Like a lot of people, I was tuned into the James Comey interview last night on ABC. While I think the exchange between Comey and reporter George Stephanopoulos was certainly interesting, I didn't find it to be the earth-shattering back and forth a lot of my fellow progressives did. Perhaps that's partially due to me consistently keeping myself informed about the world of news and politics, but I digress.
To his credit, former FBI Director Comey came across as calm, intelligent, and honest. He was very careful with his words, was reluctant on going the absolutist route with any of his answers regarding the Russia probe, and while he appeared to be a man wanting to clear his name and reputation on his previous actions, he also came across as a man who was struggling to come to concise answers on how exactly those previous actions (potentially) impacted this country.
Nothing Comey said really surprised me. In saying that, though, here were a few of the more eye-catching moments, from my vantage point anyway:
1) Comey's physical description of Trump
I have mixed feelings on poking fun of politicians' physical appearance. I'd say roughly 75% of the time, I think they're kind of low blows, and chances are the jokester would be far better off poking fun of the individual from a more policy-driven perspective. Having said that, since Donald Trump often likes to compliment himself on his physical appearance, he's one of the exceptions to the rule. While I don't think it was necessary for Comey to provide us with insulting detail to Trump's physical appearance, I also have a hard time being bothered by it. If Trump can talk himself up, another can talk Trump down. That's just kind of how the balance of the world works.
2) Comey didn't vote
I haven't heard anyone else mention this, but when Comey admitted to Stephanopoulos that he didn't vote in the 2016 election, basically due to not wanting to be seen as partisan, it bothered me and made me lose some respect for him. I don't care what position a person holds, if he/she is a citizen of this country, it's their civic responsibility to vote on election day. What's worse, being seen as partisan or seeing the country founded on a democratic philosophy to transform into a dictatorship? Ironically enough, I think the answer to that question is a bipartisan, "The latter!"
3) Comey's certain uncertainty
I can fully understand why James Comey didn't ardently tell the world he that it was a fact Russia had something on Trump, that Trump obstructed justice, or that Trump paid to watch hookers urinate on a bed. In all honesty, I was expecting for him to approach Stephanopoulos's questions in such a manner. Having said that, though, man, I wish he would have displayed a little more passion and certainty on at least one of the topics at hand. It would have been nice to have seen the Twittersphere after Comey said something along the lines of, "There's no doubt in my mind about it - Donald Trump paid prostitute Vladimir Putin to pee on a bad." Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?
4) Comey complimenting Trump's noggin
Like I said with regard to #3, I can understand why Comey referred to Trump as having "above-average intelligence." He doesn't want to provide Trump or his minions with the excuse of the president's unlawful actions being due to dementia or another mental illness. Okay, I get that, but come on! If Donald Trump has above-average intelligence, we're in worse shape than even I thought! The man doesn't read; doesn't have any desire to learn; can't seem to admit when he's wrong; and uses the term "covfefe" on a regular basis. Need I say more?
5) Comey's final remarks
The former FBI director definitely saved the best for last, as he told the world that Donald Trump is not morally fit to be president and that he doesn't represent this country's values. As to the former, truer words have never been spoken. As to the latter, as much as I hope that's true, I don't know anymore. Hopefully that tentativeness fades with the 2018 and 2020 elections.
In five words, the James Comey interview was interesting, but not earth-shattering. Even if that was the case, though, he sure seemed to rattle President Trump and anything that rattles President Trump is a win in my book. Bigly...
To his credit, former FBI Director Comey came across as calm, intelligent, and honest. He was very careful with his words, was reluctant on going the absolutist route with any of his answers regarding the Russia probe, and while he appeared to be a man wanting to clear his name and reputation on his previous actions, he also came across as a man who was struggling to come to concise answers on how exactly those previous actions (potentially) impacted this country.
Nothing Comey said really surprised me. In saying that, though, here were a few of the more eye-catching moments, from my vantage point anyway:
1) Comey's physical description of Trump
I have mixed feelings on poking fun of politicians' physical appearance. I'd say roughly 75% of the time, I think they're kind of low blows, and chances are the jokester would be far better off poking fun of the individual from a more policy-driven perspective. Having said that, since Donald Trump often likes to compliment himself on his physical appearance, he's one of the exceptions to the rule. While I don't think it was necessary for Comey to provide us with insulting detail to Trump's physical appearance, I also have a hard time being bothered by it. If Trump can talk himself up, another can talk Trump down. That's just kind of how the balance of the world works.
2) Comey didn't vote
I haven't heard anyone else mention this, but when Comey admitted to Stephanopoulos that he didn't vote in the 2016 election, basically due to not wanting to be seen as partisan, it bothered me and made me lose some respect for him. I don't care what position a person holds, if he/she is a citizen of this country, it's their civic responsibility to vote on election day. What's worse, being seen as partisan or seeing the country founded on a democratic philosophy to transform into a dictatorship? Ironically enough, I think the answer to that question is a bipartisan, "The latter!"
3) Comey's certain uncertainty
I can fully understand why James Comey didn't ardently tell the world he that it was a fact Russia had something on Trump, that Trump obstructed justice, or that Trump paid to watch hookers urinate on a bed. In all honesty, I was expecting for him to approach Stephanopoulos's questions in such a manner. Having said that, though, man, I wish he would have displayed a little more passion and certainty on at least one of the topics at hand. It would have been nice to have seen the Twittersphere after Comey said something along the lines of, "There's no doubt in my mind about it - Donald Trump paid prostitute Vladimir Putin to pee on a bad." Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?
4) Comey complimenting Trump's noggin
Like I said with regard to #3, I can understand why Comey referred to Trump as having "above-average intelligence." He doesn't want to provide Trump or his minions with the excuse of the president's unlawful actions being due to dementia or another mental illness. Okay, I get that, but come on! If Donald Trump has above-average intelligence, we're in worse shape than even I thought! The man doesn't read; doesn't have any desire to learn; can't seem to admit when he's wrong; and uses the term "covfefe" on a regular basis. Need I say more?
5) Comey's final remarks
The former FBI director definitely saved the best for last, as he told the world that Donald Trump is not morally fit to be president and that he doesn't represent this country's values. As to the former, truer words have never been spoken. As to the latter, as much as I hope that's true, I don't know anymore. Hopefully that tentativeness fades with the 2018 and 2020 elections.
In five words, the James Comey interview was interesting, but not earth-shattering. Even if that was the case, though, he sure seemed to rattle President Trump and anything that rattles President Trump is a win in my book. Bigly...
Comments
Post a Comment