Expose Mr. Trumps beliefs,behavior, and intentions in every possible way.
Prove those true ,and expose the source of the false.
This "fake man" liar to the bone must be stopped along with his euphemism
Spouting tribe.
Prove those true ,and expose the source of the false.
This "fake man" liar to the bone must be stopped along with his euphemism
Spouting tribe.
10
Appoint Richard A Clark to this commission. He'll get to the bottom of this.
Trump is truly flying apart at the seams, before he even takes office.
The old proverb never even occurred to him. "Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."
The more he flaps and yells, and his sycophants cheer and clap at his press conferences, the worse he looks. His followers aren't deplorables, they're gullibles.
Trump is truly flying apart at the seams, before he even takes office.
The old proverb never even occurred to him. "Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."
The more he flaps and yells, and his sycophants cheer and clap at his press conferences, the worse he looks. His followers aren't deplorables, they're gullibles.
22
Today on NPR Jim Inhofe said that if the Russians had anything on Trump they would have used it in the election. Say what, Jim?!? Where has he been while the US Intelligence community has been unanimously spelling out how the Russians tried to slant the election in Trump's favor? Given this fact, anything they had on Trump would be saved until after Putin's pick got elected so they could assure that Donald continues to tow the Russian line. Another thing Inhofe said is how "all our friends and allies" have come to think so poorly of the US during the Obama administration and how Trump and Mad Dog Mattis are going to fix all that.. I guess we run in different circles since I have yet to meet a Brit, Italian, Frenchman, Spaniard, Belgian, German, Mexican or Peruvian who isn't absolutely appalled at the results of our recent election. Of course, Inhofe is one of the major climate change deniers of the GOP so I guess I'm only pretending to be surprised by his "insights". Oklahoma, how do you do it?
16
Trump's tax returns are under audit - probably by Mr. Putin. With all the hacking of American data bases, why should we not suspect that the IRS files have been too? But of course, hacking of those files will be hushed up to the bitter end. A perfect conspiracy story.
Mr. Trump, you weasle, release your tax returns now.
Mr. Trump, you weasle, release your tax returns now.
10
Has no one learned? Trump doesn't care what you think. He doesn't play by the same rules. Or any rules. He will deny the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Look you straight in the face and call you overrated is you dare disagree. Politicians prior have felt the need to wax on a smile and defend themselves against every accusation. Are called to senate hearings. all resources are exhausted in the quest for political gains. Trump rails you in Twitter and keeps on doing what he wants to do. It's a change. And somewhat of a refreshing one. Not because you like it. But because we have been bombarded with the fake, deceitdlful politician for decadades. People can't stomach it anymore. It's gotten so bad they can actually niwbstomach someone like Trump.
3
Irony has lost all meaning. Trump, the man who lied without any conscience about Obama being an American, calling him a Muslim, a radical left wing communist, founder of ISIS, a subversive deliberately trying to destroy America, telling us again and again that he had detectives finding proof that Obama's birth certificate was a fake, Trump, the man who cited "The Enquierer" linking Hilary to murder, this man is now complaining about fake news. Trump cannot himself see the irony. Narcissism prevents him from seeing himself objectively as others see him. He only sees himself as "he" sees himself. How he sees himself is what matters in his definition of reality. Anyone challenging his version of himself is a liar, fake news, garbage, loser, second-rate. Meryl Streep wins no respect for everything she has accomplished because of her one flaw, challenging Trump.
12
Someone should ask Trump why he decided to hire Paul Manafort. Simple question. Nobody will convince me that Manafort, who spent 2004-2014, working for Putin puppet Victor Yanukovych, submitted a brilliant resume that persuaded Trump to hire him.
Those defending Trump, please ask yourself what is the more likely scenario:
Scenario A) Trump finds a new boss for his campaign independently, who coincidentally spent the last ten years in the Ukraine.
or
Scenario B) A struggling Trump campaign, whose campaign chief had just physically assaulted a reporter, and was in need of help was sent a loyal servant from friend Vlad.
Anybody answering honestly, knows that scenario B is far more likely.
Those defending Trump, please ask yourself what is the more likely scenario:
Scenario A) Trump finds a new boss for his campaign independently, who coincidentally spent the last ten years in the Ukraine.
or
Scenario B) A struggling Trump campaign, whose campaign chief had just physically assaulted a reporter, and was in need of help was sent a loyal servant from friend Vlad.
Anybody answering honestly, knows that scenario B is far more likely.
10
Trump is an accidental candidate.
Neither he nor the rest of the world expected him to win.
His cavalier behavior is of a person who comes upon an opportunity by chance.
Easy come easy go...the country...
God help us.
Neither he nor the rest of the world expected him to win.
His cavalier behavior is of a person who comes upon an opportunity by chance.
Easy come easy go...the country...
God help us.
5
I don't know if Donald Trump is a Manchurian candidate for Russia or not. But he seems to me a Manchurian candidate for Israeli right wing and the settlers.
Obama's Russian connection has become the liberal media's equivalent of Obama's birth certificate and Kenyan Muslim heritage. It fires up their coastal liberal base. Keep on doing it instead of doing the hard political work of converting back the white working class to the Democratic Party and we are guaranteed a reelection of The Donald.
Obama's Russian connection has become the liberal media's equivalent of Obama's birth certificate and Kenyan Muslim heritage. It fires up their coastal liberal base. Keep on doing it instead of doing the hard political work of converting back the white working class to the Democratic Party and we are guaranteed a reelection of The Donald.
3
This is how he plans to rule: as I suspect he already rules his family and associates-- he commands them to think and speak the way he dictates. Anyone who does not follow his dictates is his enemy.
He is going after the press, as if he truly believes he can control what a person thinks and says. How is he going to control the minds and speech of 65.8 million voters ( or more)? Spray us with amnesia-and-obedience gas? Does he think that yelling at a CNN reporter is going to change anything fundamental? So what if he gets people fired or gets media to soften their criticisms. (both which I hope don't happen) It makes our resistance stronger, our memories stronger, our determination stronger. Your first mistake was when you revealed your core philosophy-- "I alone can fix it."
yeah -- that's a reality-based world view, backed up by so much evidence of your own performance........
You show your philosophy of ruling to be-- do as I say or I will beat you up.
You will never possess our minds and hearts. We will outlast you. We already see the deeper truth about you.
He is going after the press, as if he truly believes he can control what a person thinks and says. How is he going to control the minds and speech of 65.8 million voters ( or more)? Spray us with amnesia-and-obedience gas? Does he think that yelling at a CNN reporter is going to change anything fundamental? So what if he gets people fired or gets media to soften their criticisms. (both which I hope don't happen) It makes our resistance stronger, our memories stronger, our determination stronger. Your first mistake was when you revealed your core philosophy-- "I alone can fix it."
yeah -- that's a reality-based world view, backed up by so much evidence of your own performance........
You show your philosophy of ruling to be-- do as I say or I will beat you up.
You will never possess our minds and hearts. We will outlast you. We already see the deeper truth about you.
9
I agree that even before these allegations there was strong suspicion that Trump has a Russian connection. He never critizises a known killer who wishes us ill. Your right he has disparaged everyone including the pope , but not Vlad. He sure does seem like asset for the Russian dictator.
8
"... wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name?" Sure he does. Just as he likes having his taxes audited, for ever and ever. The investigation can go on for ever and ever and he will continue with nefarious business as usual.
I still concur with Trump on “If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability.” Who wants to be on Putin's hit-list?
I still concur with Trump on “If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability.” Who wants to be on Putin's hit-list?
1
Only when the Party of God puts country ahead of power will there be any chance of an investigation in the next two years. While the POG holds both houses the Clown in Chief can play president while a destructive agenda is passed with little obstruction. Regaining House and Senate is the foremost priority to hold Trump accountable.
3
"BuzzFeed made a serious mistake in simply posting all of this unverified information online, ignoring the journalistic practice of checking and corroboration."
What, pray tell, was the "checking and corroboration" for the Wikileaks emails?
What, pray tell, was the "checking and corroboration" for the Wikileaks emails?
9
The Republican President for the United States of America has one concern that takes up his whole life, himself and how much can he get for himself. He would sell his immigrant wife for the right price. He would sell America and it's citizens without hesitation. His is a disgrace and it's not wonder that his hero is a thug and dictator like Putin.
9
I voted for Hillary. I think Trump is vile. And I also think it is not OK for the media to be making such a big deal about unsubstantiated intelligence.r. If this were Republicans doing the same to Clinton, there would certainly be a Democratic outcry. We have to maintain standards for reporting, and to not be hypocritical. Responsible media is essential to democracy.
5
First, ask Trump where Manchuria is before calling him a candidate of some such place that would be hard for him to locate. He might think you're referring to Joe Manchin,or making some snide reference to his Manhood.
How large was the Manchurian Candidate? What office did he run for? Did the MC have great hair? Tell Trump it involved a presidential candidate, but for heaven's sake, don't tell him what happens to that candidate in the end, and forget the part about the MC loving his mother a tad too much. It might make Trump recall his fondness for his daughter Ivanka.
Once you explain to Trump it's a movie, it has Sinatra in it, and it was removed from theatres after JFK was assassinated, he will DVR it and see for himself what occurs when a presidential candidate tries to manipulate the masses but has his comeuppance when the mother-loving brainwashed good soldier comes this close, but no Havana cigar, to fulfilling the Chi-Coms plan, instead the MC thwarts it, ends his life, and makes America safe and great again.
Trump will be able to tell the nation the lesson he learned from this film was that of course he was right. It was China, the Chinese Communists to be exact, and not the Russians who did this dirty deed. The Russians, in fact Vlad himself, phoned Trump and made a personal promise he would never do such a thing to his BFF. No need when he already had his own film on Trump.
DD
Manhattan
How large was the Manchurian Candidate? What office did he run for? Did the MC have great hair? Tell Trump it involved a presidential candidate, but for heaven's sake, don't tell him what happens to that candidate in the end, and forget the part about the MC loving his mother a tad too much. It might make Trump recall his fondness for his daughter Ivanka.
Once you explain to Trump it's a movie, it has Sinatra in it, and it was removed from theatres after JFK was assassinated, he will DVR it and see for himself what occurs when a presidential candidate tries to manipulate the masses but has his comeuppance when the mother-loving brainwashed good soldier comes this close, but no Havana cigar, to fulfilling the Chi-Coms plan, instead the MC thwarts it, ends his life, and makes America safe and great again.
Trump will be able to tell the nation the lesson he learned from this film was that of course he was right. It was China, the Chinese Communists to be exact, and not the Russians who did this dirty deed. The Russians, in fact Vlad himself, phoned Trump and made a personal promise he would never do such a thing to his BFF. No need when he already had his own film on Trump.
DD
Manhattan
4
The latest hack "revelation", regardless of its truth, is classic disinformation.
The objective of disinformation is not to convince us of the official account but to create enough uncertainty that everything is believable and nothing is knowable, and truth devolves to opinion.
The objective of disinformation is not to convince us of the official account but to create enough uncertainty that everything is believable and nothing is knowable, and truth devolves to opinion.
5
I think what Putin really intended was that everyone would think he influenced the election in Trump's favor hoping the election would be overturned and Clinton would get in. This is the conspiracy. How close are Hillary Clinton and Putin? Forget about what you read in the so-called press.
1
a theory regarding this comment:
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
If Donald Trump knows these allegations are patently false, it could be in his interests to not immediately clear his name. In typical Trumpian fashion, the story is generating a sensational distraction that draws attention away from his worrisome business conflicts, cabinet picks and convoluted doublespeak. When the allegations are eventually disproven (assuming they are not true for the moment), he can point to this as "evidence" that the media is wrong about him and this is part of a larger political "witch hunt," to use his words. It will strengthen his supporters distrust of the media.
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
If Donald Trump knows these allegations are patently false, it could be in his interests to not immediately clear his name. In typical Trumpian fashion, the story is generating a sensational distraction that draws attention away from his worrisome business conflicts, cabinet picks and convoluted doublespeak. When the allegations are eventually disproven (assuming they are not true for the moment), he can point to this as "evidence" that the media is wrong about him and this is part of a larger political "witch hunt," to use his words. It will strengthen his supporters distrust of the media.
1
The author's suggestion that the president-elect should restart the Cold War to defend himself against allegations that the intelligence community has not made and an unofficial report that the intelligence community describes as disinformation is absurd.
The first report contained no allegations about an improper relationship between Trump and Putin. It did not allege Trump had anything to do with the hacking or Russian propaganda efforts. And it did not imply that Trump is "infatuated by the autocrat in the Kremlin." As the New York Times reported Saturday, “The report provides no new evidence to support assertions that Moscow meddled covertly through hacking and other actions to boost the electoral chances of Donald J. Trump and undermine his rival, Hillary Clinton, but rests instead on what it describes as Moscow’s long record of trying to influence America’s political system."
The intelligence community has labeled the second report disinformation. According to NBC News, a senior intelligence official said "the two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material was made available to the briefers to provide context for Trump should they want to draw a distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted 'disinformation.'"
The first report contained no allegations about an improper relationship between Trump and Putin. It did not allege Trump had anything to do with the hacking or Russian propaganda efforts. And it did not imply that Trump is "infatuated by the autocrat in the Kremlin." As the New York Times reported Saturday, “The report provides no new evidence to support assertions that Moscow meddled covertly through hacking and other actions to boost the electoral chances of Donald J. Trump and undermine his rival, Hillary Clinton, but rests instead on what it describes as Moscow’s long record of trying to influence America’s political system."
The intelligence community has labeled the second report disinformation. According to NBC News, a senior intelligence official said "the two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material was made available to the briefers to provide context for Trump should they want to draw a distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted 'disinformation.'"
2
The same Donald Trump campaigned around the country calling all the leaked e-mails from the DNC that came out of Russia absolute fact.
What difference does it actually make if the allegations are true or not? Apparently the FBI director and the President elect get to pick and choose what the truth actually is.
The press should stop covering Mr. Trump including staying out of the WH pool. It's time to invest in true investigative reporting instead of being a mouthpiece for this criminal.
What difference does it actually make if the allegations are true or not? Apparently the FBI director and the President elect get to pick and choose what the truth actually is.
The press should stop covering Mr. Trump including staying out of the WH pool. It's time to invest in true investigative reporting instead of being a mouthpiece for this criminal.
3
"BuzzFeed made a serious mistake in simply posting all of this unverified information online, ignoring the journalistic practice of checking and corroboration."
What, pray tell, was the "checking and corroboration" for the Wikileaks emails?
What, pray tell, was the "checking and corroboration" for the Wikileaks emails?
2
If Putin likes Donald Trump, it's because he (Putin) thinks he can run circles around Trump, manipulate him, and stick his finger in our nation's eye for the entire Trump presidency. Chief Justice Roberts, please refuse to swear in this Bozo and save our country from disaster.
3
So...
The onus is not on Trump to prove he is Putin's puppet (innocent until proven guilty, anyone?), the onus is on imbeciles masquerading as reporters to pull their cranium out of Obama's posterior and get back to actual reporting again. The time for deity worship is over...
The onus is not on Trump to prove he is Putin's puppet (innocent until proven guilty, anyone?), the onus is on imbeciles masquerading as reporters to pull their cranium out of Obama's posterior and get back to actual reporting again. The time for deity worship is over...
3
How ridiculous, having to prove a negative. How about the author "proving" he will never beat his wife?
Furthermore, it is a core principal of the law that he who makes the allegations, must prove them.
Furthermore, it is a core principal of the law that he who makes the allegations, must prove them.
2
Until some questions are answered, Donald is a fake president. I think there are at least 3 possibilities that he can't bring himself to describe Putin as the steely eyed ex KGB guy whose critics just happen to drop dead.
#1 His businesses have been saved by Russians with unsavory pasts.
#2 Putin has damaging info on Trump that would embarrass him severely.
#3 He sees Russia, negatives and all, to be allies fighting the "Islamic threat."
We need to know his connection to the Russians. Until then he is totally fake. If his devotion is to somewhere besides the U.S.A., we HAVE TO know.
#1 His businesses have been saved by Russians with unsavory pasts.
#2 Putin has damaging info on Trump that would embarrass him severely.
#3 He sees Russia, negatives and all, to be allies fighting the "Islamic threat."
We need to know his connection to the Russians. Until then he is totally fake. If his devotion is to somewhere besides the U.S.A., we HAVE TO know.
4
If this appeared in the National Enquirer Trump would be nervous. After all that's where he gets his news and so does his supporters. The only reliable source for those with curious minds.
4
It seems like the verification of 35 pages that Mr. Christopher Steele generated would require a connection, fund, and the manpower beyond each newspaper tried to tackle (NYT, Washingpost, namely). I am glad that Mr. Clapper generated 2 pages summary and handed out to Mr. Obama, Mr. Trump and the gang of 8 congressmen. It will need the government-backed resources to dig deeper. For the sake of continuity of democratic principles in this country and not a divided nation under Putin protege, I am glad for the exposure of 35 pages documents to the public. Let's find out what is true and what is not.
4
Just sold most of my IRA positions (kept some bond and short ETFs). Go Trump Go! Drive this market down, down...
A fake billionaire with a fake university, a fake foundation, fake patriotism, and even fake hair trashes a credible Intelligence Community report about Russia tainting his election as president as fake news. How rich. How predictable. How Trumpian.
16
I feel much better about this now that I know Putin says it's a total fabrication. thank god, was starting to get worried there.
11
Grounds for impeachment. Starting now.
14
Idiotic and insulting based on the much more bizarre pandering that President Obama did with Iran
1
It's ironic that Trump, a master at spreading malicious rumors and innuendo about others, is now possibly a victim of rumor and innuendo himself. Maybe karma is real. At any rate, he does himself no favors with his histrionic defenses and hysterical Tweets. No matter how many exclamation points he adds, it doesn't help his case. If he would deal with issues calmly, explain himself without the melodrama, maybe people would listen. He'll be dealing with these scandals for 4 long years. All presidents do. He better calm down.
5
Everybody calm down - Karen Pence is going to make a fine First Lady.
1
Perhaps this is why DT has spent so much time trying to discredit the Cia and the FBI... the best defense is a good offense.
6
Is it really about Trump's allegiance and not the perverse desire for a coldwar? The cartoonish evidence would be campy in a Pink Panther movie. “Guccifer 2.0″ leaves cyrillic meta-data with user name, “Felix Edmundovich,” the long dead founder of a Soviet-era secret police force. Was Goebbels right, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." I don't like Trump for president but the real decay comes from the high ground doesn't it?
3
When Trump said “If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability.” our national response should be an immediate, "WE DON'T!".
9
The fact that Trump twists this unsubstantiated opposition research document to be a criticism of our Intelligence community shows , yet again, an appalling lack of careful thought. He is totally unfit to be President of the US.
7
Awesome! Now Trump has his own version of the birther issue to deal with. Except this one might be true! I hope the press doesn't let him off the hook for this. It should be up to him to prove that he's not a Russian puppet.
9
The question we all should is ask including Donald Trump is exactly how does the "fake news" he is talking about actually get published and then transmitted through thousands of media outlets without the slightest skepticism from anyone responsible, not a journalist, government official or anyone in the general public.
Just had a session with my crystal ball......after a mild rubbing, it proclaimed "In 6 months or so, you will be hard pressed to find an Obama hater within these NYT pages or any other newspaper" I thought that quite fascinating. Then I rubbed again and asked it "Will there be any good news in 6 months?".......and it fell silent. Not a word.
Funny that while some question the veracity of the dossier leaked, NOBODY questions whether it is possible that Trump did everything alleged. For instance, such allegations against Mitt Romney would be laughable on their face (but not unimaginable for Newt Gingrich or Rudy Giuliani).
This needs thorough investigation. I don't see how it could be ignored. If 5% of the allegations are true, we are talking impeachment and imprisonment.
Remember how The Manchurian Candidate ended. We can only hope.
2
It is simply too hard to trust a man schooled in demagoguery by Joeseph McCarthy's right hand man, Roy Cohn.
This is unalloyed McCarthyism: requiring that people prove what they are not, faced with a bunch of unverifiable and anonymous smears. We need to open an Un-American activities list, and Boot should be on it.
He won't attack Russia, but he will smash CNN to a pulp, to intimidate the press, there is a love or fear affair between them, no doubt. This is a strange as it gets, how can a President discredit their own, and promote the outsider? I feel that America elected McCarthy for President.
3
In order for Trump to win the Republican nominee nation and then the Presidency, he and his minions had to create a "post-truth" world. So isn't enough if these allegations *could* be true in that context?
2
At this point, it isn't much of a stretch to hypothesize that not only Trump, but his cabinet picks as well, are Russian picks who will collaborate with Putin in dismantling our democracy. Furthermore, the Republican Congress appears only too willing to cooperate, beginning with repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
2
It is now obvious that Trump is insane.
5
Trump is president. The confederates won. The civil war is officially over.
3
Trump reminds me of an ego-driven football quarterback. The kind of guy who believes he's the savior for the team and only he can lead the team to victory. Of course, the linemen up front can't stand the guy and so all of a sudden they start missing blocks here and there and the quarterback take some vicious hits, fumbles the ball and looks bad. All of a sudden wide receivers stop dropping passes. Before long the savior of the team is sitting on the bench watching the backup lead the team. At this point, Donald Trump doesn't inspire me to do anything for him, let alone put me in the position where I would feel that the sacrifice of any of my children or grandchildren would be worthy of any of his goals, mainly because I don't believe he has the best interests of my country at heart. He's only interested in his best interest.
5
RISE UP! Throw off the yoke of our Russian oppressor. Tell Mr. Putin that we don't want his Quisling in the White House.
2
Do Putin and Trump dream of the world at their command enforced by threat of their joint nuclear forces? Isn't it better for both Russians and Americans in this scenario, if Putin and Trump can continue to show no daylight between their positions, no crack in their mutual admiration?
1
have you ever seen " Manchurin Candidate"? the man was brainwashed. trump is all trump. and therein is the tragedy and the fear.
2
Well of course Comrade Trump is upset! And looking to the Russian response to the allegations ? What more credible source could one wish for? Now, if only Falco could be brought back to life he could perform Der Commisar at the inauguration! Put a bow on it - a red one.
1
I think it's WAY past time (and hopefully not too late) for someone, anyone (including his blind supporters) to tell the emperor he has no clothes on!
When are we going to enact a LAW that clearly DEMANDS full disclosure on matters of health, finance AND a plan on how conflicts of interest will be settled PRIOR to becoming a party nominee? No American wants to experience this again regardless of party affiliation.
8
Trump will emerge from the Trojan horse while his troops are looting our Republic. Putin will make him a knight of the KGB and together they will ride off up the trail to Brokeback Mountain.
3
You guys never give up do you? You lost and that's that.
How do you prove a negative?
The onus is on Republican legislators to impeach President Trump if he shows the slightest favoritism to Russia, against the interests of the U.S. or our NATO allies, once he takes the oath of office.
Trump must release his tax returns to prove he is not financually connected to the Russians.
6
You got it backwards, Max. You are making the claim, you prove it.
i recall reportage and commentary about President George w Bush's meeting with Putin. About how he felt while looking into his eyes...and the intuitive trust he felt in his heart. Perhaps that's not an accurate memory, however if so, does bear a remarkable resemblance to someone infatuated )(mesmerized) by Russia's president. Apparently from reports Ms. Clinton was immune to this chemistry in their relationship.
3
How can you not investigate allegations that there were ongoing contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials prior to the election? We are talking about the potential of conspiracy and treason here.
2
Among the things we absolutely know about Putin: 1) Russian oil and gas and the vast wealth accruing from it; 2) annexation of Crimea; 3) subversion of Ukraine; 4) decimation of Grozny; 5) ditto eastern Aleppo. Among the things we have been told by Trump: that he is much esteemed by Putin. Made America once great.
2
I have heard that Putin actually runs the CIA.
So now , when a question is raised , the question itself becomes "evidence"?"
"Where there is smoke there is fire" now becomes "Res ipsa loquitur"?
This is a very slippery slope towards Show Trials , denunciations and political Witch Hunts. " Abandon hope all who enter here ".
"Where there is smoke there is fire" now becomes "Res ipsa loquitur"?
This is a very slippery slope towards Show Trials , denunciations and political Witch Hunts. " Abandon hope all who enter here ".
1
It's time for intelligence agencies to subpoena Trump's tax returns and financials, as well as question him and his aids under oath about contacts with Russia. There is certainly just cause.
5
The real question here is: why is Russia doing all this?
And the answer, dripping from time to time from Trump's comments is clear: China.
Russia is using US as its proxy to weaken China by keeping it in escalating and perpetual conflict with the US. In the shadow of this conflict, Vlad will do his bidding in the places he likes to think he owns or should own and control.
The conflict will also raise prices of commodities on the world market. Guess who will benefit? When will we ever learn?
And the answer, dripping from time to time from Trump's comments is clear: China.
Russia is using US as its proxy to weaken China by keeping it in escalating and perpetual conflict with the US. In the shadow of this conflict, Vlad will do his bidding in the places he likes to think he owns or should own and control.
The conflict will also raise prices of commodities on the world market. Guess who will benefit? When will we ever learn?
3
I suppose "intelligence professionals" who leak intelligence to the press are rather unprofessional and as such (1) should not be trusted, and (2) should not be referred to with the term professionals.
1
Yes, "He shouldn't have done it" was the extent of anything like criticism of Putin. Note also that Trump went directly from that unconcerned gesture to a celebration of the fruits of that hacking--that what we learned from the DNC and Podesta emails has been a benefit to us, and repeated his frequent lie that debate questions were given to the Clinton campaign. Donna Brazile tipped the campaign that there would be a question from a disabled person, and that was the extent of it.
Gee, you really can go a little nuts trying to insist on the value of honesty now that we have fallen into this crack in history.
Gee, you really can go a little nuts trying to insist on the value of honesty now that we have fallen into this crack in history.
The Oligarch's Oaf. Whether or not Trump had the bad taste and bad judgement to participate in the alleged actions, it's even more troubling that the "press conference" he grudgingly gave yesterday demonstrated how little he understands of the world, and how reliant he is on evasion and surrogates. What a contrast between our President Obama and his eloquent and moving farewell speech and this unqualified, oleaginous buffoon. To quote the latter: "sad."
1
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
The problem is that Trump will never accept the investigation. Either the truth comes out though a Russiagate, or it will never come out.
The problem is that Trump will never accept the investigation. Either the truth comes out though a Russiagate, or it will never come out.
1
Trump is setting in place a series of issues----Russia, conflicts of interest, his family---that will draw the media, like bees to honey, to a daily litany of corruption related stories. Not that Trump has a concrete legislative agenda, but, the daily defense of these investigations/leaked reports, will become a permanent drag on his administration.
1
It is not all the Trump scandals that worry me, it is the objective of this new administration that does. All of Trumps picks and he himself seem to have one thing in mind, take apart and destroy all things liberal and repeal all that Obama has done. Not only is this troubling, the manner in which they intend to accomplish these ends is frankly un-American. It suggests tactics used by Putin, which would explain why Trump admires the dictator. While we are busy looking at cheap, unverifiable scandals, Trump is about to destroy our democracy by siding with the strong men of this world, those with autocratic control over their people.
2
Wrong! The onus is - and has been - on our intel people, the so-called guardians of the state. Pathetic that it took Great Britain to inform us of Putin's actual plans, involvement in our own election. (Unless, of course, it didn't and our own intel sat on the info in "confusion" and inertia. Or worse.) We are in deep poo bcuz our FBI director selected our President and our "leaders" are too cowardly to call this whole empirically, observable existential disaster - and Trump - what it is and look it in the eye. Onus on Trump? Seriously? Since when does the disordered personality and con man do "onus?"
"If the president-elect wants to put such suspicions to rest, he should get as tough with the Kremlin as he vows to do with America’s other enemies." Guess what? That isn't going to happen. I'm glad Buzzfeed released the document. At least they're not pretending that this 70 year old political neophyte who is completely outmatched when it comes to Putin is going to magically become presidential between now and next week. Not. Going. To. Happen.
1
We should come up with a new term. "The Manchurian Candidate" was a great film and its remake wasn't that bad either. I think that everyone would get the reference if we titrate the title a little bit. Donald Trump would best be described as: "THE SIBERIAN CANDIDATE."
1
Why should anyone believe water carrier Max "Boots on the ground?" Seriously, why does the Times continue to give neo-conservative like Mr. Boot space on the page? Were his errors related to Iraq not spectacular enough?
If you want a good, and progressive, take on this whole situation, please go to the Intercept and read Glenn Greenwald's reporting on the shoddy nature of this dossier and all of the scare mongering around Russia.
Glenn is smart, and has principles. Mr. Boot is and has neither. He's a laughing stock.
If you want a good, and progressive, take on this whole situation, please go to the Intercept and read Glenn Greenwald's reporting on the shoddy nature of this dossier and all of the scare mongering around Russia.
Glenn is smart, and has principles. Mr. Boot is and has neither. He's a laughing stock.
The GOP likely do not want to investigate this too deeply. Something tells me that Trump isn't the only one the Russians have some good, black, Russian dirt on.
2
Be careful what you want (angry voters who want to "tear it all down"). Reality TV has taken over congress and the presidency. There's no laugh track to this farce leading our county. Only tears.
5
The reality is, the emperor is not wearing any clothes. Trump is delusional.
If one analyzes what Trump says and how he reacts to criticism, it is very clear by his temper, as displayed at his recent news conference, and his tweeting insults at those who call him out, that he is mentally unhinged.
Nevertheless, because he is President-elect, no one is saying this out loud. Instead, everyone is pretending he is just a very clever, not very honest, politician. The reality is he is a serious danger to America. He should be stopped sooner rather than later.
If one analyzes what Trump says and how he reacts to criticism, it is very clear by his temper, as displayed at his recent news conference, and his tweeting insults at those who call him out, that he is mentally unhinged.
Nevertheless, because he is President-elect, no one is saying this out loud. Instead, everyone is pretending he is just a very clever, not very honest, politician. The reality is he is a serious danger to America. He should be stopped sooner rather than later.
6
Bi-partisan commission to investigate hacking and Trump campaign-Russia ties, and call for release of Trump tax returns. Why is this so hard GOP?
2
The pressure is on intelligence agencies, law enforcement, congress, and the media to prove or disprove the allegations in this dossier. If it urns out that they are true, Trump should disqualified and immediately resign.
1
The latest revelations regarding Chump should absolutely disqualify him from entering the Oval Office in any capacity. The man is an unadulterated disaster. But then, a minority of Americans voted him into office in the first place. What does it say about them? Those of us who believe Chump will be gone within six months know the answer to that. In Chump's words, "so sad."
3
We have elected a madman to the position of President, the only likely end is a very difficult Impeachment, but so much damage will occur the survival of Democracy in America.
On another note, in all my years, there is no memory of one party destroying all the policies of another party, who are we?
On another note, in all my years, there is no memory of one party destroying all the policies of another party, who are we?
2
"BuzzFeed made a serious mistake in simply posting all of this unverified information online, ignoring the journalistic practice of checking and corroboration."
With all due respect, media with greater stature than BuzzFeed made it a "journalistic practice" to print unchecked and uncorroborated allegations about Benghazi and Ms Clinton's email. They may have done under the guise of reporting what others claimed, but that amounts to a fig leaf, and a tiny one at that.
With all due respect, media with greater stature than BuzzFeed made it a "journalistic practice" to print unchecked and uncorroborated allegations about Benghazi and Ms Clinton's email. They may have done under the guise of reporting what others claimed, but that amounts to a fig leaf, and a tiny one at that.
1
Three certain things:
1. Trump will never stop tweeting to call out corrupt media. He was hired for 8 years to do just that.
2. Trump will never release his 4-feet of tax returns. There's enough information about him in the public domain. 99.9999999% of Americans aren't qualified to evaluate them anyway. Thank Harry Reid.
3. When the US$2.5-4.0 Trillion comes back from offshore, the US economy will surge. Obama could have done this 8 years ago. Was stubborn and, as it turns out, stupid. Low-hanging fruit for Trump. Guarantees a generation of Republican governance.
1. Trump will never stop tweeting to call out corrupt media. He was hired for 8 years to do just that.
2. Trump will never release his 4-feet of tax returns. There's enough information about him in the public domain. 99.9999999% of Americans aren't qualified to evaluate them anyway. Thank Harry Reid.
3. When the US$2.5-4.0 Trillion comes back from offshore, the US economy will surge. Obama could have done this 8 years ago. Was stubborn and, as it turns out, stupid. Low-hanging fruit for Trump. Guarantees a generation of Republican governance.
1
Interesting piece. Let's read between the lines here. Mr. Boot, a notorious neoconservative, wants a bipartisan commission appointed to investigate matters that Mr. Boot himself agrees are unverified (and perhaps unverifiable). This is one blueprint for a process that ends in the removal of Trump from office.
One thing is certain: Trump is walking on a tightrope. The Republican establishment, the neoconservatives, and the Democrats would all love to see him driven from office. The only thing holding the Republicans back is the fact that Trump brought them so many voters in 2016. If Trump's popularity plummets, it will be easy to foment a political move to throw the bum out. Both establishment Republicans and neocons would love Mike Pence as president, and the sooner the better. Democrats must be of two minds about this; should they prefer a crippled Trump or an untarnished Pence as president?
Bottom line: Trump will not make it to the next election. Whether what will be in effect a coup d'état ends up helping or hurting America remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: Trump is walking on a tightrope. The Republican establishment, the neoconservatives, and the Democrats would all love to see him driven from office. The only thing holding the Republicans back is the fact that Trump brought them so many voters in 2016. If Trump's popularity plummets, it will be easy to foment a political move to throw the bum out. Both establishment Republicans and neocons would love Mike Pence as president, and the sooner the better. Democrats must be of two minds about this; should they prefer a crippled Trump or an untarnished Pence as president?
Bottom line: Trump will not make it to the next election. Whether what will be in effect a coup d'état ends up helping or hurting America remains to be seen.
2
The most important asset for a president is trust.
Trump is going to have to work continually to maintain this. His press conference did very little to calm the rising set of fears from Americans of all stripes--increasingly even his supporters--that he is untrustworthy.
The first crack in his blustery facade will be when his assertions about not having connections with Russia are exploded. All indications are that he is lying, and even if these are only suspicions, he now must confront them. If he does not, there will be the drip, drip, drip of doubt dogging his administration for the next four years. He will eventually succumb from it.
How to counter this? Simple. Release his tax returns. If there is nothing there it will calm his critics and the growing crowd of doubters.
Trump is going to have to work continually to maintain this. His press conference did very little to calm the rising set of fears from Americans of all stripes--increasingly even his supporters--that he is untrustworthy.
The first crack in his blustery facade will be when his assertions about not having connections with Russia are exploded. All indications are that he is lying, and even if these are only suspicions, he now must confront them. If he does not, there will be the drip, drip, drip of doubt dogging his administration for the next four years. He will eventually succumb from it.
How to counter this? Simple. Release his tax returns. If there is nothing there it will calm his critics and the growing crowd of doubters.
4
The notion that BuzzFeed is somehow the bad guy when mainstream press publications have been abrogating their own responsibility to the truth for the past two years is laughable. Scurrying to cover every utterance, however ridiculous, just because it came from Trump's mouth has forever branded the once venerable fourth estate and will remain the primary reason to distrust them going forward whenever it comes to coverage of presidential candidates.
1
Compare the media frenzy and coverage of Comey's two reports on Clinton with the recent report on Trump. The Trump report, after a day or two of coverage, has disappeared (except in the NYT). The Comey report (highly suspect because there was nothing to report) however, was sensationalized for weeks before the election. The difference in coverage may be due to the fact that a few large corporations control almost all media outlets in this country. If Eisenhower were here today, he would warn us about the "Media Industrial Complex".
4
Talk about a double standard between Trump and Clinton!
If, as Mr. Boot and many others assert, it was unethical for Buzzfeed to print the Steele intelligence dossier because it could not be authenticated, why then, by this same logic, was it ethical for the media to reprint all of the emails obtained through the Russian/Wikileak pipeline, even though the emails were never individually authenticated before they were printed?
To paraphrase Orwell, I guess some leaks are more equal than others.
If, as Mr. Boot and many others assert, it was unethical for Buzzfeed to print the Steele intelligence dossier because it could not be authenticated, why then, by this same logic, was it ethical for the media to reprint all of the emails obtained through the Russian/Wikileak pipeline, even though the emails were never individually authenticated before they were printed?
To paraphrase Orwell, I guess some leaks are more equal than others.
2
"But are they true?"... no they are not. There is no presumption of truth for unverifiable allegations. Gossip isn't true until someone proves that it is not, unverifiable hearsay is likewise not true, not a fact, until concrete evidences is offered in support. Trump said "no" when asked if anyone in his organization colluded with the Russians. But you say
that is not enough. Of course it's not enough for you, the press has an agenda concerning Trump and that agenda is not serve by backing off even when the allegations were paid for by his enemies and sources by agents paid, not to find out the truth but damage the reputation of an opposition candidate. This evidence would have been summarily dismissed in court and wasn't taken seriously by the press (for years) until CNN concocted the rationalization that they were not reporting on the allegations but on the intelligence briefing of the allegations to Obama and Trump. Under the "where there's smoke their fire" rule of illogic they set a real firestorm of lies and innuendos. And yes, it is lying to suggest, directly or indirectly, that unproven allegations are true, which is exactly what CNN did and what the New York Times is doing now is this opinion editorial.
that is not enough. Of course it's not enough for you, the press has an agenda concerning Trump and that agenda is not serve by backing off even when the allegations were paid for by his enemies and sources by agents paid, not to find out the truth but damage the reputation of an opposition candidate. This evidence would have been summarily dismissed in court and wasn't taken seriously by the press (for years) until CNN concocted the rationalization that they were not reporting on the allegations but on the intelligence briefing of the allegations to Obama and Trump. Under the "where there's smoke their fire" rule of illogic they set a real firestorm of lies and innuendos. And yes, it is lying to suggest, directly or indirectly, that unproven allegations are true, which is exactly what CNN did and what the New York Times is doing now is this opinion editorial.
1
It is surprising that Trump isn't demanding an investigation to clear his name and make clear to Americans that he will not be vulnerable to blackmail by Russia.
Given that, Americans must demand a full and independent investigation of the information reported. Full transparency is the only way to ensure that foreign powers cannot threaten Trump with the release of secret information.
Given that, Americans must demand a full and independent investigation of the information reported. Full transparency is the only way to ensure that foreign powers cannot threaten Trump with the release of secret information.
2
This report is only the tip of an ice burg, one which has already struck our ship of state. And much of our country is still playing with the ice on the deck.
As a conservative hands off Supreme Court justice takes Scalia's place and a Congress intent on destroying our rights and safety net turn a blind eye we have little hope of achieving any sort of justice. Corruption and the sale of our democracy are the words of the day.
None of this can be blamed on HRC or President Obama though many on the right will try. Those who see this clearly must fight in the trenches to regain our democracy. It will be a long dirty fight, but it is all we can do.
As a conservative hands off Supreme Court justice takes Scalia's place and a Congress intent on destroying our rights and safety net turn a blind eye we have little hope of achieving any sort of justice. Corruption and the sale of our democracy are the words of the day.
None of this can be blamed on HRC or President Obama though many on the right will try. Those who see this clearly must fight in the trenches to regain our democracy. It will be a long dirty fight, but it is all we can do.
4
"If the president-elect wants to put such suspicions to rest, he should get as tough with the Kremlin as he vows to do with America’s other enemies."
Releasing his tax returns would go a long way in supporting any claim that Mr. Trump has of having no business dealings in Russia. Problem is that he continues to refuse their release, fueling continued speculation that he has something to hide. In addition, his sons said more than once on the campaign trail that the Trump organization has business dealings in Russia.
An interesting project for Mr. Assange while he sits around in the Ecuadoran embassy in London would be to find a way to leak Mr. Trump's tax returns in an ironic Wiki-leaks turnabout.
As they say, "What's good for the goose..."
Releasing his tax returns would go a long way in supporting any claim that Mr. Trump has of having no business dealings in Russia. Problem is that he continues to refuse their release, fueling continued speculation that he has something to hide. In addition, his sons said more than once on the campaign trail that the Trump organization has business dealings in Russia.
An interesting project for Mr. Assange while he sits around in the Ecuadoran embassy in London would be to find a way to leak Mr. Trump's tax returns in an ironic Wiki-leaks turnabout.
As they say, "What's good for the goose..."
2
Trump is so clearly the worst possible person to be POTUS. He is a liar, he is a bully, he attacks businesses daily from his bully pulpit and has managed to destabilize whole segments of the market (take a look at pharma); he has no regard for the law; he doesn't recognize ethics, he doesn't understand science; he is a grifter that has a long history of questionable businesses dealings; he has very likely assaulted women on numerous occasions; he doesn't understand how government works; he is actively seeking to undermine the first amendment and freedom of the press; he seeks to dismantle and undermine important government agencies; he tweets nonstop like a teenager; he is a Manchurian candidate; he has invited Russians to hack us... let me repeat that: he has invited the Russians to hack us. He has called for a reversal of nuclear nonproliferation; he has not released his tax returns and thus is being completely and utterly shady about his dealings. Make no mistake, this is the most easily compromised president in our history. This is a national emergency that has to be dealt with.
3
Seems to me that in courts of law, people have been indicted of wrongdoing with far less circumstantial evidence than that collected by our intelligence agencies. Yes, it would be very nice to have a neat little bow to tie up the loose ends, but frankly, Trump's past transgressions--the bragging of sexual assaults, the mimicry of the disabled, the about-faces despite video evidence, and the multiple conflicts of interest--are enough of a pattern of behavior that would suggest an investigation to prove the allegations in the second report are warranted. And, as the author of this post points out, why is Trump's silence on Putin's involvement so deafening?
But sadly, just like gun control, just like climate change, and just like Wall St. (funny how Wall St. thievery has suddenly disappeared from everyone's radar in the face of a real authoritarian threat), our political system is not up to the challenge of making things right. The only difference this time is that instead of the Koch Bros. wielding their deep pockets for political gain, we have the Russians pulling the strings to preserve their global oil interests. Good lord, have we been played.
But sadly, just like gun control, just like climate change, and just like Wall St. (funny how Wall St. thievery has suddenly disappeared from everyone's radar in the face of a real authoritarian threat), our political system is not up to the challenge of making things right. The only difference this time is that instead of the Koch Bros. wielding their deep pockets for political gain, we have the Russians pulling the strings to preserve their global oil interests. Good lord, have we been played.
2
I find it appalling that the NYT and other credible news media are blasting Buzzfeed news for publishing the dossier, after it was included in the intelligence briefing. However the same news organizations had no qualm about publishing the hacked email from Mr. Podesta and the DNC. How did the news organization verify the emails WikiLeaks dump?
I also find it peculiar that these new organization speak on ethics in journalism, all while during the election cycle they sensationalized every lie perpetrated by the twitter troll in chief elect.
The GOP does not have the guts to stand up to the twitter troll, not they have ethics. Paul Ryan certainly doesn’t have control of the house.
In the coming years, the people of this country will surely be bombarded with allegations of this trolls behavior. I don’t think we will see any substantive policies, in regards the wellbeing of the country. I am sure we will go back the days for Bush (43) where the corporate tax rate will be lowered, the gap between the rich and middle class will continue to grow.
The people in power should heed the lessons from history of the fall of great empires. The rich had too much, the poor had very little and the middle class was nonexistent. Will this be the history of U.S.? I surely hope not.
I also find it peculiar that these new organization speak on ethics in journalism, all while during the election cycle they sensationalized every lie perpetrated by the twitter troll in chief elect.
The GOP does not have the guts to stand up to the twitter troll, not they have ethics. Paul Ryan certainly doesn’t have control of the house.
In the coming years, the people of this country will surely be bombarded with allegations of this trolls behavior. I don’t think we will see any substantive policies, in regards the wellbeing of the country. I am sure we will go back the days for Bush (43) where the corporate tax rate will be lowered, the gap between the rich and middle class will continue to grow.
The people in power should heed the lessons from history of the fall of great empires. The rich had too much, the poor had very little and the middle class was nonexistent. Will this be the history of U.S.? I surely hope not.
1
In 2004, Dan Rather published a fraudulent document purporting that Bush had been an unsatisfactory member of the TANG. Rather will go to his grave believing that his reporting was not fake news because it is possible that Bush had unsatisfactory performance in the Texas Guard, a subjective evaluation that it is impossible for Bush to disprove.
Emails from the DNC were hacked and published. But the same evidence that the Russians were involved would also be present if a disgruntled Democrat had leaked the emails to the Russians. Democrat partisans, including the contributor of this piece, are deflecting interest away from the contents of the emails.
The intelligence services have concluded the Russians were involved in the release of the information, even though they were denied access to the DNC servers. The intelligence services leaked, before the election, that the Russians were attempting to favor Trump, which Dems and the media have run with. They have provided zero evidence to support that they know Russia’s motivation. A more likely explanation is that they intended to make it more difficult for Hillary to govern.
Any thoughtful person would laugh. Hillary campaigned on the promise to suppress US production of fossil fuels which raise oil prices and help the Russians, while Trump promised the opposite.
Trump has no obligation to prove to the partisan media that is using the Rather journalistic principle that fraudulent documents are not fake news.
Emails from the DNC were hacked and published. But the same evidence that the Russians were involved would also be present if a disgruntled Democrat had leaked the emails to the Russians. Democrat partisans, including the contributor of this piece, are deflecting interest away from the contents of the emails.
The intelligence services have concluded the Russians were involved in the release of the information, even though they were denied access to the DNC servers. The intelligence services leaked, before the election, that the Russians were attempting to favor Trump, which Dems and the media have run with. They have provided zero evidence to support that they know Russia’s motivation. A more likely explanation is that they intended to make it more difficult for Hillary to govern.
Any thoughtful person would laugh. Hillary campaigned on the promise to suppress US production of fossil fuels which raise oil prices and help the Russians, while Trump promised the opposite.
Trump has no obligation to prove to the partisan media that is using the Rather journalistic principle that fraudulent documents are not fake news.
"There is only one way to get to the bottom of this tawdry affair: Appoint a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission to investigate all of the allegations and issue a public report". Report? Report? We don't need no stinking report. We progressives should get tanks, place them on every street corner and round up the Trump supporters. With all the villification taking place, this doesn't sound so far fetched, does it?
2
I'm reminded of the stupidity of the idea that the onus fell on Obama to prove that he is a U.S. citizen. The author's assertion that Trump must prove that he's not a Russian stooge is equally stupid - and unworthy of space in the New York Times, which apparently is insistent upon continuing its descent into unenlightened irrelevance.
2
Not another Commission, please. I was tried by a Commission, a bogus one, allegedly non-partisan and had my life ruined. Nobody read the record, just the conclusions.
1
I've been saying that he is the manchurian candidate for almost a year. Putin's puppet. I'm old enough to have seen the original manchurian candidate movie decades ago, and read the book back then. Trump is also the ugly american.
Our country is doomed unless trump is impeached soonest.
Our country is doomed unless trump is impeached soonest.
3
You've got that backwards.
The onus is on Putin to show that the occupier of the most powerful office on earth is "his puppet".
[And I doubt a narcissist like Trump (Obama was also a narcissist) is anyone's "puppet".]
The onus is on Putin to show that the occupier of the most powerful office on earth is "his puppet".
[And I doubt a narcissist like Trump (Obama was also a narcissist) is anyone's "puppet".]
I believe what the M16 operative said. Trump and sex, LOL, he may be a germaphobe but he has the exception for good looking slavic women, well for any good looking white woman. The Russians have been known to use women to get compromising photos. Bring on the videos!
3
It's all about the oil, it's all about the deals. These side shows are just that. There is a coup before our eyes and it is Exxon and Russian oil. Exxon has billlions tied up, they sent their best man on Russia to become SoS to fix those pesky sanctions (and who knows what else!) Trump is a puppet but he serves several masters, all of them based in incredible greed.
5
On Inauguration Day, I'd like to see Trump take a second oath immediately after he's sworn in. He needs to leave his hand on the bible and swear to "Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
2
The American people deserve to know the truth about Trump's relationship with Putin and his "investments" in Russia and elsewhere. Trump should not be allowed to ignore the ethical standards that all of presidents over the past four decades have adhered to. Why should Trump be allowed to be an exception to the rule? The truth is that he shouldn't. In fact, he is a prime example of why we need to examine his tax returns and take a close look at his investments and business dealings both in the U.S. and abroad. At this point, the man simply can't be trusted. He lies with reckless abandon and when challenged, goes on a child-like, bullish-type of tamper tantrum. This man is no "leader". He is, however, an accomplished "misleader".
When Trump gets obnoxious, you know he's hiding something important from us. He needs to follow the rules like everyone else. We shouldn't allow him to be the "exception to the rule". That would be a huge mistake and one that we can't afford.
When Trump gets obnoxious, you know he's hiding something important from us. He needs to follow the rules like everyone else. We shouldn't allow him to be the "exception to the rule". That would be a huge mistake and one that we can't afford.
2
Yes, it's unsubstantiated, and we should be cautious. But it's worth investigating further, and there are reasons the info is highly plausible.
- Trump's cozying up to Russia and his defense of Putin is bewildering in an American—unless there's something else behind it. Then it makes sense.
- Trump has hidden his business interests and ties with Russia, even though his son has admitted they're extensive.
- The info given—unlike, say, Pizzagate—fits his public character and what we know about him.
- Trump is against any further investigation. Yes, it's possible that that's because he's narcissistic and a bit stupid. It's also possible that it's a sign of guilt.
So there's no question that there should be doubts about him and further investigation. And if he's too childish to understand that stonewalling makes him look guilty—well, then he's too childish to be president. If Russia has interfered in our election processes and/or has been cultivating Trump for years, and/or has him by the ___ with business interests or loans he's having trouble repaying, then WE NEED TO KNOW.
One fact stubbornly remains: his love affair with Putin, to the point where he doesn't care if we—the USA—ever find out the truth. And THAT by itself is a problem.
- Trump's cozying up to Russia and his defense of Putin is bewildering in an American—unless there's something else behind it. Then it makes sense.
- Trump has hidden his business interests and ties with Russia, even though his son has admitted they're extensive.
- The info given—unlike, say, Pizzagate—fits his public character and what we know about him.
- Trump is against any further investigation. Yes, it's possible that that's because he's narcissistic and a bit stupid. It's also possible that it's a sign of guilt.
So there's no question that there should be doubts about him and further investigation. And if he's too childish to understand that stonewalling makes him look guilty—well, then he's too childish to be president. If Russia has interfered in our election processes and/or has been cultivating Trump for years, and/or has him by the ___ with business interests or loans he's having trouble repaying, then WE NEED TO KNOW.
One fact stubbornly remains: his love affair with Putin, to the point where he doesn't care if we—the USA—ever find out the truth. And THAT by itself is a problem.
3
When Trump gets obnoxious, you know he's hiding something important from us. He needs to follow the rules like everyone else. We shouldn't allow him to be the "exception to the rule". That would be a huge mistake and one that we can't afford.
2
Attack is the best defense.
"He should not have done it" is not criticism of Mr. Putin. Might very well be a slip of the tong.
"He should not have done it" is not criticism of Mr. Putin. Might very well be a slip of the tong.
2
We can survive a Manchurian candidate, evidenced by the last eight years under President Barack Obama
2
The memos published by Buzzfeed are well known to be unverified and would have no impact if they didn't align so completely with what we already know about Comrade Trump's character and behavior, most of which he has so proudly shared with the public over these past many years. Getting cozy with the Russians to win the election is the embodiment of the "Art of the Deal". Undoubtedly there will be more to come.
4
Whether Trump believe in Putin or not has become irrelevant.
What is relevant is that there is an accusation on the table that either is wrong, in which case those who have been accusing Trump of being a foreign agent of sorts, the "Manchurian Candidate", have to be brought to justice, or is true.
In the latter case Trump is to be impeached and tried for being a foreign agent.
It is a classic catch 22 which will not go away if you ignore it.
It will also not go away if you declare a war against a foreign enemy, which is the usual way of trying to shift attention to another issue.
Trump may like Putin and Russia in any way he wants, this will not make any difference.
What will make a difference is what the FBI and all the other intelligence services make of it.
If they use this allegation for playing politics or, if the do their job and get either Trump or whoever has issued the allegation in court.
This has moved way beyond the usual dirty campaigning of even your dirtiest household election campaign.
What is relevant is that there is an accusation on the table that either is wrong, in which case those who have been accusing Trump of being a foreign agent of sorts, the "Manchurian Candidate", have to be brought to justice, or is true.
In the latter case Trump is to be impeached and tried for being a foreign agent.
It is a classic catch 22 which will not go away if you ignore it.
It will also not go away if you declare a war against a foreign enemy, which is the usual way of trying to shift attention to another issue.
Trump may like Putin and Russia in any way he wants, this will not make any difference.
What will make a difference is what the FBI and all the other intelligence services make of it.
If they use this allegation for playing politics or, if the do their job and get either Trump or whoever has issued the allegation in court.
This has moved way beyond the usual dirty campaigning of even your dirtiest household election campaign.
"But are they true? No one knows."
Actually Mr. Boot, the story isn't the "Manchurian Candidate" but the spy agencies and the press, their collusion, and the propaganda they spew.
Mainstream media has become so obsessed with the narrative that you want, that the process of journalism has been hijacked to become purveyors of rumor and innuendo. And this is after the grand collusion with the DNC to get their favorite candidate elected, and which failed.
It is going to fail, just like the fake news being thrown at Trump in the campaign.
Take a Xanax, or a few, and go home and shut up. It's embarrassing. You can't even do the Enquirer or Pravda imitations well. And for the NYT to publish this is yet another signal it is failing its readers.
Actually Mr. Boot, the story isn't the "Manchurian Candidate" but the spy agencies and the press, their collusion, and the propaganda they spew.
Mainstream media has become so obsessed with the narrative that you want, that the process of journalism has been hijacked to become purveyors of rumor and innuendo. And this is after the grand collusion with the DNC to get their favorite candidate elected, and which failed.
It is going to fail, just like the fake news being thrown at Trump in the campaign.
Take a Xanax, or a few, and go home and shut up. It's embarrassing. You can't even do the Enquirer or Pravda imitations well. And for the NYT to publish this is yet another signal it is failing its readers.
2
Having allowed itself the privilege of publishing hacked DNC memos, which were not authenticated either as documents or as containing factual statements, on what basis does the press decline to publish these authentic documents that may contain false information?
1
I have been an avid reader of the Times since my subway riding days on the IRT in the 70s. The tone of the newspaper then was straight news stories on the front pages, followed by a fine op-ed section on the last page of section one.
More recently the digital version is chock full of op-ed columns and news stories on the "front" page screen - almost all directed in opposition to President-elect Trump. Straight news is a thing of the past.
The tone of Mr. Boot's op-ed column smacks of the same rubbish perpetrated Rush Limbaugh's radio broadcasts - hyperbolic suppositions and speculations about a document that has not been verified by all major news organizations including the Times itself.
How the mighty stalwarts of responsible journalism are falling.
More recently the digital version is chock full of op-ed columns and news stories on the "front" page screen - almost all directed in opposition to President-elect Trump. Straight news is a thing of the past.
The tone of Mr. Boot's op-ed column smacks of the same rubbish perpetrated Rush Limbaugh's radio broadcasts - hyperbolic suppositions and speculations about a document that has not been verified by all major news organizations including the Times itself.
How the mighty stalwarts of responsible journalism are falling.
2
Trump's attacks on the intelligence community are of a piece with his attacks on the EPA, HUD, Education, and the CMS (Medicare and Medicaid Services). Gut and replace are his intent. He'll saddle the country with second rate intelligence officers to an extent that even Cheney and Bolton could not do.
3
When is this going to stop, NYT? Please stop! I'm tired of your toxic, echo-chamber filled with non-news and innuendos. The more you bark up this tree and the greater your ferocity, the more ridiculous your paper seems, revealing itself for the elite's propaganda machine that it is. The rest of this country doesn't care, but when I read your paper now, with open eyes, I finally understand why they voted for Trump.
2
The NY Times, Washington Post, CNN, and several other mainstream media, in the near future, in spite of their formidable resources, will be exposed along with militant subversive elements in government, to have been willing participants in a classic disinformation and perception management program, designed to fatally weaken the Presidency.
Orwells' Ministry of Truth has come of age, and is now operating, with little opposition.
The superstate, Oceania, is born.
Orwells' Ministry of Truth has come of age, and is now operating, with little opposition.
The superstate, Oceania, is born.
2
According to the report what Putin wanted from Trump was to sideline the Ukraine issues. What was the ONE thing that his team had the Republican party change about their platform ... The position against Russian annexation in Ukraine.
Why isn't this being underscored, highlighted, and shouted about from the news media?
Why isn't this being underscored, highlighted, and shouted about from the news media?
5
Why does Little Donnie refuse to divest his company to a Blind Trust?
Because the financial records and history of Trump Inc. would become available to the public, and the pathway to treason will be obviously visible.
Because the financial records and history of Trump Inc. would become available to the public, and the pathway to treason will be obviously visible.
4
It's all out there in plain sight. The Russians didn't need to hack the RNC, they already had an inside line. They have been black mailing he who shall not be named for years. The Russians are a enemy foreign power and they just installed a Russian agent into the White House as president.
The FBI knew but didn't think it was important. Looks like the Russians have the goods on Mr. Comey as well.
The power and might of the entire United States is at the beck and call of Putin, that's one campaign promise Trump has to keep.
What a sorry spectacle. sometimes I'm proud of our country, but this isn't one of those times. He's worse than Nixon.
The FBI knew but didn't think it was important. Looks like the Russians have the goods on Mr. Comey as well.
The power and might of the entire United States is at the beck and call of Putin, that's one campaign promise Trump has to keep.
What a sorry spectacle. sometimes I'm proud of our country, but this isn't one of those times. He's worse than Nixon.
5
Rex Tillerson testified yesterday before the Senate Foreign Relations committee that he and Trump said not a word about Russia in their discussions leading up to Tillerson's nomination for Secretary of State. You would think that Tillerson has no interest in making himself look like a buffoon, so he was almost certainly telling the truth. Senator Bob Menendez's priceless reaction--"amazing." The committee should have halted the proceedings right then and there and ordered that Tillerson be removed from the room for wasting their time.
This was surely not Rex's finest hour (Is it his name that has The Donald so in thrall?), but the more important questions are: What exactly is Trump's relationship with Putin all about? Does he think he can deal with Putin mano-a-mano and leave his State Department in the dark? Why bother to solicit the views of your Secretary of State if you intend to keep him out of the loop?
The bromance between Putin and Trump gets more bizarre by the day. It's beginning to feel like this story will not end well. Let's hope the title of the inevitable book written about their relationship isn't: "Putin and Trump--the Dictator and the Traitor."
This was surely not Rex's finest hour (Is it his name that has The Donald so in thrall?), but the more important questions are: What exactly is Trump's relationship with Putin all about? Does he think he can deal with Putin mano-a-mano and leave his State Department in the dark? Why bother to solicit the views of your Secretary of State if you intend to keep him out of the loop?
The bromance between Putin and Trump gets more bizarre by the day. It's beginning to feel like this story will not end well. Let's hope the title of the inevitable book written about their relationship isn't: "Putin and Trump--the Dictator and the Traitor."
4
The problem is that even this article isn't nearly critical, or cynical, enough. Calling Trump 'slavishly devoted' to Putin is the equivalent of saying a mobster who fixes a sporting event, and then saying the mobster was guilty of "slavish devotion' toward the team he bet on. Nothing Trump does or says is anything but strategic. He doesn't have 'devotion' for Putin, or admiration. He has business dealings, or he knew the Kremlin had the democratic emails and wanted to build them up to add credibility to their being revealed, or he's intentionally creating chaos to distract and get what he wants somewhere else. The truth in this case is a fox-news like denunciation of Trump, and the mainstream media wants to appear smarter, or fairer then that, and Trump knows it.
1
Please rename The Peter Principle to The Donald Principle.
3
Wanna get to the bottom of this? Find out what contact the Trump team had with Rex Tillerson in the preceding months (and even years) before the election. Exxon wants Russia's oil, and needs a change in US policy to get it. Hence Creepy Donnie's love for Putin. Trump didn't choose Tillerson - Tillerson chose Trump to be his water-carrier in the WH.
1
It is not Trump's responsibility to prove that he is innocent. It is Congress's obligation to order an investigation now.
IF there is a chance that there was collaboration between the Trump Campaign and Russia regarding the hack/ leaks, then that charge needs to be investigated.
IF there is a chance that Trump has been so compromised by Russian blackmail that his actions may not be in the best interest of the United States then that charge must be investigated.
To paraphrase, "The American people have the right to know if their President is a Russian sleeper agent."
All members of Congress should want this investigation to take place whether they believe Trump, voted for Trump, or not. Without this investigation Trump's Presidency is tainted and so will be the actions of the Republican's who enable him to wield the awesome power of the President without a full investigation.
IF there is a chance that there was collaboration between the Trump Campaign and Russia regarding the hack/ leaks, then that charge needs to be investigated.
IF there is a chance that Trump has been so compromised by Russian blackmail that his actions may not be in the best interest of the United States then that charge must be investigated.
To paraphrase, "The American people have the right to know if their President is a Russian sleeper agent."
All members of Congress should want this investigation to take place whether they believe Trump, voted for Trump, or not. Without this investigation Trump's Presidency is tainted and so will be the actions of the Republican's who enable him to wield the awesome power of the President without a full investigation.
1
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
No, Mr. Boot, the 'onus' is not on Donald Trump to "prove his innocence."
Will it effect public perception of him if he does not respond? Probably. But he has no responsibility to respond to any unsubstantiated allegations. In this country, the 'onus' is on the people who have accused him - to prove those allegations to be substantial enough to to be charged with bad behavior, and then for those same charges of bad behavior to be proven true. And we're all waiting for that.
As for the NYTimes 'ethical' refusal to print the dossiers, do not make me laugh. The editors righteously declared that the newspaper could not print the dossiers because there were in fact way too many unproven allegations.
But in the next breath the editors informed their readers that they could read the dossiers at Buzzfeed , one of many seriously unserious news sources now available to the masses with a click of a button. Way to CYA, Rosenthal.
It's a difficult position to be in - having simultaneous contempt for both Donald Trump AND his sworn enemy, the NYTimes.
No, Mr. Boot, the 'onus' is not on Donald Trump to "prove his innocence."
Will it effect public perception of him if he does not respond? Probably. But he has no responsibility to respond to any unsubstantiated allegations. In this country, the 'onus' is on the people who have accused him - to prove those allegations to be substantial enough to to be charged with bad behavior, and then for those same charges of bad behavior to be proven true. And we're all waiting for that.
As for the NYTimes 'ethical' refusal to print the dossiers, do not make me laugh. The editors righteously declared that the newspaper could not print the dossiers because there were in fact way too many unproven allegations.
But in the next breath the editors informed their readers that they could read the dossiers at Buzzfeed , one of many seriously unserious news sources now available to the masses with a click of a button. Way to CYA, Rosenthal.
It's a difficult position to be in - having simultaneous contempt for both Donald Trump AND his sworn enemy, the NYTimes.
What's even worse than our President-elect being blackmailed and subservient to Russia is the slavish devotion of his supporters and their unwillingness to accept the fact that the man who will be occupying the Oval Office could be a threat to our security and all the ideals we hold dear. Because of his lies, which so many people believe in, that he is going to bring good paying jobs back to America, the folks that support Trump are being duped beyond their worst nightmare.
In 1972 Richard Nixon won 49 out of 50 States and 520 out of 537 electoral college votes. Just two years later, in 1974, he was forced to resign the Presidency after members of his own Party met with him and told him that if he did not do so he would be impeached and convicted.
I do not agree with 99% of the agenda and policies of Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell. I find it abhorrent that they both want to take 20 million Americans off their medical insurance, privatize Social Security and Medicare and give all those billions that have protected tens of millions of Americans for decades to the wealthy in the form of more tax breaks, which none of them need.
All this being said, and I am a liberal Democrat, I believe that they do put the Constitution and the security and safety of the American people above any one man or political party. I pray that Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell will have the courage and strength to do what their predecessors did back in 1974.
In 1972 Richard Nixon won 49 out of 50 States and 520 out of 537 electoral college votes. Just two years later, in 1974, he was forced to resign the Presidency after members of his own Party met with him and told him that if he did not do so he would be impeached and convicted.
I do not agree with 99% of the agenda and policies of Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell. I find it abhorrent that they both want to take 20 million Americans off their medical insurance, privatize Social Security and Medicare and give all those billions that have protected tens of millions of Americans for decades to the wealthy in the form of more tax breaks, which none of them need.
All this being said, and I am a liberal Democrat, I believe that they do put the Constitution and the security and safety of the American people above any one man or political party. I pray that Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell will have the courage and strength to do what their predecessors did back in 1974.
2
It seems everybody has forgotten that Donald Trump uses a knife and fork to eat pizza. No native born New Yorker worth his salt would ever be caught dead eating "a slice" and do it sitting down.
He says he was born in Queens and maybe he has some documentation that proves it, but I have never seen it. It is not just me who is saying this, many, many people are questioning the nation of Trump's birth. I'm just saying, any person who eats a slice of pizza while seated and uses a knife and fork but "not for nuthin" I have some doubts.
Who is this guy?
He says he was born in Queens and maybe he has some documentation that proves it, but I have never seen it. It is not just me who is saying this, many, many people are questioning the nation of Trump's birth. I'm just saying, any person who eats a slice of pizza while seated and uses a knife and fork but "not for nuthin" I have some doubts.
Who is this guy?
4
Do you think the Republican majority are going to investigate anything to do with this criminal that was elected president? Even if they do it will drag on for years. Why doesn't anyone in the press speak to the author of the intelligence report?
2
The most that could be said about Trump's possibly salacious tapes from Russia is that they could form the basis of his next TV extravaganza. Meanwhile, every Cabinet nominee will be hard at work destroying the agency they are supposed to lead, thus making S. Bannon's dream of government elimination or at least major dysfunction and chaos chime the death of democracy as we have known it. (You don't still think that DT is capable of all this foresight?) And a Republican led Congress and a radical right Court will light the way to a major loss of individual rights. So, now we know why all you guys insist on guns. You were preparing to fight the government as soon as they did what you wanted.
1
Forget "The Manchurian Candidate. How about "The Siberian Candidate"... Better yet "The Cyberian Candidate". Directed by Paul Manafort; Executive Producer/ Special Effects, Rudy Giuliani; Marketing Director, Kellyanne Conway. Global release on January 20th. Not yet rated.
2
This one is super easy.
After he takes office, the new President might rummage through the intelligence community until he finds someone willing to state that President Obama let himself be unduly influenced by Saudi Arabia. And since Saudi Arabia has had a beef with Russia over a variety of matters including Syria and Chechnya, the ball will definitely move to the other court.
On the other hand the new President might simply expel more Russian diplomats, to show his solidarity with the Obama Administration on Foreign Policy. After all, expelling diplomats is all President Obama has done after years of reported Russian, and Russian inspired, cyber-mischief.
After he takes office, the new President might rummage through the intelligence community until he finds someone willing to state that President Obama let himself be unduly influenced by Saudi Arabia. And since Saudi Arabia has had a beef with Russia over a variety of matters including Syria and Chechnya, the ball will definitely move to the other court.
On the other hand the new President might simply expel more Russian diplomats, to show his solidarity with the Obama Administration on Foreign Policy. After all, expelling diplomats is all President Obama has done after years of reported Russian, and Russian inspired, cyber-mischief.
1
Based on news reports about the Putin machine's strategy and tactics for any country or countries targetted for destabilization, the focus would be not Trump's infatuation with Putin but rather, Putin's goal to neutralize the USA.
Trump's earlier "birther" nonsense/fake news and the trouble it caused for Obama/presidential credibility was child's play compared to what Putin has or may have already done and will continue to do to the numerous actors in what makes up the cohesion needed to maintain and exercise authority. Without authority, the brains of any integrated entity, from a single cell on up to social and political groupings, only chaos can result. Lincoln said it more succinctly in his "A house divided....".
Trump's earlier "birther" nonsense/fake news and the trouble it caused for Obama/presidential credibility was child's play compared to what Putin has or may have already done and will continue to do to the numerous actors in what makes up the cohesion needed to maintain and exercise authority. Without authority, the brains of any integrated entity, from a single cell on up to social and political groupings, only chaos can result. Lincoln said it more succinctly in his "A house divided....".
The consistent vile attacks by the media are going no place. The onus is on the press to prove any charges against Trump, not for him to prove his innocence. The left will believe everything bad about him anyway, and certainly those who voted for him will laugh this off as another example of dirty politics.
Our intelligence reported that P:utin hacks and spies, even on elections? Is that really something new? The methods of detection and defense are certainly secret, but not the motives which have been public knowledge for long time.
Our intelligence reported that P:utin hacks and spies, even on elections? Is that really something new? The methods of detection and defense are certainly secret, but not the motives which have been public knowledge for long time.
1
Unsubstantiated reports that Obama was a Muslim - or not born in the USA - caused terrible turmoil at a time when we should have been accepting and getting used to a new President. But the media's distaste for supporting those spurious claims and mocking them was strong, as was their push back. It was equally disparaged by our political entertainment class on the late night shows.
Now we have unsubstantiated claims that Trump is a Russian puppet and the media is dancing on the head of a pin. The last paragraph of this op-ed could easily have been written about Obama. Insert Muslim instead of Kremlin.
Now we have unsubstantiated claims that Trump is a Russian puppet and the media is dancing on the head of a pin. The last paragraph of this op-ed could easily have been written about Obama. Insert Muslim instead of Kremlin.
Trump is being a rude, disagreeable, untrustworthy person. He has no comprehension of what being the president is.
He is setting himself up for impeachment before he is even sworn in.
As a reactionary authoritarian who is in denial, he has confirmed his mental state as psycosclerotic. which means a hardening of his brain to the point of disfunctional.
He is setting himself up for impeachment before he is even sworn in.
As a reactionary authoritarian who is in denial, he has confirmed his mental state as psycosclerotic. which means a hardening of his brain to the point of disfunctional.
3
I will be relieved when journalists stop trying to find that mythical beast the "normal Republican". That is what real Republicans call a RINO. This is the populist mob that Alexander Hamilton tried so hard to prevent from over-throwing democracy. That is the Big Story everyone is dancing around. The Republican Party is actively and openly overthrowing democracy by any means necessary, including this alliance with Russia. Everything is going to be about journalism now. How do you report on our national shipwreck without actually making it worse? It's regrettable that BuzzFeed just made itself irrelevant with it's lack of professionalism, but if the revelation causes a bit more pressure to be applied to an independent investigation then their sacrifice was worth it.
1
Is there any evidence whatsoever that Trump's tax filings are not already available to Putin, and the source of negotiating power? Not likely.
The choice, therefor, is either a second election or a neutralized Presidency fpr the next four years. While neither choice is attractive, a second election is far less probable.
The choice, therefor, is either a second election or a neutralized Presidency fpr the next four years. While neither choice is attractive, a second election is far less probable.
1
This one's super easy.
First with regards to Putin, the new President can go one better than President Obama. After he takes office he can expel 36 Russian diplomatic personnel. Literally, one better.
As for the content's of the "Dossier" the new President might, for example, vow to open Area 51 to all American UFO investigators. He might then consider the subject successfully changed. After all, there is just as much evidence for crashed UFO's in the Nevada desert as there is for the alleged business in Russian hotel rooms.
First with regards to Putin, the new President can go one better than President Obama. After he takes office he can expel 36 Russian diplomatic personnel. Literally, one better.
As for the content's of the "Dossier" the new President might, for example, vow to open Area 51 to all American UFO investigators. He might then consider the subject successfully changed. After all, there is just as much evidence for crashed UFO's in the Nevada desert as there is for the alleged business in Russian hotel rooms.
Please read an article be S.E. Cupp written 1/12/17.
Comments should be interesting.
Comments should be interesting.
1
Keep writing about Trump, you're only digging your own grave deeper.
1
If the Republicans don't investigate the allegations concerning Trump's conspiracy with the Russians during the election, the Democrats must independently do it. Form a blue-ribbon commission funded by contributions from patriotic Americans who are scared to death of Trump's backward policies and alt-right appointments. This commission would turn over the proof to the Republicans to act on. If we have the proof, they will have to remove Trump from office.
2
Trump did not realize or did not care that they were cultivating him. He doesn't care about compromising materials. He'll just deny it like he always has. Deny, deny, deny...even if they have pictures.
No, no, all that is beside the point. The glue that sticks Trump to Putin runs much deeper than all that. His admiration for Putin arises from the depths of his black little soul. Look at Putin's wealth, authoritarian leadership style and glorified status. That's everything that Trump cares about and wants. Putin is the world's most successful dictator. He's who Trump wants to be when he grows up.
Yes, he's their lapdog, that part is quite true. He's their lapdog because he's a weak, insecure man who constantly kids himself he's smarter than everyone else when in truth he's only ever been good at one thing - self-promotion. He's a walking house of cards, constantly teetering on the brink of collapse, and deep down he knows it. He is desperately trying now to reverse course, finally make daddy Trump proud, and ascend to his golden throne. Just like his idol, Putin.
No, no, all that is beside the point. The glue that sticks Trump to Putin runs much deeper than all that. His admiration for Putin arises from the depths of his black little soul. Look at Putin's wealth, authoritarian leadership style and glorified status. That's everything that Trump cares about and wants. Putin is the world's most successful dictator. He's who Trump wants to be when he grows up.
Yes, he's their lapdog, that part is quite true. He's their lapdog because he's a weak, insecure man who constantly kids himself he's smarter than everyone else when in truth he's only ever been good at one thing - self-promotion. He's a walking house of cards, constantly teetering on the brink of collapse, and deep down he knows it. He is desperately trying now to reverse course, finally make daddy Trump proud, and ascend to his golden throne. Just like his idol, Putin.
3
Thank you Barack Obama and the Democratic Party for restarting the Cold War. I still remember when that 'war monger' Bush left office, that the great pacifier with his wonderful diplomatic skills would bring a new era of peace and stability into the world. I suppose that's true, as long as you close those shades and don't look to far out your window.
1
It's always hilarious when someone can use the words "American" and "intelligence" in a single sentence.
1
"There is only one way to get to the bottom of this tawdry affair" -- except that this tawdry affair will only be followed by another, and another, because narcissists need the drama. That's what has kept him constantly in the news for the past 18 months. If there's no attention coming from external sources, he will create drama to draw attention. Contrast the Trump drama show with No-Drama Obama.
2
The Buzz Feed allegations amount to 'Some People Are Saying' -- DT's go to phrase for dumping garbage into the media.
The notion of him as a Manchurian candidate is evidenced by a continued refusal to deny or even acknowledge that 'some people are saying' that Putin has culpability in the DNC hacking.
The notion of him as a Manchurian candidate is evidenced by a continued refusal to deny or even acknowledge that 'some people are saying' that Putin has culpability in the DNC hacking.
2
Maybe 60 million people taking to the streets chanting "Lock him up...Lock him up...Lock him up" will get the attention of the spineless GOP leadership!
So the playbook is:
1. Disseminate fake news.
2. Ask "Is any of it true?"
3. Claim Trump is a Russian puppet.
Based on Putin owning Obama for the last eight years, who is the puppet here?
1. Disseminate fake news.
2. Ask "Is any of it true?"
3. Claim Trump is a Russian puppet.
Based on Putin owning Obama for the last eight years, who is the puppet here?
I never liked Mr. Boot's thinking when he was a right wing columnist for the Wall St. Journal, and now I don't like it when he's bashing the right wing's current odious champion. To suggest that Trump should "get as tough" with the Kremlin as with his other enemies is plain stupid. What does "get tough" mean these days? Drop bombs? Invade? Sabotage oil fields? Hack Putin's emails? The right wing fantasy that "getting tough" is always the answer needs to be gotten tough with.
1
1) Trump hires Manafort to RUN HIS CAMPAIGN, a proven co-conspirator with dictators in the Phillipines and Ukraine
2) Manafort resigns after information on $12M in payments in cash from Ukraine drop
3) The one and only thing that Trump's people changed in the GOP platform was on aid to Ukraine against Russia
4) Trump says "no comment" to Bret Baier 3x in May and won't admit talking to Putin (https://grabien.com/file.php?i...
5) Trump refuses to release financial records showing his debts and business ties to Russia
6) The DNC emails were dropped the day before the convention; the Podesta emails were dropped the day of Donald's "Hollywood Access" tape dropping -- aka "Puzzeygate" -- which looks an awful lot like a coordinated effort to damage Democrats and help Donald
7) 17 intelligence agencies agree Russia was behind the hackings, ONLY Donald thinks otherwise, and we still don't know WHY he thinks otherwise
8) Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, a KGB agent who has killed journalists and political opponents
9) Trump refuses to unequivocally state that he would back NATO if Russia attacked our allies
10) Trump appoints M. Flynn as NSA, a proven conspiracy theorist (pizzagate) who was fired from his previous job in national security for breaking rules about internet access -- he had his own line installed, which is quite fishy -- and who has appeared on Russia Today (RT) television and given paid speeches in Russia.
I could go on and on...
2) Manafort resigns after information on $12M in payments in cash from Ukraine drop
3) The one and only thing that Trump's people changed in the GOP platform was on aid to Ukraine against Russia
4) Trump says "no comment" to Bret Baier 3x in May and won't admit talking to Putin (https://grabien.com/file.php?i...
5) Trump refuses to release financial records showing his debts and business ties to Russia
6) The DNC emails were dropped the day before the convention; the Podesta emails were dropped the day of Donald's "Hollywood Access" tape dropping -- aka "Puzzeygate" -- which looks an awful lot like a coordinated effort to damage Democrats and help Donald
7) 17 intelligence agencies agree Russia was behind the hackings, ONLY Donald thinks otherwise, and we still don't know WHY he thinks otherwise
8) Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, a KGB agent who has killed journalists and political opponents
9) Trump refuses to unequivocally state that he would back NATO if Russia attacked our allies
10) Trump appoints M. Flynn as NSA, a proven conspiracy theorist (pizzagate) who was fired from his previous job in national security for breaking rules about internet access -- he had his own line installed, which is quite fishy -- and who has appeared on Russia Today (RT) television and given paid speeches in Russia.
I could go on and on...
2
Now Putin and Russia have no interest in causing the first world countries change from free market capitalism to communism or anything else.
If Putin has no interest in spreading an economic system in the way that Stalin and Khrushchev did, what would be his motive in having a friend in the White House? After the debacle in Afghanistan, Russia has no interest in trying to subdue the populations of Poland or Lithuania even if Trump and/or NATO were willing to look the other way.
The question then becomes what did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? For argument's sake, assume that Trump had agreed to do Putin's bidding. What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Even if Putin asked Trump to have the American Treasury transfer, say $200 billion to Russia, that is not going to happen. Even Kellyanne Conway could not spin that one into anything that would be acceptable to the American people or congress. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
We know what has caused most of the oil price spikes in the last 50 years.
That has been wars in the Middle East. The first oil shocks came with the 1967 and 1973 wars. Twenty percent of oil traded worldwide moves by tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important petroleum transit choke point. Iran also provides various pathways that could lead to another oil price spike..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
If Putin has no interest in spreading an economic system in the way that Stalin and Khrushchev did, what would be his motive in having a friend in the White House? After the debacle in Afghanistan, Russia has no interest in trying to subdue the populations of Poland or Lithuania even if Trump and/or NATO were willing to look the other way.
The question then becomes what did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? For argument's sake, assume that Trump had agreed to do Putin's bidding. What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Even if Putin asked Trump to have the American Treasury transfer, say $200 billion to Russia, that is not going to happen. Even Kellyanne Conway could not spin that one into anything that would be acceptable to the American people or congress. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
We know what has caused most of the oil price spikes in the last 50 years.
That has been wars in the Middle East. The first oil shocks came with the 1967 and 1973 wars. Twenty percent of oil traded worldwide moves by tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important petroleum transit choke point. Iran also provides various pathways that could lead to another oil price spike..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
Until they prove otherwise, the Republican Party has succumbed to the lust for power they believe comes with Donald Trump. No longer can the concept of “patriotism” be used to describe what was once the “Grand Old Party.”
1
" he displays a trust verging on gullibility in the mendacious and murderous government of Mr. Putin"
I don't think he trusts them at all, but is so under their thumb he must keep up the charade.
I don't think he trusts them at all, but is so under their thumb he must keep up the charade.
1
Although BuzzFeed acted with unusual haste, it was not undue nor untoward because after Trump is inaugurated (ugh) he could put a lid on the whole dossier, claiming national security or some such excuse. Now the cat is out of the bag and the way remains open for a thorough investigation. I say kudos to BuzzFeed, and to the NYT for continuing to try to hold Trump accountable.
1
I don't see how Trump can take the oath of office without perjuring himself. You know, there's that bit about "preserve, protect, and defend."
2
The Steel report will be investigated forever. The furor over it has gained a life of its own. Parts of it are probably fabrication by those that either hate Trump or want the insider notoriety of the source. Most likely we have the testimony of eye witnesses or third hand information that was corrupted. if there were hard evidence, it would have surfaced.
But, like say in a murder case, a preponderance of eye witnesses providing circumstantial evidence can and will convict. There is too much smoke here, there has to be a fire. Trumps word or Putin's word do not have any credibility, they are proven lairs in past statements. It is not a stretch to believe that a sexual predator (which Trump has proven to be) would be also a participant in high level sexual escapades. It is not a stretch to believe that a world wide real estate dealer which Trump is, has deals in and with Russia including Putin in the mix.
Sorry Donald, thou dost protest too much.
But, like say in a murder case, a preponderance of eye witnesses providing circumstantial evidence can and will convict. There is too much smoke here, there has to be a fire. Trumps word or Putin's word do not have any credibility, they are proven lairs in past statements. It is not a stretch to believe that a sexual predator (which Trump has proven to be) would be also a participant in high level sexual escapades. It is not a stretch to believe that a world wide real estate dealer which Trump is, has deals in and with Russia including Putin in the mix.
Sorry Donald, thou dost protest too much.
1
Or a modern Charles Lindbergh a la The Plot Against America by Phiip Roth.
Buzzfeed's dump of document has currency because it rings true given Donald Trump's personality... Let the sun shines in. It is, a shame, however, that Mr. Comey didn't apply the same standard to his investigation of Donald Trump's connection with Russia as he has to Hillary's email.
3
I'm not so surprised in regards to Trump's reaction--or the entire alt-right; what does, and continues to do so, is the devolving and unraveling of two formerly great American institutions: the Washington Post and the New York Times. Conspiracies Theories indeed! That the Times has basically fallen down the worm hole like a subReddit cast of crazy people is what is surprising. I've read the Times since the '60's and have always relied on it to print at least some version of the truth, but lately, good gravy! No, I didn't vote for Trump; no, I am not a supporter, and have never voted for a Republican in my life. I am, however, worried about the cast of newspapers in the U.S. that cannot seem to differentiate fact from fiction. That you've cherry-picked the news for the past several years, that your reporters engage in telling half-truth and half-manic stories passed off as "reporting," that you actively trade in opining and passing it off as "news," is what alarms me. There is fake news; there is also such a thing as faking the news. The Times and the Post have strained the bounds between what is real and what you think could be magically real. This fraying mirrors the political left's hysteria and feeds into a miasma approaching insanity. Please get a grip. No one feels like we are living in the same reality at the same exact time these days and you're not helping. Try to balance yourselves and your reporting. Try to be more responsible than the person named Trump. Please do.
I have no faith that James Comey will ever fully investigate the accuracy of this memo. And we cannot expect Trump's new security appointees to do anything. If this British agent was able to gather this information from his circle of informants, is it possible that HE could continue to investigate to verify the allegations? I, for one, would donate a large sum of money to any anti-Trump organization to pay this agent to continue his investigation and provide verification. He could provide the results of his investigation to the NY Times or Washington Post. Am I delusional?
1
Let's get our analogies straight. The Manchurian Candidate was brainwashed. Trump is the fully volitional Muscovy Candidate of the medieval tyrant Vlad the Impounder, who has skimmed an estimated $160 billion from Russian state enterprises since 2000 (http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cia-keeps-putins-secrets-1483488301). I suspect a President Trump will also find a way to impound money from Federal contracts in addition to the money he wants to impound from Mexican businesses to construct his wall. Call it a border tax, call it surtax, call it anything you like—it's no different than the kickbacks medieval tyrants (and modern mobsters) extort from business enterprise. Already, what he's done to Carrier, Lockheed and the auto industry is nothing less than extortion.
1
When it comes to his adoration of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump is either incredibly naive or acting like a man who has been blackmailed. The first option is worrisome enough, but the second is grounds for impeachable. There needs to be an independent, bipartisan investigation to ensure that the United States does not become a Russian satellite.
3
Two examples of Trump staying consistent on a topic: first questioning Obama's citizenship; second denying any malice or interference in the election from Putin. He finally had to acknowledge he was wrong in the first and made it sound like he was doing Obama a favor. At yesterday's press conference he finally acknowledged Russian hacking but soft pedaled it and shrugged it off.
3
If the President of Russia has the ability to blackmail the President of the United States, our national security is at serious risk. Russian possession of the means to blackmail Mr. Trump would go a long way towards explaining while Russia was interested in having Mr. Trump elected President -- Russia apparently had no comparable leverage over Ms. Clinton. If Mr. Putin has told Mr. Trump some of what he has, it would also go a long way towards explaining why Mr. Trump has said some of the bizarre pro-Russian things he's said -- like "Russia is not going to go into Ukraine" after Russia had done exactly that by invading Crimea. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue; it's a national security issue.
1
Rachel Meadow's excellent 01/11/2017 report on Exxon's, and thus most likely Tillerson's, strong incentives to end economic sanctions on Russia and thereby begin Exxon's capitalization on its huge investment in Russian exploration and drilling rights adds documention of how very strongly Tillerson would as Secretary of State be tend to serve Russian interests. The report's right on the Marco.
3
The Republicans made a huge ruckus over Hillary's private email server suggesting that she even risked national security. They combed through every detail of the server as well as thousands of emails that were exchanged among individuals-- all who had top secret clearance in the first place. The FBI found nothing that was worth even pursuing.
These allegations about Trump with credible sources can indeed threaten our national security if Trump is being manipulated by Russians with some tangible evidence of salacious behavior. This definitely requires more inquiry and investigation...what are the two-faced Republicans going to do now?
These allegations about Trump with credible sources can indeed threaten our national security if Trump is being manipulated by Russians with some tangible evidence of salacious behavior. This definitely requires more inquiry and investigation...what are the two-faced Republicans going to do now?
2
Trump appears to be very successful when it comes to building hotels and golf courses around the world, but his knowledge of the world is very limited. It's clear from his comments that his understanding of history, geography, and current events is very limited. Add that with his impetuosity he will continue to make ridiculous comments. In addition his bending of the truth and telling "pants on fire" lies will also not abate. We are in for a rock four years. Sad to say it most likely will not affect the beliefs of his core supporters. In his own words, "I could shoot someone on ........"
1
Trump is a habitual apologist for Putin. A good summary is here:
http://www.npr.org/2016/12/21/506302106/journalist-trump-seems-willfully...
Although putative sexual indiscretions make for lively copy, this doesn't seem to discourage his basket of deplorables. Nonethless we might know a great deal more regarding Russian hooks into Trump by seeing his taxes.
http://www.npr.org/2016/12/21/506302106/journalist-trump-seems-willfully...
Although putative sexual indiscretions make for lively copy, this doesn't seem to discourage his basket of deplorables. Nonethless we might know a great deal more regarding Russian hooks into Trump by seeing his taxes.
3
The push for an investigation has to come from the outside. Trump has no incentive to learn the truth and let it be broadly known. Such an investigation could only discredit him, preoccupy the country, and his presidency for at least the next four years.
And who on the outside could force such an investigation? Republicans? Having finally got what they've been seeking for a long time, they will feed, and stroke, and protect this Manchurian. America has a president it cannot get rid of under any circumstances.
And who on the outside could force such an investigation? Republicans? Having finally got what they've been seeking for a long time, they will feed, and stroke, and protect this Manchurian. America has a president it cannot get rid of under any circumstances.
2
America should immediately pursue proving or disproving this BuzzFeed report. It needs be resolved. A Panetta/Hayden commission would be an excellent solution but what are the chances?
I continue to wonder how many more accusations are forthcoming. This is not the way to run a country nor is Trump the man who should do it.
I continue to wonder how many more accusations are forthcoming. This is not the way to run a country nor is Trump the man who should do it.
4
If the tables were turned and Hillary Clinton had been propelled to victory in this past election with the verified help of an enemy foreign power... what then?
A doubtful, lukewarm promise of an investigation, an inauguration? I don't think so... President Obama needs to sacrifice an elegant departure or his legacy will be marred by letting democracy go down the drain. A week in the most powerful position on Earth, sould be enough, at the very least to seriously condemn the results of the election.
Isn't this so unbelievable worse than a lapse in judgement with an email server?
A doubtful, lukewarm promise of an investigation, an inauguration? I don't think so... President Obama needs to sacrifice an elegant departure or his legacy will be marred by letting democracy go down the drain. A week in the most powerful position on Earth, sould be enough, at the very least to seriously condemn the results of the election.
Isn't this so unbelievable worse than a lapse in judgement with an email server?
2
The NYT should add a paragraph in its excellent article on the dossier explaining that it refers only to the second report, the report on the dossier, not the report on the hacking and leaks to affect the election results. The hacking report is more credible and Boot is correct that people will conflate the two without regular clarification.
1
American Presidents are supposed to be puppets for American industries. As for Trump, as much as oppose his perspective, I would rather us have good relations with Russia than to have a President who is a puppet of our neocon cabal and NATO pushing us to the brink of nuclear annihilation.
The Times remains on board with the neocons in desperately pushing for a cold war revival. Is it the money?
The Times remains on board with the neocons in desperately pushing for a cold war revival. Is it the money?
I feel that the primary story is whether or not the Republican led House and Senate are going to be Trump's puppet. Right now, it looks like Donald is going to more so than less so have his way with the Republican Congress. The Trump Administration is poised to be the most corrupt in U.S. history, and expect very little resistance from the Republicans in Congress, which will in turn embolden Trump further. The fact is that they are to an individual scared to death to take on Trump after seeing what Trump did to Jeb, Ted and Marco. They are all afraid they will be tweeted out of office if they go after him. They are cowards.
2
We may be headed for another Watergate where some brave deepthroat from here or Russia or wherever leaks incriminating evidence - tax returns, video, whatever.
Remember the end of From Russia With Love? James Bond is in a boat with his Russian girlfriend, and he unspools the little film that Russian spies made of him and her in a hotel room, and he tosses it into the river. Here we go again! This is also the movie with Robert Shaw playing a Russian villain who looks just like Mike Pence.
Remember the end of From Russia With Love? James Bond is in a boat with his Russian girlfriend, and he unspools the little film that Russian spies made of him and her in a hotel room, and he tosses it into the river. Here we go again! This is also the movie with Robert Shaw playing a Russian villain who looks just like Mike Pence.
1
Call him the Siberian Candidate.
2
Smoke and mirrors indeed. But what really bothers me is the fact that our President-Elect has chosen a child to be his Senior Adviser - and not only a child, but a SIL. What he needs most of all is someone older with the experience of living through the Great Depression and WWII, who isn't afraid to disagree with him - to whom the trump should listen. But, alas, he is too ignorant to understand my advice.
4
I think we can dismiss any fears that Mr. Trump is an actual “Manchurian Candidate.” After all, no one in human history has ever uttered the phrase “Donald Trump is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.”
3
Yesterday, Sean Spicer said that Trump had never heard of Carter Page. Carter Page was one of Trump's "foreign policy advisers" and apparently has many fans in the Kremlin. So much for vetting. He appears to have worked for the campaign for about six months, a long time for a Trump campaign employee.
Did Trump let his campaign managers hire and fire people with no input from him? Did Trump send Sean Spicer out to lie for him, since he does know or know of Carter Page? Does Trump know how to Google people? Does he understand it's a skill most four year olds have mastered?
Why did we have to listen to Spicer, Pence, and the attorney at Trump's press conference? Did I miss the dancing girls? (I turned it off before it was over. I couldn't listen to Trump refer to himself in the third person any longer.)
The attorney read her report and it was fairly straightforward. The folders full of plain white paper were a nice touch. They are unrealistic in this era of electronic documents, but it may play in some parts of the US.
I don't agree with what the attorney said about a blind trust, as last I heard, George H.W. Bush was not living under a bridge begging for spare change. I don't particularly care for the Bush family, but #41 put his assets in a blind trust quickly, with no whining or claims he was above the law. Obviously, Bush 41 never publicly trashed the CIA.
Trump should have dealt with his finances in November. Just how many years of returns is the IRS auditing?
Did Trump let his campaign managers hire and fire people with no input from him? Did Trump send Sean Spicer out to lie for him, since he does know or know of Carter Page? Does Trump know how to Google people? Does he understand it's a skill most four year olds have mastered?
Why did we have to listen to Spicer, Pence, and the attorney at Trump's press conference? Did I miss the dancing girls? (I turned it off before it was over. I couldn't listen to Trump refer to himself in the third person any longer.)
The attorney read her report and it was fairly straightforward. The folders full of plain white paper were a nice touch. They are unrealistic in this era of electronic documents, but it may play in some parts of the US.
I don't agree with what the attorney said about a blind trust, as last I heard, George H.W. Bush was not living under a bridge begging for spare change. I don't particularly care for the Bush family, but #41 put his assets in a blind trust quickly, with no whining or claims he was above the law. Obviously, Bush 41 never publicly trashed the CIA.
Trump should have dealt with his finances in November. Just how many years of returns is the IRS auditing?
3
If "intelligence" is what you call that MI6 spy's ludicrous "report," then massive reform of the so-called "intelligence community" is totally in order and I hope President Trump takes a large axe to it. Shortly before he died, Daniel Patrick Moynihan told me that large scale agency restructure and overhaul was needed every 40 years or so, and that it was far overdue.
1
The Times & the Washington Post need to investigate this thoroughly. Just because Michael Cohen claims he's never been to Prague doesn't mean it's true. Simply showing his passport with no "Prague" stamp means nothing! My passport doesn't have "Prague" stamped in it either, & I was there for 3 days!
Here's why: Unless you're traveling to Prague via private jet, you never fly directly there. You fly into another major European city & then catch a connecting flight to Prague. In my case, I flew into Madrid, where I cleared customs, had my passport stamped “Madrid-Barajas” & caught a connecting flight. Upon landing in Prague, because of the 1995 Schengen agreement which abolished internal borders and allows unrestricted movement of people in most EU countries, I didn’t have to clear customs again & my passport was never stamped in the Czech Republic.
Then, if you travel on to Austria, Slovakia & Hungary (as I did) & return to the US from Budapest, your passport will be stamped “Ferihegy” (the airport in Budapest). But it won’t show any evidence of your ever being in Prague! So - once again - just because Michael Cohen’s passport isn’t stamped “Prague” doesn’t mean he wasn’t there!
Here's why: Unless you're traveling to Prague via private jet, you never fly directly there. You fly into another major European city & then catch a connecting flight to Prague. In my case, I flew into Madrid, where I cleared customs, had my passport stamped “Madrid-Barajas” & caught a connecting flight. Upon landing in Prague, because of the 1995 Schengen agreement which abolished internal borders and allows unrestricted movement of people in most EU countries, I didn’t have to clear customs again & my passport was never stamped in the Czech Republic.
Then, if you travel on to Austria, Slovakia & Hungary (as I did) & return to the US from Budapest, your passport will be stamped “Ferihegy” (the airport in Budapest). But it won’t show any evidence of your ever being in Prague! So - once again - just because Michael Cohen’s passport isn’t stamped “Prague” doesn’t mean he wasn’t there!
3
Until Trump voters care about the sea of garbage that swirls around Donald Trump, nothing will happen. And as of now, the Trump voters remain completely unfazed by his lies, misdemeanors, and conflicts of interest, as they were during his campaign. In example: the so-called participants of the Table of Knowledge, a self-named group of men who meet in a diner to discuss world affairs, is about a wrong a moniker as possible. A more accurate name would be the Table of Ignorance or the Ignorant Men of Iowa. Only when these kinds of voters decide to stop living in fantasy land will anything change. And the only thing that might move them from their false reality are thinner and thinner wallets. Until then, they will embrace every fiction possible to avoid facing the fact that the emperor they elected is really without clothes.
1
Here is a thought: Let's not waste our time asking Trump for his taxes, he weasles and whines around them for years now. Let's ask the Russian secret service to prove that there is no connection! After all, they both claim that there are no entanglements. "Russia, if your're listening, look for his taxes!" Perhaps his Russian award winning laywers could help you....
1
During the 9/26/16 presidential debate, Donald Trump’s statement on the DNC hacking was: “She's saying Russia, Russia, Russia, but I don't—maybe it was. I mean, it could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK?"
On 12/9/16, Trump’s transition team slammed the CIA after it concluded Russia intervened in the election; Trump’s transition team noted: “"These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.”
On 12/12/16. Trump then stated: “They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place. I mean, they have no idea.”
Then after being briefed last week by intelligence agencies, Trump responded yesterday: “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia. Hacking’s bad, and it shouldn’t be done. But look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking.”
This is Presidential material? This is how Trump manages serious issues? First, trash everyone under the sun, then say they were right but it’s good that it happened?
How can any foreign country rely on anything this guy ever says?
When he takes the helm next week, Trump will flip flop along, year after year, finger to the wind, on most every issue that drops on his desk. He will rely on people he trusts (i.e., his kids) to guide him. And that is truly scary.
God help us all with Trump at the helm of the US.
On 12/9/16, Trump’s transition team slammed the CIA after it concluded Russia intervened in the election; Trump’s transition team noted: “"These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.”
On 12/12/16. Trump then stated: “They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place. I mean, they have no idea.”
Then after being briefed last week by intelligence agencies, Trump responded yesterday: “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia. Hacking’s bad, and it shouldn’t be done. But look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking.”
This is Presidential material? This is how Trump manages serious issues? First, trash everyone under the sun, then say they were right but it’s good that it happened?
How can any foreign country rely on anything this guy ever says?
When he takes the helm next week, Trump will flip flop along, year after year, finger to the wind, on most every issue that drops on his desk. He will rely on people he trusts (i.e., his kids) to guide him. And that is truly scary.
God help us all with Trump at the helm of the US.
3
Yes.He is the Manchurian candidate/Kremlin candidate. Now, how many more red flags do we need to do something about it?
1
The President shouldn't be in charge of investigating himself. This is ridiculous. Don't we have checks and balances on Presidential power? One of the other 3 branches needs to instigate an investigation into Trump's dealing with the Russians. If Congress won't do it, then someone from the legal branch should do it. Loretta Lynch? James Comey? John Brennan? Anybody home?
1
You are kidding right? We just survived 8 years of a true "Manchurian Candidate" who actively worked to destroy this country and what we stand for. This Trump/Russia pap is just another construct "fake news" shovled out by your ilk. Of course it doesn't play in Iowa..or anywhere else outside of your ivory tower sancftuaries
1
On the contrary Mr. Boot it's your responsibility to put up or shut up with proof of these transparently absurd allegations.Because the Propaganda Department NYT/DNC provides you with a platform to denigrate the President-elect with unsubstantiated baloney doesn't lend you any credibility, in fact considering the unprecedented propaganda campaign engaged in by this newspaper for the last year in which any journalistic concept of fairness and honesty was trampled over in a rush to "get" Trump, Your innuendo rings very hollow indeed. Idle chatter is idle chatter whether in the National Enquirer of from the elite confines of a sinecure at a left wing think tank.
1
The real problems are never gong to be resolved with Trump in the White House. That goes for the cabinet members and the Congress. While this latest fiasco is extremely unsettling,it is taking the public's and the press's minds off of the actions that need to be taken We need adults in charge and there seems none are around. This is more of tragedy than unsubstantiated claims, which I have to admit, would not surprise me if they are true
When are the regular people going to be given a fair shake?
When are the regular people going to be given a fair shake?
We saw it coming.
We heard the warnings of respected foreign policy experts, well-regarded military experts, former presidents, countless editorial boards of national newspapers.
Prominent economists and leaders in finance and business. His fellow Republican primary candidates.
We saw the Russian ties, heard his fawning admiration of Putin and Wikileaks that continues to this day.
We watched him call on Russia to hack his opponent's emails on July 27th, the last day of his press conference, before he had yesterday's nightmare psychological extravaganza of ego and id.
We watched as he lined up staffers with clear ties to Moscow.
Alarmed by the addition of Michael Flynn, directly tied to Russia’s English-language propaganda outlet.
And Paul Manafort--adviser to the pro-Putin president of Ukraine.
His associate Rick Gates. The ubiquitous Roger Stone.
Carter Page-- adviser to the Russian state owned energy operation Gazprom.
Richard Burt, of the senior advisory board of Russia’s Alfa Bank.
Trump's registered server putting out mass email with one of two servers belonging to Alfa Bank.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryalbkov two days after our election said Russian government officials conferred with members of Donald Trump’s campaign team.
In interview with Russia's state-fun Interfax News, Ryalbkov specified “there were contacts” with the Trump team.
Neutered press, cable pundits and rural America---you've elected Russia's president.
We heard the warnings of respected foreign policy experts, well-regarded military experts, former presidents, countless editorial boards of national newspapers.
Prominent economists and leaders in finance and business. His fellow Republican primary candidates.
We saw the Russian ties, heard his fawning admiration of Putin and Wikileaks that continues to this day.
We watched him call on Russia to hack his opponent's emails on July 27th, the last day of his press conference, before he had yesterday's nightmare psychological extravaganza of ego and id.
We watched as he lined up staffers with clear ties to Moscow.
Alarmed by the addition of Michael Flynn, directly tied to Russia’s English-language propaganda outlet.
And Paul Manafort--adviser to the pro-Putin president of Ukraine.
His associate Rick Gates. The ubiquitous Roger Stone.
Carter Page-- adviser to the Russian state owned energy operation Gazprom.
Richard Burt, of the senior advisory board of Russia’s Alfa Bank.
Trump's registered server putting out mass email with one of two servers belonging to Alfa Bank.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryalbkov two days after our election said Russian government officials conferred with members of Donald Trump’s campaign team.
In interview with Russia's state-fun Interfax News, Ryalbkov specified “there were contacts” with the Trump team.
Neutered press, cable pundits and rural America---you've elected Russia's president.
2
Trump's love affair with Russia and Putin is indeed confounding, and Trump's refusal to believe the intelligence about Russian meddling in our election only elevates my suspicion that there is something to hide. We are not safe when our President is at war with our intelligence community. Let's hope some light is shed soon on what is really at the root of Trump's love of all things Russian at the expense of our national security.
This is ridiculous. We should not set up "Bipartisan Commisions" every time a paid opposition research group creates an unverified scandal report.
As to Michael Cohen, surely the FBI and State Department can determine whether or not he was in Prague on the dates alleged.
Putin must be laughing at us. First he leaked the DNC emails, which were embarrassing to HRC and the party. Now it looks like his operatives mislead an oppo research team, casting further doubt on Trump.
As to Michael Cohen, surely the FBI and State Department can determine whether or not he was in Prague on the dates alleged.
Putin must be laughing at us. First he leaked the DNC emails, which were embarrassing to HRC and the party. Now it looks like his operatives mislead an oppo research team, casting further doubt on Trump.
1
It is important the the consequences of electing Trump be felt throughout our society for as long as possible. I find it very entertaining.
1
You are wrong. He doesn't need to prove anything. What should happen though is that you neocons and neoliberals at the Council on Foreign Relations should stop trying to get us into a war with Russia.
2
Putin may be playing for far greater stakes than anyone realizes.
Maybe Putin's audacious goal is to re-establish Russia role as one of the great world powers, in fact THE world power through a move worthy of the greatest chess master (or in Putin's case Judo master) in history.
I've heard that Judo is fundamentally a sport which seeks to use your opponent's strength against themself or, in this case, themsetves. Right now, Russia's oppopnent(s) is today the United States and, obviously in the future, China. Realistically Russia, with its corrupt oil fueled economy and declining population is withering away and is completely outmatched by these two superpowers.
However. IF Putin can really control (or delude) Trump into doing something REALLY catastrophic he could leave Russia as the last country standing. What could that be? Well, if Putin is really playing for keeps, perhaps if at just the right moment he could inflame tensions between the two giants, they could "eliminate" each other. Of course by eliminate I'm talking about a conflict so big as to permanently cripple the U.S. and China. I'm talking nuclear war.
This is, of course, extremely far fetched and is riddled with gigantic risks for Putin also. Still, the idea of a Trump presidency a year ago was pretty far-fetched also.
Meet Trump, who (by provoking a conflict with China) would actually be the ANTI-Manchuria candidate.
Maybe Putin's audacious goal is to re-establish Russia role as one of the great world powers, in fact THE world power through a move worthy of the greatest chess master (or in Putin's case Judo master) in history.
I've heard that Judo is fundamentally a sport which seeks to use your opponent's strength against themself or, in this case, themsetves. Right now, Russia's oppopnent(s) is today the United States and, obviously in the future, China. Realistically Russia, with its corrupt oil fueled economy and declining population is withering away and is completely outmatched by these two superpowers.
However. IF Putin can really control (or delude) Trump into doing something REALLY catastrophic he could leave Russia as the last country standing. What could that be? Well, if Putin is really playing for keeps, perhaps if at just the right moment he could inflame tensions between the two giants, they could "eliminate" each other. Of course by eliminate I'm talking about a conflict so big as to permanently cripple the U.S. and China. I'm talking nuclear war.
This is, of course, extremely far fetched and is riddled with gigantic risks for Putin also. Still, the idea of a Trump presidency a year ago was pretty far-fetched also.
Meet Trump, who (by provoking a conflict with China) would actually be the ANTI-Manchuria candidate.
1
Has it occurred to anyone other than me that trump planted the possibly "fabricated" story of the shenanigans in Russia as a smokescreen to discredit any truths that may follow? Let's see how vigorously his minions unveil each untruth and in so doing whitewash real revelations that will invariably ensue in the coming months, if he lasts that long. Maybe Putin helped in that effort. Maybe it was Putin's idea. They do think alike.
2
Donald Trump continues to make powerful enemies of people whose names you will never know. Shadow people who work to keep our nation safe and who have a global reach that the buffoonish President Elect cannot fathom, apparently, as he continues to antagonize them. The reports that have emerged are the tip of the iceberg. His fall will be spectacular when all is said and done. His press conference has only galvanized his opposition.
2
There are two events I'm waiting for:
1) The day Trump discovers that Putin is not his friend.
2) The day Trump voters discover that he's not their friend.
Both are coming, sure as you're born.
1) The day Trump discovers that Putin is not his friend.
2) The day Trump voters discover that he's not their friend.
Both are coming, sure as you're born.
4
Your suggestion is all very nice, but the GOP has no stomach for such an investigation. While their ideas are not supported by any but a modest minority of Americans, they have control of both chambers of Congress and the Presidency through wonton fraud perpetrated over two generations. The party has shown that ANY means are justified by their ENDS.
Also, the likely outcome of impeachment and removal would be devastating for the party with so many of its members who lacked the courage to stand up to Comrade Trump in the first place likely to be hurt. Someone should write a follow up book to Kennedy's called "Profiles in Cowardice."
Also, the likely outcome of impeachment and removal would be devastating for the party with so many of its members who lacked the courage to stand up to Comrade Trump in the first place likely to be hurt. Someone should write a follow up book to Kennedy's called "Profiles in Cowardice."
2
We'll find that Trump has a warm spot in his heart not only for Putin, but for all autocrats (his role models). His supporters in the red states would welcome autocracy in exchange for promised security. But he'll disappoint them on the later.
Does anyone really think that Trump cares about proving to Max Boot et al that he is not beholden to Putin?
Trump cares about getting his agenda enacted, whatever that is, and how it changes the country.
Boot still acts as if the President needs to kiss the media establishment ring. That is long gone with this election.
Trump cares about getting his agenda enacted, whatever that is, and how it changes the country.
Boot still acts as if the President needs to kiss the media establishment ring. That is long gone with this election.
1
As much as I (almost violently) disapprove of Donald Trump, I really hope he doesn't get impeached. The prospect of having Mike Pence as POTUS is thoroughly horrifying. Everyone who isn't a carbon copy of Mike Pence, or who doesn't agree with his literally medieval leanings, will suffer.
1
I think you meant Man{afort}churian Candidate.
1
Mr. Boot sums up the situation exceedingly well in a few words:
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
Precisely.
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
Precisely.
1
I remember reading an article a while ago about dealing with Putin. It made reference to the game of chess; All moves carefully calculated. Hearing and reading about these reports coming to surface "fit" this simile for He is setting up this game board to win. Vladimir Putin's ultimate goal is to reclaim for Russia the respect and status the Soviet Union once commanded. Putin will patiently wait, watching Trump's every action. The winning chess piece Putin hopes to shout "Checkmate" with are these reports. Yes, Mr Trump is compromised
The still functioning government should postpone any installation of a patently unfit candidate, who now is under suspicion of treasonous behaviour and subordination to a foreign power, until the matter is fully investigated.
In fact, the election was, so far as it is at all possible to know, deeply tainted and should be declared void; a repeat effort, now perhaps with less superficial media coverage, could be held in less than six months. Austria could do it, why not the US?
In fact, the election was, so far as it is at all possible to know, deeply tainted and should be declared void; a repeat effort, now perhaps with less superficial media coverage, could be held in less than six months. Austria could do it, why not the US?
2
Mr. Progressive Person, I just read a report that you are a child molester. The report is unverified but the burdon of proof is in on you to disprove the claim. In the mean time I am going to tell the world about the report.
So you want Trump to prove a negative. Now that the left has run out of legitimate incidents or facts in it's feeble efforts to bring Trump down, it resorts to this pathetic tactic. Prove a negative. Really?
So you want Trump to prove a negative. Now that the left has run out of legitimate incidents or facts in it's feeble efforts to bring Trump down, it resorts to this pathetic tactic. Prove a negative. Really?
1
excuse me... what do you think people in the intel business around the world do?? Of course each and every agency in each country collects material that is potentially equipped to blackmail or damage someone for foreigners and also for internal purposes. CIA, FBI, NSA and all the rest also have files for any number of russians and peoples of other countries... sounds like readers think its kindergarten in the agencies...
The Trump Administration is from this point forward forever marred. Not by just this revelation many that have come before and many more soon to come. One can just hope that this nightmare ends as soon as it can.
1
Hard to believe that Trump would fall for a prostitute in a Moscow hotel. Most American males who stay alone in a hotel room in Russia receive room service calls offering hookers whether they sought them out or not. You are NEVER alone in a Russian hotel. Please, Donald, don't tell me you were that stupid.
2
a neat trip from speculation to the times' lead story..."Now, after the most contentious of elections, Americans are divided and confused about what to believe about the incoming president."
just what the russians are after, abetted by its chief usa propaganda tool (cnn a close second to the times in this) and gullible conduits like mccain and feckless intel leadership, that continues to contribute to the erosion of trust that has already diminished the craft's value to national security and tarnished the reputations of the cadres who work daily to collect, analyze and find the realities in the images and sounds of a fun-house hall of mirrors.
seeing the usa slip from its ww2 and cold war intel skill and watching the party of the people become a right-center establishment guard dog
are far more painful to one old lefty vet than anything trump has actually done to date.
if democracy is an arrow, to bend a russian proverb, the presidency is the arrowhead...we blunt it at our peril.
just what the russians are after, abetted by its chief usa propaganda tool (cnn a close second to the times in this) and gullible conduits like mccain and feckless intel leadership, that continues to contribute to the erosion of trust that has already diminished the craft's value to national security and tarnished the reputations of the cadres who work daily to collect, analyze and find the realities in the images and sounds of a fun-house hall of mirrors.
seeing the usa slip from its ww2 and cold war intel skill and watching the party of the people become a right-center establishment guard dog
are far more painful to one old lefty vet than anything trump has actually done to date.
if democracy is an arrow, to bend a russian proverb, the presidency is the arrowhead...we blunt it at our peril.
1
I sure that President to be Trump will clear this ip promptly by investigating Benghazi and those Emails!
My fear for America has now gone into a deep depression, although not over the election of The Donald, whose qualifications and temperament are reasonably in question. Rather, The New York TImes in both its news and editorial pages, large segments of the Democratic Party, and of course America's own royalty, Hollywood, seems to be hoping, praying, and working so earnestly for a Trump failure, that they seem not to care what happens to the people of this country, as long as they can bring Trump down. At least it's better than the results of the 1860 election: 11 states left the Union over that one.
1
Ah yes proving a negative
Thank you NYT
Putin has come to America, but not via Trump, via the Left
Thank you NYT
Putin has come to America, but not via Trump, via the Left
1
Max, we are in the post-Clinton era of sexual blackmail. When Bill Clinton was revealed to be an abusive, serial philanderer the press and his own political party realized that this blunt instrument lost some of its power. And when President Clinton was put under oath, he was denying not just affairs with what we would consider poorly-chosen but consenting adults, we learned he was engaging in oral sex in the White House with an intern.
The effect of that revelation was that we moved the "foul line" out several yards, and certain whisperings, like JFK is a womanizer and boyfriend of Marilyn Monroe, is overtaken by truly salacious (and, for some, distressing) behavior in our once-moral standard, the POTUS.
Last year, Donald Trump was surreptitiously filmed and leaked to the press his juvenile boasts about grabbing women and taking sexual liberties due to his power. At this point, our reference is not Abraham Lincoln but all of the men who preceded him. Our national leader looks more like a Silvio Berlusconi than Barack Obama, a cad rather than an upstanding man, leader, husband, and father of impressionable children.
Do we really care what a thrice-married former playboy does outside work now? Melania doesn't seem to have the same purity standards or she would have stepped away from this man years ago.
Blackmail only holds power when it reveals damning evidence about the target. Our lower standards, and Trump's acknowledged history, render this "fake news" as Trump said.
The effect of that revelation was that we moved the "foul line" out several yards, and certain whisperings, like JFK is a womanizer and boyfriend of Marilyn Monroe, is overtaken by truly salacious (and, for some, distressing) behavior in our once-moral standard, the POTUS.
Last year, Donald Trump was surreptitiously filmed and leaked to the press his juvenile boasts about grabbing women and taking sexual liberties due to his power. At this point, our reference is not Abraham Lincoln but all of the men who preceded him. Our national leader looks more like a Silvio Berlusconi than Barack Obama, a cad rather than an upstanding man, leader, husband, and father of impressionable children.
Do we really care what a thrice-married former playboy does outside work now? Melania doesn't seem to have the same purity standards or she would have stepped away from this man years ago.
Blackmail only holds power when it reveals damning evidence about the target. Our lower standards, and Trump's acknowledged history, render this "fake news" as Trump said.
2
One must only hope that competent conspiracy theorists on the left are as successful with this one as were the birthers and Islamaphobes who, no matter how many times Obama proclaimed his Christian faith in public, still held he was a closet Muslim.
Trump has to prove he is not Putin's puppet? No, that's not the way it works. The accuser has to prove. That's the American system.
1
You JUST can’t make these things up anymore.....
„Donald Trump’s legal team ‘won Russia Law Firm of the Year award’“
"A law firm employed by Donald Trump to help prepare him for the White House won a ‘Russia Law Firm of the Year’ award last year, it has emerged.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius were employed to “isolate” the US President-elect from his business ventures ahead of his inauguration on January 20.
According to the website of Chambers and Partners, which runs an annual awards ceremony to “celebrate excellence in the legal profession”, Mr Trump’s lawyers won the prize for their business activities in Russia in 2016."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-president-...
...IT is a duck!!!
„Donald Trump’s legal team ‘won Russia Law Firm of the Year award’“
"A law firm employed by Donald Trump to help prepare him for the White House won a ‘Russia Law Firm of the Year’ award last year, it has emerged.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius were employed to “isolate” the US President-elect from his business ventures ahead of his inauguration on January 20.
According to the website of Chambers and Partners, which runs an annual awards ceremony to “celebrate excellence in the legal profession”, Mr Trump’s lawyers won the prize for their business activities in Russia in 2016."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-president-...
...IT is a duck!!!
As our Titanic ship of state founders, Trump's orchestra will play "Nearer, My Bawd To Thee."
"It is worrisome that this material was published by BuzzFeed......." Really? Well now that Buzzfeed has made this "serious mistake" and broken the ice so to speak, the NYT and its editorial board and opinion writers waste no time jumping right in and putting the damaging and unreliable material on its front page, in its editorials and throughout its columns. And you get to claim the high ground over Buzzfeed too. How perfect is that!
And you are concerned that "the questionable character of this dossier can be used to impugn the integrity of the American intelligence community". Seems to me the first concern would be the harm to the PEOTUS.
But anyway, now that it is out there, lets get on with it then, shall we? "Just because the allegations are unproven, however, does not mean they are all false." LOL, that is a good one. Buzzfeed just published the stuff because it was in the background of all reporting by the major media, it was the basis for all the innuendo, the suggestions of "what has Trump got to hide?" and "what does Putin have on Trump?". So the NYT you can't publish the unverified information, that would clearly be wrong, beneath you, but you can sure use it to color all your reporting and opinions.
And you are concerned that "the questionable character of this dossier can be used to impugn the integrity of the American intelligence community". Seems to me the first concern would be the harm to the PEOTUS.
But anyway, now that it is out there, lets get on with it then, shall we? "Just because the allegations are unproven, however, does not mean they are all false." LOL, that is a good one. Buzzfeed just published the stuff because it was in the background of all reporting by the major media, it was the basis for all the innuendo, the suggestions of "what has Trump got to hide?" and "what does Putin have on Trump?". So the NYT you can't publish the unverified information, that would clearly be wrong, beneath you, but you can sure use it to color all your reporting and opinions.
1
A deep cover russian agent. Like Philby in the UK or the Rosenberg's or Hiss in the US. Frighting.
1
Trump is right - the only people who care about the Russian connection is the 'media', who or what ever they are. The Iowans are going about their business of watching pork belly (what is a pork belly anyway?) prices.
I say give him a chance. He is not even president yet and already he has saved thousands of good jobs and had cancelled at least one big auto pant in Mexico and has stopped the wonderful congress from closing down the ethics (wow, ethics and congress in the same sentence) committee.
I say give him a chance. He is not even president yet and already he has saved thousands of good jobs and had cancelled at least one big auto pant in Mexico and has stopped the wonderful congress from closing down the ethics (wow, ethics and congress in the same sentence) committee.
1
Instead of the Queen of Hearts as a trigger to unlock the Manchurian Candidate as in the classic film, does the salacious publication from Buzzfeed suggest from Mr. Trump it is the Queen of Tarts?
People keep talking about releasing the tax returns. I'm sure someone in CIA (and maybe FBI) already has them. If they can't hack the IRS they're pretty worthless. (Petty crooks in Florida hack the IRS.) So the question is when does this information get out, not if; and whether the tax return package comes complete in a box with a ribbon (that is to say, additional research on the overseas interests).
Reading the WSJ comments section is very instructive, because to those readers, this all obviously fabrication, and everything that comes out will be fabrication. BUT, can you *imagine* the response if these kinds of documents hard surfaced about HRC?
Reading the WSJ comments section is very instructive, because to those readers, this all obviously fabrication, and everything that comes out will be fabrication. BUT, can you *imagine* the response if these kinds of documents hard surfaced about HRC?
1
It seems highly likely that Russia bought Trump not with blackmail, but with money poured into his various business deals. What could be better for Russian oligarchs? The potential for profits and an alliance with someone who had a reputation as a deal maker and, on top of that, create a hold on someone who had aspirations to jack into the American political system? Now, those investments are paying off, big time.
The potential for strident blackmail would be kept in the background, the same way J. Edgar Hoover is known to have blackmailed American presidents by keeping files that could have destroyed their careers, reputations and lives. Take on Hoover and you would risk destroying yourself, not a happy choice, so he stayed in power at the FBI until his heart stopped beating. Recognizing the latent power, current FBI directors are limited to ten yr. terms.
There seems no doubt that Putin has his hooks in Trump as deep as they can go. (Cue: Kellyanne Conway: "The voters knew he was Putin's puppet when they voted for him, so what's the problem?") What can we do about it? Answer: almost nothing except to stay vigilant and wait for Trump to fall on his face by his own actions.
The Republican Congress is in the bag, ready to use Trump for their own ends. There is no explicit law prohibiting a president from having "friends" in hostile powers. With all our checks and balances, the presidency retains some aspects of being a king and the Electoral College served this one up.
The potential for strident blackmail would be kept in the background, the same way J. Edgar Hoover is known to have blackmailed American presidents by keeping files that could have destroyed their careers, reputations and lives. Take on Hoover and you would risk destroying yourself, not a happy choice, so he stayed in power at the FBI until his heart stopped beating. Recognizing the latent power, current FBI directors are limited to ten yr. terms.
There seems no doubt that Putin has his hooks in Trump as deep as they can go. (Cue: Kellyanne Conway: "The voters knew he was Putin's puppet when they voted for him, so what's the problem?") What can we do about it? Answer: almost nothing except to stay vigilant and wait for Trump to fall on his face by his own actions.
The Republican Congress is in the bag, ready to use Trump for their own ends. There is no explicit law prohibiting a president from having "friends" in hostile powers. With all our checks and balances, the presidency retains some aspects of being a king and the Electoral College served this one up.
1
American's thrive on Competition.
If there's none,create one,even if it is imaginary one.
A bogey man has to be there to blame for everything,beginning from increase in Fenfantyl usage to rising teenage pregnancies to Climate Changes that makes Vineyards in Sonoma droop leftwards to the accusations that the elections have indeed elected an Putin Protege straight from Kremlin into Oval Office.
It's been an age since the original bogey nation Soviet Union collapsed leaving an extraordinary vacuum in the life's of policy makers and lay men & women,to blame.
Those days of Vacuum is over,we have an new bogey man "PUTIN" and his never ending vile machinations that seems to keep everybody awake and busy both off and on the Capitol Hills.Specially in the intelligence community.
Welcome to the new era of imaginary bogeyman,Welcome to the era of "SORE" LOSERS who need imaginary bogeyman to justify the loss in election.
If there's none,create one,even if it is imaginary one.
A bogey man has to be there to blame for everything,beginning from increase in Fenfantyl usage to rising teenage pregnancies to Climate Changes that makes Vineyards in Sonoma droop leftwards to the accusations that the elections have indeed elected an Putin Protege straight from Kremlin into Oval Office.
It's been an age since the original bogey nation Soviet Union collapsed leaving an extraordinary vacuum in the life's of policy makers and lay men & women,to blame.
Those days of Vacuum is over,we have an new bogey man "PUTIN" and his never ending vile machinations that seems to keep everybody awake and busy both off and on the Capitol Hills.Specially in the intelligence community.
Welcome to the new era of imaginary bogeyman,Welcome to the era of "SORE" LOSERS who need imaginary bogeyman to justify the loss in election.
1
Manchurian candidate? Perhaps. But a very bad Manchurian candidate. It's as if Lawrence Harvey (or Liev Schreiber if you prefer the later version) had said, 'Mao is a much better leader than our president'. Hardly deep cover.
Why would the Russian bother doing anything regarding America? They don't have to. We are tearing the country apart just fine without any help from them.
2
What's Ken Starr doing these days? Perhaps he would be interested in his own rehabilitation by leading the effort here.
Whoever does it, it will be necessary to uncover whatever is the real truth behind these allegations in very short order, or the Trump presidency will accomplish little if anything positive for the American people.
I, for one, was extremely disappointed in his election, and anticipated that his rise to power would result in a series of scandals; it is truly amazing though that he is not even out of the starting gate and we are already in a state of serious turmoil. God help us.
Whoever does it, it will be necessary to uncover whatever is the real truth behind these allegations in very short order, or the Trump presidency will accomplish little if anything positive for the American people.
I, for one, was extremely disappointed in his election, and anticipated that his rise to power would result in a series of scandals; it is truly amazing though that he is not even out of the starting gate and we are already in a state of serious turmoil. God help us.
It's unfortunate that we're living in a time where "real facts" don't seem to matter. This is extremely dangerous! We have basically two camps of thought and ideology with neither side willing to listen or believe the other. When I look back to my own political journey starting with the election of John Kennedy, I voted for the first time Republican. Yes, I voted for Nixon. Four years later as an entertainer in Atlantic City during the Democratic National Converntion, I was campaigning for Barry Goldwater. A few years later, I became a Democrat and flew with Robert Kennedy along with my singing partner Errol Sober to Binginton New York to perform right before he announced his candidacy for President. The weather was so bad in Binghamton that we had to land in Syracuse NY and bus back to Binghamton. By the time we got there, it was running so late that Errol & I didn't have a chance to perform but we did sit with Robert Kennedy and the three of us sang all the way back to Syracuse. Why am I bringing all this up? To show the passion for politics that so many of us really felt in the late 60's. After his assignation I dropped out of politics completely until Bill Clinton where it got sparked once again.
Enter Donald Trump; the most dangerous presidential candidate we've ever had. Someone who is capable of tearing our country apart. Think that's not possible? Just keep standing on the sidelines without acting! Facts matter! ACT!!!
Enter Donald Trump; the most dangerous presidential candidate we've ever had. Someone who is capable of tearing our country apart. Think that's not possible? Just keep standing on the sidelines without acting! Facts matter! ACT!!!
Max-
You are just plain misreading this trump guy. you are just plain misreading him.
You are just plain misreading this trump guy. you are just plain misreading him.
2
The problem in the country (among others) is that the Republicans lack the honesty and moral fibre to pursue the national interest and insist on making everything partisan. The result: Trump and up to four years of crises culminating in an impeachment and serious damage to the US across the board. The US needs major political reform, the system is broken.But then that is not really news.
2
Agree 100% on the need for such a commission--but will it happen? Also, Trump appears to have frightened the media into running form the accusations. He is trying to push away talk of the camping yes with Russia by doubling down on the idea that the accusation are "fall" simply because they are as yet unproven. But what the intel community knows about links between the campaign and the Russians, we do not know. Someone better act fast, because Trump' cronies will be incredible repressive very quickly. I don't think we realize that. Did anyone notice Chris Matthews lat night? The usually feisty Matthews kept shouting that the document was marked "disinformation" and angrily scolding the media for having the temerity to deal with these issues. These are scary times and the courage of every American will be tested. Stand up to the bully or he will roll our democracy.
3
The key sentence here is: "Appoint a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission to investigate all of the allegations and issue a public report."
1
The DNC should release all the opposition research it has. The Russians already know it and may be using it to blackmail any or all of the 19 GOP presidential candidates.
It's time to disarm them.
It's time to disarm them.
3
Dear Republicans ~
After he's gotten settled into his West Wing office, will you okay Mr. Putin's request that his pal Assad get the office right next to his?
After he's gotten settled into his West Wing office, will you okay Mr. Putin's request that his pal Assad get the office right next to his?
3
We need to keep focus on the non-denial denial, the denial that admits nothing and proves nothing. Trump's denial of a Russian connection is such and in so many words he's simply said what's alleged is unprovable thanks to the unfree Dom of information in Russia. But this only goes so far. Trump has set a course of self-destruction by a thousand paper cuts.
1
That Steele’s contacts are plausibale at the least, appears obvious as he worked for years as an MI6 operative in Russia. However it seems that remarkably many threads keep coming back to the FBI, which seems to be only shooting from the hip only when it concerns Clinton. Comey appears to be completly deaf on his Trump ear.....what does "Kompromat" have on him?
„The Reuters news agency, citing former British intelligence officials, said Steele spent years working for MI6 in Russia and Paris, and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.“
„Eventually he began dealing with the FBI regarding the dossier, sources told Reuters, but he became frustrated at the bureau’s slow progress and cut off contact. The material then circulated in political and media circles before ultimately making its way into the public domain.“
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/12/christopher-steele-ex-mi...
„The Reuters news agency, citing former British intelligence officials, said Steele spent years working for MI6 in Russia and Paris, and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.“
„Eventually he began dealing with the FBI regarding the dossier, sources told Reuters, but he became frustrated at the bureau’s slow progress and cut off contact. The material then circulated in political and media circles before ultimately making its way into the public domain.“
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/12/christopher-steele-ex-mi...
2
Why will Trump not acknowledge Putin is our evil adversary?
Follow the money.
We know Trump did not expect to win. Running for President was a brand building adventure.
Well, now that Trump has won the Presidency, the First Dealmaker can see how easy it is to, say, skim 10% off an Exxon/Russian oil deal and get out of Dodge with another $50 billion.
So what if he gets impeached?
Trump probably figures the chances of going to jail are slim. And what father wouldn’t take risks and sacrifice himself for the good of his children and grandchildren?
A relationship with Putin is worth hundreds of billions of dollars to the Trump legacy — perhaps making Trump the richest man in the world.
Imagine gas stations across the world with the sign, TRUMP OIL -- his lubricious smile beaming down at you.
That’s heady stuff for a narcissist.
But you can’t rape a whole country by yourself. It requires comrades. Who else knows how to privatize public property on a massive scale?
You guessed it.
My question: If a kleptocracy is forming before our eyes — which requires a lot of squid ink to mask what’s happening — why aren't we treating Trump as the “Catch Me If You Can” crook and con artist that he is?
Because somewhere inside a dozen Russian nesting dolls, there is a Dacha for Donald.
Follow the money.
We know Trump did not expect to win. Running for President was a brand building adventure.
Well, now that Trump has won the Presidency, the First Dealmaker can see how easy it is to, say, skim 10% off an Exxon/Russian oil deal and get out of Dodge with another $50 billion.
So what if he gets impeached?
Trump probably figures the chances of going to jail are slim. And what father wouldn’t take risks and sacrifice himself for the good of his children and grandchildren?
A relationship with Putin is worth hundreds of billions of dollars to the Trump legacy — perhaps making Trump the richest man in the world.
Imagine gas stations across the world with the sign, TRUMP OIL -- his lubricious smile beaming down at you.
That’s heady stuff for a narcissist.
But you can’t rape a whole country by yourself. It requires comrades. Who else knows how to privatize public property on a massive scale?
You guessed it.
My question: If a kleptocracy is forming before our eyes — which requires a lot of squid ink to mask what’s happening — why aren't we treating Trump as the “Catch Me If You Can” crook and con artist that he is?
Because somewhere inside a dozen Russian nesting dolls, there is a Dacha for Donald.
2
Remember you heard if first here: Trump will be gone in 18 months, max. Like a polar bear on an ice floe, his support is melting. As the number of people who don't think he is crazy shrinks, he will shortly be left with Conway, Lord, and Spicer, who are probably self-serving enough that they will curry down the ratlines before the waterline reaches Trump's toupee. Every day he throws a monkey wrench into GOP plans and trashes their brand, as they vacillate between collusion with his lunacy and horror at his latest outrage. Republican conservatism is too widely unpopular to survive without a Trojan Horse peddling racism and sexism, or Trump would never have been nominated, but the horse can't be broken. Fortunately, all the GOP has to do is pick one of his many impeachable offenses, both newly discovered and newly minted, and poof, Mike "Just-Tell-Me-What-I-Think" Pence, will be their new tool, far less entertaining than Trump, but much more pliable and, arguably, sane.
1
Will WWIII satisfy you?
3
Putin, Trump and Tillerson stand to divvy up $500,000,000,000 in Russian oil proceeds. That's 500 billion. Half a trillion. The only thing standing in their way is Marco Rubio. Will they buy him off? Follow the money!
2
Just what we need. Another committee to investigate false salacious unfounded anonymous fake news!
Mr. Boot must be a Clinton sympathizer looking to undermine the President Elect with rag sheet headline "news".
Stick to your knitting Mr. Boot, stick to your knitting!
Mr. Boot must be a Clinton sympathizer looking to undermine the President Elect with rag sheet headline "news".
Stick to your knitting Mr. Boot, stick to your knitting!
2
"Just because the allegations are unproven, however, does not mean they are all false."
Max Boot is channeling his favorite Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld: "The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."
But I wonder why Boot forgot to remind readers that Rumsfeld loved Boot's clarion call to go to war in Iraq in 2003, even though there was zip evidence that Saddam had WMD, and that Trump denounced Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld --and flacks like Boot -- during the Republican primaries last summer?
Max Boot is channeling his favorite Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld: "The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."
But I wonder why Boot forgot to remind readers that Rumsfeld loved Boot's clarion call to go to war in Iraq in 2003, even though there was zip evidence that Saddam had WMD, and that Trump denounced Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld --and flacks like Boot -- during the Republican primaries last summer?
2
Imagine what they would be saying about Clinton if she were elected. What I can't figure out why the left is so anti Russia anti Putin ( he isn't as modern as say Germany with LBGTQ issues?) or why fell in love the US intelegence community which has always been the paragon of truth aND virtue with the American people.
At the press conference Trump made some comments about bringing down the cost of medicine and was negative about big pharmaceutical companies. What's more important? The price of medical care or Trump's alleged urolagnia?
When Megan, CNN, the intelligence community, the pompous press and a very confused left attack Trump he's supposed to cower and beg for forgiveness. That isn't what he was elected to do.
At the press conference Trump made some comments about bringing down the cost of medicine and was negative about big pharmaceutical companies. What's more important? The price of medical care or Trump's alleged urolagnia?
When Megan, CNN, the intelligence community, the pompous press and a very confused left attack Trump he's supposed to cower and beg for forgiveness. That isn't what he was elected to do.
1
Republican hypocrisy is reaching epic levels from which there is no return. Imagine how they would react to such stories about a democrat. They would be calling for resignation, impeachment and shut down everything. The democrats should do the same. This all began months ago with the disclosures about Manafort, who was quickly dismissed. The American people cannot trust a single word that comes out of Trump's mouth, that has been clear for a while. Now we know why he cannot be trusted.
How does one verify when Russia uses the tactics of the USSR and makes sure no one will testify to the truth of certain incidents?
Trump is entitled to his opinions, but (a) his love affair with Putin has yet to be explained by any concrete realities, and (b) the fact that he doesn't seem to want any of this investigated is suspicious. (Yes, he may simply be too stupid to realize that, but if so, he's also to stupid to be president.)
If people weren't concerned before, they should be now: A plausible explanation has been presented for Trump's inexplicable positions. It fits his character; it fits his business interests; it fits his actions. It needs investigation—NOW.
Trump is entitled to his opinions, but (a) his love affair with Putin has yet to be explained by any concrete realities, and (b) the fact that he doesn't seem to want any of this investigated is suspicious. (Yes, he may simply be too stupid to realize that, but if so, he's also to stupid to be president.)
If people weren't concerned before, they should be now: A plausible explanation has been presented for Trump's inexplicable positions. It fits his character; it fits his business interests; it fits his actions. It needs investigation—NOW.
It isn't hard to imagine a man with no morals being compromised.
3
The word onus implies responsibility. Mr. Trump does not accept the concept of responsibility as it applies to himself.
For example, the onus was also on Mr. Trump to release tax returns to clarify sources of income and conflicts of interest. He refused that responsibility as well.
Now that he is about to become the president of all of us, not just the gullible voters who ignored his rejection of responsibility, his feet need to be held to the fire. The real media must rise to the occasion.
For example, the onus was also on Mr. Trump to release tax returns to clarify sources of income and conflicts of interest. He refused that responsibility as well.
Now that he is about to become the president of all of us, not just the gullible voters who ignored his rejection of responsibility, his feet need to be held to the fire. The real media must rise to the occasion.
2
The outrage coming from Trump is pathetic. This is a guy who spewed fake news that was demonstrably false and unverified for at least four years about a sitting President, Barack Obama. How soon he forgets his "birther" accusations claiming without an iota of truth that Obama was born in Kenya. AND THE PRESS COVERED IT! Where was the moral outrage and self control of the press then?
1
So tireless cold warrior Max Boot is warning about Trump. Yawn.
Remind me again where YOU were born, Max? Oh, right, in Moscow, Russia. And whom exactly are you serving with your endless cheerleading of military action?
Remind me again where YOU were born, Max? Oh, right, in Moscow, Russia. And whom exactly are you serving with your endless cheerleading of military action?
1
#Another Unfair Editorial by NY Times, Sad!
That is what Trump will tweet to his 17 million followers whose primary news source is: Trump Tweets.
So, thanks for a balanced examination of Trump's behavior to Putin, which, anyone with one eye and two deaf ears can perceive.
But, those who only perceive through Trump Tweets? Well, that would be the: US Electorate.
That is what Trump will tweet to his 17 million followers whose primary news source is: Trump Tweets.
So, thanks for a balanced examination of Trump's behavior to Putin, which, anyone with one eye and two deaf ears can perceive.
But, those who only perceive through Trump Tweets? Well, that would be the: US Electorate.
It is very disappointing that the press has not insisted on an explanation as to how and why Donald Trump's son can make the statements he did about Russian revenue coming into the Trump organization, at the same time that Mr. Trump denies Russian dealings....very strange .....please keep digging
2
Other governments will stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust Trump or the GOP.
The GOP has been reckless and its far right ideology that attacks the federal government is verging on treason. Who will enforce our Constitution and laws? Trump is unfit for this task and his cabinet calls him their "boss". This will not work.
The GOP has been reckless and its far right ideology that attacks the federal government is verging on treason. Who will enforce our Constitution and laws? Trump is unfit for this task and his cabinet calls him their "boss". This will not work.
Follow the money.
Mr. Trump should have released his tax returns and disclosed his business ties to all foreign countries.
Mr. Trump should have released his tax returns and disclosed his business ties to all foreign countries.
The Putin Playbook:
Step 1: come to a secret financial agreement with Mr. Trump
Step 2: get the hackers to work on the U S Election
Step 3: remind Mr. Trump of whom the nominee for Sec. of State is to be
Step 4: wait a few months after the election
Step 5: announce some "breakthrough" in U.S.-Russian relations after showy
but convincing "negotiations" with the State Dept./President
Step 6: receive notice that the U.S. has lifted some sanctions (the one that
prevents U.S. oil companies from drilling in Russia is key)
Step 7: welcome the Exxon/Mobil drilling teams: that company invested
BILLIONS for the exploration rights to 63.1 million acres of Russian
territory
Step 8: learn how to count to a trillion, and how to divide that with "friends"
Step 1: come to a secret financial agreement with Mr. Trump
Step 2: get the hackers to work on the U S Election
Step 3: remind Mr. Trump of whom the nominee for Sec. of State is to be
Step 4: wait a few months after the election
Step 5: announce some "breakthrough" in U.S.-Russian relations after showy
but convincing "negotiations" with the State Dept./President
Step 6: receive notice that the U.S. has lifted some sanctions (the one that
prevents U.S. oil companies from drilling in Russia is key)
Step 7: welcome the Exxon/Mobil drilling teams: that company invested
BILLIONS for the exploration rights to 63.1 million acres of Russian
territory
Step 8: learn how to count to a trillion, and how to divide that with "friends"
1
Donald J Trump "is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."
1
Pence is the Manchurian candidate. While Dear Leader provides the distractions, the GOP will destroy as much as they can before Trump is impeached. As long as their taxes are cut, anything goes. When Trump goes, their man Pence is ready. He is very predictable, and equally scary.
2
I feel sorry for anyone victim of false accusations, innuendos, fabrications, slanders et all. But considering that Mr. Trump has accused for several years president Obama of being a Muslim, not even born in America, I suppose that this is his Karma.
2
Tough call for this one: We have decide who is telling the truth about the dossier by choosing between a) a guy with a track record of pathological lying who calls the reports about his compromise by Russian blackmailers a "witch hunt", b) a government who refers to the reports as "outrageous drivel" which also happens to be the government standing to benefit immensely from having their man in charge of another nation, and c) a trusted intelligence agent who continued working on this investigative dossier with no compensation because he was so shocked by what he was finding. Hmmm, tough call.
2
Compare Obama's speech with the absurd, embarrassing, offensive spectacle that Trump called a "press conference." Paid staffers clapped and cheered as he called CNN "fake news" and rejected questions from its reporters. He again refused to admit undeniable conflicts of interest or Russian business dealings. He won't release his tax returns, so we can't know who he owes money to. He actually said this: "The only ones who care about my tax returns are the reporters. I became president.” This is going to be a very long four years!
1
The president elect should be prevented from taking office until this matter is investigated.
His undisclosed financial ties to Russia are a deal breaker for anyone with common reason or a sense of decency.
His undisclosed financial ties to Russia are a deal breaker for anyone with common reason or a sense of decency.
For anyone who reads widely and has been connecting the many dots, the 35 page Intel report came as no surprise. This is beyond politics- we demand an immediate (commencing this week) Independent Commission with subpoena powers to investigate the espionage by a hostile foreign nation to manipulate a US Presidential election. Anyone in Congress who tries to suppress this investigation or bury it in a House or Senate committee is a traitor.
"Mr. Trump himself is doing nothing to dispel suspicions with his hyperbolic attacks and his denials that he has business interests in Russia — when his dealings there go back decades."
The report by a retired British spy leaked by Buzzfeed does not make such claims. In fact, it states exactly the opposite: Trump's business interests in Russia are virtually non-existent. Has Max Boot actually read the report he is writing about?
The report by a retired British spy leaked by Buzzfeed does not make such claims. In fact, it states exactly the opposite: Trump's business interests in Russia are virtually non-existent. Has Max Boot actually read the report he is writing about?
1
And Tillerson's company Exxon has a potential trillion dollar oil development deal waiting in the wings for the sanctions to be lifted ( Rachel Maddox last night)
It just doesn't smell right.
Putin may even be having a bout of buyers remorse as a totally disfunctional United States may not be in his overall financial interest. He'll probably get over that if the sanctions get lifted.
It just doesn't smell right.
Putin may even be having a bout of buyers remorse as a totally disfunctional United States may not be in his overall financial interest. He'll probably get over that if the sanctions get lifted.
2
Whether or not you like or believe the unverivied report, Trump is on the defensive. . . right where he needs to be. No one will simply accept his bloviating anymore.
I find it hypocritical in the extreme that the 'major news organizations' should find the material published by BuzzFeed worrisome when they themselves slavishly printed anything and everything regarding Hillary Clinton's emails and every other dubious allegation drummed up by the GOP, not the least of which was the Comey report just prior to the election that arguably contributed significantly to Donald Trump's victory. If the major news organizations want to champion journalistic standards, a good place to start is with themselves.
1
The Birther-in-Chief is upset about being the subject of fake news and unsubstantiated claims. The irony is rich indeed. Karma, Don, karma!
4
I hope someone starts the impeachment proceedings soon. The business conflicts are enough themselves without all the other reasons.
2
"The onus is on PEOTUS to prove that he is not Putin's puppet."
This is the most bizarre, treacherous, unlawful statement that NYT found "fit to print" that I have ever seen. Even hardcore criminals against whom strong evidence of a crime exists are innocent until proven guilty. Now without a shred of evidence, we are asking the President Elect to prove his innocence, as opposed to those who are making unsubstantiated allegations to prove his guilt? Hacking into DNC and trying to influence the election is one thing (more or less proven), but implying that the PEOTUS is Russia's puppet is a whole different matter. You are basically asking Mr. Trump to prove that he did not commit treason. If you have evidence, pls show it. This is not worthy of the NYT. You are in a race to the bottom with Trump, and winning handily with this type of rhetoric.
This is the most bizarre, treacherous, unlawful statement that NYT found "fit to print" that I have ever seen. Even hardcore criminals against whom strong evidence of a crime exists are innocent until proven guilty. Now without a shred of evidence, we are asking the President Elect to prove his innocence, as opposed to those who are making unsubstantiated allegations to prove his guilt? Hacking into DNC and trying to influence the election is one thing (more or less proven), but implying that the PEOTUS is Russia's puppet is a whole different matter. You are basically asking Mr. Trump to prove that he did not commit treason. If you have evidence, pls show it. This is not worthy of the NYT. You are in a race to the bottom with Trump, and winning handily with this type of rhetoric.
1
Raise questions? That's putting it mildly! Every time Trump speaks, the connection seems more obvious than ever. Trump has never criticized Russia. Not once! Reporters pressed him on this subject more than any other in yesterday's conference and he never ONCE said Russia is a clear danger to the US. He only responds by saying, well China also did it, and nobody made a fuss about that. (Which is total rubbish. Obama's admin has repeatedly complained to the Chinese govt about persistent industrial espionage.) He seems incapable of admitting that Russia released documents to embarrass his opponent and put him in a positive light, clearly because it puts into question his whole historical victory, the greatest in the history of politics (in his mind, clearly). Most telling, the Russians also hacked the RNC but never released any of those ill-gotten gains (according to the FBI). So what does he owe Russia? A little or a lot? Clearly he owes them something. Putin has an influence in the Trump presidency, of that I have no doubt whatsoever. The appointment of Tillerson just seems to confirm it. Once is coincidence, twice is happenstance, three times is enemy action.
2
Ah yes, a bipartisan commission is exactly what we need. One that will inevitably have democrat hacks on it to leak anything that could feed the faithful what they want to hear. There is little doubt that even an honestly led commission would arrive at findings that are inconclusive, all of which would immediately turn into fodder for the already made up minds on the left.
But hey, that's what passes for leadership in Washington today. The parasitic Swamp is alive and well and will eat anyone who threatens it.
But hey, that's what passes for leadership in Washington today. The parasitic Swamp is alive and well and will eat anyone who threatens it.
1
The biggest thing anout the dossier is not the salacious parts. It is that Trump and Putin have. Eem courting each other for mutual benefit. And what Putin wants is exactly what Trump has been doing -- talking nice about Putin, better relations(on Putin's terms), no more fuss over Ukraine, weakening Nato-- oh, and defeating Clinton. It wxplains it all.
It is highly detailed and it sounds exactly like KGB activity. It deserves very thorough examination.
It is highly detailed and it sounds exactly like KGB activity. It deserves very thorough examination.
1
Me thinks that Putin has info on more than one republican and that may be why they sit back and let him bury himself.
They have Pence to rubber stamp their agenda...so what are they waiting for? The polls..when he gets under 20% they will pull out the conflict of interest investigation.
But we will be stuck with Torquemada Pence who will not fund jobs, infrastructure or healthcare. It will be tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts in social security and medicare for the rest of us.
How do you like them apples rust belt. He was never there for you.
They have Pence to rubber stamp their agenda...so what are they waiting for? The polls..when he gets under 20% they will pull out the conflict of interest investigation.
But we will be stuck with Torquemada Pence who will not fund jobs, infrastructure or healthcare. It will be tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts in social security and medicare for the rest of us.
How do you like them apples rust belt. He was never there for you.
1
Yes, "He shouldn't have done it" is his best tough talk for the impaler. But the real takeaway from that exchange was his conspicuous fear of the question about his collusion with the Russians. He dropped the mic and ran away, never mind the irony of his babbling about "respect" while he did it. It actually reminded me of those times where he cringed and ran away from fake threats to his person on the campaign podium. Respect indeed. Babyhands, only fools and cowards respect you. Birds of a feather. Li'l Lyin' Yellow Puppet Babyhands. Sad! Obvious!
1
DT is a modern Manchurian president-elect in that his interests are in power and money. His choice of Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil, should answer any questions anyone has about what is going to happen to our country. The divide between the billionaire class and the middle class will further widen to unimaginable levels.
1
As much as people want to "shoot the messenger" of Russia, we should not get so caught up in that task so that we lose sight of the horrible truth that they uncovered about the Democrats. That they threw the one candidate who could have really held his own against Trump and quite possibly have won the election, Bernie Sanders, under the bus, so that Hillary Clinton could be "coronated" as the nominee. So much for fair primaries.
At least the Russian "interference" in the election wasn't tainted in blood, like we have on our hands with Salvador Allende of Chile. Nor did they orchestrate a coup d'etat, as we did in 1953 in Iran. To name a couple of the more blatant acts of the US in foreign elections. So for the pot to call the kettle black is denying our own sordid history as well. When we interfere in the outcome of elections in other countries, it's okay. When some other country does it to us, oh how dare they? The stench of hypocrisy is strong and putrid.
At least the Russian "interference" in the election wasn't tainted in blood, like we have on our hands with Salvador Allende of Chile. Nor did they orchestrate a coup d'etat, as we did in 1953 in Iran. To name a couple of the more blatant acts of the US in foreign elections. So for the pot to call the kettle black is denying our own sordid history as well. When we interfere in the outcome of elections in other countries, it's okay. When some other country does it to us, oh how dare they? The stench of hypocrisy is strong and putrid.
2
Donald Trump's law firm, he had at his press conference today, that is advising him on his business conflicts won the the best Russian law firm award in 2016. What is it with him and Russia ? I want his tax returns released, there is absolutely no reason he should be allowed to be above the law. In my book he's a thug and will never be presidential.
3
It would seem that if any real proof of some kind of unseemly relationship between Trump and Putin existed it would have come to light by now. Interested parties have been at this for at least months now and all we have is this spook dossier of anonymous and unsubstantiatable hearsay. It wouldn't surprise me if there were an actual Trump-Putin link that would forever undermine the validity of Trump's election, just as it would surprise me even less, not at all, if tapes of Trump cavorting with Russian prostitutes existed. But I do not expect to ever see any of this exposed to the factual light of day. The idea that either Panetta or Hayden would have instant, across-the-board credibility to lead any further investigation is absurd. What we would get from such an investigation is bound to be at best some more vague suggestions that things that should not have been done were probably done and none of it will amount to enough rope to tie a noose. I do not doubt we are about to see a thoroughly corrupt, contemptible and likely criminal fraud installed as the leader of our country. I would like to see as much energy as possible now put towards building up a coalition of electable candidates who are capable of persuading those Trump voters not yet hopelessly sunk in sheer, morally bankrupt idiocy that they were perhaps somewhat understandably duped this time around, but should have the intelligence, fortitude and self-esteem to admit it and not get fooled again. *THIRD SUBMISSION*
1
Bannon, it's Bannon playing two parts, puppet/puppeteer. Trump actually does what Bannon tells him basically because he's freaked out with happenstance. Putin is Bannon's daddy in total control of the bad boy.
1
"If Mr. Trump is genuinely innocent of any untoward connections with the Kremlin, wouldn’t he want a full investigation to clear his name? That he so adamantly opposes any such inquiry speaks volumes."
As far as Putin goes, the President-elect doth protest too much, methinks, to paraphrase Mr. Shakespeare (Hamlet Act 3, Scene 2). He clearly has something to hide, which is why he hasn't called for a complete investigation. It's doubtful he ever will. But Congress doesn't have to be complicit in his issues. John McCain (and Lindsay Graham for that matter) can cement their legacies as true patriots by making sure we the people know the truth.
As far as Putin goes, the President-elect doth protest too much, methinks, to paraphrase Mr. Shakespeare (Hamlet Act 3, Scene 2). He clearly has something to hide, which is why he hasn't called for a complete investigation. It's doubtful he ever will. But Congress doesn't have to be complicit in his issues. John McCain (and Lindsay Graham for that matter) can cement their legacies as true patriots by making sure we the people know the truth.
2
Trump's sons, Uday & Qusay, are going to be a problem.
5
Mr. Trump isn't taken with Putin. He loves to present himself as the guy who can get along with everyone and put the US in the best place. He is, in his mind, sticking it to Obama et al.,whose experience and intellectualism intimidate Trump.
This is a very much like the eye rolling the Obama administration did with respect to the Republicans and Romney with regard to their negativity towards Russia.
Then, Obama et al, were the capable ones whose reset was going to make the world more peaceful and better for America. The Republicans were old fashioned Cold Warriors.
Obama and his team continue to have that attitude towards those that claim Iran as a danger. Interestingly, while they blast Russia on Syria, they say nothing on the more involved and brutal Iran. Anyone who would point out Iran's nefariousness would be mocked as a chicken hawk.
Thinking Trump has an infatuation with Putin shows no knowledge of Trump. He is only infatuated with himself.
This is a very much like the eye rolling the Obama administration did with respect to the Republicans and Romney with regard to their negativity towards Russia.
Then, Obama et al, were the capable ones whose reset was going to make the world more peaceful and better for America. The Republicans were old fashioned Cold Warriors.
Obama and his team continue to have that attitude towards those that claim Iran as a danger. Interestingly, while they blast Russia on Syria, they say nothing on the more involved and brutal Iran. Anyone who would point out Iran's nefariousness would be mocked as a chicken hawk.
Thinking Trump has an infatuation with Putin shows no knowledge of Trump. He is only infatuated with himself.
3
Facing the prospect of an approval rate approaching 25% over the next four years, the Republicans probably already have a hidden agenda how to get rid of The Donald as soon as possible. The more this can be blamed on a foreign power, the better. After all they still have Pence, who is at least grown up and predictable. Democrats could possibly push for new elections, but has that ever happened in the U.S.?
1
The "salacious" details are just a distraction. Follow the money, Manafort, and the Trump sons.
2
Yes
#NextQuestion
#NextQuestion
Donald Trump is the puppet of no one. He is perpetual fodder for news stories which is one the reasons he was elected.
1
Why is Max Boot - neocon supremo - being published in the NY Times?! Isn't this the same guy that helped stampede the United States into war with Iraq, looking for those non-existent WMD?! And now he's trotting back out, to tell all of us that Donald Trump is maybe a Russian plant programmed to destroy the U.S. and turn the country into...what exactly?!
The very fact Max Boot is being published in such a capacity to denigrate Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what's going on here.
The very fact Max Boot is being published in such a capacity to denigrate Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what's going on here.
2
of course our "donnie boy " is ....and it's surprising it took this long to scribble something to that effect ! this is a total 'no hope at all ' situation and where are the doctors and the butterfly nets? what's wrong with everybody ? this guy is nuts,and knows it and loves being it ! Better hurry up and get somebody to cart him off or things will get infinitely worse and extremely quickly, cuz our 'donnie boy ' is all in...all the chips are in centre court now .
3
Hypocrisy is on display. To publish real documents is bad, but to publish unsubstantiated accusations and to request that the person proves that these accusations are wrong is OK? What happened to presumption of innocence? Isn't a job of FBI and CIA to verify the accusations against the President? Or these organizations are too busy with catching the Russian hackers and finding WMD in Iraq?
4
Consorting with an enemy of the United Stares, mob ties, attempted manipulation of an election? Where have I seen this before? Nixon 2.0?
Give him enough rope, if he doesn't sell it, he'll get his due, don't worry. And how long does an audit take, by the way?
Give him enough rope, if he doesn't sell it, he'll get his due, don't worry. And how long does an audit take, by the way?
3
Trump has brought this on himself. He has refused to disclose his tax returns or any other documents that would shed light on his relationship with Russian financiers. He also has failed to address his son's admission that “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,” from a real estate conference in 2008, according to an account posted on the website of eTurboNews, a trade publication. “We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia,” the son said. This morning Trump said there is no relationship but that is contrary to his son's statement. If Trump severed all ties between then and now he should say so, and show us the documents. Until such time, I have to conclude he is lying, as he does about almost everything.
10
Buzz Feed was right to publish.
Tit for tat.
Tit for tat.
4
"But why should anyone believe what Mr. Putin says?" (Max Boot).
Very simple, Mr. Boot - we are not talking about anyone here, we are talking about Donald Trump, who knows for sure that there was no urinating prostitutes in his Moscow hotel room. So when some dodgy "dossier" says that Putin has those tapes and Putin himself says that he does not - who is the best positioned to judge the relative credibility of those two sources if not Mr. Trump himself? Certainly not a distinguished neocon cold warrior like Max Boot.
Very simple, Mr. Boot - we are not talking about anyone here, we are talking about Donald Trump, who knows for sure that there was no urinating prostitutes in his Moscow hotel room. So when some dodgy "dossier" says that Putin has those tapes and Putin himself says that he does not - who is the best positioned to judge the relative credibility of those two sources if not Mr. Trump himself? Certainly not a distinguished neocon cold warrior like Max Boot.
1
Wow! I remember when Max Boot was an undergraduate Young Conservative columnist for U.C. Berkeley's Daily Cal. For all I know, he may still be a conservative. This piece is evidence that we don't really have a right/left controversy here--it's more, are you pro or con criminal behavior? A topic which crosses ideological lines.
3
America is in need of Deep Throat again. Lots of them.
3
Thanks Senator Rubio for scrutinizing Trump's SOS nominee w.r.t. Russia and Putin.
2
Those 50 Republican national security experts who signed the letter stating that Trump is unfit for the office must know something that we don't.
And Trump wants to keep his own private security detail.
And Trump wants to keep his own private security detail.
9
In a murder case,the one true witness to the crime,is the murderer.Trump knows if it did or didn't participate in these political and perverted atrocities.Vlad Putin also knows if he truly has 'documented evidence to sustain these allegations.These two people Know the truth.Can the truth be verified without the outright confessions of either of these two individuals?I think it can.I guess it goes back to a degree of rational probability as in the calculation 'does a tree falling in the forest make a sound,if nobody is there?A crude hypothesis sure,but in a way that is the political conundrum that now confronts the world.Trump says "I didn't do it and it can't be proved otherwise.Putin says it Can be proved and trump knows it can.Actions speak louder than words.Let that be your guide.If I witness a falling tree make a sound,why would it ever Not make one.If trump committed these acts in russia,why would the russians not know about them?The truth is there,if we seek it....
What is most troubling concerning this Tale of Trump, is the lack of both horror and action by the American people and their government. A drawn conclusion which is most likely obvious to the rest of the civilized world, must first be weighed and measured, poked and prodded by our incredulous collective American persona. Too polite to call out evil in our midst and insatiably in love with our national naivete, we will be the last to know. We were right all along. Trump really is the monster he appears to be.
6
Trump is the myrmidon in the Manchurian Candidate reprise here. Trump is not an assassin but a dupe in the purest sense. The Russians are concocting their own SNL production to perfection starring Donald J Trump. It is embarrassing that such a bad actor has a starring role in this farce.
4
A wild and unsubstantiated accusation against a president who is ultimately forced to prove a negative.
Dear Mr. Birther-in-Chief, payback's rough, isn't it...
Dear Mr. Birther-in-Chief, payback's rough, isn't it...
8
This is shameful.
They NYT spreading the worst type of gutter gossip because, "But are they true? No one knows...Just because the allegations are unproven, however, does not mean they are all false."
This is a sad admission of the of the editorial standards of the NYT and the epitome of Fake News.
Your pro Clinton/ Anti Trump hysteria has destroyed your credibility on a range of issues but this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
They NYT spreading the worst type of gutter gossip because, "But are they true? No one knows...Just because the allegations are unproven, however, does not mean they are all false."
This is a sad admission of the of the editorial standards of the NYT and the epitome of Fake News.
Your pro Clinton/ Anti Trump hysteria has destroyed your credibility on a range of issues but this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
4
Let's see. Trump was a longtime promoter of the birther nonsense, and his pick for natl sec advisor, Flynn, promoted the idea that Hillary was in some child sex ring at a pizza joint. It's pointless to play by the normal rules given their tactics. These guys need to go one way or another, the sooner the better. Our country and its ideals are too important.
5
Very little of this criticism would mean much if the President-elect had released his tax returns. Until he is somehow taught that he cannot bully his way past any and all criticism, the pattern we see here will continue.
4
I had this same cold-sweat anxiety and helpless feeling before. Then I woke up.
As to Trump's question (paraphrased), does anyone seriously think Putin would be more scared of Hillary Clinton than of me?
Yes absolutely. Putin holds great animus against Clinton for her unwavering criticism of him, and most particularly for her steadfast support of the sanctions against Russia that Obama instituted. As Trump then replied to his own question, give me a break.
Yes absolutely. Putin holds great animus against Clinton for her unwavering criticism of him, and most particularly for her steadfast support of the sanctions against Russia that Obama instituted. As Trump then replied to his own question, give me a break.
5
Another NYT article on this fiasco called it a crisis for Mr Trump. It looks far more likely that it is a crisis for journalism. CNN reported the existence of the document, and Buzzfeed actually published it. A document prepared for RNC and later DNC opposition researchers, but offering not a single nugget of proof.
In fact, a member of Mr Trump's transition team was reported to be meeting in Prague the very week he was touring a California university campus with his son. It didn't hurt that's he's been in the habit of geotagging his travels, and there is pretty clear evidence the meeting never took place. Mr Trump even congratulated the Times for refusing to report any of the allegations, though dozens of news publications were happy to spread the lies.
Glenn Greenwald's piece in the Intercept lays out the dangers.
In fact, a member of Mr Trump's transition team was reported to be meeting in Prague the very week he was touring a California university campus with his son. It didn't hurt that's he's been in the habit of geotagging his travels, and there is pretty clear evidence the meeting never took place. Mr Trump even congratulated the Times for refusing to report any of the allegations, though dozens of news publications were happy to spread the lies.
Glenn Greenwald's piece in the Intercept lays out the dangers.
3
I think Trump is the most inadequate person to serve as president in my lifetime. I think, however, that when the NY Times discusses unverified oppositional research on its front page that U.S. journalism continues its slide into disrepute. There should be a difference between the NY Times and BuzzFeed, and the end run around accountability by making the "news story" the news story is dishonorable. If the Times knew about this months ago yet could not verify the claims made, then it should not be reporting it now. This is shameful.
12
I'd really like to meet the actual group of people who made Trump appoint these charlatans and scoundrels to cabinet positions. Like Rick Perry for God's sake. And Rex Tillison, who borders on being a traitor in his slavish love of the murderer Putin. Or Ben Carson, Betsy Devos or Myron Ebell, who will ensure that climate disaster will proceed post haste. Or the rest of these people who, as it was apparently designed, are the very opposite of what the country needs.
I believe we may have lost our country, that this is something from which we may not recover. Indeed Trump may very well be the Manchurian Candidate. When Russia invades, say, the Ukraine, it should be interesting when he does nothing.
I believe we may have lost our country, that this is something from which we may not recover. Indeed Trump may very well be the Manchurian Candidate. When Russia invades, say, the Ukraine, it should be interesting when he does nothing.
5
Here's a radical idea: given these unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances, prudence would indicate that the country postpone the inauguration until all essential questions have been answered truthfully by a bipartisan committee led by senators McCain and Schumer, commencing asap.
10
Hillary was right.
6
People like Trump are always dirty - they feel entitled to do things as they want, not as the law requires, they take shortcuts, they associate with questionable people, they have people with ill-gotten gains as friends, they use insider information, they exploit the weak and unfortunate, and so on. There is dirt to be found.
If this isn't the dirt and there isn't other different dirt, then it's just because people haven't looked hard enough. It's time to counterbalance the free ride Trump has been given by the media and to do some serious investigative reporting.
Trump uses words the way a magician uses misdirection, but rather than just make dramatic arm gestures he also wheels out Kellyanne Goebels. The press needs to spend much less time on what he (or she) says, because it is content-free spin and self-aggrandizement anyway, and much more on what he does and what he keeps hidden. Look at what the other hand is doing, not the one he is holding up to distract you.
If this isn't the dirt and there isn't other different dirt, then it's just because people haven't looked hard enough. It's time to counterbalance the free ride Trump has been given by the media and to do some serious investigative reporting.
Trump uses words the way a magician uses misdirection, but rather than just make dramatic arm gestures he also wheels out Kellyanne Goebels. The press needs to spend much less time on what he (or she) says, because it is content-free spin and self-aggrandizement anyway, and much more on what he does and what he keeps hidden. Look at what the other hand is doing, not the one he is holding up to distract you.
9
"...Leon E. Panetta and Michael V. Hayden...would provide instant credibility..."
Let's see: pick two liberal globalist elites for credibility. You've got to be kidding, right?
"...If the president-elect wants to put such suspicions to rest, he should get as tough with the Kremlin..."
Wrong again. If he wants to put suspicions to rest, he should release his tax returns.
Let's see: pick two liberal globalist elites for credibility. You've got to be kidding, right?
"...If the president-elect wants to put such suspicions to rest, he should get as tough with the Kremlin..."
Wrong again. If he wants to put suspicions to rest, he should release his tax returns.
4
It seems to me that Trump is purposely trying to delegitimize the CIA for the precise purpose that if the CIA does investigate and find corroborating evidence to tie Trump to collusion with Putin , he has already started the narrative that the CIA is out to get him and they're " lying ".
What a selfish jerk
What a selfish jerk
4
You can get 4-1 at PaddyPaower on Trump being impeached within 6 months.
4
Do people really not want to dig into this deeper? Why not? Are those patriotic Trump voters - for I don't doubt people on all sides of our recent election are patriotic - want to know the truth? If he is a Russian stooge, or in alliance with Putin, then don't we all want to know? And if he isn't, shouldn't we all want that clear? Time to start an independent investigation, get some people under oath, and find out what was really happening, asap, so we can all move on.
11
"I'd have to really bend over backward and accept the unbelievable to think that Trump was innocent of all the allegations in the leaked report."
Rightio! If someone accuses you of something and you deny it, it must be true. Why else would you deny it?
Rightio! If someone accuses you of something and you deny it, it must be true. Why else would you deny it?
3
I would take all this hypocritical moralizing about Trump's admiration for Putin more seriously from people who were equally outraged by our support for the Saudi thugs as they bomb Yemen. But very few liberals can bring themselves to care.
As for Boot, his real point is in the last paragraph-- he and a great many others are using Trump's massive character flaws as a way to pressure him into reigniting the Cold War with Russia. Russia's real crimes for such people are not the bombing of Aleppo, because they have nothing to say about Saudi bombing that we support in Yemen. Bombing civilians is bad if they do it and fine if we or our allies do it. And there is money to be made if we have a new arms race.
As for Boot, his real point is in the last paragraph-- he and a great many others are using Trump's massive character flaws as a way to pressure him into reigniting the Cold War with Russia. Russia's real crimes for such people are not the bombing of Aleppo, because they have nothing to say about Saudi bombing that we support in Yemen. Bombing civilians is bad if they do it and fine if we or our allies do it. And there is money to be made if we have a new arms race.
2
Trump is well on his way to convincing the American people not to listen to the press or the intelligence experts. He wants to be the single oracle, with Putin the benefactor.
4
As the first President of the United States who has disparaged our intelligence community and politicized them without cause, Trump continues to do Putin's work for him. It is stunning to see Trump's followers beginning to parrot his words online, praising Putin and demeaning the patriots that comprise our intelligence community. Through Trump, Putin has already significantly achieved his goals. He has split the American public and caused vitriolic fighting between citizens perhaps never seen before in modern times. The damage is done. There must be some form of punishment.
6
How does Trump negate a negative to Max Boot's satisfaction? What if someone claims that Max Boot was the Israeli Station Chief handling Jonathan Pollard and other secret Israeli spies here? How would Max Boot disprove that rumor? Get the Israelis to deny it, or get them to confirm it: either way who would believe him?
1
Denouement:
Trump has served his purpose in defeating HRC and preventing a quite possible Democratic Party takeover of the Senate. Trump's cabinet picks are as reactionary as conservatives could ever hope to get and there is still a SCOTUS seat to be filled.
Republicans will go through the motions of defending Trump while, sub rosa, offering him the chance to resign rather than face an increasing chance of impeachment. Pence assumes the presidency as a puppet/seat warmer till 2020, picks Ryan to be VP, and unofficial policy maker/string puller; and the Republican House of Representatives gets to select a more reactionary Speaker.
Trump returns to business as usual, blames the Democrats, hits the speech circuit and tweets unrestrained to keep his loyal coterie informed.
For Republicans, and Trump, what's not to like?
Trump has served his purpose in defeating HRC and preventing a quite possible Democratic Party takeover of the Senate. Trump's cabinet picks are as reactionary as conservatives could ever hope to get and there is still a SCOTUS seat to be filled.
Republicans will go through the motions of defending Trump while, sub rosa, offering him the chance to resign rather than face an increasing chance of impeachment. Pence assumes the presidency as a puppet/seat warmer till 2020, picks Ryan to be VP, and unofficial policy maker/string puller; and the Republican House of Representatives gets to select a more reactionary Speaker.
Trump returns to business as usual, blames the Democrats, hits the speech circuit and tweets unrestrained to keep his loyal coterie informed.
For Republicans, and Trump, what's not to like?
3
Putting aside all the other outrageous things Trump has said or done, it's impossible to overstate the damage he's doing to the country in regards to Vladimir Putin. There's no proper context for this or historical parallel. It's ironic that Trump again praised Putin while attacking the intelligence services as Nazis for daring to mention that reports existed, which they never created, raising troubling questions about Trump's relationship with Putin. Putin has modeled himself after Konstantin Rodzaevsky, head of the Russian Fascist Party (RFP), a true Nazi and a contemporary of Hitler, as much as Stalin. Putin's a very dangerous despot and fascist with global ambitions. How does this not end badly? What does Trump think Putin did as a top KGB operative for 16 years? Bake cookies? Shortly after Putin took over the FSB, the journalist Anatoly Levin-Utkin detailed how Putin had usurped Russia's Intelligence Services. It was titled "Vladimir Putin Became Head of the FSB Unlawfully." Levin-Utkin was assassinated shortly afterward. Putin also assassinated Anna Politkovskaya, a slew of his opponents, and a host journalists. Anyone challenging Putin is murdered, yet Trump not only constantly expresses admiration for him, he appeared on Russian State Television to express adoration for Putin. Trump couldn't care less if the growing consensus is that he's selling America out to a very dangerous and powerful foreign fascist. It should, however, horrify every patriotic American.
9
Thank you Mr. Boot. You and I agree on very little politically, but on this we're right on the same page.
1
I have been thinking Manchurian Candidate for months.
3
Why did none of this come out before the election? We need three independent investigations: (1) Russian hacking of our democracy; (2) Trump's (and his surrogates like Manaford and Page) contacts with any Russians while he (they) were in Moscow; and (3) Comey's interference in the presidential election to help Putin and Trump. It is time for every patriot to demand the truth.
9
Liberal as they get, couldn't disagree more - "There is only one way to get to the bottom of this tawdry affair: Appoint a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission to investigate all of the allegations and issue a public report." How can you take exception with Trump's hyperbole about Nazi tactics during one paragraph, and liken an irresponsible dump by Buzzfeed to 9/11? The suggestion quoted is wrong, actually, there is no 'only way' to proceed, and I'm certainly not comfortable with establishing the precedent that rumors on the internet are enough to intensively investigate public officials and put the burden on them to prove their innocence. Should Clinton have won, would we think the same thing about Pizzagate and asked her to volunteer herself for an investigation to prove she is not trafficking children?
2
Is there any reason whatsoever why we should believe anything at all that the President-elect says? He demonstrated throughout his campaign, and now since the election that he and the truth are not friends. Even when on prior record he later denies the very statements or actions he's taken. The recent denial about whether he mocked the disabled journalist is just one of a plethora of falsehoods he utters seemingly without conscience. I was afraid that the leader-to-be of the free world could not be trusted. Now I am sure that he cannot.
8
When Trump starts pounding the lectern with his shoe, we'll know the fix is in.
7
Mr. Boot seems to be scraping the bottom of the information barrel, and in the absence of substantiation being willing to accept 50% possibility of substantiation as being as good as the real thing. If one is willing to put together a story that is made up of unsubstantiated bits and pieces, as Mr. Boot appears to be doing, we can easily get whatever story we may be looking for.
Narcissists crave attention from other people they consider powerful, as long as they don't disagree with them, and Putin certainly has given him positive attention. Putin knows what he is doing.
3
We're being outflanked! The effectiveness of the flam-flam skills being exhibited by Trump and the skillful maneuvering by his backroom strategists/handlers are terrifying. There is probably nothing that Trump could do short of ordering a military coup, that would force today's Republican members of Congress to do any type of investigation. If the American people don't rise up quickly and fight back against the Agenda Trump and his Troops have planned, the public may become so confused and distrustful of news from any source that they will simply sit back and let all their rights (except for the 2nd Amendment) be taken away. God help us all.
5
The neocons lost again, this time in Syria backing the "Free Syrian Army," as usual using someone else's country as a geopolitical battleground, prolonging the suffering of foreign citizens far away in yet another effort at regime change. I am accused by gullible, hysterical readers of "loving Putin" and "siding with Russia," but you don't have to love Putin or side with Russia to oppose "regime change" as a policy. I think Trump and his government will be among the worst the world has ever seen -- stupid, greedy, entitled chauvinists -- but I think regime change Is as bad a policy in the USA as it has been everywhere else in the world, starting with Vietnam.
2
It's the beginning of the end. Seriously.
Too many fast heavy objects in motion, full of momentum, set on a crash course.
So, what will survive - America or Trump's presidency?? Is there really room for both? And why do I feel like a captive passenger in a speeding, hijacked car?
Too many fast heavy objects in motion, full of momentum, set on a crash course.
So, what will survive - America or Trump's presidency?? Is there really room for both? And why do I feel like a captive passenger in a speeding, hijacked car?
6
Must still be money (or at least political notoriety) to be made in anti Russian cold Cold War rhetoric.
Is there
Is there
1
The only thing I don't understand here is the question mark in the headline.
4
Is Trump really a Liliputin - possibly in the way Rector Swift originally imagined the term?
1
I also don't understand why someone isn't going after Roger Stone & Rudy Giuliani. During the summer, both hinted that big news would drop on Hillary. Next thing you know, the Wikileaks. They had to have had inside info.
Sad thing is their loyalty to Trump wouldn't be repaid - just ask Christie.
Sad thing is their loyalty to Trump wouldn't be repaid - just ask Christie.
10
He's not the Manchurian Candidate, he's the Manchurian President. That's a lot worse.
10
Trump trusts Russia and distrusts our National Intelligence and that is not enough to call for a Congressional investigation? Trump brags about molesting women and insults war heroes and the family of a dead American family and that is just a misunderstanding? We are told to listen to his heart and not his words? He is a walking crime wave, a traitor, a liar, a pig yet he is still going to be inaugurated? Now we learn that he has been under Russian surveillance has been assisted by Putin in his election in Clinton's defeat, and maybe blackmailed and he is allowed to bully the press?
Why isn't Trump in jail?
Why isn't Trump in jail?
10
Trump is still pretending there's some legal constraint that prevents him from releasing his tax returns while under an audit. Wouldn't it answer a lot of questions being asked about dealings with Russia? The only reason he won't show his tax returns because afraid of what's in them.
5
If this is true, then these are treasonous acts that changed the american election. Everyone associated with him is now also suspect. Pence has no right to be president either if it was the corruption of the election that got him there. He has stacked his cabinet with cronies who support Russia. Its all a crooked mess. If even part of these accusations against him are true, then it is time to demand a new election. THE PEOPLE MUST ACT! It is time to take back our democracy. I hope this is a strong lesson to every nihilistic, foolish, gullible, and reckless person that voted for him. Don't take or democracy for granted. Write your congressman and senators and demand an investigation before the inauguration.
5
Trump should be questioned under oath before he's inaugurated. This is essential and urgent since if the Russians have material against him, it would compromise the national security.
-
Referring to Putin's ordering and using the hacks he said, “He shouldn’t have done it.” As when someone brings you an expensive gift, you love it, but you tell them 'You shouldn't have done it'! Yeah, right, they used every bit of stolen information to relentlessly attack Clinton and Democrats.
Mr. Trump if Putin had not done that you would be a failed candidate working on Trump TV now!
-
Did Trump really say filming him with a prostitute in a hotel cannot be true since he's a germophobe and he checks the room for cameras and microphones? This is hilarious from someone who would boast about sexual assaulting women while a microphone was attached to him!
This is conman who believes everybody's so stupid. (I have to admit it has worked kind of OK for him so far!)
-
Referring to Putin's ordering and using the hacks he said, “He shouldn’t have done it.” As when someone brings you an expensive gift, you love it, but you tell them 'You shouldn't have done it'! Yeah, right, they used every bit of stolen information to relentlessly attack Clinton and Democrats.
Mr. Trump if Putin had not done that you would be a failed candidate working on Trump TV now!
-
Did Trump really say filming him with a prostitute in a hotel cannot be true since he's a germophobe and he checks the room for cameras and microphones? This is hilarious from someone who would boast about sexual assaulting women while a microphone was attached to him!
This is conman who believes everybody's so stupid. (I have to admit it has worked kind of OK for him so far!)
6
What the Donald fails to grasp due to his ignorance of anything of consequence is that he picked the wrong agencies to mess with, the US intelligence apparatus. If he knew just a smidgen of history he would understand that he is being "Hoovered" as in J Edgar Hoover. Though his taxes, pecadillos, and little secrets may be hidden from the public at large, our modern security apparatus is privy to all of them, thus, they are much more extensive and potentially damaging than Hoovers "little" black book ever was. His idiotic charades and denials were overlooked as long as they didn't threaten our security Buddhas. Waging open warfare against them will probably seal his political fate to much less than one term. That is if he makes it to inauguration at all.
7
Star Spangled Banner refuses to be sung at Inauguration.
6
Simply amazing. At best this should be a time of great expectation and excitement of a new President being inaugurated. Instead, the outgoing President fears his legacy will be erased and half the voting public fear the President-elect. Trump's campaign vitriol continues even though the election is over. His Twitter tweets are not pithy proverbs of wisdom, but pointed poison darts of anger. The problem with the unsubstantiated and unverified dossier is the information and Trump's response, for many citizens, makes it seem believable. That is sad. He reminds me of two comic strip characters, Pig Pen and Joe Btfsplk. Pig Pen walked about in Peanuts with a cloud of dirt swirling around him everywhere he went. Joe Btfsplk strode through Lil Abner with a dark cloud over his head. I wonder where Orphan Annie is with her optimism. Gentle reassuring hugs are missing. Hope? Morning in America? No, just swirling dirt and dark clouds.
3
Putin's truth: Once a spy-always a spy. And they look for people--especially those in power to compromise. Trump's truth: He has an unending need to be praised. Doesn't matter if any of the allegations about Trumps behavior is false. Putin will"own" an American President. Why? He tickled his narcissist. In Trump's mind--that's respect. To Putin--he has an extraordinary "agent"-Trump. Frightening. Trump says the US Intelligence Community are political hacks. He should look in the mirror. Thats where the clueless hack resides.
Our nation is in danger and Trump's need to be the center of all --got us there.
Our nation is in danger and Trump's need to be the center of all --got us there.
2
The media's recent obsession with Russia is bizarre.
2
He needs to figure out what he's doing...this "seat of the pants" thing isn't working.
2
"Mr. Trump’s slavish devotion to the Russian strongman" is a phrase that says nothing about the President Elect and much about the New York Times.
2
All I can say after reading a lot of these comments is there is a lot of hate in this nation because Hillary lost. Hate is like taking a poison and expecting the other person to die. Why all the hate? In the long run is it really worth it to spew bullying and hateful comments about our future President, when in fact we really don't know the real truth about anything because of all the fake news being thrown about. I personally am waiting to see how Trump does as president, to see if this nation can move forward as one nation. No nation shall prevail if divided. Is that what you want? The destruction of America? Take responsibility for your actions. Don't blame it on someone else. It begins with you.
2
The hatred is a way of dealing with the disbelief about HRC losing the election. It's easier to believe that those deplorable rubes were duped into voting for Trump by the Russians, than it is to accept that HRC was just a bad candidate and that Obama's policies just weren't as popular as either the Democrats or their media sycophants believed.
Trump is a bad dream come true. Our nation is in for a rough ride especially if the Republicans in Congress don't do their duty to the nation. Combine Trump's age and his mental state and we have a very potent formula for failure of the state. God bless our great nation!
4
Boss Tweet, as he has been named by other NYT commentators, is an illegitimate and fake president. He is constantly trying to divert attention and change the subject when the truth hits close to home. I want to his tax returns and a summary of a mental evaluation.
4
I think the NYT just saw an old Frank Sinatra movie last night. Stop it.
1
I would think that if a president approves of a foreign leader or policy that does not make him a Manchurian candidate. The question really should have been asked with equal or more justification of our support for Israel or Saudi Arabia. But somehow that seems to be acceptable, though euphemistically it should be called the tail wagging the dog. Or the US presidents Manchirian candidates. In the case of Russia this seems to be a lot more of the double standard and Russia=phobia that has characterized American foreign policy for the last 50 years. It's a habit that seems difficult to let go, and I am sure it is replicated in the Kreml. That why a reset between the US and Russia would be highly welcome and one of the true positives of a Trump presidency.
1
Yeah, that's the ticket - guilty until he proves his innocence. My oh my, I'm so glad I'm not treated that way on a daily basis.
1
This man is now so seriously compromised by his own words and Tweets, his mental state so worrisome, and now allegations of perhaps treasonous collusion, nevermind suggestions of Russian 'honeypot' traps, is there no remedy to prevent his inauguration? Will it take that and then later either impeachment or invocation of the Constitution's 25th Amendment? Please, America, he will be your ruin.
3
This article is a prime example of why so many people in this country have a healthy distrust of the main stream media, especially the New York Times.
Because, for many months before the election this newspaper had no issue in incessantly promoting "leaked," hacked and completely unverified Wikileaks "emails" as "truth" in numerous articles that slandered Hillary Clinton.
But when it comes to this latest case of leaks, this time from Buzzfeed and CNN, all of a sudden this newspaper bleats loudly that we must treat these leaks as "unverified."
So where is the TRUTH?
Because, I think I am not alone in feeling you will not find the TRUTH in this newspaper or anywhere in the main stream media.
Because, for many months before the election this newspaper had no issue in incessantly promoting "leaked," hacked and completely unverified Wikileaks "emails" as "truth" in numerous articles that slandered Hillary Clinton.
But when it comes to this latest case of leaks, this time from Buzzfeed and CNN, all of a sudden this newspaper bleats loudly that we must treat these leaks as "unverified."
So where is the TRUTH?
Because, I think I am not alone in feeling you will not find the TRUTH in this newspaper or anywhere in the main stream media.
1
Not specifically a reply to Mike M. Just having problem with the comment mechanism.
Is there any provision in the US Constitution whereby a Supreme Court judge might refuse to swear in an elected president? For example if there is a evidence that he is a foreign agent? Speaking hypothetically, of course.
Is there any provision in the US Constitution whereby a Supreme Court judge might refuse to swear in an elected president? For example if there is a evidence that he is a foreign agent? Speaking hypothetically, of course.
This article is a prime example of why so many people in this country have a healthy distrust of the trusts the main stream media, especially the New York Times.
Because, for many months before the election this newspaper had no issue in promoting "leaked," hacked and completely unverified Wikileaks "emails" as "truth" in numerous articles that slandered Hillary Clinton.
But when it comes to this latest case of leaks, this time from Buzzfeed and CNN, all of a sudden this newspaper bleats loudly that we must treat these leaks as "unverified."
So where is the TRUTH?
Because, I think I am not alone in feeling you will not find the TRUTH in this newspaper or anywhere in the main stream media.
Because, for many months before the election this newspaper had no issue in promoting "leaked," hacked and completely unverified Wikileaks "emails" as "truth" in numerous articles that slandered Hillary Clinton.
But when it comes to this latest case of leaks, this time from Buzzfeed and CNN, all of a sudden this newspaper bleats loudly that we must treat these leaks as "unverified."
So where is the TRUTH?
Because, I think I am not alone in feeling you will not find the TRUTH in this newspaper or anywhere in the main stream media.
The election for the position of POTUS such a piece of garbage didn't happen by accident. That's what happens in the country where conservatives are more interested to ban abortions as a matter of national policy, allow guns everywhere, inclooding museums and schools, as a matter of national policy, cut taxes for the rich and take away health insurance from the poor as a matter of national policy. American Conservatism has completely degenerated.
5
People like John McCain and the author of this piece (who advised McCain on foreign policy during his 2008 bid for the presidency) may always look at Russia through the eyes of the Cold War. They seem stuck in an earlier era, and may be incapable of realizing that Russia could help our country defeat ISIS.
They are probably thrilled to have these allegations to hold over Trump. If Trump makes any move to work with Russia, McCain and Boot can start questioning his motives. They cannot fathom the possibility of our country and Russia working together for mutual benefit.
They are probably thrilled to have these allegations to hold over Trump. If Trump makes any move to work with Russia, McCain and Boot can start questioning his motives. They cannot fathom the possibility of our country and Russia working together for mutual benefit.
1
When Trump continuously lies ... why would we believe him now ? He has lied about mocking a handicapped man even though millions of people watched him on tv do it ! He tweets about the most ridiculous things, tweets something a 12 year old would do, he's a 70 year old man for god's sake and our president-elect ! Most troubling to me is ... he is still fawning over Russia and tried to diminish the seriousness of Russia's involvement with our elections by comparing other countries who hack us. Russia was involved in our elections and I still want to know why did Trump hire Manafort the man who worked for Putin's political interest in Ukraine ? Manafort was heavily involved in getting the Ukranian dictator elected who was later ousted by the Ukranian people ! Trump's press conference today was conducted like a dictator and illustrates he should never be put into the office of president...NEVER !
2
Buzz Feed did the country a service by publishing this. If it is true he can't be blackmailed by it now.
3
Nothing Little Putin does--like steal from his own citizens, blackmail Russians and foreigners alike, and assassinate anyone who gets in his way--surprises me. What is astonishing is the lack of concern of those people in the United States who voted for Trump, or simply give him the benefit of the doubt. The man is, at the very least, a simple-minded fool who's swayed by flattery and Little Putin plays him like a Balalaika. At worst, Trump is a Russian mole, a traitor to the United States who, in a matter of days, will be communicating with his FSB handlers, probably Little Putin himself, from the Oval Office.
To those people who voted for Trump, I say: You have put the United States of America, your country at great risk. What? Oh, you think the AR-15 you keep in your closet is going to keep you safe. Good luck.
To those people who voted for Trump, I say: You have put the United States of America, your country at great risk. What? Oh, you think the AR-15 you keep in your closet is going to keep you safe. Good luck.
2
The Donald is such an easy target - already so compromised, in so many ways.
But what is really happening here? Who benefits most if Trump is impeached? The GOP does.
Pence ascends, inherits a dream team cabinet, McConnell and Ryan get their agenda back, and all three branches are controlled by true believers.
"House of Cards" anyone?
But what is really happening here? Who benefits most if Trump is impeached? The GOP does.
Pence ascends, inherits a dream team cabinet, McConnell and Ryan get their agenda back, and all three branches are controlled by true believers.
"House of Cards" anyone?
3
I didn't vote for Trump and had no affinity for him. But with the phony allegations against him leaked by the CIA and the journalistically-unethical publication of same, and his entirely appropriate slap-down of CNN, I am warming up to him.
1
Its very simple: every day he doesn't release his tax returns is every day I will believe he is in Putin's pocket. Trump has created this stark choice by his own (in)action.
3
The question which Trump must answer: ...Trump's ties to Russia ; because
it is obvious that Trump is covering up his ties to Vladimir Putin.
And it is also fairly obvious that Rex Tillerson has had ties to Russian oil
interests as CEO of EXXON
Please keep up the investigative reporting.
Double agents should not be running our government.
it is obvious that Trump is covering up his ties to Vladimir Putin.
And it is also fairly obvious that Rex Tillerson has had ties to Russian oil
interests as CEO of EXXON
Please keep up the investigative reporting.
Double agents should not be running our government.
3
By all means keep press pressure on the Don.
But this all reads like retro spy-pulp complete with KGB & honey-traps & now hidden cameras.
Slimy scandal is just what the Don's fans expect & lust for, likely they'll generally be fine even if all these allegations turn out to be fact.
You'll need hard evidence of high crimes or treason to take down the Don. & even then, everybody always gets pardoned, Pence will prevail, redstatists will always align behind their guy & even invading the wrong country destabilizing everything forever doesn't get a president impeached.
Even if you had a real sex scandal, & a democratic version of Linda Tripp & Ken Starr, the red-statists will shoot down any evidence of wrongdoing, because after all, they have god, guns & good old American Greed on their side. Anf can see into the Don's 'heart'
Trump has fixed his fan-base, they are true believers, he probably really could 'shoot somebody' and 'wouldn't lose voters'. The Zimmerman in chief.
It'll be a long, hard slog for those of us who are repulsed by everything about the Don. But Red-statists are the activists in the USA, & they've been successful at agitating for far longer & with far greater conviction than anything the progressives ever roused.
Progressives are stuck with just trying to stop Trump from auctioning off Redwood National Park to the timber industry, & fingers crossed he doesn't exterminate the northern hemisphere with a late-night tweet.
But this all reads like retro spy-pulp complete with KGB & honey-traps & now hidden cameras.
Slimy scandal is just what the Don's fans expect & lust for, likely they'll generally be fine even if all these allegations turn out to be fact.
You'll need hard evidence of high crimes or treason to take down the Don. & even then, everybody always gets pardoned, Pence will prevail, redstatists will always align behind their guy & even invading the wrong country destabilizing everything forever doesn't get a president impeached.
Even if you had a real sex scandal, & a democratic version of Linda Tripp & Ken Starr, the red-statists will shoot down any evidence of wrongdoing, because after all, they have god, guns & good old American Greed on their side. Anf can see into the Don's 'heart'
Trump has fixed his fan-base, they are true believers, he probably really could 'shoot somebody' and 'wouldn't lose voters'. The Zimmerman in chief.
It'll be a long, hard slog for those of us who are repulsed by everything about the Don. But Red-statists are the activists in the USA, & they've been successful at agitating for far longer & with far greater conviction than anything the progressives ever roused.
Progressives are stuck with just trying to stop Trump from auctioning off Redwood National Park to the timber industry, & fingers crossed he doesn't exterminate the northern hemisphere with a late-night tweet.
5
Why are Democrats and progressive media wringing their hands over whether these "salacious" reports are "true" or not? Would Republicans who had such ammo against any powerful Democrat care about its "truth"? Would their amen choir in the paranoid, conspiracy obsessed lunatic fringe of right wing media care? (well, unfortunately, not so "fringe") Of course not. They would turn "golden showers" into a mantra to be repeated endlessly so that even fiction would become fact and Trump would become labelled as the country's perv-in-chief. Maybe then decent Americans who voted for Trump (yes, there must be at least some) would begin to work with the rest of us decent Americans who didn't to dump Trump and his merry band of prevaricators, self-dealing billionaires and men who never met an army uniform or shiny brass medal which they didn't lust after.
5
Much of the second report is probably correct. Why?
1. It's compiler who is a British spy had no ax to grind
2. He's very experienced and considered a reliable source by US intelligence agencies some of whom have worked with him.
3. He was conscious it was dynamite and informed both the FBI and MI6 of his findings in August/September 2016
4. Most important of all he want more business (those offices in Belgravia aren't cheap) so why would he prejudice his reputation by producing faulty intelligence?
It's possible but unlikely he was sold a bill of goods as part of some elaborate Russian double bluff. During the Soviet era every minor businessman going to Russia to sell tractors received a government warning about being compromised so why would someone as visible as a major real estate and casino figure be regarded differently?
1. It's compiler who is a British spy had no ax to grind
2. He's very experienced and considered a reliable source by US intelligence agencies some of whom have worked with him.
3. He was conscious it was dynamite and informed both the FBI and MI6 of his findings in August/September 2016
4. Most important of all he want more business (those offices in Belgravia aren't cheap) so why would he prejudice his reputation by producing faulty intelligence?
It's possible but unlikely he was sold a bill of goods as part of some elaborate Russian double bluff. During the Soviet era every minor businessman going to Russia to sell tractors received a government warning about being compromised so why would someone as visible as a major real estate and casino figure be regarded differently?
4
He is no longer a candidate, he is the Siberian President
9
Folks, the intel community presented Trump and Obama with a licit, albeit thin, intel product which screams of Russian intel collection tactics, techniques and procedures. It wasn't presented as a piece of Public Affairs. This intel product, sources from a forner MI6 official was collected, analyzed and disseminatrd as a tool for strategy and policy. Trump can't mearly dismiss it as tradh (he can try). I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Trump has a well documented history for garish. If the suit fits..
5
Noblesse oblige is the quality of an aristocrat. It provides the aura that whatever is going on is happening only because he/she permits it to happen. It is one of those qualities about which it can be said: "If you have it you don't need anything else, and if you don't have it, it doesn't matter what else you do have." Donald Trump does not have it. He wishes he had it. He tries to make each pronunciamento seem like the final word on any subject. There! I've spoken! End of discussion! Ipse dixit! but he cannot shed the aspect of the schoolyard bully with a chip on his shoulder. We should be laughing to see him respond to serious question with empty slogans. He has essentially said "I am above the law." Is there nobody who can say "No, Donald." How can this be happening.
8
This op-ed misses the point. Trump has already given away the store: he's removed the Ukraine issue from his party's platform and he is shortly going to remove sanctions placed on Russia and turn our back on NATO. This was the cost of doing business with Russia that was outlined in the Buzzfeed dossier, on a page titled 2016/095, Detail item 2.
Whatever is uncovered, or not, with the fact checking on that document, Trump has already paid the price and Russia will continue to reap the rewards.
In other words, we're arguing about something that's already happened.
Sad.
Whatever is uncovered, or not, with the fact checking on that document, Trump has already paid the price and Russia will continue to reap the rewards.
In other words, we're arguing about something that's already happened.
Sad.
8
I'd think most repubs would love for all this to be true; it would allow them to distance themselves, possibly remove djt, then continue on their merry way. it's their agenda anyway, not like the election can be undone. what do they need trump for anyway?
4
I won't hold my breath waiting for Congress or anyone else to investigate this guy. He's playing the media like a cheap violin and they seem to just lap it all up. Why should any of that change after Jan. 20th.?
2
The unverified allegations have been floating around since October. They were never "classified." Now that they've been shared, maybe some news agency will invest the effort to determine their veracity.
2
Trump describes Putin's supposed preference for him as an "asset". he may not understand that term, in this context. I fear that its the opposite. Putin sees Trump as an "asset", from the language of spies, which Putin is somewhat familiar with.
10
Why is Trump more frequently referring g to himself in the 3rd person. It's odd and probably emblematic of some weird sociopathy.
9
As he said himself, he is a serious germaphobe. Germaphobes suffer OCD, which can be subdivided into socalled Million groups: narcisstic, paranoid, schizoid. Their characterizations are all present in this guy, check it out:
"Empowered in formal organizations; rules of group provide identity and security; officious, high-handed, unimaginative, intrusive, nosy, petty-minded, meddlesome, trifling, closed-minded.
Austere, self-righteous, bigoted, dogmatic, zealous, uncompromising, indignant, and judgmental; grim and prudish morality; must control and counteract own repugnant impulses and fantasies.
Miserly, tight-fisted, ungiving, hoarding, unsharing; protects self against loss; fears intrusions into vacant inner world; dreads exposure of personal improprieties and contrary impulses."
Best description of the "puppet-nonelect" in a nutshell. It is potentially possible that the Russians have a full medical file on him, not the one his wacko doc handed out to the public. It's time for his straight jacket.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_personality_d...
"Empowered in formal organizations; rules of group provide identity and security; officious, high-handed, unimaginative, intrusive, nosy, petty-minded, meddlesome, trifling, closed-minded.
Austere, self-righteous, bigoted, dogmatic, zealous, uncompromising, indignant, and judgmental; grim and prudish morality; must control and counteract own repugnant impulses and fantasies.
Miserly, tight-fisted, ungiving, hoarding, unsharing; protects self against loss; fears intrusions into vacant inner world; dreads exposure of personal improprieties and contrary impulses."
Best description of the "puppet-nonelect" in a nutshell. It is potentially possible that the Russians have a full medical file on him, not the one his wacko doc handed out to the public. It's time for his straight jacket.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_personality_d...
I am surprised it has taken pundits this long to make the linkage. The difference is not political as Russian allegiance would have been a Red flag and commented on much earlier. The allegiance is between the ears and hence far more nefarious and dangerous. "I am the only ONE who can save us".
He has put in place his machine to reflect all issues onto the Democrats. Everyone else is stupid and incompetent, and any all failures are not of his own making.
Until the "news business" becomes a critical reporting agency and not a profit center, the republic is sinking.
He has put in place his machine to reflect all issues onto the Democrats. Everyone else is stupid and incompetent, and any all failures are not of his own making.
Until the "news business" becomes a critical reporting agency and not a profit center, the republic is sinking.
3
To quote Winston Churchill in regard to Trump: "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
9
It's funny, but really, what virtues?
In the book and the movie the real Manchurian Candidate was brainwashed, and unaware that he'd been compromised. You can't be a Manchurian Candidate if you're in on it--you're just a traitor.
157
"If six was nine."
-Jimi Hendrix
-Jimi Hendrix
Please raise your hand if you find it impossible to believe that our dignified and morally upright PEOTUS has ever hired hookers to engage in lewd acts behind closed doors, and then lied about it afterwards. No show of hands? Although unsubstantiated, the incidents described seem entirely plausible. I want a full investigation--not of his sordid sex life--but into the very real possibility that Russian agents groomed Trump and kept the photos of his sex-capades in Moscow.
10
Trump is clearly planning to lay waste to our democracy, governing as Putin does in Russia. He must be stopped before he assumes the power to stifle all opposition. This is as great a crisis as our nation has ever faced and we're all acting like it can be managed and contained. It cannot.
6
It is not all the Trump scandals that worry me, it is the objective of this new administration that does. All of Trumps picks and he himself seem to have one thing in mind, take apart and destroy all things liberal and repeal all that Obama has done. Not only is this troubling, the manner in which they intend to accomplish these ends is frankly un-American. It suggests tactics used by Putin, which would explain why Trump admires the dictator. While we are busy looking at cheap, unverifiable scandals, Trump is about to destroy our democracy by siding with the strong men of this world, those with autocratic control over their people.
What are you suggesting?
Help me Mommy, the sky is falling! The sky is falling! Damn it, it is!
Every day it seems that this cannot become any funnier than it is and the next day the hilarity increases. H. L. Mencken said that democracy is the form of government in which the people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. The United States is the Leader of the Free World? Not any more. We are now rightly considered the stupidest people on earth.
8
Thank you BuzzFeed for publishing this 35 page document. I believe the content is true. Donald Trump is a threat to the United States. He must be investigated. The Intel Community would not have included this in the PDB to Obama and Trump if they did not have corroborating evidence.
4
Max Boot is an avowed 'imperialist,' forever urging military action against America's 'foes.' Obviously he'd much prefer a president who'd gin up a real conflict--perhaps even a real war--with Russia.
Boot was one of the most bellicose of the neocons in urging the Iraq invasion--and then instructing us in what a success it had been. He probably still believes it was a noble idea. Why would we trust his instincts--or opinions--now?
I do not at all approve of Trump, but the last thing I'd wish is that he listened to Max Boot.
Boot was one of the most bellicose of the neocons in urging the Iraq invasion--and then instructing us in what a success it had been. He probably still believes it was a noble idea. Why would we trust his instincts--or opinions--now?
I do not at all approve of Trump, but the last thing I'd wish is that he listened to Max Boot.
3
The CIA gives polygraph tests to new employees, shouldn't they give one
to a president-elect??
to a president-elect??
8
I do not know what is sadder Max Boot's hate filled op-ed or the majority of
comments which have little BASIS in Fact. The division in America today is
unprecedented in my long lifetime.The future of our Republic is at Risk.
comments which have little BASIS in Fact. The division in America today is
unprecedented in my long lifetime.The future of our Republic is at Risk.
3
@JVH
Alpharetta,GA
If the future of Republic is at risk it's because you sir refuse to face up to facts. They don't get more conservative than Boot so what motivation would he have for attacking a Republican president elect? He's raising legitimate concerns.
Alpharetta,GA
If the future of Republic is at risk it's because you sir refuse to face up to facts. They don't get more conservative than Boot so what motivation would he have for attacking a Republican president elect? He's raising legitimate concerns.
4
Imagine if Trump's favorite newspaper, the National Enquirer, had published the the leaked dossiers instead of Buzzfeed? Of course, that would never happen, since the Enquirer is totally in Trump's corner. Or pocket. Or whatever.
2
The author endorses a special 9/11-style committee to investigate unattributed and unsubstantiated charges raised by a paid former foreign intelligence officer. In other words, anytime a politician faces accusations, she should be investigated by bipartisan committee to see if any evidence can be found? By that standard there would have been a special investigation to determine if President Obama was born in Kenya, not to mention a committee to determine the Clintons' role in Vincent Foster's death. However one feels about Donald Trump, this article endorses a dangerous, poorly thought-out and irresponsible precedent.
11
The proposal for an investigation committee is not only based on the report from the foreign intelligence officer. It is also based on the US intelligence agencies report about Russian hacking, and on the inexplicable devotion of Trump for Putin. And spare me the comment that he is just trying to make friends with countries with which the US has had issues in the past. If that were true, the first country with which Trump would try to make friends is our neighbor, Mexico, with which we share a huge border and commercial trade. So the idea of an investigation is not dangerous or poorly thought. It is about the only solution to the huge issue that these suspicions are.
The difference between the Foster and Kenya examples you cite and the issue at hand (Trump and Russian) is that there are actual facts in play with today's story. The Foster and Kenya lies were easily proven false. This story we are talking about here is not so absurd as the ones you refer to.
Jonathan G - Your statement is disingenuous. What people are calling for is an independent committee to investigate espionage by a foreign hostile nation to manipulate a US Presidential election. Including collusion, if any, of any US citizens. It's not about the dossier - the dossier is a data point.
I mean how would we know if he was being black-mailed? He's always dancing. How do we know if he dancing because he likes the song in his head or if he's dancing because somebody is telling him to dance?
He’s a horrible person. When I think of the flaming hoops Sec. Clinton had to jump through to prove her ‘worthiness,’ I'm beyond disgusted Mr. Trump is not held to the same standard.
Again, though, he gets away with this stuff because some voters claimed they were fine with his outrageousness (titillated, in my opinion) and because the extremist element in the Congress is willing to sell its collective soul to advance its social/economic agenda.
I pity the fool who thinks Mr. T cares about them.
(Just a little P.S. here: I also think the press could relentlessly hammer this issue ‘til the cows come home. And when a member of the press is singled out, berated/belittled and shut down at a press conference, just once I’d like to see every member of the press stand up and walk out. Press conferences can be rescheduled. Back to my original metaphor, if certain questions (like who’s your daddy?) or certain members of the press make Mr. Trump uncomfortable, he’s going to have to learn to dance faster. Tip, tap, shuffle step. That’s just another requirement of the job. Or maybe he should have kept his day job – which it kind of sounds like he’s going to do anyway. There’s another investigation we can start up. Sounds like full employment for investigators.)
He’s a horrible person. When I think of the flaming hoops Sec. Clinton had to jump through to prove her ‘worthiness,’ I'm beyond disgusted Mr. Trump is not held to the same standard.
Again, though, he gets away with this stuff because some voters claimed they were fine with his outrageousness (titillated, in my opinion) and because the extremist element in the Congress is willing to sell its collective soul to advance its social/economic agenda.
I pity the fool who thinks Mr. T cares about them.
(Just a little P.S. here: I also think the press could relentlessly hammer this issue ‘til the cows come home. And when a member of the press is singled out, berated/belittled and shut down at a press conference, just once I’d like to see every member of the press stand up and walk out. Press conferences can be rescheduled. Back to my original metaphor, if certain questions (like who’s your daddy?) or certain members of the press make Mr. Trump uncomfortable, he’s going to have to learn to dance faster. Tip, tap, shuffle step. That’s just another requirement of the job. Or maybe he should have kept his day job – which it kind of sounds like he’s going to do anyway. There’s another investigation we can start up. Sounds like full employment for investigators.)
1
It does not matter if he (Trump) is a Putin Puppet knowingly or that he is unaware that he is a Putin Puppet. In any case, Trump says that he is very intelligent - so let us believe him. The facts are this - on many issues, one can find Trump on both sides of issues, depending on time, political considerations, personality (ego), etc. He is has been and continues to be consistent on only one issue - his very favorable opinion of Putin. His team even insisted on changing the language of the GOP policy regarding Russia.
So he has an issue with perception - many many people perceive him to have a strange relationship with Putin or a stubborn unwarranted positive attitude to a very unfriendly power.
This whole thing stinks and he may very well be an unsuspecting "Manchurian Candidate". This may not be fair, but perceptions rarely are fair.
So he has an issue with perception - many many people perceive him to have a strange relationship with Putin or a stubborn unwarranted positive attitude to a very unfriendly power.
This whole thing stinks and he may very well be an unsuspecting "Manchurian Candidate". This may not be fair, but perceptions rarely are fair.
3
T for Trump. T for Treason. If the allegations of collusion with Russia are true then Trump is an existential threat to our National security. What would he do in the event of incoming Russian missiles? Imagine the Tweet on your phone as you lift your head to the sky, "Disgusting intelligence claims incoming Russian nukes. Putin on Red Phone said not true! Getting on Air Force One with Miss Universe now!"
4
Didn't BuzzFeed clearly state when they published the 35 page dossier that it was not verified by them, or anyone else? Why do media organizations feel the need to NOT publish such info, as long as its clearly labeled as to source (or lack thereof) and the reader is informed that it is not verified? The fact that Congress and the media had the dossier for months, and didn't inform the public of its existence concerns me, not because I believe the contents, but because as a citizen, I should be informed that it exists. It is not "fake news", it is unverified rumor, or possibly a hoax. There is a difference, even tho Donald Trump doesn't understand that. Trump thinks that any news he doesn't like or paints him in a poor light is "fake news." In reality, fake news is misleading or completely inaccurate information portrayed as truth.
2
"It is not "fake news", it is unverified rumor, or possibly a hoax."
Isn't it a combination of the three? The unverified rumor or hoax becomes "fake news" if and when reported if the reportage includes innuendo and sly suggestions meant to portray what is reported as being something other than what it is. If every unverified rumor or hoax were to be broadcast to the public, we would be constantly beset with media feeding frenzies -- such as the one we are now witnessing -- and partisan clamoring. And haven't we had enough of that?
Isn't it a combination of the three? The unverified rumor or hoax becomes "fake news" if and when reported if the reportage includes innuendo and sly suggestions meant to portray what is reported as being something other than what it is. If every unverified rumor or hoax were to be broadcast to the public, we would be constantly beset with media feeding frenzies -- such as the one we are now witnessing -- and partisan clamoring. And haven't we had enough of that?
1
That Trump doesn't make an effort to clear his name and demand a bipartisan commission "to investigate all of the allegations and issue a public report" indicates that he has much to hide from the public, and that the dossier on him isn't "fabrication" as he claimed.
Kellyanne Conway also denied the claims during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, adding that “nothing has been confirmed.” Of course, Russia is still willing to shield its stooge, hoping for a better relationship with Washington, like an end of sanctions etc. But should Trump choose to play tough with Putin, which he might do, as unpredictable as he is, Russia would have no qualms about confirming the allegations in the dossier.
This unprecedented confusion and disarray in the US is what old KGB moles like Putin could only dream of. Even if Russia is weakened by sanctions, the US will be dogged by public outcry and constitutional crises, unable to maintain its role as global cop.
If Trump is smart, he should come clean and step down. He could return to his businesses that he doesn't want to lost touch with. If he insists on being sworn in, he will be a liability for the country. It will weaken his presidency and he might risk an impeachment, as his path is filled with pitfalls.
Kellyanne Conway also denied the claims during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, adding that “nothing has been confirmed.” Of course, Russia is still willing to shield its stooge, hoping for a better relationship with Washington, like an end of sanctions etc. But should Trump choose to play tough with Putin, which he might do, as unpredictable as he is, Russia would have no qualms about confirming the allegations in the dossier.
This unprecedented confusion and disarray in the US is what old KGB moles like Putin could only dream of. Even if Russia is weakened by sanctions, the US will be dogged by public outcry and constitutional crises, unable to maintain its role as global cop.
If Trump is smart, he should come clean and step down. He could return to his businesses that he doesn't want to lost touch with. If he insists on being sworn in, he will be a liability for the country. It will weaken his presidency and he might risk an impeachment, as his path is filled with pitfalls.
4
@ j. von hettlingen
Let's come to an understanding. "Unverified" and "unsubstantiated" mean unproved. Why should the target of such vile and unproved rumors be required to prove that his denial is true? That's absurd, and while it may be required in Switzerland, it's not really the way things work in this country...
Let's come to an understanding. "Unverified" and "unsubstantiated" mean unproved. Why should the target of such vile and unproved rumors be required to prove that his denial is true? That's absurd, and while it may be required in Switzerland, it's not really the way things work in this country...
Trump will not allow himself to be judged, to be subjected to responsible and expert scrutiny to dispel the continuing concerns about his possible ties to Russia or Putin. Trump will not offer any clear, straightforward and unqualified affirmation that he has or does not have ties to Russia or Putin. Trump will continue to distract our attention with other subjects and half-truths, and if necessary, as he did today regarding his efforts to minimize if not eliminate his conflicts of interest, offer up his own expert intelligence and investigative results as proof that he has no ties to Russia or Putin. We may not know the truth unless or until an eleventh-hour situation presents itself that we, as a nation, cannot ignore.
4
"Mr. Trump himself is doing nothing to dispel suspicions with his hyperbolic attacks and his denials that he has business interests in Russia — when his dealings there go back decades."
Are not "his denials that he has business interests in Russia--when his dealings there go back decades" equivalent to falsehoods that in and of themselves warrant investigation? Surely these denials constitute a fraud upon the American people and their right to know just how compromised their soon-to-be president actually is.
I know many shrink back from calling our President-elect a liar, but if he is so psychologically unfit that he cannot form the intent to deceive when he repeats numerous falsehoods, isn't he psychologically unfit to be president? If his utterances of his many falsehoods are unintentional, is Mr.Trump also incapable of intentionally articulating a true state of affairs? How can one who lives so unintentional a life possibly qualify to be the most powerful political leader on our planet?
Are not "his denials that he has business interests in Russia--when his dealings there go back decades" equivalent to falsehoods that in and of themselves warrant investigation? Surely these denials constitute a fraud upon the American people and their right to know just how compromised their soon-to-be president actually is.
I know many shrink back from calling our President-elect a liar, but if he is so psychologically unfit that he cannot form the intent to deceive when he repeats numerous falsehoods, isn't he psychologically unfit to be president? If his utterances of his many falsehoods are unintentional, is Mr.Trump also incapable of intentionally articulating a true state of affairs? How can one who lives so unintentional a life possibly qualify to be the most powerful political leader on our planet?
4
The ignorance and bellicose behaviour which Donald Trump projects in public is nothing more than a reflection of the American citizens who elected him to the highest office in the land. Perhaps the American people feel the subconscious need for some sort of great potlatch : a president who will trigger tremendous upheaval leading to widespread financial and physical destruction of institutions and places of stability most sane individuals take for granted. Will we see the destruction of the mainstream media, universities, perhaps even brief wars fought with old allies over petty issues? With Donald Trump, scale and proportion are skewed, it is all a question of obeying one's most basic Pavlovian impulses!
2
You write: "the questionable character of this dossier can be used to impugn the integrity of the American intelligence community, even though it was not the source."
So: because Trump blames the intelligence community for leaking documents that they had no hand in creating and no hand in leaking, the dossier can impugn the integrity of the intelligence services? If that is so, then it seems to me that Trump can impugn anyone for any cause, and we should just give up.
Or fact check, loudly and on every single mis-statement until the waterfall of facts just drowns the misinformation.
For the love of Pete: he started his first press conference in seven months with a lie about the frequency with which he gave press conferences.
So: because Trump blames the intelligence community for leaking documents that they had no hand in creating and no hand in leaking, the dossier can impugn the integrity of the intelligence services? If that is so, then it seems to me that Trump can impugn anyone for any cause, and we should just give up.
Or fact check, loudly and on every single mis-statement until the waterfall of facts just drowns the misinformation.
For the love of Pete: he started his first press conference in seven months with a lie about the frequency with which he gave press conferences.
3
In the aftermath of 9/11, W./Cheney, followed by Obama, did embark in one of the most expensive projects in America's history. That is, to build the largest and more sophisticated security-military-espionage apparatus in the world. The era of uber power by the security-espionage bureaucracy begun.
Now 2017, president-elect Donald Trump blames directly the security apparatus for attempting to undermine his coming administration.
If the US of Trump were Turkey of Erdogan, one could expect an indiscriminate expurgation among intelligence agencies. The question is how this unprecedented standoff of president versus spies ends.
Who is going to be the last man standing up?
Now 2017, president-elect Donald Trump blames directly the security apparatus for attempting to undermine his coming administration.
If the US of Trump were Turkey of Erdogan, one could expect an indiscriminate expurgation among intelligence agencies. The question is how this unprecedented standoff of president versus spies ends.
Who is going to be the last man standing up?
1
As if we could take anything Trump says seriously; I mean, come on.
Look: has Trump visited Russia for business purposes? Yes. Does Russia monitor and document the activities of prominent (and maybe not so prominent) foreigners on its lands? Yes, and it's been doing so, like most nations, since at least the 14th century. Is it likely Donald Trump, bosom buddies so to speak with shock jock Howard Stern, behaved badly in Russia while on business? Sure. Same for Rex Tillerson. The CEO of Ford probably goes out to strip clubs casually with business partners in town and out, too. So, not a lot of digging needed there, for any of these rich vultures.
Conclusion: of course Russia has the ability to radically compromise our President-Elect, as well as many of his choice Cabinet picks. They probably have dirt on a lot of our Senators and Governors, too.
Is it a good idea not to start a war with Russia? Yes. Is it a good idea to look pragmatically for alignment and unity of purpose where interests coincide, and to be careful about interactions where interests diverge, of course. This was also true throughout the thousands of years of history of both Egypt's and China's Dynasties.
I wish the children presently in charge of the world and the media would just grow up; your naïveté is absolutely shocking, as is your melodrama and outrage.
Look: has Trump visited Russia for business purposes? Yes. Does Russia monitor and document the activities of prominent (and maybe not so prominent) foreigners on its lands? Yes, and it's been doing so, like most nations, since at least the 14th century. Is it likely Donald Trump, bosom buddies so to speak with shock jock Howard Stern, behaved badly in Russia while on business? Sure. Same for Rex Tillerson. The CEO of Ford probably goes out to strip clubs casually with business partners in town and out, too. So, not a lot of digging needed there, for any of these rich vultures.
Conclusion: of course Russia has the ability to radically compromise our President-Elect, as well as many of his choice Cabinet picks. They probably have dirt on a lot of our Senators and Governors, too.
Is it a good idea not to start a war with Russia? Yes. Is it a good idea to look pragmatically for alignment and unity of purpose where interests coincide, and to be careful about interactions where interests diverge, of course. This was also true throughout the thousands of years of history of both Egypt's and China's Dynasties.
I wish the children presently in charge of the world and the media would just grow up; your naïveté is absolutely shocking, as is your melodrama and outrage.
2
The CIA has had recent success in Syria. Success, of course, measured as the virtually complete destruction of a functioning country.
Our intelligence agencies have been tools of the war machine. They have a history of lying to the American people - for our own safety.
If, with Trump, we have less war, invade fewer countries, the traditional specialties of these intelligence agencies are not needed as much.
Time for a realignment, reshaping and reduction of the Intelligence agencies.
Our intelligence agencies have been tools of the war machine. They have a history of lying to the American people - for our own safety.
If, with Trump, we have less war, invade fewer countries, the traditional specialties of these intelligence agencies are not needed as much.
Time for a realignment, reshaping and reduction of the Intelligence agencies.
3
If the dossier was important enough to be put in the intelligence briefing then it should be released to the America people for them to make their own judgement. The dossier is just one more piece of evidence to prove what we all suspected; Mr. Trump is beholden to the Russians for one reason or the other. Trumps affinity for Putin is uncharacteristic.
I know that many in the media would like to kill this story but I would hope that there would be further investigations on the part of the media and definitely a special investigator.
I know that many in the media would like to kill this story but I would hope that there would be further investigations on the part of the media and definitely a special investigator.
5
So to prove that he is not a Russian puppet, president Trump should continue on the path of confrontation with Russia?
I hope he does not. President Trump does not have to prove anything to the democratic establishment. His only obligation is to the American people.
That is the people who struggle with high interest student loans and low wage jobs left over after free trade and globalization.
The democratic elites are freaking out at the prospect of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with Russia. They have joined with the champions of the military industrial complex in fomenting this expansionist bellicose foreign policy of the past administrations: Globalization and war - the perfect cocktail. And the media is on tow.
I hope he does not. President Trump does not have to prove anything to the democratic establishment. His only obligation is to the American people.
That is the people who struggle with high interest student loans and low wage jobs left over after free trade and globalization.
The democratic elites are freaking out at the prospect of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with Russia. They have joined with the champions of the military industrial complex in fomenting this expansionist bellicose foreign policy of the past administrations: Globalization and war - the perfect cocktail. And the media is on tow.
1
Sorry to say, the gullible who think Trump will do anything about jobs or student loans, are badly mistaken. They are on their own as Trump is, since he supports only the few things that will personally benefit him and his business interests.
There's dirt on every presidential candidate. It may have nothing to do with illegal activity, but the moral posturing that candidates and their opponents take does influence votes.
Many knew of Clinton's sexual dalliances as Governor. A few came out, but most didn't. It's known that Mario Cuomo didn't run because he found out that opposition research uncovered a vague link with organized crime to some member of his wife's family. He didn't want to put her through the ugliness that would have ensued had he run.
But these things usually are kept on the margins if the candidate is in other ways a reliable servant of the powers that be. All will be forgiven, as long as you toe the line on certain issues. And therein lies Trumps problem.
There are factions within his party and in government that have a long range strategy to put Russia in check. Trump's love affair with Putin wouldn't nullify that plan, but it would set it back.
All this talk of Trump the Manchurian candidate is just a warning. If he ignores it, there are many known issues about Trump that will set him up for impeachment.
The oligarchs don't care about his sex life, his conflicts or his ties to organized crime. They care about the military industrial complex and the billions they make from it. A new detente with Russia could affect this and this is what Trump is being advised not to tamper with. He is simply being given an offer he can't refuse.
Many knew of Clinton's sexual dalliances as Governor. A few came out, but most didn't. It's known that Mario Cuomo didn't run because he found out that opposition research uncovered a vague link with organized crime to some member of his wife's family. He didn't want to put her through the ugliness that would have ensued had he run.
But these things usually are kept on the margins if the candidate is in other ways a reliable servant of the powers that be. All will be forgiven, as long as you toe the line on certain issues. And therein lies Trumps problem.
There are factions within his party and in government that have a long range strategy to put Russia in check. Trump's love affair with Putin wouldn't nullify that plan, but it would set it back.
All this talk of Trump the Manchurian candidate is just a warning. If he ignores it, there are many known issues about Trump that will set him up for impeachment.
The oligarchs don't care about his sex life, his conflicts or his ties to organized crime. They care about the military industrial complex and the billions they make from it. A new detente with Russia could affect this and this is what Trump is being advised not to tamper with. He is simply being given an offer he can't refuse.
4
RE: "BuzzFeed made a serious mistake in simply posting all of this unverified information online, ignoring the journalistic practice of checking and corroboration."
But wasn't posting unverified information online, ignoring the journalistic practice of checking and corroboration the successful strategy employed by Trump and the Republicans in getting him elected? Substitute Breitbart in that sentence and it's the same thing, except it wasn't a serious mistake, it was a winning strategy.
I am certainly not advocating for fake news and unsubstantiated stories, but for Trump and his supporters to decry the publishing of such information when it was their stock in trade is ludicrous. And the difference is that in the case of this report there was an actual effort to collect information, which could still have some truth in it, whereas in Trump World you had people simply making things up and then making pronouncements. Even to the point where one went marching into a pizza place with gun to root out the child sex ring he believed Clinton and Podesta were running.
But wasn't posting unverified information online, ignoring the journalistic practice of checking and corroboration the successful strategy employed by Trump and the Republicans in getting him elected? Substitute Breitbart in that sentence and it's the same thing, except it wasn't a serious mistake, it was a winning strategy.
I am certainly not advocating for fake news and unsubstantiated stories, but for Trump and his supporters to decry the publishing of such information when it was their stock in trade is ludicrous. And the difference is that in the case of this report there was an actual effort to collect information, which could still have some truth in it, whereas in Trump World you had people simply making things up and then making pronouncements. Even to the point where one went marching into a pizza place with gun to root out the child sex ring he believed Clinton and Podesta were running.
10
It's not just that President Obama's farewell speech was terrific, and that he has always been a thoughtful and insightful speaker, and that Mr. Trump cannot even seem to properly construct a grammatically correct sentence, but the juxtaposition of the two on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning lent even greater contrast between the them, and should tell us that we're in for really bad times. Really Bad. Sad.
My family is on vacation in Disney World in Orlando. My wife went to the Hall of Presidents yesterday and told me last night that she cried as she left thinking about the future enshrinement of Donald Trump among these great men. No, I told her, they weren't all great, but all are heads and shoulders above the low-life lout who is about to assume office. Sad. Very sad.
My family is on vacation in Disney World in Orlando. My wife went to the Hall of Presidents yesterday and told me last night that she cried as she left thinking about the future enshrinement of Donald Trump among these great men. No, I told her, they weren't all great, but all are heads and shoulders above the low-life lout who is about to assume office. Sad. Very sad.
13
There must be relentless pressure maintained to have a full and complete Congressional investigation into the Russian hacking matter. Have we forgotten that Mr. Putin is a former KGB agent who wants to restore the power and glory days of the former Soviet Union? Has our President-elect forgotten that one of his most important duties as the new President is the protection of the United States? If our President-elect would rather spend time criticizing Meryl Streep instead of wanting to get to the bottom of the Russian hacking matter and Mr. Putin's plans, then America is now in an incredibly dangerous position. I never thought I would see the day when a future American President would be elected who would care only about himself and not about what happens to America. Based on Mr. Trump's actions and words to date I believe it would be quite proper and quite necessary to have some type of Congressional special investigator "on-call" to review each and every decision Mr. Trump makes to make sure that, as the American President, he is carrying out his duties as an American President and not as a spineless lackey for a foreign leader, a foreign government or worse.
5
I don't have a problem with BuzzFeed publishing this, but I have to admit that at 10 O'clock at night seeing a Times article pop up as breaking news that was giving air to "unsubstantiated" accusations of Trump being blackmailed over Russian hookers, I was disappointed. The information was presented in a manner that indicated that it would soon be substantiated. For once, Trump is right about this one.
There is more than enough out that is unexplained and substantial that people need to know. Stick with the money. The business relationships. The nepotism. Verifiable facts. I don't care about Trumps sexual indiscretions any more than I cared about Clinton's. Trump's reaction to the publication of this report might be news, but unsubstantiated reports are not. This is the kind of stuff that level-headed people are tired of and just serves to fuel the anger and alienation that has put us in this position in the first place.
There is more than enough out that is unexplained and substantial that people need to know. Stick with the money. The business relationships. The nepotism. Verifiable facts. I don't care about Trumps sexual indiscretions any more than I cared about Clinton's. Trump's reaction to the publication of this report might be news, but unsubstantiated reports are not. This is the kind of stuff that level-headed people are tired of and just serves to fuel the anger and alienation that has put us in this position in the first place.
7
Mr. Trump could dispel a great deal of the mystery by simply releasing his tax returns. His claim today that only the press cares any more is patently false. A great many voters in the general public here in the US still want to understand if he has business ties with, or sizeable loans from, Russian oligarchs and banks, many of which are deeply loyal to Putin. Disclosing his returns, as every US president has done in living memory, is a step towards dispelling the taint of Russian undue influence.
128
In the fine old days of the 1960's, when standard-operational corruption was dealt with by an idealistic press - you could always say, "where there's smoke..." and a Woodward and a Bernstein would arise from the ranks and dig until the president got on a helicopter and flew home to the beach, never again to darken our doorsteps.
Obviously this can't happen anymore. It is impossible to parse actual corruption from the infinite network bandwidth into which anyone's callously spewed utterance is instantly rebroadcast world-wide. As of the last six months - we can't even determine the definition of the word "news" anymore - because anything put onto the net is "news" - whether or not it bears resemblance to reality and worse - someone can always self-modify his own reality to match whatever fact or fiction he absorbs. Statistically speaking, some segment of the population will acknowledge it with 1/10th their brain power while driving or supposedly toiling away at their jobs. Nobody can tell fact from fiction - but yet, the promise of material gain from corrupt acts remains a truth, and a constant.
Part of this Russian-Trump connection theory is a fabrication of the press, applying old rule judgement to the network data spew, and some is verifiable truth. Only we can't figure out how to verify any of it.
Where there is smoke, there may just be someone vaping. Or, there may be a corrupt politician willing to take down our country.
The stakes are huge, and we're in a fog.
Obviously this can't happen anymore. It is impossible to parse actual corruption from the infinite network bandwidth into which anyone's callously spewed utterance is instantly rebroadcast world-wide. As of the last six months - we can't even determine the definition of the word "news" anymore - because anything put onto the net is "news" - whether or not it bears resemblance to reality and worse - someone can always self-modify his own reality to match whatever fact or fiction he absorbs. Statistically speaking, some segment of the population will acknowledge it with 1/10th their brain power while driving or supposedly toiling away at their jobs. Nobody can tell fact from fiction - but yet, the promise of material gain from corrupt acts remains a truth, and a constant.
Part of this Russian-Trump connection theory is a fabrication of the press, applying old rule judgement to the network data spew, and some is verifiable truth. Only we can't figure out how to verify any of it.
Where there is smoke, there may just be someone vaping. Or, there may be a corrupt politician willing to take down our country.
The stakes are huge, and we're in a fog.
34
And what you've just done is to add to that fog.
The Russian hacking is not a fabrication of the press, it's the conclusion of the intelligence agencies. And the two page summary of the report alleging Trump was compromised by the Russians was supposedly included in the briefing for both Trump and Obama.
The press are just reporting what was transpiring.
By convoluting these reports as fabrications by the press, you are the one creating the fog.
The Russian hacking is not a fabrication of the press, it's the conclusion of the intelligence agencies. And the two page summary of the report alleging Trump was compromised by the Russians was supposedly included in the briefing for both Trump and Obama.
The press are just reporting what was transpiring.
By convoluting these reports as fabrications by the press, you are the one creating the fog.
A bipartisan investigative commission. What are you, nuts? The republican party would never let this happen, not to mention Trump. Casting light on the shadows is just about the last thing our new republican-run government wants happening.
Nice sentiment, though.
Nice sentiment, though.
85
When even republicans have begun to criticize T, one might think that we might be able to find enough lawmakers to fill an investigative committee.
I think there should be an investigative body to look at all his lies and make those public with references cited so that there can be no question even in the mind of his most stalwart supporter that he and Kellyanne were lying.
Of course all this should have been made public during the election before many voted. All anyone would have needed to do is read back issues of the better newspapers--NYT, Washington Post, etc.
I think there should be an investigative body to look at all his lies and make those public with references cited so that there can be no question even in the mind of his most stalwart supporter that he and Kellyanne were lying.
Of course all this should have been made public during the election before many voted. All anyone would have needed to do is read back issues of the better newspapers--NYT, Washington Post, etc.
12
Right, Jasoturner. Isn't it amazing how desperately Trump's enemies turn to magical thinking--as if their Fairy Godmother Meryl could save them with her wand--when trying to confront the reality of Trump? Trump is to the Republican Congress what Huey Long was to the Louisiana legislature, and for the same reason: He totally controls all that finally counts, not money but VOTERS.
Train wreck coming! If you want to prevent it, have POTUS and SCOTUS declare a state of emergency and hold off the inauguration until the US intelligence agencies put out a formal report about the election AND Donald Trump releases all his tax returns.
114
Supply Tax Returns? Never happen!
That would be the most prudent course. The dossier is plausibly believable and consistent with events that have been troubling to much of the electorate.
It must be investigated by a bipartisan (read patriotic) commission. Trump must be compelled to produce his taxes and the inauguration must be postponed until this matter is settled.
Unusual-yes but these are unusual circumstances. Mr. Trump has done nothing to show cooperation with our intelligence agencies or compliance with generally held norms.
To the contrary, his own actions and comments beg further suspicions.
It must be investigated by a bipartisan (read patriotic) commission. Trump must be compelled to produce his taxes and the inauguration must be postponed until this matter is settled.
Unusual-yes but these are unusual circumstances. Mr. Trump has done nothing to show cooperation with our intelligence agencies or compliance with generally held norms.
To the contrary, his own actions and comments beg further suspicions.
Sane advice. Oh, if this could only happen! There is enough material to stop this inauguration. If only there were courage to do so.
Trump is not only a con artist liar but if you analyze his speech patterns and temper reactions to any criticism, he is also delusional and mentally imbalanced. In any other situation, he would never be hired to be a CEO of anything, but instead, because no one is facing the reality of the situation, this mentally unhinged person will now head up the American government. REALLY?
Trump is not only a con artist liar but if you analyze his speech patterns and temper reactions to any criticism, he is also delusional and mentally imbalanced. In any other situation, he would never be hired to be a CEO of anything, but instead, because no one is facing the reality of the situation, this mentally unhinged person will now head up the American government. REALLY?
1
" ‘A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.’ Very unfair!” Well, yes, of course Russia said that. But why should anyone believe what Mr. Putin says?
A better question is "Why wouldn't Putin say that?" Public denial is a win-win for Putin. If Putin has the goods on Trump, then he hasn't admitted the truth. If Putin doesn't have the goods on trump -- unlikely -- then Putin further stirs political unrest in America and makes Trump weaker.
Putin is sooooooooooooooooo many steps ahead of Trump...
A better question is "Why wouldn't Putin say that?" Public denial is a win-win for Putin. If Putin has the goods on Trump, then he hasn't admitted the truth. If Putin doesn't have the goods on trump -- unlikely -- then Putin further stirs political unrest in America and makes Trump weaker.
Putin is sooooooooooooooooo many steps ahead of Trump...
102
It was interesting to me that the article mentioned Garry Kasparov, a chess player. The Russians love chess. Where Mr. Trump's tactics are based on manipulation and bullying, the Russians (as well as any functional intelligence agency) are thinking about gambits, pins, sacrifices, poison pawns, combinations and traps; all effective tactics in chess even when the pieces of both sides are fully exposed and only the skill of your opponent matters. By attacking our own chess players, Trump has effectively left a major piece off the board before the game even starts. Every chess player has to respect every opponent until they make a mistake.
2
I don't doubt for an instant that Russian spies have obtained compromising information regarding Trump. I believe they also have it regarding the GOP, whose email they harvested. (Could that explain the absolutely craven surrender of Paul Ryan and Priebus to Trump, which sometimes wavered when he was loosing so very badly, but never failed completely? Or are they just unprincipled power-hungry pols?) Is the information on Trump of a sexual nature? I don't actually believe he'd be too distressed to be involved in a sex scandal. That is why I think the information either relates to financial matters and includes a threat both of revelation and retribution (calling the debts?) or would evidence treason (a conspiracy related to the revelation of hacked DNC docs?). I applaud Buzzfeed on the one hand for telling the pubic what many in Washington and the press have been talking about for weeks, but I am afraid that, if any detail is found to be false, the whole dossier and whatever seems connected will be distrusted by certain segments of the public. (An aside: It is mighty rich of the Birther-in-Chief to complain of unsubstantiated allegations against him. Also, I am certain that, had such a dossier been floating around during the campaign regarding Hillary Clinton, we'd have learned about it through Wikileaks or Breitbart immediately, his surrogates would have been out in force hawking it, and then real journalists would have felt compelled to cover it.)
10
I always thought Trump's working overtime to cozy up to Putin was for financial reasons -- because, after all, it's clear that the Donald's number one priority as president will be to advance the business interests of Donald Trump. But this new possibility -- that Putin holds compromat on Trump (compromising material, typically of sexual nature) -- makes even more sense. We should remember that Trump has already gone out of his way to advance Putin's interests in a strategic way. At the GOP convention, the non-ideological, uncurious, intellectually lazy Trump suddenly got intensely focused on a single plank in the GOP's platform: a plank that condemned Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. There was not a single other platform issue that caught his attention: only one issue --Ukraine -- that is insignificant to the average American but of the utmost importance to Putin because it is the basis for international sanctions against his government. Trump ordered his operatives to soften the GOP's condemnation of Putin, and they succeeded in doing so. This was exceedingly strange -- but now makes perfect sense if one considers that it was done at Putin's direction, leveraging compromat he holds over our soon-to-be president. Manchurian president indeed.
21
Would Mr. Trump retain an employee in a confidential and sensitive position that refuses to provide background information that indicates whether or not he has significantly interacted with a serious competitor? An employee who doesn't trust anyone, but expects his employer to trust him blindly and completely?
In one of the debates, Mr. Trump accused Secretary Clinton of secretly working with foreign entities, banks, to "deliver the sovereignty" of the United States government. I had no idea where he came up with that accusation--why would any US citizen ever consider doing such a thing. That incident gnaws at me whenever I hear Mr. Trump talk glowingly about Putin and disparagingly of US citizens, residents, and public servants.
In one of the debates, Mr. Trump accused Secretary Clinton of secretly working with foreign entities, banks, to "deliver the sovereignty" of the United States government. I had no idea where he came up with that accusation--why would any US citizen ever consider doing such a thing. That incident gnaws at me whenever I hear Mr. Trump talk glowingly about Putin and disparagingly of US citizens, residents, and public servants.
19
Mary -- HRC approved the deal where the Russians obtained 20% of our uranium reserves. In exchange for large $$$ speaking fees for Bill and large contributions to the Clinton foundation. And let's not forget that the Clinton foundation received contributions from various foreign entities in return for favorable treatment by and/or access to SofS Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Of course, the proof of their pay for play scam will be their future speaking fees and contributions to the Clinton foundation. How many companies/governments will be willing to fork over $250-$500k for a speech when there is no quid for their quo.
Of course, the proof of their pay for play scam will be their future speaking fees and contributions to the Clinton foundation. How many companies/governments will be willing to fork over $250-$500k for a speech when there is no quid for their quo.
U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Section 4
"The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Let's skip the high crimes and misdemeanors - too vague. Let's focus on the elephant in the room: TREASON. As the salacious accusations circulate, let's look for the actions taken that, a) can be proven, and b) are so offensive to the American electorate that even the Republicans in Congress can no longer ignore. In Watergate, the compelled release of Nixon's recordings proved his early complicity in paying hush money and doomed him - in his own words, he "lost political support."
If in fact Trump is beholden to Putin or terrified his secret life will be confirmed, and as a result takes actions against America's interest, the drumbeat of treason should increase in volume and tempo to the point that no decent member of Congress can escape it. Then, as in 1974, his political support will wither and they will have the courage to impeach.
"The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Let's skip the high crimes and misdemeanors - too vague. Let's focus on the elephant in the room: TREASON. As the salacious accusations circulate, let's look for the actions taken that, a) can be proven, and b) are so offensive to the American electorate that even the Republicans in Congress can no longer ignore. In Watergate, the compelled release of Nixon's recordings proved his early complicity in paying hush money and doomed him - in his own words, he "lost political support."
If in fact Trump is beholden to Putin or terrified his secret life will be confirmed, and as a result takes actions against America's interest, the drumbeat of treason should increase in volume and tempo to the point that no decent member of Congress can escape it. Then, as in 1974, his political support will wither and they will have the courage to impeach.
24
"Conspiracy to Commit Espionage" was the charge against the Rosenbergs who were prosecuted by the loathsome and nefarious Roy Cohn, Trump's mentor.
Trump is president elect and no longer a candidate. Yes Putin is nuclear armed and the reality is he is a leader of one of the largest countries in the world that spans across 2 continents, Europe and Asia. It takes 7 days by rail to travel across from one end of the country Moscow to the edge of the Pacific Vladivostok. Putin's Russia may not be considered a super power any more but is still a major influence in the world along with China standing up to the USA like no other leader since Brezhnev;s soviet Union. That said Putin has crossed boundaries of the existing world order as the western world would like to declare based on several occurrences. Trump and his nominee for secretary of state have taken a pragmatic approach and recognized that a good working relation with Russia will be beneficial for the USA and for world peace and harping on Putin's conduct on the world scene and going as far as labeling Putin as a "war criminal"is counter productive to US-Russia relations. Putin has raised Russia's International profile even while withstanding sanctions. There is no doubt that Putin yearned for a change in the USA and in Trump he may think he has a president who he can work with just as the west thought that they can work better with Gorbachev. I would assume that Trump voters don't want conflicts and a thrust for regime change and a colossal waste on costly wars that has been the hallmark of US foreign policy in this century. It has not made the world more at peace.
4
Trump appears to still think this is all about his "legitimacy." While this is partially true, there's now much at stake here that is far more important. At the moment, we have the added horror of not only worrying about the legitimacy of the election, but also of Trump himself.
Trump is painfully unbalanced - a fact which his supporters, and the Right are desparate to ignore, but the rest of America (and the world) now worry about. Trump's overbearing need for praise and glory, and his grossly distorted perceptions, make him an easy mark for the Crafty and Unscrupulous. Russia and Putin have shown over and over that they are highly intelligent, tactical Players. It does not take much reflection to realize that they must have been very sure of their ground - and their target - before they rolled the dice on this extraordinarily high stakes gamble. There is more, much much more here than we yet know... but it certainly is very bad for the US.
Fairness to Clinton? Legitimacy? Not any more. The real question is what the Russians have on Trump, and what it means for the country. At least some of us cannot help but wonder if Trump belongs in the White House - or in Fort Leavenworth.
The FBI Director and the Agency bungled the most important national issue to ever cross their path. Guarding us against a true Manchurian Candidate would have justified everything they have ever been, and will be for the next century. "Backing the wrong horse" doesn't begin to cover this!
Trump is painfully unbalanced - a fact which his supporters, and the Right are desparate to ignore, but the rest of America (and the world) now worry about. Trump's overbearing need for praise and glory, and his grossly distorted perceptions, make him an easy mark for the Crafty and Unscrupulous. Russia and Putin have shown over and over that they are highly intelligent, tactical Players. It does not take much reflection to realize that they must have been very sure of their ground - and their target - before they rolled the dice on this extraordinarily high stakes gamble. There is more, much much more here than we yet know... but it certainly is very bad for the US.
Fairness to Clinton? Legitimacy? Not any more. The real question is what the Russians have on Trump, and what it means for the country. At least some of us cannot help but wonder if Trump belongs in the White House - or in Fort Leavenworth.
The FBI Director and the Agency bungled the most important national issue to ever cross their path. Guarding us against a true Manchurian Candidate would have justified everything they have ever been, and will be for the next century. "Backing the wrong horse" doesn't begin to cover this!
23
Very interesting that the alleged Trump insider showed Trump his US passport and there was no stamp showing that he went to the Czech Republic, he just said he never did, Trump looked at his passport and did not see a stamp and believed him.
I just checked my US electronic passport issued in March 1015 and thus I can prove, according to Trump, that I never traveled to Hamburg, Germany, Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen, Denmark, Frankfurt, Germany, Munich, Germany, Lisbon, Portugal, Madrid, Spain (4 times), and the Canary Islands (3 times), where I am now staying, because there are no stamps in my passport indicating I was any of these locations. However, I do have the flight tickets for all these travels to prove it. Also, there is no stamp in my passport to indicate that I was in the States from 22 August until 20 September 2016, but there is one that indicates that I entered the US on June 4, 2015, but no departure date when I left.
So, as usual Trump is either stupid about passport stamps in the modern era of electronic passports, or was hoodwinked by his advisor. My opinion, probably a lot both.
I just checked my US electronic passport issued in March 1015 and thus I can prove, according to Trump, that I never traveled to Hamburg, Germany, Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen, Denmark, Frankfurt, Germany, Munich, Germany, Lisbon, Portugal, Madrid, Spain (4 times), and the Canary Islands (3 times), where I am now staying, because there are no stamps in my passport indicating I was any of these locations. However, I do have the flight tickets for all these travels to prove it. Also, there is no stamp in my passport to indicate that I was in the States from 22 August until 20 September 2016, but there is one that indicates that I entered the US on June 4, 2015, but no departure date when I left.
So, as usual Trump is either stupid about passport stamps in the modern era of electronic passports, or was hoodwinked by his advisor. My opinion, probably a lot both.
29
Trump-Putin-Exxon (Tillerson) - that is the power triangle at work. Exxon wields unfathomable power around the world as the largest non-government owed oil company. Their largest investment around the world, so large as to make all other investments a handful of peanuts, is the $500,000 million they put into exploring and developing Russian oil and the rights they received in return to drill 63.7 million acres in the Arctic. Sanctions stand in the way. It is well reported that Exxon lobbied heavily against sanctions both before and after their imposition. Today, in his testimony, Tillerson denied that fact, claimed to have no knowledge of this lobbying. Then he's provided with documentary proof of the lobbying efforts and his response is: I don't know, and maybe Exxon was lobbying in favour of the sanctions. That is the most ridiculous lie I think I've ever had the displeasure to hear. But if, as CEO of Exxon, he truly didn't know that Exxon was lobbying then he must be a thoroughly incompetent CEO.
35
An investigation/audit of Exxon relationships and activities including an audit of Exxon expenditures in Russia and around the world should be conducted as it relates to the foreign corrupt practices Act.
The Russians don't play by the rules and I suspect both parties played fast and loose with FCPA. Failure to comply is not only penalized by enormous fines but also criminal penalty. Should be part of the vetting of Rex T.
The Russians don't play by the rules and I suspect both parties played fast and loose with FCPA. Failure to comply is not only penalized by enormous fines but also criminal penalty. Should be part of the vetting of Rex T.
1
He knew everything that was going on. I would like to suggest or propose that we are not observing a power triangle... we are dealing with a Hexagonal Pyramid Power Consortium. Trump -Putin -Exxon(Tillerman) - Koch Brothers (Pence & DeVos) - Bannon - Trump's Kids & Son-in-Law. A large part of the insidious support for Mr. Trump is cultivated from the World's Oil Barons who want to drill in the Arctic. They need to deny Climate Change and their goal is to make as much money as possible and gain as much power and control as possible before their game is up. And that's the sad part folks... they have no sense of humanity, the view this as a game. Unfortunately, one of their strategies is to destabilize and minimize the power of middle and lower class Americans. Their goal isn't to "Make America Great Again". It's to Make Themselves Wealthier.
1
It would seem that if any real proof of some kind of unseemly relationship between Trump and Putin existed it would have come to light by now. Interested parties have been at this for at least months now and all we have is this spook dossier of anonymous and unsubstantiatable hearsay. It wouldn't surprise me if there were an actual Trump-Putin link that would forever undermine the validity of Trump's election, just as it would surprise me even less, not at all, if tapes of Trump cavorting with Russian prostitutes existed. But I do not expect to ever see any of this exposed to the factual light of day. The idea that either Panetta or Hayden would have instant, across-the-board credibility to lead any further investigation is absurd. What we would get from such an investigation is bound to be at best some more vague suggestions that things that should not have been done were probably done and none of it will amount to enough rope to tie a noose. I do not doubt we are about to see a thoroughly corrupt, contemptible and likely criminal fraud installed as the leader of our country. I would like to see as much energy as possible now put towards building up a coalition of electable candidates who are capable of persuading those Trump voters not yet hopelessly sunk in sheer, morally bankrupt idiocy that they were perhaps somewhat understandably duped this time around, but should have the intelligence, fortitude and self-esteem to admit it and not get fooled again.
12
One of the comments here questioned whether Trump could pass a background check. Interesting. He now has access to high security briefings, but how much has HE been vetted?
Years ago as a secretary working for the HEW Surveys and Investigations Staff, I needed a Q clearance. The office worked on preparing reports for Congress on government spending, and of course much of that is military. I was conditionally hired, and an in-depth security investigation was initiated. 8 months later I was asked to leave, segregated from sensitive material and assisted in finding another job. Why? I was adopted from post-war Europe and my birth mother had been a refugee from (then) Czechoslovakia who had been married to a Lithuanian who was fighting the Russians - our allies at that time. Because it was felt that I might have emotional sensitivity on account of the fact that I was 2 before I was adopted, I might pose a risk if she was threatened in any way and therefore vulnerable. I found out that a significant amount of money and time had been spent in the investigation...and remember -- I was only a secretary, not a person who would be able to wield power.
So it seems to me that Trump's taxes and business dealings certainly would be an issue for national security, and all his huffing and bluster about his elected "mandate", nor his "tax audit" should not intimidate our government taking action that is not partisan. He, and his tweets, are a security risk to 319 million Americans!
Years ago as a secretary working for the HEW Surveys and Investigations Staff, I needed a Q clearance. The office worked on preparing reports for Congress on government spending, and of course much of that is military. I was conditionally hired, and an in-depth security investigation was initiated. 8 months later I was asked to leave, segregated from sensitive material and assisted in finding another job. Why? I was adopted from post-war Europe and my birth mother had been a refugee from (then) Czechoslovakia who had been married to a Lithuanian who was fighting the Russians - our allies at that time. Because it was felt that I might have emotional sensitivity on account of the fact that I was 2 before I was adopted, I might pose a risk if she was threatened in any way and therefore vulnerable. I found out that a significant amount of money and time had been spent in the investigation...and remember -- I was only a secretary, not a person who would be able to wield power.
So it seems to me that Trump's taxes and business dealings certainly would be an issue for national security, and all his huffing and bluster about his elected "mandate", nor his "tax audit" should not intimidate our government taking action that is not partisan. He, and his tweets, are a security risk to 319 million Americans!
59
No way he passes a background check for a TS clearances. 4 business bankruptcies, foreign loans especailly from the Russians, over 3000 lawsuits, federal charges and judgements for discrimination and please this guy can't pass a lie detector test neede to work at DIA.
So true! As a retired federal government employee who had several security background checks throughout my career, I strongly support the stringent vetting of someone who might be my commander-in-chief, before they are certified by their party as their candidate.
Our Constitution lays out the qualifications for President of The United States. American citizens the vote (hire) one of two or more candidates after vigorous examination of their backgrounds, ideas, demeanor during the campaign.
It's obvious you are upset with the outcome of this election, but an election is a mandate. Unfortunately everything seems to be partisan these days.
It's obvious you are upset with the outcome of this election, but an election is a mandate. Unfortunately everything seems to be partisan these days.
"How can you tell when Trump is lying? His lips are moving." That old joke has found new meaning, first with a candidate and now with a president-elect who seems incapable of telling the truth on any topic. A pathological liar simply can't help themselves and tells lie after lie. Machiavellianism, another form of mental illness, is when someone incessantly tries to manipulate others for their own gain. It can be co-morbid with pathological lying. These illnesses tend to also link to narcissism, which is quite evident in the president-elect, in fact so textbook that some are recording his statements to use as perfect examples for medical students and psychologists in training. Finally and perhaps most worrisome is that psychopathy is also often seen in these individuals. That is someone who has no moral compass, no ability to emotionally connect, can't apologize, is incapable of remorse, tends to be very promiscuous. This is someone who would not understand the ethical issues of pushing a nuclear trigger, would not understand emotionally the devastation it would cause and would never feel remorse for doing so. There is no known treatment for a psychopath. This should be the scariest moment in American history for the USA is by far the world's most powerful nation and we are handing the keys to a clearly severely compromised and mentally ill person.
51
I agree with establishing a commission to investigate. Though a dossier on Trump's scandalous behavior would not be surprising considering forty years of personal and financial scandals, an American leader demonstrating favorabilty to a adversarial country with designs to destroy democracies is deeply concerning. Since the GOP primaries, Trump has praised Putin and embraced Russian foreign policy, as well as employing campaign staff with direct and indirect ties to Putin sympathizers and influential Russians. One constant in Trump's campaign was politically unnecessary and unordinary Russian favoritism. There is too much evidence to ignore that has come straight from the candidate's mouth, the candidate's associations, the candidate's son speaking of lucrative business deals with Russia.
25
Ive been to Prague twice and I don't have a stamp in my passport either. I drove in from Germany.
This is the most outrageous hoax ever perpetrated on America. Here we have a president elect who knows absolutely nothing about the most difficult and important job in the world and has no desire to learn despite the fact that he is about step into into it. We have a president who denies freedom of the press by threatening to eject reporters he disagrees with from new conferences and calls all mainstream media other than Fox "fake news". We have a president who always gets the facts wrong, lies incessantly with every breath and publicly alienates and undermines the intelligence agencies we rely on to keep us safe. We have a president who received clandestine help from the Russians to win the election, has extensive and unexplored business dealings with Russia and who seems to admire and wish to emulate the butcher dictator Vladimir Putin. Now we learn that the Russians may also have seriously compromising information on him they might use at any time to gain even more leverage over him at some point in the future.
Partisan politics aside at what point will the GOP recognize that the candidate they have put forward is simply a lemon who will do lasting and permanent damage to our once great nation? At what point will they admit that they have put forward a man so seriously compromised that he presents a clear and present danger to the republic? At what point will they put love of country ahead of their own personal self interest? In a word? Never.
Partisan politics aside at what point will the GOP recognize that the candidate they have put forward is simply a lemon who will do lasting and permanent damage to our once great nation? At what point will they admit that they have put forward a man so seriously compromised that he presents a clear and present danger to the republic? At what point will they put love of country ahead of their own personal self interest? In a word? Never.
101
Oh please...Obama has virtually NO experience going in...a 'community organizer', a 'college lecturer' - had parked his law license years before....alittle over a year in the Senate..
The Republican Party leaders like Paul Ryan care only about power. And now they run America even if it is flushed down the toilet by their guy Donald Trump.
And what's even a worse state of affairs is the mentality of Trump's supporters who could care less about what a danger Trump and the Republican Party is to America only as long as Hillary Clinton wasn't elected.
While we have outside threats from a dictator like Putin and fanatical religious crazies like Isis, I fear even a greater danger to our nation is our own people who think there's nothing wrong with the Republican Party or Trump only as long as Trump was elected.
And what's even a worse state of affairs is the mentality of Trump's supporters who could care less about what a danger Trump and the Republican Party is to America only as long as Hillary Clinton wasn't elected.
While we have outside threats from a dictator like Putin and fanatical religious crazies like Isis, I fear even a greater danger to our nation is our own people who think there's nothing wrong with the Republican Party or Trump only as long as Trump was elected.
Buzzfeed was right to release the dossier. It was genuinely news, part of a briefing given by U.S. intelligence agencies.
It isn't the media's job to verify intelligence reports. That's what the CIA and FBI are for. The media's job is simply to present the facts: this report exists, it comes from credible sources, and it's in the process of being verified. Report what you know and don't know, and let us make up our own minds.
Especially since the odds are very, very good that the corruption in Trump's administration will always be difficult or impossible to verify. The Times must not shield us from everything that can't be proven, but should err on the side of providing what is and is not known. Part of the truth may be the most you'll be able to uncover as the rot truly sets in.
The value of having this kind of information is that it can reveal patterns. In this case, a pattern exists in which Trump bows and scrapes to Moscow in a way that makes no logical sense. Trump has offered no reasonable explanation for his Putin infatuation, which makes this report a vital part of that pattern. Enough pieces will eventually show us what's really happening.
The only way to report on what Trump and Putin will try to hide is to move the marker of when to publish. Something as significant as this report should never remain known in Washington and unknown to the American people.
It isn't the media's job to verify intelligence reports. That's what the CIA and FBI are for. The media's job is simply to present the facts: this report exists, it comes from credible sources, and it's in the process of being verified. Report what you know and don't know, and let us make up our own minds.
Especially since the odds are very, very good that the corruption in Trump's administration will always be difficult or impossible to verify. The Times must not shield us from everything that can't be proven, but should err on the side of providing what is and is not known. Part of the truth may be the most you'll be able to uncover as the rot truly sets in.
The value of having this kind of information is that it can reveal patterns. In this case, a pattern exists in which Trump bows and scrapes to Moscow in a way that makes no logical sense. Trump has offered no reasonable explanation for his Putin infatuation, which makes this report a vital part of that pattern. Enough pieces will eventually show us what's really happening.
The only way to report on what Trump and Putin will try to hide is to move the marker of when to publish. Something as significant as this report should never remain known in Washington and unknown to the American people.
49
How do you know that that is what it is? Buzzfeed said so? Where is that eyeroll gif?
Given what we do know about Trump - his choice of a campaign manager, his admitted business interests in Russia, his open invitation to the Russians to hack Clinton, his willful disregard for the protections of our constitution and his odd affection for Putin it more likely than not that he does have some direct connection with Russia, as well as skeletons that Putin can use to manipulate him. Nor does it seem likely that the author of the report would risk professional reputation and a network of connections in Russia to put out a false report. We have to stiffen our spines and do what has to be done in a manner that protects our democracy. A bipartisan investigation by congress is a start. People of courage will also have to come forward to substantiate the report. It will take years to sort out how the United States got to this point - electing an individual who may turn out to be a traitor but first we must deal directly with the problem.
62
Indeed, if Republicans were willing to fully investigate Hillary's private email server why wouldn't they investigate this? What, it's not in their political interest? They dare risk our national security?
@OUTRAGED:
Actually, everyone who voted for Trump and many Republicans who didn't are pleased that Trump will be the president. The liberals are naturally outraged because he will dismantle your agenda, imposed on us by Obama and his team. And these stories about various reports, flying here, there and everywhere, are just part of the usual smears against Trump.
Actually, everyone who voted for Trump and many Republicans who didn't are pleased that Trump will be the president. The liberals are naturally outraged because he will dismantle your agenda, imposed on us by Obama and his team. And these stories about various reports, flying here, there and everywhere, are just part of the usual smears against Trump.
Current civic circumstances bring out the worst in everyone, but the press hysteria at the thought of the public having access to an easily read and understood 35 page document that is the source of months of reporting via innuendo and tweet is, frankly, insulting. Despite the use of the pejorative verbiage (Buzzfeed "dumped" the dossier), the dossier was clearly identified as unverified when "published," as attached source material at the heart of the swirl of interpretation and spin surrounding it. The author is known. The folks who were alarmed enough to pass this on are known. There is news to be had here, but there is no fake news in direct access to a clearly identified document, unless the people are too illiterate to read or too dulled by spin to think.
29
Perhaps Mr. Boot doesn't understand law or science. Those who put forth a proposition, a hypothesis, who indict, have the burden of proof. The only thing we know with certainty at this point is that someone phished the DNC and John Podesta and handed off the phished e-mails and other material to wikileaks who then leaked them. The Russians may have been behind it. We know the Russians, Chinese, N. Koreans and other actors, friend and foe, attempt to attain information from us in a variety of ways. But all the public has is a very unconvincing 25 page document.
But, let's say Russia was behind it. And let's even say that Russia evolved to thinking Trump would be the best choice from their perspective. That means nothing in terms of any relationship between Trump & Russia.
As for Buzzfeed. As noted, many other news organizations -- many who openly opposed Trump, as well as the dems, could find nothing to substantiate any of the allegations. It was opposition research. The memos came from a Brit spy, but that means nothing. There is also a Brit who has close connections to Russia who swears the source of the democratic leaks was an insider.
No, Mr. Boot. The burden of proof lies with those who believe Trump is a Manchurian candidate.
But, let's say Russia was behind it. And let's even say that Russia evolved to thinking Trump would be the best choice from their perspective. That means nothing in terms of any relationship between Trump & Russia.
As for Buzzfeed. As noted, many other news organizations -- many who openly opposed Trump, as well as the dems, could find nothing to substantiate any of the allegations. It was opposition research. The memos came from a Brit spy, but that means nothing. There is also a Brit who has close connections to Russia who swears the source of the democratic leaks was an insider.
No, Mr. Boot. The burden of proof lies with those who believe Trump is a Manchurian candidate.
18
This "burden of proof" needs to begin w/Trump's taxes, but he refuses to cooperate. And, "those who believe Trump is a Manchurian candidate" are patriots, which doesn't leave much room for those who defend Trump at every turn. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Can you handle the truth?
Alas, Ralphie. There's plenty more to suggest very strongly that Trump is a "Manchurian candidate", but I guess that a) you didn't read or absorb Mr. Boot's whole column, and b) your factual retention of events extends back over a rather trivial timespan. But in either case, welcome to trumpkin trolls united. I look forward to future knee-jerk support for the Trumpenfuhrer.
You are mixing leaks. Read the first paragraphs of the article again.
The conclusions that the Russians were behind the e-mail hacking is based on "a judgment corroborated by the F.B.I., C.I.A. and National Security Agency based on human intelligence, electronic intercepts and forensic investigation." As substantial as it can get.
The 25 pages report is a completely different story. Totally unsubstantiated, but that does not automatically make it untrue.
Then, there are Trump's actions and words which all the world has witnessed. So there is much more than "a very unconvincing 25 page document." And people are right to be suspicious (if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is most probably a duck).
If Trump really wanted not only to clear his name, but to put to rest the suspicions of a sizable part of the American population (and the world), he would order an investigation, but most probably he will not. Even if he ordered one, depending how it was handled, it could become nothing but a farce.
So this is where we stand. Yes, the burden of proof lies on the other side of Mr. Trump. He will certainly not incriminate himself. The task at hand is huge. Hopefully, the truth will come to light for all to see. In the meantime, people are right to be suspicious. There is plenty of evidence, signs, indications and clues pointing to wrongdoing by DT.
The conclusions that the Russians were behind the e-mail hacking is based on "a judgment corroborated by the F.B.I., C.I.A. and National Security Agency based on human intelligence, electronic intercepts and forensic investigation." As substantial as it can get.
The 25 pages report is a completely different story. Totally unsubstantiated, but that does not automatically make it untrue.
Then, there are Trump's actions and words which all the world has witnessed. So there is much more than "a very unconvincing 25 page document." And people are right to be suspicious (if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is most probably a duck).
If Trump really wanted not only to clear his name, but to put to rest the suspicions of a sizable part of the American population (and the world), he would order an investigation, but most probably he will not. Even if he ordered one, depending how it was handled, it could become nothing but a farce.
So this is where we stand. Yes, the burden of proof lies on the other side of Mr. Trump. He will certainly not incriminate himself. The task at hand is huge. Hopefully, the truth will come to light for all to see. In the meantime, people are right to be suspicious. There is plenty of evidence, signs, indications and clues pointing to wrongdoing by DT.
This is not a two sided issue, and there is no benefit to arguing it as such. It is a simple matter that there is enough circumstantial evidence outside the report to warrant investigating the validity of the report. The opinion of the majority that voted against Trump is not going to change if this allegation is false, but the opinion of the minority that voted for him might change if it is proven true.
We cannot safely move forward without knowing. If Trump's former campaign manager had not been up to his neck trying to rescue the Ukraine, if Trump singular input into the Republican platform had not been insistence that the Republicans remove a platform plank condemning Russia's behaviour towards Crimea and the Ukraine, if despite being critical of practically every US politician and political group, Trump hadn't consistently praised Putin, and if Trump hadn't cloaked his financial affairs and lied about his involvement with Russian finance, then perhaps we could conclude that we need more evidence before considering the validity of this report. But we do have a great deal of unexplained circumstantial evidence, even if voters were willing to ignore all this and vote for Trump despite circumstances. If the explanation was just another personality oddity of Trump, well we are going to have to get used to these. If it is more sinister, even if the probability of that is very low, we have to know, and Trump has set up circumstances such that it is plausible, if unlikely.
We cannot safely move forward without knowing. If Trump's former campaign manager had not been up to his neck trying to rescue the Ukraine, if Trump singular input into the Republican platform had not been insistence that the Republicans remove a platform plank condemning Russia's behaviour towards Crimea and the Ukraine, if despite being critical of practically every US politician and political group, Trump hadn't consistently praised Putin, and if Trump hadn't cloaked his financial affairs and lied about his involvement with Russian finance, then perhaps we could conclude that we need more evidence before considering the validity of this report. But we do have a great deal of unexplained circumstantial evidence, even if voters were willing to ignore all this and vote for Trump despite circumstances. If the explanation was just another personality oddity of Trump, well we are going to have to get used to these. If it is more sinister, even if the probability of that is very low, we have to know, and Trump has set up circumstances such that it is plausible, if unlikely.
53
Putin went fishing for the Ukraine using orange roughy he seined for in a hotel pond and suprise suprise he got US. Now if we could just spit out the hook and bait we might just get away.
The people who work at and for our intelligence agencies are, with rare exceptions, patriots. Mostly they're underpaid patriots, but they work hard and do not leak information. Trump has no right to say otherwise.
Yes, leaks happen. They tend to occur after Congressional intelligence hearing or briefings. These meeting occur in highly secured rooms, built to prevent electronic surveillance. All cell phones are turned in at the door. (This same no cell phones rule is in effect at most secure environments.)
It's too easy to get found out if you work each day with material that is leaked or, in some cases, sold. Too many people hear about what is said on the Hill, and it only takes one person to leak information. Politicians talk for a living, and there are many who talk too much. At some classified hearings, senior staff are allowed in to "help" and they may also leak information.
Trump is angry that the first intelligence report proved him wrong about Putin. The second release is hazier, but Trump could have dealt with it by saying the allegations are nonsense and taking another question. He chose to harp on it, repeatedly returning to the subject.
Unfortunately for Trump, his previous behavior does not rule out that described in his hotel suite. Of course Putin has audio and video equipment in hotels. Trump's claims of suspecting the rooms were observed is too strident.
Trump doth protest too much, methinks.
And he didn't answer most of the questions asked.
Yes, leaks happen. They tend to occur after Congressional intelligence hearing or briefings. These meeting occur in highly secured rooms, built to prevent electronic surveillance. All cell phones are turned in at the door. (This same no cell phones rule is in effect at most secure environments.)
It's too easy to get found out if you work each day with material that is leaked or, in some cases, sold. Too many people hear about what is said on the Hill, and it only takes one person to leak information. Politicians talk for a living, and there are many who talk too much. At some classified hearings, senior staff are allowed in to "help" and they may also leak information.
Trump is angry that the first intelligence report proved him wrong about Putin. The second release is hazier, but Trump could have dealt with it by saying the allegations are nonsense and taking another question. He chose to harp on it, repeatedly returning to the subject.
Unfortunately for Trump, his previous behavior does not rule out that described in his hotel suite. Of course Putin has audio and video equipment in hotels. Trump's claims of suspecting the rooms were observed is too strident.
Trump doth protest too much, methinks.
And he didn't answer most of the questions asked.
80
Excuse me but these "patriots" are establishing the most invasive system for spying on the citizens of this country that can be imagined. They are doing it willingly, to keep their jobs or out of some misguided sense of loyalty to their country.
No, I think that that community represents a danger and perhaps it is time to tear it down and rebuild it.
No, I think that that community represents a danger and perhaps it is time to tear it down and rebuild it.
There is no doubt now that we have a seriously compromised President-elect. We have known for some time that he is spectacularly unfit to be our nation's President. A man who, if his press conference today is any guide, may be mentally ill, or at the very least, palpably unstable.
The likelihood of the appointment of an Independent Commission -- or any Congressional committee of any type -- to investigate the growing body of evidence against the President-elect is essentially nil. We have a complete abdication of responsibility by the political party in power.
As other commenters here have noted, once fascism takes hold in a nation, peaceful protests are rarely effective. Our nation is now quite far down that road. Those of us who did not vote for this man may have little recourse but to simply live our daily lives in a fascist state, as have millions of others have throughout the world, in different times and in different countries. Perhaps we would do well to learn how they simply endured it. If there are any meaningful alternatives available to us now, I have yet to hear them.
The likelihood of the appointment of an Independent Commission -- or any Congressional committee of any type -- to investigate the growing body of evidence against the President-elect is essentially nil. We have a complete abdication of responsibility by the political party in power.
As other commenters here have noted, once fascism takes hold in a nation, peaceful protests are rarely effective. Our nation is now quite far down that road. Those of us who did not vote for this man may have little recourse but to simply live our daily lives in a fascist state, as have millions of others have throughout the world, in different times and in different countries. Perhaps we would do well to learn how they simply endured it. If there are any meaningful alternatives available to us now, I have yet to hear them.
11
If our next president wants to permanently dispel rumors about his financial relationship and obligations with the Russian government, banks, and businesses (“Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia,” Trump’s son, Donald Jr., said at a real estate conference in 2008) he, and he alone, can do it. Releasing his tax returns will tell the country everything it needs to know about his business entanglements.
But of course he didn't release his returns prior to the election and now won't. Why? According to Trump, the answer is "I won". According to any sentient human, the answer is obvious. He won't because it will lay before the country his manifold conflicts of interest concerning Russia (among others) and, quite likely, his loans from Russian banks and oligarchs. That he believes he is fooling this county about this only further highlights the disregard he holds for the vast majority of our citizens, including and especially those who cast their vote for him
But of course he didn't release his returns prior to the election and now won't. Why? According to Trump, the answer is "I won". According to any sentient human, the answer is obvious. He won't because it will lay before the country his manifold conflicts of interest concerning Russia (among others) and, quite likely, his loans from Russian banks and oligarchs. That he believes he is fooling this county about this only further highlights the disregard he holds for the vast majority of our citizens, including and especially those who cast their vote for him
11
Most sentient humans don't beat a dead horse to death with absurd conspiracy theories and malodorous fake news in order to nullify an election. Only the really stupid ones even try, but at least we're seeing them for who they really are.
Trump is reckless and wholly unbelievable. As to his claim that he has had no business dealings with Russia- his own son bragged about such dealings. So, it seems, one of them is lying.
In the face on ongoing evidence from our intelligence communities, Trump continues to deny Russia's involvement and interference in the November 8 election. Today, he briefly agreed the Russians did interfere but then at the end of the press conference he backtracked (as is his usual ploy)and said 'it could have been others also.' He uses this tactic often when he is backed into a corner, in order to cast a shadow of doubt.
He bends over backwards to laud Putin while dismissing our intelligence communities all the while wrapping himself in the flag and calling himself a patriot. He is anything but!
I disagree with the authors assessment about the BuzzFeed release. First, as I understand it, the dossier, or portions thereof, have been circulating in the political and journalist communities for several months- yet the public was not made aware. Second, last Friday, after a determination that the source was both known and credible, a summary of the allegations were given to President Obama, Trump, and the majority and minority leaders. Although the allegations are not currently verified, many of the allegations mirror those which the FBI, CIA and NSA is highly confident are true. We have a right to know these allegations.
In the face on ongoing evidence from our intelligence communities, Trump continues to deny Russia's involvement and interference in the November 8 election. Today, he briefly agreed the Russians did interfere but then at the end of the press conference he backtracked (as is his usual ploy)and said 'it could have been others also.' He uses this tactic often when he is backed into a corner, in order to cast a shadow of doubt.
He bends over backwards to laud Putin while dismissing our intelligence communities all the while wrapping himself in the flag and calling himself a patriot. He is anything but!
I disagree with the authors assessment about the BuzzFeed release. First, as I understand it, the dossier, or portions thereof, have been circulating in the political and journalist communities for several months- yet the public was not made aware. Second, last Friday, after a determination that the source was both known and credible, a summary of the allegations were given to President Obama, Trump, and the majority and minority leaders. Although the allegations are not currently verified, many of the allegations mirror those which the FBI, CIA and NSA is highly confident are true. We have a right to know these allegations.
13
There is a simple question here for all the Trump apologists and Republicans in congress who want to sweep this under the carpet or avoid a full blown investigation. If you were going hire someone for a very senior position upon which the very security of your enterprise depended and you were presented with a dossier like this would launch a major investigation before you hired that person?
68
The allegations made in the dossier have been investigated. Trump has already been "hired."
The report produced by U.S. intelligence community did allege any wrongdoing by Donald Trump. The New York Times reported Saturday, “The report provides no new evidence to support assertions that Moscow meddled covertly through hacking and other actions to boost the electoral chances of Donald J. Trump and undermine his rival, Hillary Clinton, but rests instead on what it describes as Moscow’s long record of trying to influence America’s political system."
The intelligence community and the news media has investigated allegations made in the BuzzFeed memo and has been unable to substantiate them. According to NBC News, a senior intelligence official said "the two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material was made available to the briefers to provide context for Trump should they want to draw a distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted 'disinformation.'"
The report produced by U.S. intelligence community did allege any wrongdoing by Donald Trump. The New York Times reported Saturday, “The report provides no new evidence to support assertions that Moscow meddled covertly through hacking and other actions to boost the electoral chances of Donald J. Trump and undermine his rival, Hillary Clinton, but rests instead on what it describes as Moscow’s long record of trying to influence America’s political system."
The intelligence community and the news media has investigated allegations made in the BuzzFeed memo and has been unable to substantiate them. According to NBC News, a senior intelligence official said "the two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material was made available to the briefers to provide context for Trump should they want to draw a distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted 'disinformation.'"
If the dossier were a political wedge designed to delegitimize a duly elected President by dissatisfied partisans I'd ignore it and investigate the partisans who care more about their own bloated egos than democracy and the good of their country.
So let me get this straight. The guy who brought us the unsubstantiated claims of the Birther debacle, is now whining about an unsubstantiated disinformation campaign about him. For now we should all assume that there may be some truth to this recent memo, at least until he produces his tax returns proving that he has no financial ties to Putin.
its going to interesting to see how he reacts when he finds out that Putin hedged his bets and was also behind this leaked summary.
its going to interesting to see how he reacts when he finds out that Putin hedged his bets and was also behind this leaked summary.
78
it's the same guy.
Trump just tends not to believe some things right off the bat. some things seem to pat for him. the answer is too easy.
nothing wrong with being like that. nothing wrong with being trump.
Trump just tends not to believe some things right off the bat. some things seem to pat for him. the answer is too easy.
nothing wrong with being like that. nothing wrong with being trump.
yes, and several significant differences: obama's birth place was easily verifiable without a birth certificate, he produced the birth certificate any way, and his mother was american, so even if he was born abroad, he was american, but none of these facts were ever accepted by the majority of the morally degenerate republican party (hmmmm...i wonder why?).
It still confounds me that we are debating whether he has conflicts of interest with Russia, and he still has not released tax returns, including ones from years that are not longer "under audit."
47
@ Frank, I agree how can he legally be stopped at this point?
1
The level of hysteria in these comments is astounding.
The establishment can't handle the truth that he won and why. So through the for profit press they've embarked instead on a full on brainwashing of the public with a propaganda operation to deflect responsibility for their own mistakes every step of the way.
I don't watch Fox but I can't imagine that the echo chamber is any worse than it is here.
The establishment can't handle the truth that he won and why. So through the for profit press they've embarked instead on a full on brainwashing of the public with a propaganda operation to deflect responsibility for their own mistakes every step of the way.
I don't watch Fox but I can't imagine that the echo chamber is any worse than it is here.
10
@Billy
Out in the woods
You don't consider Russia a hostile foreign power then?
Out in the woods
You don't consider Russia a hostile foreign power then?
27
of course they are a hostile foreign power. every country that is not the usa has a little bit of "hostile foreign power" to it. Even canada.
the problem we have in the cyber world is not that russia is hacking -- it's that we are too incompetent to fend off their hacks.
the problem we have in the cyber world is not that russia is hacking -- it's that we are too incompetent to fend off their hacks.
John,
Yes Russia is a hostile foreign power. We are a hostile power as well.
On some level I believe we have to compare the level of hostility and other actions to our own record. Which (correct me if I'm wrong) isn't very good. Especially in the hostility and hacking departments.
We hacked Merkel's phone. Was that hostile?
We arrested a German businessman (but not the bankers) for lying. Hostile?
Would we not think our own business people will be jailed in europe now?
The hostility and the hysteria both should be dialed back all around in my humble opinion. Odds are that life will go on.
Yes Russia is a hostile foreign power. We are a hostile power as well.
On some level I believe we have to compare the level of hostility and other actions to our own record. Which (correct me if I'm wrong) isn't very good. Especially in the hostility and hacking departments.
We hacked Merkel's phone. Was that hostile?
We arrested a German businessman (but not the bankers) for lying. Hostile?
Would we not think our own business people will be jailed in europe now?
The hostility and the hysteria both should be dialed back all around in my humble opinion. Odds are that life will go on.
In 2008 Trump's son said Russia was a disproportionate part of the Trump Organization's business involving huge amounts of money. Today trump says he does no business with Russia. Who's telling the truth? Whether Trump is owned by Russia thru indebtedness or merely seems so, he is fatally tainted in the eyes of the world even prior to being sworn in as President.
We should just trust Trump, right. He's sold his stocks, he says so. He won't talk about governmental direction or business with his children; he says so. The unknown ACA replacement will be better and cheaper, he says so. We need his financial records and tax records. The Washington Hotel a huge success in building, he says so--so why are there 5 million in liens for unpaid work recently filed? He has been refused by Us banks for years--so where is he getting his huge loans, which foreign countries?
We deserve real answers as so many of his statements have already proven false.
We should just trust Trump, right. He's sold his stocks, he says so. He won't talk about governmental direction or business with his children; he says so. The unknown ACA replacement will be better and cheaper, he says so. We need his financial records and tax records. The Washington Hotel a huge success in building, he says so--so why are there 5 million in liens for unpaid work recently filed? He has been refused by Us banks for years--so where is he getting his huge loans, which foreign countries?
We deserve real answers as so many of his statements have already proven false.
63
Among Trump's businesses is developing luxury properties in the US. Many Russians (and Chinese and Latin Americans) buy apartments in these properties with "flight capital". He has not developed any properties in Russia.
Sour grapes and hypocritical nit picking aren't going to get you anywhere fast except the ash heap of history.
a commission is always a whitewash. it would do nothing but shield the american public from painful news --in this case, that a little under half the electorate had lapped up carefully-honed russian disinformation and distortion for five years, all designed to put a prodigious con-man in office, undermine the very concept of democracy, and make the united states the butt of jokes everywhere in the world. it is time to start exposing, with meticulous evidence, the individuals in the trump campaign, the trump family and trump himself if he knowingly collaborated with a foreign power to undermine our political institutions and processes. don't publish a fat volume that says nothing. start indicting people.
18
A magically thinking liberal who "believes" in Science. Apparently two contradictory positions can be held in the same brain without any problems? Why don't we indict logic?
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark - the more I watch this guy the more worried I am that he is a clear and present danger to the well being of the United States - hope I am wrong
38
he's a powerful person. that part you have right.
To the degree that we were told Barack Obama loved the American people and their history, HE was the perfect Manchurian Candidate.
He came with his own grudge against all of the Christian West and democracy but the obeisant media told us he'd make a good leader.
What do you say about a man so arrogant that his state gift to the Queen of England was recordings of his own speeches? That scraped the bottom.
He came with his own grudge against all of the Christian West and democracy but the obeisant media told us he'd make a good leader.
What do you say about a man so arrogant that his state gift to the Queen of England was recordings of his own speeches? That scraped the bottom.
6
"HE was the perfect Manchurian Candidate..."
Yes, and isn't it remarkable how, once elected in 2008, he apparently forgot about his secret mission?
Seriously, when given fifty words to air your complaints about President Obama, your primary concern is an eight year old Fox fetish story about an iPod? THAT's what has you seething? Trump boasts that he could shoot someone and remain popular, but you're upset about Obama's "arrogance?"
Yes, and isn't it remarkable how, once elected in 2008, he apparently forgot about his secret mission?
Seriously, when given fifty words to air your complaints about President Obama, your primary concern is an eight year old Fox fetish story about an iPod? THAT's what has you seething? Trump boasts that he could shoot someone and remain popular, but you're upset about Obama's "arrogance?"
1
No sane person in US trusts Trump at this point. You are right about this "slavish devotion" to Putin. We can sense that there is something deeply wrong in there. This leak is important as a warning to Trump because it is not about Trump anymore, it is about the country.
30
There sure are a lot in his businesses, and people and companies that lease from him, that trust him.
trust but verify. he's much better than obama on putin.
Wouldn't it be amazing if trump and most of his people were Russian plants? It's as if we stepped into the Twilight Zone.
15
No he and his people are just strangling vines of the plutocratic variety - albeit with the pungent aroma of a rotting Durian fruit on the fifth day of a heat wave.
"Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted an election, and for my sins, they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service. It was a real choice election, and when it was over, I never wanted another." - American Voter's Apocalypse Now
"Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted an election, and for my sins, they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service. It was a real choice election, and when it was over, I never wanted another." - American Voter's Apocalypse Now
Trump got in . . . we're already in the Twilight Zone :(
1
Yes, it would be amazing.
A more accurate title would be: "DT: A Modern Manchurian President?". Considering the inexplicable love and friendship with Putin and disdain of every one else, could Vladimir suddenly show up unannounced as a mystery guest to celebrate the inauguration of DT. Sincerely hope not.
11
Look up background reporting on the information contained in Steele's investigation reports (the "dossier"). Many facts are corroborated by outlets including the NYT. (See Carter Page.) Was that reporting fed by the Dark State?
Now consider the precautionary principle - what if Steele's intelligence is true? Can we afford to ignore it? What are the risks if we do?
That's the debated we should be having.
Now consider the precautionary principle - what if Steele's intelligence is true? Can we afford to ignore it? What are the risks if we do?
That's the debated we should be having.
18
Fabricate a story then demand a congressional commission to investigate !!
desperation is setting in for the liberals and the reality that new administration agenda might actually appeal to american thus keeping the white house and maybe the houses for 8 years will be the doomsday of the left dogmas
desperation is setting in for the liberals and the reality that new administration agenda might actually appeal to american thus keeping the white house and maybe the houses for 8 years will be the doomsday of the left dogmas
6
Go read the dossier and see if you still feel the sa,e way. Give it s chance before you knock it.
You're quite funny, Sam - and oblivious to the fact that we Democrats now have what might prove to be the modern (and disgusting) equivalent to the Watergate break-in OR is at least Trump's own (it serves him right) "birther" story. Either way, we have a great organizing moment. We can either get him impeached - he's already discredited, even before Inauguration - or simply torment him and his supporters as HE chose to do to President Obama and the majority of the electorate for almost a decade! Hang on, buddy!!
2
...you mean like White Water and Bengazi, just for starters?
We can speculate all we want as to how compromised the incoming administration will be , but nothing can be firmly grasped until the candidate releases his tax returns.
A long time ago, in a dark and musty garage, an informant succinctly said ; ''follow the money''
We cannot do that, but I am sure ( with what I have seen by all so far ) that it would be the unraveling of an entire Presidency, just like it was for the Nixon administration.
I predict a tweet proclaiming someone is not a crook.
A long time ago, in a dark and musty garage, an informant succinctly said ; ''follow the money''
We cannot do that, but I am sure ( with what I have seen by all so far ) that it would be the unraveling of an entire Presidency, just like it was for the Nixon administration.
I predict a tweet proclaiming someone is not a crook.
20
I agree - follow the money. Is there a way to follow 'other people's money' to get it to point to The Con Man elect? A backdoor so to speak?
Many verifiable facts are included inside the dossier, including some published by NYT. (See reports on Carter Page.)
There is a principle many have embraced calling for the what-if approach. What if Steele's intelligentsia accurate? How can we not embrace protective precautions in the face of potentially catastrophic information?
There is a principle many have embraced calling for the what-if approach. What if Steele's intelligentsia accurate? How can we not embrace protective precautions in the face of potentially catastrophic information?
10
Regardless of the veracity of this set of allegations, the deteriorating relationship between Trump and our intelligence services is an existential threat. In one plausible scenario, experienced intelligence professionals decide to walk, unable to endure their buffoon of a boss, leaving a gutted agency behind, which exposes our country to numerous enemies. This is intolerable. Well, not for Putin.
16
Don't you mean that the in-fighting and ineptness of our "intelligence" agencies is a threat to the U.S.?
Trump can't be all bad when neocons like Max Boot don't like him.
3
The truth will set us free.
3
I find it rich that Trump is complaining about “fake news” when it impugns his reputation, but then he had absolutely no qualms when he was relentlessly pushing fake news about President Obama’s birthplace for over five years from 2011 through 2016. When he eventually conceded that Obama was born in the United States, Trump did not even bother to apologize. So Trump should spare us the outrage over fake news now that he is affected by it. What goes around comes around – it’s called karma, Mr. Trump.
463
Very well said, Jack!
Except, of course, it may not be fake.
Karma. Exactly.
It is more likely than not that Mr. Trump will be violating the presidential oath from the second he takes it.
24
We can only hope. The farce has gone on far too long already.
Well I wish the FBI's James Comey had exercised the same discretion as the news organizations including the NYT in regard to the Emails identified on Anthony Weiner's desktop. Instead, he threw the election to Trump by announcing a new investigation of Hillary Clinton. He intervened when voting was already underway and 11 days before the election. If the announcement of a new investigation of HRC was warranted surely it was extremely equally pressing that FBI/CIA investigations of a Russian role in the election and contacts between Trump campaign officials with Russia (and Ukraine) be disclosed.
The extent of the disaster that will be the 45th president is unclear but there are premonitions. The fact that it was secured despite losing the popular vote by almost 3 million with the collusion of our own FBI and the Russian Intelligence Services is really earth shattering. As with Watergate, I feel the news organizations failed us in 2016.
The extent of the disaster that will be the 45th president is unclear but there are premonitions. The fact that it was secured despite losing the popular vote by almost 3 million with the collusion of our own FBI and the Russian Intelligence Services is really earth shattering. As with Watergate, I feel the news organizations failed us in 2016.
23
what's the prize for winning the popular vote? oh yeah - second place. if HRC wants the popular vote, she got it. why she would want that is the question.
Goldwater is generating a lot of BTU's turning over in his grave.
6
Sounds like a CIA disinformation campaign preparing the ground for a coup to me.
10
That bizarre news conference was certainly proof that Russia and the American people chose a poor candidate.
22
The President-elect should be assuring Americans that, let the facts fall where they may and be not always to his liking, he and the intelligence community will work together vigorously and effectively on national security.
And let the FBI investigate the allegations of Russian blackmail material. We can't have that cloud hanging over the presidency. Just like with Obama's birth certificate.
And let the FBI investigate the allegations of Russian blackmail material. We can't have that cloud hanging over the presidency. Just like with Obama's birth certificate.
2
No republican can support an investigation. What if it's all true? Most Republicans would rather NOT have the American people know. The fact that so many don't want the truth exposed reveals them to be traitors!
1
Some valid points, but we must remember that Max Boot is pretty much a neocon hawk who isn't pleased with Trump's retreat from internationalism. He was an advocate of direct military intervention in Syria and an opponent of withdrawal of forces from Iraq. He favors a muscular military/foreign policy to promote 'American values' internationally. He wants us to confront Russia and Iran.
4
Easily the first time I've ever agreed with neocon Max Boot. However, Trump is a dangerous threat to our democracy and opposition to him should be a powerful unifier.
10
The people who voted for Trump - I don't mean his core supporters (they'll never admit they were wrong); I mean the ones who didn't particularly like Trump, but felt Clinton was horrible and voted against her - need to think long and hard about what they have done. A lot of the blame for this whole debacle rests squarely on their shoulders.
18
Do you remember how many people claimed not to have voted for Nixon, in either 68 or 72? By the middle of the House impeachment hearings, you could hardly find anyone who would admit voting for Tricky Dick.
Here in the DC area, there was no doubt even early on that Nixon was behind the break-in. Nothing happened in the Nixon White House that Nixon didn't approve.
Check the old videos (not much left from the McCarthy hearings). The Checkers show, with poor Pat Nixon sitting rigid on the couch, oozes with paranoia. The Nixon-Kennedy debate was worse and he went down hill from there.
Just out of curiosity, what was the deal with Trump's eye make-up yesterday?
Here in the DC area, there was no doubt even early on that Nixon was behind the break-in. Nothing happened in the Nixon White House that Nixon didn't approve.
Check the old videos (not much left from the McCarthy hearings). The Checkers show, with poor Pat Nixon sitting rigid on the couch, oozes with paranoia. The Nixon-Kennedy debate was worse and he went down hill from there.
Just out of curiosity, what was the deal with Trump's eye make-up yesterday?
1
I blame those who knew he was a monster, yet still voted for Jill Stein. I have a friend like that. Blames Hillary for "cheating" Bernie out of the nomination, ignoring her blowout 57-43 overall win.
"Trump is compromised. His followers don't want to admit it, and they won't, even when his finances get leaked, which will happen as soon as he doesn't do what Putin tells him to do."
This is the most recommended comment so far. It alleges that Trump followers cannot be influenced by direct evidence of his financial wrongdoing. It also alleges that Putin is blackmailing Trump. The first of the allegations is speculative. The second is unfounded. The folks who comment here and their fans are promoting ignorance. I call on everyone to raise the level of dialogue here and not to recommend ignorant comments.
This is the most recommended comment so far. It alleges that Trump followers cannot be influenced by direct evidence of his financial wrongdoing. It also alleges that Putin is blackmailing Trump. The first of the allegations is speculative. The second is unfounded. The folks who comment here and their fans are promoting ignorance. I call on everyone to raise the level of dialogue here and not to recommend ignorant comments.
3
This is the most risible comment I've seen in at least a month. Trump has given plenty a reason to suspect that evidence exists for very embarrassing financial activities. His core supporters have openly said they don't care about his self-admitted immorality, and more recently that it's okay with them if Russia intervened to help get him elected.
It is necessary to get to the bottom of those unverified allegations. He also has to release his tax returns, which will be prime evidence for or against. If untrue, fine.
Trump and his enablers have been lying nonstop for 2 years now. To this day, every time Trump speaks he tells blatant lies. It's silly to protest that people speculating that he actually lives up to the worst of his nature that he has displayed so far are somehow degrading the public discourse.
We could hurl unfounded accusations every day for the next four years and not match the slime that Trump and his people have dumped on the country to this point.
It is necessary to get to the bottom of those unverified allegations. He also has to release his tax returns, which will be prime evidence for or against. If untrue, fine.
Trump and his enablers have been lying nonstop for 2 years now. To this day, every time Trump speaks he tells blatant lies. It's silly to protest that people speculating that he actually lives up to the worst of his nature that he has displayed so far are somehow degrading the public discourse.
We could hurl unfounded accusations every day for the next four years and not match the slime that Trump and his people have dumped on the country to this point.
4
High ranking government officials in France, Great Britain, and in Eastern Europe have stated publicly that Putin is a war criminal. Certainly the actions of troops under his control in Syria align with such a charge, as well as documented accusations from Americans who have long done business in Russia. That said, Trump has spent many months stating his respect for and willingness to work with Putin. In my lifetime such a comment, let alone many, would have condemned Trump to instant vilification from the entire Republican establishment and most Democrat politicians. Joe McCarthy is surely spinning in his grave, along with Ike, Nixon, and many others. Is America so dumbed down about history that Trump will assume the office of President as nothing more than Liar-in-Chief? Write your representatives and demand a complete investigation. If he is clean he should welcome this.
19
I so wish that writing and calling my two senators would do any good. Sen. Thom Tillis is a Trumper and Sen. Richard Burr, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has mostly been silent on Trump, is talking to a brick wall. Burr has already stated he won't run again, so maybe he will get some courage and go after him, but I am not holding my breath.
Things are falling into place with uncanny coherence. Trump's months long tirade against U.S. intelligence agencies, which struck me as bewilderingly misguided, now appears to be so much self-serving pavement laying to undermine their credibility in the minds of the American public in preparation for exactly this moment. Being paranoid but not stupid, he knew this information would eventually see the light of day in one form or another. What better way to inoculate himself from it than to cast doubt on the abilities and motives of the agencies best equipped to investigate its veracity?
12
Trumps strange admiration for and deference to Putin started back in July at his last news conference when he asked Russia to hack Clinton for the missing emails. Then Trump changed the RNC platform position on Russia. To this day Trump continues to side with Russia/Putin. And to this day Trump obstinately refuses to release his tax returns. What do these two Trump "positions" have in common is the question of the day.
Who will bother to investigate? That is the bigger question. Trump at his news conference today made it very clear that he will shut down immediately and rudely any attempt to check him. And so far no one including the media has pushed back to any significant degree. Congress, the FBI where are they?
Money. Putin, Russian oil, Trump, Tillerson, Exxon oil in Russia. Money.
Men have been known to do many things in a 'slavish devotion' to money.
Putin and Trump have this in common.
Who will bother to investigate? That is the bigger question. Trump at his news conference today made it very clear that he will shut down immediately and rudely any attempt to check him. And so far no one including the media has pushed back to any significant degree. Congress, the FBI where are they?
Money. Putin, Russian oil, Trump, Tillerson, Exxon oil in Russia. Money.
Men have been known to do many things in a 'slavish devotion' to money.
Putin and Trump have this in common.
16
A true journalist, if there are any left, will take that attempt to shut it down as a challenge.
This is actually very straight forward.
We have a president-elect that, by virtue of the Electoral College, (which, like it or not, is how the game is played,) comes to office by breaking almost every conventional notion of what a candidate should be, and how one ought to have behaved. Trump does what Trump wants, and, so far, it has worked to his advantage.
The notion that anything is "off limits" simply doesn't apply to Trump; not the disgusting rhetoric he spewed, not the lack of respect and awe of the office that he sought and achieved, not the civility of a person who out to set an example for the nation and it's children, nor the simple ability to speak and act as anything but a vindictive, petulant teenager. Why would his consorting with Putin's Russia, (or any other entity, for that matter,) be beyond question? If it's good for Donald, then it's good, period.
Trump has tossed every morsel of "normal" out the window. Those who might be standing below, be damned; they just don't matter.
His total lack of understanding of the consequence of his words and actions, should give us all pause to consider the unthinkable.
Is he a puppet or a mole? Maybe, maybe not. But it is incumbent upon the established norm and every agency, legislator, and citizen to demand that questions be posed and answered, lest we realize that it too late, and that we have desended down a rabbit hole far deeper than anyone could have ever imagined... except Trump.
We have a president-elect that, by virtue of the Electoral College, (which, like it or not, is how the game is played,) comes to office by breaking almost every conventional notion of what a candidate should be, and how one ought to have behaved. Trump does what Trump wants, and, so far, it has worked to his advantage.
The notion that anything is "off limits" simply doesn't apply to Trump; not the disgusting rhetoric he spewed, not the lack of respect and awe of the office that he sought and achieved, not the civility of a person who out to set an example for the nation and it's children, nor the simple ability to speak and act as anything but a vindictive, petulant teenager. Why would his consorting with Putin's Russia, (or any other entity, for that matter,) be beyond question? If it's good for Donald, then it's good, period.
Trump has tossed every morsel of "normal" out the window. Those who might be standing below, be damned; they just don't matter.
His total lack of understanding of the consequence of his words and actions, should give us all pause to consider the unthinkable.
Is he a puppet or a mole? Maybe, maybe not. But it is incumbent upon the established norm and every agency, legislator, and citizen to demand that questions be posed and answered, lest we realize that it too late, and that we have desended down a rabbit hole far deeper than anyone could have ever imagined... except Trump.
15
Donald Trump is the Manchurian Candidate! I am sure they know a lot more than they are letting out. If its Mitch McConnell who gets to decide if there will be an investigation into Trumps Russian connections,we ain't gonna learn much, he'll blackmail Trump as quickly as the Kremlin and thats just the front of the line.
10
Paranoia, self destroyer.
I left the Republican Party because (a) I could not accept Trump as the nominee, and (b) I could not accept the powers that be within the GOP abandoning their principles to support him. That is the depth to which I am opposed to Trump, so any such revelations of the sort contained in this Op-Ed only strengthen my resolve. The thing is, if we assume the allegations will not prove to be true, his response is still that of someone who lacks the temperament to be the POTUS.
11
It's nice to see some more justified alarm about Trump, but everything discussed in the past several days merely reinforces what was plainly evident well before the election. Why is anyone acting surprised? Maybe now that people don't have Hillary's email server to kick around anymore, they're finally realizing what they've done.
13
I did not understand why the FBI (or rather James Comey) could have sided for Trump with the unacceptable move he took one week before the election. However, I am starting to understand now. Comey probably had by that time the report regarding Trump in Russia and knew that Trump would not last long as president or maybe even as president-elect. For someone who is not into conspiration theories, I can perfectly imagine a fervent and blind Republican in a position of power, such as Comey, calculating that the unreliable Trump would not last long and would be replaced by Pence, easy to mold by the FBI and with the heart in (according to the Republicans) the RIGHT place.
3
Pence scares me possibly more than Trump. Pence is a professional politician. He's a misogynist, a racist, and no smarter than Trump. He does know to keep his mouth shut, so he doesn't continually say the stupid, hateful things he's thinking.
I, for one, am happy that the dossier was posted on line. It looks like the BBC has the courage to follow up on this, and not hide because Trump starts ranting about the press. The dossier indicates the Russians had second thoughts about Trump, and now they'll have to spend their time covering their own rears. And anybody that thinks his "press conference" today was convincing has really drunk the kook aid. The guy is completely out of control.
19
"There is only one way to get to the bottom of this tawdry affair: Appoint a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission to investigate all of the allegations and issue a public report. The former C.I.A. directors Leon E. Panetta and Michael V. Hayden, among other possible choices, would provide instant credibility if they were appointed to lead such a panel."
This should happen immediately! A President who cared about his reputation would demand it himself. Trump instead lashes out in a crazy, unstable manner. People are afraid of the neo-fasist tactics of Trump and his Russian-approved lawyers at Dewey Cheatum & How!
This should happen immediately! A President who cared about his reputation would demand it himself. Trump instead lashes out in a crazy, unstable manner. People are afraid of the neo-fasist tactics of Trump and his Russian-approved lawyers at Dewey Cheatum & How!
16
I couldn't care less that mr Trump slept with High powered Russian call girls caught on videotape. Sex, lies, and videotape go back to Rob Lowe and numerous other politicians and celebrities. What is most serious is collusion between the trump campaign and the Russians from May-November. If they have all been lying about this relationship, which was not implicitly about sex or Hugh level Russian prostitutes, then both trump and pence ran on a ticket of treason. If there is any justice ( and God knows with Jeff Sessions and Mitch McConnell, as well as Paul ryan) both of these men should be impeached, tried, removed from office, labeled guilty of treason and have them expelled to, of all places GITMO. with both of their citizenship stripped away from both of them.
12
$500 billion agreement between Exxon and Russia for oil rights in the northern Siberia negotiated in 203. Enough said. Forget the Russian prostitutes. Follow the money.
It is more likely that Trump supporters view Putin favorably. Eschewing shirts and suntans, Putin hunts boar on horseback, wades through chilly Siberian rivers and uses force to attack parts of the world Americans don't like or know about. With zero to limited understanding of Russian history, culture, politics and global macroeconomic trends, he is Chuck Norris with an accent.
12
The US has a significant number of citizens of Ukrainian descent (given the size of their home country), so I would hope most folks know where the Ukraine is.
If you're confused, find it on Google Earth. It's where it's always been, with WWII's border drift and Putin's treachery taken into account. You really should have paid attention in school.
If you're confused, find it on Google Earth. It's where it's always been, with WWII's border drift and Putin's treachery taken into account. You really should have paid attention in school.
Carter Page, Michael Flynn, Richard Burt, Paul Manafort, Rex Tillerson. All of these men played or are playing an important role in Trump's inner circle of advisers. All of these men have very strong ties to Russia and have received substantial amounts of money from these connections. Is this sheer coincidence? Hardly likely. Trump is taking instructions from Putin or his surrogates. Russia owns and controls Trump.
14
Meanwhile Mike Pence quietly waits for the real spectacle that just might put him in the White House.
10
It is up to Max Boot to provide proof he is not working for the FSB as part of a plan to undermine the stability of US government - a plan put in motion 13 years ago when Boot and others (who may all work for the FSB, it would be irresponsible not to speculate) playing a role in involving the US in a war in Iraq that damaged the credibility of major governmental and non-governmental institutions in the western world. As long as Boot hasn't furnished such proof of his independence from Russian intelligence services we must be prudent and operate under the assumption that he is, indeed, an agent of V. Putin's. (See how easy this is?)
4
I agree...lets have an special investigator look into these allegations and specifically at Boot's credibility. Apparently, the intelligence community think he is credible but lets go further.
Trumpie loved the dirt with his Birther Nonsense. Not Forgiven.
But claims his germophobia makes him not suspect. Lol. the guy is a total clown. His barking at the press conference that he loaded with his little fans was the move of a coward.
But claims his germophobia makes him not suspect. Lol. the guy is a total clown. His barking at the press conference that he loaded with his little fans was the move of a coward.
9
The "birther nonsense" you decry was started by Hillary Clinton in 2008. But you choose to blame Trump, whom you further choose to ridicule. He didn't even mention the birth certificate until 2011.
But...Obama has not only failed to produce a valid birth certificate, he produced that photoshopped phony. Why? To prove your point, please let us know where the certificate is, and how we might see it.
But...Obama has not only failed to produce a valid birth certificate, he produced that photoshopped phony. Why? To prove your point, please let us know where the certificate is, and how we might see it.
Another source of suspicions Mr. Trump needs to be concerned with is how he practically ran away from the microphone when he appeared to not want to answer the first question the last member of the press to engage the President-elect asked: (paraphrasing," Did any member of your election committee EVER speak to any Kremlin officials prior to the election?"
8
If we are going to listen to any judgement about truthfulness or ethics, it should not be coming out of the mouth of Donald Trump.
3
Full disclosure: over the holidays, I took a vacation from trump. Now that I am listening to the man once more, he is utterly shocking all over again.
Is it possible that trump is willing to insult, ignore, and debase our national security and information organizations in order to deflect our attention as he hands the United States over to Russia? Is the plan of trump to weaken NATO et al. as well as our own citizenry with threats (now coming manifest as the days tick down) of cutting MediCare, Social Security, public education, all of which weakens and discourages our citizenry, in order to appease trump's mirage of Putin's acceptance?
Two weeks in Berlin and Prague over Christmas and the concern of the man on the street there is palpable; their comments biting in their honesty: "What are you doing, electing a TV personality with no political experience for your President? Don't you realize how the world STILL looked to America for the example to follow...but those days are over. How can you not understand what you have done?"
Is it possible that trump is willing to insult, ignore, and debase our national security and information organizations in order to deflect our attention as he hands the United States over to Russia? Is the plan of trump to weaken NATO et al. as well as our own citizenry with threats (now coming manifest as the days tick down) of cutting MediCare, Social Security, public education, all of which weakens and discourages our citizenry, in order to appease trump's mirage of Putin's acceptance?
Two weeks in Berlin and Prague over Christmas and the concern of the man on the street there is palpable; their comments biting in their honesty: "What are you doing, electing a TV personality with no political experience for your President? Don't you realize how the world STILL looked to America for the example to follow...but those days are over. How can you not understand what you have done?"
12
"Is it not true, sir, that you beat your wife when you are feeling peeved?"
4
It really doesn't matter whether Republicans are or are not worried about Mr. Trump's apparent fascination with Putin, although it should be noted that Marco Rubio summed up some concerns about Putin's abuses of human rights very succinctly during the confirmation hearings today. What matters is that Mr. Trump fawns over a foreign leader who demonstrably interfered with our democratic processes, he takes that leader's side when that leader chastises the Democrats (American citizens) and he thinks of American citizens as his "enemies". Instead of framing this question as requiring Trump to prove that he is not loyal to Putin, shouldn't we be asking whether he is loyal to American citizens?
22
Remember Nixon's "Enemy List"? Trump is unstable and scary. His desire is to be like Putin, absolutely in control of everything (but himself).
1
Based on his behavior, Trump and his election remind me of Nazi Germany's modus operandi prior to World War II, where the Nazis softened up their future target states by corrupting their internal politics. These "seeds" were harvested in Norway with Vidkun Quisling and in France with the Vichy rump state, most specifically Pierre Laval.
The Trump candidacy/election is the current, Putin-era version of this.