Too pissed to think straight

You probably want, need, someone to cheer you up today. The Republicans on the House Intel Committee pulled off a propaganda coup, and the right has declared victory. As Charles Pierce put it, Sean Hannity has set the orgasmatron to infinity and stepped inside.

You no doubt want words of solace. Words to lift your spirit and inspire you for the next round of the fight. I understand your desire to read such words. Seriously: I do. But you'll have to seek optimism elsewhere; it's not in my nature.

Here's Palmer. Maybe that'll put a smile on your face. He thinks Nunes is going to jail.

Here's Kevin Drum. He's a little more realistic.

Here's Politicus. They accuse the Republicans of being divorced from reality. In one sense, this is true. In another sense, they are making reality.

Here's Scott Dworkin. A lot of people don't trust him these days, but when you're drowning in a sea of pessimism, you reach for whatever flotsam or jetsam keeps you afloat.

A Republican who works on the Hill just told me that Trump’s White House was involved with the ending of the House Russia probe. They also said the White House was involved with the “no collusion narrative” and the drafting of the memo. This is pure corruption.

To the Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee—you are committing an act of treason by shutting down your probe & LYING saying you found “no collusion.” I hope every single one of you dirty rotten traitors spends the rest of your lives in prison—it’s where you all belong.

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@SpeakerRyan-Remember when my group & others filed ethics complaints against your boy Devin Nunes? And then he “recused” himself from the probe? You lied to us & said he would stay recused. You’re a fraud & you committed treason. Can’t wait for you to lose in Nov. #RemoveRyan
Damn straight. The committee allowed people to flat out lie and refuse to answer questions. They refused without even plausibly claiming privilege. Those witnesses should be in jail.

Rick Wilson:

To imagine for even one moment that every intelligence agency in this nation is wrong and that Devin Nunes, super-staffer Derek Harvey and the other partisans are right about Putin and Trump is beyond ludicrous. Harvey, a refugee from the Trump national security council purge executed by H.R. McMaster and John Kelly, is now the lead agent in the coverup by Republican members of the House. Nunes, while claiming to have recused himself, has remained deeply involved at all time in the coverup.

House Intelligence is now officially an oxymoron. Nunes’ “investigation” has been an example of Washington at its worst, a pure exercise in protecting Donald Trump, and a low point for the Republican Party’s reputation as the party of national security. The committee refused to interview key players in the drama, failed to seek campaign, government, intelligence community and corporate records that would have led to places that Team Trump doesn’t want them to go.

In fact, this White House has refused to even recognize Putin’s global special warfare operations against us exist, much less to take a stand against them. Trump continues to behave toward Putin like a preacher caught in a whorehouse; cowed, compliant, and terrified of his prospective blackmailer. Putin’s ongoing attempts to divide and influence the American political system aren’t speculation, imagination, or some Soros-driven conspiracy. His anti-American propaganda campaign is still in full swing, and the only upside is he’s not murdering people here quite yet, though if I were Paul Manafort I’d cut the deal and get into witness protection now.

Charles Pierce:

Sit, Devin. Roll over. Play dead. Who’s a good dog?

Maybe he's a good dog because there are photos of him humping the wrong bitch. (I use that word only to maintain the canine metaphor.)

Me? Well...you know that bottle of opened wine you have lying around somewhere in the house? The one that you suspect has gone vinegary? The one that most people would consider undrinkable? You know: THAT bottle.

Right now, this night, THAT bottle is the only booze in the house. Maybe mixed with sugared water...