Wayne in Maine wrote:Boot answered well Wayne. Moderates and independents have relative confidence in the process, and have accepted the results of the oversight and investigations into the scandals you mentioned. It is the anti-establishment types that keep digging up bones.Dan Z wrote: I'm curious about what you base this statement on.
In light of events during the Obama Administration (The IRS "Tea Party" scandal) and Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state (Benghazi, Clinton Foundation, Uranium One) do these same "non-partisans and moderates" also see accusations of active FBI/DOJ bias and the investigations of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as credible?
I have no doubt these middle folks will do the same with the Muller conclusions - provided the process is allowed to run its course in the legally prescribed manner and without obstruction (a tall order from the looks of it ). The American system of governance and checks and balances has served well (not perfectly) for over 24 decades now. I say trust the legal system, and let the chips fall where they are meant to fall.
What can I say...I read a lot.Wayne in Maine wrote:Neither you nor Boot answered my question: I'm curious about what you base this statement on.
To which I will add: Who are these non-partisans and moderates? I consider myself non-partisan and I am astonished (frightened really) at some of the things that were swept under the rug during the Obama administration.
A good percentage of moderate conservative columnists would fall into the category I believe, including Brooks, Douthat, Frum, Gerson, Will, etc. Of course, moderate Democrats would as well, plus would most independents according to polling.
Regarding Republicans, here are some quotes I've pulled together for your edification:
- Charlie Dent (R-PA) - “Most of my republican colleagues feel as I do that we have confidence in law enforcement. I don’t know why that would change now that we have a republican administration”
Thomas Rooney (R-FL) - “[Attacks on Muller] are political cheap shots that sound good on Fox News, but in the real world are completely unfair to a guy who has given his life to serving this country.”
Marco Rubio (R-FL) - “I think that the best thing that can happen for the President, for the country, for everyone is that [Mueller] be allow to complete his investigation as thoroughly and that we allow the facts from that investigation to lead where they may.”
Peter King (R- NY) - “You can’t have a situation where people say ‘Oh, you can’t trust the F.B.I.’ That creates a spirit of anarchy”
Cory Gardner (R - CO) - “We should allow Director Mueller to continue to do his job.”
Luther Strange (R- AL) - “He’s doing, a fine job, Mueller is. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Richard Shelby (R-AL) - “My basic philosophy is, once you have an independent counsel, you ought to give him a chance to follow the facts. If somebody’s doing a job, you don’t want to cut it off.”
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) - “I am pleased with the appointment of Robert Mueller, an individual of uncompromising integrity…this is a positive step towards restoring the public’s trust.”
Johnny Isakson (R-GA) - “[Mueller’s] been appointed for a purpose, let him carry that purpose out, and let the evidence take us where it may,”
Chuck Grassley (R-IA) - “As always, it’s important to let our legal system run its course. While we don’t have any more information regarding the current status of the special counsel’s investigation other than what has already been made public, it’s good to see the Justice Department taking seriously its responsibility to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act.”
Joni Ernst (R-IA) - “It’s important that we let the Special Counsel and bipartisan congressional investigations continue in earnest.”
John Kennedy (R-LA) - “I don’t want to deny the Justice Department or special counsel resources they need… Now I don’t want to see them just go hog wild and waste money either. But I don’t want to try to do anything to hurt their effort.”
Ben Sasse (R-NE) – Robert Muller is an honorable man and a true public servant.”
Thom Tillis (R-NC) - “I want to make it clear that this [bill to protect Muller from firing] is something I’m looking to get back into the purview of the Senate. This isn’t just about this special counsel. It’s for all other future special counsels.”
James Lankford (R-OK) - “He’s doing the job he’s been asked by the American people to do. He should stay at it and finish it.”
Tim Scott (R-SC) “The American people deserve the truth, wherever it lies,”
John Thune (R-SD) – “[Mueller] is a man of integrity … and he needs to be able to do his work. And I think it’s better for all of us if that work continues. Obviouslt he is going to get to the bottom and he is going to find the facts, and I think that’s his role. And I think we ought to let him continue to do that and I assume at some point there will be an end to all this. He’ll have done his investigation and there will be whatever findings there are.”
Mike Rounds (R-SD) - “No. [Mueller] should not be fired. Straightforward. This is a special counsel. He has a job to do. Let him do his job.”
Mike Lee (R-UT) - “I fully support Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s continuing investigation and I’ll do everything I can to make sure that the system of checks and balances, the system of separation of powers in the federal government, is upheld.”