# Rate Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ performance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2017, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337 "2017-05-11T10:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/41 "2017-05-13T03:20:07Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I agree with that. But saying they nixed Comey so the investigation would be conducted differently is not substantially better than saying they nixed Comey so the investigation would end. The point is that they wanted to interfere with the investigation. Agreed. As long as she’s bullshitting, she would have done better to just claim that Comey’s firing had nothing to do with the investigation. Instead it looks like she tried (and failed) to put a positive spin on it, rather than make an outright lie. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Except for the falsehoods, she did pretty well the other day. For the first time. Her earlier appearances on TV have been awful. I’d say that as the Whitehouse’s spokesperson, falsehood is a requisite. > [@Ravenman](#): > > All in all, and I’m not joking here, I think Spicer is better at his job. Now I’m intrigued. In what regards do you consider Spicer to be the better spokesperson? I certainly think he is (was?) better for the \*opposition \*— railing on the press, constantly tripping over his own tongue, and frequently being caught unprepared for what should have been obvious questions. I’d like to see this guy try to play a game of poker or sell a used car. I think he’s the embodiment of anti-spin. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Yes, I’m aware of which forum this is. However, facts are always appreciated on the Straight Dope, but most of this thread is based on speculation, so that’s what I went with. Maybe I should double check my thread title. Did I accidentally write “Let’s quibble over what suddenly happened to the Spiceman”? Nope. Seems I invited people to weigh in on the performance of the [Deputy White House press secretary](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20198797&postcount=1). That said, thank you **D’Aconia** , for providing a possible, if questionable, explanation for Spicer’s absence. I did not know Spicer was in the Navy Reserve, nor that this required him to perform monthly and annual service duty. So that’s interesting. I also did not know he wore the [Easter Bunny suit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Spicer)for the Bush’s Easter Egg Roll in 2006. Fascinating! ---
**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:** [May 13, 2017, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/42 "2017-05-13T04:59:56Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > That said, thank you **D’Aconia** , for providing a possible, if questionable, explanation for Spicer’s absence. > I did not know Spicer was in the Navy Reserve, nor that this required him to perform monthly and annual service duty. So that’s interesting. You could try sticking to facts in your posts. Your mileage obviously varies. :shrugs: ---
**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:** [May 14, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/43 "2017-05-14T00:05:13Z")
To the OP and running coach: > **[Amid Comey Uproar, Where Is Sean Spicer? In a Pentagon Cubicle](https://www.wsj.com/articles/amid-uproar-over-comey-firing-sean-spicer-fulfills-military-duties-1494540119)** > > With the administration roiled this week over President Donald Trump’s firing of the FBI chief, White House spokesman Sean Spicer has been 3 miles and a world away from the drama. Mr. Spicer was 3 miles away, doing his reserve duty at the Pentagon. He wasn’t benched, and his reserve duty wasn’t for two weeks in the woods, or something. Why people post completely false information on a message board supposedly dedicated to fighting ignorance is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/44 "2017-05-14T00:34:35Z")
To D’Aconia: > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > That said, thank you **D’Aconia** , for providing a possible, if questionable, explanation for Spicer’s absence. > **I did not know** Spicer was in the Navy Reserve, nor that this required him to perform monthly and annual service duty. So that’s interesting. Thank you, again, for helping to fight my ignorance. Now, would you care to share your opinions on the recent performance of the Deputy White House press secretary? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/45 "2017-05-14T00:56:32Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > To the OP and running coach: > > [https://www.wsj.com/articles/amid-uproar-over-comey-firing-sean-spicer-fulfills-military-duties-1494540119](https://www.wsj.com/articles/amid-uproar-over-comey-firing-sean-spicer-fulfills-military-duties-1494540119) > > Mr. Spicer was 3 miles away, doing his reserve duty at the Pentagon. He wasn’t benched, and his reserve duty wasn’t for two weeks in the woods, or something. > > Why people post completely false information on a message board supposedly dedicated to fighting ignorance is beyond me. I didn’t say he wasn’t there. I was suspicious of the timing, both that specific incident and the fact it’s not the normal schedule the Navy posts on their website. He’s been allowed to skip several months in a row and it just happens it was scheduled in advance to coincide with a major fuckup? Are you going to deny this Administration does not instill confidence in their truthfullness? ---
**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:** [May 14, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/46 "2017-05-14T01:02:05Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I didn’t say he wasn’t there. I was suspicious of the timing, both that specific incident and the fact it’s not the normal schedule the Navy posts on their website. > He’s been allowed to skip several months in a row and it just happens it was scheduled in advance to coincide with a major fuckup? Both you and the OP made false statements. My question is why? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/47 "2017-05-14T01:02:32Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > She lies as effortlessly as Conway and Spicer. But that’s fine if those who hear it expect it, fact-check it immediately, and call the administration out on it. Those who believe anyway have to \*want \*to believe, and so cannot be reached. > [@running\_coach](#): > > He just took off for this month’s service. This is not the weekend. That means it’s his annual two weeks. Pity he doesn’t have a boss who can reassign him to a duty where he’s needed more. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/48 "2017-05-14T01:34:03Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Both you and the OP made false statements. My question is why? Opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/49 "2017-05-14T01:36:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Both you and the OP made false statements. My question is why? Good lord of creation! > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > \*\*\*I did not know \*\*\* ---
**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:** [May 14, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/50 "2017-05-14T01:45:06Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > Good lord of creation! Indeed. You posted: > [@](#): > > I’m kind of sorry to see the bumbling Sean Spicer benched, but I’m surprised he lasted this long given his remarkable incompetence. That isn’t a true statement. Why did you post it? ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/51 "2017-05-14T01:48:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But that’s fine if those who hear it expect it, fact-check it immediately, and call the administration out on it. Those who believe anyway have to \*want \*to believe, and so cannot be reached. This is where I think she’s at least better for the administration than Spicer. Her lies and half-truths are a lot easier to swallow than Spicer’s flustered sputterings. They have enough of the semblance of truth and reasonableness about them that the believers will be satisfied and the lazy won’t bother to scrutinize. So, if she does take over from Spicer, it would, IMHO, be a bad thing for those hoping to expose the lies and shenanigans of the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/52 "2017-05-14T02:09:45Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Indeed. > > You posted: > > > [@](#): > > > > I’m kind of sorry to see the bumbling Sean Spicer benched, but I’m surprised he lasted this long given his remarkable incompetence. > > That isn’t a true statement. Why did you post it? Let’s see . . . > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > That said, thank you **D’Aconia** , for providing a possible, if questionable, explanation for Spicer’s absence. > I did not know Spicer was in the Navy Reserve, nor that this required him to perform monthly and annual service duty. So that’s interesting. > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > I did not know Spicer was in the Navy Reserve, nor that this required him to perform monthly and annual service duty. So that’s interesting. > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > \*\*I did not know \*\* But you want to know the \*\*\*REAL \*\*\*reason I posted such a blatant falsehood!? Shit, you’ve really got me in a corner here guv’ner. But alright then. It’s a fair cop. The jig’s up. The \*\*\*REAL \*\*\*reason I dared to suggest Spicer had been “benched” is because . . . (Are you ready for this?) . . . \*\*\*I did not know \*\*\*. . . that Mr. Spicer had allegedly taken leave for service duties. The \*impression \*I got from what I heard, and that I still feel is not at all an unreasonable suspicion, was that Spicer has been sidelined because of his poor handling of the controversy surrounding Comey’s firing. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/53 "2017-05-14T04:07:49Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > The \*\*\*REAL \*\*\*reason I dared to suggest Spicer had been “benched” is because . . . > (Are you ready for this?) > . . . \*\*\*I did not know \*\*\*. . . that Mr. Spicer had allegedly taken leave for service duties. > > The \*impression \*I got from what I heard, and that I still feel is not at all an unreasonable suspicion, was that Spicer has been sidelined because of his poor handling of the controversy surrounding Comey’s firing. It’s not allegedly, it’s factual. And why would you think that others are concerned about your impressions and suspicions? So much for fighting ignorance. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/54 "2017-05-14T07:21:05Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It’s not allegedly, it’s factual. And why would you think that others are concerned about your impressions and suspicions? Jeez, I don’t know. Why are you interested [in my humble opinions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?f=12)? As to my misinformed and apparently unforgivable assumption that Spicer had been “benched”, please note that, right or wrong, [I am not alone in this speculation](http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/10/media/sean-spicer-white-house-press-secretary-job/). > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So much for fighting ignorance. :dubious: > [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > **Thank you, again, for helping to fight my ignorance**. > Now, would you care to share your opinions on the recent performance of the Deputy White House press secretary? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/55 "2017-05-14T08:51:32Z")
I wouldn’t accuse Sarah of lying. She’s only using the talking points that’s the administration gave her. You don’t have to slander her for doing her job. Trump himself pointed out that he doesn’t feel the need to keep his representatives in the loop. > **[Trump: It's 'not possible' for surrogates to be accurate all the time | CNN...](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/05/11/politics/trump-comey-white-house-contradictions/index.html)** > > The White House can't get its story straight on why President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. On Friday morning, the President offered a possible explanation. Sarah and Spicer have a thankless job. The angry reporters are like a hungry pack of jackals. Nobody is going to to shine throwing raw meat to them. Sarah is lucky to still have both her arms. 😃 Given the situation and limited information, Sarah did the best job possible. The hatred for her bosses shouldn’t ooze onto her. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/56 "2017-05-14T09:32:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wouldn’t accuse Sarah of lying. She’s only using the talking points that’s the administration gave her. You don’t have to slander her for doing her job. That’s true. She could still salvage her honor by resigning, as Jerry terHorst did after his credibility was completely destroyed by President Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/57 "2017-05-14T14:38:54Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > “Well, I can speak to my own personal experience,” she said. “I’ve heard from countless members of the FBI that are grateful and thankful for the president’s decision and I think that we may have to agree to disagree." > > Countless, countless members of the FBI… :dubious: :smack: 😃 [With the full quote it’s even more eyebrow raising](https://thinkprogress.org/sarah-huckabee-sanders-countless-fbi-agents-comey-f74b5dec8721): > [@](#): > > “Well, I can speak to my own personal experience,” she said. “I’ve heard from countless members of the FBI that are grateful and thankful for the president’s decision and I think that we may have to agree to disagree. I’m sure there are some people that are disappointed, but I’ve certainly heard from a large number of individuals and that’s just myself, and I don’t even know that many people in the FBI.” So she’s heard from countless people in the FBI, even though she doesn’t know that many in the FBI. Even in a hypothetical world where everyone in the FBI is celebrating Comey being gone, why would they reach out to the Deputy White House Press Secretary, but not the media? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/58 "2017-05-14T16:06:24Z")
She’s gonna need Kelly Anne Conway’s power of spin to explain [this tweet of hers:](https://twitter.com/SarahHuckabee/status/794255968448020480) \* “When you’re attacking FBI agents because you’re under criminal investigation, you’re losing”\* ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337/59 "2017-05-15T14:00:28Z")
Ouch! That’s gotta sting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-sarah-huckabee-sanders-performance/786337.md?page=2)