Russiagate

[colddiesel]

Some are more equal than others?

Trump's massive error with Putin is treating Russia as an equal. It gives Russia a status way beyond their real power, and especially their capacity to project that power overseas. Russia's geography always makes it hard for them to threaten anyone effectively apart from Europe.

USA should consider promoting Russia/China rivalry more vigorously. That might divert the attention of both a little, and give the lesser NATO countries to catch up with their defence spending. And a lot of that spending would support US industry because most NATO members have modest defence industry capacity

 

[domroger]

Meeting late Friday between FBI director James Comey and members of the Senate Intelligence committee.

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who was at the meeting, would not comment afterward but later tweeted: "I am now very confident Senate Intel Comm I serve on will conduct thorough bipartisan investigation of #Putin interference and influence."

Three separate investigations underway into Russia's influence over Trump.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/17/politics/comey-russia-senate/index.html

Let the games begin .

 

[JackLuis]

I had a Thought that there should be a special Committee set up made up of the Ranking members of each party, in the standing committee that might have oversight or investigate a particular part of this matter, so it would be truly Bipartisan.

An initial exploration of the Matter by the special committee and then the members would work with their committees to perform the analysis of each of their respective aspects.
Intell _ What is known in the IC about this, and When did they Know it?
Was this intel properly distributed to the various Agencies and if so when?

House Oversight - Was the government's actions proper in this matter? If not how do we change things to fix it?

And so on thru the levels necessary to have the proper expertise in the matters.

And produce a report ~Sept 2017 and no later than the first of Feb 2018. If they haven't got it figured out and documented,by Jan 15,2018 then they produce a conflicted report, Written by the Ranking members. Sept 15 target date?

The reports will be punished, er Published, on the Govt Web pages and a summary can be written in the Press.

Then as Mitch McConnell said," Let the American People decide?"

 

[mark_j]

I had a Thought that there should be a special Committee set up made up of the Ranking members of each party, in the standing committee that might have oversight or investigate a particular part of this matter, so it would be truly Bipartisan.

An initial exploration of the Matter by the special committee and then the members would work with their committees to perform the analysis of each of their respective aspects.
Intell _ What is known in the IC about this, and When did they Know it?
Was this intel properly distributed to the various Agencies and if so when?

House Oversight - Was the government's actions proper in this matter? If not how do we change things to fix it?

And so on thru the levels necessary to have the proper expertise in the matters.

And produce a report ~Sept 2017 and no later than the first of Feb 2018. If they haven't got it figured out and documented,by Jan 15,2018 then they produce a conflicted report, Written by the Ranking members. Sept 15 target date?

The reports will be punished, er Published, on the Govt Web pages and a summary can be written in the Press.

Then as Mitch McConnell said," Let the American People decide?"

While nice in theory, I don't think it will happen. Too much partisan politics involved these days to get an actual objective report out of it.

 

[JackLuis]

While nice in theory, I don't think it will happen. Too much partisan politics involved these days to get an actual objective report out it.

Oh, Ya think?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Senators Feinstein and Grassley grim and silent after Trump-Russia briefings with Comey

15 MAR 2017


Comey was asked by Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham to state by Wednesday whether his agency is actively investigating the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/sen...lent-after-trump-russia-briefings-with-comey/


As the day drew to a close in Washington, FBI Director James Comey hustled back into town for a behind-closed-doors meeting with Grassley, Dianne Feinstein, and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Why did Comey finally show up?

Grassley informed the Justice Department he would hold up further consideration of the Trump administration’s nominee for deputy attorney general until the FBI responds to the committee’s inquiries.

“That seems to have gotten their attention,” Grassley said.


http://www.dailykos.com/?page=2


Nunes and Schiff also sent Comey, Rogers and CIA Director Mike Pompeo a letter Wednesday demanding a complete list of people whose names have been “unmasked” after popping up in other surveillance — the way, they noted, authorities discovered that former national security adviser Michael Flynn had contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. If that information isn’t provided by Friday, Nunes said he would likely subpoena those records.

Nunes added that it was a possibility that Trump’s name could appear on such a list. He maintained, however, that he has seen no evidence of improper contact between the president or his affiliates and Russian officials — a conclusion Schiff declined to endorse.

In the course of their investigation, Nunes and Schiff have had fairly regular access to Comey as members of the Gang of Eight, the group of senior lawmakers who receive the highest-level intelligence briefings. House Intelligence Committee members were recently cleared to receive access to the same intelligence as the Gang of Eight; the Senate Intelligence Committee has received briefings from Comey as well.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/powe...1_story.html?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.69ac30072b01

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Tillerson still has not delivered a foundational maiden speech, as his predecessors did, that outlines for our citizens, allies, partners, and foes alike what the Trump-Tillerson doctrine might look like. This also means that when trying to understand how their new leaders value the role they play and sacrifices they make, the only thing our diplomats and development experts have to rely on is a dangerous and demoralizing budget that flippantly slashes foreign aid, harming America’s ability to alleviate poverty and instability and making it harder for diplomats to do their jobs and do them safely.

Tillerson then broke from bipartisan tradition by declining to vocally support the department’s annual Human Rights Report, which unnerved even Marco Rubio and signaled to dissidents around the world that America no longer believes in their courageous causes. The report is more than just another bureaucratic text waiting for its layer of dust. Secretaries of State don’t often go behind the department’s briefing-room podium; but they have stood there in recent years — followed by an on-record question-and-answer session from an assistant secretary — to bring additional attention to a fact-based evaluation of how our principles are practiced around the world. In his first year in Foggy Bottom, Kerry made a point of prioritizing his public support for the report even as the country and the secretary himself were consumed by the shock of the Boston Marathon bombings just days before. But this year, Tillerson couldn’t be bothered. A senior official talked to reporters over the phone, but wouldn’t be quoted by name. And prime opportunities to hold Duterte’s feet to the fire, or answer newly relevant questions about Russian offenses, slipped away.

Last month, Tillerson’s team ejected journalists from his first public meeting with the Russian foreign minister in such a startling way that it gave the Russians a chance to lecture Americans on press freedom. And last week, after Tillerson had invited journalists to yet another public appearance, he ignored their questions on Russia and China. Now, as Tillerson leaves for his first major trip to Asia, he is leaving diplomatic correspondents on the tarmac. This is, again, more than a mere departure from precious protocol. As Ilan Goldenberg, a former State and Pentagon official who handled some of the most nuanced negotiations, has explained, allowing journalists to report honestly on these events contradicts propaganda from foreign state-run media — and in a country like China, their mere presence makes its own statement about our commitment to a free press.

When America’s secretary of State comes to town with journalists in tow, it makes it harder for foreign leaders who avoid being challenged to escape public questioning.

March 15, 2017

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/03/rex-tillersons-dangerous-silence.html

 

[sr71plt]

I wasn't aware that there were any professional diplomats or development experts left in the State Department.

 

[urguyscott]

The people on here and good old Hillary and Obama call themselves Leftist (communists) and both Obama and Clinton made deals with Russia and China and then like she did with the people who worked so hard for her during the election she turned on her friends in the Communist world. She didn't even think of crying foul till she lost her own election. (Of course there were dishonest votes, remember the only job Obama ever held was stuffing ballot boxes for ACORN. Only the cities with the corrupt Democratic machines went for Clinton during the election, while the counties outside the corrupt slave party went for Trump.)

So let's look at this from the view of the leftist. They are crying that there should be investigations, trials, and prison for those who have dealing with our enemies and give aide and comfort and provide state secrets. I agree. So first thing is first. According to the leftist, let's send Hillary and her husband to prison and investigate Obama and his cabinet (remember how many lied before Congress, etc.). Yes I agree, let's get rid of the old establishment crooks and then lets hold the new Administration responsible for keeping our laws, protecting our country and its people. Let's do what we can to rid the world of the communist and fascists imperialists like Cuba, N. K., Iran, China, etc. So those on here can count of the people to stand with you.

 

[sr71plt]

I stopped reading at "leftist (communists)," because you can't get through your pea-sized brain that those aren't the same things at all (and that there are practically no communists in U.S. society--it's a defunct political theory). You are a prisoner to your simplistic, naive, and juvenile dogmatism and base prejudices.

 

[urguyscott]

I stopped reading at "leftist (communists)," because you can't get through your pea-sized brain that those aren't the same things at all (and that there are practically no communists in U.S. society--it's a defunct political theory). You are a prisoner to your simplistic, naive, and juvenile dogmatism and base prejudices.

Most leftist don't really enjoy reading. Look at the people in Congress who never read Obama Care. Just an example. They decide before hand that their masters are gods and that they are smarter than the people so why read or present an honest argument to state your case? Just be a good sheep. So I don't write on here for people who worship people like Princess Nancy of Calif. who admits she never reads anything that goes thru Congress. So why should you be any different.

I realize you are a victim of a very poor education. Just what are far leftist if not communists? If it is defunct then why are there still so many leftist colonies still in the world? I realize that you believe it when a country says they are "People's Democratic Republic" but when you look at the type of government and how the people are nothing more than serfs and slaves how can you justify it? (by they way how come none of the leftist here who cry so hard for the Islamic terrorist don't complain about what China is doing to their Muslim and Buddhists populations?)

You are right about me being prejudice against American's who call themselves leftists or fascists. They are the worst kind of people for there is no excuse for free men and women wanting to be slaves and sell their country and the world back into the dark ages. Of course I have no respect for such people.

I want a leader who will protect our country, keep the laws and work for the people. He doesn't have to be corrupt like Obama and Clinton's. They got rich off the people and the government not by honest work.

So yes, there are communists, even if they don't realize that they are, after all most are too uneducated and foolish to understand that they are being used like puppets. They feel American is a "bad" country and American's are "terrible" people. The only problem is that they live in the United States and they are Americans too. What does that say about yourself?

Ask yourself if all the Hollywood types and your friends who cried like little spoiled brats after the election and said they would leave the country and go to Spain or Canada didn't. Why? And why didn't they say they would go to Cuba where they would make $29 a month and have Castro as a slum landlord or go to Iran or China or Russia? Because they know they are wrong and the socialist/communist type of government they desire isn't a good idea.

But I know you are unable to read or keep to any subject very long before your little mind wanders so I know you never got this far. And I was going to give you something free and shiny if you did.

 

[phrodeau]

(edited)

I want a leader who will protect our country, keep the laws and work for the people.

That ain't Trump, dude. Trump spews out classified intel, signs orders that the courts have to stop, and is working to keep affordable health care out of people's reach. Three strikes.

 

[KingOrfeo]

The people on here and good old Hillary and Obama call themselves Leftist . . .

Clinton and Obama don't.

(Of course there were dishonest votes, remember the only job Obama ever held was stuffing ballot boxes for ACORN.

ACORN did not stuff ballot boxes.

Only the cities with the corrupt Democratic machines . . .

Those are pretty much a thing of the past, except perhaps in Chicago.

Let's do what we can to rid the world of the communist and fascists imperialists like Cuba, N. K., Iran, China, etc. So those on here can count of the people to stand with you.

Cuba and NK clearly have no interest in imperial expansion, and Iran and China are ambitious only to be regional hegemons.

 

[sr71plt]

It's a little humorous, in a dark way, that it's beginning to come out that Putin didn't intervene in the election to support Trump so much as to head off Hillary Clinton as president. If true, then it seems Putin was more worried about Clinton as a strong proponent of American interests and check on Russian than that Trump would be.

And maybe, just maybe, it might be true that Bernie would have defeated Donald, where Hillary didn't, if only because the Russians wouldn't have any real incentive then to intervene in the election and manipulate the dumbed-down U.S. electorate.

 

[phrodeau]

The facts so far:

Did Russia attempt to sway the US election? Yes.

Did Republicans change their party platform in a way that benefits Russia? Yes.

 

[sr71plt]

The facts so far:

Did Russia attempt to sway the US election? Yes.

Did Republicans change their party platform in a way that benefits Russia? Yes.

Are the Republicans doing everything they can to cover examination of it up despite it's increasingly in their own interests to grasp it and replace Trump with one of their own? Yes.

Does this mean that some of the fallout could reach them and "their own" if they don't try so hard to ignore and cover it up? A strong maybe.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

I was astounded by what I heard today.

I guess a part of me was always thinking all these theories COULD be absolutely grasping at straws, lefties gone nuts, might be just wild speculation.

Ooooh no. It was ALL confirmed plus so much more.

A couple of those Republicans looked like demons straight out of hell.

And Nunez is dumb as a stone

 

[Hard_Rom]

Damage control party to the White House!

As Comey's hearing continued, the White House distanced itself from two former senior members of Trump's team.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday referred to Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, as a "volunteer of the campaign." And he said Paul Manafort, who ran Trump's campaign leading up to the Republican National Convention, "played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-russian-interference-james-comey-fbi-1.4032345

FBI Director James Comey confirmed Monday that the bureau is investigating possible links and co-ordination between Russia and associates of U.S. President Donald Trump as part of a broader probe of Russian interference in last year's presidential election.

Comey was the latest government official to reject Trump's claims, made without any evidence, that Obama had wiretapped his New York skyscraper during the campaign. Representative Devin Nunes, a California Republican and chairman of the House intelligence committee, also rejected it earlier in the hearing.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)


"Is it possible that all of these events and reports are completely unrelated and nothing more than an entirely unhappy coincidence? Yes, it is possible,” Schiff said. “But it is also possible, maybe more than possible, that they are not coincidental, not disconnected and not unrelated.”


Schiff added that if Trump associates did collaborate with Russia, it would be a “potential crime” and “one of the most shocking betrayals of democracy in history.”

complete quote-

“Is it possible that all of these events and reports are completely unrelated, and nothing more than an entirely unhappy coincidence? Yes, it is possible,” he said. “But it is also possible, maybe more than possible, that they are not coincidental, not disconnected and not unrelated, and that the Russians used the same techniques to corrupt U.S. persons that they have employed in Europe and elsewhere. We simply don’t know, not yet, and we owe it to the country to find out.”


https://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/wa...ots-between-trump-and-russia-and-its-damning/


Meanwhile...

. In 2012, President Obama signed the Magnitsky Act, which froze the assets of Russian human rights abusers and banned them from obtaining visas to enter the country. In 2013, the first 18 names were added to the list and included a number of people allegedly linked to the $230 million Hermitage tax heist. Vladimir Putin responded by banning 18 US citizens from entering Russia — including Bharara and a team of prosecutors who had put away a major Russian arms dealer.

“The reason that [the Prevezon case] is so important,” Browder told BuzzFeed News, “is this is the first major case going to trial involving money laundering from the crimes that led to the death of Sergei Magnitsky.”

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/russian-lawyer-plunges-from-window?utm_term=.qcxw6VQ2g#.wtWlErYP3

 

[someoneyouknow]

Something else to consider, it appears, but not confirmed, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort did receive a $750,000 bribe from the former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Again, these are so far unsubstantiated claims, but the documents presented appear to show Manfort receiving the money but not declaring it as income through a series of bank transfers and possible shell companies.

What makes this all the more amusing is a) Manafort said he had no other dealings with the pro-Russian corrupt president other than general meetings and b) Trump has fiercely backtracked on the idea that Manafort had anything more than a tangential relation with the campaign.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/03/21/ukraine-lawmaker-manafort-tried-to-hide-750000-payment.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/21/politics/paul-manafort-ukraine/index.html

 

[phrodeau]

How Sean Spicer Lost His Credibility.

When Manafort took over Trump's campaign last June, (Sean) Spicer was unequivocal about his role: "Paul's in charge," Spicer, then the Republican National Committee's communications director, told Reuters. Indeed, Manafort had already taken control of the campaign -- including its budget, hiring decisions and media strategy -- two months earlier. But now Manafort was officially "in charge," and would be until mid-August.

On Monday, in an effort to distance Trump from the man now facing questions over links to pro-Russian Ukrainians, Spicer said Manafort had a "very limited role" in the campaign "for a very limited amount of time."

Spicer's claim was not spin. It was a falsehood. And Spicer knew it was a falsehood when he said it, because he had previously acknowledged that Manafort was "in charge" of Trump's campaign.

"I probably should've focused more on the time he was there than the role he played," Spicer told CNN Tuesday.

 

[domroger]

How Sean Spicer Lost His Credibility.

You have to have credibility in the first place to lose it .

 

[sr71plt]

You have to have credibility in the first place to lose it .

He had no credibility when CNN was using him as a Trump defender on panels, so his lack of credibility goes back that far at least. I'd never heard of him before that so I don't know if he was credible before.

 

[JackLuis]

‘A credible investigation cannot be conducted this way’: Schiff slams Nunes for tipping off Trump

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday at the White House, briefing him on information collected as part of the committee’s investigation into surveillance of the Trump team between Election Day and Inauguration Day.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) — a top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee — released a statement Wednesday afternoon expressing “grave concerns” that “a credible investigation cannot be conducted” after the Chairman provided information to the White House.

WATCH: Schiff implores Nunes to decide if he’s head of the Intel Committee or a ‘surrogate for the White House’

On Wednesday afternoon, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (CA) addressed House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes briefing President Donald Trump on the committee’s investigation of surveillance of the Trump team.

In a brutal statement, Schiff wrote that he has “grave concerns” that “a credible investigation cannot be conducted” since Nunes tipped off the president to the investigation’s findings.

During a Wednesday evening press conference, Schiff called Nunes’ decision to brief Trump “deeply troubling,” adding that it “impedes our ability to do this investigation the way we should.”

“The chairman will need to decide whether he is the chairman of an independent investigation into conduct, which includes allegations of potential coordination between the Trump Campaign and the Russians,” Schiff said, “or if he’s going to act as a surrogate of the White House, because he can’t do both.”

“And unfortunately, I think the actions of today throw great doubt into the ability of both the chairman and the committee to conduct the investigation the way it ought to be conducted,” he said.

Resist, Oppose, Impeach!​

 

[JackLuis]

McCain calls for select committee on Trump/Russia probe: ‘No longer does the Congress have credibility’

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Wednesday called for a select committee to investigate Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election and potential ties between the Donald Trump campaign and Russian officials, telling MSNBC’s Greta Van Susteren that Congress lacks the credibility to “handle this alone.”

In an interview with Van Susteren, McCain called the situation “bizarre,” arguing, “no longer does the Congress have credibility to handle this alone.”

“I don’t say that lightly,” McCain added.