I think the point of the Dem memo is rebuttal, plain and simple. Obviously, the dueling memos are taking key points into a place of partisan conflict and confusion.
1) how much of the dossier was used (what parts). GOP acts like it was a center point, thus the conspiracy of the DNC and Obama literally feeding Steele who then feeds the FBI, who then feeds the FISA, who gives the permission for Obama to spy and the Dems to slow Trump’s agenda.
The Dems say it was just a portion of the dossier used, and the dossier was never the driving force to initiate investigation or the FISA green light.
2) the approvals and renewals by FISA court.
The GOP downplays these as either the FISA court being misled by the FBI, the FISA court being a part of the Deepstate, or the FISA and FBI failing to follow through on basic responsibilities.
The Dems are highlighting the fact that the approvals were made by Republican appointed judges that absolutely were not misled, and that the renewals were granted because the surveillance produced.
3) The yahoo article. The GOP says the yahoo article was used to corroborate the dossier. Further adding to the conspiracy that the dossier was the center of everything and the FBI was misleading or inadequate in their application.
The Dems are straight up calling bs on this and saying the article was used as evidence to Page’s public denial of the Moscow meeting — there was also another article mentioned in the application as additional evidence of Page’s public denial of the meetings.
The key disagreements here are crucial to the underlying motivation and integrity of the FBI and FISA court‘s actions in regard to the FISA surveillance. Did the FBI use the entire dossier, including portions completely unverified? Did the FBI mislead the court? Did the court do due diligence in the granting of the Warrant? Was the yahoo article listed as evidence of Page’s meetings in Moscow or used as evidence of his public denial?
And the biggest question for me: DID THE FISA SURVEILLANCE PRODUCE RESULTS?
If these questions could be answered without the slime of partisan bias, we might know the intention of action.