A
Higher Loyalty begins
with FBI Director Comey riding down Pennsylvania Ave in a
fully armor suburban SUV. He seems to be making light of testifying
in front of a classified Congressional Briefing about the
2016 Russian Election interference. He also explains why he
sees congress as biased and juvenile.
Comey
talks about family, job positions, and makes some personal
controversial comments. He writes about a mother who wanted
him to be the best and aim high. He shares his experiences
of being bullied in school which he admits gave way to his
prejudice towards anyone he considered a bully. Comey briefly
covers his personal life then moves to his career and gives
plenty of personal opinions on those he considered the “real”
bad guys. He lets us know who impressed him, who influenced
him, and who bullied him.
Comey
first relives his Mafia days and discusses working under Rudy
Giuliani. He takes shots at Giuliani but swears he was in
awe of him. He talks about George Bush’s devilish side,
as well, as his own. He brags about a disagreement with Dick
Chaney during a White House meeting. He also talks about Bob
Mueller siding with him during the Bush presidency. Comey
gives the impression he was the Lone Sheriff in the Bush Administration,
and he needed the occasional sidekick to help him keep the
White House in line. He accuses the Bush Administration of
being biased and he also takes shots at the CIA. He explains
his surprise when Obama asked him to be director of FBI. Comey’s
tone softens as he talks about the FBI and the Obama Administration.
He describes his approach at being the FBI Director, and it's
obvious he enjoyed the position and the agents. He refers
to Holder as toxic due Fast and Furious and Loretta Lynch
as being tightly scripted and unapproachable by coworkers.
Comey eventually met Senator Schumer and tried to meet Senator
Clinton before the email scandal, but she ignored him. He
explains the Clinton email/server investigation, as well as
witnessing Loretta Lynch’s bias and desire to keep it
out of the media. Instead of speaking up as he did in the
Bush White House; he willingly chose to stay silent. Towards
the end of his memoir, Comey moves to President Trump and
the dossier. He includes made-up, siliceous details from the
fake dossier in his book. Possibly to sway the public against
the sitting president or to sell more books.
Comey's
narration enhances the words he’s written. Hearing his
thoughts and emotions first hand is very revealing. We know
when he’s stating facts, as well as when he’s
feeling confident, proud, mocking, even judgmental. He boldly
lays it out with no apologies. His tone mellows as he talks
about Obama compared to Bush Jr. Comey willingly admits some
of his traits but I was left with the impression he’s
yet to recognize his own prejudices. And for that reason,
I think he should’ve held off publishing his memoir
for a couple years and used a professional narrator.
All in
all, a fascinating listen.
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