.15
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
No. 3: Don’t let your Senator get bought cheap.
From my yrs running the programs & the private sector, ppl cannot survive these cuts.16
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
No. 4: Don’t buy the window dressing.
And with no time to review actual language & before a CBO score, it’s all window dressing.17
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
No. 5: If they stumble, they fall.
They have no time to spare and if they miss by a few days, they are home 4 recess. 18
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
No. 6: Follow @TopherSpiro, @IndivisibleTeam 4 latest on applying pressure to the Senate. One more hard no early will change the course.19
Andy SlavittVerified account @ASlavitt
Replying to @ASlavitt @TopherSpiro @IndivisibleTeam
That’s it. Back to work.
MisterForkbeard
@Adam L Silverman: Allright, apparently you guys are more cultured than me. Live it up. :)
Adam L Silverman
@Corner Stone: They can do that to you.
manyakitty
@Adam L Silverman: Yeah. It’s a little surprising. Those guys probably don’t make such recommendations lightly.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman:
My silver car looks gold after a visit to my parents’ place at this tine of year.
jl
@Adam L Silverman: OK, thanks. Some of those places have Medicine Shows and snake oil. You should have stocked up.
Adam L Silverman
@Waratah: That is essentially what he told him.
Mnemosyne
@Adam L Silverman:
Nasal irrigation is a good idea when pollen is high — silly as it sounds, washing the pollen particles out of your nose actually helps.
If you don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of a neti pot, you can get a spray can of nasal saline that does essentially the same thing.
Omnes Omnibus
@rikyrah: A link might have sufficed.
GregB
@efgoldman:
Lead-Bottom!
Adam L Silverman
@MisterForkbeard: Actually your recipe is basically one of my favorite soups.
Lizzy L
@rikyrah: Thanks for keeping us informed.
Aleta
@Adam L Silverman: The key is the follow up after you’ve finished the tea, ginger, cardamon pod, hot water, whiskey, lemon, honey, whiskey, two soups and whiskey. Pack one or both nostrils with wasabi, place a slice of sashimi over each eye, then wash down a portion of wasabi equal in size to your thumbnail. Faint, repeat as needed.
Adam L Silverman
@Mnemosyne: I have one. I’m looking at it right now. Believe it or not I have managed to survive for a long time before receiving all this wonderful folk remedy wisdom.
MisterForkbeard
@Adam L Silverman: Good to hear. Hope you feel better. My wife gets sinus issues fairly often, and I can sympathize.
@Aleta: Also, rinse with sake to sterilize.
TenguPhule
@Mnemosyne:
What about the Russian ones?
Corner Stone
@Adam L Silverman:
Shit. That’s a damn yoog co-sign.
Cheryl Rofer
@jl: I think laughing at them is a good response.
Adam L Silverman
@Aleta: Oy vey…
rikyrah
Bree NewsomeVerified account @BreeNewsome 4h4 hours ago
“White Lies” [a thread by @breenewsome] 1/27
The crisis confronting the American republic at this moment is not the fault of Russia, it’s the fault of US racism. 2/27
White America rallied behind Trump 2 relieve it of an existential threat posed by a black president elected by a multiethnic coalition 3/27
Trump descended the golden escalator of his tower & announced his candidacy for president to a room full of folks paid to applaud him. 4/27
What set Trump apart from other GOP primary candidates was his unabashedly racist rhetoric and his white nationalism platform. 5/27
Soon as Trump was elected, enormous amounts of energy went 2 explaining y whites rallied 4 him, mainly 2 argue it wasn’t about racism… 6/27
Except, sike! — analysis shows it was primarily racism. ? 7/27
Nevertheless, both sides of white power structure, right & left, prioritized defending white Trump voters against charges of racism. 8/27
Not only was focus placed on defending few thousand voters who tipped electoral college for Trump (he lost popular vote by 3 million)… 9/27
…but blame for his win was placed on non-white voters for demanding too much focus on “identity politics” (read: civil rights) 10/27
Now, predictably, as Trump goes down & threatens to take the republic w/ him, there’s already effort underway to rewrite history… 11/27
…and cast Trump as an anomaly disconnected from the political & religious right. Trump came out of nowhere apparently. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 12/27
No one recalls the racist birtherism movement that marked his ascendancy in the conservative political sphere. 13/27
No one recalls GOP presidential candidate Romney holding a special press conference to announce he’d been endorsed by Trump. 14/27
Trump is now cast as being single handedly responsible for the crisis of the modern American republic. 15/27
But that’s false and we all know it’s false. And this is why the institutions of America are shaking at their foundations in 2017. 16/27
“Trump” is not simply Donald J. or a building in Manhattan. Trumpism is a movement that represents a racist police state… 17/27
…a reifying of the white supremacist ideology that shaped the nation’s institutions from prisons & labor laws to housing & education. 18/27
“Make America Great Again” 19/27
How Trump rose to power, peddling racist conspiracy abt 1st black prez w/ complicity of white power structure, shouldn’t be forgotten. 20/27
152 years after US Civil War, we’re still dealing w/ the consequences of deliberate miseducation & historical erasure re: slavery. 21/27
Even the current US president is ignorant about the history of a war that killed more Americans than all subsequent US wars combined. 22/27
Consequences of living in active denial of how US arrived @ Trump crisis (again: racism) are immediate, potentially fatal to republic 23/27
Only hope 4 US democracy is 4 US to vigorously defend it by securing democracy and human rights for ALL people living in this nation… 24/27
…something this nation has refused to do generation after generation since its founding. 25/27
No, we won’t stop speaking on so-called “identity politics” when we’re repeatedly denied civil & human rights b/c we aren’t white. 26/27
Democracy & human rights must be fully realized for all or US institutions will collapse under the weight of their inbred racism [end]
Steeplejack
Heh, Colbert show just opened with a “nitro funny cars” style drag-racing promo for the Comey hearing tomorrow.
Waratah
@Adam L Silverman: Adam if all of the above does not work I find some really good Mexican hot sauce and chips. Something in those peppers and the vitamin C in the tomatoes really works and your non working taste buds can taste. Then I like to eat good Mexican food because it is spicy, it can reach the taste buds and because I just love the food.
Aleta
@MisterForkbeard: Right! Several hot flasks while admiring the impermanent beauty of the falling pollen.
Adam L Silverman
@Waratah: Thanks. I had some great salsa at a local place where I was watching game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals with a buddy last week.
FlyingToaster
@efgoldman: Most of the remedies I see cited seem to be “relieve the symptoms while the meds do their thing for 4-5 days”. I’ve made doctored teas — pretty sure I just used the powdered cardamom in the spice cabinet — and the variety makes it easier to drink the volume of liquids required. I also tend to alternate chicken soup with onion soup (minus the crouton and gruyere), so that I can survive the boredom of the same damn thing for several days until the virus kicks it.
I do not want to be like my idiot brother who gets the meds and then doesn’t drink anything but diet Coke and ends up with pneumonia.
All I’ve had this spring is allergies, which are no fun, but far less catastrophic than sinus infections.
Mnemosyne
@Adam L Silverman:
Are you new here? ?
CaseyL
So many cold remedies!
What would happen if you tried ALL of them, all at once? Would you be the healthiest person in the world, or would they all gather in one place in your body and implode?
I don’t have a favorite cold remedy – Mucinex and strong hot honeyed tea work best for me – though I do have a favorite when-I’m-sick comfort food: wonton soup, delivered.
I hope you feel better soon, no matter how you get there.
trollhattan
@Steeplejack:
“
Sunday, Sunday, SundayThursday, Thursday, Thursday, at Dysfunctional Speedway, Open Class umbrage-fueled Comey cars. BE THERE!Mnemosyne
@CaseyL:
I discovered that the Chinese place near me makes a terrific BBQ pork wonton soup. The only thing that annoyed me last time was that they dropped some broccoli in it to fill it out — yuck!
Laura
@rikyrah: Dare I? Two Dope Queens!
Kayla Rudbek
@Adam L Silverman: so we can use you as an alternative to ABC warfare?
Corner Stone
@Waratah: You think you can just drop in here, say that, and not give any damn examples?
Adam L Silverman
@Kayla Rudbek: Sure.
Steeplejack
@rikyrah:
That was a damn good tweetstorm!
dww44
@Lizzy L: I second the appreciation to Rikyrah and as a measure of my appreciation I’m posting that tweet storm on our local indivisible FB page and the Democrat page and urging everyone to start calling. We may not win, but we don’t know for sure unless we try to raise the biggest stink that we can. I’m gonna do my part.
Anyone watch Chris Hayes tonight and see his little comments at the end with a couple of female guests, in which he posited that perhaps Russia was helping the GOP to push through its healthcare bill?
Steeplejack
@trollhattan:
“Reserve your seat now, but you’ll only need the edge!“
BlueDWarrior
@dww44: it could only be helping in that it isn’t causing even more outrage. But honestly, the GOP is going to repeal the ACA because they believe they can do anything and thier voters (and donors) will enthusiastically approve of it.
The only thing that will stop this will be for the left, such that it exists, to finally get thier heads out thier asses and organize into a real electoral bloc, instead of hoping squishy voters get it after we protest. Or to put another way, drum circles at Berkley ain’t getting Pelosi the gavel again, only a marching band leading others to the ballot box will.
Thankfully, aside from some Leftier-than-thou trolls, nearly all of us get it.
Steeplejack
@Corner Stone:
I had some great Mex and margs at Lauriol Plaza downtown in D.C. today. Soft brisket tacos for me!
Mel
@schrodingers_cat: Cardamom makes almost anything taste better. Our “medicinal purposes” drink of favor is hot tea with a shot of whiskey, some ginger and honey, and a pinch of ground cardamom.
Fair Economist
Patented cold remedy: eat lots of raw garlic. It won’t help with your symptoms but at least people will leave you alone and not pester you with cold remedies.
Marcopolo
@Yoda Dog: Really, at this point anyone who goes to work for the Trump Admin has to be considered a toady. All the evidence points to him asking everyone he might have work for him for their loyalty (and I think we have to infer he expects that before loyalty to the Constitution). He has demonstrated in spades that he does not feel the need to reciprocate that loyalty in return (except maybe Flynn). That’s why all the “knowledgable” people can talk about how good this new pick for the FBI Directorship is and all I can think is NOPE stick with the acting Director till Trumps term ends. At least he isn’t someone who Trump picked.
Of course, this is all of a piece with what the Lawfare post is saying. Trump cannot be trusted.
Gretchen
@Adam L Silverman: Always pay attention to cravings. When I was pregnant, I couldn’t keep food down, and the only thing I craved was lettuce. My doctor said vitamin B6 deficiency caused morning (or all-day, in my case) sickness. Best food source of B6? Lettuce. In the ninth month, I craved cheddar cheese with butter spread on it. That’s not something I’ve ever eaten before or since. Needs in late pregnancy? Lots of fat to support childbirth and breastfeeding. Since then, if I crave something, I assume there’s a reason for it. Eat the cheeseburger. Maybe your body needs the protein to make more antibodies.
Adam L Silverman
@Gretchen: I do, but thanks for the reinforcement. Because of my work out routine I do a lot protein supplementation. But I also pay attention to cravings. So I have lots of available protein sources in the house. And at this hour I’m going to bed, not in search of a cheeseburger. Even if there is a SteakNShake just a few minutes up the road.
NobodySpecial
My cold remedy is a bit different: Mongolian Beef, from my local restaurant, extra spicy.
Gretchen
@Adam L Silverman: Plenty of time for SteakNShake tomorrow. Sleep well.
lowtechcyclist
The only argument that we’re not already past “Nixon Resigns”-level obstruction of justice and abuse of Executive power is that Comey isn’t telling the truth. That’s it.
And I’m not talking about the level where the House Judiciary Committee voted 27-11 to impeach Nixon on obstruction of justice and 28-10 on abuse of power. I’m talking about the level where the Judiciary Committee was ready to go back in and change their vote to 38-0, and only one Congressman* was still willing to openly support Nixon.
And yet we know Jonathan Chait is right: impeachment just isn’t happening in this Congress, because these Republicans, as opposed to the 1974 Republicans, will support Trump nearly unanimously no matter what.
There’s that expression, “Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line,” but I never fully appreciated the truth of the Republican part of it until the last several months. They’re good soldiers, they fall in line, they’ll destroy millions of people’s lives and quite possibly the country rather than step out of line.
There is no goddamned reason left why any thinking person should be a Republican.
*Earl Landgrebe of Indiana. Cripes, there’s still a ton of Watergate trivia kicking around in my head.
pluky
@jl: Well considering the roots of a lot of antibiotics (e.g. penicillin) are in fungal extracts . . .
Just one more canuck
@Adam L Silverman: don’t forget the Smeckler’s Powder
Sherparick
@BBA: Yes, exactly. Senator McConnell read his colleagues the riot act & gave them the message from the thousand or so top donors who now call the shots in the Republican Party. They want their tax cuts, they want Obama care & Medicaid repealed, & since Trump will sign those bills he can steal all the gold in Ft. Knox & give Alaska back to the Russians, it’s okay with them.
The Simp in the Suit
@MisterForkbeard: Exactly what I was thinking. Brookings people, like everyone else inside the beltway, are in a bubble.
The Simp in the Suit
@psycholinguist: Agreed. Will the “bipartisan” committee manage to explore this? Will the press?
Ahahahahaha hahahaha HA!
Sure.
JoeyJoeJoe Junior Shabadoo
“Don’t confuse me with the facts. I’ve got a closed mind. I ‘I I will support my president even if I have to be taken back and shot. I Recall eArl landgrebe’s famous line. Even the almanac of American politics mocked that guy.
aimai
@rikyrah: I’m kind of sad! In an alternate universe my kid would have been going off to Harvard in the fall. Instead she is heading to a different school. I would have liked to bump into Michelle and Barack at the parents festivities.
Chris
@lowtechcyclist:
The fact that all of them are happy and willing to collude on something as blatant as Russian tampering in the elections, of all things, is what’s still staggering to me. I always thought that they had it in them, but thought it would take an event on the scale of Russia taking over the U.S. (i.e. something that would never happen) or, at the very least, America losing its superpower status to some other major powers, before they sold out this way. Nope.
Matt McIrvin
@BlueDWarrior: The leftier-than-thou trolls don’t want Pelosi to have the gavel, they want a revolution that brings down all institutions and utterly destroys the corporatist world order, etc., etc. They are really not that different from Steve Bannon, except that he actually figured out how to get what he wants.
workworkwork
@schrodingers_cat: According to the show Downward Dog, cats are “emotional terrorists”.
(Granted, this opinion is expressed by the eponymous dog.)