carolyn kuduk

MY 2018 review of James Comey's book: Observations: (1) I think this is the most important book I have ever read because it is a call to leave partisanship aside and just focus on the founding values of our country: i.e. Constitution and protection of law; (2) James Comey is not a good writer. When he writes about himself, his writing is frankly, embarrassing. He is a fabulous legal writer. When he is recounting factual events, i.e. writing the fact portion of a legal brief. His writing is riveting. My favorite part is when he recounts the fight against the torture memos in the Bush administration. ie. Cheney's camp of torture at any cost and his camp which was like this is not within the law; (3) his unconscious description of the split I feel everyday (most keenly in places like DC and Northern California), the working class vs. upper middle class split. I took Prof. Brooks class, Race, Economics and the Law and it was life changing. Lower middle class white people have an ethos of justice, fairness, and fighting for those values. Upper middle class/upper class people just want to get along, they do not challenge things, they just let it go, even when it is illegal and unethical as long as it does not impact them and when it does, they just leave without making waves. I firmly believe that value is killing our country. I notice that the majority of bank whistle blowers are white women who started as tellers and were promoted through management. I think there is a connection. Comey is very lower white middle class. Trump is very upper middle class. That is the clash in values we are seeing right now and in my opinion it is the MOST IMPORTANT FIGHT SINCE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. I am not kidding the right side has to win here for the rule of law to continue. (4) He is a little naïve and does not realize that his love of America was possible because he was a white man. I think he intellectually owns that but he does not emotionally own it. He is trying though, and it is touching. He does make huge efforts to recruit minorities into the FBI and his recounting of Pres. Obama's talk to him about how his comments about "Weed and Seed" could be interpreted by the Black community and his humility in recounting that brought tears to my eyes. But still I don't think he understands the anger the rest of America feels because they are shut out of his experience of the protections of the Constitution. (5) Comey is the guy you wanted to punch in crim pro and con law because he was so sanctimonious. He is also the guy you want to lead the FBI and the DOJ when it is critical that someone steps in and says that is not what the law says or that compromises the independence of this agency. Please read his book.