Excellent What a lot of people don't realize is Jim Comey was involved in an earlier iteration of this
Bush had enhanced the Patriot act to allow for more intrusions into US citizens communications. He wanted to renew it, only his AG, John Ashcroft was in the hospital in serious condition. He sent Gonzalez to get Ashcroft's signature, Mueller found out about it and called Comey. Comey went to the hospital to stop it but Ashcroft was strong enough to say no
Then Bush called Comey into his office. Comey, as acting AG could sign off on it. Comey told Bush no and said he would resign first. It was even worse. Mueller and other senior justice department officials said no as well. Bush decided he didn't want another Saturday night massacre on his hand and let the matter drop.
The divide on this exact issue has less to do with ideology or party, and more to do with each individual politician’s personal relationship with the national security establishment. That is what really lends particular interest to the positions being taken by Trump and his followers. They all tended to begin with a certain antagonism toward establishments of every description because the establishments appeared to stand more often than not in opposition to Trumpism. But then Trump first achieved control of the main right-wing party, and then of a unified right-wing federal government. At this point he characteristically began to identify with the establishment with himself, rather in the manner of Louis XIV.
Not all of the populist Republicans are following him that far. They must be holding back at least partly because they realize that Trumpism can’t last forever, and they don’t want an unrestrained national security establishment under their political adversaries’ control when Trumpism becomes manifestly untenable.
A good summary. The punting will go on forever with bipartisan tweaks to prevent the most egregious incursions into privacy. No one, whatever their ideology, wants their fingerprints on a lapse of intelligence tools in the current climate.
Excellent What a lot of people don't realize is Jim Comey was involved in an earlier iteration of this
Bush had enhanced the Patriot act to allow for more intrusions into US citizens communications. He wanted to renew it, only his AG, John Ashcroft was in the hospital in serious condition. He sent Gonzalez to get Ashcroft's signature, Mueller found out about it and called Comey. Comey went to the hospital to stop it but Ashcroft was strong enough to say no
Then Bush called Comey into his office. Comey, as acting AG could sign off on it. Comey told Bush no and said he would resign first. It was even worse. Mueller and other senior justice department officials said no as well. Bush decided he didn't want another Saturday night massacre on his hand and let the matter drop.
The divide on this exact issue has less to do with ideology or party, and more to do with each individual politician’s personal relationship with the national security establishment. That is what really lends particular interest to the positions being taken by Trump and his followers. They all tended to begin with a certain antagonism toward establishments of every description because the establishments appeared to stand more often than not in opposition to Trumpism. But then Trump first achieved control of the main right-wing party, and then of a unified right-wing federal government. At this point he characteristically began to identify with the establishment with himself, rather in the manner of Louis XIV.
Not all of the populist Republicans are following him that far. They must be holding back at least partly because they realize that Trumpism can’t last forever, and they don’t want an unrestrained national security establishment under their political adversaries’ control when Trumpism becomes manifestly untenable.
Fascinating, puzzling analysis.
A good summary. The punting will go on forever with bipartisan tweaks to prevent the most egregious incursions into privacy. No one, whatever their ideology, wants their fingerprints on a lapse of intelligence tools in the current climate.
Good article Gabe, keep 'em coming.