I was shocked by how poorly Mueller performed

[Jersey Devil]

I am sure he is a very bright guy or he never would have gotten the job as Director of the FBI, but he is one of the worst public speakers I have ever heard. Perhaps he may have excelled as an administrator or as a legal writer during his career, but I find it hard to believe that he could have ever survived as a trial lawyer. I thought his performance today was just awful and doubt that anyone would change their mind (or come to any conclusions at all) based on his testimony. Sorry, but I think anyone concluding otherwise is just fooling themself. This was a non-event, changing nothing.

[budkin]

1. He was not sharp, that's for sure.

[Takket]

2. i'll take a guy with facts that stammers a bit over a charismatic liar every day of the week

[backtoblue]

4. Absolutely nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

28. Same here.

I think that the last two years took a lot out of him. Knowing what he knows about the depths of drumpf's corruption, and the fact that he can't talk about it because of pending litigation, can't be easy. He also looked thinner than usual, IMO.

[southerncrone]

43. I was shocked at how much he had aged in these 2 years.

He seemed like he was struggling most of the time. Is senility creeping in? He is, after all, 75 yrs old. He certainly seemed VERY tired.

I'm confident he was a top-notch attorney in the past, but today he didn't seem like that is still the case.

[greatauntoftriplets]

46. I hope that his health is okay.

He did seem to be having hearing problems, but that doesn't account for his haggard appearance. Today has to have been a very long day for him.

[southerncrone]

47. I hope his health is ok, too.

I'm sure these last 2 years have been extremely taxing for someone in their mid-70s. He was in a precarious position.

[greatauntoftriplets]

51. It can't have been easy for investigate the depths of drumpf's corruption.

I couldn't have done it, no matter that I'm not a lawyer.

[southerncrone]

53. Yes, it must have been like diving into the depths of hell.

This pit of vipers is like none we've ever experienced before, IMHO. AND to be unable to speak of any of it for so long. Torturous.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

31. This. N/t

[FarPoint]

77. Exactly...

Well said!

[Turin_C3PO]

3. Who cares how he sounded?

It’s not entertainment or reality tv. He stated the facts and answered the questions competently. That’s all he was expected to do.

[StarfishSaver]

6. Amazing, isn't it?

People think this is all a big reality show.

They're not interested in facts. They want to be entertained.

[Takket]

10. yeah... when did sounding like a used car salesman turn into a desirable quality?

[Jersey Devil]

15. It would be nice if a top of the line prosecutor could speak passable English, don't you think?

He certainly did not sound like a top notch lawyer.

[StarfishSaver]

32. His English was perfect and I understood him just fine

Perhaps the problem was one of comprehension, not delivery.

[Jersey Devil]

38. Yes, and his stammering was partularly impressive

.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

54. Good one !

[Loki Liesmith]

84. So stuttering is not regarded as a disability on DU

[Jersey Devil]

99. This is my fav DU response post of all time

Mueller spoke so badly that he reminded me of the kid in my 8th grade class who the teacher used to send outside to polish her car rather than allow him to remain in the class and disrupt everyone with incredibly stupid comments during her lessons.

[treestar]

67. Why is that more

Important than the substance of what he said?

[Jersey Devil]

11. That is the point. Dems called him as a witness precisely for that reason

He was going to help the average person understand why impeachment is called for. Yes, it is a reality show and that is exactly what the Dems wanted from him but got a big fat nothing instead.

[StarfishSaver]

17. He wasn't called "to help the average person understand why impeachment is called for" TODAY

He was called to help confirm and clarify information in the report.

Only some of the people who demand impeachment yesterday believed that he would deliver a coup de grace in today's testimony. That was never going to happen and it was never the point.

[JonLP24]

60. After Al Green introduced articles of impeachment after the condemnation vote

There were Democrats anonymously to CNN (I was watching CNN during the condemnation vote) saying they were hoping the Mueller testimony would set the stage for impeachment proceedings and they felt Al Green moved too soon because of it.

[uponit7771]

73. +1,

[Cetacea]

79. He was called to help educate the people and reverse the damage that Trump and Barr created in

perception on the results of the report. Given his retraints, both self-imposed and imposed by Justice, I'd say he did well.

[TwilightZone]

91. "He was going to help the average person understand why impeachment is called for. "

If you thought that's what he was going to do, you haven't been paying attention and/or didn't read the report. He wasn't going to suddenly change course and jump up and down demanding impeachment.

It seems that a primary problem here is that people went into this with completely unrealistic expectations and expected, as others have called it, a left version of Bill Barr. That was never going to happen.

[FBaggins]

29. The problem with that is that the facts haven't changed

People were hoping that the visual (and yes, perhaps entertainment) would open the door to moving forward toward impeachment.

That required convincing participation from Mueller... and we didn’t get it.

[NanceGreggs]

56. It IS amazing.

Not only do they want hearings like this to look like a Kardashians episode, they want casting approval.

"I don't like Mueller's stammer - get me someone else!"

[davekriss]

96. It was an opportunity lost, maybe our last one

All politics, when facing the public, is theater. It's meant to persuade, deny, and shape public opinion. Yesterday's committee hearings were no different. All eyes were on Mueller, so his ability to shine was critically important (albeit he did not sign up to "shine" ). I only watched the morning's hearing. There, he did seem distant, sometimes fumbled for words, and asked to have questions repeated. His curt testimony consisted mostly of "correct", "yes", "that's accurate", and "I can't get in to that". Mueller refused to read passages of his own work so our congresspeople had to read them into the record. That was not an ideal way to persuade and shape public opinion.

Facts matter. Most of us here and most of the Democrats in congress know these facts. However, Barr and Trump built the frame of public understanding for half of America using "alternative facts". Once established, it's difficult to get actual facts through in a manner that busts these frames and bring that half of America forward to an understanding of just how incredibly awful the Trump administration is. It takes cathartic emotion to "break in". That did not happen - it was not our John Dean moment, it was an opportunity lost. Will we have another one?

I fear for our country.

[Jersey Devil]

7. No, he was expected to convince Americans that impeachment is called for and needed

That was why he was called as a witness by the Democrats, to give life to his report, which imo was just as poorly written as his testimony. Yes, I read the report. If Mueller ever had it he lost it a long time ago.

[RockRaven]

21. What person familiar with Robert Mueller had that expectation? Nobody.

It would be one thing if he a) was actually expected to do that, and b) was actually capable of doing that. But that is simply counterfactual.

He is not a public performer like Comey. Not only is it not in his skill-set, he doesn't have any interest in being that kind of person -- according to a bunch of DOJ-media types.

Mueller explicitly said long before the hearing that he would not offer any testimony beyond the report. The DOJ-media types who actually know and worked closely with him said things like "if he said that, then that's what he'll do, so don't expect anything different... and btw since he does not want to get involved in the politics of the thing he isn't going to offer useful soundbites." Those predictions played out.

[emmaverybo]

64. Good. You put to rest this expectation game. NT

[uponit7771]

72. That was MAGA Cults expectations not those seeking impeachment

[greatauntoftriplets]

30. Well said.

[customerserviceguy]

5. That's why

for days now, I've been saying that nothing will come of today's testimony. I'd be surprised if any of the freshman Democratic Representatives who flipped a red seat to blue will change their minds about impeachment.

[applegrove]

8. David Axelrod: Mueller 'does not appear as sharp' as he was 6 years ago

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/media/454493-david-axelrod-mueller-does-not-appear-as-sharp-as-he-was-6-years-ago%3famp

[Laura PourMeADrink]

55. So it's ok that he says it, along with a dozen others

today?

[applegrove]

59. I trust him. Axelrod is on our side. At least he is on my side.

[Blaukraut]

9. I've said the same thing all day. Like he wasn't familiar with his own report

Rachel said the same thing earlier. It makes sense that he would delegate writing it to his staff, but sometimes it seems as though he was more of a figurehead in this investigation and possibly not as deeply into the weeds as the people working for him. Hence the need to have someone else sworn in along with him to answer questions and consult.

[smirkymonkey]

36. Exactly. People are excusing him because they say "How can he be expected

to remember a 400 page report?" He doesn't have to remember it, he fucking wrote it. He should have a pretty good idea of what is in there. As for his age, John Kerry is the same age as Mueller and 10 times as sharp, so age is no excuse. Kerry proved that he was quite able despite his age in the video below:

My father is six years older than him and also about 10 times as sharp. 74 is not that old. I'm sorry, but what I saw today was pretty much a disgrace. I have no respect for Robert Mueller. I know that is an unpopular opinion, but I am kind of tired of the excuses.

Never forget that Robert Mueller is a Republican. He is not on our side.

[southerncrone]

44. Yes, never forget that R.

I had doubts from the beginning because of the R. I suspect the Repukes knew of his lack of sharpness & that is why they agreed to him as the Special Counsel. That, plus the R by his name.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

57. +1

[uponit7771]

74. Which is OK, as long as he contradicted Red Dons lies, let it known we have no elections and

... made sure to point to Red Don's teamup with the Russians we were good.

Everything else was superfluous

[DonaldsRump]

12. He did exceedingly well

The afternoon hearing in particular was devastating for Trump.

He was a bit nervous in the morning, but it is abundantly clear that he hates Trump.

Keep in mind Leon Jaworski in 1974 during Watergate. That's the last comparable precedent that we have (Kenneth Starr was a joke. and he ultimately failed. Jaworski did not, and Mueller gave much, much more than Jaworski.) If you're looking for soundbites, folks like Mueller and Jaworski won't deliver. What they deliver is the truth. Mueller cannot weigh in on impeachment, so he took the right course.

I'm delighted. Wait until September.

[Joe941]

83. Abundantly clear that he hates trump?

Come on man quite spew the RW talking points.

[DonaldsRump]

85. What right-wing talking points are you talking about?

He slammed Trump, particularly in the afternoon session.

Compare to Leon Jaworski in 1974 against Nixon. The Special Prosecutor issued no public report during the Nixon impeachment inquiry and did not testify before Congress.

Mueller went as far as he could yesterday, since impeachment is a political, not legal, issue. Take a look at the videos and transcripts of yesterday. I watched or listened to essentially all 7 hours and it was a monosyllabic slamming of Trump. In a few cases, he went further.

[Joe941]

92. The talking point is Mueller and his team were biased against trump.

In fact one of one of Mueller's team was removed for just such an issue. Mueller was not biased and did not like or dislike tRump.

[DonaldsRump]

97. Fair enough

Let me amend what I said to say that Mueller detests what happened, not Trump. He was visibly upset and was the most talkative about the damage this is doing to the US, in addition to defending his colleagues.

Mueller was as fair as can be. He bent over backwards to avoid getting into the impeachment issue. That's exactly what Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski did in 1974 against Nixon and what Ken Starr did not do in 1998 against President Clinton.

Mueller, like Jaworski is not the House's investigator. They are conducting their own investigation, and this is one step in that process.

Well-taken....

[BigmanPigman]

13. During the first half he needed a cup of coffee.

He got more "lively" for the second testimony. I wish he had a thermos full of coffee on his table instead of water.

[MontanaMama]

14. Chuck Rosenberg

said that there is a difference between exciting and important. Today was important. Dumbass repukes and deplorables wont get that.

[bigtree]

16. when he felt he could answer with more than a yes of no

...he was brilliant.

The report is his, it's inseparable. It speaks with great clarity and import.

[Jersey Devil]

19. The report itself was just as bad as his testimony

Clarity? Are you kidding. I am a lawyer and over the years have been forced to read some impossibly clumsy legal writing, but that was the worst ever. I had to push my way through it, relieved when it finally ended.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. I'm a lawyer too, and I thought the report was pretty clearly written.

At least I didn't have any trouble understanding it, and I thought it was fascinating reading. But there wasn't any sex in it, or pictures.

[Tarc]

18. "Don't peddle right-wing talking points, smears, or sources"

We have this rule for a reason. Stop carrying the GOP water for them, please. Or, stop parroting Chuck Todd, take your pick.

[Jersey Devil]

22. "We have this rule"? Are you the thought police?

I've been on DU since it started and never had anyone accuse me of peddling right wing talking points. I am simply stating the obvious. Mueller's testimony today was worthless for producing impeachment and worthless for changing anyone's mind politically.

[Jersey Devil]

25. First you accuse me of pushing right wing talking points, now you call me stupid

GFY

Report me if you wish. In almost 20 years you are the first poster on my ignore list. Have a nice day.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. Bravo JD!

[uponit7771]

75. +1

[moondust]

20. He's not an entertainer.

Nor does he want to be.

[SouthernProgressive]

23. She set the bar high.

https://m.

[Tertullian]

26. Are you kidding? Did you hear Adam Schiff's line of questioning?

He and Bob nailed trump to the wall.

[Cetacea]

76. Indeed. Perfectly bookended.

Within the first five minutes, he dispelled the big lie that Barr told the nation (and that reporters refuse to label as such). And he seemed to perk up during the exchanges with Schiff. Hopefully someone makes a video containing the key comments from Mueller.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. Oh, FFS, this isn't a TV show!

Who the actual fuck cares whether he's a good public speaker; that was never his job, and this isn't reality TV. Did you pay any attention to what he actually said and what answers he gave to the questions? His answers were devastating to Trump, but I'm sorry he couldn't capture your attention by orating like Kenneth Branagh doing the Band of Brothers speech in Henry V or singing like Lady Gaga.

[Jersey Devil]

35. Poker Face

Maybe Gaga influenced Mueller? Then again, I doubt Mueller would know who she is. Thanks for the laugh.

[emmaverybo]

65. Good one!

[Hoyt]

34. I'd like to see anyone, in the time allotted, find a sentence in a 400 page report,

read it, read the paragraphs above and maybe below that set the context, think about the question and what they should say, say it, knowing what is said will make a difference to millions of people, and maybe be the last thing they are remembered for.

[GulfCoast66]

37. Performed! Well, there's your problem.

He’s a lawyer and an administrator. And he performed petty well leading his marines in combat from what I can tell. He is not a fucking performer.

You think every competent person can get in front of the nation and act like a game show host!

The last thing I want is competence decided by how well a person comes across on TV!

But apparently that has now become the most important skill we want in public servants.

He gave a damning account of the entire trump administration, but because he was not David Letterman it does not matter?

And trial lawyer? The only thing that matters is he argument they make. Not how they do it. His career was not defending DUI suspects or Armed Robbery suspects in front of a jury. But law in front of federal judges! They only care about the law!

This is not Matlock of Perry Mason!

His circumspect testimony is an example of why he reached the level he did.

Thank god we had Adam Schiff, who understands and lived in the same world to ask questions. You notice how open Mueller became to his questions? And how damning his answer were for Trump? Schiff understood the legal limitations on Mueller and also how lawyers act. Too bad most others asking questions did not.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

39. Yes, too bad a slick talker like Michael Avenatti wasn't appointed Special Counsel.

[Jersey Devil]

40. So lawyers are not performers?

WTF does this have to do with his unquestionably stellar career as a Marine? Are you perhaps trying to poison the well by making it look as though I have attacked his integrity?

I am not asking for much. As a lawyer I would expect him to speak fluently, not um and aw and stammer his way though just about every answer

[GulfCoast66]

48. You make my point for me...

Lawyers operate in a limited space and they have to carefully choose their words. And that is in a courtroom. But it on the most watched event in months?

You ever been on live Television? I have. On many occasions. Talking about a subject I know well and everyone loves. So no artificial pressure. But it is still the hardest thing I do.

It’s almost unfair a 74 year old man had to go thru this but he did fine. And once someone who actually understood the limitations he was under(Schiff) and spoke like the lawyer he is, Mueller answered like a pro.

The problem was not the witness. The problem was having politicians asking questions of a life long lawyer and prosecutor.

Our representatives were great and on message. But Schiff was the only one who really understood the limitations Mueller was under and asked damning questions in a way he could easily answer if the terms he was allowed.

Watch Schiff’s questions and you will see what I mean.

If being telegenic is the most important skill we want in public servants we are screwed

[treestar]

68. The average lawyer still does that

The only people who don’t um etc are readers of scripts. And it’s not a sign of honesty

[Sugarcoated]

41. He came off as very sincere and honest

I like the headlines from the testimony, they're not good for the rapist in the WH

[ZZenith]

42. I think you are completely blind to what actually transpired today.

You also don’t seem to have any understanding of the position he was in, and seem oblivious to the roadblocks that prevent him from behaving in the way that you think he should have.

Maybe someday you’ll have a chance to prove your mettle in a similar situation.

[greyl]

45. Drama or facts. Trump won with drama, will be beaten with facts. nt

[Niagara]

49. Robert Mueller didn't "perform" for entertainment today

He testified because there was an issued subpoena for his appearance and the testimony was damning.


I think you're missing the bigger picture here. We should be more concerned how there is a traitor squatting in the WH and if justice will be served.

[LiberalFighter]

50. Yet he avoided answering 123 questions.

[Ligyron]

52. The average American won't see any of that.

They'll just hear the Dem's questions and Mueller's damning answers on replays of which there will be many.

Mueller will have served our purposes historically speaking.

[renate]

63. That's what I think too

I watched the whole thing. I felt terrible for him. The Republicans were Gish galloping and using double negatives and he had trouble hearing them. I hate to say it but it was worse than underwhelming... most of it was like Obama’s first debate against Romney.

But most people will only see the distillation of those seven hours. Thank heavens. There were plenty of sound bites that did work. I think those of us who watched the whole thing are going to come away with a very different and more depressing impression of the hearing than the people who just got the highlights on the evening news.

[nancy1942]

61. Performed??

Performance? It's not like he is an actor looking for good reviews; or perhaps he is; I don't know anymore. Two years of a lunatic running the country into the ground has numbed my brain so I can't think straight. Maybe it's all just a really bad play and we're the unlucky audience....looking at all the lousy performers.
Time to pull the curtain on this whole disgusting production.

[YOHABLO]

62. I felt as if I needed a bit more. Too much obfuscation for me to swallow.

Why is it they always get to decide what the people will be allowed to know? It's either classified out of our reach, or redacted to hell. Meanwhile, we have a monster, a moron, as commander in chief of our armed forces, and the leader of our country in the White House.

[treestar]

66. Performed?

That is the problem of today.

Is there anyone in this country who cares about substance?

[dustyscamp]

69. Repugs should be forced to read the Report

[Doreen]

70. I think he is just tired.

He has been through a lot. He is getting slammed by his own party and there are some Democrats who do not give him any room to breath also. Personally, I think he looked sad and tired. A lot of his life has been sucked out of him so to expect a bright, snappy, and witty answer for everything asked is unrealistic.

[ReformedGOPer]

71. He is almost 75 years old, has a hearing problem, and hasn't memorized the

400+ pages of the report. Many of my magaT friends believed the "no collusion" nonsense. I think their eyes were opened a bit today.

[JustAnotherGen]

78. Did you read the report

Mine is heavily highlighted. I was listening (at work) and noted two pages of citations.

[OnDoutside]

80. He improved hugely in the afternoon session, but he's showing all of his nearly 75 years. I can see

why he was reluctant to testify.

That said, there wasn't and isn't going to be a magic bullet, unless one of his team leaks, but yesterday was somewhat positive in providing some talking points.

[underpants]

81. I wasn't. He stuck with the report which was the point of the whole thing

Basically a public reading of it.

[mahina]

82. Substance over form. It's not a show. He excelled.

Who gives a rats ass if he speaks slowly and looks old? He is old. His words were dead on point if you listen to the substance. It’s not entertainment.

[treestar]

86. what about the substance of what he said?

Does anyone care about that at all? No it's all about "performance." When will this culture get back to reality?

[GoCubsGo]

87. No Oscar for you, Mr. Mueller!

Not that grading his "performance" was the whole point of the exercise. If this country is less concerned about what Mueller said than how he said it, then it deserves what is likely coming to it. I just hope I can find a way the fuck out of here, because I don't care to live in an Idiocracy. Which is what this country is rapidly becoming, if it isn't there already.

[snowybirdie]

88. Dir. Mueller

Wasn't there to "perform"! He was there to testify on real matters. In our media age, anyone on the tv box must entertain us! Do you really mean that? He's getting older, was under great strain and was being rapidly deluged with quotes from a 480 page report that he oversaw. Not easy for anyone, and he was under great pressure to comply with DOJ constraints. Older and slower, yes. But guess what he said? It was clear and forceful. No exoneration and Russia is currently harassing our election process. That should be enough.

[Sunsky]

89. Remember that he was a reluctant witness

Also, this was not a non-event. We learned that the President of the United States is not only continuously lying to the American public but has also lied to the special counsel. We are still under attack by Trump's friend and enemy of the USA, Vladimir Putin. This is a huge deal.
I was a bit disappointed during the first hearing because the Trumpublicans were getting their propaganda through without any rebuttal. However, the 2nd hearing brought it home. Nunes looked defeated. This was a huge win for the truth and a huge win for the country, which means it was not a good day for the Trumpublicans.

I don't put any credence into the Rs reaction afterwards. We know they are superb liars.

[Amimnoch]

90. It completely breaks my heart to see this kind of commentary posted even here.

What he said, and how he said it was textbook on how you are supposed to testify.

You don't fully understand the question? Ask for a rephrase.
You didn't fully hear the question? Ask for a repeat.
Minimize the length of answers, if you can get it down to a simple yes or no, do so.
Answer only the question being posed, don't pontificate.
If you don't know the answer, state that you don't know the answer.

That so many seem to think this should have been some kind of "show" is so disheartening. I weep for what our country is devolving into.



I think I need to step away from politics and news for a bit.. getting downright depressed.

[leftyladyfrommo]

94. He is a prosecuting attorney not a performance

artist.

[Hobo]

93. your concern is noted

[elocs]

95. I thought that Mueller was expected to testify, not "perform". n/t

[gtar100]

98. If he had only worn a nicer tie and spoke in deep baritone, maybe then you would have considered

what he actually said. Concluding otherwise you would just be fooling yourself.