WTF happened to Brendan Nyhan? The braineater has eaten his brain: Josh Marshall: "There are several problems with this logic.: The first is that you are applying jury trial standards to what are political questions. You are also applying statutory standards where they do not exist. As a factual matter the obstruction question is not in doubt...
...As a citizen I’m entitled and obligated to render judgments when actions are required. Again, you are suggesting that we somehow must remain in a cloud of unknowing under a jury renders a criminal verdict. That is absurd.
Finally you’re suggesting that if I state that he has clearly obstructed justice and infer that he has done so to conceal underlying crimes that others will be less likely to uphold norms in the future. How can this possibly make logical or ethical sense? Are you suggesting that because I’m drawing these inferences that other Presidents will be more likely to obstruct justice in the future or take control of investigations into their own actions? How can that possibly make sense?
Citizens are obligated to make judgements about public officials who represent them. You are suggesting that there is a presumption of no wrongdoing that should constrain political action until a jury verdict of guilt. That makes no sense...
#shouldread
