2016 -- Comey Letter 2 (a riff on Krugman column)

The problem with trying to put a gloss on a Paul Krugman column is that it's an impossible task. I want to quote and praise every line, every paragraph. But I'll force myself to one paragraph. This one:
"Part of this effectiveness comes through false equivalence: news organizations, afraid of being attacked for bias, give evenhanded treatment to lies and truth. Way back in 2000 I suggested that if a Republican candidate said that the earth was flat, headlines would read, “Views differ on shape of planet.” That still happens."

"That still happens." Poke your finger at any of Trump's 1000 lies, exaggerations, or ignorant acts of demagogy and here come the false equivalents on screens and in print. Hillary and Wikileaks (nothing beyond insider gossip and normal insider haggling there), Hillary and the Clinton Foundation (a stretch into unadulterated silliness and imaginings), and Clinton's home server problems (she fessed up, no charges, no harm detected). And that's it! Yet, while the 1000 Trump sins and crimes roll like a polluted creek into a cesspool of forgetfulness the meager HRC non-failings are flagged and flogged, taking center stage, flying and flapping mindlessly without any deeper analysis, in the media day-after-day. It's the steroids of false equivalence mainlined by an irresponsible, unprofessional, and commerce-based news media. It's disgusting. I hope it's not disastrous this election cycle. VOTE!

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2016 -- Comey Letter

“Fixed” and “rigged” are the hollow charges Donald Trump throws at our electoral system as it operates under the U. S. Constitution. His statement to the nation that he may or may not accept the vote of the American people in the election is reason enough to disqualify him in the minds of voters who care about and support our republic and its laws.

Now we have FBI Director James Comey pulling his own attention grabbing bit of incompetence.

Think about Comey's recent actions. Days before the election he bounces out the news that emails of a Clinton assistant that may or may not be significant are being examined but their importance or lack of importance in regard to anything will not be known for some unspecified time.

Mr. Comey put out incomplete information and has broken with Justice Department protocol which declares that politics should play no role in investigative decisions. It’s reported that “Justice Department officials were particularly puzzled about why Mr. Comey had alerted Congress — and by extension, the public — before agents even began reading the newly discovered emails to determine whether they contained classified information or added new facts to the case.” Why indeed.

This action by Comey is of no help to anyone except Trump supporters who are desperately twisting Comey’s nothing letter into more of their mindless “Lock her up.” chants.

Vote Early! Vote Now! Vote November 8! Just Vote and show that you are not afraid of democracy, that our elections are not fixed or rigged or influenced by incompetence.