# Can someone break down this whole Nunes Memo thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 23, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308 "2018-01-23T16:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/381 "2018-02-03T14:37:08Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Your Newsweek cite doesn’t appear to have those three buckets. They seem to divide things up into “Verified” and “Not proven”. never mind ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/382 "2018-02-03T15:07:30Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > So what? > > Let’s say two competing businesses develop an intense rivalry and set out to destroy each other. > > Business A hires a sleazy private investigator to dig up dirt on the guy that owns business B. This investigator uses all sorts of underhanded, even possibly illegal techniques in order to entrap the owner of business B into an extramarital affair so the evidence can be used as extortion material. > > While carrying out this underhanded plot, Sleazy Investigator stumbles onto irrefutable proof that Business Owner B is running a drug smuggling operation. He notifies the police. The police are already aware of the drug smuggling ring, they have been working this case for a while. But they had never been able to link Business Owner B to the operation. > > Until now. The investigator’s tip changes the course of their investigation. They conduct their own legal, aboveboard investigation in order to assemble the evidence needed to charge business owner B with drug smuggling. > > Does the way in which the evidence behind the initial tip was obtained somehow give Business Owner B a pass on being a drug smuggler? But you don’t understand. After learning the business B was a front for a drug operation, the investigator thought that it should be shut down as do several members of the police investigating it. Some have even been known to buy products from business A. You can’t have someone that biased running such an investigation. It proves that Buisiness B must be above board. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/383 "2018-02-03T15:21:04Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Given that half the FISC judges were appointed by Bushes and another 1 by Reagan, it would be interesting to know which judge it was that issued the warrant. Maybe adding the name in was just one too many Republicans to mention, alongside Rosenstein and Dana Boente. > > [http://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/current-membership](http://www.fisc.uscourts.gov/current-membership) There was one report that four warrants were reviewed by four different judges. And for warrants after the first, the government is expected to show that the wiretap was producing something of value. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/magazine/amp/story/2018/02/02/the-nunes-memo-makes-no-sense-216928](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/magazine/amp/story/2018/02/02/the-nunes-memo-makes-no-sense-216928) That was written by a former Whitewater investigator. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/384 "2018-02-03T15:30:17Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > There was one report that four warrants were reviewed by four different judges. And for warrants after the first, the government is expected to show that the wiretap was producing something of value. > > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/magazine/amp/story/2018/02/02/the-nunes-memo-makes-no-sense-216928](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/magazine/amp/story/2018/02/02/the-nunes-memo-makes-no-sense-216928) > > That was written by a former Whitewater investigator. I fear that Lawfare is going to end up like Cracked. They’ll all get too famous to stick together, and move on to opportunities that offer more money. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/385 "2018-02-03T17:44:37Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It’s time for #YoMemoJokes! Implicitly addressed to Devin Nunes, of course. > > Yo’ memo is so fake, Julian Assange sent it a DM. > Yo memo is so juvenile, Roy Moore tried to take it on a date. > Yo memo’s so fake it should’ve been named “Stormy’s Orgasm” > Yo memo bombed so hard, Hawaii put out another distress alert. > Yo Memo so full of crap it should have been removed in a little plastic bag. > Yo Memo’s so dull, even Mike Pence thinks it’s boring. > Yo memo so weak, it dodged the draft 5 times. > Yo memo so lame, even Wikileaks wouldn’t leak it. > Yo memo so bankrupt, it used to be a Trump casino. > Yo’ memo so fake, Sheriff Clarke pinning it on his Uniform! > Yo Memo’s such a letdown it’s a Star Wars prequel. > Yo’ memo is so vacuous, Jared Kushner tried to marry it. > Yo memo is so useless, its nickname is “Don Jr” > Yo memo is so poor, Paul Ryan tried to take away its healthcare. > Yo memo such a disaster Republicans sent it thoughts and prayers. > Yo memo so full of holes, we thought Dick Cheney took it hunting. > Yo memo is so weak Ivanka thought it was Jared. > Yo memo is so dumb it’s next on Hannity. :D:D:D I think you need to shop this around. Maybe Seth Meyers? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/386 "2018-02-03T18:02:15Z")
Thanks for the assists from those in this thread who were able to articulate my points with more clarity than I was evidently able. I was just done with it. > [@Ravenman](#): > > There was one report that four warrants were reviewed by four different judges. **And for warrants after the first, the government is expected to show that the wiretap was producing something of value.** > > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/magazine/amp/story/2018/02/02/the-nunes-memo-makes-no-sense-216928](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/magazine/amp/story/2018/02/02/the-nunes-memo-makes-no-sense-216928) > > That was written by a former Whitewater investigator. Bingo. If Carter Page wasn’t producing useful intelligence after approval of the initial authorized wiretap, renewal applications would have been denied. I mean, unless all those FISA judges didn’t care about doing their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/387 "2018-02-03T18:38:27Z")
Yo memo got such negative press it covfefe Yo memo so immature Roy Moore gave it a massage Yo memo so short Little Marco can see its bald spot Yo memo so poorly written, we thought Betsy DeVos proofed it Yo memo forgot so much stuff, we thought Rick Perry wrote it Yo memo so confused, we call it Dr. Carson Yo memo is so in bed with Russia, Sarah Palin waving to it from their porch Yo memo so pissy, Trump paid a couple hookers to rub it on each other Yo memo so illegimate, Bristol Palin tried to collect child support for it ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/388 "2018-02-03T19:21:56Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > It is not an appeal to authority if someone has expertise. **Aspenglow** has stated in other threads the basis of his experience, unrelated to this topic. Poorly founded accusations of fallacies are poor debate tactics, anyway. So what are her credentials? And why should we believe an anonymous person on the internet in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/389 "2018-02-03T19:28:58Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So what are her credentials? > > And why should we believe an anonymous person on the internet in the first place? You needn’t. I can think of few things I care about less. If you’re interested, feel free to review my posts. I’ve spoken of my experience with the legal system quite a number of times in this forum. I won’t indulge your thread hijack further and hope others won’t, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/390 "2018-02-03T19:32:02Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So what are her credentials? > > And why should we believe an anonymous person on the internet in the first place? Well, you’ve really cracked the case, Colonel Mustard. She cleverly joined this board three and a half years ago, sprinkling bona fides here and there, _all in preparation for this moment for her to make a passing comment to you about a bogus memo._ I’m sure she’s laughing all the way back to Giraffe Boards right now. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/391 "2018-02-03T20:35:34Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It’s time for #YoMemoJokes! Implicitly addressed to Devin Nunes, of course. > > Yo’ memo is so fake, Julian Assange sent it a DM. > Yo memo is so juvenile, Roy Moore tried to take it on a date. > Yo memo’s so fake it should’ve been named “Stormy’s Orgasm” > Yo memo bombed so hard, Hawaii put out another distress alert. > Yo Memo so full of crap it should have been removed in a little plastic bag. > Yo Memo’s so dull, even Mike Pence thinks it’s boring. > Yo memo so weak, it dodged the draft 5 times. > Yo memo so lame, even Wikileaks wouldn’t leak it. > Yo memo so bankrupt, it used to be a Trump casino. > Yo’ memo so fake, Sheriff Clarke pinning it on his Uniform! > Yo Memo’s such a letdown it’s a Star Wars prequel. > Yo’ memo is so vacuous, Jared Kushner tried to marry it. > Yo memo is so useless, its nickname is “Don Jr” > Yo memo is so poor, Paul Ryan tried to take away its healthcare. > Yo memo such a disaster Republicans sent it thoughts and prayers. > Yo memo so full of holes, we thought Dick Cheney took it hunting. > Yo memo is so weak Ivanka thought it was Jared. > Yo memo is so dumb it’s next on Hannity. [Stonekettle](https://mobile.twitter.com/stonekettle/status/959885407700824064?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eios%7Ctwgr%5Eother%7Ctwcon%5E7100%7Ctwterm%5E0) - Jims Wright has jumped on the “Yo’ memo” bandwagon… > [@Tweeted by Stonekettle](#): > > Yo memo so sick… > > …the only thing keeping it alive is Obamacare. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/392 "2018-02-03T22:10:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Do you think you’re providing any new information in this 373-post thread? Hell, even the spin is the same. Kindly spare us the Fox News conspiracy theories. We’ve _all_ heard it before. You don’t get it. I’ve been assured by no less than Sean Patrick Hannity himself that the Nunes memo is proof positive of an unprecedented scandal of unfathomable proportions. This is like Watergate got raped by Pearl Harbor behind the Teapot Dome and begat a litter of 9/11s. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/393 "2018-02-03T22:34:19Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > You don’t get it. I’ve been assured by no less than Sean Patrick Hannity himself that the Nunes memo is proof positive of an unprecedented scandal of unfathomable proportions. This is like Watergate got raped by Pearl Harbor behind the Teapot Dome and begat a litter of 9/11s. _Are you now, or have you ever been a …_ ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/394 "2018-02-03T22:46:11Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > You don’t get it. I’ve been assured by no less than Sean Patrick Hannity himself that the Nunes memo is proof positive of an unprecedented scandal of unfathomable proportions. This is like Watergate got raped by Pearl Harbor behind the Teapot Dome and begat a litter of 9/11s. Look! Car chase! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/395 "2018-02-03T22:59:10Z")
Representative Jerry Nadler’s rebuttal [is a good one](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/TODAY/z_Creative/inline-headers/FINAL%20DRAFT%20--%20Dear%20Colleague%20on%20Nunes%20Memo.pdf). Even spelled and punctuated with precision. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/396 "2018-02-03T23:10:01Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I’ve spoken of my experience with the legal system quite a number of times in this forum. Look, I’m not asking you to provide personally identifiable information. But what is your “experience” with the legal system? For all we know, you clean the bathrooms, sell newspapers in the lobby, offer shoe shines, or work in the cafeteria. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/397 "2018-02-04T00:25:13Z")
New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal are all reporting that the memo’s central contention, that the FISA court was never told that the dossier was paid for by the Clinton campaign, is untrue. And CNN is reporting that Nunes never read the FISA applications. Don’t know of the reliability of this particular site, but it does link to all of those other articles. > **[Central Contention Of Nunes Memo Now In Doubt - News & Guts Media](https://www.newsandguts.com/central-contention-nunes-memo-now-doubt/)** > > We don’t want to get too deep into the weeds here but this is a really important development in the “memo” story that’s being reported by the New York Times, The Washington Post, even Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal.  The central contention... ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/398 "2018-02-04T00:29:51Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Look, I’m not asking you to provide personally identifiable information. But what is your “experience” with the legal system? > > For all we know, you clean the bathrooms, sell newspapers in the lobby, offer shoe shines, or work in the cafeteria. Why don’t you just share your experiences, insights, evidence, feelings, or hopes and dreams about how stupid and careless judges are and quit with your debate tactic of never posting anything falsifiable, but just asking question after question after question after question? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/399 "2018-02-04T02:28:17Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Why don’t you just share your experiences, insights, evidence, feelings, or hopes and dreams about how stupid and careless judges are and quit with your debate tactic of never posting anything falsifiable, but just asking question after question after question after question? **Aspenglow** has over 2,000 posts, and I’m not going to read all of them. How about a link or two to posts that demonstrate her alleged legal expertise? ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308/400 "2018-02-04T02:43:14Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > **Aspenglow** has over 2,000 posts, and I’m not going to read all of them. How about a link or two to posts that demonstrate her alleged legal expertise? Drop the hijack about Aspen’s personal background. She’s stated she isn’t interested in continuing the hijack so let’s not. And a side note - the JAQ routine only works if folks deign to answer. [/moderating] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-break-down-this-whole-nunes-memo-thing/807308.md?page=21)