QOTD: "Packing The Case With Gunpowder"

 

Former Federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner earlier today on MSNBC,  addressing the Fox "News" channel's culpability for the insurrection and spreading the obvious "Big Lie":

"These were not lies about which toothpaste will make your teeth whiter, or which floor wax will make your floors more shiny, these were lies about whether the American peoples' votes were stolen and their election rigged.

It's like they were packing the case with gunpowder, using these lies as a vehicle to keep the viewership, you know, engaged. They were just waiting for Donald Trump to light that gunpowder -- which he did on January 6th and it erupted into violence.

I think we need to challenge the federal government -- this defamation suit is important -- but what is even more important is the federal government needs to step up and address these intentional and reckless lies. I would argue are reasonably likely, if not intended to, incite imminent violence. This issue has got to be grabbed onto and shaken and addressed.'" (our emphasis)

Despite special counsel Jack Smith's active, no-nonsense approach, with the current cautious leadership at the DOJ, Kirschner's challenge is unlikely to be met. However, his point is a solid one: an organization like Fox "News" shouldn't be protected from prosecution for inciting violence and insurrection for monetary gain, despite what they will claim as their "First Amendment" rights while "packing the case with gunpowder."

 

QOTD: "Walking At A Leisurely Pace"

Former Assistant Federal District Attorney for the District of Columbia Glenn Kirschner, on MSNBC discussing the comparative pace of the classified documents cases of the Malignant Loser and President Biden, and how Attorney General Merrick Garland has handled them:

"So it's tough for me to explain the inexplicable, but let me let me give it a shot because I do believe that Merrick Garland is guided by his own sense of ethics and his own determination to preserve the institution, for better or worse. And so I think he bends over backwards.

I agree we heard about this special counsel, special counsel appointment for the Joe Biden documents, circumstances at lightspeed, and so I think we're kind of mixing apples and oranges there on the timing front.

But I really think the question that is bothering me most right now, is why did it take Jack Smith's appointment on November 18 to all of a sudden see this increase in the pace and the scope of an investigation that should have been up and running at a full sprint? Ever since, I maintain, right after the insurrection, and it sure doesn't feel like Merrick Garland was sprinting toward the finish line.

It feels to me like he was walking at a leisurely pace at a time in our nation's history when we needed a flat out sprint, because I think he was old school in his approach to this investigation, handling it the way we ordinarily handle pyramid conspiracies, but this is not a pyramid conspiracy. I maintain it's not even a hub and spoke conspiracy. We should call it an octopus conspiracy with all of the tentacles that are splaying out and thrashing about."  (our emphasis)

That's not to excuse the boneheaded, unforced error that's been handed on a platter to deceitful right-wingers who were looking for another direct line of attack on Biden. This revelation is a double dip, since it also serves to muddy the situation around the more egregious documents scandal of the Malignant Loser, and allows right wingers to play the "what about" game. Heading into two years of Rep. "Gym" Jordan and his insurrectionist ilk holding committee chair gavels and subpoena power, the timing couldn't have been worse.

(photo: Garland names Special Counsel for Biden docs/ Chip Somodevilla,  Getty Images)