If Comey was fired after the investigation was over, then nobody would have been upset. It is the timing that upsets people, and should upset those on the right too who want to put the Russian thing behind them.

There is clear evidence that Russia interfered with the election. Now does that mean, Trump, or people closely connected to him and his campaign, were directly involved? No. And most liberals would be okay if that was the end result of an independent investigation, so long as we found the means and methods of the interference and were able to learn actions to prevent further interference with future elections from any outside nation. However, the Republicans refuse to take the investigation into Russian interference seriously. The House investigation led by a guy who was on Trump's transition team, the Senate investigation seems more concerned about who leaked info about Trump than the fact a foreign threat to the security of the United States interfered with the election. They worry about leaks in a White House that looks at top secret information in a very public place, but the actions of a hostile state doesn't seem to concern them like it should.

Now we got Comey, who Trump and his people praised up and down during the campaign and soon after election, being fired right after he says he's going to devote more resources to the Russian investigation. We got a President who broke clear ethical rules (though perhaps no laws) in asking if he was under investigation, in a call which may have been about if he'd keep Comey on. Even the hint of Clinton being involved in even a far less serious offence made the right shout "lock her up", but for Trump the reaction seems to be "he's the greatest President ever, let me suck the chrome off his cock".

He, and the Republicans keep trying to distract the American people from the Russia investigation, which let's remind everyone, is mostly about the interference, and only possibly about his administration's complacency. It is more about the actions of a hostile state than him. It's almost as if they know the Russians interfered, and don't care because they won. If Democrats had won, thanks to the actions of an outside state, especially one as hostile to the US as the Russians, and there was even less proof that Clinton or her team may have been involved, the size of the committee and the depth of the investigation would be many times bigger than it is now. The outrage on the right would be larger than the outrage on the left as it stands now.

And, then right after the firing, Trump goes the extra step of letting only Russian official state media in on the meetings between him and Russian officials. He won't release visitor logs to the White House. He won't release visitor logs to the far more accessible Mar-a-logo, where he looks at top secret documents in the wide open. (Side note, he's cost the American tax payers about a 1/4 of what Obama's vacations cost in 8 years, in just 100 days, and all those people who bitched about Obama vacations, including Trump who complained about how much Obama played golf, are perfectly fine with what Trump has cost the American tax payers in his vacations.) So without those logs, and those of Trump Tower, we can't be sure there aren't more clandestine meetings like that blatant one in the White House. The refuse ANY degree of transparency. Again, if this was Clinton, the right would be demanding she be sent to Guantanamo Bay, and that's only a slight exaggeration, either way they'd demand she be locked up for the very things Trump is accused of.

Then there's his clear violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, and the people who claim to be all about the Constitution, saying how the left have zero respect for it, who were in a furor over Clinton's possible violation of it with her foundation, don't care about Trump's violation of it. Suddenly, the Emoluments Clause, doesn't matter to the same people who cited it as a concern during Clinton's campaign.

Also, keep in mind, he made the decision to fire him, before the reasons why letters were penned, and were written to help defend it. Further, as pointed out, his own letter was about him, the guy is such a clear narcissist, he could have been like Sanders and I'd personally oppose him. Plus, Trump didn't have the guts to let Comey know in person, Comey had to find out on TV and think it was a practical joke. Again, if Clinton fired somebody like that, the right would be in arms, calling her chicken, and saying a real man would fire another person in person.

TLDR: If Trump fired Comey after the investigation into a hostile state's interference with the election, nobody would have cared, in fact he may have gotten mad props for letting the investigation go on without interference. It's the timing that is suspect.

One time I went to Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu and my wife and I kept saying this line to each other throughout the entire vacation.

I ate a space-cake on arrival in Amsterdam after being up all night on the flight from Boston. And did exactly what I was warned not to do, kept eating more of it because I wasn't feeling any effects. After curling up in the fetal position for 4 hours in my hotel bed feeling like I had the flu I finally felt normal after a few beers in the hotel bar. The rest of my vacation got better after that.

Jesus fucking Christ, I think your last two remaining brain cells went on vacation.
The tape is the proof....so was the admission by Trump that he said it.
You simply can not be that dumb, so I know you're just trolling now.

When the student is so misinformed, there's nothing to compliment. This appears to be a debate class, so not capitulating is a requirement.
Women who work don't work only 75% as much as men, they actually tend to not take sick days or vacations at the same rate as men so often work more, and are paid around $.75 for the same work men are paid $1 for. They are also more likely to be offered only 35-39 hours a week, not because they want it that way but to screw them out of benefits.

For example, my wife heads her department. She hired an untrained subordinate, and he was hired at the same hourly pay rate she was earning, even though she was his boss with 10+ years superiority. Her next hire was a woman who had some experience, and was hired at $4 an hour less and does a better job. She does not have a say in their pay rates.
It's been the same everywhere she's worked.

I think that guy might be a high sloop, but he's not quite a schooner, high or otherwise.

Yeah ... I can relate! My big two were "Do you want one great present or two regular presents" [ugg] and, when I started going to school, I was one of the older kids in class. I was bored to tears, could have skipped the fourth grade [my parents wouldn't allow it] and could have graduated high school in the middle of my junior year [also not allowed]. By that point I had no desire to pursue higher education and moved out of the house while my parents were on vacation the summer I graduated HS. It would have been a knockdown drag on to even broach the subject [not so] Good Times

Let's not forget original sin. Jesus certainly committed that one by being born.

I also take issue with his short vacation in hell equating to "taking the punishment we deserve". How does a long weekend by one equate to eternity for billions? I've discussed that with shiny before, but I don't understand his answer.

I'm with you, though. Much better to party at the hookilaou in hell than lay prostrate in heaven.

Damn you @eric3579, the past day and a half I've had that song "Let it snow" running non-stop through my head now!

Oh, and other Christmas movies that come to mind are (in no particular order) Scrooged, Miracle on 34th Street and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

It is absolutely a Christmas movie. I consider it, Scrooged, Home Alone, National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story to be my top 5.

https://youtu.be/e6VDIrnmi50?t=26s

Previously, lines like "Give me a butthole!", "Put it in me!" or "Ahh, I fucked myself" were exclusive to vacations in San Francisco. Now even nerds like me can experience the glory at home on a friday night. Hooray!

I think you misunderstand what many meant with their 'fuck you' tantrum vote. It wasn't (just) 'fuck you' to Clinton, the Dems, or centrist republicans, it was a 'fuck you' to the entire system that offers them only disastrous options, if they get input at all. Many made the adult decision to elect someone they hope will destroy the system, but they didn't think far enough ahead to see the pitfalls and traps inherent in starting anew. For many, it wasn't that Trump was a better choice, they elected him because he was the worst possible choice. You can call that a 5year old's tantrum, but you discount the real feeling so many have that the government only works against their interests and they would be better off with anarchy. (I wholeheartedly disagree with that theory, but I can totally comprehend it and understand why many think that).

Btw, we're near twins with the vacation/dog issues. I had already paid for non refundable tickets, rental car, excursions, and lodging in Iceland when my pup broke it's back, or we would have cancelled too. It's been tight, but we stayed out of major debt, and we're poor. Don't give up too easily, where there's a will, there's a way.

Actually, your anecdote is slightly off. This election wasn't a choice between your responsibilities and a vacation, it was a choice between sitting in your dead end job, or taking a chance that you actually might be good at scavenging apocalyptic wastelands.

Alfred J. Pennyworth once said, "Some men just want to see the 1% infested Federal Government burn."

At least I think that's what he said.

Gorgeous. I went there last summer. It is that stunning. I strongly suggest it as a vacation destination to anyone adventurous.

BUT.....

When you spend the time, energy, and exorbitant amounts of money to go see the unspoiled wilderness and nature, and some asshole ruins it by flying their drone overhead for a few hours, it's enraging.
That happened to us twice (maybe by the same group at different places, we aren't sure). I was ready to grab that drone and throw it in the berg filled lagoon, or the beautiful collimated basalt waterfall they were flying in front of. I had to wait over an hour at the waterfall for the assholes to move out of the picture....they had walked past the 'don't go past this sign' signs to get the shots they wanted right in front of the falls, and refused to move or get back on the trail.

If you own a drone, please be respectful of the rules and of others, or know that it's your fault when someone loses it and destroys your toy. Don't act like the world belongs to you, and other people's peaceful enjoyment of natural areas don't matter.
Your youtube views don't trump my right to peace and quiet in nature.
I feel like drones need to be regulated in public spaces for that reason. Not totally banned, but given specific days when it's allowed and make most parks and all natural parks off limits at all other times.
Drone footage is amazing, drones buzzing overhead are amazingly annoying.

Christ, I got this speech from my parents and younger brother back in August while we were on vacation. Fortunately I live in Minnesota and that bluish hue isn't just due to the fact that we're freezing our balls off. So I'll happily vote for Stein or write in Sanders.