BTRTN: The Most Damning Testimony... the Words Not Spoken

[reggieandlee]

Born to Run the Numbers on the Comey testimony. What mattered most was what was not said:

http://www.borntorunthenumbers.com/2017/06/the-most-damning-testimony-words.html

Excerpt:

"Indeed, this is an excellent example of the law of unintended consequences: Senator Risch had "hoped" to defuse the impact of Comey's testimony by questioning his interpretation of Trump's phrasing. Instead, his line of inquiry accomplished three things: (1) it provided an extended laser focus on the precise phrase that is ground zero for a charge of obstruction of justice, (2) it served to seal the fact that the Republicans wholly accept Comey’s transcription of the exact language, and (3), it provided the perfect forum for Comey to spell out exactly how he interpreted the meaning inherent in the words."

[Kleveland]

1. Good point overall.

"I hope" as used in this case, was a threat, and a firm request. Of that there is no doubt in my mind.

For instance: A policeman says "I hope that you have a permit for that gun".
What would one think the next action would be?

A parent tells his child, "I hope that your grades are better this time".
Hmmm, grounded? More study time?

One could find countless examples of this sort of intent, it has nothing to do with any sort of positive optimism based on the usage in this case.

A good attorney might even enlist a linguist in testimony to re-enforce the intent of the usage.

English is complicated, and may be confusing, but we all know what was meant here.

*Rump has a "very very" limited school yard bully vocabulary, and he is a fool.

He did not mean this as a lighthearted, friendly or casual comment.

Only an idiot or politician would put that sort of spin on this verbal expression of malicious intent.

[tgards79]

2. Yes, right

Trump was actually trying to soft-pedal it precisely because he knew it was way off base to be asking at all. In a way, he was trying to give himself deniability. The whole thing is patently obviously a request to shut it down. If he just wanted to help out a friend, why not just keep Sessions and Jared in the room and say, "Look, I know you have to do what you have to do, and don't take this as any sort of directive, but Flynn is a good guy, maybe there is some way he can be let off."

Actually, that sounds pretty bad, too.