Rebane's Ruminations
April 2019
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George Rebane

The long-awaited report from special counsel Robert Mueller has turned out to be a disappointment on all counts to all sides.  The following summarize my initial take on it.

  1. From a legal perspective, the report is an iconic nothing-burger. A 400-page embarrassment that documents the failure to conclude anything definite about the commissioned purpose for the drawn-out investigation.  It is a collection of legal pabulum as a CYA disguise for spending tens of millions over two years to no avail.
  2. From the gitgo the Mueller investigation was an obviously composed effort to nail the president and derail his administration. The composition of the investigative team and its flailing, off-the-mark, subsequent indictments gave evidence that it really was a desperate witch hunt which had to fire off a few legal pyrotechnics now and then to keep the effort looking credible to the light thinkers.
  3. From a political perspective, the report is a success. Since there was no credible prosecutorial evidence for either ‘collusion’ or ‘obstruction’, the investigation’s redoubt terminus was always to deliver a product that would dissemble its conclusions so as to invite and enable follow-on probes which the Democrats took every opportunity to specify during the 22-month fiasco.  Team Muller got its marching orders early and often from the Left and its lamestream.
  4. President Trump and his administration have been isolated, perhaps, like no other administration in our history. The Dems could never accept the election results, and the Repubs have carried on a feckless relationship with a president who obviously was not their first choice from their retinue of available candidates.  And Trump’s incurable foot-in-mouth disease did not endear him to anyone in the Washington political establishment.  Mueller’s investigation was drawn out for the obvious collateral damage it was inflicting by hobbling and diverting Team Trump from governing.
  5. Mueller’s work has also served 1) to firmly entrench the public’s longstanding opinion of the dodgy legal profession and our convoluted and corrupt justice system in which it operates, and 2) to highlight and further widen our country’s ideological divide. The report’s dearth of evidence and painfully wordsmithed syntax made sure that it would change no minds already secure in their beliefs about Trump’s guilt or innocence.  All sides can now put their own particular spin on it, and never look back.

WSJ Washington columnist Kim Strassel adds more meat to these points in her ‘Mueller’s Report Speaks Volumes’.

[20apr19 update]  Upon reflection on Volume 2 of the report dealing with obstruction, it strikes me as more than utter bullshit that would be below the standards of any other profession other than those populated mostly by sleazebag lawyers.  I add point #6.

  1. “… while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” A little thought immediately causes one to ask, ‘is there ANY investigation that cannot have such a codicil appended to its conclusion, should the investigator desire to leave a cloud over the individual investigated without the finding of any illegality or indictable criminality??’ To conclude with such an unnecessary assertion is an act of desperation which confirms that the investigation was carried out with an agenda unfulfilled.  Such a dangling innuendo strongly implies that guilt could yet be uncovered with more effort, and forces the so accused into having to prove his own innocence – not exactly the way our system of jurisprudence was intended to operate.  (That is one of the many reasons I assess our judicial system to be invitingly corrupt.)

In Mueller’s case he was not able to indict someone for not obstructing an unobstructed investigation that terminated without finding any evidence of an indictable crime.  About that the Dems are pissed to the gills, and will now do everything to correct the situation.  Go figger.

Posted in , , ,

316 responses to “The Mueller Report – some early takes (updated 20apr19)”

  1. Paul Emery Avatar

    Todd
    Why didn’t Sessions do any investigations and press charges when he was AG or is he part of the Swamp as well?

    Like

  2. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    It will be so fun to see all your pals you have defended in the hoosegow. All your protestations are nil.

    Like

  3. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Po, po, pitiful you @814 – Jeff Sessions did launch an investigation but based it outside of the swamp and that’s why there have been no leaks!
    😉

    Like

  4. Paul Emery Avatar

    So what are they “ALL” guilty of Todd or do you just want to round them up and jail them?

    Like

  5. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Cause Session recused himself and Mueller took over the Investigation. Sessions got fired, new AG will pick up on the criminal behavior of those who should brought to justice. Also, there is an on going IG Investigation going on right now. Gotta wait for Horowitz to finish his report on the handling of the application for the FISA warrants, lying to Congress, lying to his investigators, abuse of power, obstructing justice, lying to a court, etc,….then Barr will look at it all. I will not be surprised when two swat teams raid Sally Yates home at 5 am, throw her on the floor, put automatic weapons to her head, and yell out in front of her children, “Move one finger, bitch and we will blow your ducking head off, cunt. Go ahead bitch, move one finger. And tell your fucking kids to shut the fuck up.” Works for me.

    Like

  6. Paul Emery Avatar

    Looks like Biker Bill is back!!! You are really a disgusting person Bill condoning such treatment of a person while being arrested. By the way what do you contend Sally Yates did to qualify for such treatment?

    Like

  7. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Oh, they will probably not even charge her. Mueller tactics. She is a small fry. The FBI will keeping asking her the same question, hour after hour, ask it different ways with different cadence, and bring her back over and over again for about 30 hours to answer the same question. Then, when a detail changes like the strength of the breeze in the air, charge her for perjury, lying to the FBI. It’s how it’s done, the Obama way. The Weismann way. The truth is not as important as a conviction.
    But, the topic here is the Mueller report. Then the IG report. Then a look at the evidence. Who knows what are dead-ends and what will bear fruit at this moment. Getting ahead of ourselves. Mueller report is the topic. I suppose what led tothe appointment of the Special Counsel is on topic, so I be wrong.

    Like

  8. AVMan Avatar
    AVMan

    ,,,Trump really really wanted to obstruct the investigation because as we all know by now he is a lyin’ cheatin’ son of a bitch…but his staff would not follow his direction…because they knew what a lowlife he is…
    ‘’’Many of Trump’s potential efforts to obstruct the investigations against him failed after staffers rebuffed him.
    Mueller’s team found “multiple acts by the President that were capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations, including the Russian-interference and obstruction investigations.”
    The report specifically cites one-on-one meetings between Trump and top-level staffers where the president directed them to curtail investigations. For example, he asked then-White House counsel Don McGahn to have Mueller fired and requested that former staffer Corey Lewandowski ask then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to limit the scope of the Russia investigation.
    The investigation ultimately found that Trump’s efforts to influence it “were mostly unsuccessful, but that is largely because the persons who surrounded the President declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests.”’

    Like

  9. Paul Emery Avatar

    The likelihood of stonewalling Congress in their request for documents and information is striking similar to the articles of impeachment against Nixon which stated:
    “Article III alleged in part that Nixon:
    Failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June 24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas.[98]

    Like

  10. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    Paul Emery would you please show us in the Constitution where it gives the power of oversight to Congress over the Executive.

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  11. Paul Emery Avatar

    So Todd you believe Nixon did nothing wrong and should not have been investigated by Congress?

    Like

  12. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    punchy 1040am
    Where does the Constitution give Congress the right to demand any information it wants from the executive branch? What punishment is prescribed for the President for “willfully disobeying” a subpoena from Congress? Who conducts the trial?

    Like

  13. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    Pau; Emery answer my question. YES OR NO?

    Like

  14. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    The crimes of Nixon involve the active coverup by Nixon of the breaking and entering at the Watergate Hotel by folks with ties to the Committee to Reelect Nixon.
    The imagined crimes of Trump involve a non-existent coverup of a non-existent conspiracy of the Trump campaign with Putin’s Russia hallucinated by Democrats in the aftermath of their meltdown once they realized Hillary lost to the Donald.
    It’s over, Paul. Give it a rest.

    Like

  15. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    YES or NO Paul Emery. Where in the Constitution can you point to the Congress having oversite of the Executive? YES or NO!

    Like

  16. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Eric Holder held in contempt of Congress after historic vote”
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/28/eric-holder-contempt-historic-congress-vote
    That’s about as far as the Congress can go when the Executive branch tells them to go pound sand.
    Now, 2nd Amendment fundamentalists think Fast and Furious was a crime, intended to stampede Congress into passing gun prohibitions. It didn’t work.

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  17. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    It’s all over the Constitution Todd. Examples are that Congress has to support Presidential nominations for Cabinet positions and can investigate to that end. Also they can investigate into whatever they feel is of concern-Watergate, Iran Contra, and oh yeah-Clintons alleged perjury. Did you support Clinton being impeached?
    It’s just beginning Gregory. Get used to it. There are no less that 12 active investigations into Trumps business affairs and the investigation into obstruction is very much open according to Mueller who left it up to congress with his open ended statement
    The essence of Mueller’s report DOES NOT clear Trump. Here’s a direct quote from the report:
    “If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state.”

    Like

  18. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    I’m not doing your homework for you Todd. Here’s a link to the Constitution. Your homework is to study it and report back to me. Class is over.
    https://constitutionus.com/

    Like

  19. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Time for a referral to behavioral health @1237,1240!
    😉

    Like

  20. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    “Where in the Constitution can you point to the Congress having oversite of the Executive? YES or NO!”
    You are cheating.
    The oversight is implied.

    Like

  21. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    Paul Emery answer the question. Point to the articles in the Constitution that gove Congress oversight of the Executive. What you posted at 1237 is pure bS. The document is an enumerated one so there has to be written words. Where are they? I already know but now I see you don’t. You are just a BS artist without smarts.

    Like

  22. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    I love it when a moron like Paul Emery dodges a simple issue. What a hoot!

    Like

  23. George Rebane Avatar

    If my understanding is correct, the House’s oversight functions do not delve into criminal investigations, but they can investigate matters for impeachment when there is a clear indication that the investigation will reveal “high crimes and misdemeanors” that there is indication that the target of impeachment may have committed. Re Trump, there is NO indication that he has actually done anything wrong. He cannot be impeached for leaked Oval Office conversations that resulted in no unlawful act. Our justice system does not allow persecution for unfulfilled intent that was not even attempted.
    But then, perhaps the brave new world of liberal mind police are ready to expand the landscape of indictable offenses so that power and control may be more firmly secured by an expanding government.

    Like

  24. Ozz Avatar
    Ozz

    Trump continues to blow wind into the sails of the Mueller report. Keep on tweeting, keep it in the spotlight!! Trump’s favorite subject is Trump and as long as his “enemies” give him enough rope to stay engaged, he won’t let go and will keep glued to his TV set and Twitter. I think this is a winning strategy to defeat Trump. Let himself ego himself right off the stage. As we’ve learned he can’t keep focused on two things at once. Todd will be there to catch him with wet kisses.

    Like

  25. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    ” I think this is a winning strategy to defeat Trump.”
    lol. It sure has worked so far.
    Don’t worry, these things happen in cycles. Pretty soon we’ll have a President who is for open borders, drag queens reading books to kids, college children terrorizing their professors, moar and moar iron rice bowl .gov jobs.
    For one thing, there’s hasn’t been near enough white people saying they are so so sorry for their many crimes. We need to amp that up a little.
    It’s all good. Either things go the way I want, or they are so ridiculous that I just have to laugh. It’s win-win.

    Like

  26. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “It’s just beginning Gregory. Get used to it. There are no less that 12 active investigations into Trumps business affairs and the investigation into obstruction is very much open according to Mueller who left it up to congress with his open ended statement”-Punchy
    12 active investigations into Trump’s business affairs, Punch?
    I know there are 12 ongoing investigations in the aftermath of Mueller, but it wasn’t said who or what they were aimed at. Can you refer me to a reference they’re all into “Trump’s business affairs”?
    Again, that would be something unrelated to Russia and/or the Trump campaign. Good news, eh?

    Like

  27. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    GeorgeR: “But then, perhaps the brave new world of liberal mind police are ready to expand the landscape of indictable offenses so that…”
    If you held both houses of Congress, you could simply impeach any President of the opposing party, no bonafide reason needed. Wash,rinse,repeat (well, wash-rinse) until you hit the Speaker of the House.
    It’s something of a bug in the design if you think about it. Andrew Johnson just about succumbed via similar means.
    When you are on the road to reinventing the country, any tactics are justified. Year Zero is a real thing I think.

    Like

  28. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    “12 active investigations into Trump’s business affairs, Punch?”
    Maybe he meant 12 polls. or 12 porn stars, or something. It was all on some website you know.

    Like

  29. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Our justice system does not allow persecution for unfulfilled intent that was not even attempted.”
    -GR 200pm
    It certainly does, George. Informal persecution by the Ozzs, AVMs and Punchies has always been allowed for thoughtcrime.
    It’s prosecution that is barred. You know, the use of the legal system to find and punish actual lawbreakers. Until we can crack the thoughtcrime and futurecrime determinations, that is.

    Like

  30. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    Still no proof there is a Constitutional provision for “oversight”.

    Like

  31. George Rebane Avatar

    Gregory 259pm – thank you Gregory; I did mean persecution through formal judicial system proceedings – e.g. subpoenas, grand jury testimonies, testifying under oath, being named ‘person of interest’, threat of prosecution, threat of being charged with perjury, gratuitous indictment, etc. Sorry for being unclear.

    Like

  32. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    George 308pm
    If your intent was to refer to an ironic misuse of legal mechanisms to persecute the innocent, your original quote does fall short. Apology accepted.
    So, you are saying you agree with my referrals a number of times (five or more over the years) to the appointment of “special persecutors” to harass the unlucky?

    Like

  33. George Rebane Avatar

    Gregory 337pm – Agreed.

    Like

  34. Paul Emery Avatar

    Scenes
    Actually there are 16 continuing investigations into Trump . Here they are:
    Roger Stone criminal trial
    The hush money investigation
    Trump’s inauguration funding
    Pro-Trump super PAC
    Trump Organization insurance policies
    The Trump Foundation
    Trump’s taxes
    Trump’s golf club employing undocumented immigrants
    Michael Cohen’s legal fees
    House Intelligence Committee
    House Judiciary Committee
    House Oversight Committee
    House Financial Services
    House Ways and Means Committee
    House Foreign Affairs Committee
    Senate Intelligence
    http://time.com/5557644/donald-trump-other-investigations-mueller/

    Like

  35. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    12 investigations? Wow, they are working overtime trying to make PMSNBC number one again. Go man-boy R. Maddcow and you too, crazy Amy Goodman. Hang in there. You will get your mo-jo back.
    It’s rather troubling to consider there was zero Russian Collusion going on, never happened, never was, and everybody knew it from the start…..well before Mueller came on the scene. CIA knew, they all knew. And Mueller knew no later than Oct, 2017, if not before. Part II is just one big slime. To keep the hysteria going until 2020. The Mueller Report (Part II) is all about 2020, not much else.
    And to think they got a FISA warrant not once, but four times on Carter Page to spy on the entire Trump Campaign based on nothing but the DNC-Clinton Industrial Complex dossier…..written by a foreign national with 3rd and 4th person Russian contacts and one very pro-Hillary Ukrainian parliament member pissed at Manafort…..who did work for the other side in Ukraine. Of course the targeted leaks to the media were used to collaborate the Dossier, lol.
    Sounds like they were setting up an September- October Surprise, but, by golly, the Dossier that Hillary Machine was shopping around to the media outlets was so off the wall friggin crazy, even the lefty media refused to run with it since for months, roflama. No verification, can’t verify. Then Hillary got tangled up with a million e-mails on Carlos Danger’s laptop. Oh, the best laid plans of mice and men. But, we won’t talk about Part I….or the economy. Forward ho!
    As a interesting side note, this week we have learned that those missing 30,OOO Hillary e-mails she destroyed where found at last…..in the White House …….received from Carlos Danger’s laptop. And that had nothing to do with Russian hacking. At the height of the Russian hysteria, if you waved to a crowd or said “hi” to someone at the food buffet and a couple of Russian happened to be there, oh boy. Proof! Treason!! Conspiracy!!
    Russia phobia is a good angle. They are real bad guys, our sworn enemy for years. Cold War opponent. Spy vs. spy. Great storyline. 🙂

    Like

  36. George Rebane Avatar

    On some of these topics I refer you to the 24apr19 Scattershots and its updates. Enjoy.

    Like

  37. Paul Emery Avatar

    Never had anything to do with the Russian hacking Bill. The emails stolen and utilized by Trump were from the DNC.

    Like

  38. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Really? No kidding Punchy. What was your first clue?
    And what did the Obama Administration and Clapper and Comey and the FBI and Susan Rice do after learning in March, 2016 that the DNC computers had been “leaking” files since Jan. 2015? Hmmm. They warned the R’s and preventative measures were taken. They warmed the Hillary Campaign and the FBI was shown the door. Odd.
    And Part 1 does say what we all knew (but you for over two years,) which is the Russian meddling was inconsequential to the election….after you read through the smoke and a d get to the money quote.

    Like

  39. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    I thought someone else stole or hacked those emails? When they were placed into the public domain they became a perfect target. That Wiki guy was smart but still a rat.

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  40. Paul Emery Avatar

    Still Trump using for his own advantage stolen material. Todd, would it be ok if someone broke into your house and stole private letters and correspondence from you and they ended up on R R’s blog?

    Like

  41. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    You mean like Mueller attacking and confiscating Cohen’s stuff with Trump? I think I am against the government doing that. But if someone stole from my home I certainly would be upset.

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  42. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    Paul Emery, I am still waiting for you to back up your [psotoion that Congress has oversite on the Executive. Please provide your proof.

    Like

  43. Paul Emery Avatar

    Study the Constitution Todd. I’m not doing your homework for you.

    Like

  44. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Hey TJ why not let the pony tail of ignorance wallow in it?
    😉

    Like

  45. Paul Emery Avatar

    Todd writes:
    “But if someone stole from my home I certainly would be upset.”
    So Todd someone stealing private files from the DNC is no different than someone stealing private correspondence from your home. Do you agree?

    Like

  46. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    BWWAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHAH @741 That’s just so precious.
    😉

    Like

  47. Paul Emery Avatar

    Are you trying to say something Don? I’m worried about you.

    Like

  48. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Seems to me that the media used e-mails more than Trump did by 1,000%. Bad NYT, bad. Bad Wa Compost, bad, bad, bad. Bad Morning Joe. Bad menagerie of investigative journalists, talking heads, and Ivan Q. Public. Too bad they are protected by the 1st Amendment, despite what CNN originally spouted.
    Trump’s reading e-mails lines a couple here and there at joyful electrifying rallies is like comparing Wiki-Leaks to a swimming pool full of salad and Trump tosses a cup or two of salt and pepper on it.
    The Mueller report Part 2 was just like a fancy name for sleazeball op research, like the Yellow Shower Dossier was in Part 1. Boy, the Bernie Bros where hotter than a goat’s butt in a pepper patch when they got their hands on those e-mails. They are still pissed about it. I’m not in the least. Matter of fact, it makes me feel gooood. Makes me want to go out and poke fun at a disabled NYT reporter or some mentally disabled popinjay. Jow with a ponytail.

    Like

  49. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Just enjoying the pony tail of ignorance floor show @808! LOL
    😉

    Like

  50. Paul Emery Avatar

    Glad you’re enjoying yourself Don.

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