Trump's Surprise at Comey Firing Fallout Is a Scary Sign

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

There are many alarming aspects of Trump's sudden dismissal of FBI Director James Comey. But among the most disturbing is how blindsided he claims to be by the backlash. Trump's reported failure to anticipate that firing the person overseeing the investigation into his campaign would be met with outrage demonstrates that he neither understands nor cares that America's system of government is supposed to place limits on his power.

Trump expects Americans to believe he fired Comey because of the FBI director's unfair treatment of Hillary Clinton. White House officials initially claimed Trump accepted the recommendations of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy AG Rod J. Rosenstein. In a three-page memo to Sessions, Rosenstein made some valid criticisms of Comey, but the idea that Trump fired the FBI director for mishandling the Clinton matter never passed the laugh test: Trump spent his entire campaign thrilling "Lock her up!"-chanting supporters with pronouncements of Clinton's guilt, despite the lack of evidence she broke any law.

Based on reports that have come out in the wake of Comey's firing, and basic common sense, it's obvious Trump fired the FBI director to derail the investigation into the Trump campaign's Russia ties. The White House's story was nonsense. And Trump doesn't seem terribly concerned that everyone knows it.

Trump seems to feel no obligation to address the fact that the firing followed Comey requesting more resources for the Russia investigation, nor the fact that investigators recently subpoenaed associates of disgraced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, nor the fact that Comey angered Trump by refusing to back up his absurd claims that President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/trumps-surprise-at-comey-firing-fallout-is-a-scary-sign-w481829?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=051117_12

[Feathery Scout]

1. I call BS.

They kept this firing under wraps until the very end.

They knew it was toxic.

They wanted NO LEAKS.

Now...are they surprised at the level of outrage? Maybe.

Do they care? Obviously not.

Since Trump invited his Russian handler and a photographer to the White House for a private meeting just one day later.

[gordianot]

5. I wonder whose idea but suspect it was following orders of dear leader.

The confederate General is central to this mess. I can almost hear it let's blame Hillary.

[niyad]

2. am I the only one who thought that der drumpfenfuhrer wasn't mad about "mishandling"

the bs clinton investigation, but furious because comey did NOT "lock her up". it certainly did not appear to me, reading that bizarre exercise in self-delusion that drumpfy wasn't trying to look like he was on HRC's side, but mad because she isn't in jail.

[StevieM]

6. I think that would be true for a different Republican like Scott Walker. But I think Trump honestly

thought that Comey had an obligation to back up his lie that President Obama wiretapped him.

[Docreed2003]

3. Honestly...I truly think he thought America would cheer him

I think he views everything about the presidency the same way he's approached business and his reality TV stardom. He thought if he said "You're fired", people would harken back to his show and applaud him. That's why he was so taken aback when the people and the press were appalled by his actions!

[gordianot]

4. This is what a terrorist does when they gain power.

Punitive measures offered with impunity even when it threatens himself.