GOP aide doesn't think "Trump has ever faced an adversary quite like Schiff. & its freaking him out"

[MelissaB]

New: My interview this morning with @RepAdamSchiff, the Congressman who infuriates the president. A GOP aide told me he doesn’t think Trump “has ever faced an adversary quite like Schiff. And it’s freaking him out.”

Link to tweet

The Congressman Who Infuriates the President

The House Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat Adam Schiff talks about the Nunes memo, the minority response, and Trump’s insults.


... snip

In an interview on Tuesday, Schiff told me that Trump’s early-morning tweet on Monday, in which he called Schiff a “liar” and a “leaker,” was predictable given Donald Trump Jr.’s contentious interview with the committee last year, and the current controversy over a declassified Republican House memo accusing the FBI of bias in its investigation of the Trump campaign, and the as-yet-unreleased Democratic rebuttal.

“This effort to tar me as a leaker began with the president’s son, after he refused to answer questions about his conversations with his father that led to the creation of that false statement about the Trump Tower meeting,” Schiff said, referring to a misleading statement Trump drafted on his son’s behalf last July. The statement concerned a meeting Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner had attended with Russian lobbyists one year earlier, which Trump Jr. set up believing he would be obtaining incriminating information on his father’s then-presidential rival Hillary Clinton.

... snip

A GOP aide who requested anonymity to speak freely about the investigation said he doesn’t think Trump “has ever faced an adversary quite like Schiff, and it’s freaking him out.”

“First off, he’s a skilled prosecutor with an acid tongue, and a command of all the facts including the most deeply held classified information,” the aide told me. “Second, he’s not in leadership and therefore doesn’t have to consider being at the negotiating table like [Chuck] Schumer or [Nancy] Pelosi do. Third, he’s got a squeaky clean record (wouldn’t have ascended to that position if he didn’t) and comes from a district where when Trump lashes out at him, it only makes him more powerful and popular.”

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. I *REALLY* hope

that there is no (factual) damaging information on Schiff out there floating around. Please no!!

[padah513]

7. I think if there were

We'd have heard it by now, but that doesn't mean they're not out there looking for it.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. I'm sure that Trump has got Stone, et. al searching for dirt on him by now

[Jakes Progress]

20. Stone will just get some republican aide to accuse

Schiff of touching her arm. Then they will sit back to let the Democratic representatives and senators demand that Schiff resign in disgrace. He is getting a little bit of a high profile now. Several of ours would love to knock him out of contention for the nomination.

Anyone else still sore about Franken?

[pazzyanne]

23. You bet!

This Minnesota voter definitely is. Every day we could be benefitting from his expertise in the Senate, but he was forced out. As I have said before, Tina Smith is a knowledgeable lady, but she is not a pit bull. And we need pit bulls now!

[LakeArenal]

24. Still standing with Al

I think the list of Senators will think we are over the railroading of Senator Al Franken.


Nope!

[dhol82]

34. Still waiting for Gillibrand to start a petition against dump

She should be marshaling her troops to drive him from the White House. No?

[ollie10]

84. I, too, am waiting.....

Hasn't happened, though.

She sure can attack good Democrats, though!!!! I gotta give her credit. THAT she can do WELL!!!

[Raster]

75. I still stand with Al!

You are correct... NOPE!

[HelenWheels]

79. I stand with Al too.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

43. *I* am still sore about Franken

[Eliot Rosewater]

81. Me too, I am sore at the liars though like Leanne Tweeden or whatever her name was

I wont spend a second criticizing or being angry with any Democrats over this, that would make his leaving even WORSE in that it would create even more harm to the party.

And I am SICK as HELL at phrases like "railroading" applied to Democratic senators who chose to handle this the way they did, they did NOT railroad Al, rightwing liars created the railroad.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

83. I'm mad at both

the right-wing lies laid the track but the Democrats got spooked and were way too quick to push Franken out of the way and may have created standards that the right-wing can use over and over again to potentially get rid of other Democratic politicians that become a nuisance.

[Beartracks]

87. Set us up to use our own bleeding hearts against us.

[SergeStorms]

55. Yep.....

I abhor the way in which Franken was railroaded by those in his own party. I'm not mad enough to stop voting for a certain Senator from my State, but I won't be contributing to that Senator's campaign again.

[hueymahl]

64. Very, very sore

Have not yet forgiven those "Democrats" that engaged in the friendly fire against Franken.

[90-percent]

67. me too

al was smart and worked for us and got results that moved our ball down hill. Plus Stuart Saves His Family was utterly charming and history is showing Rush Limbaugh is indeed a Big Fat Idiot.

-90% Jimmy

[MoonRiver]

76. Me! And if Schiff runs for president, I'm with HIM.

[HelenWheels]

80. Schiff should be a serious contender for President,

[Virtual Burlesque]

71. No doubt James O'Keefe is somewhere out there making something up as we type. (eom

[erronis]

46. This is trite and obvious - but there is no one on this planet with more damage than the dump.

Not that it will stop him from flinging his turds around to see what they hit. Dem, 'uglican, all gov't departments, friends (ex).

Reminds me of some of the great apes in zoos. Let's hope that he gets a chance to spend the rest of his life in the special Orange-Utang exhibit. We'll put up several layers of plexiglass so his feces stay with him.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

49. It's not so much that Trump might fling his poo at Democrats

it's that Democrats will often throw our own overboard at the first whiff of trouble, sometimes justifiably but other times not.

[erronis]

54. So, I wonder - should the Democrats just stop reacting so quickly? Stories come and go.

And we do seem to be quick to "fix" things, even if the fixes are wrong and contrary.

In the world of "Nudges", perhaps we are nudged to react and can't get off that side track. Things are not always what they seem, not always black and white, the correct path may not be obvious for some time, if at all.

The 'uglicans are very good at totally ignoring inconvenient truths and barreling forward with the newest wreck. Not to say we want to follow that horrific model, but...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

58. I think that we need to stop reacting so quickly in most circumstances

Weiner, as we've continued to learn, is an absolute trainwreck and needed to go. No arguments there with me about Weiner, especially after everything that has happened since, but we reacted way too quickly with Franken IMHO. Being in the hot glare of #MeToo and the looming Senate race against Roy Moore in Alabama, I can't say that I'm too surprised that many in the Democratic Party felt that he was a liability to the party and had to be quickly removed. Still don't agree it was the right decision but it is what it is and we lost a powerful voice because of it. The whole situation with Roger Stone forewarning of it still smacks of a setup.

[certainot]

78. limbaugh's attacking him and they'll make shit up

limbaugh has some nicknames for him and is referring to trump opponents as 'slimy'..

call hiim pencil necked schiff and we can laugh but it's not inconsequential when limbaugh attacks people from 600 stations, leading other blowhards. he'll go after shiff every day and shiffs staff will be getting abuse and maybe threats. meanwhile limbaugh hides behind call screeners and knows no one will challenge him on that.

and 88 major universities will endorse those attacks on trumps critics, helping 260 limbaugh stations attract advertisers..

[HipChick]

2. I wish he'd run..

2020

[Cracklin Charlie]

5. I believe I could get behind that.

[janterry]

6. I like him

but I'm not sure he has - at this time - the kind of charisma one usually associates with a winning presidential campaign. But perhaps I'm misreading him (or he will develop it along the way?).

Even if he doesn't ever develop that 'thing' that makes a successful Presidential bid - he will raise our primary game (he's a good candidate, respected - and he will help the field). So, I guess I hope he does, too.

[sunonmars]

8. I'd run him as VP, a strong safe back up...a good pitbull.

[maddiemom]

31. Charisma?

He could "produce" it if he chose to. He spent a long time being accepted as "serious."

[LuckyLib]

42. Charisma? Creepy Donald has none, and

was loved by his deplorables while being a vile pig. We need a smart and hardworking person in the WH. If he’s a bit pedantic and seemingly shy, all the better. After the clown we have now a little reserve would be appreciated!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

50. I don't know about President 2020

but he might be in line for a promotion to a Senate seat in the future. He definitely seems to have the chops for that. What state is he from, again?

[janterry]

53. California

So, it's not like he'd be bringing a reluctantly democratic state to the table.

But if Trump goes down (or it's clear he should have gone down - to the whole country - not just those of us here, in the know....)
well, maybe that will elevate him across the country - to the point that he's a bit of a hero .

I guess we'll see.

[LakeArenal]

77. Although it's way too early and we should focus on 2018

I think Schiff has plenty of charisma and name recognition..

The fact that he is dealing with one of the greatest threats to America ever, makes him absolutely serious. Neither Mueller or Schiff are showing their soft funny sides and I bet they both have them.

Besides, we have a lot to get through before a GE. Lots...

Let them both finish up their current assignments and let's go from there.

[green917]

14. I'd prefer he become attorney General

I don't think he would ever run for president but I'm sure he would make a formidable attorney General.

[AwakeAtLast]

69. Ooh, yes! n/t

[SCVDem]

72. AG to SCOTUS!

I agree. First things first.

[lame54]

15. No way...

He has a job to do

If he is successful - hell yes

But until then - no distractions

[samnsara]

33. me too!!! but then if he loses or whatever.. who will be our attack dog?

[NewJeffCT]

3. I hope if Democrats can win the presidency in 2020

Schiff will get serious consideration as Attorney General, along with fellow Californian Ted Lieu

[elleng]

19. Sally Yates, please!

[NewJeffCT]

25. I like Yates a lot as well

but, I've also seen her listed as a Republican in a few places online (her wikipedia entry has changed a few times as well) - so, not sure I'd go for Yates.

[elleng]

44. I see nothing exactly on point, but

'Yates's husband, Comer Yates, is executive director of the Atlanta Speech School. In 1994 and 1996 he unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Democrat.[54][55]

Honors[edit]

In January 2016, Yates received Emory University School of Law's Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC) Inspiration Award.[56] Following Yates's dismissal as Acting Attorney General, Representative Jackie Speier nominated her for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, and Georgia State Senator Elena Parent introduced a resolution commending Yates.[44][45] In April 2017, Yates received the Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice Award during the Detroit NAACP's 62nd Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.[57][58]'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Yates

[NewJeffCT]

45. Interesting

I wonder if they took that line out of there, as the last time I checked it was listed as Democratic.

However, she initially worked for Bob Barr (one of the leaders of the impeach Clinton movement and the author of the Defense of Marriage Act) and then was appointed by George W Bush

[elleng]

56. 'In 1994, she became Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section.

She was the lead prosecutor in the case of Eric Rudolph, who committed the Centennial Olympic Park bombing,[11] a terrorist convicted for a series of anti-abortion and anti-gay bombings across the southern United States between 1996 and 1998, which killed two people and injured over 120 others.[12] She rose to First Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2002 and to Acting U.S. Attorney in 2004. In the U.S. Attorney's office she held leadership positions under both Republican and Democratic administrations.[13]

President Barack Obama nominated Yates to be U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia. She was confirmed by the Senate on March 10, 2010.[10] Yates was the first woman to hold that position in the Northern District of Georgia.[8] During her time as a U.S. Attorney, Yates was appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as Vice Chair of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee.[10]'

[Angry Dragon]

4. Trump is such a baby

[Nitram]

9. He has never faced an adversary like Mueller, either.

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. that's sad in and of itself - I always wonder how some assholes get through so much of their

miserable lives without being taken down a peg. he is long overdue for the big defrocking!

[More_Cowbell]

29. It's from never having a real job

No boss to appease, no senior coworkers to be instructed by, no lower-level coworkers for whom he would be responsible.

[erronis]

47. Never been held accountable. Maybe that's about to change!

[smirkymonkey]

82. It's a miracle to me that he's not covered head to toe in scar tissue from having the shit

kicked out of him on a regular basis for being such a raging asshole his whole life. I really am surprised that nobody has ever tried to bump him off. Somebody must be watching over him.

[FakeNoose]

12. Cheeto is freaking out over Schiff? Wait til he meets Mueller!

Congressman Schiff is indeed awesome, but he's just the warm-up guy for Mueller.
Mueller is the guy who will give him nightmares.

[Wounded Bear]

18. Wow! Now that's a graphic!

[lagomorph777]

13. Schiff's playing 4D chess; Trump doesn't even realize how much he's being played.

Schiff's memo causes huge damage whether Trump releases it or not, and the Intel Committee Rethugs have played right into his hands by delaying it.

[erronis]

48. I like that visual - 4D chess. I think the dump would look at a 2D board and just turn it over

Saying "I won!"

[edhopper]

16. Not to toot my own horn

but toot toot.

I posted this yesterday.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210191745

Trump's problem is the other GOP candidates were lightweights.

Cruz, Rubio, even Bush were just to ineffective to counter his bullying name calling.

Dems like Schiff, Warren, etc, can counter him and show what a small little man he is.

[Eliot Rosewater]

27. Schiff has no fear because he is an honest man, the last thing chief traitor knows how to deal with.

[SunSeeker]

39. That and Schiff is MUCH smarter than Trump. nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

40. Like comparing Einstein to an average 7 yr old child.

Given chief traitor has never worked a day in his life, has failed miserably at absolutely everything he has done, you can imagine the hate he has for a self starter, successful and honest and patriotic man like Adam.

[erronis]

51. But the point wasn't the gravitas of any of the opponents, it was the media circus

Having a lot of very wise talking heads on the stage wouldn't have sold "eyeballs".

This is a circus with clowns, not a reasoned debate as happened back in the days when candidates had to travel several days to reach Philadelphia or other spots.

Now it is buffoonery and glitz and the biggest shithole wins the prize. And you know what, he likes all these terms of endearment. They mean he is important!

[rtracey]

17. 2020

Adam Schiff/ Gavin Newsome......

[LisaM]

21. Schiff has a way of drilling his statements down to essentials.

I don't think "acid tongued" is quite the phrase I'd use, but he's remarkably good at summing things up in a coherent, yet damming way (a lot like James Carville).

[MFM008]

22. What happens

When a fat POS leads a consequence free life.....they can't deal with a real adversary.

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. Schiff is chief traitors worst nightmare, an honest man who cant be bought.

[keithbvadu2]

28. The world laughs at America for electing a 70 y/o child.

[DownriverDem]

32. Except

he's dangerous. Look how he is trying to turn the whole country against the very agencies that are there to protect us and keep folks like trump from destroying us.

[keithbvadu2]

38. The best investment Putin ever made was putting money into Trump

[DownriverDem]

30. Never Faced

We've never faced such disgusting man like trump. I thought W was bad, and he was, but trump is in a totally different category.

[magicarpet]

60. Makes one wonder.....

..... who's next in the batters box for Re thug presi-Dunce coming at is down the road.

Nixon - then Reagan - then bush I - then bush II - then tr-dump - Good Lord what misfit throwback will they dump on America next round ?

Will they hunt down something worse than white trash tr-dump ?

[Hortensis]

35. Seen maybe as bad guy to "Chuck and Nancy's" good guys?!

LOL. Sounds fine if that's what's going on. All three would make political soup out of him and feed it to the cats, of course. As Robert Heinlein put it, it'd be his finest hour.

Speaking of good records, copying what I posted elsewhere as a little example:

The League of Conservation voters scorecard for these guys:

Schuck Schumer has 100% 2016 and 91% lifetime scores.
Nancy Pelosi 100% and 93%.
Adam Schiff 100% and 98%.
(And most other Democrats have similarly excellent records.)

Trump's used to dealing with the likes of Ryan 11% lifetime and McConnell 7% lifetime! No wonder if he thinks Democrats are from Mars.

[Tavarious Jackson]

36. where's Pelosi. Feinstein, Schumer and others?

We need all hands on deck attacking Trump. I am disappointed so many are keeping quiet

[SunSeeker]

37. Yup. The ring wing blogospere is desperately spreading lies and conspiracy theories about Schiff.

My right wing relatives have been breathlessly posting fake news stories about Schiff's "sister" being married to George Soros' son. Of course, a quick Google search confirms she's not Adam's sister, and the woman had an ugly divorce from Soros' son in 2015 to boot. Shit be cray, to quote the ferret.

[Kablooie]

41. He's also the Congressman for ...

JPL
Disney Studio
Dreamworks Animation
Paramount Studio
Hollywood Blvd. Walk of Fame
ABC
ESPN

[cilla4progress]

52. Very cool!

Adam ain’t afraid of no bully!

[Mike Nelson]

57. Adam is...

...my representative - and I'm gonna keep voting for him!

[Cha]

59. Not "acid" here but straight to the heart of the matter..

Link to tweet

Adam Schiff is powerful! and very popular with us, too.. those who are not in his California District

[TNLib]

61. Something tells me Schiff knows how to deal with a crazy person

He doesn’t get rattled or surprised by Trumps attacks and he deals with all the insanity like he’s dealt with this kind of thing before.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

62. The arch type of the quiet, seemingly non-imposing hero.

...who rises to action out of a sense of duty and not personal gain.

Yes, I believe that fits Rep. Schiff quite well.

[Honeycombe8]

63. Schiff has been really good about going on tv & explaining things clearly, & repeatedly...

about what the Repubs are doing, every time they do something unethical or improper.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

65. Bullies often crumble when someone stands up to them. But tRump doesn't have much else of a playbook

David Frum tweet:  ? "Regular reminder that Donald Trump’s core competency is not dealmaking with powerful counter-parties. It is duping gullible victims."

[radical noodle]

86. Exactly! n/t

[honest.abe]

66. Beautiful!!

More please!

[lillypaddle]

68. yes, yes, yes, and yes

Run, Adam, run.

[sharedvalues]

70. Of course. The best way to disrupt a bully is to stand tall.

Trump only understands dominance.

Any man who has ever gone to a club understands the dominance games some bullies like to play. Guys that stand up, look them in the eye and assert themselves cause them to back down.

Just like Macron.

This is how you deal with a bully. Pull his hand in. Play his game. Squeeze like hell and stare him in the eye. This is the only language bullies understand. And it makes them fold.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?TbMsQVb94g8

[Hekate]

73. That just makes me smile all over. I hope someday to see him in the Senate...

...tho he's doing just fine where he is right now.

[Justice]

74. Ditto a thousand times.

[niyad]

85. el bloato's outbursts remind me of serial abusers I have met, who have absolutely NO idea

what to do when people stand up to them, unafraid and intimidated.

[Nitram]

88. Melissa, could you change the title to "Never" instead of "Ever?"