Keep your eyes closed

[silverscreenselect]

Keep em closed even tighter

Well, Tony Bobulinski said pretty much the same thing, but that's old news. Been reported on page two, reluctantly, a few times and then swept back under the rug. Somebody decided we didn't need to know that. Probably the same people that get to change our language anytime they want.

Well, the latest episode of the non-smoking smoking gun against the "Biden crime family" took place yesterday and was so embarrassing for Jim Jordan that he left during his own witness's testimony. Devon Archer, Hunter Biden's ex-business partner, testified that Hunter had phone calls with his father with other business associates present about 20 times over a ten-year period but that they never discussed any actual business with Joe Biden and that Archer had no evidence of a bribe from Burisma to Hunter or Joe Biden. In Archer's words, "Hunter Biden was selling the illusion of access to his father." While that doesn't say much about Hunter's business ethics, it's no evidence of any crime by Hunter and especially by Joe Biden. In other words, the Republicans are selling the illusion of criminality about Joe Biden.

Keep your eyes closed, Flock.

https://www.newsweek.com/devon-archer-t ... ns-1816533

[Bob78164]

In Archer's words, "Hunter Biden was selling the illusion of access to his father."

I agree that's a fair summary of the contents of Archer's testimony (as reported by multiple outlets), but I haven't seen any source, including the Newsweek piece you link, claim that Archer used those words. I believe that those words came from Rep. Dan Goldman. --Bob

[BackInTex]

In Archer's words, "Hunter Biden was selling the illusion of access to his father."

I agree that's a fair summary of the contents of Archer's testimony (as reported by multiple outlets), but I haven't seen any source, including the Newweek piece you link, claim that Archer used those words. I believe that those words came from Rep. Dan Goldman. --Bob

An "illusion" that proved fruitfully true. Those buying the "illusions" got the results they wanted from their purchse. Not just the vapor. So maybe they didn't get direct access (plausible deniability) but surragete access. Same input, same outputs, just an additional 2 gears in the middle resulting in the same direction of turn from the target gear.

[flockofseagulls104]

Yeah, Talking about the weather. Right. That's the ticket. No matter that it's gone from that he had no idea of what Hunter was doing to that he wasn't in business with Hunter to now he's talking to the people who are paying Hunter millions of dollars for NOTHING. About the weather. Keeps changing. But you ignore the fact he's already lied through his teeth.

Laptop evidence, whistleblower evidence, business partner testimony. Bank records. Amazing how you can just blow all of this off and believe someone who's obviously making a lame excuse for the latest evidence that Joe was involved.

JOE BIDEN IS THE BIG GUY AND HE SKIMMED FROM THE MONEY HUNTER WAS GETTING PAID FOR PROVIDING ACCESS!!!!

You people are so incredibly blinded by your hatred of Trump that it's disgusting.

And blind to the obvious fact that the DOJ swamp creatures are throwing every dubious, stupid thing they can RIGHT NOW at Trump to fix the election.

[silverscreenselect]

And blind to the obvious fact that the DOJ swamp creatures are throwing every dubious, stupid thing they can RIGHT NOW at Trump to fix the election.

That was 45 pages of dubious, stupid things they threw at Trump today.

[silverscreenselect]

business partner testimony. ...Amazing how you can just blow all of this off and believe someone who's obviously making a lame excuse for the latest evidence that Joe was involved.

You do realize that these two people are one and the same, don't you?

[flockofseagulls104]

And blind to the obvious fact that the DOJ swamp creatures are throwing every dubious, stupid thing they can RIGHT NOW at Trump to fix the election.

That was 45 pages of dubious, stupid things they threw at Trump today.

The first true and smart thing you have ever posted here.

[Bob78164]

Here is a link to a story that, in turn, links to a transcript of Archer's testimony, so anyone who wants to can read the testimony. Spoiler alert: He didn't say what the Republicans claimed he said, and the differences between what they claimed and what Archer actually said are so stark that they can't be explained as differences in interpretation or misunderstanding. To the shock of no one who's paying attention, the Republicans lied. Again. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

Here is a link to a story that, in turn, links to a transcript of Archer's testimony, so anyone who wants to can read the testimony. Spoiler alert: He didn't say what the Republicans claimed he said, and the differences between what they claimed and what Archer actually said are so stark that they can't be explained as differences in interpretation or misunderstanding. To the shock of no one who's paying attention, the Republicans lied. Again. --Bob

From the end of the linked article:

That’s the pattern here. Comer and Jordan and others hype claims of Joe Biden’s involvement in Hunter Biden’s work only to see those claims collapse as more information is made public. Devon Archer’s testimony was hailed as a central breakthrough in implicating Joe Biden. Instead, it has a top ally of Hunter Biden stating under penalty of perjury that Joe Biden was not involved in Hunter Biden’s business and that Biden’s trip to Ukraine in 2015 was not centered on protecting Burisma at all.

That's the Republican pattern. Endless, repeated hyping only to have the actual "evidence" fall completely flat. At least, Jim Jordan had the sense to leave the room to try to get as far away from Archer as possible.

But not Flock. He's too far into the Kool-Aid. In the same post, he hypes "business partner testimony" about Joe and Hunter Biden and in the next sentence asks us how we can "blow all of this off" and instead believe "someone who's obviously making a lame excuse for the latest evidence that Joe was involved." e.g.; the very same Devon Archer.

It's ironic that Flock is screaming about how Biden is weaponizing the FBI and criminal justice system when part of the indictment alleges that Trump and his co-conspirators tried to do that exact same thing.

I welcomed the various House committee investigations because I knew what they would accomplish. As contrasted with the voluminous documentary, photographic and video evidence and the testimony of dozens of witnesses that the January 6 committee produced, the Republicans keep making grandiose claims about what's going to happen and then produce virtually nothing of substance every time. The most productive hearing they've held in terms of eliciting testimony has been the UFO hearing.

And Flock shouldn't put too much stock in "the laptop." We haven't heard from the FBI about the actual laptop and how it compares to what Rudy Giuliani, aka Co-conspirator #1, was peddling around.

[flockofseagulls104]

Keep your eyes wide shut.

Comer has released more bank records that show how the Biden family got millions of dollars from foreign entities. Your choice: It was either by selling influence or to pay for Hunter's enormous expertise in every imaginable subject.

Oh yeah, There's always the other choice. Everybody's lying.

[silverscreenselect]

Keep your eyes wide shut.

Comer has released more bank records that show how the Biden family got millions of dollars from foreign entities. Your choice: It was either by selling influence or to pay for Hunter's enormous expertise in every imaginable subject.

Oh yeah, There's always the other choice. Everybody's lying.

You'll notice that there's no record of payments to Joe Biden, only to Hunter or, mostly, to companies involved with Hunter and Devon Archer. The memo keeps referring to how the "Biden family" got money from these interests, but the only one who got any money was Hunter. Archer testified that Hunter was promoting himself as providing access to Joe Biden. Hunter's ethics may be lacking, but that's no crime of his and certainly no crime of Joe's. There's no evidence that Joe Biden took bribes of any sort, or that Joe tried to influence government policy in any way to promote Hunter's interests. Joe's only "crime" appears to be not cutting Hunter out of his life entirely because of his son's various business interests.

And if we're talking about relatives getting money from foreign interests, how about Saudi payments of $2 billion to Jared Kushner. He makes Hunter look like a penny ante hustler.

[flockofseagulls104]

Keep your eyes wide shut.

Comer has released more bank records that show how the Biden family got millions of dollars from foreign entities. Your choice: It was either by selling influence or to pay for Hunter's enormous expertise in every imaginable subject.

Oh yeah, There's always the other choice. Everybody's lying.

You'll notice that there's no record of payments to Joe Biden, only to Hunter or, mostly, to companies involved with Hunter and Devon Archer. The memo keeps referring to how the "Biden family" got money from these interests, but the only one who got any money was Hunter. Archer testified that Hunter was promoting himself as providing access to Joe Biden. Hunter's ethics may be lacking, but that's no crime of his and certainly no crime of Joe's. There's no evidence that Joe Biden took bribes of any sort, or that Joe tried to influence government policy in any way to promote Hunter's interests. Joe's only "crime" appears to be not cutting Hunter out of his life entirely because of his son's various business interests.

And if we're talking about relatives getting money from foreign interests, how about Saudi payments of $2 billion to Jared Kushner. He makes Hunter look like a penny ante hustler.

So these lunkheaded oligarchs and billionaires stupidly paid Hunter for nothing? I would think that if Hunter accepted this money and got them absolutely nothing, he would have had a fatal 'accident' a long time ago. Your self-delusion is mind blowing.

As for the Kushner thing, this is actually the first I've heard anything about that. I am surprised that the MSM isn't going apoplectic about it. It's not apparently breaking news. Maybe there's a reason for that. I would say, however, that at first glance Kushner's expertise and experience is slightly more extensive than Hunter's. Get as much real evidence against Kushner as we have against the Bidens, and I will be on board with you on that. Until then, I advise you to do away with the possible whataboutism to excuse what is obvious about the Bidens. But you won't.

[silverscreenselect]

From Flock's linked source:

This is made clear by meals at Café Milano where then-Vice President Joe Biden dined with oligarchs from around the world who had sent money to his son,” said Chairman Comer.

I was unfamiliar with Cafe Milano, so I checked into it:

Every sitting president of the last three decades has dined at Cafe Milano—up until Donald Trump broke the streak. Now, Joe Biden is continuing the tradition: He had dinner at the Georgetown Italian restaurant Sunday night with his granddaughter Naomi Biden and her husband Peter Neal.

With a few exceptions, Biden has stuck to the most stereotypical Washington “power spots” while dining out in DC during his presidency. He’s already made multiple visits to Le Diplomate and Fiola Mare, both famed for their high-profile clientele. (Less expected: a recent taco run to Taqueria Habanero on Cinco de Mayo.) Cafe Milano is no exception: owner Franco Nuschese’s see-and-be-seen dining room has hosted countless heads of state, popes, celebrities, government bigwigs on both sides of the aisle, and other VIPs. Even though Trump never went, the restaurant was dubbed the “second White House cafeteria” in the early years of his administration. The place seems to pop up in Politico Playbook practically every week. As a longtime creature of Washington, Biden is no stranger to Cafe Milano either. He’s been there numerous times over the years, including while he was VP and in 2019 with his son Hunter Biden.

https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/11/0 ... the-years/

So, lots of the rich and famous around DC dine at Cafe Milano. And Joe Biden probably dined with a bunch of them while he was there. It doesn't seem like a place you'd go to discuss illicit business deals or accepting bribes.

You can tell how weak the "case" against Joe Biden is by the number of times they refer to the "Biden family." They don't mean Jill, Ashley, and the grandchildren. They mean Hunter and only Hunter. And when they refer to the "Biden family and associates," they mean Hunter and Devin Archer. Period. And they don't have any evidence to connect Joe to all of this other than asking people to assume that because Hunter Biden was trying to promote himself, Joe Biden was somehow in on it.

If you actually have any evidence (as opposed to guesses and assumptions) that Joe took bribes or pulled strings to help his son, I'd be glad to see it. But none of the Republican committees have produced any evidence so far, which is why we keep hearing about the "Biden family" instead of Joe Biden.

[flockofseagulls104]

From Flock's linked source:

This is made clear by meals at Café Milano where then-Vice President Joe Biden dined with oligarchs from around the world who had sent money to his son,” said Chairman Comer.

I was unfamiliar with Cafe Milano, so I checked into it:

Every sitting president of the last three decades has dined at Cafe Milano—up until Donald Trump broke the streak. Now, Joe Biden is continuing the tradition: He had dinner at the Georgetown Italian restaurant Sunday night with his granddaughter Naomi Biden and her husband Peter Neal.

With a few exceptions, Biden has stuck to the most stereotypical Washington “power spots” while dining out in DC during his presidency. He’s already made multiple visits to Le Diplomate and Fiola Mare, both famed for their high-profile clientele. (Less expected: a recent taco run to Taqueria Habanero on Cinco de Mayo.) Cafe Milano is no exception: owner Franco Nuschese’s see-and-be-seen dining room has hosted countless heads of state, popes, celebrities, government bigwigs on both sides of the aisle, and other VIPs. Even though Trump never went, the restaurant was dubbed the “second White House cafeteria” in the early years of his administration. The place seems to pop up in Politico Playbook practically every week. As a longtime creature of Washington, Biden is no stranger to Cafe Milano either. He’s been there numerous times over the years, including while he was VP and in 2019 with his son Hunter Biden.

https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/11/0 ... the-years/

So, lots of the rich and famous around DC dine at Cafe Milano. And Joe Biden probably dined with a bunch of them while he was there. It doesn't seem like a place you'd go to discuss illicit business deals or accepting bribes.

Oh, Ok, that answers everything! Never mind then. How silly of me.

[silverscreenselect]

Details from Archer's testimony of the mysterious pay-for-play dinner Joe Biden attended at Cafe Milano with those shady oligarchs:

Majority Counsel: All right. Let’s move on to the second dinner ‑‑

Mr. Archer: The second dinner.

Majority Counsel: ‑‑ the spring 2015 Cafe Milano. Who was there?

Mr. Archer: That dinner was ‑‑ I think we went over it before, but it was Vadym, Hunter, Joe, myself, Karim Massimov, a Greek Orthodox priest, maybe someone from World Food Programme.

Majority Counsel: And what did Joe do at that dinner? Did he have dinner? How long was he there?

Mr. Archer: He had dinner. He had dinner. And there was ‑‑ on that one, I believe the first one was, like, a birthday dinner, and then the second was ‑‑ I think we were supposed to talk about the World Food Programme. So there was some talk about that.

So sneaky of those Bidens to invite a Greek Orthododox priest and someone from the World Food Programme as cover for their talk about illicit agreements.

[wbtravis007]

Keep your eyes wide shut.

Comer has released more bank records that show how the Biden family got millions of dollars from foreign entities. Your choice: It was either by selling influence or to pay for Hunter's enormous expertise in every imaginable subject.

Oh yeah, There's always the other choice. Everybody's lying.

You'll notice that there's no record of payments to Joe Biden, only to Hunter or, mostly, to companies involved with Hunter and Devon Archer. The memo keeps referring to how the "Biden family" got money from these interests, but the only one who got any money was Hunter. Archer testified that Hunter was promoting himself as providing access to Joe Biden. Hunter's ethics may be lacking, but that's no crime of his and certainly no crime of Joe's. There's no evidence that Joe Biden took bribes of any sort, or that Joe tried to influence government policy in any way to promote Hunter's interests. Joe's only "crime" appears to be not cutting Hunter out of his life entirely because of his son's various business interests.

And if we're talking about relatives getting money from foreign interests, how about Saudi payments of $2 billion to Jared Kushner. He makes Hunter look like a penny ante hustler.

So these lunkheaded oligarchs and billionaires stupidly paid Hunter for nothing? I would think that if Hunter accepted this money and got them absolutely nothing, he would have had a fatal 'accident' a long time ago. Your self-delusion is mind blowing.

As for the Kushner thing, this is actually the first I've heard anything about that. I am surprised that the MSM isn't going apoplectic about it. It's not apparently breaking news. Maybe there's a reason for that. I would say, however, that at first glance Kushner's expertise and experience is slightly more extensive than Hunter's. Get as much real evidence against Kushner as we have against the Bidens, and I will be on board with you on that. Until then, I advise you to do away with the possible whataboutism to excuse what is obvious about the Bidens. But you won't.

Clarence Thomas is alive. Is that evidence of anything?

I think that it is evidence that you are a silly man. Or, to put it another way: “Your self-delusion is mind-blowing.”

And you wonder why at least some of us think that you are not a serious person. Critical thinking with clarity ain’t your strong suit. Whining is.

I’ll suggest again that you introspect, and work on self-discipline and control.

Might want to add some of that that to your little signature thing.

[flockofseagulls104]

Details from Archer's testimony of the mysterious pay-for-play dinner Joe Biden attended at Cafe Milano with those shady oligarchs:

Majority Counsel: All right. Let’s move on to the second dinner ‑‑

Mr. Archer: The second dinner.

Majority Counsel: ‑‑ the spring 2015 Cafe Milano. Who was there?

Mr. Archer: That dinner was ‑‑ I think we went over it before, but it was Vadym, Hunter, Joe, myself, Karim Massimov, a Greek Orthodox priest, maybe someone from World Food Programme.

Majority Counsel: And what did Joe do at that dinner? Did he have dinner? How long was he there?

Mr. Archer: He had dinner. He had dinner. And there was ‑‑ on that one, I believe the first one was, like, a birthday dinner, and then the second was ‑‑ I think we were supposed to talk about the World Food Programme. So there was some talk about that.

So sneaky of those Bidens to invite a Greek Orthododox priest and someone from the World Food Programme as cover for their talk about illicit agreements.

Well, by golly. That one bombshell observation proves everything else wrong. You found it! The key to everything.

It nullifies all the incriminating stuff on Hunter's laptop, the sworn testimony by NAMED and unnamed whistleblowers and business partners, the bank records and the fact that Hunter has no credentials or value to his person. Good get!

(in your delusional mind)

[flockofseagulls104]

You'll notice that there's no record of payments to Joe Biden, only to Hunter or, mostly, to companies involved with Hunter and Devon Archer. The memo keeps referring to how the "Biden family" got money from these interests, but the only one who got any money was Hunter. Archer testified that Hunter was promoting himself as providing access to Joe Biden. Hunter's ethics may be lacking, but that's no crime of his and certainly no crime of Joe's. There's no evidence that Joe Biden took bribes of any sort, or that Joe tried to influence government policy in any way to promote Hunter's interests. Joe's only "crime" appears to be not cutting Hunter out of his life entirely because of his son's various business interests.

And if we're talking about relatives getting money from foreign interests, how about Saudi payments of $2 billion to Jared Kushner. He makes Hunter look like a penny ante hustler.

So these lunkheaded oligarchs and billionaires stupidly paid Hunter for nothing? I would think that if Hunter accepted this money and got them absolutely nothing, he would have had a fatal 'accident' a long time ago. Your self-delusion is mind blowing.

As for the Kushner thing, this is actually the first I've heard anything about that. I am surprised that the MSM isn't going apoplectic about it. It's not apparently breaking news. Maybe there's a reason for that. I would say, however, that at first glance Kushner's expertise and experience is slightly more extensive than Hunter's. Get as much real evidence against Kushner as we have against the Bidens, and I will be on board with you on that. Until then, I advise you to do away with the possible whataboutism to excuse what is obvious about the Bidens. But you won't.

Clarence Thomas is alive. Is that evidence of anything?

I think that it is evidence that you are a silly man. Or, to put it another way: “Your self-delusion is mind-blowing.”

And you wonder why at least some of us think that you are not a serious person. Critical thinking with clarity ain’t your strong suit. Whining is.

I’ll suggest again that you introspect, and work on self-discipline and control.

Might want to add some of that that to your little signature thing.

You are right on one point. I am a silly guy.

[wbtravis007]

So these lunkheaded oligarchs and billionaires stupidly paid Hunter for nothing? I would think that if Hunter accepted this money and got them absolutely nothing, he would have had a fatal 'accident' a long time ago. Your self-delusion is mind blowing.

As for the Kushner thing, this is actually the first I've heard anything about that. I am surprised that the MSM isn't going apoplectic about it. It's not apparently breaking news. Maybe there's a reason for that. I would say, however, that at first glance Kushner's expertise and experience is slightly more extensive than Hunter's. Get as much real evidence against Kushner as we have against the Bidens, and I will be on board with you on that. Until then, I advise you to do away with the possible whataboutism to excuse what is obvious about the Bidens. But you won't.

Clarence Thomas is alive. Is that evidence of anything?

I think that it is evidence that you are a silly man. Or, to put it another way: “Your self-delusion is mind-blowing.”

And you wonder why at least some of us think that you are not a serious person. Critical thinking with clarity ain’t your strong suit. Whining is.

I’ll suggest again that you introspect, and work on self-discipline and control.

Might want to add some of that that to your little signature thing.

You are right on one point. I am a silly guy.

You’re only addressing that one comment!

You’re not paying enough attention to me!

And you’re still being a meanie in other ways, too.

I need to start a signature thing.

[silverscreenselect]

Merrick Garland has now appointed David Weiss, the US Attorney who has been investigating Hunter Biden for five years, as a special counsel. Weiss requested this earlier in the week, and Garland has now agreed. It's not clear what difference this will make, other than possibly shutting down some of the Republican criticism. If they proceed further against Hunter, the now-special counsel can issue indictments for whatever charges seem justified, and we'll learn just what other "evidence" they have of Hunter's wrongdoing. In any further proceedings, Hunter's offer to plead guilty to the earlier charges is not admissible into evidence against him. Since the same people will have access to the same evidence they've had for the last five years, it shouldn't take too long for them to finish whatever additional investigation they think they need.

At the end of the day, expect Hunter to be charged with felony versions of pretty much the same things he agreed to plead guilty to originally. He'll get probation, community service, and a restitution requirement, but he will have felony convictions on his record.

[flockofseagulls104]

Merrick Garland has now appointed David Weiss, the US Attorney who has been investigating Hunter Biden for five years, as a special counsel. Weiss requested this earlier in the week, and Garland has now agreed. It's not clear what difference this will make, other than possibly shutting down some of the Republican criticism. If they proceed further against Hunter, the now-special counsel can issue indictments for whatever charges seem justified, and we'll learn just what other "evidence" they have of Hunter's wrongdoing. In any further proceedings, Hunter's offer to plead guilty to the earlier charges is not admissible into evidence against him. Since the same people will have access to the same evidence they've had for the last five years, it shouldn't take too long for them to finish whatever additional investigation they think they need.

At the end of the day, expect Hunter to be charged with felony versions of pretty much the same things he agreed to plead guilty to originally. He'll get probation, community service, and a restitution requirement, but he will have felony convictions on his record.

I agree. They are just doing it for cosmetic reasons. They will still proceed with their cover-up. And unless the uniparty republicans grow some balls, they will get away with it.

[silverscreenselect]

We the undersigned write to request that United States Attorney David C. Weiss be extended special counsel protections and authorities to conduct the Hunter Biden investigation.

Merrick Garland appointed David Weiss as special counsel because he knows Weiss will protect Hunter.

Don't you just love Republican hypocrisy? Flock and his buddies will never admit that the reason that these investigations don't turn up evidence of the "Biden crime family" is that there is no such evidence. Instead, it's all the deep state and the media conspiring against them.

[flockofseagulls104]

We the undersigned write to request that United States Attorney David C. Weiss be extended special counsel protections and authorities to conduct the Hunter Biden investigation.

Merrick Garland appointed David Weiss as special counsel because he knows Weiss will protect Hunter.

Don't you just love Republican hypocrisy? Flock and his buddies will never admit that the reason that these investigations don't turn up evidence of the "Biden crime family" is that there is no such evidence. Instead, it's all the deep state and the media conspiring against them.

I'm not sure how all the evidence that has been gathered in the last several months can be considered 'no evidence'. The investgations I see have turned up reams of evidence. The only entities that don't have evidence seem to be the FBI and DOJ, until they have no choice but to surrender what they've apparently been trying to hide. Explain how it can all be summarily dismissed in your mind. Everybody lying, including bank records?

Have you ever asked yourself how all these career politicians seem to get so wealthy, never having had a productive position in the private sector?

[silverscreenselect]

The only entities that don't have evidence seem to be the FBI and DOJ, until they have no choice but to surrender what they've apparently been trying to hide.

Almost 100 pages of indictments against Donald Trump tell a different story.

[flockofseagulls104]

The only entities that don't have evidence seem to be the FBI and DOJ, until they have no choice but to surrender what they've apparently been trying to hide.

Almost 100 pages of indictments against Donald Trump tell a different story.

Oh, you misunderstand... Not, that's not it. You just didn't read it. They have plenty of stuff against Trump. They seem to make it up as they go. Not problem getting that. I'm sure you could call them up and they'd give you anything you ask for against Trump.
I was talking about the evidence that has to be pried out of their dead hands regarding anything about Biden.