Eight years ago, then-FBI director James Comey tipped the election to Donald Trump. Today, his successor ensured that he will also be remembered for the destructive end of his tenure.
Wray just got in line. He is a Republican. The Republican party is owned by the owners of trump. The FBI will quickly be pressured to become, primarily, the enforcement division of the executive branch. I know next to nothing about how that might work. But I do know this:
Next, when the maga infested Congress is asked (strongarmed) to defund the FAA, eliminate the NTSB, abolish any federal funding for outfits like the Flight Safety Foundation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council, who then will keep track of where the money goes in the transportation industry? Airlines could find major financial windfalls by cutting training requirements for flight crews and mechanics. Pressure to reduce minimum airline cockpit crews to a single pilot would be unopposed by any government agency. Highway traffic enforcement would become an afterthought; nothing more than a revenue source for towns and cities. Privatized Air Traffic Control would elevate profit to the top of the equation. On-time performance, directly affected by terminal area and enroute aircraft separation requirements could be compromised in the name of increasing the rate per hour of takeoffs and landings. Controller training would be under pressure to minimize personnel costs and standards, and, let me suggest the accident rates (read deaths, maimings and long term disabilities) would increase, after years of steady improvement. The people deserve a transportation system that holds public safety sacrosanct. And a government sworn to uphold the rule of law. Oversight is essential to both. Under trump and his toadies we will have neither.
And as it occurs, we know (a) that Trump himself and MAGA world will blame it on left-over "woke"/DEI failures, and (b) the media will conduct no "what actually happened?" exams. Sigh.
I agree with you, Jim, but had seen the argument made by David French and Erick Erickson as echoed by Steve Dutky below and just before I could do the same. It is not obvious that a replacement named by Biden would be able to stay for the remainder of Wray's term, and I guess it would be worth a shot, but I do think Wray should have tested the waters himself.
On a brighter note, and in honor of both William Webster and Jimmy Carter, here is a link to an article in the Boston Globe about a 104 year old WW2 combat veteran who seems to have longevity down pat. I know it's actuarially unlikely that any of these three gentlemen will be with us physically in 2029, but we should keep their sacrifices, large and small, in mind over the next few years and beyond.
Consider David French, NYT yesterday suggesting that Wray's resignation may throw a monkey wrench into Trump's schemes:
"By stepping down now, as the conservative writer Erick Erickson observed, Wray has created a “legal obstacle to Trump trying to bypass the Senate confirmation process.”
Here’s why. According to the Vacancies Reform Act, if a vacancy occurs in a Senate-confirmed position, the president can temporarily replace that appointee (such as the F.B.I. director) only with a person who has already received Senate confirmation or with a person who’s served in a senior capacity in the agency (at the GS-15 pay scale) for at least 90 days in the year before the resignation."
As mentioned elsewhere, I don't know enough about this to make an informed judgment. But it does seem a little too cute/convenient to be plausible. Hope that I am wrong.
If Wray was going to resign, why not take the opportunity of his address to all the FBI employees today to say something along the lines of “I don’t really want to resign but I have been personally threatened by the President-elect and so for the safety of myself and my family, I need to.” Instead we got some obtuse crap about not wanting to embroil the Bureau in havoc. Put it out there for everyone to see. What better protection than an audience of 35,000 FBI agents? Did none of these Republicans ever learn that the only way to beat a bully is to stand up to them? Cowards all.
Comey certainly played an important part in throwing the 2016 election to trump. But so did Jill Stein, with her vanity campaign. She got enough votes in three of the swing states to throw the election to trump.
We are all witnessing first hand who has the integrity and the courage to stand up to a political bully - and who doesn't. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Republican congressman fall into the latter category. Worse, those who have stood up to him in the past - in both parties - will spend the next 4 years learning just how far the bully will go to teach the country a lesson in submission. Because there is one thing a bully cannot tolerate, and that is defiance. There are no lengths to which he will not go to punish the recalcitrant ones.
Look what has happened to those around the world who have stood up to bullies like Putin and "Prince" MBS in Saudi Arabia. As I did in 2016, I will hope and pray that my worst fears will not materialize during the next 4 years - but my more rational side tells me to be very, very afraid.
I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. None of us know what he's dealing with in his personal life. None of us know what family member he needs to attend to. We don't know what medical issue he might have that has been under control because he was working for sane and caring people and now it will be right-wing crazyville.
While one can understand Wray's decision on a personal level, I agree that he has a higher duty to defend the institution. Your referencing Tim Snyder is dead on - a classic example of the danger of "obeying in advance." I suspect we'll see many competent and dedicated career FBI personnel head for the door to be replaced by those whose only loyalty is to the concept of a unitary executive. Unconstrained power never ends well.
I agree with you on this Jim, but we will see more cases where the personal trumps (!!) the principle. As with President Biden pardoning his son to avoid retribution and harassment from a new DoJ. As a father in would have done the same, but it is not at all proper in principle. And of course it gives permission to Pres Trump for far worse executive actions
Overall I agree. But I'm wondering if we aren't expecting more from Wray than is available. I've tended to think of him as well-qualified for the job, but a standard issue Republican nonetheless. These days standard issue Republicans fall into line behind Trump with few exceptions.
With the notable exceptions like William Webster and Robert Mueller, and some who held the job in acting capacity like Andy McCabe, the directors of the FBI have been a mixed bunch.
And I'll use this as one more opportunity to chime in about what an outstanding person Bill Webster is on all levels. His closest friend (I believe) was his contemporary, the first George Bush. Bill W has the traits widely respected about GHW Bush: a sense of public duty and service (was in the Navy in *both* WW II and Korean war), personal honor and generosity, person-to-person generosity and care. He was one of the Reagan-era officials who led an effort against Trump within the GOP, and in public statements during all of Trump's presidential runs.
Director Wray saved himself considerable trouble and angst, but he may not sleep as soundly as he hopes, because his rollover leaves us far more exposed to the worst effects of the Trump Inflection Point, the short time period that may permanently cripple this democracy. Personally, I hope he is limited to very short naps.
I imagine the full reason for Wray’s premature resignation might include concerns for the safety of his family if he defies Trump. It worked with Romney.
Yes, good point. I know that McKay Coppins and others have written about this primal-level security fear for Romney and other Republicans.
You would think that the **head of the FBI** would have ways to ensure his own security. But that might be a sign of the seriousness of the fear/problem.
Well, to quote Tom Lehrer, “To the tables down at Mory’s, wherever that may be…”
Wray just got in line. He is a Republican. The Republican party is owned by the owners of trump. The FBI will quickly be pressured to become, primarily, the enforcement division of the executive branch. I know next to nothing about how that might work. But I do know this:
Next, when the maga infested Congress is asked (strongarmed) to defund the FAA, eliminate the NTSB, abolish any federal funding for outfits like the Flight Safety Foundation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council, who then will keep track of where the money goes in the transportation industry? Airlines could find major financial windfalls by cutting training requirements for flight crews and mechanics. Pressure to reduce minimum airline cockpit crews to a single pilot would be unopposed by any government agency. Highway traffic enforcement would become an afterthought; nothing more than a revenue source for towns and cities. Privatized Air Traffic Control would elevate profit to the top of the equation. On-time performance, directly affected by terminal area and enroute aircraft separation requirements could be compromised in the name of increasing the rate per hour of takeoffs and landings. Controller training would be under pressure to minimize personnel costs and standards, and, let me suggest the accident rates (read deaths, maimings and long term disabilities) would increase, after years of steady improvement. The people deserve a transportation system that holds public safety sacrosanct. And a government sworn to uphold the rule of law. Oversight is essential to both. Under trump and his toadies we will have neither.
I fear that this is prescient.
And as it occurs, we know (a) that Trump himself and MAGA world will blame it on left-over "woke"/DEI failures, and (b) the media will conduct no "what actually happened?" exams. Sigh.
I agree with you, Jim, but had seen the argument made by David French and Erick Erickson as echoed by Steve Dutky below and just before I could do the same. It is not obvious that a replacement named by Biden would be able to stay for the remainder of Wray's term, and I guess it would be worth a shot, but I do think Wray should have tested the waters himself.
On a brighter note, and in honor of both William Webster and Jimmy Carter, here is a link to an article in the Boston Globe about a 104 year old WW2 combat veteran who seems to have longevity down pat. I know it's actuarially unlikely that any of these three gentlemen will be with us physically in 2029, but we should keep their sacrifices, large and small, in mind over the next few years and beyond.
Thank you and good luck to all!
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/12/sports/arthur-medeiros-world-war-2-veteran-golf/
Love the story about the centenarian veteran!
The David French "well, actually..." analysis seems a little too cute to be true. But we'll see.
Consider David French, NYT yesterday suggesting that Wray's resignation may throw a monkey wrench into Trump's schemes:
"By stepping down now, as the conservative writer Erick Erickson observed, Wray has created a “legal obstacle to Trump trying to bypass the Senate confirmation process.”
Here’s why. According to the Vacancies Reform Act, if a vacancy occurs in a Senate-confirmed position, the president can temporarily replace that appointee (such as the F.B.I. director) only with a person who has already received Senate confirmation or with a person who’s served in a senior capacity in the agency (at the GS-15 pay scale) for at least 90 days in the year before the resignation."
As mentioned elsewhere, I don't know enough about this to make an informed judgment. But it does seem a little too cute/convenient to be plausible. Hope that I am wrong.
O tempora, o mores, as Cicero said, or as the Japanese might say, o tempura, o mores! Keep fighting the good fight, Jim.
And given that Wray appears to be a Yale/Yale Law guy, maybe it can also be "O tempora, o Mory's..." Badda-bing.
If Wray was going to resign, why not take the opportunity of his address to all the FBI employees today to say something along the lines of “I don’t really want to resign but I have been personally threatened by the President-elect and so for the safety of myself and my family, I need to.” Instead we got some obtuse crap about not wanting to embroil the Bureau in havoc. Put it out there for everyone to see. What better protection than an audience of 35,000 FBI agents? Did none of these Republicans ever learn that the only way to beat a bully is to stand up to them? Cowards all.
I'd have been all in favor of that approach. Thanks for spelling it out.
Comey certainly played an important part in throwing the 2016 election to trump. But so did Jill Stein, with her vanity campaign. She got enough votes in three of the swing states to throw the election to trump.
You're very kind to call it a vanity campaign. I might call it a подрывная кампания.
see David French, NYT opinion today.
Another fair point, I think.
I'm not seeing a David French column for today (Dec. 11)
We are all witnessing first hand who has the integrity and the courage to stand up to a political bully - and who doesn't. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Republican congressman fall into the latter category. Worse, those who have stood up to him in the past - in both parties - will spend the next 4 years learning just how far the bully will go to teach the country a lesson in submission. Because there is one thing a bully cannot tolerate, and that is defiance. There are no lengths to which he will not go to punish the recalcitrant ones.
Look what has happened to those around the world who have stood up to bullies like Putin and "Prince" MBS in Saudi Arabia. As I did in 2016, I will hope and pray that my worst fears will not materialize during the next 4 years - but my more rational side tells me to be very, very afraid.
Agree on all these points. Thank you.
I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. None of us know what he's dealing with in his personal life. None of us know what family member he needs to attend to. We don't know what medical issue he might have that has been under control because he was working for sane and caring people and now it will be right-wing crazyville.
Fair points.
While one can understand Wray's decision on a personal level, I agree that he has a higher duty to defend the institution. Your referencing Tim Snyder is dead on - a classic example of the danger of "obeying in advance." I suspect we'll see many competent and dedicated career FBI personnel head for the door to be replaced by those whose only loyalty is to the concept of a unitary executive. Unconstrained power never ends well.
Yes, I don't know what personal concerns he might be balancing. But in his role as head of the institution, it's a bad move.
I agree with you on this Jim, but we will see more cases where the personal trumps (!!) the principle. As with President Biden pardoning his son to avoid retribution and harassment from a new DoJ. As a father in would have done the same, but it is not at all proper in principle. And of course it gives permission to Pres Trump for far worse executive actions
Tim Snyder is exactly right in this regard
Yes. I have not ever met Timothy Snyder, but he is more and more the prophet of this moment.
People keep talking about "giving Trump permission."
But Trump keeps talking about, When you're famous, you just grab it. They let you do it.
Overall I agree. But I'm wondering if we aren't expecting more from Wray than is available. I've tended to think of him as well-qualified for the job, but a standard issue Republican nonetheless. These days standard issue Republicans fall into line behind Trump with few exceptions.
With the notable exceptions like William Webster and Robert Mueller, and some who held the job in acting capacity like Andy McCabe, the directors of the FBI have been a mixed bunch.
Agree on all these points.
And I'll use this as one more opportunity to chime in about what an outstanding person Bill Webster is on all levels. His closest friend (I believe) was his contemporary, the first George Bush. Bill W has the traits widely respected about GHW Bush: a sense of public duty and service (was in the Navy in *both* WW II and Korean war), personal honor and generosity, person-to-person generosity and care. He was one of the Reagan-era officials who led an effort against Trump within the GOP, and in public statements during all of Trump's presidential runs.
So well said. I, for one, didn't expect this. I expected more from Wray; not sure why, really.
After all, he was chosen by Trump in the first place. Tells you something.
Yes.
Director Wray saved himself considerable trouble and angst, but he may not sleep as soundly as he hopes, because his rollover leaves us far more exposed to the worst effects of the Trump Inflection Point, the short time period that may permanently cripple this democracy. Personally, I hope he is limited to very short naps.
Speaks loudly to character, where history usually has the last notation.
I don't know whether "reputation" or "place in history" matters to any of these people. Comey seems to chug ahead.
Yes, but like Frank Lorenzo, similarly disgraced, his cellphone never rings anymore.
I imagine the full reason for Wray’s premature resignation might include concerns for the safety of his family if he defies Trump. It worked with Romney.
Yes, good point. I know that McKay Coppins and others have written about this primal-level security fear for Romney and other Republicans.
You would think that the **head of the FBI** would have ways to ensure his own security. But that might be a sign of the seriousness of the fear/problem.