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MichaelSoE

(1,576 posts)
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 11:32 AM Feb 2022

My thoughts on Merrick Garland

Keeping in mind that he was nominated for the Supreme Court by President Obama, then picked as AG by President Biden and his past tenures have yielded satisfying results, I am be inclined to think he is more than competent and possesses a high level of integrity. He is now under intense scrutiny. Speculation abounds.

The last few days I have been asking myself, "What does he think about when he is not working?" Those moments when one is alone with their thoughts. Thinking, as we all do, about our lives. Our choices. Successes and failures.

I wonder how he felt when he was nominated for the court. Aside from knowing and accepting the enormous responsibility, I wonder if he ever had moments of uncertainty. Did he think to himself, " I have finally achieved my goal." or did he believe himself to be honored for being nominated, something he had never anticipated?

Then the slaps in the face from the Republican held Senate. We all know the what happened so I will not go on a rant about McConnell, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett. I cannot even imagine what he thought or how he felt.

I want to believe he had wide range of emotions and accompanying thoughts. Disappointment, anger, sadness, resolve? I do suppose we all experienced at least a few distressing feelings. Yet I do not think he is the type person that would harbor revenge. I trust that both Obama and Biden placed their faith in a man who would be above being vengeful and vindictive.

And now we are into the biggest criminal investigation in our history. All eyes are on him now. He is not sealed in a room, totally cut off from any and all critiques and theories. An immense task has been put before him. He now has to navigate through uncharted waters. I would love to think he has moments of thinking, feeling, "What goes around , comes around. Karma is a bitch." And at the same time thoughts of confidence. "This is what I do best"

I have no idea what he thinks and have basically projected my own thinking and emotions into what I trying to convey. I guess you could say I am speculating but as someone once said to me, "In some way and at some time, we all suffer from the frailties of being human."

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MOMFUDSKI

(5,710 posts)
1. I like that the 1/6 Committee
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 11:38 AM
Feb 2022

is floating giving immunity to Clark which would prevent Garland from prosecuting Clark down the road. Methinks that it is their way of pushing Garland to do SOMETHING. I am sitting back and watching that show.

Scrivener7

(51,054 posts)
2. Don't care. Not interested in "maybe, might soon, will as soon as i's are dotted
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:08 PM
Feb 2022

and t's are crossed, what is he thinking as he shaves?"

It's all bullshit.

Call me when there are handcuffs. The rest is nonsense.

And please, oh please, let there be handcuffs soon.

dem4decades

(11,307 posts)
4. I agree, I think Garland is thinking, "How do I protect the institutions" and is afraid to go afte
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:10 PM
Feb 2022

An ex-President.

Scrivener7

(51,054 posts)
5. I have no idea what he is thinking. I only know what he has done.
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:14 PM
Feb 2022

Which has been to keep miles away for a year now from the worst offenders of the worst threat our nation has faced since the Civil War.

Not a good look.

dem4decades

(11,307 posts)
6. I guess you believe like I do, No double secret investigation into Trump?
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:24 PM
Feb 2022

Lots of people here think he's running a shadow investigation and is keeping it very secret. Please.

Scrivener7

(51,054 posts)
9. Yes. We agree. He is "working his way up the chain." Which
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:50 PM
Feb 2022

suggests to me we will never get to the top.

Qutzupalotl

(14,337 posts)
14. We didn't hear about the Bannon grand jury until
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 01:16 PM
Feb 2022

they issued an indictment.

Grand jury proceedings are entirely secret, for good reason.

Bettie

(16,132 posts)
8. That is my fear
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:27 PM
Feb 2022

my hope is that he is investigating.

We'll see which it is at some point.

But the word "institutionalist" is the reason for the fear, because it indicates care for the "institution" over justice.

MyOwnPeace

(16,940 posts)
10. I believe the best way "to protect the institutions" is to
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:57 PM
Feb 2022

go after the ones who tried to destroy them!

To NOT do that simply invites more attempts to "destroy the institutions!"

MOMFUDSKI

(5,710 posts)
11. After the crap Nixon pulled
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 12:57 PM
Feb 2022

there should have been an attitude change about presidents OR ex-presidents forever more. Respect my ass.

Response to MichaelSoE (Original post)

Deep State Witch

(10,465 posts)
15. DOJ is making an airtight case
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 01:43 PM
Feb 2022

I'm sure that things are happening at DOJ, but not at the speed that we would like them to. They are probably working to make sure that they have an airtight, non-political case. Remember, we're talking about things that have no precedent - like subpoenas for sitting Senators and Representatives, as well as prosecuting a former President. Possibly one or two Supreme Court Justices as well (Thomas and Alito). Besides, they're probably working with the J6 Committee, which hasn't completed it's business yet. They're trying to make sure that they get all of the i's dotted and t's crossed.

Response to MichaelSoE (Original post)

Beastly Boy

(9,505 posts)
17. Your thoughts make far more sense than all the vitriol against DOJ and/or Garland that followed
Sat Feb 5, 2022, 02:50 PM
Feb 2022

This is not as much a response to your OP as it is it is an expression of frustration with who, despite all evidence to the contrary, insist that DOJ/Garland (more often than not, the two appear to be interchangeable as intended targets), are doing nothing.

Their premise is based on nothing. Literally. The backstage critics, and they include certain media personalities and outlets, see nothing happening from their vantage point, and that vantage point alone, coupled with expectations of instant gratification and their inexplicable sense of entitlement to be informed of the inner workings of an agency they play no part in, determines their conclusion that DOJ/Garland are sitting on their asses.

This vitriol has been going on for months. It started when DOJ knew precious little about the insurrection. Today, they likely know only half of what the country needs to know about it. Imagine if DOJ/Garland were to listen to these amateurs, end the investigation in November, when they knew precious little for a fact, let alone for a prosecution, and, as a ridiculously best case scenario, indicted Trump. The investigation would have ended then and there. None of the traitors abetting Trump or preparing themselves to take Trump's place at the head of the ongoing insurrection would have been exposed.The building of the infrastructure to topple democracy and suspend the Constitution would have continued unimpeded.

Thank goodness the investigation is being conducted by dedicated professionals and not vengeful third graders.

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