Democrats worry attorney general has an 'October Surprise' in the making

[Counselor706]

Attorney General William Barr has promised the Justice Department will not take any action to influence the upcoming election. But Democrats and department veterans aren't so sure about that.

In opinion pieces and letters, they warn that Barr might be preparing to spring an "October Surprise." There's one big reason for that: recent testimony from the attorney general himself.

Democrats are monitoring the status of an investigation by prosecutor John Durham, who appears to be looking at intelligence gathering and other actions by the Obama administration in 2016. Barr tapped Durham to look into the origins of the Russia investigation in May 2019.

When Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., asked Barr whether he would commit to not releasing any report by Durham before the November election, Barr said bluntly, "No."

Source

 

[HisArpy]

When Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., asked Barr whether he would commit to not releasing any report by Durham before the November election, Barr said bluntly, "No.

It's like they're stupid or something.

Durham ISN'T investigating to "write a report". He's investigating to discovery if there was criminal wrongdoing and, if so, PROSECUTE those involved.

But, if the D's want to believe that there's a "report" at the end of his investigation, let them. That way they can complain all the way to jail that they didn't get to read it and that it must be some sort of Russian plot.

 

[Adre]

Meanwhile, back in the world of here’s what we know:


“Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden continues to lead President Donald Trump in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, according to CBS News Background Tracker polls released Sunday.

The polls show Biden leading Trump by 6 percentage points among likely voters in both states — 49 percent to 43 in Pennsylvania, 48 to 42 in Wisconsin. Trump won both of those states in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point, but polling in recent months has consistently put Biden ahead in both.“


But, but, 2016. Yeah I get it, but I’d rather be up by six than down by six right now.

 

[HisArpy]

Meanwhile, back in the world of here’s what we know:


“Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden continues to lead President Donald Trump in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, according to CBS News Background Tracker polls released Sunday.

The polls show Biden leading Trump by 6 percentage points among likely voters in both states — 49 percent to 43 in Pennsylvania, 48 to 42 in Wisconsin. Trump won both of those states in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point, but polling in recent months has consistently put Biden ahead in both.“


But, but, 2016. Yeah I get it, but I’d rather be up by six than down by six right now.

So, you thought similar polls would make Hillary the winner?

 

[phrodeau]

Durham has had over a year to make up something.

 

[Adre]

So, you thought similar polls would make Hillary the winner?

We all* did.

*except for liars who have selective memory.

I’m willing to wager this time will be different. In fact, I did.

 

[HisArpy]

We all* did.

*except for liars who have selective memory.

I’m willing to wager this time will be different. In fact, I did.

Whether "we all" thought Hillary was going to win in 2016 has ZERO BEARING on whether Biden will prevail in 2020 given the same basic polling number range and the general overall distaste the public seems to have for Biden.

The entire election this year is a do-over of 2016 and you can't seem to see it even though it's right there in front of you.

 

[bellisarius]

I'm betting he does. Why do you think they've spent so much political capital trying to discredit him?

 

[HisArpy]

I'm betting he does. Why do you think they've spent so much political capital trying to discredit him?

'
They've spent 4 years denouncing Trump as a "Russian puppet" and being "incompetent" as well as being "a liar/criminal/unpresidential/etc" and he's STILL within a few points of Biden.

I also seem to remember something about a Biden 15 point lead only a couple of weeks ago and now wonder what happened to that...

 

[Adre]

Whether "we all" thought Hillary was going to win in 2016 has ZERO BEARING on whether Biden will prevail in 2020 given the same basic polling number range and the general overall distaste the public seems to have for Biden.

The entire election this year is a do-over of 2016 and you can't seem to see it even though it's right there in front of you.

I can see as well as anybody. Don’t think you can’t end up looking stupid. So you think there’s no “general distaste” for Trump? I agree, it’s more like disgust.

 

[bellisarius]

'
They've spent 4 years denouncing Trump as a "Russian puppet" and being "incompetent" as well as being "a liar/criminal/unpresidential/etc" and he's STILL within a few points of Biden.

I also seem to remember something about a Biden 15 point lead only a couple of weeks ago and now wonder what happened to that...

You already brought up the veracity of the polls at this point in the cycle. You won't see anything close to reality until just before the election when the pollster's reputations are on the line and even then it'll be sketchy. They blew it badly in 2016.

 

[Adre]

I love the way you guys just ignore the fucked up pandemic response, the cratered economy, the massive unemployment, the social unrest. It’s good that you can pretend circumstances are the same as last time around. It could make the results that much sweeter.

 

[HisArpy]

I can see as well as anybody. Don’t think you can’t end up looking stupid. So you think there’s no “general distaste” for Trump? I agree, it’s more like disgust.

What you don't get is how the public actually views Trump.

Trump is, to use an old fashioned word, a Boor. He blusters, brags, and self congratulates on just about everything and anything. He's always right in the thick of things and his name shows up when the cleanup crew arrives.

We KNOW that. You repeating it like it's something that makes him unelectable is silly because WE ALREADY KNOW IT and we elected him anyway because the alternatives were way fucking worse than having a Boorish asshole as a President.

(Fuck, all you have to do is look at Canada to see that being a boorish asshole isn't a disqualification for holding national office.)



Biden, OTOH, has a 40 year track record of being an asshole who has fucked over just about everyone and anything. At present, he's displaying that he's senile and incompetent and isn't fit to be President so the real contest is between Trump and Biden's as yet unnamed VP.

So, the choice this November is going to be between reelecting the Boor, or electing the VP of someone who is so mentally incompetent it's scary that he'd be in control of the US nuclear arsenal as well as the rest of the country, just to stick it to the Republican's.

It's not much of a choice. Anyone who thinks it is, is stupid and delusional.

 

[bellisarius]

Returning to the theme of the thread.

After the democrats behavior these past 4 years they'd be idiots not to expect Durham/Barr to make a move. What in the world did they think the declassification of all those documents foretold? They spent all of that time bullying Barr and smearing his reputation, did they honestly think there wouldn't be consequences?

 

[Rightguide]

It will probably be a September surprise.

 

[Adre]

The 66,000,000+ who want Trump gone believe he’s far more dangerous than anything Durham might have or might manufacture.

 

[SpeareChucker]

How can you surprise the most ethical administration
since the founding of the United States unless
you are engaging in fictions...

 

[bellisarius]

The screams of "Banana Republic" will be echoing through the halls of congress for years to come.

 

[SpeareChucker]

Ahm your Huckle..., er, Venus...




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4-1ASpdT1Y

 

[colddiesel]

Isn't Giuliani still under investigation in NY? They could do a trade.

I am absolutely certain accusations will be made against Biden. Whether there is a skerrick of truth in them won't matter - a lie with traction works well enough.

 

[SpeareChucker]

There's already been an indignant flurry of MeToo women that was ignored

which, btw,

is why you no longer hear a damned thing about MeToo...