Comey Says Post Was Artistic Expression

By
Rachel Stevenson
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Well, there he goes again—James Comey, the former FBI director who somehow always manages to make the story about himself. This time, it’s not about Hillary’s emails or the Steele dossier. Nope. It’s seashells. On a beach. Arranged to say “86 47.” And instead of just owning up to a tone-deaf post that sparked serious public concern, Comey doubled down—on MSNBC, naturally—insisting it was “clever” and “artistic.” Because apparently, political messaging via sand art is where we are now.

Let’s not kid ourselves. “86 47”? That’s not subtle. Not clever. It’s thinly veiled political theater dressed up as beachside whimsy. In diner slang, “86” means to get rid of something. And “47” is no mystery—that’s Donald Trump, the 45th president, vying to become the 47th. The combination reads loud and clear: “Get rid of 47.” But leave it to Comey to pretend that this was just a spontaneous discovery of artistic genius on the shore, not a political statement at all—until, of course, he admits it was a political statement. Just a cute one.

And now he’s on MSNBC, treating us to a poetic recollection of his walk on the beach with his wife, Patrice, as if we’re supposed to sigh along with the soft piano music playing in the background. “We saw the numbers in shells. Patrice thought it was an address…” Please. This is the same guy who fancies himself a moral compass for the nation, but somehow always seems to drift conveniently with the winds of Beltway politics.

Then comes the predictable victimhood. “People thought it was a call for assassination, which is crazy!” he says, before reminding us he took the post down—not because it was inappropriate or a dumb move—but because he didn’t want to look associated with violence. Not because he thought it was dangerous. Just because people might misinterpret it. In other words, he still thinks it was brilliant. We just didn’t get the nuance. How very elite of him.

This is a man who oversaw one of the most powerful intelligence agencies in the world, now playing coy with political symbolism like a teenage activist with a burner Instagram. It’s just another example of how unserious our so-called serious people have become. If a conservative figure had posted something even close to “86 46” or “cancel 46,” the media would be sounding air raid sirens about dog whistles and incitement. But when it’s Comey? Oh, it’s just beach philosophy and accidental shell graffiti.

This kind of double standard is exactly why public trust in our institutions is eroding. The people who were supposed to be above politics—those who swore an oath to be impartial stewards of justice—are now the ones playing footsie with vague threats disguised as “art.” And somehow we’re supposed to believe this is all just high-minded discourse.

Let’s be real. If a Republican posted a cryptic message with “86 47” in seashells, they’d be banned from social media, subpoenaed, and probably investigated by the very same agency Comey once led. But James? He gets a sympathetic platform and a latte on Nicolle Wallace’s set, reflecting on his artistic instincts like a misunderstood poet.

If this is what political class integrity looks like now, no wonder so many Americans are fed up. The rules are different depending on your party, your friends in the media, and how artfully you can dodge responsibility. And that, sadly, is no beachside accident. It’s the new normal.

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