Comey is a hero in his own mind. He's been spinning noble tales about himself for at least 10 years

[ProfessorPlum]

One thing I will always remember about Comey is this story from 2007, when he told the tale of how he rushed to John Ashcroft's hospital bed and protected him from Andrew Card...

His testimony describes the night that the Bush's NSA warrantless eavesdropping program was set to expire, as then AG Ashcroft lay in a hospital Intensive Care Unit with a critical case of pancreatitis. Comey, designated as Acting AG during the AG's illness, had refused the White House demands to certify the NSA program as "legal", as was needed for it to continue. The White House was said to have been furious about it, so Dubya, reportedly, personally called Ashcroft's wife to inform her that his own legal adviser Alberto Gonzalez (who was not yet AG) and Chief of Staff Andy Card, were on their way over to the hospital to have the ailing AG personally sign off on the program.

He describes the ensuing late-night chain of events --- from speeding in his redirected limosine, to an ICU confrontation and an astounding "moment of clarity" from the ailing AG, to a midnight White House showdown over all of this. I'd describe the testimony as "must watch" if you've never seen it, and a great refresher for those of us who saw it at the time. It offers an instructive moment about where nomination hearings for Comey could go if, in fact, he is nominated to replace Robert Mueller as FBI Director. Along with Comey, Mueller performed as one of the "good guys", at least in this particular moment of history.

Maybe it happened exactly this way. Maybe Comey stood up to Bush and all of his cronies. This story has been repeated and repeated as if it was the gospel truth since then, and appears in nearly all accounts of Comey's career.

The thing is though, this story, as far as I know, only comes from Comey. No one else has ever described the events of that night. And so, we are left with Comey's heroic tale of standing athwart warrantless eavesdropping, rescuing his ailing superior in the hospital from political pressure. Comey, the hero. He likes to tell these aw shucks tales about how great and patriotic and moral and ethical he is.

BUT COMEY FUCKED HILLARY OVER ROYALLY. Against his OWN guidelines. No amount of painting himself the grand hero/martyr will erase that.

[Adrahil]

1. Hey, that's a great idea!!!!

Let's undermine someone who is likely to be major witness against Hair Fuhrer.

BRILLIANT!!!!!

FFS....

[Horizens]

2. Agree ...

and I wonder about the motive of those trashing Comey.

[YessirAtsaFact]

54. Same motive as any other DU troll

Cause dissention and division

[rzemanfl]

4. +1. I will side with Comey vs. Drumpf. However, should he have the misfortune to

catch fire, I could not piss on him to put it out because of a vow I took about Republicans after the 2000 selection.

[Squinch]

7. Does acknowledging who Comey is make it less likely that he will be a witness? Nope. Not at all.

[Adrahil]

9. This isn't complicated....

The other side will do all it can to discredit Comey and to justify his firing. That WILL be used against him and undermine the effectiveness of his testimony. We should not be doing this, Not now. It's NOT complicated!

[Squinch]

11. Remembering facts is not going to undermine his testimony.

[Adrahil]

16. Very well. If you insist.

I also remember how Bernie not giving up after he obviously lost the nomination wasn't going to hurt Hillary. Sure.

Apparently we NEVER learn. We are stuck navel gazing instead of going after the bad guys.

[Squinch]

20. That analogy makes no sense whatsoever. One thing has no resemblance to the other.

[Adrahil]

22. Therein lies the problem. You can't see it.

If you can't see how these self-righteous attacks on Comey's character play right into the MAGAt playbook (just like Sandernistas couldn't see how Bernie's refusal to concede could undermine Clinton), then that goes a long way to explaining why we do this to ourselves over and over again.

I swear to Jeebus....

[Squinch]

24. Oh, dear.

[mikeysnot]

29. The problem sems to be

some peoples selective memory and rewriting history to their benefit.

[smirkymonkey]

44. Thank YOU!

I share your frustration. Why are so many Democrats like this? Or are they Democrats?

[brer cat]

13. Do you really believe they are reading DU

and planning to put our posts up on billboards or for FOX to report in order to discredit Comey? This is a discussion forum where we express our opinions, and I doubt that anyone outside our membership cares about what we say.

[Adrahil]

15. It's not just here.... it's all over the left-of-center media. NT

[Old Vet]

25. You are quite mistaken brer cat, I Remember when the GREAT Helen Thomas personally............

E-Mailed me to thank me for the roses myself and many other DU members who sent her roses when she was being harassed. I forgot her DU name and I think it was around 2002. IMO many smart people check these discussions out.................

[brer cat]

35. If they are "smart people"

they are liberals and not using anything we say to discredit Comey or anyone else. My point is that this is a discussion forum where we express our opinions on a wide variety of topics. To censor some topics out of fear it will be used in a nefarious way by republicans is absurd. Yes, we do get some RW trolls, but outside of possibly our membership, no one is going to be influenced by what brer cat or Old Vet thinks about Comey.

[Tipperary]

46. Excellent post. Very well said.

[enough]

18. If you follow the principles Comey says he follows, this kind of thinking is destructive.

You shouldn’t edit truth for political purposes. Too bad Comey decided to ignore that principle, and be guided by intimidation from the other side.

[Adrahil]

23. It's not about editing truth....

It's about knowing when to hold fire. And here we are.... shooting ourselves in the foot.... AGAIN.

[Tipperary]

28. Thank you. I will not support an asshole just because he hates another asshole.

He cost Hillary the election, no matter how he tries to spin himself out of it.

[smirkymonkey]

42. No kidding!

I am so sick of this crap. It's totally counterproductive.

[Wwcd]

3. There was only reason to step in front of the cameras, ..

..11 days before the election to deliver the drummed up & false "breaking news", as he did.

That reason was successful in its desired outcome on Nov 8th, 2016.

Comey should be charged with violating his own FBI code of ethics, in order to throw the election of the 2016 US President.

What's that called again, Mr Comey?

What a stupid man.

[H2O Man]

31. It would require

that what he did violated an "FBI code of ethics" (which it did not), and that this non-existent section of the FBI code of ethics was a law (which it is not).

[Wwcd]

34. He spoke to the world of something that had no basis of such urgency.

Borrowing from post 27 by stillone.

still_one
27. Two different issues. His involement in demonstrating Trump's obstruction of justice and other
associated illegal activities is one issue, and inappropriately disobeying the AG's orders not to release a letter 11 days before a National Election, and probably a violation of the Hatch Act is something else.

They are mutually exclusive events, and there is NO disconnect in being supportive of one, and not the other.

Unfortunately, some in our illustrious press try to present that view as "hypocritical", which only demonstrates why much of the press lacks critical thinking
------

Said it clearly.

[H2O Man]

36. I have no problem

with you thinking that. However, I do believe it is important to stick to facts, rather than falsehoods.

For example, Mr. Comey did not "step in front of cameras" to deliver "false breaking news" eleven days before the election. He did send a letter to the members of the congressional committee that he had previously testified before, and had stated the investigation was closed. A republican member of the committee "leaked" the letter to the media ten minutes after it was sent. Mr. Comey did not stand (or sit) before any camera to discuss this, until his book tour began.

Thus, I would suggest that saying he "spoke to the world" is incorrect.

Per "urgency" : the Department of Justice had signed off on the warrant that the FBI team investigating the e-mails found upon the computer of the husband of a Clinton aide had brought -- first to Mr. Comey, then to the DoJ heads. Had the DoJ prosecutors -- and leaders -- not recognized its significance, they would not have immediately signed it, and taken it to a judge.

Facts matter.

[Wwcd]

37. He spoke to the public. MSM covered the big lead up to the moment & the follow up

His statement dominated every news station & social media acct.

He handed her opponants a loaded weapon.
Yet he had no proof of truth to that statement.

[H2O Man]

38. In the summer,

Mr. Comey did indeed speak to the public. He did not speak to the public about re-opening the case eleven days before the election. This is why, were you to take a moment and try, you will find you cannot find a single source documenting his speaking publicly in the eleven days prior to the election.

There is a pattern to be found in your comments here. You state several things that are simply wrong, having zero basis in fact. He did not step in front of the cameras on this. Nor, as my original response noted, is there any reality to your statement that he should be charged with violating the FBI code of ethics by sending the letter to committee members.

I do recognize that, even with a firm grasp of the facts, you and others may well dislike Mr. Comey, and even attribute the outcome of the 2016 election to his actions. However, you do not have that firm grasp of actual facts, as illustrated by your comments. Please consider taking the time to learn what actually took place. And why it happened.

[Wwcd]

39. He handed the loaded weapon to every adversary including the press.

Her numbers dropped & that was the the validation they needed to justify the coup that was taking place behing the scene.

That was the effect of his public on air statement.

He couldn't have given a greater validation to the year long smear campaign of reimaging Hillary Clinton.
She is nothing like the persona they created.

Comey delivered.

End of subject here.

I am well aware of the facts.

[H2O Man]

40. Wrong again.

He made no "on air" statement. If he had, both you and I -- and anyone reading this -- would know that you would provide a link proving your point. By not being capable of doing so, you prove mine. I thank you for that.

[Wwcd]

43. Good god. I'm pretty sure I sat here & watched the "breaking" Comey On Air urgent statement that

..started yet one last ditch effort to doubt Clinton.

You are wrong Mr H2O Man.

We see the results of the same event differently.

I will NEVER shelter Mr Comey from his unecessary role in the intentional destruction of Clinton

[H2O Man]

45. Nope.

You arte wrong. You "remember" something that never happened. It just didn't happen.

[Wwcd]

47. Well then me & millions of viewers must also be wrong..in your opinion

Glad to know millions are ALL wrong by your account.

[H2O Man]

48. Ha!

"Millions"? Nope. Just you.

You know the date. Please find a link that supports your "memory."

[Wwcd]

49. Bye

Baiter

[democratisphere]

5. I stand with Comey AND all of his stuff will be instrumental in removing

drumpf et al from office.

[lindalou65]

14. Me too

K&R

[still_one]

27. Two different issues. His involement in demonstrating Trump's obstruction of justice and other

associated illegal activities is one issue, and inappropriately disobeying the AG's orders not to release a letter 11 days before a National Election, and probably a violation of the Hatch Act is something else.

They are mutually exclusive events, and there is NO disconnect in being supportive of one, and not the other.

Unfortunately, some in our illustrious press try to present that view as "hypocritical", which only demonstrates why much of the press lacks critical thinking

[H2O Man]

32. An important point

is that the AG did not order Mr. Comey to NOT release the letter to Congress. She did suggest that he not release it. When he made clear that he was going to, the DoJ assisted in preparing it, along with the team at the FBI that was involved in the investigation.

[DonViejo]

6. Has anyone allegedly involved denied Comey's story?

I cannot recall ever seeing or hearing any.

[H2O Man]

33. Of course not.

In fact, Mr. Comey was not the source of the original story, as documented shortly after the incident took place.

[srey704]

57. This is irrelevant, but I need help for another DU'er.

The STAR member WinkyDink has been unable to contact any Forum Administrator either through "snail mail" (no replies) or the listed contact e-mail addresses (kicked back as "undeliverable&quot . She is also not able to send any Private Message.

If you could do her the IMMENSE favor of sending as a Private Message to Skinner and/or EarlG the above information and also request that either might contact her at her e-mail address, she would be very grateful! It is nlion7149 (at) yahoo.com.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

P.S. You were chosen somewhat random as a "known" name!

[karynnj]

8. I suspect that the Bush era story was real

The reason is that many others are cast in a bad light, but no one has disputed it.

In addition, it shares certain themes with the Clinton actions. He seems to be a rigid rule follower who is very concerned with his own honor. In both cases, he does not speak of the over arching consequences of his sction.

His explanation that he was concerned that some email from the very early Clinton SoS days, made on her blackberry could change the evaluation to close the case. If that happened after the election, which he assumed she would win, his decision not to say something after he cleared her could be questioned.

Not to mention, imagine the impact on the election if he said nothing and others leaked it the day before the election?

Ironically, he now will be seen by a huge percent of the country as having given the election to Trump.

[ProfessorPlum]

12. "He seems to be a rigid rule follower"

Except when it comes to his own rules about how to behave in the months before an election.

the accusations against Clinton have always been bullshit, and Comey knew that too. What, was he going to find some email that was ex post facto marked "sensitive"? Whoop di doo, especially when the alternative is a mobbed up Russian asset/cretin.

[Wwcd]

41. Thank you. The obvious is SO obvious. He gets no pass from me.

I too am well aware of the events.

[StevieM]

17. His decision not to say anything could not have been legitimately questioned.

That was what DOJ policy clearly called for.

[lunamagica]

10. Yes he did. And the consequesces of his actions will be felt

for decades.

Many, many will never be able to recover

[kwassa]

19. What the fuck ever. Give it a rest.

Comey does not have to be a saint for us to support him.

[ucrdem]

21. Yep, CYA, bigtime.

He should have been named as a defendant in the DNC lawsuit against Russia for example, but he isn't. I don't think that's coincidental. And blabbing his heart out on every cable channel in town just about guarantees that he'll never be called as a witness in an impeachment proceeding as everything he's babbling can be used against him, so what lawyer would n't find his testimony worthless.
Convenient isn't it?

[bigtree]

26. I believe him

...and not knowing the truth behind it, yourself, this is a pretty lousy smear.

[ProfessorPlum]

50. All I'm saying is that in his own account of things

He paints himself as this moral, ethical, lawful, do-gooder, concerned about the institutions of government.

It's his right to do that. It's also my right to throw up in my mouth a little hearing this sanctimonious asshole praise himself. After what he did.

[bigtree]

56. he's never boasted about any of that

...but I'm loath to decry aspiring to these - moral, ethical, lawful, do-gooder, concerned about the institutions of government - especially in his role as the nation's top-cop.

Besides, these are mostly from accounts from those who worked with him, much respect for Comey among his colleagues. That's a reasonable measure of a man.

[ProfessorPlum]

58. "he's never boasted about any of that"

this is an untrue statement.

[bigtree]

61. I guess I'll have to take your word for that

...mostly because I'm not really interested in following your logic around the net.

Like I said, he could aspire to a lot worse, and I'm pretty sure his co-workers feel he met most of those standards he set for himself.

[H2O Man]

30. Respectfully disagree.

There are accounts of that incident and its aftermath that came out which were not from Mr. Comey.

[no_hypocrisy]

51. Comey and Trump both can't be telling th truth.

Last edited Tue Apr 24, 2018, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Whom are you going to believe?

[FiveGoodMen]

60. But they COULD both be lying

[MFM008]

52. Comey may have a

Strange sense of duty but I'll take his word over the lying maggot any day.

[Gothmog]

53. Comey is not a hero and I will never forgive or forget

[LanternWaste]

55. Mueller (then Director of FBI) has corroborated the story

Mueller (then Director of FBI) has corroborated the story (as well as threatening to resign along with Comey when it happened), as did Ashcroft's wife. And the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel, Patrick Goldsmith.

I really don't see any self-styled heroism on his part. In fact, the only use of that word comes from various Fox entertainment news channels, its viewers... and you.

[rock]

59. I believe you are right

Except for one incident he would have been a hero in my book. And that one incident: what a doozy! It alone did cost Hillary the election. No other incident had an impact of this magnitude.

[themaguffin]

62. Jesus Christ. We know about '16 & Hillary. Comey's notes etc. are part of what will take down trump

Stay focused people.

[ProfessorPlum]

63. he's welcome to do all the damage to Orange Foolius that he wants to

I'm not going to stop him. I was just commenting on what a sanctimonious, self-promoting, and self-righteous hero he is in his own mind, and that he has been that way for years.


It's no wonder he is a Republican

[themaguffin]

64. I don't think that he's a bad guy, but he did make bad decisions.

[ProfessorPlum]

65. he doesn't think he's a bad guy either

that's something that you two have in common

[themaguffin]

66. Oh great, juvenile comments. Thanks!