So far I've not seen any evidence to suggest the accused actually did what she was accused of, just that she sought the information while on the job.  Don't know why, but there could have been plenty of good reasons.  I haven't seen a memo, or any other smoking gun linking her to the report.  But just the innuendo is enough for conservacrats, while the smoke surrounding Trump and his minions goes ignored.

Thing is, the crucial thing about the Trump campaign was its contacts with the Russians during the campaign.  Contacts during the transition, after the election, were pretty understandable and I imagine happen in every administration.

"It can't happen to me"

Yup.  An the saddest thing is if the situation does go south it can have utterly devastating consequences.  Really puts whatever was in that text not context.  Most people make texts about insignificant crap that could have lethal consequences.

In a previous decade I had to initiate an emergency maneuver to avoid death on the motorcycle once a month or so.  Definitely kept me on my toes.  Now I have to do it practically every ride, or nearly so.  in nearly every near-death experience I've had lately I could see the driver either talking on a phone or looking at it.  I will never give up my sport bike, I need the power and maneuverability to keep clear of these nimrods.  Indeed riding my Goldwing now gives me the Heebie Geevies because it has neither the speed nor the maneuverability to escape witless cagers bent on my imminent destruction (it an 1100cc bike older than any of my students).  I know that's not how it is, but it is how it seems.  I should see it gone, but no one wants it and it does do miles pretty well.

The problem is there is nothing for it.  You can pass all the laws you want, folks will still do it.  You can't disable the machines, passengers use them, often for good reason.  So we all have to beware that much more, and we will have occasional tragedies.  Unintended consequences.

I doubt I'll ever go in an airplane accident.  I mishandled mine (badly), but on the only thing bent was the prop, and I'm very careful.  But I could easily go from a motorcycle accident, being careful isn't near enough.  My radar sense is really, really good when I'm riding a lot. But it isn't perfect.  I won't stop, living in fear isn't living.  But for the first time I could easily see myself hurt or killed on the bike.  It is just that bad.  I used to proselytize bikes all the time, but not any more.  Can't have someone's blood on my hands.  If you ride, think about it carefully.  Make certain your bike has the oomph to get you out of harm's way.  If it doesn't give it up or get one that does.  If you know young people mulling over a bike, tell them not to.  It is just too damn dangerous now.

When on a bike, always assume you're invisible.  Further, assume every vehicle is manner by a homicidal maniac who will go to any length to kill you.  Sooner or later one will inadvertently act in this exact manner.  Probably sooner.

You guys are amazing.  The Russians create a giant refugee crisis by overruling our proposed intervention and then bombing civilians in Syria.  Once the refugee crisis hits the EU they do everything they can to destabilize it including rigging local elections.  And now that there's intel that perhaps they had a hand in rigging our election all you guys want to do is indite whoever leaked the intel.  The Russians interfered in our election and you guys don't give a crap because your Cheto Jesus won.  I never in my life would have believed that the GOP could be soft on the Russians.  We might have won the Cold War, but Putin is winning the peace.  You guys are such stooges for the Russkies, its unbelievable.  And they're going to win, too.  They're going to keep on rigging elections, they think Democracy is some sort of joke and you guys are the punch line.  You really think the world will be more secure with an ascendant China and destabilized EU?  Because that's what the Mango Man is giving you. 

An Independent Prosecutor is a damn good idea.  Let him or her investigate the leaks along with what got leaked.  Give the counsel a broad mandate, get at the truth.  This story sin't going away any time soon.  Were Trump the least bit intelligent he'd bet out in front of it, but I don't expect that to happen ever.  Perhaps his minions in Congress can stall long enough for the story to die, but I have doubts.

The saddest thing is I bet there is really nothing to it at all.  I bet the cover-up is far worse than the crime.  Flynn will only be the first victim, which is a real shame.  From the sounds of it I don't think he did anything wrong.  I wish they'd give him his immunity.  I'd like to hear what he has to say.

Perfesser seems to have a bit of a problem with reading comprehension.

Beats a single digit IQ all to hell.

You won't find any conservative that believes that health care is 1.) a right or 2.) in the Constitution. If you think that's the case, go ahead and prove it. I'll wait.

Conservatives don't want to see people die in the streets, but we also believe that an individual should be responsible for their own lives. Health care is a commodity just like many others and works on the principles of supply and demand. There will always be a demand for health care and thus, so long as it's free market based, there will always be a supply of doctors and others willing to provide it.

You think health care is a commodity like motorcycles or nerf balls.  The thing is, if you're broke you don't buy a  motorcycle or a nerf ball.  And yes, if you have the money the cost of these things is tied to the demand for them.  All well and good.

Medical care is a profoundly different beast.  You don't shopping for a hospital while you're being driven in an ambulance after being hurt or falling ill.  You mostly don't shop for the most parsimonious treatment, if you have the sense Odin game even one Lucifer's cognitive shortcomings you do what the medical professionals tell you, unless you are trained as a medical professional yourself and have an informed opinion.  Moreover, when your life or well-being lies in the balance you'll pay anything.  Medical care is utterly inelastic.  I experienced this just the other day.  After Mrs. Steingar endured a somewhat lengthy hospital stay I was informed that I am liable for 20% of the cost due to a recent change in our insurance.  It really doesn't bother me at all, or as I put it to Mrs. Steingar, "a funeral would have been more expensive".  So long as medical care is indeed inelastic and one can spend far more on medical care than one's estate, it will not act like a simple commodity.  Wishing so simply won't make it so.

Because of all the facts most governments with societies similar to ours have nationalized their health care system.  They spend less and do more, there is simply no doubt about it.  Get your panties into as big a wad as you like about ideologies, I don't give a shit.  I don't care if its Conservative or Liberal, I only care what works.  It is very, very clear that the Nationalized systems work better than ours.

A conservative organization, the Catholic church, is the single largest non-government health care provider in the world. (Ever wondered why so many hospitals have religious-sounding names? More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_health_care)

Where the Catholic church taught and practiced health care based on charity for two millennia, the modern socialist teaches and practices health care delivered by way of political force.

(I'm an atheist, BTW. But the facts are the facts.)

It is true that for a millennium hospitals were exclusively run by religious organizations.  It is also true that at that time said religious organizations were more or less offshoots if not entirely in charge f said governments.

The problem is at the time hospitals did little more than provide a bed and meals.  There was little doctors could do, folks either got better or they didn't.  Now medical care is far more complex and costly.  It is unlikely that any purely religious organization could supply medical care for an entire population the size of the US, with the medical complexities contained within.

The point that such religious organizations have and still do provide such altruistic social services to anyone in need is certainly worth pointing out.  Organized religions can often take it on the chin for their misdeeds, but there has been and is plenty of good that they do.

Said by a fellow Atheist, Odin withstanding.

Gorsuch is the least response SCOTUS nominee in history.  All he would say is "its precedent".  GOP doesn't care, he's a conservative and that's all that matters.  I hope the Dems filibuster.