Please note: Comey and Rogers simply cannot talk about

[MineralMan]

some of this stuff in an open hearing. That should not be taken as obstruction. They simply cannot in any way discuss what is classified in this hearing. So, expect refusals to comment from them.

However, in a closed hearing, they will not be refusing in the same ways. What happens in those will reveal a lot of answers we won't hear today.

Unfortunately, they are both restricted in what they discuss in open forums. And they really have no choice than to refuse to answer specific questions about particular investigates in this hearing.

[cilla4progress]

1. But if there were NO connection

or NO investigation, he would state same.

The obfuscation, or lawful nondisclosure at this hearing, speaks VOLUMES!!

[uponit7771]

2. RIGHT !!! What says more is what they can NOT say right now

[MineralMan]

7. Sort of. Although the same answers could mean

that there is no investigation or that that there is an investigation. Or that someone is involved or not involved. It's difficult to discern. These folks are good at knowing what they can discuss and not discuss in an open forum. It's what they do.

In general, they'll simply refuse to say anything about specifics. That simplifies their statement, since saying any more than that could reveal stuff they're not supposed to disclose.

It's generally unsafe to guess what is the case from a non-answer. The congresspeople are not bad at asking general questions, so some answers can be surmised from their general answer, but they're careful about that too.

Once they testify in a closed hearing, then it is up to those who hear the testimony to decide what to say. We'll learn more from them after that happens. But it will be couched in careful language, even then.

[Hortensis]

9. Right. Patience. And read the analyses. :)

[MineralMan]

3. Not always. The fact of a specific investigation

is classified, and won't be discussed in this hearing. General questions only will be answered. Anyone who expects otherwise is going to be disappointed. It's part of their jobs.

It may be frustrating to all of us, but, they really have no choice. Again, they will discuss it in a closed hearing.

[cilla4progress]

5. But, so what about Clapper

going on the news to state there was no wiretap by Obama, as trump alleged.

My point is: if there IS no investigation, there wouldn't have to be so many non-answer answers.

Don't you agree?

[MineralMan]

10. You could logically assume that, yes.

Will it be confirmed in this hearing. Not specifically.

[NightWatcher]

4. They admit Obama didn't wiretap trump but cannot say anything whenever trump people are mentioned.

I take this to mean that they've come to a resolution about Obama and wiretaps but they are still working trump's people and there is some level of guilt.

[annabanana]

6. to me it seems to signal ongoing investigations as much as classification. . . n/t

[MineralMan]

12. That there are specific ongoing investigations is classfied,

and won't be discussed in this hearing.

They won't comment on those things in this open hearing. In a closed hearing, they will, though. That's an important thing. This hearing is a public show. In many ways, it's meaningless, although we may get a real feel for what is going on. There will be a closed hearing. That would be the one that we'd love to be listening in on, but we won't be able to.

However, you can count on people in Congress to revel more after it.

[randome]

8. A lot of this is to get their 'no comments' on the Congressional record, though.

We still learn something from this, and Dolt45 and his cabal will be sweating ever more afterwards, so I'm feeling pretty good about this.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Meredith McIver approves of this post.[/center][/font][hr]

[MineralMan]

11. We'll all take whatever we take from those "no comment" statements.

I'm sure the Republicans will be taking it differently than we will.

What Trump thinks is colored by what he knows, and he knows a lot of stuff that won't be disclosed in this hearing.