So what is the real purpose of the Nunes memo?

[Justice]

I heard on today's morning shows that the TOP SECRET mark on the memo meant that the info was likely collected by the CIA rather than the FBI on intercepts of foreign officials talking to Page. The person suggested that perhaps talking about Trump or the campaign.

Gowdy saw the intelligence and almost immediately announced he was not running again. Seems so strange.

Also Gowdy made a point to say memo had nothing to do with Mueller investigation - to say that should continue even if there were problems with FISA on Carter Page. Seems so strange to be helping Carter's defense.

Which make me wonder why the GOP protested the FISA warrant against Page at all. And then today almost tried to minimize what they had done. Honestly perplexed.

[wiggs]

1. Yes, weird. But one longtime rule in considering gop behavior is that if they EVER admit

to any misdeed, mistake, bad behavior....it's because the actual truth is much much worse.

The memo does not appear to help the gop. We must assume there's a reason for it and that it's very bad.

[brush]

3. That, or as someone said: "This is like Watergate only with stupid people." The memo is ineffectual.

[dchill]

2. Not just TOP SECRET, TOP SECRET/NOFORN...

Which means no foreign persons. What did they think they were doing? I sure don't know.

[Quixote1818]

4. I think they are at a point where they are just throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks

Any doubts they can create against the FBI help them and keep the base behind them.

[Gabi Hayes]

5. Its all about turning public opinion against any legal prospective moves taken by Mueller

They’re trying to render his investo feckless

As Brian Stelter and others today agreed, Hannity and his ilk are winning this PR battle so far

Scary as hell

[struggle4progress]

6. The point of the memo was to confuse and distract the public

It's designed to encourage loud tedious arguments about arcane matters which most of the public won't bother to unravel

It was written in consultation with The White House

That means: every crackpot rightwing talking point about the arcane details has been considered in the drafting

They've entrenched themselves on that shithill and are itching for a fight there

Don't get sucked in

[madville]

7. They are going to use it to appoint a separate special counsel

To investigate the prior administration and current/former DOJ/FBI officials for FISA abuse.

Maybe Gowdy is going to head it up.

[mercuryblues]

8. As far as I can see

The point was to muddy the FISA warrant on Page, the coffee boy.

Gowdy reviewed the docs the memo is based on and then announce his retirement. There is something in those transcripts that is not good. Did the docs convince him to retire or is it just coincidence? Trump's team knows what info they had forwarded to Russia via Page and now they know Mueller knows. They have no choice but to soil the FISA warrant. Muddy the warrant =muddied info in the wiretaps.

I also believe it is possible that trump talked to the Kremlin on Carter Page's phone. That could be why they are in meltdown mode over this.

Now, as for being classified top secret.. IDK why. I suspect that the memo lets Russia know how long the IC has been onto Page. They now know what the IC knows.

If Page ever goes to Russia again, I am reasonably sure there is a window waiting for him to accidentally fall out of. The memo ensures that. Maybe Page will hire Steven Segall as a body guard and Russia will get a twofer.