President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey • Hacker News Board

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#281

Post by ENOTTY » Wed, May 10, 2017, 3:18 AM UTC

fictioncircle wrote: post #5

favorited wrote: post #2

If I'm not mistaken, he's the first FBI director to be fired. Edit: I was, in fact, mistaken.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/31/1589230/-Only-One-U... > When Bill Clinton took office in January , 1993, his FBI Director was William S. Sessions, serving an appointment made by Ronald Reagan at the time of the Iran-Contra affair. Making it clear that the new President did not want the Republican FBI Director in his Administration, Clinton’s newly appointed Attorney General, Janet Reno, quietly pressured Mr…

The IG investigation into Mr. Sessions revealed all kinds of wrongdoing. Not political at all.

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#282

Post by dllthomas » Wed, May 10, 2017, 3:18 AM UTC

losvedir wrote: post #179

anigbrowl wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you're saying you find it plausible that Trump fired Comey an excess of administrative zeal on Comey's part might have led to Clinton's loss of the election. I might find your position more persuasive if Trump didn't display an almost-daily disregard for administrative norms and procedures. I highly doubt that his new nominee will be told to not obstruct any ongoing investigations.

> So you're saying you find it plausible that Trump fired Comey an excess of administrative zeal on Comey's part might have led to Clinton's loss of the election. Yes, that is the stated reason: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/politics/fbi-dire... edit: better source

Do you mean,

"Yes, [I believe that it is plausible because it] is the stated reason [and that alone is sufficiently convincing]"

or

"Yes, [in case those in the audience didn't catch it,] that is the stated reason [if you can believe it!]"

?

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#283

Post by tanderson92 » Wed, May 10, 2017, 3:51 AM UTC

sundvor wrote: post #253

throwaway5752 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Strange" is not the word you're looking for. This is blatant, naked corruption.

Yep. The great irony here is that Comey almost single-handedly got Trump elected with that late press release about Clinton being under investigation still.

That is far from clear: https://www.emptywheel.net/2016/11/13/role-obamacare-premium...

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#284

Post by davesque » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:01 AM UTC

Mods, please let this one live. This is big news and we can't ignore it. I don't care what the policies are about political stories. I also don't care if I can go somewhere else to read about it. I want to know what _this_ community's opinions are on the matter.

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#285

Post by Animats » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:02 AM UTC

fooey wrote: post #74

Animats wrote: post #61

The FBI director is supposed to have a 10 year term. That went in after J. Edgar Hoover died. Nobody wanted another J. Edgar Hoover FBI Director for Life situation, but having the FBI director be a "pleasure of the President" appointment made it too political. This makes Andrew G. McCabe acting FBI director. He's in the civil service, not a Presidential appointment. He was an FBI agent and worked his way up. From wha…

The looming senate fight to confirm a replacement is going to be absolutely massive.

Historically, FBI heads have had near-unanimous approval. Comey was confirmed on a 93-1 vote. His predecessor, Muller, was originally appointed by Bush and confirmed by a 100-0 vote. 10 years later, he got another term under Obama and was confirmed by a 98-0 vote. All their predecessors were confirmed unanimously.

It's not supposed to be a political job.

[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/why-can-president-trump-can-f...

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#286

Post by davesque » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:05 AM UTC

enknamel wrote: post #268

rwnspace wrote: post #187

381 points, 171 comments, 1 hour ago; as of writing. Why is this on the second page of HN, and not pole position? I assume/hope that there is some mechanism that stops new content from dominating other content too rapidly.

Because this does not need to be posted on HN or even should be. However you stand on this issue doesn't matter. HN is not a site for political discussions. Go to Reddit if you want that.

But the quality of the discussion on Reddit is poor. We come to HN because people do their homework here and we want to know their opinions.

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#287

Post by davesque » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:10 AM UTC

throwaway5752 wrote: post #56

jjordan wrote: post #44

Say what you want about the politics, but it's inarguable that Comey, whether he wanted to or not, had become a partisan lightning rod for both sides. The unbiased credibility of the FBI was at stake with Comey at the helm, and this is probably a good move for the country.

The FBI was investigating the president for colluding with a hostile state to influence the election and aid them against the interests of the US. This is the worst thing to happen to the country since Watergate or longer.

This is way worse than Watergate.

Nixon tried to cover up what were, by comparison, activities of little to no consequence. He didn't even need the extra intel on the Democrats. He already had the election in the bag.

Trump on the other hand, is under investigation for possible collusion with the nation's primary adversary.

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#288

Post by MaysonL » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:18 AM UTC

sundvor wrote: post #253

throwaway5752 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Strange" is not the word you're looking for. This is blatant, naked corruption.

Yep. The great irony here is that Comey almost single-handedly got Trump elected with that late press release about Clinton being under investigation still.

Well, McConnell helped when he strongarmed Obama and Comey into shutting up about the Russia connection when Comey brought it to the gang of eight ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_of_Eight_(intelligence) )

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#289

Post by davesque » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:22 AM UTC

newsat13 wrote: post #29

Can someone clarify if comey is pro trump or not?

I don't think anyone can tell. His behavior has been very inconsistent. His reveal of the re-opened inquiry into Clinton's emails a week before the election blew every reasonable legal professional's mind in this country on matters concerning the presidential election. It's incredibly unusual for law enforcement or legal professionals to make comments which would invite speculation about ongoing investigations, let alone the highest law enforcement official in the land. It would have suggested that he favored Trump. Otherwise, what unbiased human would do such a thing? On the other hand, Comey seemed perfectly happy to then turn around and re-enter the public discourse on the matter of Trump's relationship with Russia. No one can figure him out. There's definitely an argument that this erratic behavior warrants termination, but days after he confirmed details about investigations into Trump-Russia? I swear Tom Clancy couldn't write a better story than this.

Re: President Trump Dismisses FBI Director Comey

#290

Post by MaysonL » Wed, May 10, 2017, 4:23 AM UTC

skygazer wrote: post #138

anigbrowl wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you're saying you find it plausible that Trump fired Comey an excess of administrative zeal on Comey's part might have led to Clinton's loss of the election. I might find your position more persuasive if Trump didn't display an almost-daily disregard for administrative norms and procedures. I highly doubt that his new nominee will be told to not obstruct any ongoing investigations.

That deputy AG letter seemed to imply that the reason for the firing was Comey publicly berating Clinton last July, against policy -- the act that Trump praised Comey for at the time. And lets not forget Trump hugging Comey at their first meeting after he took office. If these were the actual reasons, they would have been triggered months ago during Trump's early firing sprees. There's clearly an unnamed (but obvious…

A tweet from cstross: "In iterated prisoner's dilemmas, Trump ALWAYS defects. Take note."