A great many of us have been extremely worried about 'the rule of law' for ... quite some time now.

I'm sure that one sentence reveals an utter lack of concern for 'the rule of law' that some of us...obviously not him...have been extremely worried about. I love seeing people's disgust for the man. Kind of reinforces what's been known all along.

I am, however, a bit disappointed we have to read about this 2nd hand from a private conversation, and to hear it put in what sounds like mild terms (however, it is 2nd hand so maybe he went off on it).

I know it's somehow 'protocol' that he doesn't call out Trump as an ex POTUS, but honestly I wish he'd throw that bullshit old 'policy' to the wind. I'm disappointed with the unearned decorum he displays towards the fucking madman in charge. A man who, I'd point out, attacked him and the job he was doing, RELENTLESSLY, during his term.

I've REALLY wanted Obama to take the gloves off for a long time ... but that doesn't AT ALL mean he disgusts me.

they care about as much as they do about "fiscal responsibility"

so I do wonder if this is not some sort of test case, or test principle, that will resurface to attempt to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election.

The Founding Fathers institutionalized peaceful political change and forward progress. They lived near the end of the Enlightenment and after the Renaissance, the founding era of the nation-state. Conflict preceded them in Europe and they read of ancient Rome. They knew of the Hundred Year's War, the English Civil Wars, the Glorious Revolution, the wars and competitiveness of exploration in North America. Giving voters the right to change governments and leaders, with no Supreme Ruler, in a regular clockwork type institutional framework, was the solution.

I doubt we'll know how this will all go down until late January 2021.

Do you expect Trump to leave office peacefully and voluntarily?

To bad he isn't out in front of the American people shouting that from the roof top and, explaining why the orange one and his span has to go. Get fighting mad and lead the people to the polls. Too many of our leaders are on the sidelines being quiet or speaking so as not to ruffle anyone's feathers. We need some leaders to stop playing nice and lead the charge.

What's the difference between him and you?..other than the fact that he is already far more involved in the coming election than you. Because he isn't getting ripped to shreds on some cable news show, you think he isn't doing anything?

... about that private call: if Obama was on a conference call with more than a couple of his former staff, it's not a private call. He could count on the content of his rant to go public, as he wanted.

I hope he has more private calls like that. Maybe a "between you and me" moment on Rachel Maddow's show.

He is going to appear on the political stage soon like a giant lead pipe. Anyone doubting this should remember the birther attacks on Obama, the correspondent's dinner jokes Obama hurled at him in person, and the subsequent final operation against Bin Laden that silenced the birther attacks. No one should doubt Obama's ability and willingness to devastatingly outsmart 45.