I Have One Last Thing To Say About Hur's Report

[gab13by13]

Robert Hur wrote in his report that President Biden couldn't even remember when his son died.

What a horrible, despicable thing to say. Everyfuckingbody should be condemning Hur for putting that lie in his report.

If Merrick Garland read that line in Hur's report and allowed it to be made public, then Garland is complicit.

No President Biden can't fire Garland, it is way too late, besides, I'm not sure that incompetence is legal grounds for firing someone.

I'm going grocery shopping, maybe I will buy a chunk of big fat bologna.

[brewens]

1. Testify brother! Testify! n/t

[hlthe2b]

2. EXACTLY how I feel. To those handful of posters defending Hur and this report, where is your humanity?

(I do not believe for one minute they are unaware of this direct line of attack on Biden and his purported memory problems-- nor the intentional disregard that the five-hour interview occurred IMMEDIATELY after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. This was as savage a misdirected political attack delivered under the guise of "investigation" as you could get. And for some to defend this--well, I fear for our collective future if that is what we are all to become.

[KPN]

17. Huh? There are DUers who are defending Hur? Unbelievable.

[hlthe2b]

19. Yup... Few, but very vocal

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

60. Same at The Daily Kos

They'll let posters slam biden all day long and post diaries agreeing with Hur's shit, but say MAGAt one time and you get the 3/30/300 day ban hammer depending on how many times you've been sanctioned before..

[hlthe2b]

64. Yes. I've been following that controversy....

I've never been any kind of regular reader of DK, but I have to think this attempt to remake Daily Kos into some kind of "heralded journalism" site--free of opinion or bias-- may stem back years ago to Markos Moulita's being banned from MSNBC--where he often appeared as a commentator. He'd committed the "sin" during the 2016 election of mentioning Trump's going after Joe Scarborough's intern's death--even though he (Moulitsas) certainly did not accuse Scab of doing anything wrong--but at the time, Scarborough had a ridiculous amount of clout with the head of the network. Still, all these years later, he remains a persona non grata at MSNBC (and I think CNN). So, I think this is his attempt to get back in the limelight.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Adding the part about his son's death was a particularly nasty piece of work.

From what I can see in general, the GOP strategy is to bait and trick Biden into doing something foolish by pressing his buttons.

Putin did it in the way he helped set up the specifics of the Hamas attack, Abbott is doing it in Texas, and then Hur did it in the absurd report.

[yardwork]

65. The Republicans go after Biden's sons all the time.

Meanwhile Princess Sparkle-pony who made millions in trade deals with China and her husband, Mr. "I'm worth $2B to the Saudis don't ask me why" never get questioned or investigated.

The Republicans don't care about ethics or morals except as a wedge to get at decent people like Joe Biden, whose biggest weakness in their eyes is that he's a kind and loving father. The party of sociopaths has nothing but contempt for decency.

[Irish_Dem]

70. Yes to get at Biden. And to discourage decent people from running for office.

To demoralize and depress Biden. Make him angry and hurt.

It is also teaching the public to be mean and cruel.
To delight in hurting others.

Shaping society and not in a good way.

[ScratchCat]

4. Ummm...

No President Biden can't fire Garland, it is way too late, besides, I'm not sure that incompetence is legal grounds for firing someone.

Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President and can be replaced for any or no reason at all.

[yorkster]

5. If Garland saw any reference to Biden's memory

re the date of his son's death and let it stand, there is more than incompetence at play here.
I do agree that the President can't fire him, however.

[yorkster]

8. Can't fire him at this point, I mean.

Could be a real negative politically.
Who knows...

[redqueen]

73. I'm quite tired of worrying about what is legal but might look bad

Haven't we got our collective ass bitten enough by not going for these crooks' throats? So to speak?

[Nasruddin]

79. So what

I hope Biden has an undated, signed letter of resignation from all his cabinet officers in his desk.
If he doesn't remember where this, then that's a problem.

Given his record of accomplishment, it's more than time that Garland decided to spend more time with his family.

[orangecrush]

50. Obviously he did

Time to go away.

[Maraya1969]

6. How did tfg fire Comey then?

[Rebl2]

22. Exactly!

[mountain grammy]

38. Ha.. I had the same thought

different strokes for different folks.. the orange idiot always gets a pass.

[usonian]

7. IANAL but can't appointees be just dismissed?

[Maraya1969]

9. My aunt died 11 months after my mother. I still cannot remember if my mother's death was in January

or February or if that was my Aunt. And I cannot remember the exact date. I think that because my mother's death was so tragic for me that I have blocked it out,

That happens when someone dies. How dare that man decide it is a memory thing and not a grief thing.

[hlthe2b]

12. My parents died three months apart and my father went through three months of ICU hell, arresting

Last edited Fri Feb 9, 2024, 01:40 PM - Edit history (1)

several times during that ordeal during which it fell to me to coordinate among 13 (yes, 13) physicians and specialists on the case who rarely communicated with EACH OTHER. Our bodies have a way of helping us cope with a sense of "auto-pilot" and general mental numbness--which lasts well after their deaths--for me many years before I finally let myself come to grips with all that had happened. That is very common. I remember the year (as the late Queen would have termed my "annus horribilis" ) but the exact day of each of those traumatic occurrences on that tragic rollercoaster? Hell no.

People are losing their sense of reality, empathy, compassion, and understanding--in the name of their overriding partisanship or among a few of our own-- ugly ageist bigotry-driven misconceptions.

[love_katz]

13. Your last paragraph:

*************** THIS **********. Exactly 💯 this. All of it. Sending you hugs for what you had to deal with while overseeing your parent's care.

[hlthe2b]

14. Thank you...

Back to you.

[Doc Sportello]

33. Great post

I know what it's like navigating the end of life waters for dying parents. And your last sentence is spot on.

[Arazi]

20. Same. Furthermore, as the years pass, I'm not as obsessed with the dates anymore.

My father and sister died within a month of each other, and I used to have the dates embedded in my memory but now years later, I will mix them up, and I’m not as obsessed over every detail like I was before.

That’s just how our minds deal with grief and everyone processes it differently.

The inclusion of that detail was reprehensible. Utterly despicable

[Mossfern]

68. I only remember the date

of my father's death by the Hebrew calendar: Shevat 5. I only know that it's some time in the winter, don't remember the year at all. (1984 or 1985). The anniversary of my mother's death is etched into my brain:
September 14, 2001. She was taken off life support on September 11th.

Our minds protect us from traumatic memories.

[yardwork]

27. Agreed. I'm almost 20 years younger than Biden and my mom passed in 2022.

I still have to pause to get the year right. And I've been the executor of her estate, so the date is very familiar to me. And still my mind sorts.. was it 2021? 2023?

Also, it's very possible that Biden was being careful while being interviewed under oath. Better to say "I'm not sure" than to say with certainty and misspeak. Lawyers often advise clients to express uncertainty for this reason.

[KPN]

28. Yep, my parents died in March 2000 and April 2001 ... or was it April 2001 and

May 2002?

It's the first, but the only reason I remember is my Mom died in the millennial year (2000), I seared that month -- March -- into my brain some years ago now after several times having to look it up when trying to recall what month it was, and my Dad died almost exactly a month more than a year after my Mom (God bless them both). What date exactly? I have no frigging idea. One of my siblings has also left us -- my favorite. It was in October, I think, 4 -- but maybe 5 -- years ago now? Seems like 3, but I think that's what it was last year. ... No joke. That's my "memory".

This (Hur's report) is disgusting. These people have no decency whatsoever. Their thirst for power and control has no bounds. Meanwhile, we have what may be the most decent person ever and certainly among the very most decent in Joe Biden as President.

[Trueblue Texan]

49. Well, when it's nothing but a lie...

...it doesn't really matter if it's a memory or a grief thing.

[LeftInTX]

57. We don't even know the context of that statement. It's not even germane to the case.

Didn't know when he was VP? Come on....
Since they were talking about documents that were in his possession, once again did they probably asked him, "When were you vice president?". How did he reply? However, this was also about the transition period, which began in Nov 2016 and the move out on Jan 20, 2017. The records could have applied to anytime during that period.

[yardwork]

66. Based on the snide comments in the written report

I can only imagine the snide line of questioning itself. They were probably trying to trick Biden into making a mistake, all over nothing while he's trying to deal with the Middle East blowing up.

The depth of my contempt for Hur is unmeasurable.

[Trueblue1968]

86. My mother died 60 years ago when i was 13. I can not remember the date of her death

[Cattledog]

10. The AG serves at the pleasure of the President

He needs no reason to let him go.

[Borchkins]

11. This!

Get rid of him. He did to Biden what Comey did to Hillary. A partisan hit job by the DOJ.

[Poiuyt]

15. Exactly

[republianmushroom]

16. Well the last thing I'll say about Hur's report, probably not the last thing,

I do think it is a little , no more than a little "political", myself. But than that is just me.

[Doc Sportello]

35. Wonder if you'll feel the same way in October

After eight months of the repubs using it as a lynchpin of their ugly, unfair personal attacks on Biden.

[republianmushroom]

37. Yup, will still feel it is a lot political, as I do now.

[Doc Sportello]

39. You wrote that it was a "little" political

Maybe it was meant as sarcasm.

[republianmushroom]

42. Did you read " no more than a little "political", myself. But than that is just me.

[Doc Sportello]

43. Yes and it comes across the same

If you had left out the "no" than it would make sense as to being a lot political as you later wrote.

[republianmushroom]

44. If so, than I can't help you.

[Doc Sportello]

77. See intrepidity's reply

Maybe that will help.

[intrepidity]

72. I think he left out a comma

As in: no, more than 'a little'

[Demsrule86]

80. I think it is as political as it can be...and Hur needs to be let go officially so we don't

have him 'reopen the case in October or November as f'ing Comey did.

[onetexan]

18. I'm for next term POTUS appoint a new AG

[et tu]

47. ditto

and hopefully replace dejoy- to many busy busy vipers in the house~

[ECL213]

21. I haven't read the report, but what exactly...

does the date Beau Biden died have to do with the mishandling of the documents?

I mean, how did that even come up? Did the asshole ask him, "Mr. President, did you put this document into storage before or after your son died?"

People should be questioning Hur, not the President. What a dickhead.

[Scrivener7]

29. Wish I still had a heart to give you!

[phylny]

41. I took care of it for you.

I got you covered

[Scrivener7]

51. Thank you!!!

[True Blue American]

34. Not a thing. Hur was supposed to be checking the documents

Nothing else! Putrid little man who came up with nothing.

[hadEnuf]

78. That just shows the type of BS questioning that Biden was up against with this clown Hur.

Sounds like this Hur asshole was interviewing like a Fox news pundit.

Hur's whole report is suspect. First, he says he has evidence that Biden mishandled classified documents. Then halfway through he says he has no evidence that Biden mishandled classified documents??
Then he uses the rest of this word salad to insult Biden.

There is something very wrong here. If this report was reviewed before publication, then the person who reviewed it is complicit.

[yardwork]

23. It's a rare moment when almost all of DU is unified in rage at Hur.

Feels good to have company. DU has gotten me through some bad times, and this is one of them.

[PufPuf23]

24. Thank you for the steadfast posting about Garland in a headwind.

IMHO Garland's slow walk and other actions are not incompetence but willful sabotage.

Trump and a number of GOP members of Congress should be incarcerated and not walking the halls of Congress.

Hur should have concluded that there is no crime nor willful wrongdoing on the part of POTUS Biden and that the investigation and publicity about the investigation was in bad faith. Hur knows how his report as written would be received. If Garland was truly non-partisan. the report would have been clean without smears of POTUS Biden.

Our justice system is not serious or is incapable of fair treatment for the wealthy and powerful.

There are posters that should show some humility and you deserve multiple apologies.

[gab13by13]

53. I said one last time, but I must reply to this,

Yeah, I took a bit of criticism, I welcome any and all criticism of my opinions. The personal attacks I let stand, I never ever hit the alert button on anyone here. I would rather reply out in the open to my critics, not anonymously. Also, I think it's good to know where people stand here. I rarely click on posts from people who cut and paste an article or video and then don't give his/her opinion. There are exceptions of course where a video speaks for itself.

I do not have any proof that Garland is some kind of Magat mole, so I will never say that nor believe it until there are facts.
There are facts that show that Garland leans way to the right, mainly his monitoring 11 Federalist Society events. Organizations like the Federalist Society are the Big Money people behind the Magat politicians, they pull the strings, just look at Clarence Thomas.

I honestly believe that Garland would have made a fine Supreme Court justice.

I honestly believe that Garland is in over his head as AG. I try to only criticize his actions, his decisions, not him personally.

Magats play dirty, even if Hur was dressed down for not following DOJ norms and policies that will be turned against President Biden. They do this because they haven't been held accountable. I will change my tune about Congressional Magats having immunity when Scott Perry is indicted, still waiting.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

25. What in the ever loving fuck does that have to do with documents??

And weren't these from when Prez Biden was VP? What a disrespectful fuck. And let me guess....media suck ups are all up in arms because they're just dying for the Slobby circus to come to town again.

One thing I've noticed, these idiots have no concept of what happens next. They ride the ride til they get chucked off, and they always get chucked off. They see others get chucked off, but apparently think it won't happen to them.

[bigtree]

26. If Garland laid one finger on those lines it would come out as interference

and an attempt to cover up something to help Biden.

It would be a self-inflicted wound to his investigations and prosecutions and it would be far more damaging than this obvious conservative's opinions in the report which are easily refuted and defended against.

Your suggestion is stunningly dismissive of the politics surrounding prosecuting Trump. Nothing in the report would be more damaging than Garland calling attention to the claims by basically interfering with the INDEPENDENT Special Counsel.

I'm certain that's why you don't see the president, the target of the smears, making the same arguments about his AG. He not going to make the stupid errror of giving republicans an opening to point to Garland's heavy hand.

Right now, we have an openly hostile republican exonerating Pres. Biden. Why would anyone want to muck that up?

[ShazzieB]

90. Excellent points!

Thanks for this.

[yankee87]

30. Smiling

Thanks for making me laugh about this.

[AkFemDem]

31. Of COURSE Biden can fire Garland

Just like Trump fired Sessions. The diplomatic way it's typically done in appointed offices is to request resignation, a president can certainly fire them though.

That said, there's a presumption in this that he would want to fire him.

First, he may be satisfied with Garland, despite his appointment of Hur. He may even have approved of Hur's appointment.

Second, he may not want to risk extending this political crisis (and yes, it's a political crisis) with a more media frenzy and speculation, he may want this to just die down and go away.

Third, he'd need to get a replacement confirmed by the senate and well, we know how that goes.

Fourth, it should be noted that while Garland read that statement and allowed it- so did the Biden team. Biden chose not to redact it. Was this a wise move politically? Maybe, sometimes speculation is worse than reality. Maybe not though. Ultimately it was his choice to make.

[DC77]

83. We live in unprecedented times

Read this 2017 piece in connection with Sessions. https://constitutioncenter.org/amp/blog/attorney-general-removals-rare-but-not-unprecedented

He could also ask him to resign. It would be damaging to Garland’s reputation in the general public sense (the general sense that the public doesn’t follow the day-to-day chronology of events).

He could apply pressure too.

But we know Biden is an institutionalist. Garland is a wimp, never drives more than the speed limit, and is extremely dull and disappointing speaker. I don’t think Biden has any input. I think Biden appointed him simply because Mitch McConnell prevailed in his goal of not allowing an appointment during a Supreme Court vacancy (Obama was a wimp too, wanted everyone to like him when that is not possible). Ended up being just fine as Garland is acting like a super moderate anyways, right down the middle.

What a sick joke. And such a disappointment.

[True Blue American]

32. Why would Hur ask

Such an ignorant question of a man who lost his wife, his daughter and a Son such an ignorant question?

Hur is lower than a snakes belly.

[LeftInTX]

62. Yeah, I forgot about his wife. What does 1972 have to do with anything????

[LiberalFighter]

36. I do my family tree. I don't remember when my parents died or my sister.

But I do know the year my parents died and it was forty days apart.

I do know the dates my parents and siblings were born.

I bet Hur doesn't.

[Owens]

40. After the re-election

After the re-election Biden needs to fire DeJoy and Garland on day one

[Silent Type]

45. Those comments had no place in the report, but it's a bit late to protest that. Unforunately, I'm not sure

Biden helped himself with the press conference last night. I get it had to be done.

[elocs]

46. Sure, have Biden fire Garland if he wants to come off doing the same kind of thing Trump would do.

But it's a really stupid idea for anyone who takes a moment to think about it.

[malaise]

48. +1,000

Rec

[Nanjeanne]

52. That was disgraceful. As was so much of Hur's report. For the record, I have lost my mother, my father and my sister.

I do not remember the dates they passed away. I remember my loving parents and my brave sister. I have memories that will always be with me. I do not and never have commemorated the day of their death in any way and while I know the exact details of how that day was spent - I choose not to remember the specific day. Ask me their birthdays --- I'll never forget.

It was a cheap shot and a shameful inclusion signifying nothing.

[yardwork]

67. That's a good point. I remember my parents' birthdays, not their death days.

If I have to look up my mother's exact day of death, does that mean I have dementia? Does it mean I'm a doddering old fool? No. It means that I didn't put the calendar date in my memory because I choose to remember and celebrate happier days with her.

[Nanjeanne]

74. Exactly the same for me.

[MattNC2021]

54. This was meant to be the October surprise

I think Hur expected a redacted report would be released. Then the unredacted version would become public in October. That is why the White House released an unredacted version to address it now and put it to bed.

To be clear, I will vote for Joe Biden at whatever age, and whatever capacity before ever voting for a Russian asset, who sells government secrets for profit, who grabs women by their private parts, who buddies up with dictators, and plans to become one!

[yardwork]

69. Absolutely! And Joe Biden is doing a great job as president.

I have no complaints.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

55. Hur took advantage of Biden who followed through w testimony day after Oct 7 crisis broke

If you had the weight of the world on your mind it would be no surprise to forget even important details that aren't necessarily referenced every day anyway.

[LeftInTX]

58. His son's death was not even germane to the case. Much less his wife's death in 1972.

[NoMoreRepugs]

56. I cant remember the date my mom died - I must be weak minded I guess.

[Mblaze]

59. I'm 74 (let's get that out of the way) 😀

I cannot tell you the dates my parents died or my in-laws died or my brother died. I remember the events well but I am terrible with dates. The dates mean nothing to me in comparison to the actual events so they just slip away over the years. Maybe if I practiced remembering them but I just don’t see the point.

[Mossfern]

71. Same here with dates

Time is not linear to me.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

61. We've seen three years of his mediocrity

Why do we need more than 4? Biden should fire him in November and nominate someone new in 2025 - if he can..

[mercuryblues]

63. I had a bone marrow transplant as treatment for Cancer

I remember the date - Feb 14th. I only remember it was 2 years ago because next week I get the last of my vaccines. I had to wait 1 year to get the 1st in this series and 2 years for the 2nd. On the 15th I will be completely revaccinated for childhood diseases.

That is the only reason I can remember the date. Valentine's Day. In a few years, I am sure I will forget the year, as I will not have an event to jog my memory. Or at least, I hope not.

[moondust]

75. Was it a trap?

I don't know how the date of his son's death was relevant to the case.

[The Wizard]

76. Can Hur be indicted for

making medical determinations without credentials?

[Aaeia]

81. Audition

What part of Hur's job audition is no one getting here? It's so blatantly obvious that this guy is trying to poison the electorate the same way Comi did so he can get tromp's attention. It's pathetic. Pay attention - this will not be the last.

[crimycarny]

82. I feel I know exactly what happened

I can almost guarantee that Hur asked about Beau's death in a way that was disrespectful, irrelevant, and condescending. As in "Do you think Beau's death had anything to do with your 'mishandling' of documents?" Joe Biden mostly responded in a vague or deflective manner to not allow Hur to try and use Beau's death in such a condescending and calculated manner.

Hur is vile, absolutely vile. He knows d*mm well that the absolute worst allegation he can make is that Joe Biden doesn't remember the date/time of Beau's death. He knows that is a lie, and he doesn't care.

Joe Biden remembers Beau's death every second of every day. As a grieving parent myself, I know.

[Sugarcoated]

87. Did the report say Biden was senile??

Wtf. Isn't the NYP the equivalent of Great Britain's The Sun?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

85. 'Confidential' in name only: Merrick Garland's delicate decision to release the Hur report

In theory, the attorney general could have kept the report secret. In practice, he had only one option. If AG Garland did not release the Hur report, it was going to be either leaked or disclosed by the GOP in a hearing which would give the report far greater exposure and coverage.

Link to tweet

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/09/garland-decision-release-hur-report-00140806

The White House is livid over the Justice Department’s release of a special counsel report that painted a devastating portrait of Joe Biden. But Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to release it was a foregone conclusion — and anything short of publicizing the full report would have been worse.....

In practice, though, burying or censoring the report would have been untenable, former Justice Department leaders say.

They described a high-stakes calculus for both Garland and Hur informed by previous politically sensitive investigations: Special counsel reports have always been made public in recent years, and Garland would have been slammed by Republicans and the press if he tried to keep this one under wraps. Hur, meanwhile, clearly understood that political reality, so the harsh language he included was exactly what he expected the public to see.....

While the DOJ regulations used to appoint special counsels call for their final reports to be confidential and Hur labeled his as such, in recent years it has become customary for attorneys general — facing political pressure — to vow to release them publicly to the extent the law allows.

Despite the caterwauling from the White House this week, the conclusion of Hur’s probe was sure to draw a flurry of Freedom of Information Act requests and lawsuits from news organizations and Biden’s political foes. House Republicans could also have subpoenaed the report and related records. The letter Biden’s lawyers sent to Hur indicates transcripts exist of the prosecutor’s interviews with Biden, so the memory lapses Hur cited may have become public whether Hur had colorfully characterized them or not......

And while some Justice Department veterans said the buck stops with Garland, others argued that the attorney general had no choice but to release the report Hur delivered. Hur and his team likely would have understood that their words would become public, even though the report was labeled “confidential.”

“Mr. Hur’s report had to be released unedited lest the attorney general were to be accused of protecting President Biden,” Rossi said.

Even if the full report was not leaked, the report would had eventually come out when Comer or Gym Jordan subpoenaed Garland, Hur and the report itself. Disclosure of the full report would have been a bigger deal than releasing the report in full this far in advance of the general election.

[ShazzieB]

89. Interesting!

Thanks for this.

[DallasNE]

88. HurIs A MD?

If not it appears he is practicing without a license when making cognitive statements.

[Oopsie Daisy]

91. "Complicit" ?? 🤣😂 Oh, dear! Such drama! 🙄😜

As a grown adult with a mature perspective on this, I can see that it's much more nuanced, and I'm able to refrain from using this type of language.

[hlthe2b]

93. Because laughing at someone's grief and associated memory loss is so funny, right?

Good gawd.

[Oopsie Daisy]

94. I don't see anyone laughing at grief (perhaps I overlooked it). Instead, I see a bunch of dramatic hand-wringing *

* that neglects to consider reality in the quest for yet another anti Garland smear-job.

[hlthe2b]

95. You are in your own post.

why would you do that? Do you really not care that this SC used Beau Biden's death to attack him?

Many here (myself included) have posted about how our own grief experiences do impact specific memories. I can't imagine your read them or your would not be so seemingly blase' or even callous about it.

[Oopsie Daisy]

96. Oh brother! No I'm not.

[hlthe2b]

97. Laughing at other's grief on this thread is the most despicable thing I have ever seen on DU.

What is wrong with you?

[Oopsie Daisy]

98. LOL! Nobody is laughing at grief.

[hlthe2b]

99. What the hell do you call your mocking those of us who have expressed our sincere, honest accounts

of how grief impacts memory.

Have you lost all humanity?

[Oopsie Daisy]

100. LOL! What a ridiculous accusation! I've done no such thing.

>> Have you lost all humanity?
Oh, nice. Charming.

[hlthe2b]

101. Truth hurts? WHat the hell do you call it?

Such clearly apparent lack of empathy is not something we typically see on DU. So, welcome to IGNORE.

[Oopsie Daisy]

102. Someone has grabbed the wrong end of the stick. (Not me.)

>> So, welcome to IGNORE.
Okay, whatever. I guess that's easier than admitting having made a mistake. Enjoy "ignoring" me.

[Sienna86]

92. Garland gone in January 2025

Resigned or replaced.