Smart neighbor avoid conflict with neighbors. Russia and europe both christian nations should avoid conflicts.
4
I think Trump is clueless about any of this and that the American intelligence officials are at fault here. I'm not sure if Obama had any clues either. Basically our whole government is broken at every level and needs to be fixed so this relationship with Russia is interesting. Some Republicans just hate the government but they seem to be okay with Russia and their almost-dictatorship/communism and total government control. Or maybe we're all really ignorant. Maybe this is the beginning of friendly relations with Russia and China? Many Americans hate China for stealing our jobs but maybe not Russia since they seem mostly white and they don't remember the Cold War at all. Maybe Sessions thought talking with Russian leaders were harmless and didn't think they'll hack anything. I feel bad for the guy for blindingly trusting other countries' leaders and not thinking of them as spies. But if we really want a peaceful world, we should drop our guard and start believing in the good of others. I think that's the true liberalism spirit.
1
I thought the cold was was over. Didn't President Obama tell us that? Did not matter until the Democrat lost an election.
5
Oh really my fellow Americans, are you so insular and fixated on the present that you honestly believe that foreign interests have been disinterested in regime changes in other countries till now? Alliances have been made and broken since time immemorial in order to strengthen or weaken one side or another. This hypocritical stance by the lib-dem block and supporting press is an ill-fated, desperate attempt to reverse the results of an election by whipping up a frenzy about "foreign" interference in our election. How pathetic, how ridiculous, how trivial! I sincerely hope that a cooperative modus vivendi is worked out between Russia and the USA and, frankly, Yalta was not such a bad deal considering. Grow up and move on, for heavens sake.
4
Sometime during the recent presidential campaign, my wife and I were watching some TV channel covering the day's events. We both remember seeing Rudy Giuliani, then an avid surrogate for Donald Trump, now relegated to obscurity. The topic of discussion back then was Russian intervention in the US election. At one point during the discussion, Giuliani smiled knowingly like the cat who ate the canary. Any investigation of Russian hijinks MUST determine what Giuliani knew and when he knew it.
12
"During that campaign"? When is America not having a campaign?
Franken et al should keep the questions sumple: "When did you stop taliking to Russians?" and "Do you agree that Putin's a killer?"
Franken et al should keep the questions sumple: "When did you stop taliking to Russians?" and "Do you agree that Putin's a killer?"
4
Reading this article, it becomes clear that the Obama administration decided to spread unsubstantiated suppositions around and made sure that they would be known to many partisans in the bureaucracy. Further, they made the verification of these innuendos impossible by classifying the actual contact info. Frankly, I am amazed to find that our bumbling former president could be so clever. His personal dislike of the man who accused him of being born in Kenya has always been evident to all, but I didn't expect such a clever sabotage of the incoming administration.
I guess that President Obama really did learn those lessons of Saul Alinsky, as Fox News always claims!
As a subscriber to this ever-diminishing "news" paper, please get back to me when at least one of these anonymous leakers comes forward with actual facts.
I guess that President Obama really did learn those lessons of Saul Alinsky, as Fox News always claims!
As a subscriber to this ever-diminishing "news" paper, please get back to me when at least one of these anonymous leakers comes forward with actual facts.
8
Richard Nixon committed treason when he sent envoys to meet secretly with the North Vietnamese in 1968 to undermine Lyndon Johnson's peace talks. LBJ pointed that out in a phone call (recorded) but said if he brought it up he would be accused -- by the GOP -- of playing politics with national security.
Ronald Reagan's campaign -- likely in the person of GHW Bush -- committed treason in 1980 when "someone" secretly met with representatives of Iran to ask them to continue holding American hostages until after election day, so that Reagan could use "the hostage crisis" against President Carter. Shortly after he "won" the election, Reagan's staff made arrangements for the hostages to be released at 12:01 p.m. on Inauguration Day, and soon thereafter sold arms to Iran through Nicaraguan rebels. Carter and his people refused to call it treason, lest they be accused -- by the GOP -- of "playing politics" with the hostage crisis.
WHEN will the American people wake up to the fact that the Republican Party is filled with traitors to the United States, and that their repeated treason over the past 50 years makes them a clear and present danger to our nation? When will American traitors be charged, tried, and executed?
Ronald Reagan's campaign -- likely in the person of GHW Bush -- committed treason in 1980 when "someone" secretly met with representatives of Iran to ask them to continue holding American hostages until after election day, so that Reagan could use "the hostage crisis" against President Carter. Shortly after he "won" the election, Reagan's staff made arrangements for the hostages to be released at 12:01 p.m. on Inauguration Day, and soon thereafter sold arms to Iran through Nicaraguan rebels. Carter and his people refused to call it treason, lest they be accused -- by the GOP -- of "playing politics" with the hostage crisis.
WHEN will the American people wake up to the fact that the Republican Party is filled with traitors to the United States, and that their repeated treason over the past 50 years makes them a clear and present danger to our nation? When will American traitors be charged, tried, and executed?
27
Given Nixon's later diffuculties in the same arena, I'm inclined to think LBJ was engage it some Texan hyperbole. After all, at the time be was trying to 'buy them off' and was discouraged that they wouldn't 'make a deal'. .
1
So Democrats.....show us the evidence..........very simple.
5
Espionage is a wicked business, folks.
5
This was a brilliant move by the Obama administration. Thank you.
I am an Independent voter, but say what you will, Mr. Obama has integrity.
It's frightening that history, the news and the rhetoric from Mr. Trump are not trustworthy. He will not disclose his tax returns. He will not divest from his corporation. Nepotism is rampant. Racism is blatant. How did this happen?
I suggest that we dismantle the electoral college. It is no longer relevant.
I am an Independent voter, but say what you will, Mr. Obama has integrity.
It's frightening that history, the news and the rhetoric from Mr. Trump are not trustworthy. He will not disclose his tax returns. He will not divest from his corporation. Nepotism is rampant. Racism is blatant. How did this happen?
I suggest that we dismantle the electoral college. It is no longer relevant.
24
What just happened?
I opened this mornings (Friday) digital Times and half of the page was in Russian. The print scrolled to the right of my screen. I don't see an accompanying story.
Surely, I am mistaken. Paranoid? Delusional?
I opened this mornings (Friday) digital Times and half of the page was in Russian. The print scrolled to the right of my screen. I don't see an accompanying story.
Surely, I am mistaken. Paranoid? Delusional?
2
This is the clearest explanation to date of efforts by Obama, his political appointees, and partisan career employees throughout government to undermine and sabotage Trump and his Administration.
They went so far as to involve as many people as possible and to make as many people aware as they could that they considered Trump dangerous to the Republic, even involving a willing media in their plot so that the general public became aware. They encouraged their supporters to #Resist, demonstrate, attend townhalls, and prepare for 2018.
Breadcrumbs were reportedly left. The leakers claimed that the most highly classified materials were consolidated in the hands of only a few trustworthy people so that investigators could solve the coming problems of treason and treachery. Trump could be stopped.
So now we know that there is indeed a plot by the former Obama Administration to overthrow our current government.
Thanks, NYT.
They went so far as to involve as many people as possible and to make as many people aware as they could that they considered Trump dangerous to the Republic, even involving a willing media in their plot so that the general public became aware. They encouraged their supporters to #Resist, demonstrate, attend townhalls, and prepare for 2018.
Breadcrumbs were reportedly left. The leakers claimed that the most highly classified materials were consolidated in the hands of only a few trustworthy people so that investigators could solve the coming problems of treason and treachery. Trump could be stopped.
So now we know that there is indeed a plot by the former Obama Administration to overthrow our current government.
Thanks, NYT.
10
THANK YOU, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA!
Thank you for being smart enough, stealthy enough, intuitive enough and trusted enough to protect our nation, its people, and our Consitution by working with other government department heads to SAVE much of these files and information from the Trump Administration's "Delete" button cover-up!!
Thank you for foreseeing this Trump situation as the nightmare it is... and doing your duty to keep us - the American People - safe and informed.
Sooner or later it will be common knowledge that you, sir, were truly heroic in these actions!
Thank you for being smart enough, stealthy enough, intuitive enough and trusted enough to protect our nation, its people, and our Consitution by working with other government department heads to SAVE much of these files and information from the Trump Administration's "Delete" button cover-up!!
Thank you for foreseeing this Trump situation as the nightmare it is... and doing your duty to keep us - the American People - safe and informed.
Sooner or later it will be common knowledge that you, sir, were truly heroic in these actions!
26
This is the new warfare.
When the election tampering was first detected, a public service announcement in the form of a warning regarding all "news" information should have been made.
Such a public awareness campaign could have:
1. Provided tips on how to detect fraudulent news in PSA's and on government web sites, plus through major news channels
2. Set up a process for certifying sources of news
3. Set up a process for flagging "fake news" in conjunction with major aggregators
4. Applied a "verified news source" certification and imprint for trusted news websites in conjunction with fact-checking organizations
5. Allowed for independent news and blogging, but with a disclaimer differentiating them from sites whose news is independently fact-checked
6. Applied a 3-strikes-in-1-month policy towards outlets that earned certification, and then distributed substantially "fake" articles to suspend certification
7. Applied a 2-outs policy towards such outlets to permanently revoke certification
And I'm just an AMATEUR.
When the election tampering was first detected, a public service announcement in the form of a warning regarding all "news" information should have been made.
Such a public awareness campaign could have:
1. Provided tips on how to detect fraudulent news in PSA's and on government web sites, plus through major news channels
2. Set up a process for certifying sources of news
3. Set up a process for flagging "fake news" in conjunction with major aggregators
4. Applied a "verified news source" certification and imprint for trusted news websites in conjunction with fact-checking organizations
5. Allowed for independent news and blogging, but with a disclaimer differentiating them from sites whose news is independently fact-checked
6. Applied a 3-strikes-in-1-month policy towards outlets that earned certification, and then distributed substantially "fake" articles to suspend certification
7. Applied a 2-outs policy towards such outlets to permanently revoke certification
And I'm just an AMATEUR.
6
German TV had a docu. on trolls and cyber manipulation last week. It said that 45% of anti-Merkel social media posts originated in the US- ID unknown, but those also supported Brexit and Trump. Someone is playing with us, and it's not just the Russians.
8
In my opinion it is getting quite old, as well as blaring obvious, that the Democrats as well as their surrogate press, are out to make anybody in the Trump administration look bad. Classic witch hunt. Time to get on with important accomplishments for our nation. Not much ado about nothingness.
13
Lots of speculation yet NO substantive facts have been leaked - isn't that odd?
Perhaps the American People need to insist that full-time Senators and Congressmen should NOT be allowed to actively participate in election campaigns not their own unless they take a non-paid leave of absence from Congress! Taxpayers should not be paying for political activities of their representatives.
Perhaps the American People need to insist that full-time Senators and Congressmen should NOT be allowed to actively participate in election campaigns not their own unless they take a non-paid leave of absence from Congress! Taxpayers should not be paying for political activities of their representatives.
6
At what point does it become Sedition?
7
Already has...
4
If President Obama's legacy wasn't secure before, it certainly is now.
To the seditious Republicans, who were so smugly certain they would obliterate him; to the gang of thugs and swamp rats now "advising" the Current Occupant who have engaged with a hostile power to install a morally and mentally unfit, two-bit grifter in the Oval Office; and to SCROTUS, whose days are filled with obsessive TV watching, simmering rage over slights real and imagined, and cold revenge; the golden words of Nelson Muntz: HA ha!
To the seditious Republicans, who were so smugly certain they would obliterate him; to the gang of thugs and swamp rats now "advising" the Current Occupant who have engaged with a hostile power to install a morally and mentally unfit, two-bit grifter in the Oval Office; and to SCROTUS, whose days are filled with obsessive TV watching, simmering rage over slights real and imagined, and cold revenge; the golden words of Nelson Muntz: HA ha!
18
This is NOT about:
* Who won or lost the election.
* Why ANYONE won or lost the election.
It *IS* about Russian cyber warfare attacks on United States
* Who won or lost the election.
* Why ANYONE won or lost the election.
It *IS* about Russian cyber warfare attacks on United States
14
To anyone who thinks that there's no direct Russian connection to Trump in this whole mess, let's not forget--TRUMP is the one who made a public plea to the Russians to hack American servers to find Clinton's emails. And then he made the same statement AGAIN on twitter. This isn't a he said, she said thing. You can watch the video and read the hundreds of articles that were written about the incident. So let's be clear: Trump isn't an innocent bystander in this mess. Rather, he's the one who invited the Russians--on national television and on a high-profile social media platform--to interfere with our political process. Trump's cast of sycophants described the comment as a "joke." Is anyone laughing? I'm not laughing. Yelling "bomb!" in an airport will get you arrested, regardless of whether it was intended as a joke. In other words, it's not about intent, it's about consequences. And Trump needs to be held accountable for a grave breach of national security.
29
The "election" was not hacked. The "election" is the process of voters recording votes on ballots, often within electronic voting machines.. votes which are then counted by election officials and certified to state and federal Secretaries of State. There is absolutely no evidence, nor even any claim, that Russia interfered with the ELECTION process.
Democrats are saying "hacked the election", because they are too lazy and dishonest to say "Russian agents published the TRUE CONTENT of emails between Democratic party officials (not "government officials") which described COLLUSION between the DNC and the media (particularly CNN) to unfairly benefit the DNC candidate by providing advance copies of questions to be asked at upcoming debates. The public knowledge of this COLLUSION between the DNC and the media undermined the credibility of both groups, and THAT influenced some voters (including myself) to withdraw support for the DNC and its candidates."
There is no legitimate reason for any political party's internal communications to be kept secret - OUR Parties should not be doing anything that they would not proudly admit to anyone - the fact that it took Russian agents for the TRUTH about DNC SECRETS to be known, says more about corruption within the DNC and the "impartial" media, than it says about Putin, Russia, Trump or the RNC.
Russia was just the messenger here - "hacked the election" is an attempt to "shoot the messenger", nothing more.
Democrats are saying "hacked the election", because they are too lazy and dishonest to say "Russian agents published the TRUE CONTENT of emails between Democratic party officials (not "government officials") which described COLLUSION between the DNC and the media (particularly CNN) to unfairly benefit the DNC candidate by providing advance copies of questions to be asked at upcoming debates. The public knowledge of this COLLUSION between the DNC and the media undermined the credibility of both groups, and THAT influenced some voters (including myself) to withdraw support for the DNC and its candidates."
There is no legitimate reason for any political party's internal communications to be kept secret - OUR Parties should not be doing anything that they would not proudly admit to anyone - the fact that it took Russian agents for the TRUTH about DNC SECRETS to be known, says more about corruption within the DNC and the "impartial" media, than it says about Putin, Russia, Trump or the RNC.
Russia was just the messenger here - "hacked the election" is an attempt to "shoot the messenger", nothing more.
7
Sure, Steve W., then a court trial that offers only one side of the story is a perfectly fair representation of "TRUTH" -- at least by your standards.
Shouldn't the Republicans release THEIR internal communications which, in your words, have "no legitimate reason to be kept secret"? An investigation of them would be entirely in line with your beliefs. You don't get to have it both ways.
Primaries are not federal elections. This administration should WANT to clear themselves of any shadow on their integrity in a national election. That they oppose such openness is telling.
Shouldn't the Republicans release THEIR internal communications which, in your words, have "no legitimate reason to be kept secret"? An investigation of them would be entirely in line with your beliefs. You don't get to have it both ways.
Primaries are not federal elections. This administration should WANT to clear themselves of any shadow on their integrity in a national election. That they oppose such openness is telling.
8
More troubling to me, but obviously not to progressives, is a Democratic administration using the intelligence and surveillance power of the CIA, NSA, etc to monitor the Republicans, the opposition party. Watergate pales in comparison to these activities and Obama administration instigators of them should be investigated.
As to this whole Russia influencing and conspiring with the Trump campaign, this will prove to be a lot of smoke with little to no fire. Just the kind of fake news the liberal MSM thrives on. The rest of America has already moved on.
As to this whole Russia influencing and conspiring with the Trump campaign, this will prove to be a lot of smoke with little to no fire. Just the kind of fake news the liberal MSM thrives on. The rest of America has already moved on.
7
Agent P, they were monitoring...Russians. The Trump Republican campaign operatives just weren't making a big secret of theirRussian conntacts. The big red flag is that they chose to lie about these contacts when confronted with them, sometimes under oath.
If everything was aboveboard, why bother to lie? You don't speak for "the rest of America" nor do you have a crystal ball.
If everything was aboveboard, why bother to lie? You don't speak for "the rest of America" nor do you have a crystal ball.
9
We need to put together a large reward for anyone leaking information about the Russian connection, the tax returns and the conflicts of interest.
10
I wonder how far this story can go without actual evidence and what damage it will ultimately do to the democratic party and the media credibility when it is likely shown as a tempest in a tea kettle...
9
What this article makes clear, to me, is the United States has been attacked, surreptitiously, via the very systems we created and promulgated to the world. The Internet and the vast globally webbed together world. The irony is supreme. American's need to realize something in all this. The Cold War never went away from Russia's perspective. America thought it was done, but it isn't. Our thinking that the Cold War was a historical relic has made us fat, complacent and lazy in geo-politics.
Trump and his ilk's treasonous acts are the vectors used in conducting the attack. America needs to wake up and realize we're in a new Cold War folks, and it has heated up out there in Cyberspace. If we don't recognize its nature and stop acting like the complacent Empire we have become then we will be paying for it into the far future. And we will deserve all that we get. The first step in correcting the situation? Bringing Trump and his minions to heel. Quickly.
John~
American Net'Zen
Trump and his ilk's treasonous acts are the vectors used in conducting the attack. America needs to wake up and realize we're in a new Cold War folks, and it has heated up out there in Cyberspace. If we don't recognize its nature and stop acting like the complacent Empire we have become then we will be paying for it into the far future. And we will deserve all that we get. The first step in correcting the situation? Bringing Trump and his minions to heel. Quickly.
John~
American Net'Zen
16
I notice a cadence to comments on articles, especially those about Russia. The first group of comments are more likely anti-Trump without a lot of back and forth. More left leaning. They are probably from subscribers. After about a half hour to hour, a new type of comment comes in. These seem paid for. They only use insults and they are blatantly planting questions about the content of the article. The names and people are often Russian. Many are not hiding they are in Moscow. People start getting involved in a back and forth on commenting. Then comes a sustained stream of comments from the right. None of them mention facts. They are the insult comments: 'babies', 'get over it', 'no one cares about this'. Ok, I've worked in design and marketing a long time. If I were to design a bot or pay a center to respond to articles, this is very much how it would unfold.
College interns are building ways to detect and block fake comments. Might the New York Times hire someone or a team to test these hypothesis and build responses? I would kickstart that. Our democracy depends on authentic communication.
College interns are building ways to detect and block fake comments. Might the New York Times hire someone or a team to test these hypothesis and build responses? I would kickstart that. Our democracy depends on authentic communication.
11
Wow, you're right. It's almost an artificially created mob, with only a fraction of the participants real people, but those real people are especially energized because they think they're part of a mob.
4
He is such a good, thorough, thoughtful man who did his best under incredibly difficult circumstances.
He is very much admired in my country and the rest of Europe.
Its very touching that a French petition has been started to have him as French President.
Its already picked up another 5000 votes since yesterday, so its nearly at 46,000
http://obama2017.fr/
So sweet. But we want him in the UK desperately, perhaps he can be cloned.
Im currently in Australia and they love him here, he has somethig like an 80% approval rating, and Australians are not traditionally fond of US Presidents.
He is very much admired in my country and the rest of Europe.
Its very touching that a French petition has been started to have him as French President.
Its already picked up another 5000 votes since yesterday, so its nearly at 46,000
http://obama2017.fr/
So sweet. But we want him in the UK desperately, perhaps he can be cloned.
Im currently in Australia and they love him here, he has somethig like an 80% approval rating, and Australians are not traditionally fond of US Presidents.
11
It's always "cloak and dagger" with you counterfeits ... NMP's batteries have been drained dry and when all is said and done you are all going to have to face 2 very solemn facts. The first - you will have totally burnt all ties to spurring republican support whatsoever; from this point on into a very dark future for the democratic party. The second - when all your little masquerading is over - you will have lost at least 1/4 of your conglomerates to the right - and still have to face a lost battle; an embarrassment; and most likely more damages and destruction in the news from your "hard left" side - because that is all you folks do in times of failure and prostration.
Believe me - if there is one thing for certain in this election; democrats are doomed to ever recoup from the hate and disgust seen throughout this land.
Believe me - if there is one thing for certain in this election; democrats are doomed to ever recoup from the hate and disgust seen throughout this land.
4
There was no Republican support whatsoever in the last administration -- the GOP already burned that bridge themselves. They offered a highly successful model of political warfare. Why are they surpirsed when the opposition learns from their example?
"Always" and "never" seldom prove accurate in forecasting human behavior. It is early days yet for this administration.
"Always" and "never" seldom prove accurate in forecasting human behavior. It is early days yet for this administration.
10
It seems more and more obvious to me that President Obama should have taken more aggressive steps before the election; declaring a state of emergency and delaying the election until the intelligence agencies could report would have been more appropriate than letting a tainted election proceed.
63
You must be joking? Ansitting Senator has two brief comtacts with the Russian ambassador and you want a constitutional crisis? You liberals are definitely off your meds. Answer this genius, why does Russia have an ambassador? Why is there an embassy? Is it not appropriate for American Senators to have talks with Russian officials? Didn't John McCain just go to Syria? Didn't he just talk with the Australian leader? Didn't Schumer meet with Putin? How about when Israel's prime minister gave a speech to the congress? Do you think he talked with a few elected leaders? You liberals are all in an uproar over nothing. Maybe you should rethink that meeting between Attorney General Lynch and Private citizen Bill Clinton who's wife was under investigation. Does that ring any bells?
5
Maybe you should have a friend or family member read these things before you hit ''submit.'' We don't declare states of emergency at the national level.
We also don't have any procedure to follow even if we found out that Mr. Obama was actually born in Kenya, or if Sessions turned out to be one of the THIRTY Senators who spoke with the Russians just about the Iranian nuclear energy deal.
Had we found out about the rape of Johanna Broadrick in October 1992, should that vote have been delayed?
We also don't have any procedure to follow even if we found out that Mr. Obama was actually born in Kenya, or if Sessions turned out to be one of the THIRTY Senators who spoke with the Russians just about the Iranian nuclear energy deal.
Had we found out about the rape of Johanna Broadrick in October 1992, should that vote have been delayed?
3
Lol! Seems more and more obvious that Trump is being attacked by the Deep State, a treasonous soft coupt.
For all those Trump supporters who don't want a full and independent investigation, why not? If this all false, then people need to be held accountable for their deeds. I am good if that is what is determined. Accountability for all.
67
Thry should also bring a Hillary into this one! Can you imagine that? They actually had evidence she broke the law! Just crazy isn't it?
2
Let's have an investigation! But let's also have some ability to be fair. Jeff Sessions was a sitting Senator. Of course he talked with a number of foreign officials. This is much to do about nothing.
2
"For all those Trump supporters who don't want a full and independent investigation, why not?"
The short answer is a politically motivated investigation not based on probably cause would distract the Administration from serving the country, and expose private information to likely criminal leakers . Illegally leaks and probably illegally collected surveillance including phone taps have shown no wrongdoing. Also investigation can look into an issue A and expand into issues B & C.
I personally don't think there was any collusion. In our country, we have Fourth Amendment principals of not invading privacy without first having probable cause, and oath of affirmation, and a very specific judge issued warrant. I expect the Trumps administrations opposition would love to put the Administration on the defensive whether or not there was legitimate reason to investigate, knowing criminal leaking would occur, and the Administration would spend much of its time that could be spent on serving America, defending itself.
There is a great deal of information we keep private that has nothing to do with wrongdoing. For example, we have classified information. A desire for privacy does not imply wrongdoing. People who use password protect information like medical records, shred their private documents, or expect their phone calls to be private generally do not do so to hide wrong going.
By the way, are a likely false narrative and criminal leaking to support it a great wrong?
The short answer is a politically motivated investigation not based on probably cause would distract the Administration from serving the country, and expose private information to likely criminal leakers . Illegally leaks and probably illegally collected surveillance including phone taps have shown no wrongdoing. Also investigation can look into an issue A and expand into issues B & C.
I personally don't think there was any collusion. In our country, we have Fourth Amendment principals of not invading privacy without first having probable cause, and oath of affirmation, and a very specific judge issued warrant. I expect the Trumps administrations opposition would love to put the Administration on the defensive whether or not there was legitimate reason to investigate, knowing criminal leaking would occur, and the Administration would spend much of its time that could be spent on serving America, defending itself.
There is a great deal of information we keep private that has nothing to do with wrongdoing. For example, we have classified information. A desire for privacy does not imply wrongdoing. People who use password protect information like medical records, shred their private documents, or expect their phone calls to be private generally do not do so to hide wrong going.
By the way, are a likely false narrative and criminal leaking to support it a great wrong?
3
Putin must be relishing with delight his foresight and skill in cultivating and later abetting an incompetent American presidential candidate who's election has destabilized our government and our (until recently) much-admired way of life. The craven opportunism of the GOP (when do I get my school voucher?) in whitewashing what is obviously a national security scandal is reprehensible. The truth will set us free indeed.
95
"The truth will set us free"? Do you mean "the true content of DNC party emails"? Because Russia only did what the New York Times SHOULD be doing - reporting the truth about collusion between DNC and CNN on an attempt to cheat in a Presidential debate.
If Trump was as incompetent and unqualified as you say he is, then why did the DNC feel it was necessary to cheat? If the "hacked emails" had shown that Party officials had REFUSED an offer to cheat, and instead insisted that the offer and refusal must be reported publicly... THOSE "hacked emails" - those facts - would have motivated me to support the DNC and its candidate.
If Trump was as incompetent and unqualified as you say he is, then why did the DNC feel it was necessary to cheat? If the "hacked emails" had shown that Party officials had REFUSED an offer to cheat, and instead insisted that the offer and refusal must be reported publicly... THOSE "hacked emails" - those facts - would have motivated me to support the DNC and its candidate.
5
I'm not sure Putin is entirely thrilled with the merchandise he bought. Its packaging and marketing looked a lot better than what was actually in the box.
4
If this story is true, then those Obama appointees and functionaries are heroes and patriots.
93
Unfortunately, it's not true...they're a lot of misleading assumptions here. It's sort of like watching Homeland, reading these articles. Good for fantasy.
3
And if it's all false or blown out of proportion? Then what? Obamas team of liars and scoundrels are subverting the new President. It's in his playbook. In my opinion, Obama wanted Hillary to lose and Trumpnto win. He gets rid of the Clinton dynasty, stays on top of the party and gets to take pot shots at the new president. Trump should fire everyone in the government who is connected to these leaks tonight. Can them all.
2
Imagine that the NY Time creating a story that make Obama look like a hero... Unfortunately what is true, is that we now know how "purchased" by liberal ideals and directly major media was...So odds are likely this is fake news
1
The truth is that they are all chasing ghosts. A "connection" implies a plan. Any diplomatic conversations were just that, conversations. Show us the absolute proof that the Trump Team is dirty, and we can act on it objectively. Continuing on with this "whisper" campaign without facts is detrimental to us all.
29
While I agree that whispers are not proof of a plan, the facts support a thorough investigation. There is no certainty that there will be a thorough investigation, as there is a clear effort on the platt of senior Republicans to block a proper independent investigation. The most outrageous thing is the hypocrisy!!! Can you imagine what these craven hacks would be screaming if this was Obama or Clinton. No when the shoe is on the other foot it is all "let's see facts before we sling accusations" they have no problem spreading lies and falsehoods when they want to smear the Democrats, but now they are the soul of discretion!!! Liars, hypocrites and cowards!!! Does their perfidy know no bounds!!!! Truly shameful!
7
Upon reflection, President Obama was in a difficult position when presidential campaigning by Trump and Clinton was in full swing last summer, and it first became apparent something was going on with the Russians interfering with the election. Had he chosen to release all information before fully vetting it, the Republicans would have cried foul, that the President was showing partisanship by doing so, and there had to be consideration for how voters would react. Further, from all the polls, it seemed Clinton would win without a problem. When Comey pulled his October surprise, it was then too late. When the election results were known, there was a scramble to secure all types of information, including the intelligence on the Russian hacking.
I do not fault the President for his actions, it was a "damned if you do, and damned if you don't situation".
I do not fault the President for his actions, it was a "damned if you do, and damned if you don't situation".
96
I found the outsider perspective of former conservative British Parliament Member and current journalist Louise Mensch to be very enlightening. Looks like she has been connecting the dots and is ahead of the curve with this whole situation. If the US population could overcome our selection bias we might have a chance. I urge all Americans (especially GOP) to not forget their duty as citizens of this country. We all need to be patriots when it comes to defending our democracy.
70
Just so you know, Louise Mensch is an utter pot stirring self interested fool.
She hasnt been a politician since 2012, and she was one of the frauds who encouraged Brexit at the behest of your Billionaire Robert Mercer, Rupert Murdoch, Paul Dacre and that failed politician [7x NOT elected in his own constituency] Farrage.
She is one of the most disrespected figures in the UK for good reason.
She hasnt been a politician since 2012, and she was one of the frauds who encouraged Brexit at the behest of your Billionaire Robert Mercer, Rupert Murdoch, Paul Dacre and that failed politician [7x NOT elected in his own constituency] Farrage.
She is one of the most disrespected figures in the UK for good reason.
Methinks I smell some trolls in these comments on Obama's efforts to preserve evidence of GOP wrongdoing....
-misstatement of the intent and gist of the article...
-obliviousness to the seriousness of conversations with a hostile Foreign Power by the **current Attorney General,** and the ensuing perjury, following on a similar pattern of shady conduct by this Administration's National Security Adviser, who has since resigned...
-A President who cannot bring himself to say anything but "nice things" about a Russian thug
-taunts about how Hillary lost the election, intended to distract, perhaps...
- attacks on Obama's character.
Trolling is always ugly. It's especially ugly here.
-misstatement of the intent and gist of the article...
-obliviousness to the seriousness of conversations with a hostile Foreign Power by the **current Attorney General,** and the ensuing perjury, following on a similar pattern of shady conduct by this Administration's National Security Adviser, who has since resigned...
-A President who cannot bring himself to say anything but "nice things" about a Russian thug
-taunts about how Hillary lost the election, intended to distract, perhaps...
- attacks on Obama's character.
Trolling is always ugly. It's especially ugly here.
70
America journalists need an enemy (now Russia) in order to sell their tabloid stories. Enough of these conspiracy theories! The cold war is over, and Trump won because thousand people voted for him.
29
Er you mean 3 million more voted for Clinton.
He got in via a fixed election on a multitude of levels.
He got in via a fixed election on a multitude of levels.
6
Were it Hillary Clinton who was having pre-election contact with the Russians, Sessions, et al. would have already convened the impeachment trial. So let's not pretend that this is a case of there being no there there.
I have the advantage of having heard Sessions recuse himself. I waited for him to say he had appointed a special prosecutor. I never heard it because he did not do it.
It's about time someone investigated the Republicans. How many years have the rest of us put up with listening to their tired assertions that Hillary is a crook whom Donald needs to "lock up." What's good for the goose is good for gander, afterall.
It is past time to investigate the interference with a US election, no matter what side benefitted. Had Hillary Clinton won the Electoral College as well as the popular vote, the investigation would be on already with Republicans trying to figure out a way to make her take the fall.
Since Darrell Issa says he wants to investigate this matter, do you suppose he'll slip and call a trumper, "Secretary Clinton?" Afterall, he has made a career of investigating Mrs. Clinton.
I have the advantage of having heard Sessions recuse himself. I waited for him to say he had appointed a special prosecutor. I never heard it because he did not do it.
It's about time someone investigated the Republicans. How many years have the rest of us put up with listening to their tired assertions that Hillary is a crook whom Donald needs to "lock up." What's good for the goose is good for gander, afterall.
It is past time to investigate the interference with a US election, no matter what side benefitted. Had Hillary Clinton won the Electoral College as well as the popular vote, the investigation would be on already with Republicans trying to figure out a way to make her take the fall.
Since Darrell Issa says he wants to investigate this matter, do you suppose he'll slip and call a trumper, "Secretary Clinton?" Afterall, he has made a career of investigating Mrs. Clinton.
64
Do you have any clue whatsoever about what you are saying? Just how did the Russians make a single American voter change their mind? How did the Russians or Trump keep her from going to Wisconsin? Or Michigan? How did the Russians or Trump get her to set up a secret email server and then allow it to be hacked? Did the Russians put Bill on that plane with the former attorney general? Did the Russians force Clinton to call us deplorable? Did the Russians put us 20 trillion in debt and cause the unemployment of millions because of liberal policies? Just how did the Russians get all those losers to protest across America and thereby caused millions to vote for Trump? How did the Russians get twice as many blacks to vote for Trump than voted for Romney? How did the Russians get into every county and its polling booths? I know five people who never voted in their lives who registered and voted for Trump because they are sick and tired of liberal lies, not because the Russians made them do it. The democrats have lost thousands of elective offices over the last eight years because of their policies. Not because of Russian interference. Fox News is proving through its ratings and huge dominance over the media that Americans are fed up with progressive lies. You lost!
6
There's no substance to any of the breathless charges being hurled and implied. There isn't one person who can read the NYT article and say what the substance is. There is no 'news' in the article. Who said what to whom, when and where. You'll read that article from here to eternity and not have an answer to that most basic journalistic series of inquiries. But here's something that was caught on tape in a discussion with a Russian, recorded on audio and visual:
Mr Obama says: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defence, this, this can be solved but it's important for him to give me space."
Mr Medvedev replies: "Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you …"
Mr Obama retorts: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."
And Mr Medvedev finishes: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir [Putin]."
If anyone here or at the NYT wants to talk about treason, let's start right there.
Mr Obama says: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defence, this, this can be solved but it's important for him to give me space."
Mr Medvedev replies: "Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you …"
Mr Obama retorts: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."
And Mr Medvedev finishes: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir [Putin]."
If anyone here or at the NYT wants to talk about treason, let's start right there.
29
You mean that Awesome Coolness isn't a defense for an impeachment proceeding or a charge of treason? But he can tell jokes and everything....??
1
How can we know there is no substance. It beggars belief!! Surely even you can understand why this needs to be investigated! How can we know what went on if we don't look at this fully. I can see by your careful bracketing of the Obama/Medvedev transcript that your suspicions of treason are one way street. We don't know what these people were up to, so there needs to be an investigation. I suspect if they were without guilt they wouldn't be lying about the contacts they did have. I also suspect that no end of reasonable arguments will penetrate your certainty.
3
I am not a democrat. I do insist that all people tied to *45 in any way should be investigated for treason. If even the smallest question about their loyalty to the USA, not *45 exists, they should be tried in open court. Defended by privately funded lawyers & suspended from any jobs they have with either the regime of *45 or any of his companies. Anyone found guilty should hang, in public. As soon as the IMPEACHMENT of *45 has concluded, the trial from that impeachment is concluded, the sentencing of *45 and all of his staffers, cabinet, & all congressmen who have had any contact with this illegal regime have been investigated. All sentences to take place together on the Mall, with all family members required to be there, & sign documents that they agree with the sentences. Or they lose all benefits any of them may ever qualify for. All assets of all those found guilty (including all of *45's companies) will be turned over to the Treasury for sale & putting the resultant funds into the general fund to pay Federal bills. The families will be required to turn over any assets given or sold to them by any of the guilty after Jan 2015. They must never be trusted. They lie like they breathe, compulsively. That is why hanging is such an appropriate sentence. Of course any of them can resign now & confess to the select committee for these crimes, taking polygraphs, giving all information on *45 & his crooks to them, for trial. They will not be charged. I want the traitors to hang.
17
Are you a communist? It seams your solution is tied to what the Russians have been doing for about a century. You are a sick individual.
Angry though we may be, we've gotta do what they haven't done, which is to abide by our laws. While treason is a hanging offense for sure, we can't go all mob on them. They would all lawyer up, of course, and it would take years and a lot of money, but look at it this way--for them it will be like being in the stocks on the square, holding them up for public contempt, spoiling their days and draining their bank accounts. What history will have to say about them will be the icing on the cake.
2
If it can be proven that there was direct manipulation of the election by the Trump campaign, then what happens? We just take it like a beaten dog? This vile administration is eroding the fabric of society every day; I am not sure how we will survive four years of it.
51
Do you have any clue whatsoever about what you are saying? Just how did the Russians make a single American voter change their mind? How did the Russians or Trump keep her from going to Wisconsin? Or Michigan? How did the Russians or Trump get her to set up a secret email server and then allow it to be hacked? Did the Russians put Bill on that plane with the former attorney general? Did the Russians force Clinton to call us deplorable? Did the Russians put us 20 trillion in debt and cause the unemployment of millions because of liberal policies? Just how did the Russians get all those losers to protest across America and thereby caused millions to vote for Trump? How did the Russians get twice as many blacks to vote for Trump than voted for Romney? How did the Russians get into every county and its polling booths? I know five people who never voted in their lives who registered and voted for Trump because they are sick and tired of liberal lies, not because the Russians made them do it. The democrats have lost thousands of elective offices over the last eight years because of their policies. Not because of Russian interference. Fox News is proving through its ratings and huge dominance over the media that Americans are fed up with progressive lies. You lost because America woke up. We tried liberalism. We're done with it.
1
President Obama passionately warned us that DJT was unfit to run our country. Yet the electoral college turned a deaf ear choosing deviousness, let-me-entertain-you and I-can-get-by-with-anything including Putin as a BFF over sanity and substance.
46
Random thoughts...
Ivanka knows a lot. Her nonverbal communication suggests so. Turns more and more flat.
No matter how much we may despise Trump, as I do, the stock market shows optimism and confidence. As long as people are content with their wealth, I don't expect values, like truthfulness, to count. Nixon did not have a very healthy economical context.
Hooray for the press and the print media. Would love to know the behind the scenes process.
Ivanka knows a lot. Her nonverbal communication suggests so. Turns more and more flat.
No matter how much we may despise Trump, as I do, the stock market shows optimism and confidence. As long as people are content with their wealth, I don't expect values, like truthfulness, to count. Nixon did not have a very healthy economical context.
Hooray for the press and the print media. Would love to know the behind the scenes process.
19
This is clearly an attempt by the Dems and liberal media to manufacture a crisis where none exists. As many Comments have pointed out, if there was any real substance here the information would have been leaked directly to the media or public and not scattered among various agencies as the NYT wants to believe. Makes no sense whatsoever. What is most troubling is the ongoing onslaught of rumors, innuendos, fake news and manufactured crises being postured by an angry, hateful media all in an attempt to dominate and control the agenda of the new Trump Administration.
23
How can we know there is no substance. It beggars belief!! Surely even you can understand why this needs to be investigated! How can we know what went on if we don't look at this fully. Yes, absolutely the terrible 'main stream media' clearly have control of the UK and Dutch governments, forcing them to confirm Trump associates meeting with Russian government officials. If the 'main stream' media you deplore were so powerful, surely they could convince all the Fox watching and Rush listening delusionals to believe there false stories. It is truly incredible to watch the slow turning of the right wing minds! Finally hoisted by their own pittards! We don't know what these people were up to, so there needs to be an investigation. I suspect if they were without guilt they wouldn't be lying about the contacts they did have. I also suspect that no end of reasonable arguments will penetrate your certainty. Suddenly you don't like innuendo and smears!!! The Republicans undermined and hamstrung 2 presidencies with theses tactics! As they say, 'now the worm turns!' Enjoy!!!
4
The liberal left are clutching at straws on this made up Russia story. How many Democrats had contact with Russians during the campaign? Crickets... Why not just act like grown ups and admit defeat and move on? It's time to do what is right for the Country and not what you believe to be right for your party. Remember, this is the same Russia that Obama said he was going to have more flexibility with after he got reelected and the same Russia that Hillary claimed a reset with. Seems a bit hypocritical of the Democrat party to all of a sudden cry foul.
27
The media should investigate Obama's ties to all political activity after this stunt.
16
Conveniently you omit a few salient points,
1. There is concrete and undeniable evidence of Russian hacking in the election process benefitting Trump
2. There is concrete and undeniable evidence of and direct contact with Trump Campaign and Russian 'officials' during the election /campaign
3. Trump excuses Putin ( a murderer, ex KGB ) who has form for blackmailing people with 'sex tapes' and who's critics and opposition have all mysteriously died, been poisoned or have been shot dead in the street.
4. Trumps secretary of commerce is the largest shareholder in the Bank Of Cyprus, a bank known for the laundering of illegal Russian money transfers on behalf of Putin and his cronies.
5. Trump benefitted directly in the sale of his mansion to a Putin associate who launders his money through that bank. (The mansion purchased for 40 million and sold for 100 million) conveniently was at a time when Trump owed 60 odd million to Deutche Bank. A bank who were fined 640 million for laundering Russian money and who's director is now the director of The Bank of Cyprus.
The fact the GOP won the election is perfectly acceptable to democrats when it is won fair and square and by a person with integrity and honesty, but Trump is anything but. The entire administration is corrupt, treasonous and a threat to America. You should not be blinded by that with loyalty to the GOP which has been tricked in to supporting Trump and the destructive agenda of Bannon (Putin). You have been conned.
1. There is concrete and undeniable evidence of Russian hacking in the election process benefitting Trump
2. There is concrete and undeniable evidence of and direct contact with Trump Campaign and Russian 'officials' during the election /campaign
3. Trump excuses Putin ( a murderer, ex KGB ) who has form for blackmailing people with 'sex tapes' and who's critics and opposition have all mysteriously died, been poisoned or have been shot dead in the street.
4. Trumps secretary of commerce is the largest shareholder in the Bank Of Cyprus, a bank known for the laundering of illegal Russian money transfers on behalf of Putin and his cronies.
5. Trump benefitted directly in the sale of his mansion to a Putin associate who launders his money through that bank. (The mansion purchased for 40 million and sold for 100 million) conveniently was at a time when Trump owed 60 odd million to Deutche Bank. A bank who were fined 640 million for laundering Russian money and who's director is now the director of The Bank of Cyprus.
The fact the GOP won the election is perfectly acceptable to democrats when it is won fair and square and by a person with integrity and honesty, but Trump is anything but. The entire administration is corrupt, treasonous and a threat to America. You should not be blinded by that with loyalty to the GOP which has been tricked in to supporting Trump and the destructive agenda of Bannon (Putin). You have been conned.
74
Should we use the McConnell approach?
9
Democrats with their hair on fire! Guess what -there's no "there" there.
20
Well that is what a full investigation is designed to determine. Let it be done.
38
An investigation is undertaken when there is evidence that a crime has been committed. In this case, there is none.
The FBI has said that repeatedly. Obama said that - at least until Clinton lost the election and the Democrats began seeking excuses. To date, all there has been is finger-pointing and innuendo.
The other reason some want "investigations" is as fishing expeditions. Open questioning, especially on TV, provides an opportunity for grandstanding, making defamatory statements, and wasting time and taxpayer money.
The FBI has said that repeatedly. Obama said that - at least until Clinton lost the election and the Democrats began seeking excuses. To date, all there has been is finger-pointing and innuendo.
The other reason some want "investigations" is as fishing expeditions. Open questioning, especially on TV, provides an opportunity for grandstanding, making defamatory statements, and wasting time and taxpayer money.
1
With all of these so-called contacts between Russian diplomats and people somehow associated with the Trump campaign, how did the Trump campaign cause the Clinton campaign to supply their email password to wikileaks could expose CNN and other fake news media were allowing the Clinton campaign to review and edit their fake news stories? Or, the CNN was allowing the Clinton campaign to see debate questions? How does revealing the true inner workings of the Clinton campaign, because the Clinton campaign gave a hacker it's email password, prove the Trump campaign was working with the Russians? And, if Russia hacked the election system, why did Russia allow Clinton to win the popular vote?
All of this fake news supplied by Obama to damage the next president, doesn't pass the "smell test!"
All of this fake news supplied by Obama to damage the next president, doesn't pass the "smell test!"
22
Do the people who keep using the term "fake news stories" and "fake news media" realize that they sound delusional? CNN is a real news outlet. Just because you don't agree with what they say doesn't make them imaginary. It is fascinating to see what people are willing to believe, simply because they want to identify with the "winning" president. It's like finding out your favorite athlete used steroids to win and insisting he competed fairly. It's just not accurate, whoever's side you're on.
62
My ignorance is showing with this comment ... but I'll ask anyway: Let us assume that the Russians, using their skills at cyber-skullduggery did, indeed, break the law to gain access to email traffic and then released the content of that email traffic ostensibly to influence members of an electorate who were about to cast their vote for President of the United States. If we all can agree that this is morally (if not, legally) reprehensible, THEN ... why isn't it equally reprehensible that NBC Universal (by and through its wholly-owned agent, Access Hollywood) did indeed break California state law by releasing ten-year-old archived video tapes of Donald Trump/Billy Bush ostensibly to influence members of an electorate who were about to cast their vote for President of the United States. I am obviously "blind:" To my "eye" if what the Russians did (or may have done) is wrong, then, surely what NBC Universal did is equally wrong: Both the Russians and NBC Universal appear to have BROKEN THE LAW ... for, what appears to be, an intended purpose. Yet, all we here over, and over, and OVER again ... is the Russians. Where's the investigation of NBC Universal? We know that legal counsel at NBC Universal was quite concerned about the disclosure of those video recordings. Why? How? Because the recorded material was conveniently "leaked" by an "anonymous source" to the The Washington Post, shielded by the First Amendment, as a purveyor of information criminally obtained
Sessions doesn't want to be convicted of treason, so he is getting out before the noose tightens around his neck. The rest of the treacherous Trump admin and GOP congressmen who are helping cover up the treasonous acts will not be so lucky. The question is: will they all be hung together or one by one?
26
NYT is more deftly used by the so-called Democrats as a propaganda machine to disseminate lies about the opposition, than any Soviet newspaper in the days of Andropov or any other Soviet Bloc dictator. The sad part is many Americans cannot even see beyond the ugly machinations.
In science, a good way to tell an article hasn't been peer reviewed is to look at the reference section. The giveaway comes when all the references were written by the author of the paper in question.
We call that pseudo-science.
So was this article written to be used as a reference in future articles? I really don't see any other use for it. If that's the case, it should be called pseudo-news.
We call that pseudo-science.
So was this article written to be used as a reference in future articles? I really don't see any other use for it. If that's the case, it should be called pseudo-news.
15
False narrative, Mr Spicer? The false narrative here is that Trump won a fair and free election. The continuation of this administration without a very thorough investigation of the Russian connection to this entire administration would set a very dangerous precedent for our nation. But let's not take our eyes off all of the other dubious moves by this crew, there is no telling whats next.
24
I just emailed my senators and demanded that they force Sessions to resign, or else rescind his appointment because he perjured himself during his confirmation hearings. Now he whines, Oh gee, it was in my capacity as a senator that I chatted up the Russian ambassador, NOT NOT in my role as Trump surrogate or adviser or whatever, so that makes it OK. Sessions needs to be reminded that he shouted that Clinton lied in his Whitewater deposition, and that perjury was an impeachable offense. Sessions need to take his own medicine, and the GOP senators need to grow some spine and make it happen. Email your senators, call their offices, keep complaining. Stand up.
45
What should be terrifying for all Americans is that Trump has proven he cannot be trusted, including he can't be trusted to protect our democracy and protect us from our adversary Russia. His words can't be believed because he's a proven, chronic liar. Trump looks out for Trump. Thank you President Obama for making it harder for Trump to bury the truth about his ties to Russia and Russia's meddling in the presidential election. How the GOP can put killing Obamacare, slashing taxes, killing entitlement programs ahead of protecting our democracy is mind boggling. I hope voters in 2018 are reminded how the GOP sold out America to protect the GOP's agenda and interests, putting party before country.
President Obama is one smart dude. He knew exactly how this scenario was going to be played out. He covered the bases. Thank you, thank you.
"Our Man in Havana", finally comes real.
3
It's apparent that Obama and his political operatives want to make sure that the middle and working classes remain in as bad shape under Trump as they did under the Obama Administration. He will continue to do all he can to insure Trump fails and the people in need are left in peril. Gone are the days when the Democratic Party stood for the workers. They have become instead the Elites.
16
Yeah those elites that consistently fight for higher taxes on the rich and corporations and a social safety net. Obviously the GOP is for the little guy with their fighting to destroy social security, welfare, and give massive tax breaks to the corporations and the rich. Wait a minute....
2
At least now the progressives will learn from fellow socialist travelers that nothing was done other than the usual email hackery.
The conviction held by our most gullible snowflakes that the wascally wussians had to have caused their all-time fave Hillary to lose her election is the preeminent sales job and public relations success of this century.
It will go down in history as even bigger than the merchandising of bottled water.
The conviction held by our most gullible snowflakes that the wascally wussians had to have caused their all-time fave Hillary to lose her election is the preeminent sales job and public relations success of this century.
It will go down in history as even bigger than the merchandising of bottled water.
17
Doesn't the president and the GOP want to clear the air of these allegations and move on to something that resembles governing? If so, why aren't they asking for a thorough investigation to start immediately, particularly if they want to prove that they have nothing to hide? Dragging this out only makes things worse.
25
Bruce, if they do that they ALL hang. Together. Instead *45 will continue to nominate more traitors, get them ok'd, then have them resign at a moment to (hopefully) draw attention away from *45's HIGH TREASON. The democrats shouldn't worry about these unimportant votes. They will all go down harder after being confirmed, then be found lying. All are traitors to our country. Either hang em, or put them in solitary, never to see another person, talk to another person, get a letter, or any electronic communications from another human being. The cells will have a metal bench for sleeping (only allowed to lay down between midnight and 4am, the rest of the time they must stand. They will have a toilet, no sink or shower. Nutritious meals will be pushed under the door with no communication. Don't eat it, or push the tray back out no meals will be provided for 2 full days. No refuse will be removed unless pushed under the door. The door will only be opened upon proof (from surveillance cameras, we can see them) of death (decomposition or stink). Then bodies will be composted & then put in landfills. It's all they deserve. The only things they will have to do, is read classic literature (not the abridged ones). I figure *45 will go insane, for not seeing or hearing his name in about 2.5 days. Should make for profitable DVDs for the government to sell. He will begin crying in 1 hour after the door shuts for good. His feet will be removed for autopsy to look for bone spurs.
2
they cannot clear the air. A non-obstructionist attitude from them will lead to Trump's tax records, which are very likely to contain links to Russian financing. See for example his son Beavis' blurb on Russians buying most of their assets, back from 2008, when Trump was very near his zero point in terms of his wealth (he had to skip on a loan payment of 30 million bucks to Deutsche Bank at the end of that year and Deutsche subsequently sued, for instance, 30 million should not be a lot of money if you are as rich as Trump claims to be). Since he has not divested anything, he literally becomes the Manchurian candidate at that point.
8
The Russian spy has been found....
President Obama: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."
President Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir, and I stand with you."
President Obama: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."
President Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir, and I stand with you."
20
I'm pretty sure he was already the President and fully in possession of every right to assure Medvedev he would have more flexibility once It couldn't be used as a political football by his opponents. Outside the viewing area of Fox News, not quite the same as an unelected palace guard promising a foreign gov't the next administration would unwind any sanctions imposed because his party colluded with a foreign intelligence agency to undermine his own countries democratic process.
13
Yes, and the source of all the leaks.
3
The evidence of Russian hacking of the US election would have to be substantial and actionable to justify any extraordinary efforts to "preserve the intelligence ... until the administration’s final hours. This was partly because intelligence was still being collected and analyzed, but it also reflected the sentiment among many administration officials that they had not recognized the scale of the Russian campaign until it was too late."
I understand the need for the intelligence community to protect "sources and methods" but I would think that maintaining the integrity of our electoral system would be a high enough priority to justify releasing as much information as possible to the American public. The best strategy to safeguard the intelligence material itself would be to make as much of it as possible a public record.
I understand the need for the intelligence community to protect "sources and methods" but I would think that maintaining the integrity of our electoral system would be a high enough priority to justify releasing as much information as possible to the American public. The best strategy to safeguard the intelligence material itself would be to make as much of it as possible a public record.
10
If you are giving intelligence to our agents, & your name became public record, how long would you live? *45 doesn't care. He would want you dead immediately as he is up to his tiny weeny in this. So, he keeps nominating people to take the fall, then orders them to resign, recuse (then resign), to take the focus off him & his evil minions, ruled by Bannon. The intelligence services assumed (correctly) that *45 would order them to give all the material (secret or not) to his minions & oops it would end up with wikileaks as fakes. They are all traitors to the USA. All should be tried for Treason, *45 for High Treason, once found guilty they should be incarcerated in solitary for life, no parole, the only way to get out of the cell, under 24/7 surveillance, is dead, or fully sedated. The cells kept at 75 degrees at all times, metal bench, no covers for a bed. Sleep naked hands in view at all times. No shower or sink, just a toilet. Nothing to do but read classic literature (unabridged), standing from 4am-midnight, 4 hours sleep. Both *45 & Bannon are the ones to hang. In public. With family (does Bannon have any who care?) right in front to see em loose it. If congress does this maybe we won't try the leaders for Treason, maybe.
1
Confederate Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard, Cletus, Billy-Bob Sessions just recused himself from the russian election hacking investigation after it became public that he lied under oath about meeting with russian operatives.
22
This won't change your REAL problem: that your side lost, even with the full-time assistance of 90% of the news media and the Obama administration.
Don't like losing? Come up with candidates that everyday people might vote for, and consider the Electoral College impact of campaigning like every Presidential campaign the last 200 years.
Don't like losing? Come up with candidates that everyday people might vote for, and consider the Electoral College impact of campaigning like every Presidential campaign the last 200 years.
4
Without the Russians' help I don't think he would have won. In any case , a majority of the nation voted for Mrs. Clinton. But sad to see republicans aligning themselves with the Russians just for partisan reason.
4
If his ordered (by *45) recusal doesn't work to take the microscope off *45, next week he will resign in tears. Then, if that doesn't help he will go home and hang himself. At *45's orders.
Did Obama or his associates have contact before he was elected in 08?
Of course. That is common knowledge.
Never has an administration so sabotaged an incoming President.
And now the holdovers are self admittedly spreading the intelligence all over the planet.
Since they have obviously have every communication and transcript form every contact, if there was any illegal behavior or any discussion of hacking, those direct quotes would be out there.
Instead we have generic statements to justify weakening the President and his administration.
To me, that is the treasonous action.
Of course. That is common knowledge.
Never has an administration so sabotaged an incoming President.
And now the holdovers are self admittedly spreading the intelligence all over the planet.
Since they have obviously have every communication and transcript form every contact, if there was any illegal behavior or any discussion of hacking, those direct quotes would be out there.
Instead we have generic statements to justify weakening the President and his administration.
To me, that is the treasonous action.
26
2 or 3 intelligence agency or State Department employees will probably be indicted for violations of the Espionage Act in this matter, giving them free rooms in the federal prison system after payments of $100K. Each.
Very few people could have leaked this info and the metadata will provide plenty of evidence.
Very few people could have leaked this info and the metadata will provide plenty of evidence.
7
Surrounded by a staff who believes they are above the law and do not need to conform to the accepted traditions of the Executive branch , the POTUS Trump has done an excellent job of weakening himself.
In a democracy we don't believe it is treasonous or sabotage to investigate foreign governments who attempt to influence the outcome of our elections. I think you may very well see the "direct quotes" via the investigation.
If the Trump administration is innocent of wrong doing, they should want it to be proven.
In a democracy we don't believe it is treasonous or sabotage to investigate foreign governments who attempt to influence the outcome of our elections. I think you may very well see the "direct quotes" via the investigation.
If the Trump administration is innocent of wrong doing, they should want it to be proven.
9
I am amazed at the competency of the Obama administration in its final hours.
How they managed to squirrel away so much information while simultaneous shredding so much is nothing short of incredible.
How they managed to squirrel away so much information while simultaneous shredding so much is nothing short of incredible.
However, Justice officials acknowledged that Mr. Sessions had spoken with Mr. Kislyak twice: once, among a group of ambassadors who approached him at a Heritage Foundation event during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July and, separately, in an office meeting on Sept. 8. The contacts were first reported by The Washington Post.
Well, the first contact is innocuous. What is the guy going to do when a group of Ambassadors approaches? Try to spot the one Russian in the group afar off? "Oh my gosh! there's Mr. Kislyak! I can't talk with these people!"
The second contact should probably be investigated.
But wasn't it Mr. Obama who started this whole mess by saying to Mr. Putin, "...after I'm re-elected I'll have much more flexibility..."
Well, the first contact is innocuous. What is the guy going to do when a group of Ambassadors approaches? Try to spot the one Russian in the group afar off? "Oh my gosh! there's Mr. Kislyak! I can't talk with these people!"
The second contact should probably be investigated.
But wasn't it Mr. Obama who started this whole mess by saying to Mr. Putin, "...after I'm re-elected I'll have much more flexibility..."
17
If Trump conspired with Russia , then the Russians have proof to blackmail Trump. Hence Trump will do whatever the Russians want. If Trump did not conspire, the Russians will offer fake evidence as blackmail. Hence Trump will do what the Russians want. Anybody think of this ?
Help us, Obama! You're our only hope!
This is a very well done hit piece on the Trump administration's legitimacy. Nobody does this better than the New York Times. Why this is enough to make some people believe Trump should resign; but not everyone. Smart, patriotic, Americans do not fall for this kind of foolishness.
Hillary Clinton was given millions by Ukranian oligarchs, to do their bidding in Ukraine, now it comes out as civil war is raging in East Ukraine, billions were transferred from Kiev to East Ukraine. It just came to light, because Ukranian veterans of the conflict blocked shipments, And accused oligarchs of treason. All along Kiev oligarchs controlled east Ukraine from behind the scenes. Were local rebel commanders assasinated, were they on oligarchs payroll?
I really hope all these leaks come down to Obama and his administrate flunkies and they are held for treason. Nothing this past administration has done has really been in the best interest of the American people. That it is publically out there that they are working aggressively against the current administration I don't know why more eople aren't PISSED.
Obama just wants to keep from being ridiculed by his disasterous 8 years in office.
Obama just wants to keep from being ridiculed by his disasterous 8 years in office.
23
It's clear by the day how fantastic Obama was as president, just as it's clearer every day that the terrible Donald Trump is even worse as president than we feared. And it's equally clear that Trump supporters, like M, exist in their own, upside-down universe.
Obama needs to be held responsible for this. Trump should not let Obama sabotage his presidency, which is something Obama is clearly trying to do.
9
Hillary and Obama caused the loss. Zero evidence Russia had any effect.
18
Why don't you pretend Mother Theresa was Trump's opponent and decide if you have a problem with any kind of Russian cyber and otherwise involvement in that US presidential election campaign?
13
Like the U.S. has never meddled in foreign elections . . . . . .
4
I despaired as Obama left office that the full facts of Russia's communications with Trump's campaign advisers and ties with Trump would remain unknown. As part of the general public, I wasn't meant to know or needed to know the work being done behind the scenes to cement the information into the domestic intelligence record and in the records of our allies. Obama headed up his administration and I'd like to thank him for a steady hand on the wheel for eight years, his work when he took office after the financial meltdown in 2008, and his care in making the Affordable Care Act a priority. I'd like to thank his administration for the perspicacity of their efforts to make their administrative time left count as much as possible. Thank you.
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
When will the American people figure out that this Administration is only there to get richer and serve their own self interest?
It will take engagement of the people to do something about the level of corruption in our corruption in our government.
Jeff Sessions lied because he knew that nothing ever happens to these people when they get caught. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are experts at serving themselves while fooling the American people. Time and time again they get a pass.
The level of corruption is more accepted all the time.
It's time to do something.
It will take engagement of the people to do something about the level of corruption in our corruption in our government.
Jeff Sessions lied because he knew that nothing ever happens to these people when they get caught. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are experts at serving themselves while fooling the American people. Time and time again they get a pass.
The level of corruption is more accepted all the time.
It's time to do something.
The whole discussion about Russian hacking into the DNC mail servers has a surreal touch. Anyone who knows Ed Snowden's story has every reason to believe that within the NSA and its affiliate companies there might be dozens, or even hundreds of "super users" who could, if they wanted, surrepetitiously breakt into those mail servers and copy masses of e-mail messages. These guys could probably even plant misleading leads to foreign domains so as to cover their footprints and shift the blame to others. Any meaningful investigation of these leaks should not start with blaming one randomly selected suspect but with determining who had the capabilities to hack those servers, followed by determining who had the motives to do so. We can certainly agree that the Russians had the motives but did they have the capabilities? This is obviously taken for granted by most, so nobody demands presentation of any evidence as to how they did it. If, on the other hand, dozens of NSA "super users" had the capabilities, we can be pretty sure that some among those digital wizards would have had sympathies for Trump and thus would have had the motive to hurt the Clinton campaign. Why are Russian hackers the only candidates that are seriously considered as suspects? Just because the alternate case would be embarrassing for the NSA?
4
Watching sessions now on tv... This is the second time this guy is being thrown under the bus.
5
Poor guy
1
Russiagate is much bigger than Watergate! The Republicans either step up and get an independent investigation started or they will feel the wrath of the American people heat up to volcanic levels!
28
President Obama: "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."
President Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir, and I stand with you."
President Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir, and I stand with you."
4
If they don't do anything that anger could do 2 things. 1. They all get recalled. 2. They all get tried for treason. Number 3, they really don't want. The Citizens' Army marching to DC to get rid of the regime, yes, but, considering the whole congress part of the regime.
1
True insanity: The notion that Jeff Sessions is a Red.
If Trump and his supporters were shouting, "LOCK HER UP!" because Hillary used a non government email server even though there was no evidence that it was ever hacked or any classified material was exposed, then why aren't they shouting "LOCK THEM UP!" when not only did Sessions and others meet with the Russians but then they lied about it UNDER OATH to Congress?
37
*45 doesn't know what taking an oath means. So, he has broken his every 15 seconds since he took it, and thinks that is normal. Since his "base" doesn't either, so they are on his side still. Wonder if they will try to switch sides when we come to get them? Or go to their own trials/hangings never understanding?
2
It's naive of Trump and his supporters to blame the "Russian" leaks on Obama. After all, it is Trump openly fawning for more than a year over Putin that brings us here, simply because he one time called Trump "brilliant" (real translation: a bright star on the political horizon). Of course, Trump has Russian ties (he fawns, then protests overly much about his connection deluding himself into thinking that Putin thinks highly of him). Hardly sentimental, ex-KGB Putin more likely sees Trump as a lightweight "patsy" he can manipulate. He what he's doing to America--divide and conquer, then weaken its sphere of influence and enhancing Russia's role on the international stage with only China to deal with. America has backed away from any challenge to China, i.e., Trump rejecting the TPP, rejecting his border neighbors (i.e. NAFTA)--very short-sighted strategies. Meanwhile, Trump will tout his domestic agenda, giving corporate tax breaks aimed to keep his billionaire friends happy and deluding his power base with promises he cannot keep (i.e., coal-mining returning), spending billions on the military at the expense of "domestic programs" (code for dropping social needs of the poor and middle-class). All of this leaves the American people, those who voted for him and those who didn't, high and dry. Sad (as Trump would say), but more so, bleak.
21
Well, well, well, what about the millions given
1
The Russian hacking story has become a tool for those who want to undermine the legitimacy of Mr. Trump's election, according to Rush Limbaugh, and his reasoning is persuasive. It is well known that US elections are decentralized, and therefore, changing the results on a large scale through intrusion is impossible. According to Mr. Limbaugh, those pushing the Russian hacking know this, but it is in their interest to have the American people believe otherwise, but instead, will believe the Russians "elected" Mr. Trump.
13
You and Limbaugh are being intentionally disingenuous. NO ONE is saying the actual votes were hacked or changed. Everyone ( who isn't brainwashed by Limbaugh Etc) is saying that the election was heavily influenced in more insidious ways. number to everyone is saying that our current president at least passively cooperated with the Russians in this Insidious kind of influence. You're using straw man argument instead of arguing the real issue here which is that your president is a puppet of Russia. And we all know when straw man argument is pulled out, it means that you know you cannot win the real argument.
It is not the Russian hacking that is the story. It is the Trump campaign's collusion with the Russians that is the story. You need look no further than the candidate himself asking the Russians to commit espionage todiscover the "missing" Clinton emails, the emails of the Secretary of State. That came right from the top of the Trump food chain.
Denial of the profound demonstration of the complete breakdown of the Electoral College voter-cancellation scam is one of the most contemptuous features of this whole disgusting psychopath-enabling charade.
4
Trump is owned by the Russians, but the foolish right-wing refuses to see the evidence, After his bankruptcy, he could not attract American investors. Russia poured money into and controlled his company. A company that built government housing -- up and down the East Coast,
31
What evidence? "...American officials who requested anonymity..."
It's gossip.
It's gossip.
"Russia poured money into and controlled his company."
Please cite proof for this assertion.
Please cite proof for this assertion.
2
How much different is it that funds from Russia poured into the Clinton Foundation, while Clinton was SOS, and access to American uranium was up for grabs? Seems the foolish left-wing refuses to see the evidence...accusations like this cuts both ways.
6
Another day another embarrassment for the draft dodging deviant.
Russia got it money's worth when they bought the genital grabber.
Russia got it money's worth when they bought the genital grabber.
Hey hackers, please release draft dodger Trump's taxes.
He is too gutless to do it himself and we know your sawed of little leader is too weak to do it himself.
So how about it hackers, release the deviant's taxes.
It will be a blast to watch the deviant and putin squirm don't y'all think?
He is too gutless to do it himself and we know your sawed of little leader is too weak to do it himself.
So how about it hackers, release the deviant's taxes.
It will be a blast to watch the deviant and putin squirm don't y'all think?
29
The "trail of intelligence" left by Obama aides probably allowed the Russians to know from whom and how our IC was getting their intel that was covered ad nauseaum in media. Soon after the public disclosure of this intel several high Russian officials disappeared. And it was all political; don't even try to cloak this political intel disclosures in patriotism. The US has interfered in other countries politics for a long time, including the most recent Russian presidential election, inciting street demonstrations against Putin. This is hard ball geopolitics and likely explains why Putin dislikes Hillary Clinton, whose State Dept. was up to its eyeballs in those anti-Putin demonstrations.
12
Not long ago this posting would have bee labeled giving aid and comfort to an enemy.
10
In the Obama administration’s last days, some White House officials scrambled to spread information about Russian efforts to undermine the presidential election — and about possible contacts between associates of President-elect Donald J. Trump and Russians — across the government.
So Obama did nothing to actually prevent the Russian "efforts" to undermine the election. Despicable.
So Obama did nothing to actually prevent the Russian "efforts" to undermine the election. Despicable.
13
Maybe you're heard of this thing called "the law"? Or perhaps you just don't know how intelligence works?
7
Obama did nothing as president to address the Russian hacking, instead using it for his political gain. That's Obama in a nutshell. Country comes first, except when his legacy is involved.
8
The onslaught is Orwellian at its core. Having immigrated from a former communist country decades ago I can empathasize with onyones concersn about subverting our Democracy to Putin/Russia.
But this is what i find so troublesome:
1. How is that we know more about alledged/purported Trump-Russia commu7nications yet NOn ONE has explained how the Clinton/Abedin e-mails got on a laptop belonging to Abedin’s estranged husband, Anthony D. Weiner. [She coulkdn't explain it or has that changed?]
2. Does not anyone find it curious that the two Russian Compounds, which have been in existence for decades, are revealed/designated in late December 2016 as "spy nests." Are we to believe that for the preceding 7 yrs, 11 months, and 28 days the were "well behaved" or that U.S. Intelligence was unaware of their activities.? ["On Thursday, Obama administration officials described the compounds differently: as beachside [sic] spy nests sometimes used by Russian intelligence operatives to have long conversations on the sand to avoid being ensnared by American electronic surveillance." in https://nyti.ms/2hxQunJ]
A quick look at a calendar will show the expulsions nearly two months after the election! Although undeniably cynical, no DACA for the kids - in the middle of their school term - of the expelled families?
By all means investigate, but do so across the board. Anonymous sources are suspect if not pure wind.
But this is what i find so troublesome:
1. How is that we know more about alledged/purported Trump-Russia commu7nications yet NOn ONE has explained how the Clinton/Abedin e-mails got on a laptop belonging to Abedin’s estranged husband, Anthony D. Weiner. [She coulkdn't explain it or has that changed?]
2. Does not anyone find it curious that the two Russian Compounds, which have been in existence for decades, are revealed/designated in late December 2016 as "spy nests." Are we to believe that for the preceding 7 yrs, 11 months, and 28 days the were "well behaved" or that U.S. Intelligence was unaware of their activities.? ["On Thursday, Obama administration officials described the compounds differently: as beachside [sic] spy nests sometimes used by Russian intelligence operatives to have long conversations on the sand to avoid being ensnared by American electronic surveillance." in https://nyti.ms/2hxQunJ]
A quick look at a calendar will show the expulsions nearly two months after the election! Although undeniably cynical, no DACA for the kids - in the middle of their school term - of the expelled families?
By all means investigate, but do so across the board. Anonymous sources are suspect if not pure wind.
12
1. Perhaps it was unwise and unsecure but if Abedin used a browser on Weiner's PC to check her emails via a web interface, it's quite possible that some messages would've been left behind in the cached data. However, it should be pointed out that the FBI indicated quite quickly that whatever might've been on the computer was not actionable, so unless you have further evidence, this is a non-story (a *real* non-story).
2. This is diplomatic tit-for-tat 101. Why is this a mystery to you?
2. This is diplomatic tit-for-tat 101. Why is this a mystery to you?
6
Simply, a concerted and conscious effort is required to set up an e-mail account; various e-mail accounts require specific data files that are stored as *.pst files. I think you are confusing browser cookies and cahed or browser history info.
As I noted she dissavowed any knowledge of how they came to be there. That is the question I raised.
Agree it was a tit-for-tat. My point was wait until days before leaving office? It could just as easily have been done anytime, including when the first allegations/suspicions of Russian hacking/influence became public knowledge. Moreover, given that President Obama purportedly had off-line discussions with Putin back in Sept. or October regarding these very same security/interference issues speaks to the spirit of my question. And at its worst, the action could be cosntrued as incitinga tit-for-tat response just when the new administration was coming into office. Now how diabolical would it be if the intent was to replicate Erdogan's response to the Gulenists?!
[FYI: revisit the times article "After Failed Coup, Turkey Enjoys a Rare Period of Unity" [http://nyti.ms/2bwv315]; play devils advocate and switch the names - both ways - and tell me its not frightening. [Disclosure: I was in Istanbul for months several years ago when the crescendo for Erdogan's autocratic rule was manifesting itself to the locals and was a portend what followed.]
As they say look BOTHways before crossing the street.
As I noted she dissavowed any knowledge of how they came to be there. That is the question I raised.
Agree it was a tit-for-tat. My point was wait until days before leaving office? It could just as easily have been done anytime, including when the first allegations/suspicions of Russian hacking/influence became public knowledge. Moreover, given that President Obama purportedly had off-line discussions with Putin back in Sept. or October regarding these very same security/interference issues speaks to the spirit of my question. And at its worst, the action could be cosntrued as incitinga tit-for-tat response just when the new administration was coming into office. Now how diabolical would it be if the intent was to replicate Erdogan's response to the Gulenists?!
[FYI: revisit the times article "After Failed Coup, Turkey Enjoys a Rare Period of Unity" [http://nyti.ms/2bwv315]; play devils advocate and switch the names - both ways - and tell me its not frightening. [Disclosure: I was in Istanbul for months several years ago when the crescendo for Erdogan's autocratic rule was manifesting itself to the locals and was a portend what followed.]
As they say look BOTHways before crossing the street.
Not surprising given the outgoing administration's view of Trump. When Bush won, they pried the Ws off the keyboards. If there was any truth to the allegations, the liberal media would have crucified Trump.
10
Still using that debunked tale of taking the "w"s off of keyboards? Oh yeah....you guys on the Right don't have any facts, do you?
10
Thanks Obama!
13
Sessions just recused himself.
Thanks to President Obama's forward thinking and Patriotism.
Thanks to President Obama's forward thinking and Patriotism.
16
Soon, it will be exposed that Sessions was also caught in a very compromising position. I'm referring to when his neighbor walked into his house and found AG Jeff Sessions pumping his butthole with the handle-end of a plunger. The neighbor didn't tell anyone about the discovery because Sessions let him borrow the plunger to fix his toilet. Without it, the neighbor's bathroom carpet would have been ruined.
3
The revelation of the (ahem) classified "dossier" struck some observers as a mechanism for pressing national security interests into the service of political ends. Now we have confirmation of what was reasonable to suspect: the scurrulity buck did not stop with doing the then President-elect the favor of letting him in on the Intel.
And, lo and behold, here we are. Memo to oppositions operators: less is more. A little highly placed innuendo might have been twice as effective as this blitzkrieg. Just sayin'.
And, lo and behold, here we are. Memo to oppositions operators: less is more. A little highly placed innuendo might have been twice as effective as this blitzkrieg. Just sayin'.
2
If Donald Trump goes down, it will be because the Old School Republicans took him out to put Pence in. They hold the power and the ability to investigate without a fight. Not to mention they just had Flynn fall on his sword to protect Pence. I wonder who will fall on their sword next.
Who said draft dodger trump was doing the hacking?
This is a straw man.
Russia hacked the election to help your electoral president.
Everyone knows draft dodger trump isn't smart enough to tie a tie much less to direct a cyber attack on America.
No.
Russia did it FOR draft dodger trump not WITH draft dodger trump.
This is a straw man.
Russia hacked the election to help your electoral president.
Everyone knows draft dodger trump isn't smart enough to tie a tie much less to direct a cyber attack on America.
No.
Russia did it FOR draft dodger trump not WITH draft dodger trump.
US Americans do not hesitate to meddle in foreign elections Overseas. We do it all the time. As a matter of fact, some well known campaign managers here in the United States work routinely on national election campaigns in just about every other country with a democratic tradition you can name. We did it in Russia to oppose the election of Vladimir Putin if you can recall that far back. He now has an 80 or 90 percent approval rating in his own country. We even work to undermine legitimately elected officials and election results, when it suits our perceived interests among our fabled foreign policy "experts" and the usual cabal of deep state government bureaucrats who never stand in the light of day, let alone for election themselves. I do not see a similar concern for all the foreign government influence enabled by the losing candidate and her Clinton Foundation which accepted many millions of dollars, much of which remains undisclosed to this day. The ironies of inconsistency engendered by hyper partisanship in Washington DC and by slow to adjust media acolytes can only be appreciated as the dying embers of a fire that has been extinguished by American Voters who made their own determination in favor of @realDonaldTrump our new @POTUS despite all the slanted coverage, polling and opinion sharing.
It is sad to read all this hostility towards Trump, Russia and Putin. In a situation that the U.S. are in need of work and income; why not do business with Russia? Or do we still want to support the Chinese economy, to end up in a war with China? Why weaken Russia; who could be our best allied in a conflict with China?
Seen from the intelligence; where, and with whom will we have our next conflict? When will North Korea fall? Who wants NK? The U.S. certainly, but also China and Russia. Japan don't want China to take over NK, neither do U.S. and Russia.
Russia borders to NK with just a few miles, which also parts China from access to Sea of Japan, near the Russian Navy in Vladivostok, and China wants access to Sea of Japan! This is a future great area of conflict, having a huge impact also on the U.S. This is a far larger risk for a greater conflict in this area, than that rather little incident in the Ukraine, which more looks like a decoy for a lot else.
Keeping a good relation with Russia; buy from them so they could be able to buy from us, would far more ensure future wealth and prosperity for the Americans, than keeping Russia as an enemy. The Russian military is still a shadow of its past, but they grow, so be nearer to follow the growth. Many have tried to "starve out" the Russians, but none has yet managed, so why try to challenge that? Why not be friends with Russia? Russia has great people who won't stab us from behind, if we respect them and treat them well.
Seen from the intelligence; where, and with whom will we have our next conflict? When will North Korea fall? Who wants NK? The U.S. certainly, but also China and Russia. Japan don't want China to take over NK, neither do U.S. and Russia.
Russia borders to NK with just a few miles, which also parts China from access to Sea of Japan, near the Russian Navy in Vladivostok, and China wants access to Sea of Japan! This is a future great area of conflict, having a huge impact also on the U.S. This is a far larger risk for a greater conflict in this area, than that rather little incident in the Ukraine, which more looks like a decoy for a lot else.
Keeping a good relation with Russia; buy from them so they could be able to buy from us, would far more ensure future wealth and prosperity for the Americans, than keeping Russia as an enemy. The Russian military is still a shadow of its past, but they grow, so be nearer to follow the growth. Many have tried to "starve out" the Russians, but none has yet managed, so why try to challenge that? Why not be friends with Russia? Russia has great people who won't stab us from behind, if we respect them and treat them well.
6
It's getting too easy ... you Russian millennials trying to make a buck need to cultivate a bit more Yankee attitude to make what you are selling credible.
5
Other than oil and gas what else could we buy? Vodka?
I see no reason to do anything to help them get back into the " Great Game" that they and the British Empire played back in the 19th century with control of Central Asia and the eastern part of the Ottoman Empire. Putin wants Russia's empire back.
There is no reason to help him. At all, in any way.
And as to China Wall Street, Mitt Romney and Co sold America's industrial capacity to them for their own profit and ends. Don't buy Chinese or at least attempt to buy American.
I see no reason to do anything to help them get back into the " Great Game" that they and the British Empire played back in the 19th century with control of Central Asia and the eastern part of the Ottoman Empire. Putin wants Russia's empire back.
There is no reason to help him. At all, in any way.
And as to China Wall Street, Mitt Romney and Co sold America's industrial capacity to them for their own profit and ends. Don't buy Chinese or at least attempt to buy American.
4
"What intensified the alarm at the Obama White House was a campaign of cyberattacks on state electoral systems in September, which led the administration to deliver a public accusation against the Russians in October."
If this is true, what possible justification can there be for failing to audit the results of every state's results? These are attacks on electoral systems, not on campaign personnel.
If this is true, what possible justification can there be for failing to audit the results of every state's results? These are attacks on electoral systems, not on campaign personnel.
9
Nancy Pelosi announced this morning that if Pres. Trump's tax cuts for the rich go through that America's top 400 richest families will receive a reduction of seven ($7) million dollars each.
The largely unregulated OTC derivative market has a notional value of between $685-$735 trillion dollars. Yes, that is trillion with a T.
Shadow banking now rivals the GDP of America, Japan, and one-third of the European Union.
American corporations are holding off-shore assets valued at $2.8 trillion dollars.
In this time of the greatest wealth inequality ever recorded in world history, and that includes the Gilded Age, the only real power I have, as an American citizen is the surety that my vote will count and that no one- from either inside the United States or from outside influence can take that right away from me.
Now is the time for our Pres. Donald John Trump to release his tax returns and for all members of his administration to cooperate fully to resolve this to the satisfaction of all Americans.
I am just one person but our system of governance depends on free and unfettered elections and transparency from our elected officials.
The largely unregulated OTC derivative market has a notional value of between $685-$735 trillion dollars. Yes, that is trillion with a T.
Shadow banking now rivals the GDP of America, Japan, and one-third of the European Union.
American corporations are holding off-shore assets valued at $2.8 trillion dollars.
In this time of the greatest wealth inequality ever recorded in world history, and that includes the Gilded Age, the only real power I have, as an American citizen is the surety that my vote will count and that no one- from either inside the United States or from outside influence can take that right away from me.
Now is the time for our Pres. Donald John Trump to release his tax returns and for all members of his administration to cooperate fully to resolve this to the satisfaction of all Americans.
I am just one person but our system of governance depends on free and unfettered elections and transparency from our elected officials.
Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”
7
When will Trump resign?
26
Never. He will force LEOs to perp walk him out of OUR White House.
....and JFK too was suspect on colluding with the Red Ruskies on the Nuclear Test Ban in the Atmosphere Treaty ....if he did, RIP my hero ...
Two words, need to be used regularly, from this point on. Treason and impeachment.
Except that if you read the article, there has NEVER been any evidence. The article doesn't say that until far down in the text! What Obama did was start a whispering campaign, which is designed to take down an innocent opponent with lies.
What is a shame is that quite a bit of this was known in September, October, November, but the public was so fixated on stupid tweets, false-equivalencies of Hillary Clinton, the day to day circus that was Trump and the election. We knew about the hacks, we knew about Manafort, we knew that the only change the Trump campaign wanted on the GOP platform was on Ukraine. (No one thought that particularity odd???) No one listened. We need more critical thinking.
It all makes sense now. No wonder Trump kept talking about a "rigged election", he was projecting his own duplicity onto the other candidate. Oh America, what hast thou done unto thyself?
25
Looking for a joke with a microscope.
4
Since Trump, authoritarian regimes like the U.S. and Israel are ascendant.
2
Wow. Nothing new here re Russia/Trump interaction: after 8 months of intensive investigation, still no proof of collusion by the Trump campaign to hack the Democrats. (Remember, that is the underlying allegation.)
But here is what is new and exciting: As reported as fact by The Times, the Obama administration and elements of the CIA and NSA have engaged in a criminal conspiracy against Trump, and enlisted The Times and other MSM as its wingmen!
This opens up an exciting new avenue of investigation for The Times, other "investigative" media, and most saliently -- FBI counterintelligence. As confirmed by The Times, senior officials in the Obama administration teamed up with high-level CIA and NSA spooks to destabilize and destroy the democratically elected government of Donald Trump. They underclassified top secret information, spread it around the bureaucracy, and leaked classified information to pliant reporters. All illegal. Truly a classic CIA op -- in the mold of similar covert operations against Vietnam, Nicaragua and more recently, Ukraine. Remember, these folks were dead wrong about Iraqi WMD and ISIS, & spied on the American people.)
Let's get to the bottom of this! Tell us your sources. What was provided to you? How did you ascertain the motives of the leakers? Did Obama authorize this operation?
Finally, did any D leaders, or anyone from the Hilary Clinton campaign participate in this destablization operation? Adam Schiff, perhaps?
But here is what is new and exciting: As reported as fact by The Times, the Obama administration and elements of the CIA and NSA have engaged in a criminal conspiracy against Trump, and enlisted The Times and other MSM as its wingmen!
This opens up an exciting new avenue of investigation for The Times, other "investigative" media, and most saliently -- FBI counterintelligence. As confirmed by The Times, senior officials in the Obama administration teamed up with high-level CIA and NSA spooks to destabilize and destroy the democratically elected government of Donald Trump. They underclassified top secret information, spread it around the bureaucracy, and leaked classified information to pliant reporters. All illegal. Truly a classic CIA op -- in the mold of similar covert operations against Vietnam, Nicaragua and more recently, Ukraine. Remember, these folks were dead wrong about Iraqi WMD and ISIS, & spied on the American people.)
Let's get to the bottom of this! Tell us your sources. What was provided to you? How did you ascertain the motives of the leakers? Did Obama authorize this operation?
Finally, did any D leaders, or anyone from the Hilary Clinton campaign participate in this destablization operation? Adam Schiff, perhaps?
23
I need to drink what you're drinking. It might be beneficial to be delusional for a while. Since no one has said they have proof yet it doesn't mean there isn't something there. FBI hasn't yet released anything but multiple investigations are taking place.
Nothing the Obama administration did to preserve documentation was illegal.
If there were no dots to connect I don't think any news or government agency would be investigating Herr Trump.
Nothing the Obama administration did to preserve documentation was illegal.
If there were no dots to connect I don't think any news or government agency would be investigating Herr Trump.
10
You have this upside down and backwards. Seventeen intelligence agencies have agreed that Russia interfered in the U.S. election to benefit Trump. Trump had several high level advisors who were in continual contact with Russian officials.
The question is was Trump really elected in a democratic election when the results were influenced by a foreign power's cyberattack on the U.S.?
Too much delusion and denial here. Please reread this article and others.
The question is was Trump really elected in a democratic election when the results were influenced by a foreign power's cyberattack on the U.S.?
Too much delusion and denial here. Please reread this article and others.
15
Thank you. That is a great comment. Telling that it has less than 10 upvotes.
2
"Former senior Obama administration officials said that none of the efforts were directed by Mr. Obama."
Why would we believe this? We know Obama has a shadow government and we know Valerie Jarrett is a part of it according to a story out today.
Also if Obama was president when this "supposed" hacking took place then wouldn't he be the person to blame? That's a rhetorical question liberals, Obama is definitely to blame.
Why would we believe this? We know Obama has a shadow government and we know Valerie Jarrett is a part of it according to a story out today.
Also if Obama was president when this "supposed" hacking took place then wouldn't he be the person to blame? That's a rhetorical question liberals, Obama is definitely to blame.
15
Ha, ha, ha...and President Clinton was to blame for 9/11 right confederate?
Run along, the Americans are talking.
Run along, the Americans are talking.
20
He has as much evidence of that as you have on your side.
1
Good thinking!
Drain the swamp? Trump must have been referring to rolling back all the EPA regulations designed to protect beneficial ecosystem like the Everglades swamp. Trump's DC swamp is overflowing with historic amounts of slime, crud and invasive species. What a disaster for democracy.
As I see the leaks trickle out incessantly - I have the feeling that someone, who is/was in a very powerful position, very smart, knows how things work in government, intelligence agencies and the Congress, a patriot, has loyalists working for him/her, knows a lot of details on these alleged ties between Russia and the Trump camp - is directing this whole thing (holding the government to account), with the intention to bring the truth out to the American people. Who could this be?
8
its all a vast left wing conspiracy in alex jones land
5
"Can stop on a dime and give you nine cents change."
The lad went from implying Trump was an idiot for even suggesting the possibility of Russian hacking...to rushing "to preserve intelligence of Russian election hacking" in one fell swoop. He was nothing if not agile.
The lad went from implying Trump was an idiot for even suggesting the possibility of Russian hacking...to rushing "to preserve intelligence of Russian election hacking" in one fell swoop. He was nothing if not agile.
6
Didn't the Obama administration investigate Russian involvement in the election and report that there was no collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign? Pretty sure they did. Now it turns out the Obama team is leaking information to contradict the conclusion of the investigation.
These are despicable people.
These are despicable people.
14
They did not report there was no collusion.
12
No they did not report that. They were still investigating. You might not know this because Comely broke the rules to help sing an election buuut you cannot speak on investigation to the public during an investigation. What you can do however is let people in government positions know of a danger and to be aware.
3
Washington Post, 12/29/16 (one among many) headline: Obama administration announces measures to punish Russia for 2016 election interference.
President Obama proposed and enacted sanctions. Trump via Flynn told Russia they'd rescind them. These are despicable people indeed.
President Obama proposed and enacted sanctions. Trump via Flynn told Russia they'd rescind them. These are despicable people indeed.
6
I have been saying for some time that a very simple and plausible reason why Trump keeps saying the press are "liars" is because there's some really shady stuff out there about him -- and his only hope of keeping the presidency is to convince America not to believe the press when the truth comes out.
It is a simple explanation for his hammering about the "lying press" -- which ramped up during the Flynn-Russia investigation but started at a suspiciously early point in his campaign.
You know who else said the press were all liars? Nixon in 1972.
It is a simple explanation for his hammering about the "lying press" -- which ramped up during the Flynn-Russia investigation but started at a suspiciously early point in his campaign.
You know who else said the press were all liars? Nixon in 1972.
34
Dear Rachel,
The Times has indeed been biased, unfair and yes "shady" -- and keeps throwing out the same vague and unsubstantiated innuendo, wrapped up in fresh fish wrapper, day after day. In fact, the Times has admitted -- in sentences buried deep in each and every shocking new Trump House chapter-- that nobody has disclosed any evidence of actual collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia re the campaign hack:
"Intelligence officials have said in interviews over the last six weeks that apparent connections between some of Mr. Trump’s aides and Moscow originally compelled them to open a broad investigation into possible links between the Russian government and the Republican presidential candidate. Still, they have said that Mr. Trump himself has not become a target. And no evidence has emerged that would link him or anyone else in his business or political circle directly to Russia’s election operations."
No evidence is the real lede here -- at least for a newspaper that cared about objectivity, fairness and truth.
The Times has indeed been biased, unfair and yes "shady" -- and keeps throwing out the same vague and unsubstantiated innuendo, wrapped up in fresh fish wrapper, day after day. In fact, the Times has admitted -- in sentences buried deep in each and every shocking new Trump House chapter-- that nobody has disclosed any evidence of actual collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia re the campaign hack:
"Intelligence officials have said in interviews over the last six weeks that apparent connections between some of Mr. Trump’s aides and Moscow originally compelled them to open a broad investigation into possible links between the Russian government and the Republican presidential candidate. Still, they have said that Mr. Trump himself has not become a target. And no evidence has emerged that would link him or anyone else in his business or political circle directly to Russia’s election operations."
No evidence is the real lede here -- at least for a newspaper that cared about objectivity, fairness and truth.
We don't need any fictitious Russian sleeper cells like the "Americans" working within our country, when we have factual "friends" of Russia like Flynn and Sessions operating within this country. Poor President Reagan, how many times must he be turning in his grave.
6
Isn't it possible that the very skilled disinformation experts in Russia are in cahoots with the Obama personnel to destabilize the Trump administration?
Those of us with memories remember the open mike capturing the promise of Obama to do more for Russia once the 2012 election was over and then there was the famous *reset* and Obama's passivity towards the Syrian disaster and Russian involvement.
If the press needs a US Gov't /Kremlin connection they may find it in Obama and his followers and employees.
Those of us with memories remember the open mike capturing the promise of Obama to do more for Russia once the 2012 election was over and then there was the famous *reset* and Obama's passivity towards the Syrian disaster and Russian involvement.
If the press needs a US Gov't /Kremlin connection they may find it in Obama and his followers and employees.
10
Except it is Trump who keeps telling us how much he loves Russia and admires Putin, who wants deeper relations with Russia, whose cabinet seems to be populated with members with Russian ties.
6
No. Only in the minds of Trump and Russian trolls. Crazy talk seems to be surfacing now (or The Donald is moving from tweets to the comment boards).
4
Check out Hillary and Podesta's involvement. Also, Schumer may have had a lot of improper contact during the Iran nuclear deal negotiations. Dems better be careful what they wish for.
2
We have been told that there was a meeting before the election among the intelligence agency heads and Congressional leaders. In this meeting the evidence of Russian interference in the election was laid out. The Administration wanted a bipartisan statement from Congress warning about the Russian interference but McConnell refused, saying he would call it partisan attacks if the evidence were released.
James Comey participated in those meetings. Yet he still went on to smear Hillary Clinton with false innuendo while protecting the more serious charges against Trump's campaign. Presumably President Obama knew about all of this. Yet he let Comey corrupt the FBI. One can't help but draw the conclusion that President Obama was more concerned about his personal reputation for fairness than he was about seeing that the agencies, then under his control, guaranteed the fairness of the American electoral process.
The problem we might have getting to the bottom of all of this is that there was widespread agreement in the Executive and Legislative Branches to cover up the dangerous connections of the Trump people. While not rising to the level of possible treason committed by the Trump people, the behavior of the last Congress and the Obama administration is still very worrisome
James Comey participated in those meetings. Yet he still went on to smear Hillary Clinton with false innuendo while protecting the more serious charges against Trump's campaign. Presumably President Obama knew about all of this. Yet he let Comey corrupt the FBI. One can't help but draw the conclusion that President Obama was more concerned about his personal reputation for fairness than he was about seeing that the agencies, then under his control, guaranteed the fairness of the American electoral process.
The problem we might have getting to the bottom of all of this is that there was widespread agreement in the Executive and Legislative Branches to cover up the dangerous connections of the Trump people. While not rising to the level of possible treason committed by the Trump people, the behavior of the last Congress and the Obama administration is still very worrisome
1
Let's just hope this administration doesn't do something unprecedented and sic a powerful government agency like the IRS on its political opponents. That would be hard to imagine and the media outcry would certainly be extreme!
6
Nixon tried to have the FTC revoke the Washington Post's ownership of several TV stations to bankrupt it. See "The Best and The Brightest" by David Halberstam
5
Speaking of the IRS, when is your draft dodging electoral president going to release his taxes?
12
I am thankful for the independent investigations by some of our allies (the British and the Dutch). It's difficult to know, at this point, whether any of our intelligence agents have been compromised or otherwise not forthcoming with intel (e.g., Flynn, Comey and some members of intelligence committees in Congress). How ironic that the British may be a rescuer of our democracy.
10
Why not just appoint the Russian Ambassador as the Secretary for Russian-American Affairs in Trump's cabinet? Would certainly seem to make things simpler.
8
How unusual is it for a member of Congress to have dealings with the Russian ambassador? The following from today's Washington Post suggests that it is no ordinary occurrence:
"The Washington Post contacted all 26 members of the 2016 Senate Armed Services Committee to see whether any lawmakers besides Sessions met with Kislyak in 2016. Of the 20 lawmakers who responded, every senator, including Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), said they did not meet with the Russian ambassador last year."
Unless we are missing something it seems odd that Sessions would be meeting with Kislyak. Seems even stranger that Sessions would not think to mention it during confirmation hearings, especially given that Russia meddling in the election was (and is) of such evident concern.
"The Washington Post contacted all 26 members of the 2016 Senate Armed Services Committee to see whether any lawmakers besides Sessions met with Kislyak in 2016. Of the 20 lawmakers who responded, every senator, including Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), said they did not meet with the Russian ambassador last year."
Unless we are missing something it seems odd that Sessions would be meeting with Kislyak. Seems even stranger that Sessions would not think to mention it during confirmation hearings, especially given that Russia meddling in the election was (and is) of such evident concern.
17
McCaskill has already been busted out. She had two meetings that she tweeted about, although she said she had none earlier today.
2
The DNC brushed aside warnings from the FBI that its computer networks were breached by hackers linked to the Russian govt. Their tech worker did little or nothing to heed the FBI's warning. How come they took it seriously after they lost the elections? If the hacking could have been prevented, was deliberately allowed? This angle is also worth investigating. One could be accused of mischief if he allows and even keeps data on what he could prevent in other to use it as a tool to discredit an opponent.
6
In written questions, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked, “Will you commit that, if you are confirmed as Attorney General, you will recuse yourself from any investigation into whether President-elect Trump or any of his family, campaign staff, business associates or advisors had any communication with Russian officials or operatives during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, or had any connection to, knowledge of, or involvement in Russian efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election?” Sessions responded, “I am not aware of a basis to recuse myself from such investigations. However, if a specific matter arose where I believed my impartiality might reasonably be questioned, I would consult with Department ethics officials regarding the most appropriate way to proceed. As I made clear at my confirmation hearing, I will always be fair and work within the law and the established procedures of the Department.”
How he could not see that his own communications would be at issue is puzzling.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/03/02/why-jeff-s...
How he could not see that his own communications would be at issue is puzzling.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/03/02/why-jeff-s...
8
Obama himself said the Russian did not hack the election. Anyone who thinks they did has been brainwashed by the media. Amazing people are even talking about this.
http://www.anonews.co/obama-russia-hack/
http://www.anonews.co/obama-russia-hack/
7
He said there was no evidence that the Russians were able to tamper with the voting process. He did not say that there was no evidence of Russian and Trump campaign collusion in committing espionage upon Americans and releasing the results of any espionage upon the US government that could politically damage Hillary Clinton. They apparently had a lot of evidence about that.
Consider the fact that Trump, in public, asked the Russians, to try to find the emails of the Secretary of State. Then you will see someone willing to condone foreign espionage upon the US government for his own political gain. Some patriot...
Consider the fact that Trump, in public, asked the Russians, to try to find the emails of the Secretary of State. Then you will see someone willing to condone foreign espionage upon the US government for his own political gain. Some patriot...
9
I wonder which is worse; Clinton using a private e-mail server as Secretary of State, or the Russian hacking of the DNC and injecting themselves into the U.S. election. Even if you say they are equal, in order to have a balance we still need a thorough investigation and two years of Congressional hearings.
14
"Mr. Trump has accused the Obama administration of hyping the Russia story line as a way to discredit his new administration."
It's much worse than that. Russia is 'our' enemy and no commander-in-chief is permitted to think otherwise, much less be neutral towards Russia and much less still to have friendly relations with Russia.
Even though Russia is only 1/2 the US population and 1/6 NATO's population, and even though Russia's GDP is only 2 trillion versus 36 trilllion for NATO, Russia is a threat and 'our' enemy. If Trump so much as dares to suggest they aren't, his Cabinet (or Congress) will eventually remove him. Members of the Cabinet who might resist, must be removed.
The short term reason for this is NATO/Pentagon 'jobs'. The long term result will be war and no one knows how that will end.
Russia population (2013) 143 million
NATO population (CIA) 906 million
Russia GDP (2013) 2 trillion (USD)
NATO GDP (CIA) 36 trillion (USD)
With numbers like these, Russia would not dare attack NATO - unless and until they are provoked too far. Once that happens, Putin and Russia will likely do whatever is necessary to avoid (or whatever is not as bad as) what happened to Gadaffi and Libya at the hands (and bombs) of NATO.
It's much worse than that. Russia is 'our' enemy and no commander-in-chief is permitted to think otherwise, much less be neutral towards Russia and much less still to have friendly relations with Russia.
Even though Russia is only 1/2 the US population and 1/6 NATO's population, and even though Russia's GDP is only 2 trillion versus 36 trilllion for NATO, Russia is a threat and 'our' enemy. If Trump so much as dares to suggest they aren't, his Cabinet (or Congress) will eventually remove him. Members of the Cabinet who might resist, must be removed.
The short term reason for this is NATO/Pentagon 'jobs'. The long term result will be war and no one knows how that will end.
Russia population (2013) 143 million
NATO population (CIA) 906 million
Russia GDP (2013) 2 trillion (USD)
NATO GDP (CIA) 36 trillion (USD)
With numbers like these, Russia would not dare attack NATO - unless and until they are provoked too far. Once that happens, Putin and Russia will likely do whatever is necessary to avoid (or whatever is not as bad as) what happened to Gadaffi and Libya at the hands (and bombs) of NATO.
6
Another good example of why most of the country doesn't believe you liars anymore.
12
Who supports a lier, cannot be one loving the trueth.
Paul Krugman has repeatedly said that when anything nefarious is uncovered regarding the Trump administration, Republicans and their supporters would blame Obama. His prescient words are becoming real as evidenced by some comments here blaming Obama (and the NY Times).
As so many of the Obama/NY Times blaming comments are curiously similar, shallow and without merit, I have to ask: did Fox/Breitbart issue a talking points memo and call to "comment" on NY Times articles?
As so many of the Obama/NY Times blaming comments are curiously similar, shallow and without merit, I have to ask: did Fox/Breitbart issue a talking points memo and call to "comment" on NY Times articles?
28
Sara, as I read the comments on this article I too wonder if there wasn't some dog whistle (or email or text) sent to Trump fans. Talk about a lot of heat and no light!
4
It's pretty clear this was a collaborative effort involving the GOP in sedition and treason at the highest levels. Let's bring back hanging.
7
Uh, duhh. It is impossible to "hack" voting machines. They are not connected to the Internet. It is not illegal for people to talk to each other. It is also stupid for the HRC campaign, the Shadow Government (led by Obama), and the DNC to complain about Russian hacking of their email, when (1) the FBI told them that they were going to be hacked---and took no precautions (but the RNC did) to protect Hillary's illegal, unsecured server which was to "serve" her greedy interests.
11
Sources please?
"1) the FBI told them that they were going to be hacked---and took no precautions"...So if you rob a bank, it is the banks fault for having money?
2
This undermining Trump needs to stop NOW ! It appears to being done by design ...those doing it need to know in politics what is done to the goose can be done to the gander ... a bad precedent to set and not good for our political system ... Let Trump get on with governing ....
11
If he would just stop appointing perjurers to cabinet posts!
1
Have you considered that Trump, et al are corrupt, self-serving plutocrats and are colluding with the Russian government and undermining our national interests? No, really. Have you considered it? There's ample evidence if you're actually interested in knowing.
Mr. Galutia,
I guess you thought Nixon should have got on with governing, instead of being impeached. I am sure you approved of Reagan selling arms to Iran, in order to illegally fund the Contra war; right after they had trashed our embassy and taken our personnel captive until Reagan was elected.
I guess you are right about one thing, what is done to the goose can be done to the gander. You have reached a pinnacle with Der Gropenfurher, I refuse to call him President. We had a great President for the last eight years, but the Republicans continued their ridiculous behavior throughout his presidency. So, now your goose maybe cooked.
I keep wanting to believe that Republicans love our country, but they continue to show disrespect for our laws and citizens. I would quote the last Republican that I had respect for, President Lincoln: You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
I guess you thought Nixon should have got on with governing, instead of being impeached. I am sure you approved of Reagan selling arms to Iran, in order to illegally fund the Contra war; right after they had trashed our embassy and taken our personnel captive until Reagan was elected.
I guess you are right about one thing, what is done to the goose can be done to the gander. You have reached a pinnacle with Der Gropenfurher, I refuse to call him President. We had a great President for the last eight years, but the Republicans continued their ridiculous behavior throughout his presidency. So, now your goose maybe cooked.
I keep wanting to believe that Republicans love our country, but they continue to show disrespect for our laws and citizens. I would quote the last Republican that I had respect for, President Lincoln: You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
14
Jeff Sessions needs to go. He lied to Congress at his confirmation hearing. Period. End of story.
All credible intelligence must be released to the House and Senate immediately, and a Special Prosecutor appointed to oversee answering questions the American people have regarding Trump and Russia.
If communications between Trump operatives and Russian officials and operatives is proven, and further provern to have tampered with the election, Mr. Trump must be impeached.
The rest will be history.
All credible intelligence must be released to the House and Senate immediately, and a Special Prosecutor appointed to oversee answering questions the American people have regarding Trump and Russia.
If communications between Trump operatives and Russian officials and operatives is proven, and further provern to have tampered with the election, Mr. Trump must be impeached.
The rest will be history.
16
I don't see any thing wrong in establishing bi-lateral or multi-lateral contacts between or among parties whether in a friendly or in an adversarial context. They include contacts at individual, institutional or national-political levels. The caveat should be to make sure that there hasn't been any conspiratorial, espionage or anti-national activity leading to a short or long term threat to national security. Only until a couple of days ago, the USA had a "back-channel" communication open with North Korea, DT srapped. At the height of the Cold War, Gorbachev and Reagan had agreed to establish a "Hotline." The ways to dialogue must stay open in all circumstances. That's the definition of diplomacy. In the current context, the big questions are what have been the nature and the objectives of the contacts between the Russians on the one hand and Trump or people around him, on the other. What is that they are trying to achieve? Do the Trumps have business interest in Russia, or do the Russians have incriminating evidence against Trump -- a bomb waiting to explode ? What did Michael Flynn or Jeff Sessions talk about with the Russians? In a friendly, non-formal contexts also when the big shots (from all parts of the world) meet, they do talk about governments and the possible changes in the administrations. From that angle what Flynn or Sessions did don't appear to be sinister leading to any national security compromise. It's the agenda -- overt and/or covert -- that should matter.
4
It's not about what you think ("I don't see any thing wrong in establishing bi-lateral or multi-lateral contacts"). It's about our laws and traditions. Flynn had contact with Russia while he was a regular citizen (against the law), and told them that the Trump administration wouldn't impose sanctions. Sessions apparently lied (perjury), also against the law.
Again, it's not about what you think or how you think it should be.
Again, it's not about what you think or how you think it should be.
8
Here is what we know. The Russians hacked the DNC and leaked e-mails to WiKi leaks in order to influence the U.S. election. Trumps campaign manager (Manafort) had to resign when it was discovered he had connections with Ukraine's Russian Puppet. Trump has repeatedly praised Putin and when confronted by O'Reilly with regard to his brutality replied that the U.S. was not innocent. Trump's National Security advisor was forced to resign because he lied about discussing sanctions with the Russian Ambassador. Trump's attorney general lied in his conformation hearing about contact with Russian officials while he was a member of the Trump campaign team. Now that is what we know to be true. Curious? If it was all perfectly innocent why would they lie? I wonder what we don't know?
2
This American thanks each and everyone of the Intelligence officials who did their job to preserve this critical information. Everyone of them is a hero and all clearly love their county. Thank you so very much.
20
"Once I'm re-elected, I can be more flexible on missiles in Europe".
Yep, its hippie wunderkind and ex-president, Barrack Obama making a not-so subtle pitch for campaign donations from Dmitry Medvedev.
Ah, memories...................
Yep, its hippie wunderkind and ex-president, Barrack Obama making a not-so subtle pitch for campaign donations from Dmitry Medvedev.
Ah, memories...................
Let's see, Obama let the Russians hack our election and did nothing about it! No, they couldn't let the blame fall on Obama, so they "preserved" the data, to try to blackmail Republicans later.
7
It's becoming fast apparent that the 22nd Amendment was and is a complete a total failure. Took Obama at least two years to learn the job, at the end of his second term he could do the job in his sleep and probably did.
What a beautiful thing indeed if Nov 2016 came around and my choices for President included the two clowns running, and a professional, experienced, seasoned, effective and PRESIDENTIAL candidate for the office who already proved he's up for the job in Obama.
Yup I would have voted for him for a third time in a heartbeat! I bet millions of Americans feel the same way I do.
Thank you for the ACA President Obama that "preserved" my life. And thank you for "preserving" our Country in face of treason and lawlessness represented by the Trump Administration and GOP.
What a beautiful thing indeed if Nov 2016 came around and my choices for President included the two clowns running, and a professional, experienced, seasoned, effective and PRESIDENTIAL candidate for the office who already proved he's up for the job in Obama.
Yup I would have voted for him for a third time in a heartbeat! I bet millions of Americans feel the same way I do.
Thank you for the ACA President Obama that "preserved" my life. And thank you for "preserving" our Country in face of treason and lawlessness represented by the Trump Administration and GOP.
10
Sessions has to go because he is not honest.
Aside from Trump officials' lack of character, this entire episode underscores the naivete of the Trump administration - Russia has systematically compromised the Trump officials.
Aside from Trump officials' lack of character, this entire episode underscores the naivete of the Trump administration - Russia has systematically compromised the Trump officials.
8
Records, that are preserved, and would have been destroyed by the Bannonites. Obama will be recognized as a great leader.
11
This makes the Obama Administration sound like they did this for purely noble reasons, when in fact they did it for political reasons. Obama meddled in several nations' elections (France and Israel, to name two) and has no intention of stopping international election-meddling on principle.
6
So if Sessions has "no idea what this allegation is about”, how can he be so sure it is false???
8
I don't know if the stress is getting to Trump, but he better watch his diet or get some real exercise. I saw a picture of Trump today getting off the helicopter and he's starting to look like Chris Christie.
8
Don't worry - soon they'll appoint Chris Christie as the special independent prosecutor, and he'll get right to the bottom of this.
6
I can't get all worked up about Sessions having a meeting with a Russian official, but he's the worst possible pick for attorney general, so I hope there's sufficient evidence linking him to Russian hacking to get him out of the job.
2
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear - This is not a good thing........
"The concerns about the contacts were cemented by a series of phone calls between Mr. Kislyak and Michael T. Flynn, who had been poised to become Mr. Trump’s national security adviser. The calls began on Dec. 29, shortly after Mr. Kislyak was summoned to the State Department and informed that, in retaliation for Russian election meddling, the United States was expelling 35 suspected Russian intelligence operatives and imposing other sanctions. Mr. Kislyak was irate and threatened a forceful Russia response, according to people familiar with the exchange.
But a day later, Mr. Putin said his government would not retaliate, prompting a Twitter post from Mr. Trump praising the Russian president — and puzzling Obama White House officials.
On Jan. 2, administration officials learned that Mr. Kislyak — after leaving the State Department meeting — called Mr. Flynn, and that the two talked multiple times in the 36 hours that followed. American intelligence agencies routinely wiretap the phones of Russian diplomats, and transcripts of the calls showed that Mr. Flynn urged the Russians not to respond, saying relations would improve once Mr. Trump was in office, according to multiple current and former officials."
"The concerns about the contacts were cemented by a series of phone calls between Mr. Kislyak and Michael T. Flynn, who had been poised to become Mr. Trump’s national security adviser. The calls began on Dec. 29, shortly after Mr. Kislyak was summoned to the State Department and informed that, in retaliation for Russian election meddling, the United States was expelling 35 suspected Russian intelligence operatives and imposing other sanctions. Mr. Kislyak was irate and threatened a forceful Russia response, according to people familiar with the exchange.
But a day later, Mr. Putin said his government would not retaliate, prompting a Twitter post from Mr. Trump praising the Russian president — and puzzling Obama White House officials.
On Jan. 2, administration officials learned that Mr. Kislyak — after leaving the State Department meeting — called Mr. Flynn, and that the two talked multiple times in the 36 hours that followed. American intelligence agencies routinely wiretap the phones of Russian diplomats, and transcripts of the calls showed that Mr. Flynn urged the Russians not to respond, saying relations would improve once Mr. Trump was in office, according to multiple current and former officials."
15
I don't think the hacking of the emails had anything to do with Trump. We need to know what Ms. Clinton did to enrage them so. Was it disclosing the info about the American Uranium Mines? Something Obama did not agree with them on. When did Obama suddenly change his tune on the Russians. First there was Reset, then we changed our missiles in eastern Europe, then there was the Uranium deal, then there was accepting that they would fight in place of us in Syria, but then what went wrong? It is that thing that went wrong we need to know about, and it did not have anything to do with Sessions or Trump.
Ever since the plank in the RNC platform last summer forbidding the US from arming the democratic government of Ukraine, evidence has been accumulating that we have indeed been dealing with a cabal of traitors, either "useful idiots," or outright Putin puppets. Our country is at its most vulnerable point in our history. Republicans will have to proceed with great caution, with great national devotion, lest they be branded as the party of treason, a moniker that could last for generations. Unfortunately, it seems highly unlikely that they will come to the aid of their country.
16
@Michael Singer
I think the GOP members of Congress (both House and Senate) - assuming they don't rather instantaneously change their approach - will deserve their future place in history - if that ruins the GOP, that's their own fault.
If I might provide an historical comparison: Charles Lindbergh and his outright bigotry coupled with his support of Hitler and the Nazis wound-up more than offsetting his earlier achievements; we're 80 years removed from that and I'd bet any amount of money that history's verdict will never change.
On the related subject of Trump, his refusal to release his tax returns and the GOP House seemingly letting him off the hook: the release of tax returns by candidates and whoever is elected President dates back as a tradition to Nixon (his famous "I am not a crook" speech) - problem for Nixon was that he WAS a crook and would have been charged with tax evasion had he not (after his resignation) paid the IRS what he owed; it was President Ford who in one of his first acts as POTUS voluntarily released ALL of his tax returns to prove he was squeaky clean (and he was) to counter criticism that he shouldn't have pardoned Nixon.
I think the GOP members of Congress (both House and Senate) - assuming they don't rather instantaneously change their approach - will deserve their future place in history - if that ruins the GOP, that's their own fault.
If I might provide an historical comparison: Charles Lindbergh and his outright bigotry coupled with his support of Hitler and the Nazis wound-up more than offsetting his earlier achievements; we're 80 years removed from that and I'd bet any amount of money that history's verdict will never change.
On the related subject of Trump, his refusal to release his tax returns and the GOP House seemingly letting him off the hook: the release of tax returns by candidates and whoever is elected President dates back as a tradition to Nixon (his famous "I am not a crook" speech) - problem for Nixon was that he WAS a crook and would have been charged with tax evasion had he not (after his resignation) paid the IRS what he owed; it was President Ford who in one of his first acts as POTUS voluntarily released ALL of his tax returns to prove he was squeaky clean (and he was) to counter criticism that he shouldn't have pardoned Nixon.
2
With Sessions lying under oath to Congress over Russian meetings, with Manafort & Flynn up to their eyeballs in this Russia mess- yes, Trump is beyond corrupt in the RussiaGate fiasco. This administration will soon go down and will be remembered as the biggest joke ever played on America. Real patriots must act to throw them out, prosecute them and restore some respect to the White House!
22
Sure, yes, absolutely. How? You can get Trump, but then you get Pence. If you manage to get Pence then you get Ryan. If for some reason Ryan is out, then you get Hatch. Then Tillerson. Mnuchin. Mattis. Sessions (Ha!). Zinke. Ross. Price. Carson (yikes almighty). DeVoss (double and triple yikes).
So be very careful what you wish for.
In the end of all this - if we survive it - we will have to bolster the constitution to delineate what happens when an election is stolen to have a mechanism that would yank out by the roots every last bit of the treasonous cancer from the executive branch. And THEN how to install a legitimate administration. Currently this is not a process that exists. We may end up finding out what it means to fight a civil war in the 21st century.
So be very careful what you wish for.
In the end of all this - if we survive it - we will have to bolster the constitution to delineate what happens when an election is stolen to have a mechanism that would yank out by the roots every last bit of the treasonous cancer from the executive branch. And THEN how to install a legitimate administration. Currently this is not a process that exists. We may end up finding out what it means to fight a civil war in the 21st century.
2
Sessions did not lie under oath to Congress. He spoke to the Russian ambassador under his authority as a Senator. Not as a surrogate for the Trump campaign, which is what Franken asked him in his confirmation hearings. He answered the question asked to him truthfully.
3
McCaskill lies. Tweeted she never had contacts with Russians as senator.
KEEPING IT THOUGHTFULLY HONEST: Someone had to protect us against Treason! So thank God that before President Obama's administration close its doors for business, "some White House officials scrambled to spread information about possible contacts between associates of President-elect Donald J. Trump and Russians — across the government." Meanwhile, the Russian's were attacking to undermine our presidential elections! "Former American officials say they had two aims: to ensure that such meddling isn’t duplicated in future American or European elections, and to leave a clear trail of intelligence for government investigators." Mr. Comey, just do your job!
Apparently, British and the Dutch, our European allies "provided information describing meetings in European cities between Russian officials — and others close to Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin — and associates of President-elect Trump." Interestingly, our allies are more concerned than McConnell and Ryan and the republicans partisans! Fortunately, 3 loyal American officials that care about our nation's interests requested anonymity in discussing classified intelligence. So who needs to be investigated? Hum.....
Apparently, British and the Dutch, our European allies "provided information describing meetings in European cities between Russian officials — and others close to Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin — and associates of President-elect Trump." Interestingly, our allies are more concerned than McConnell and Ryan and the republicans partisans! Fortunately, 3 loyal American officials that care about our nation's interests requested anonymity in discussing classified intelligence. So who needs to be investigated? Hum.....
9
standing here reminded that all references to Moses and the exodus of the Israelites from pharaonic ancient Egypt were erased by the priesthood from their original state chronicles. But, somehow, we still know a lot. Even in Hollywood. So: let it be written and let it be done. In Hollywood.
1
Nevertheless, they persist (to get the word out)!
The seizing of America is fully underway. Over half of the states have voter suppression laws on the books, initiated and supported by Republicans. Almost half of the states are proposing and passing legislation to limit the freedoms of protesters, initiated and supported by Republicans. trump and bannon have filled the air with constant calls of fake news, support by the silent Republicans.
Now, it's a race. It's a race between how fast how much information is made public regarding the relationship between Russia and trump - against how fast trump and bannon can discredit and shut down public media, suppress protesters, and create the single party government trump so eloquently spoke of recently.
Nevertheless, they persist!
The seizing of America is fully underway. Over half of the states have voter suppression laws on the books, initiated and supported by Republicans. Almost half of the states are proposing and passing legislation to limit the freedoms of protesters, initiated and supported by Republicans. trump and bannon have filled the air with constant calls of fake news, support by the silent Republicans.
Now, it's a race. It's a race between how fast how much information is made public regarding the relationship between Russia and trump - against how fast trump and bannon can discredit and shut down public media, suppress protesters, and create the single party government trump so eloquently spoke of recently.
Nevertheless, they persist!
Of course no Trump hater tainted any of the anonymous evidence. From the newspaper that was convinced Hillary would win from tainted information/polls.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions committed perjury under oath regarding conversations with the Russians in response to a direct question from Senator Frankel.
President Clinton went through impeachment hearings for perjury related to marital infidelity.
So when the Attorney General perjures himself for conspiring with a foreign adversary to influence US Presidential election, he should resign and an independent Special Prosecutor should hold investigations to see which other Trump surrogate besides National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Trump Campaign Manager Paul Manafort and Attorney General Jeff Sessions conspired with the Kremlin.
Russia has attacked western democracy in an effort to end sanctions against it for encroaching upon the sovereignty of the Ukraine.
All Americans should be outraged that Putin is attempting to destroy NATO and the western alliance that has kept the world safe from Russian aggression.
Trump has already declared the free press, protected under the US Constitution, an enemy of the people, because they are bringing the intelligence reports to the American people.
This attack against western democracy cannot stand.
President Clinton went through impeachment hearings for perjury related to marital infidelity.
So when the Attorney General perjures himself for conspiring with a foreign adversary to influence US Presidential election, he should resign and an independent Special Prosecutor should hold investigations to see which other Trump surrogate besides National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Trump Campaign Manager Paul Manafort and Attorney General Jeff Sessions conspired with the Kremlin.
Russia has attacked western democracy in an effort to end sanctions against it for encroaching upon the sovereignty of the Ukraine.
All Americans should be outraged that Putin is attempting to destroy NATO and the western alliance that has kept the world safe from Russian aggression.
Trump has already declared the free press, protected under the US Constitution, an enemy of the people, because they are bringing the intelligence reports to the American people.
This attack against western democracy cannot stand.
21
Pretty clear by previous comments, that A LOT of people will not accept any of this info. They were willing to beat Hilary to death with anything they could find, spent a great deal of money and then came up with nothing.
If there is nothing there, then the Republicans do not have to worry about it. I personally am not thrilled about having the Russians in our computers. Even my own things have pictures of my grandkids, etc. Please understand people, we need these questions answered.
I am not sure that any of the people that talked to the Russians are every going to say what they talked about, they denied it before the senate investigation committee that they even talked to them. But if there is a trail; possibly even tapes or videos, it would be good to know about them.
Unless, one would want the Russians in all of our business; personal or corporate or government.
If there is nothing there, then the Republicans do not have to worry about it. I personally am not thrilled about having the Russians in our computers. Even my own things have pictures of my grandkids, etc. Please understand people, we need these questions answered.
I am not sure that any of the people that talked to the Russians are every going to say what they talked about, they denied it before the senate investigation committee that they even talked to them. But if there is a trail; possibly even tapes or videos, it would be good to know about them.
Unless, one would want the Russians in all of our business; personal or corporate or government.
9
So now we know that Trump's original campaign manager, Paul Manafort, as well as his recent picks for National Security Adviser and Attorney General were all meeting secretly with Russian officials during last year's presidential campaign. We also know that both Michael Flynn and Jeff Sessions lied about the full extent of their Russian contacts, with Sessions coming very close to perjuring himself in his testimony before Congress. It's also clear that the White House has enlisted congressional Republicans in an effort to derail any formal hearings or investigations. Meanwhile, Trump himself has gone strangely silent on the subject his good pal, Vladimir Putin. Looks to me as though Trump and his advisers are trying to build a legal/political firewall between the President as his Russian "connections." Let's hope they don't succeed!
15
Comey, Putin, & Assange elected Trump and destroyed Clinton.
18
Over and Over, I hear the same GOP refrain, which goes like this: "Nope, NOTHING to see here, Folks! Just mooove on, now." Is there NO Republican in Congress willing to put 'American First, Party Second'?
18
"Lock her up!" What an interesting concept.
7
This is the same old stuff. Obama's people were leaking stuff to the press that cannot be substantiated. Obviously, the motive was to damage Trump. zzzzzzzzz
So...this whole made up story is from Obama. No surprise here.
8
"I'am not a surrogate" seems destined to take its place in history right up there with "Who has pubic hair on my coke."
- And please lets not expect Sessions to do the decent thing in this investigation, his entire career lends that thought a lie, however Sessions et al must at the minimum be required to do the legal and best thing for this country.
7
March 1, 2017, mark your calendar. This will be the date cited in the future on timelines showing the events preceding Trump's impeachment. The surrogates (or patsies) are starting to keel over. Hey, Bannon, Miller and Conway don't throw away any of your moving boxes because you are going to need them in the not so distant future. My prediction for fumigation of the Oval Office: two years.
10
The GOP held congressional session after session investigating and pounding Hillary until she was so fed up and so were we all. They were constantly threatening her about her emails until we were all BLUE (or RED you could say) in the face.
Yet, I hear "rumblings" about the Russian hacking, even though that part was proven. The fact that Obama had to make sure this information was kept safe speaks volumes about what he didn't trust about our current administration.
Where are the republicans and even the democrats now up in arms? Why isn't this Treasonous investigation being put upon our current administration int the same horrific fashion it was done to Hillary? Yet Hillary's only crime was putting email in a private server, and this Russian question has far more serious allegations than that was.
The GOP and POTUS declared a witch hunt on Hillary to ruin her chances of election. It should be seriously investigated that not only did the Trump organization but also some in the GOP could have been complicit in this Russian issue.
Shameful! SAD!
Yet, I hear "rumblings" about the Russian hacking, even though that part was proven. The fact that Obama had to make sure this information was kept safe speaks volumes about what he didn't trust about our current administration.
Where are the republicans and even the democrats now up in arms? Why isn't this Treasonous investigation being put upon our current administration int the same horrific fashion it was done to Hillary? Yet Hillary's only crime was putting email in a private server, and this Russian question has far more serious allegations than that was.
The GOP and POTUS declared a witch hunt on Hillary to ruin her chances of election. It should be seriously investigated that not only did the Trump organization but also some in the GOP could have been complicit in this Russian issue.
Shameful! SAD!
10
We have come to the point that any potential candidate for any high level government position will not be able to talk with any person of significances prior to being nominated. This is getting ridiculous. If any one group of people have been in harmony with USSR/Russian society, it has been the liberals. They want so much for the USA to become a socialist country. That is the pathway to get to global governance.
6
Common sense from Cali. What a rare breed you are. Keep up the good work
1
Obama , do we miss him? Was he smart? was he calculating? was he the best at thinking many moves ahead? Was he so much smarter then the rest of the folks in the room? However, going against the trump group is not fair since they are so handicapped to compete with guys like Obama.
Obama, hours reviewing plans, listening to all opinions, asking key questions before approving things. Trump, making decisions between the main course and dessert at a public spot with his friends opinions. Who would you trust the fate of your son or daughter in the military to?
Obama, hours reviewing plans, listening to all opinions, asking key questions before approving things. Trump, making decisions between the main course and dessert at a public spot with his friends opinions. Who would you trust the fate of your son or daughter in the military to?
18
One observation about Mr Trump. He cannot keep from telling us what he has done. He has shot someone dead in the street in New York and still won the election. He shot and killed Lady Liberty. I mourn her.
Is there not a shred of patriotism left in the republican party that they won't arrest this man and his minions?
Is there not a shred of patriotism left in the republican party that they won't arrest this man and his minions?
9
Hillary, the DNC and apparently Obama were all asleep at the cybersecurity wheel.
5
Democrats are being given bottomless ammunition. If all this passes without a finger lifted, I will trade in my Democratic membership for a Republican one.
2
Not me. I'd rather lose on the side of what's right than win on the evil one.
8
Next will be Trump!
1
President Washington didn't ever tell a lie.
President Nixon didn't ever tell the truth
president trump* doesn't know the difference.
President Nixon didn't ever tell the truth
president trump* doesn't know the difference.
9
What is scary here is how many have convicted Trump based on heresy yet they remain silent on what those emails disclosed: PACS working with the Clinton campaign, collusion with the press to derail Sanders and worse, an out going administration actively trying to sabotage a new administration. Recall that Mrs. Clinton and President Obama both could face criminal charges for sending emails with classified information via unsecured servers. Do we want to turn our nation into a banana republic putting last years leader on trial? ' Cause this is how it starts.
Deep Throat has an appointment in the parking garage this afternoon. Stay tuned.
44 is still my President
9
Just listened to yesterday's "Fresh Air" program w. David Remnick and Evan Osnos on Russia & the hacking. They said that when those in the DNC heard about the interference they were shocked that the White House didn't consider it a 5-alarm fire. Obama should have said more than "cut it out" to Putin.
Just watched the video of Jeff Sessions lying and weaseling out of answering Al Franken. He should be fired now. Al Franken for President.
Just watched the video of Jeff Sessions lying and weaseling out of answering Al Franken. He should be fired now. Al Franken for President.
It seems we don't have enough safeguards to keep us from being subvert it by dictators. Trump is not even a clever conspirator. His lies can't be uncovered by the simplest clicking of a website. What if we had someone as mean and uncouth as Trump but clever. These guys don't have enough brains to put a simple coherent plan together. And they're pretty close to tumbling our entire government. We need more safeguards.
The Russians are VERY GOOD at the spy business. One of the rules of espionage is that you NEVER reveal the information you gather because your adversaries can use that to discover your operatives and/or their methods. If the Russians had any good Intel on the Democrats' campaign, they would use it, but never disclose it. The only people that would stand to gain from disclosing such Intel are whistle-blowers working from the inside of an organization, but the Democrats could never admit to that. Saving their false faces means they can never admit that there may be even the slightest dissention in the ranks.
President Obama is just plain pure gold in character, thought, and action. It will b a very long time, if ever, we see his kind again.
Thank you President Obama. Only God knows what you may have prevented.
Thank you President Obama. Only God knows what you may have prevented.
9
No one is upset when Trump got "hacked" when someone released that Billy Bush tape, or when someone sent the NY Times his taxes. That's all fair play and part of the process.
But if Podesta was that stupid to have his account password as "password," then perhaps it's better he didn't get into the white house?
Also... the elections weren't hacked. The dems were hacked and truthful, embarrassing, and incriminating information was made public, just like Trump To hear Hillary was fed debate questions is sickening... to hear the way they cheated to keep Bernie down is sickening...
Americans got to see both candidates in more detail than the candidates wanted and they made their decision on who to vote for.
But if Podesta was that stupid to have his account password as "password," then perhaps it's better he didn't get into the white house?
Also... the elections weren't hacked. The dems were hacked and truthful, embarrassing, and incriminating information was made public, just like Trump To hear Hillary was fed debate questions is sickening... to hear the way they cheated to keep Bernie down is sickening...
Americans got to see both candidates in more detail than the candidates wanted and they made their decision on who to vote for.
6
The actual emails weren't terribly embarrassing. They were widely misrepresented as being far more damaging than they should have been (and they WERE more damaging, since a lot of not-so-bright voters just read the headlines and the hype).
In other words, we got to see Trump as he really was, but Clinton as a caricatured villain.
In other words, we got to see Trump as he really was, but Clinton as a caricatured villain.
Did you know that the right has a totally different spin on this story? Calling it proof that Obama undermined the Trump administration: http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/01/confirmed-obama-sabotaged-trumps-trans...
1
Yes no doubt they think evidence is undermining.
The article indicates that foreign intelligence agencies are also in possession of information about the contacts beteeen Trump surrogates and Russians.
Perhaps a few of those agencies can make public statements about such contacts if they can protect their methods and sources.
Those foreigners are not Republicans or Democrats. Their information is not "political" in the US. They do that interception to try to prevent becoming victims of the Russians themselves.
Perhaps a few of those agencies can make public statements about such contacts if they can protect their methods and sources.
Those foreigners are not Republicans or Democrats. Their information is not "political" in the US. They do that interception to try to prevent becoming victims of the Russians themselves.
4 years ago President Obama laughed at the thought that Russia was our biggest Geopolitical threat? Now he has changed his mind because Hillary was an awful candidate for President. If Obama is actively trying to undermine our government, that is treason and he should be investigated starting now. He had 8 years to hate the United States but failed to bring the majority of the country with him. Hate against the USA or it's government and trying to topple the government is an act of treason. Vote in 4 years if you don't like America being great again. I love the USA!!!
5
If Trump conspired with Russia to win the election (which is still unproven, but looking more and more certain), there's treason there. But the person who committed treason is Trump by conspiring, not Obama by exposing it.
I fully expect Trump to declare it treason to expose his treason, though. And I fully expect most Republicans to buy it.
I fully expect Trump to declare it treason to expose his treason, though. And I fully expect most Republicans to buy it.
1
"However, Justice officials acknowledged that Mr. Sessions had spoken with Mr. Kislyak twice: once, among a group of ambassadors who approached him at a Heritage Foundation event during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July and, separately, in an office meeting on Sept. 8. The contacts were first reported by The Washington Post."
Yes, my friends, and do we know who runs the Heritage Foundation? Why, yes we do! It is Charles and David Koch.
Yes, my friends, and do we know who runs the Heritage Foundation? Why, yes we do! It is Charles and David Koch.
6
The lock brothers did not support trump.
I would like to know how Robert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal was able to find out WHO the MI6 guy was, thereby outing him and putting a stop to the report he was doing on Trump. That outing caused the death of a Russian and forced Steele into hiding.
The Dems better win this war they started. If they don't and quick they will be trashed in the 2018 elections and beyond.
They ran a very flawed candidate with a clown as her VP. And they ignored key states - the whole operation of Hillary's campaign was mismanaged by her.
Now they are trying to shift the blame to Obama's friend he made secret deals with (ref his hot mike comment - still want to know what Obama meant).
They ran a very flawed candidate with a clown as her VP. And they ignored key states - the whole operation of Hillary's campaign was mismanaged by her.
Now they are trying to shift the blame to Obama's friend he made secret deals with (ref his hot mike comment - still want to know what Obama meant).
The key to all of this is Trump's tax returns. Why haven't the Democrats in Congress become united in a public campaign to pressure Trump to release them? If they lead, public demonstrations will follow, especially after more damning information is released via leaks. Paint Trump as the chief obstructor of justice.
1
Incredible that Donald is still president and that his cabinet is full of law breakers. Sessions must be fired and all of the other contacts detailed in the Guardian Newspaper must be investigated. This cannot happen under Sessions and Comey.
Do Republicans care at all about this country? You sure can't be sure given what they knew! And thank you President Obama for caring about the country over politics. You are sorely missed!
Do Republicans care at all about this country? You sure can't be sure given what they knew! And thank you President Obama for caring about the country over politics. You are sorely missed!
2
Where was the Obama Administration vigilance regarding former Secretary of State Clinton and her pay for play scam across the globe? With fingerprints all over this escapade, the former President merely hit the delete button.
This is a little unprecedented? A former President deliberately undermining his successor? Are we surprised? We're becoming more like a third world country everyday. I'd say it's about time President Trump unleash the hounds on Barrach and Hillary?
Maybe that's what it's about, blackmail? You leave my scandals alone, I'll stop pursuing yours.
Maybe that's what it's about, blackmail? You leave my scandals alone, I'll stop pursuing yours.
2
Preserving evidence of treason only undermines traitors.
And perhaps I'm old fashioned, but if Trump's a traitor (which is not yet proven, but looking more and more certain), I sort of feel that he should be undermined.
And perhaps I'm old fashioned, but if Trump's a traitor (which is not yet proven, but looking more and more certain), I sort of feel that he should be undermined.
3
I weep for America. That the CIA and the "Deep State" could mislead the country in such a dangerous and audacious way is truly a tragedy. I am a lifelong Democrat and a Liberal progressive, and I NEVER would have thought that I could be persuaded to side with Trump, but here we are.
There is no evidence of Russian "rigging" of elections. Trump is a businessmen, and Russia has been open for business since 1990. As far as I now, there does not exist a state of war between Russia and the US. Not yet,anyway. But what saddens me most is what the Russians are actually accused of doing -- namely, providing transparency. If indeed the Russians were responsible for the WikiLeaks disclosures, we owe them a debt of gratitude, because those leaks allowed us to catch a glimpse of the corruption, the illicit and quasi-criminal activity of the Clinton campaign and the DNC. But no one is talking about the substance of those leaks - it's all about HOW they were leaked.
And yet, when Trump tries to raise a fuss about the "illegal leaks" about Gen. Flynn, everyone dismisses him, saying that in this case, the content of the leaks is important, regardless of provenance.
My God, the Democrats are as despicable as they are spineless, and so is the MSM.
There is no evidence of Russian "rigging" of elections. Trump is a businessmen, and Russia has been open for business since 1990. As far as I now, there does not exist a state of war between Russia and the US. Not yet,anyway. But what saddens me most is what the Russians are actually accused of doing -- namely, providing transparency. If indeed the Russians were responsible for the WikiLeaks disclosures, we owe them a debt of gratitude, because those leaks allowed us to catch a glimpse of the corruption, the illicit and quasi-criminal activity of the Clinton campaign and the DNC. But no one is talking about the substance of those leaks - it's all about HOW they were leaked.
And yet, when Trump tries to raise a fuss about the "illegal leaks" about Gen. Flynn, everyone dismisses him, saying that in this case, the content of the leaks is important, regardless of provenance.
My God, the Democrats are as despicable as they are spineless, and so is the MSM.
6
The Russians certainly released DNC emails, though the way they did it was the furthest thing from transparency, as they were spun as if they were far worse than they really were, and many voters bought the spin without investigating further. They misrepresented those emails specifically to elect Trump.
The accusation now isn't that Russians did that. We know they did. The accusation, which seems more and more certain, is that Trump's campaign knew they did and conspired with them to do so. That would be treason.
The fact that you'd try to conflate the two makes me dubious of your claim to have been a lifelong Democrat and not a Trump supporter.
The accusation now isn't that Russians did that. We know they did. The accusation, which seems more and more certain, is that Trump's campaign knew they did and conspired with them to do so. That would be treason.
The fact that you'd try to conflate the two makes me dubious of your claim to have been a lifelong Democrat and not a Trump supporter.
2
My how defensive Trump's online stormtroopers seem to be today ...
I am amazed at the denial by the Trump supporters.
Manafort, Flynn, Carter Page, Sessions, Tillerson, Wilbur Ross's role in Russian $ laundering Bank of Cyprus, and the kind words to Putin are more than just coincidence and circumstantial.
Common sense should tell you as much, but that may not exist in Trumpland.
Manafort, Flynn, Carter Page, Sessions, Tillerson, Wilbur Ross's role in Russian $ laundering Bank of Cyprus, and the kind words to Putin are more than just coincidence and circumstantial.
Common sense should tell you as much, but that may not exist in Trumpland.
2
Can't POTUS Trump get rights to the Beatles "Back in the USSR" to replace "Hail to the Chief"?
I'm certain if it has to go through the House and Senate, the votes are there.
I'm certain if it has to go through the House and Senate, the votes are there.
1
If Obama wanted to rapidly disseminate any classified intelligence information, he could have done what he has always done, have Hillary post it on her own private server. Someone please tell me why she is not in jail for violating the 2002 US FISMA laws, which she both blatantly and knowingly breached? Perhaps people have overlooked the part of the story saying that the government and agencies have no indication that there was any collusion. This is turning into the Dems own "Birther" cause celebe'.
The stock market soared yesterday because the coup-ists among H. Clinton, Obama etc are perceived to be on the wane. These people dislike the USA and have contempt for citizens. They view the government and other world organizations as organs to be used to support their person extracurricular social and financial activities.
We are in a civil war. Disloyal elites, who detest the American electoral system and the American voters generally, are attempting a coup to take over the USA and reassert their global dominance.
We are in a civil war. Disloyal elites, who detest the American electoral system and the American voters generally, are attempting a coup to take over the USA and reassert their global dominance.
2
Trump vowed to "drain the swamp". Instead, other than himself as the most scurrilous, he is filling the swamp with the likes of Jeff Sessions.
2
Patience. Truth will out.
If not for the "gang who couldn't shoot straight" behavior of the Trump people, this story would have been the biggest news of the week. The actions of Obama administration political appointees on the white house staff/national security council remind one of the Nixon white house staff before and during Watergate. I just visited the newly reopened Nixon library last weekend and the Watergate section was a truly sobering and depressing experience and, based on today's NYT article, at least a small part of that sordid history appears to be repeating itself.
The fact that Attorney General Sessions during his senate hearing denied that he had had any contacts with Russian officials during the presidential campaign while he actual had met the Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak on 2 occasions, is to me a smoking gun moment. Sessions now admits that he did meet Kislyak but that one meeting was on the sidelines of an event organized by the Heritage Foundation at the Republican Convention where Kislyak was among a bunch of ambassadors going up to Sessions at the end of the event. The other meeting,however, is not so easily dismissed. Sessions claims that he met Kislyak one on one in his capacity as a member of the Senate Armed Services Commitee and not as a surrogate for Trump. If Sessions did not speak with Kislyak about the Trump campaign, something I highly doubt, then what was he doing as a member of the Armed Services Committee in having a tête-à-tête with the ambassador of a country with which we have an adversarial relation? Either way, Sessions is finished and if, which I believe is the case, he discussed as a Trump surrogate with Kislyak the Russian interference in our presidential election, then Trump is also finished. Watergate pales in comparison.
Where were all of you people during Chinagate when the Clintons were taking millions of dolllars from Chinese government officials in the 90's. The hypocrisy of you people amazes me, and most of America. The term "fake news" is very deserving here.
Why are Republicans so reluctant to call in a Independent Prosecutor?
Why are some Republicans in the House asking that DJT's income tax returns be sealed?
Why aren't Republicans concerned about the Russian hacking into our elections..and with the Russian/Putin connection?
Why are they putting party over Country First?
This is so depressing that we have one of our political parties so willing to turn a blind eye to a foreign hostile country, just so they can maintain their agenda.
Why are some Republicans in the House asking that DJT's income tax returns be sealed?
Why aren't Republicans concerned about the Russian hacking into our elections..and with the Russian/Putin connection?
Why are they putting party over Country First?
This is so depressing that we have one of our political parties so willing to turn a blind eye to a foreign hostile country, just so they can maintain their agenda.
9
This new President Trump isn't a statesman, a thoughtful man of substance or anything of the sort, instead we have a Carnival Huckster, a P.T. Barnum in disguise and not anything close to a President.
It is embarrassing to watch someone, this Huckster with such a big mouth and ego, who is always pointing the finger of blame at everyone else and shows himself to be an empty suit who is in way over his head in the oval office.
It is embarrassing to watch someone, this Huckster with such a big mouth and ego, who is always pointing the finger of blame at everyone else and shows himself to be an empty suit who is in way over his head in the oval office.
1
Very smart move. It puts conspiracy theories to rest.
So disturbing in so many ways. On the one hand, we know the Russians are adept and cyberattacks and have a history of interference in elections.
But there is also something so very disturbing about seeding the government, with an army of potential leakers ready at any moment to anonymously release unverifiable accusations against a new administration whose policies they - and frankly I - dislike.
Coincidences do happen, but the timing of new anonymous revelations hew so closely to either the implementation of policies the previous administration would oppose - the Justice Department backing out of the Texas Voter case and no longer supporting the idea that it was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise minority voters and Mr. Sessions announcement that the Justice Department would halt its investigations of police departments- coupled with President Trump's well received speech and suddenly their are new revelations about Jeff Sessions and we are all talking about Russian collusion and the Trump campaign again.
But, no one has seen any actual intelligence and we have no report from the FBI on their investigation. It's all just anonymous leaks.
As with the end to filibusters for judicial appointments apart from Supreme Court justices, we may come to regret support for this new government based Wikkileaks operation. I'm just uncomfortable. It has a Joseph McCarthy feel to it.
But there is also something so very disturbing about seeding the government, with an army of potential leakers ready at any moment to anonymously release unverifiable accusations against a new administration whose policies they - and frankly I - dislike.
Coincidences do happen, but the timing of new anonymous revelations hew so closely to either the implementation of policies the previous administration would oppose - the Justice Department backing out of the Texas Voter case and no longer supporting the idea that it was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise minority voters and Mr. Sessions announcement that the Justice Department would halt its investigations of police departments- coupled with President Trump's well received speech and suddenly their are new revelations about Jeff Sessions and we are all talking about Russian collusion and the Trump campaign again.
But, no one has seen any actual intelligence and we have no report from the FBI on their investigation. It's all just anonymous leaks.
As with the end to filibusters for judicial appointments apart from Supreme Court justices, we may come to regret support for this new government based Wikkileaks operation. I'm just uncomfortable. It has a Joseph McCarthy feel to it.
2
Civil servants and government officials saw this nightmare administration coming. All these leaks, and now this story, are what I call "SOS."
There are still true Americans in Washington DC.
There are still true Americans in Washington DC.
I guess Trump couldn't nominate Ivan Drago for anything,..for it would be too obvious.
2
The swamp will stop at nothing to prevent it's drainage.
Maybe Trump should do what Obama did when investigations of his misdeeds arose. Hire a major campaign bundler as the investigator. It worked - Obama was innocent every time. Interesting how that works
Maybe Trump should do what Obama did when investigations of his misdeeds arose. Hire a major campaign bundler as the investigator. It worked - Obama was innocent every time. Interesting how that works
3
Micheal Lewis.... please get to work on this!
1
Always amazed at how many college educated people who think they are very smart, are the easiest people conned!
Never suspecting the MSM and the deep state are colluding behind the scenes!
Why would ANY of you believe this given this admission from the past.
“We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries.”
—David Rockefeller, Baden-Baden, Germany 1991
Orchestrated and manipulated world. Do you like letting rich elites control things from behind the scenes? Manipulate your media and control your information? Neither do the rest of America which is why we went against the elites and media and elected Trump!
Never suspecting the MSM and the deep state are colluding behind the scenes!
Why would ANY of you believe this given this admission from the past.
“We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries.”
—David Rockefeller, Baden-Baden, Germany 1991
Orchestrated and manipulated world. Do you like letting rich elites control things from behind the scenes? Manipulate your media and control your information? Neither do the rest of America which is why we went against the elites and media and elected Trump!
Mike -
Part of using the Internet is learning how to not be conned by it. You might take a page from your own play book and try and parse all the crazy conspiracy theories floating around out there. One thing a college education (mine at least) does is to teach you to question the "truth".
Just remember this about the Internet and what you read there - "garbage in/garbage out"
Part of using the Internet is learning how to not be conned by it. You might take a page from your own play book and try and parse all the crazy conspiracy theories floating around out there. One thing a college education (mine at least) does is to teach you to question the "truth".
Just remember this about the Internet and what you read there - "garbage in/garbage out"
Trump will be gone within the first 90 days. Why? We haven't even started to investigate the conflict of interest scandals. Once his base starts to wonder what they have done, Trump will go off the deep end (become unhinged), especially when Congress says they cannot fund any of what he wants. He won't be impeached, but he will be removed for being unfit to serve as President. Let's hope he has fake nuclear codes.
Articles based on anonymous officials should not be trusted. Who are they? Why should I trust they don't have a political agenda? Clearly, they do.
This nicely illustrates they media 'swamp' that needs draining. And they are at war to preserve themselves.
If I were Trump, I would make it my top priority to prosecute officials who leak classified information to the media. Meanwhile, public should discount all news based on anonymous classified government sources.
This nicely illustrates they media 'swamp' that needs draining. And they are at war to preserve themselves.
If I were Trump, I would make it my top priority to prosecute officials who leak classified information to the media. Meanwhile, public should discount all news based on anonymous classified government sources.
4
Where is Deepthroat, now that we so desperately need him?
Mr. Felt is currently spinning in his grave.
Two words: do-over.
1
So wait, we are going to count on James Comey to do the investigation?
Because his disclosure of the Wiener laptop while sitting on this doozy more than compromises him; it implicates him.
Because his disclosure of the Wiener laptop while sitting on this doozy more than compromises him; it implicates him.
This is only the beginning of a series of Trump scandals. Nobody is even talking about all the conflicts of interest he has due to dubious business ties.
1
Evidence of crimes but not enough time to prosecute, and KNOWING the incoming administration would grossly abuse power and obstruct justice.
This is WAY bigger than Watergate.
This is WAY bigger than Watergate.
1
Might the 500 Billion dollar deal our oil companies want to cut with Russia have something to do with this? Drop sanctions against Russia and get the deal. Shouldn't that be enough payoff to Putin? I fear Trump talking about ending our NATO agreements is also part of the deal, which means goodbye free Baltic states as Russia consumes them along with Ukraine and Crimea and wherever the 800 pound Bear wishes to go.
1
Is there anyone among the president's cronies who is honest? There are so many lies, that it's difficult to keep up.
"In the Obama administration’s last days, some White House officials scrambled to spread information about Russian efforts to undermine the presidential election . . . to ensure that such meddling isn’t duplicated in future American or European elections, and to leave a clear trail of intelligence for government investigators."
"Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking"
With all of this "scrambling" and "rushing" by members of President Obama's administration to get this intelligence preserved, it still took almost two months before it became public? Geez, I'd hate to see how long something else would take if they "moved like the wind" or if their hair was on fire.
The truth will come out. This is America, The world is watching, and they want to see how we handle this mess. I hope the right way.
Until you have physical evidence this is nothing more than hear-say which won't hold water in a court of law. It will however come back to haunt the democrats in the next several elections if hear-say continues to be the only evidence they can present. It will feed right into Trump's mantra of Fake News.
Wait until all the investigative info is in. We want whats best for our country and that is getting to the truth. This is not a simple matter. If it goes back to Trump,the American people need to know and if it doesn't that is just as important. But we now know there is information out there regarding Russia etc. So be patient and let justice be done and truth to light the way....Of course if I was going to bet on my gut...
I'm convinced if this entire presidential timeline (from campaign to now) -were offered as a movie, book or TV show - it would be widely panned as too absurd and fictitious to believe.
"The Critic" should be redone for just a moment - if only to hear Jay Sherman proclaim "It stinks".
"The Critic" should be redone for just a moment - if only to hear Jay Sherman proclaim "It stinks".
So much for Obama cooperating with a smooth transition. It was sabotage.
4
Exposing possible collusion and or connections with the Russian government is "sabotage"?!
What is wrong with you all saying these ludicrous things? If true, this is possibly treasonous! Would you say the same if the roles were reversed and Hillary was caught doing this. Yea, didn't think so...
What is wrong with you all saying these ludicrous things? If true, this is possibly treasonous! Would you say the same if the roles were reversed and Hillary was caught doing this. Yea, didn't think so...
2
Good to hear because Obama was and is a thoughtful careful and extremely intelligent man. Oh for those days!
5
If Democrats had any real proof they would have blabbed it weeks ago.
2
Sessions should not be allowed to recuse himself but be faced with the likelihood of being prosecuted for lying to the committee that was considering his appointment as Attorney Genera. See his answer to Sen. Franken's questions. In addition, Trump should be investigated by an independent committee for his possible complicity in the the contacts with the Russians. What did he know and when did he know it ( Remember Nixon)?
3
To all the people out there that are crying "fake news" and "sore losers"
Don't let the fact that politicians have succeeded in dividing people so disastrously stop you from wanting real investigations into this issue. Consider the magnitude of damage this could do to the very fabric of our country if defeating and laughing at Liberals becomes more important to you than maintaining sovereignty and fairness in our government.
Don't let the fact that politicians have succeeded in dividing people so disastrously stop you from wanting real investigations into this issue. Consider the magnitude of damage this could do to the very fabric of our country if defeating and laughing at Liberals becomes more important to you than maintaining sovereignty and fairness in our government.
Sessions is not stupid . If he met with the Ambassador during the COURSE of the election ( which means the time span ) to talk about other things , and he didn't do anything shady he would be sure to say that he met with the Russian Ambassador but it was not about the campaign , to clarify any issues .
I'm sorry ,but his excuse just doesn't add up .
I'm sorry ,but his excuse just doesn't add up .
1
Sessions had 25 conversations with ambassadors from other nations. Two conversations with Russian officials is not collusion or some act of treason.
Let us not forget who campaigned on the idea of a Russian reset or who got a fat donation from Uranium One's chairman, and who financed Skolkovo...
Let us not forget who campaigned on the idea of a Russian reset or who got a fat donation from Uranium One's chairman, and who financed Skolkovo...
2
He lied. Why?
If Jeff Session can't remember anything about a meeting which occurred 6 months ago, maybe he should be removed as mentally incompetent. And it's interesting that the Department of the Treasury is one of the investigating agencies.
2
The proof of electoral tampering is in the computer code of the STATE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS[SES*]. IT analysts know the "electoral votes map" election night did not equate to the voters vote. Thoroughly check the "computer code" in late reporting states first. My theory: the DNC hacking was true but a red herring to keep our intelligence agency busy while the "hackers" entered code to skew the state results. The TRUTH will be found through HONEST meticulous checking of each *SES, the physical layer; maintenance, IT, remote work and hardware added externally. If the Senate and House of Representatives want to expose Russia, investigate properly and both can take credit for exposing a malevolent agent of change that skewed election results in America. Fiscally conservative or generous we all LOVE OUR DEMOCRACY and don't want to be a RUSSIAN LOOKALIKE.
AS for the Commander in Chief that he has damaged his integrity willingly is astonishing. Review campaign videos, DT was guaranteed a WIN so he could do or say anything with no fear of losing and now once again he is using the "campaign tactic" to create fear, hate, distrust. EVERYONE, please reread the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, in place of "king of Great Britain" insert "Donald Trump" there are quite a few parallels. Executive Orders are not the way we serve Democratic principles - an executive order is to be used sparingly - not as a way of running our democracy - that is why we have elections with measures on the ballot.
AS for the Commander in Chief that he has damaged his integrity willingly is astonishing. Review campaign videos, DT was guaranteed a WIN so he could do or say anything with no fear of losing and now once again he is using the "campaign tactic" to create fear, hate, distrust. EVERYONE, please reread the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, in place of "king of Great Britain" insert "Donald Trump" there are quite a few parallels. Executive Orders are not the way we serve Democratic principles - an executive order is to be used sparingly - not as a way of running our democracy - that is why we have elections with measures on the ballot.
4
Message for the next Democratic president who believes it is honorable to lead our democracy and who will most likely be honorable:
The GOP isn't honorable.
Obama's biggest mistake - not seeing the GOP for what they clearly acted and stated themselves to be.
The GOP isn't honorable.
Obama's biggest mistake - not seeing the GOP for what they clearly acted and stated themselves to be.
3
Every morning I open the papers to see what new horror awaits, I think of all of you having to write about it. Kudos to all of you -- NYT, Post, BBC, WSJ and CNN for sticking with it. Assuming we all get through this you all deserve a month in Bora Bora to recover.
This information is coming in dribs and drabs. In some ways that's good. This country has a long term memory deficit and aided by media members like Chris Cilizza, easily forgets important things like treason. What's horrifying to me is the totally complicit Republican Congress who will go along with anything Trump and his puppet masters want to do so long as they can lower taxes for the comfortable and afflict the afflicted by destroying the ACA and Medicaid and annihilating the remains of the New Deal including but not limited to Social Security and Medicare.
Tha we even have to rely on intelligence services, those forces within the government that have rightfully been called the 'deep state', as a safeguard against the current administration is either THE death knell for democratic governance or a wake-up call of almost apocalyptic proportions.
2
more McCarthyism
This story seems intended to gin up full scale hysteria. Putin and Russia are determined to take the world back to a Stalinist cold war. The NYTs solution is open hostility. The world is going through upheaval for various reasons. The NYTs wants people to think that Putin is behind all this. I remember before Obama left office he was being hectored by the Democrats to join in their hostility fest. His response was a measured acknowledgement of that hostility. Putin rightfully shrugged.
That Sessions met with numerous ambassadors should have made it easy to reply that he met with Russia's. "Yes. In my position in the senate I routinely met with ambassadorial staff, including the Russian ambassador on two occasions, plus ambassadors from X, Y, Z in 2016." The fact that he concealed that fact suggests that that information was loaded...not meant for senatorial ears.
This is a great way to deal with all the real life pressing issues that we and our country has to deal with on a daily basis . . . forget about them! We should do this for everything we don't like. Let's drag all the old Boogeymen out of the closet and life will be bliss.
I applaud the New York Times for having the courage to publish this piece. Democrats have become specialists at disinformation and propaganda. The Democrat party has consciously decided to pursue fiction rather than fact, distortion rather than truth, power rather than progress. This is a sad and frightening turn in American politics. It has all the makings of an authoritarian state. Hopefully the American public will discern what is happening and will have the presence of mind to reject such manipulation of information. If not, God help us all.
Just insert Donald Trump everywhere you wrote Democrats and Democrat party and there you will find the truth because he is a caustic liar.
Funny how all the punditry raved about how 'presidential' this con artist was over one speech. My how that lasted. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION NOW!!!
7
My President's intelligence and patriotism continues to be a thorn in the side of the draft dodging trust fund sissy electoral President.
6
Remember, remember the Eighth of November,
The Russians, the treason, the plot.
I can think of no reason the electoral treason
Should ever be forgot.
The Russians, the treason, the plot.
I can think of no reason the electoral treason
Should ever be forgot.
7
They didn't "rush to preserve" it...they rushed to concoct it and make it seem as nefarious as possible. This is seditious treason, pure and simple, and people need to hang.
4
If Republicans want to retain any credibility as national leaders, they need to separate their ambitions from this administration. To aid and abet treason is to commit treason.
5
Jus as to aid and abet a silly narrative is to be silly.
Caught on open mike, Obama tells Medvedev he needs ‘space’ on missile defense
By David Nakamura and Debbi Wilgoren March 26, 2012
SEOUL — In their joint statement to reporters here, President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke carefully about continuing discussions on the sensitive issues of European missile defense.
But in an unscripted moment picked up by camera crews, the American president was more blunt: Let me get reelected first, he said; then I’ll have a better chance of making something happen.
“On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space,” Obama can be heard telling Medvedev, apparently referring to incoming Russian president — and outgoing prime minister — Vladimir Putin.
“Yeah, I understand,” Medvedev replies, according to an account relayed by an ABC News producer, who said she viewed a recording of the discussion made by a Russian camera crew. “I understand your message about space. Space for you . . .”
“This is my last election,” Obama interjects. “After my election, I have more flexibility.”
Medvedev, who last week demanded written proof that Russia is not the intended target of U.S. missile defense efforts, responded agreeably.
By David Nakamura and Debbi Wilgoren March 26, 2012
SEOUL — In their joint statement to reporters here, President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke carefully about continuing discussions on the sensitive issues of European missile defense.
But in an unscripted moment picked up by camera crews, the American president was more blunt: Let me get reelected first, he said; then I’ll have a better chance of making something happen.
“On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space,” Obama can be heard telling Medvedev, apparently referring to incoming Russian president — and outgoing prime minister — Vladimir Putin.
“Yeah, I understand,” Medvedev replies, according to an account relayed by an ABC News producer, who said she viewed a recording of the discussion made by a Russian camera crew. “I understand your message about space. Space for you . . .”
“This is my last election,” Obama interjects. “After my election, I have more flexibility.”
Medvedev, who last week demanded written proof that Russia is not the intended target of U.S. missile defense efforts, responded agreeably.
4
You make a valid point. But Medvedev isn't Putin. The Russians didn't interfere in the Obama election. Obama did not praise Putin. Obama's Campaign manager did not have to resign because of a questionable Russian connection, and his National Security Advisor and Attorney General did not lie about talking to Russian officials.
1
Nice long article devoid of specifics but rich in allegations. Exactly what did the Russkies do to try to influence the election, say as compared to what Wikileaks released. Was there collaboration between Wiki & the Russkies??
4
Oh poor Mr.Roloff, Wikileaks has long since been proven to be an arm of the Russian government. The organization has been compromised since early 2016.
“I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians." -- Jeff Session
Another one bites the dust.
Another one bites the dust.
We smell the smoke, but America needs to see the fire. Where is the recorded audio, that one missing piece? We know it's there, but with Sessions at the head of investigations, it will never see the light of day.
We must make the other shoe drop. The truth will set us free.
We must make the other shoe drop. The truth will set us free.
2
It’s sad to see that bitterness over the lost presidential election has turned Democrats and the Washington Post editorial staff into “Tail Gunner Joes.” Senator Joseph R. McCarthy infamously alleged federal agencies had been infiltrated by Communists, Soviet spies and Soviet sympathizers. Now the same sort of reckless allegations are being lodged against members of the Trump administration. The McCarthyites of the 1950s asked “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party.” The new McCarthyites ask “Are you now in contact or have you ever made contact with Russian officials.”
4
Chuck Schumer gave away the dem tactics after he threatened Trump with a war by the CIA and of course the resentful, spiteful, pitiful democrats. No mention of Hillary and the uranium deal? No mention of Obama telling Medvedev to let Putin know he'd be more "flexible" after the 2012 election? Hmmm.... seems to me Russia helped Obama and maybe that's why Obama kept that quiet/
With the advent of the Internet and Social Media we definitely need to update the 1st Amendment of our U.S. Constitution. Sometimes people say things off the cuff or what first comes to mind. It's so easy now too with Twitter. We can delete, copy and paste but we can't take back lies or cover-ups. And being mad doesn't get anyone anywhere. Being kind is far better than criticism. But there is also constructive criticism. Sometimes it just comes down to: "The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" or as in "Matthew 6.3" in the Bible.
THIS is real journalism. Thank you!
We are experiencing a coup from the deep state of neo-libs/cons.
If liberals can't find a scandal, they'll invent one.
2
Republicans are doing this all by themselves. Practically tripping over their own feet in a mad rush of malfeasance.
Be honest, Mike, if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Obama or Clinton you folks would be screaming for their heads.
Be honest, Mike, if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Obama or Clinton you folks would be screaming for their heads.
2
Ah, tell it to Nixon rightist.
1
If they (the Dem's) needed to create a scandal all they would have to do is follow the GOP 's years long Benghazi follies roadmap.
The facts I see here are
1 - The Obama Administration meddled illegally with Classified information
2 - The Obama Administration leaked information (and still is) to the Press
3 - The information meddled with, is kept to frame Trump and his administration around a possible Russian election hacking.
4 - There is ZERO evidence of an actual Russian hack. There is a plethora of information confirming that Wikileaks has claimed the ENTIRE time.
5 - Treason has been committed by the outgoing administration.
People supporting the Obama administration better think about what they are supporting. You are giving a big "OK" to internal conspiracies to torpedo any future administration and hence harm the USA permanently.
1 - The Obama Administration meddled illegally with Classified information
2 - The Obama Administration leaked information (and still is) to the Press
3 - The information meddled with, is kept to frame Trump and his administration around a possible Russian election hacking.
4 - There is ZERO evidence of an actual Russian hack. There is a plethora of information confirming that Wikileaks has claimed the ENTIRE time.
5 - Treason has been committed by the outgoing administration.
People supporting the Obama administration better think about what they are supporting. You are giving a big "OK" to internal conspiracies to torpedo any future administration and hence harm the USA permanently.
3
This article is an attempt to keep the empty allegation alive, while the NYT ignores Bill Clinton meeting with Obama AG as FBI closed in on Clinton Crime Family Foundation illegalities. Mainstream media acting as an arm of one political party has damaged their own credibility far more than any robust fair debate ever could. Citizens see the NYT covering for Ds and attacking Rs and draw their own conclusions.
3
The New York Times is framing the communication between Jeff Sessions and the Russians in a completely misleading way. Surprise! They will do anything to keep him out of the government because they know he represents a dramatic shift towards law and order.
President Obama was an incredible president. He was in a position of being damned if you do and damned if you don't regarding Russian involvement. He knew of the results of the investigation. He could have jumped all over it and been accused by Republicans of favoritism to Hillary during the election. Or he could have remained silent and stay out of the election knowing that Russian involvement and lies propagated by them could throw the election to Trump.
Trump's relentless assault on the news media, his bewildering attacks on US intelligence agencies and the FBI, and his obsession with "leaks" are not the ravings of an unhinged, uninformed mind. He is not that crazy, nor that ignorant. Rather, he is desperately trying to preemptively discredit these institutions. Why? Trump knows they have the goods on him. The Russians know it too; they wisely cut bait several weeks ago.
Right after we get a "justicedepartment" investigation of Fast 'N Furious.
During the Election Campaign did the trump cabal have discussions with the British Intelligence Community? The German Intelligence Community? How about the French?
Only the Russians?
Why?
Only the Russians?
Why?
Could we please have a list of all the governments and corporations the Clinton campaign was in contact with for the years leading up to her loss? Because I don't really care if the Trump campaign was doing what all campaigns do but Hillary was being given hundreds of millions of dollars by various groups and nations (particularly the Mid-East ones) and then the day after she lost to Trump- nadda. From Obama's hot mic "I will relay this to Vladimir" to Hillary saying you need a public and a private position I just can't believe the incessant Trump/Russia non-story. If there is proof SHOW IT TO US. If you have only a speculation that you want to be true then shut up because the story doesn't exist.
"In order to form a more perfect Union . . .", "governed only by the consent of the governed . . ." We started with such dreams.
Well, the Union is dissolving into red and blue, and some of the red is already written in the blood of our service men and women, some in the blood of Indian engineers.
We ignored the Declaration of Independence and allowed a minority-elected-tyrant to send us running into chaos instead of organizing to battle human-induced-climate-change and antimicrobial resistance pandemics.
And now we need find a new name appropriate for an obedient Russian satellite? Something that rhymes with Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan?
Trumpistan? Bannistan? Seanistan?
When can SpaceX take more of us to a lunar base?
Well, the Union is dissolving into red and blue, and some of the red is already written in the blood of our service men and women, some in the blood of Indian engineers.
We ignored the Declaration of Independence and allowed a minority-elected-tyrant to send us running into chaos instead of organizing to battle human-induced-climate-change and antimicrobial resistance pandemics.
And now we need find a new name appropriate for an obedient Russian satellite? Something that rhymes with Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan?
Trumpistan? Bannistan? Seanistan?
When can SpaceX take more of us to a lunar base?
Is it a crime for an American citizen to speak to a Russian government official?
About anything?
Since when?
What law is being broken if the conversation does not involve top secret information?
Has anyone ever been prosecuted for having a conversation with a Russian government official?
What other countries' officials are off limits and why?
Can we say hello?
Or talk about the weather?
Or sports?
Or what?
About anything?
Since when?
What law is being broken if the conversation does not involve top secret information?
Has anyone ever been prosecuted for having a conversation with a Russian government official?
What other countries' officials are off limits and why?
Can we say hello?
Or talk about the weather?
Or sports?
Or what?
I have few questions..
1. how can anyone who supports HRC calls him or herself democrat? She is neocon and by definition, you are, what you support. Voting for her would mean voting for 1%. How can you call yourself democrat and vote for elitist 1% is utterly unclear to me
2. if you want to talk treason, there you have it in front of you. HRC conspired with DNC and made sure elections went in completly different way that is was going until then. Bernie would be elected, world be a lot better place with him than with any of 1% ers which were left to choose from. If blatantly tipping the scale with DNC is not treason, i don't know what that word means.
Don is different story, but clean your house first before start unproven hear say accusations for the other side.
3. How is Putin controling Don when Don just lifted defence budget to over 600 bn when they are spending less than 60 bn.
Once great NYT became so biased it hurts.
1. how can anyone who supports HRC calls him or herself democrat? She is neocon and by definition, you are, what you support. Voting for her would mean voting for 1%. How can you call yourself democrat and vote for elitist 1% is utterly unclear to me
2. if you want to talk treason, there you have it in front of you. HRC conspired with DNC and made sure elections went in completly different way that is was going until then. Bernie would be elected, world be a lot better place with him than with any of 1% ers which were left to choose from. If blatantly tipping the scale with DNC is not treason, i don't know what that word means.
Don is different story, but clean your house first before start unproven hear say accusations for the other side.
3. How is Putin controling Don when Don just lifted defence budget to over 600 bn when they are spending less than 60 bn.
Once great NYT became so biased it hurts.
It now noon on the east coast. What is astonishing is the silence that can be heard loud and clear from the White House for the past 15 something hours....
A meager rebuttal by Session's staff and amazingly not a tweet from the chief. If the AG is caught commiting perjury over the Russian connections, you know that there is more to this. They are caught with their pants down. Since Flynn, Sessions et al, love to communicate so much with this Russian ambassador, perhaps they should just fix him the Lincoln bedroom. At least until impeachment.
A meager rebuttal by Session's staff and amazingly not a tweet from the chief. If the AG is caught commiting perjury over the Russian connections, you know that there is more to this. They are caught with their pants down. Since Flynn, Sessions et al, love to communicate so much with this Russian ambassador, perhaps they should just fix him the Lincoln bedroom. At least until impeachment.
6
So basically Putin has been using Trump as a pawn for years with the intention of infiltrating our government thru Trump. Putin's goal is to take over the U.S. It's shocking how many are involved with Putin. He's very adept at controlling others by exploiting their weaknesses. Follow the money. It's amazing it's gotten this far. He's infiltrated the White House for heavens sake! And he's got Trump doing his bidding. Probably promised to make Trump Supreme Commander of the New World Order. All Trump would really get is dead once Putin got control. Unbelievable. It's unfolding right in front of us. Keep going NY Times!
3
My god! This article is so shockingly revealing. Its a scary alarming scenario not only for the US but also for the Europeans, and the rest of the world.
2
Impeach and Imprison.
7
Anonymous sources discussing secret information. This is not journalism. It is just another attempt to smear the President.
Lynne thinks President Obama is the traitor. Specifically,
"Lynne Boston, MA
Additionally, to actively sabotage an incoming President? I am going to imagine the the adulation the former President believes he deserves may be treasonous. And that the former President is waiting in the wing with his old henchmen and women eagerly waiting to take over? Doubly treasonous. Alinsky could not have tutored a better student for revolution but do we want it?"
In the face of hard evidence republicans continue their strange naïveté which somehow only applies to republicans and never, ever to democrats. Emails are treason to these people but collusion with the Russians, Putin specifically? Nothing to see, folks...Trump has suddenly become honest after a long career of cheating to "win."
"Lynne Boston, MA
Additionally, to actively sabotage an incoming President? I am going to imagine the the adulation the former President believes he deserves may be treasonous. And that the former President is waiting in the wing with his old henchmen and women eagerly waiting to take over? Doubly treasonous. Alinsky could not have tutored a better student for revolution but do we want it?"
In the face of hard evidence republicans continue their strange naïveté which somehow only applies to republicans and never, ever to democrats. Emails are treason to these people but collusion with the Russians, Putin specifically? Nothing to see, folks...Trump has suddenly become honest after a long career of cheating to "win."
4
In the words of the "esteemed" Donald Trump, "There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know. "
Hopefully a real investigation will take place and the the truth will out. I have faith in the Constitution and if that document still has meaning justice will be served. It worked to get another great presidential fraud R.M. Nixon out of office, If it worked then it can work again.
Hopefully a real investigation will take place and the the truth will out. I have faith in the Constitution and if that document still has meaning justice will be served. It worked to get another great presidential fraud R.M. Nixon out of office, If it worked then it can work again.
1
"Sessions' ties to the Russians" What ties? As a Senator he met with the Russian ambassador. Did any other Senators meet with the Russian ambassador? As far as "lying about a relationship to the Senate , Sessions was asked if he discussed campaign issue with Russians during a period of time, NOT if he had met with any Russians. This article is chock full of innuendo and incomplete and misleading information.
1
It defies common sense that with Session's legal and law enforcement background, he did not feel the need to make the record crystal clear by acknowledging meetings with the Russian ambassador in his capacity as a senator.
I would think that he would be acutely aware of the need to be forthcoming and clear about ALL meetings just to set the record straight. That he chose not to be forthcoming is highly suspicious to say the least.
He should have and would have known better than to hide the meeting with the Russian ambassador, unless of course he was pulling a "what the definition of "is" is".
Hey Mr. Trump, Americans really DO want to know—what's the deal with the Russians, the contacts, the denials, the forgetting of meetings, the desire to suppress investigations, the hiding of taxes? It's our country, you work for us, and we have a right to know.
Very strange and suspicious indeed!
I would think that he would be acutely aware of the need to be forthcoming and clear about ALL meetings just to set the record straight. That he chose not to be forthcoming is highly suspicious to say the least.
He should have and would have known better than to hide the meeting with the Russian ambassador, unless of course he was pulling a "what the definition of "is" is".
Hey Mr. Trump, Americans really DO want to know—what's the deal with the Russians, the contacts, the denials, the forgetting of meetings, the desire to suppress investigations, the hiding of taxes? It's our country, you work for us, and we have a right to know.
Very strange and suspicious indeed!
8
Not surprised the Obama Administration was "caught off guard" because why would anyone think that a candidate for President who had the support of most but obviously not all of the RNC and who ultimately got the nomination by the party would stoop so low as to collude ( no proof yet ) with the Russians in order to win the election ? That would be the worst thing to have ever happened in this country since it's independence from European rule. Just the thought of the RNC or the DNC supporting a candidate who would engage in this Treasonous type of activity is mind boggling all in itself , it's no wonder it was not picked up on sooner, after all we naturally assume that we are at the VERY LEAST competing with other Patriots. I myself am very disappointed in the fact that some in the Republican Party would discount this as trivial or even a witch hunt in order to preserve the appearance of integrity and or their political careers rather than get to the bottom of the issue. Your political career is nothing more than a piece of lint when it comes to the integrity of the function of our great Democratic Republic. THROW THE BUMS OUT !
so he has taken (stolen?) classified information? I think this is a classic definition of criminal activity. Wow! Everyone at that level is so dirty.
Honestly, this just sounds like a bunch of sore losers. There's no evidence of ANYTHING other than Trump's "associates" had contact with some Russians (a country where many of Trump associates are known to do business). So, what? They spoke to Russians. Why is the Obama administration gathering information on republican party members and/or associates to begin with?
2
Sessions. Would that be sessions, under oath??? He will deal in a heartbeat. Uh-oh, Donald.
1
Wow! 2409 Comments and growing! Well, after the Fall of Flynn, I was concerned that Trump had a fall guy and that would be that. There's never one cockroach. Sessions is bad to the bone, and no wonder he would be involved...I remember when President Obama said something on his last days in office, to the effect of 'I will be here for you...' He did something a true statesman does, he protected us. He took action so that these, yes, acts of treason, would not be destroyed. All in good time people. All in good time. Follow the bread crumbs...
4
This is why you have lost whatever shreds of credibility you had before Trump was elected. This is so easily refuted as baloney, since you can actually read the questionnaire and the testimony, and if you actually did REPORTING instead of activist journalism, you would have seen that Sessions was responding to a very specific question about talking to Russians "about the election." Obviously he would have spoken to ambassadors in his role on Senate committees. This is just EMBARRASSING. For you. Or it should be.
2
How long before Trump and his obviously compromised admin try to pin this one on the press. At this point it looks like we may have an actual "enemy of the people", Trump and his admin. Watching them entertain us with having to deal with actual reality should be very interesting. Thank you president Obama for your cunning intellect.
3
Tom Steyer, liberal mega donor, Is In So Deep With The Russians They Should Call Him ‘Impaled by Vlad’
Ah, impeachment! What a delicious thought. Except for the poison pill named Pence.
All one-sided innuendo with no proof. Yet when any anyone says that the left has hacked the elections, the first work out of a liberal's mouth is "there is no proof", even though there is (e.g., 2008 Philadelphia and the Black Panthers, dead people voting, voting in more than one state, etc.).
This article edits the questions that were asked to create a desired narrative.
The question Franken posed to Sessions was, was there a continuing exchange of information between the campaign and the Russian government about the election.
It was not, did Sessions “Ever speak with the Russians.” Two different questions, yet the media's focus is the latter, an edited question that was never asked.
Leahy and Franken are confusing Sessions with Ted Kennedy who asked Russia to intervene In 1984 Election to defeat Reagan. A verifiable truth, just google it.
What comes to mind is Goebbels' famous words: "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over." This is what we have here, a hit piece by a bunch of hacks, that cannot be proved (you can't prove a negative).
The Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda went on to say "...the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State."
Sad, this why the once great NYT is losing subscribers.
This article edits the questions that were asked to create a desired narrative.
The question Franken posed to Sessions was, was there a continuing exchange of information between the campaign and the Russian government about the election.
It was not, did Sessions “Ever speak with the Russians.” Two different questions, yet the media's focus is the latter, an edited question that was never asked.
Leahy and Franken are confusing Sessions with Ted Kennedy who asked Russia to intervene In 1984 Election to defeat Reagan. A verifiable truth, just google it.
What comes to mind is Goebbels' famous words: "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over." This is what we have here, a hit piece by a bunch of hacks, that cannot be proved (you can't prove a negative).
The Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda went on to say "...the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State."
Sad, this why the once great NYT is losing subscribers.
1
I have to wonder.
How much evidence is still available?
Concerning "Fast and Furious,' " Benghazi," etc.
How much evidence is still available?
Concerning "Fast and Furious,' " Benghazi," etc.
"The details of the meetings were not clear, but the contact appeared to contradict testimony Mr. Sessions provided Congress during his confirmation hearing in January when he said he 'did not have communications with the Russians.'”
Why can't the NY Times even provide the smallest amount of context for that quote from Sessions?
Here's from a story about this from NBC news:
"Sessions was asked during his confirmation hearings by Sen. Al Franken what he would do if he learned that 'anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign,' Sessions replied:
'I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign, and I did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it.'"
How fair is the the Times' sinister depiction of Sessons' quote in the light of the ever so slightly expanded context?
How many times must the Times resort to stunts like this to make their partisan points?
Why can't the NY Times even provide the smallest amount of context for that quote from Sessions?
Here's from a story about this from NBC news:
"Sessions was asked during his confirmation hearings by Sen. Al Franken what he would do if he learned that 'anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign,' Sessions replied:
'I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign, and I did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it.'"
How fair is the the Times' sinister depiction of Sessons' quote in the light of the ever so slightly expanded context?
How many times must the Times resort to stunts like this to make their partisan points?
1
Thank God for the Obama Administration. They will be known as the whistle blowers who saved the day and our Republic once all this Intel comes to light. The counts of Impeachment will form a mountain of evidence against the most unqualified and corrupt odious creep ever to inhabit the Oval Office. The clock is already ticking for Trump and his White Supremacist Party. Anyone who continues to back Trump and the Republican Party truly now deserve the label deplorable. And that's being kind.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
2
I would like to thank the movie gods for Jeff Session's stereo-typical racist slave master accent. It is going to go down so easy with his resignation.
" I am not a Russian." The Presidential Apprentice.
1
Intercourse: "connections or dealings between persons or groups." (Miriam Webster)
So, it was a terrible, terrible thing that one president lied about something that did not rise to the level of sexual intercourse.
But, we should give a lawyer a pass for having intercourse with the enemy. And he forgot about it? Or lied about it?
It is time for everything in this country to take a back seat, while we investigate "what's going on."
And it's going on from within our borders. Indeed from within our White House.
If there was ever a time for a clean sweep of an entire administration, we've come to that time!
All together now: Independent Prosecutor!
So, it was a terrible, terrible thing that one president lied about something that did not rise to the level of sexual intercourse.
But, we should give a lawyer a pass for having intercourse with the enemy. And he forgot about it? Or lied about it?
It is time for everything in this country to take a back seat, while we investigate "what's going on."
And it's going on from within our borders. Indeed from within our White House.
If there was ever a time for a clean sweep of an entire administration, we've come to that time!
All together now: Independent Prosecutor!
Jeff Sessions lied while under oath.
Here are some highly impassioned statements made by Republicans in 1998 about Bill Clinton lying under oath about (of all things) his sex life. Here are just a few examples, of which there are many:
"This is not about politics, he lied! This is very simply about the Rule of Law, and the survival of the American system of justice! - Newt Gingrich
"There can be no justice without the truth!" - Then Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R. Connecticut).
"I believe perjury does meet at least the definition of high misdemeanor. In my mind, it certainly meets the measure of high crime." -- Again, Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Connecticut) .
" [He] certainly understood the gravity of his testimony and the expectation of truthfulness ... But is it impeachable? And the answer is yes!" - Then Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Arkansas).
" I do not believe it was justified because of what [He] has said, because I can no longer believe him!" - Then Rep. Tom Campbell (R-California).
" Let not history look back on this day and say there, on that date, America surrendered the rule of law!" - Then Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Missouri)
Here are some highly impassioned statements made by Republicans in 1998 about Bill Clinton lying under oath about (of all things) his sex life. Here are just a few examples, of which there are many:
"This is not about politics, he lied! This is very simply about the Rule of Law, and the survival of the American system of justice! - Newt Gingrich
"There can be no justice without the truth!" - Then Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R. Connecticut).
"I believe perjury does meet at least the definition of high misdemeanor. In my mind, it certainly meets the measure of high crime." -- Again, Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Connecticut) .
" [He] certainly understood the gravity of his testimony and the expectation of truthfulness ... But is it impeachable? And the answer is yes!" - Then Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Arkansas).
" I do not believe it was justified because of what [He] has said, because I can no longer believe him!" - Then Rep. Tom Campbell (R-California).
" Let not history look back on this day and say there, on that date, America surrendered the rule of law!" - Then Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Missouri)
This comment board is so partisan it's truly sad. Read "between the lines". Back after Bush Admin 9-11 an intelligence friend said to me "the NSA sweeping up all this information is useless in stopping terrorists as they claim...there is no way to sort it quick enough to make it actionable intelligence".
I said of course, but that's not the purpose. And this article now describes a circumstance exactly how I explained at the time. In Hoover-esque fashion, this entire "intelligence" system was created to protect the "status quo"...and all the lemmings here are working hard in support of that same status quo that re-branded with Obama (and HRC) as the figure heads.
This story describes how they are collecting all this info on ALL Americans to use for political purposes to destroy anyone who challenges power. Obama was their front man of course...look at his record objectively. How about Obama's "Muslim bombing plan" targeting more predominately Muslim nations with bombings than any previous US President for one example. How about how him and Holder protected all the powerful bankers not only "NOT PROSECUTING ANY OF THEM FOR THEIR CRIMES PRE_2008" but bailing them out over and over with "QE and TARP, etc. etc. How about "Fast and Furious"? Etc etc.
This is a soft coup. This is "anti-Democratic". You don't side with the "deep state" who lies and murders the world over and restart the "red scare" just because you lost. Grow up people.
I said of course, but that's not the purpose. And this article now describes a circumstance exactly how I explained at the time. In Hoover-esque fashion, this entire "intelligence" system was created to protect the "status quo"...and all the lemmings here are working hard in support of that same status quo that re-branded with Obama (and HRC) as the figure heads.
This story describes how they are collecting all this info on ALL Americans to use for political purposes to destroy anyone who challenges power. Obama was their front man of course...look at his record objectively. How about Obama's "Muslim bombing plan" targeting more predominately Muslim nations with bombings than any previous US President for one example. How about how him and Holder protected all the powerful bankers not only "NOT PROSECUTING ANY OF THEM FOR THEIR CRIMES PRE_2008" but bailing them out over and over with "QE and TARP, etc. etc. How about "Fast and Furious"? Etc etc.
This is a soft coup. This is "anti-Democratic". You don't side with the "deep state" who lies and murders the world over and restart the "red scare" just because you lost. Grow up people.
Focus on these questions about Trump&co:
"What do you own?
What do you owe?
To whom do you owe it?"
William Cohen, former Defense Secretary and Senator
"What do you own?
What do you owe?
To whom do you owe it?"
William Cohen, former Defense Secretary and Senator
1
Democrats:
The Russians!
The Russians!
The Russians!
It would nice to see the Democratic Party form, promote and implement policy's that are designed to improve America.
The Russians!
The Russians!
The Russians!
It would nice to see the Democratic Party form, promote and implement policy's that are designed to improve America.
2
Obamacare. Tens of millions with health insurance.
In case you haven't noticed Republicans control ALL of DC, so not likely we can implement policy at this point. If you are hoping for improvement for America, vote the Rs out in 2018/2010 and we'll get back on the job. Thanks in advance.
In case you haven't noticed Republicans control ALL of DC, so not likely we can implement policy at this point. If you are hoping for improvement for America, vote the Rs out in 2018/2010 and we'll get back on the job. Thanks in advance.
The left just can't fathom that their gal lost the election in stunning style to Trump! So, to delegitimize Trump because we just can't believe Hillary lost to this buffoon, lets create a ruse using our DNC lead press that the Russians "Hacked" the election! So anyone on the left, please tell us how and what the Russians hacked to affect the election? Did they bus in a bunch of commies to vote? Did they dial into all the voting machines in 4 States Hillary was told she would win, no questions asked, and never bothered to campaign in (oh that's right, the voting machines aren't hooked up to the internet)? So, just how did the Russians carry Trump over the finish line in an Electoral Blow Out?
And for all of you hair on fire screaming Sessions lied... the one meeting he had which I guess you can stretch the meaning of meeting if you need, was at a cocktail party along with many other Senators and many other foreign dignitaries. The other meeting was a part of his Senate duties, being a member of the Armed Services Committee! Where there were many other Senators in attendance! He was asked during his hearing about Trump campaign activities of which, he wasn't part of as he was still a ranking Senator in the Senate.
And for all of you hair on fire screaming Sessions lied... the one meeting he had which I guess you can stretch the meaning of meeting if you need, was at a cocktail party along with many other Senators and many other foreign dignitaries. The other meeting was a part of his Senate duties, being a member of the Armed Services Committee! Where there were many other Senators in attendance! He was asked during his hearing about Trump campaign activities of which, he wasn't part of as he was still a ranking Senator in the Senate.
1
Who among the Scheme Trump team were the Kremlin's most useful idiots?
Who among the Scheme Trump team were Moscow's most useful shredders of the American Constitution?
What does Vladimir Putin know about Trump's personal and corporate income tax returns and business records and deals that we do not know?
Who among the Scheme Trump team were Moscow's most useful shredders of the American Constitution?
What does Vladimir Putin know about Trump's personal and corporate income tax returns and business records and deals that we do not know?
1
Thank GOD for President Obama and his love for America.
If not for Obama's efforts trash like trump, pense, sessions, bannon, miller and putin might have succeeded in destoryng America.
If not for Obama's efforts trash like trump, pense, sessions, bannon, miller and putin might have succeeded in destoryng America.
4
"Making America Great Again"? Really? If we don't clean up this mess the rest of the world will see us as a joke when it comes to being a democracy that is a model for all other nations.
The GOP loves to invoke the name of Ronald Reagan but Reagan should be spinning in his grave about the head of his party becoming a Russian puppet. Reagan spent his presidency fighting against Putin's "Evil Empire". The GOP needs to finally, at last, put the country before its party. This isn't about politics. The future of our nation's democracy and standing in the eyes of the world is at stake. Here is a time when the GOP can stand up and show its true patriotism.
The GOP loves to invoke the name of Ronald Reagan but Reagan should be spinning in his grave about the head of his party becoming a Russian puppet. Reagan spent his presidency fighting against Putin's "Evil Empire". The GOP needs to finally, at last, put the country before its party. This isn't about politics. The future of our nation's democracy and standing in the eyes of the world is at stake. Here is a time when the GOP can stand up and show its true patriotism.
1
NY Times, I have news for you. NO one believes your conspiracy theory about the Russians handing the Presidency to Trump or that any one in the Trump camp had planned or connived with the Russians to discredit Hillary. Hillary and the Clintons did NOT need any help in discrediting themselves, They did enough sleazy and corrupt stuff to destroy their own reputations. All you are doing is loosing any credibility that you might have left.
Everyone in Washington DC that was hired during the Obama Regime should be fired! We need to get rid of anyone that supported or even affiliated with this Anti-American socialist. They are the roaches of society that tried to ruin the constitution and destroy the rule of law throughout this land.
Crooked who?
Once again, the NYT is big on making accusations based on "unnamed sources". Their credibility and reliability would be greatly be enhanced if they actually produced names. It is hard to investigate anything when you do not have the actual cast of characters to rake over the coals. Very convenient for a media desperate to find fault with someone or something that does not fit with their own agenda.
As for Obama, the sheer allegations of what he and his cronies supposedly did is grounds for an investigation. His typical inaction is disturbing.
As for Obama, the sheer allegations of what he and his cronies supposedly did is grounds for an investigation. His typical inaction is disturbing.
There are going to be more leaks every day, far more devastating than what has already been revealed. The revelation that Sessions committed perjury is the mere beginning of the revelations we are going to see over the near future.
NYT: Follow the money. The trail begins in Trump's tax returns.
Follow the money.
NYT: Follow the money. The trail begins in Trump's tax returns.
Follow the money.
3
We now clearly need a special prosecutor to include involvement of Comey and FBI in election shenanigans. Never thought I would say that I am glad that NSA spies on everyone but they have complete copies/transcript of every communication between trump and sessions, Flynn, manifort, et al., and Russian "diplomats" and "businessmen" and their passing that info back to Putie. Comey just refused to answer congressional inquiries in closed door house intel committee meeting. Who is this clown? J Edgar jr.?
2
It's amazing that the Trump and the Republicans just got away with appointing the slimiest swamp creatures imaginable to the Trump cabinet.
Who actually believes that these people have any interest in doing what is best for the country.
For the most part, these people are there to serve their own interests and to cash in on their positions.
These people depend on disengaged voters to carry out their greedy, selfish agenda.
"I love the poorly educated"
- Donald Trump
Who actually believes that these people have any interest in doing what is best for the country.
For the most part, these people are there to serve their own interests and to cash in on their positions.
These people depend on disengaged voters to carry out their greedy, selfish agenda.
"I love the poorly educated"
- Donald Trump
The Hate that the Democrats in the senate and Congress have for the deplorable' s and regular Americans that put Trump in office is epic. As Pelosi, Hillary and Soros stir the Calderon of hate so it splashes in the fires of hate they chant their evil songs. Instead of helping America they and media hate America and the good citizens of America and want to replace them all with the third world trash they can manipulate. Don t fall for their hate, ignore the beast for without your ears they have no power.
2
This is getting so tiresome. There is nothing more to report and President Trump did not win with Russia's assistance. He won the election because he was the best candidate for the presidency. If Hillary Clinton had won, would be be reading day after day about a Russian interference? Highly unlikely. She lost and the New York Times and liberal media are not willing to accept this fact. Mr. Trump will be our president for four years at least.
1
"The truth will out."
My mother used to say that all the time, and I found she was right. The truth refuses to be buried. It finds a way to come to light. Sadly, we live in a time and age where truth has little value. Tell a lie often enough, and it becomes truth in the minds of millions. "Mexican immigrants are murderers," or "climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese," or "I have no ties to Putin." After a while, even those who know the truth begin to doubt themselves.
Journalists will save us from this abomination. They are the only ones who can. As an American, I don't hate Russians. Yet, I view Putin as a thug and a murderer, and his administration as a mafia. So while I don't hate Russians, I have no respect for their leaders and my life is better off the greater the distance there is between me and them. I think that's a healthy attitude, and it's one Trump should consider, since I believe many, many Americans would agree with me.
We don't know what it's like to live under a dictatorship. We have never had our freedoms restricted, or our privileges revoked by the government as a means of controlling us. We don't live with rationed food or medicine or heat in the winter. We can travel as we like, befriend whom we care to befriend, find work, buy houses, the list goes on. I can't help wonder how much of that would change under a dictatorship, and I fear we will soon find out.
My mother used to say that all the time, and I found she was right. The truth refuses to be buried. It finds a way to come to light. Sadly, we live in a time and age where truth has little value. Tell a lie often enough, and it becomes truth in the minds of millions. "Mexican immigrants are murderers," or "climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese," or "I have no ties to Putin." After a while, even those who know the truth begin to doubt themselves.
Journalists will save us from this abomination. They are the only ones who can. As an American, I don't hate Russians. Yet, I view Putin as a thug and a murderer, and his administration as a mafia. So while I don't hate Russians, I have no respect for their leaders and my life is better off the greater the distance there is between me and them. I think that's a healthy attitude, and it's one Trump should consider, since I believe many, many Americans would agree with me.
We don't know what it's like to live under a dictatorship. We have never had our freedoms restricted, or our privileges revoked by the government as a means of controlling us. We don't live with rationed food or medicine or heat in the winter. We can travel as we like, befriend whom we care to befriend, find work, buy houses, the list goes on. I can't help wonder how much of that would change under a dictatorship, and I fear we will soon find out.
The assertion that the hacked Democratic National Committee email cost Hillary Clinton the election is absurd. WikiLeaks says it didn’t get the hacked email from Russia, but it doesn’t really matter. The email that hurt Clinton was the classified email stored on her private server. It was the New York Times—not WikiLeaks—that broke the story about the private server. The New York Times cited State Department officials as its source.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/us/politics/hillary-clintons-use-of-p...
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/us/politics/hillary-clintons-use-of-p...
3
Even NBC says that Sessions didn't mislead the senate at the hearing:
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/sessions-met-russian-ambassa...
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/sessions-met-russian-ambassa...
2
No, NBC quoted Sessions' own spokesperson as saying he did not mislead the Senate. NBC itself took no position on the assertion. And the assertion that he did not mislead the Senate is itself suspect, given the source. Sessions didn't need to volunteer that he had "no contact with Russian officials" but he chose to, in response to Franken. The idea that he meant that statement to apply only to his role as a spokesperson for the Trump team, is both bizarre and highly questionable...
Name some names. Provide information that they deliberately worked with the Russians to throw the elections. Jeff Sessions was a senator, senators talk to ambassadors. Come on NYT, get the scoop. Until then stop with the innuendos.
5
great comment. factual comment.
Thank you New York Times for keeping the light on this. We, the American people count on you and other brave news organizations to present us the facts, now more than ever. #PERSIST #RESIST
The words "I am not a crook" are going to sound quaint in comparison to "I am not a Traitor."
That's where we are.
The first guy resigned. This one should be locked up. I don't care if it's a psych ward. But make a clean sweep!
A sociopathic Traitor sits in the White House. Surrounded by sociopathic sycophant traitors.
That's where we are.
The first guy resigned. This one should be locked up. I don't care if it's a psych ward. But make a clean sweep!
A sociopathic Traitor sits in the White House. Surrounded by sociopathic sycophant traitors.
I wonder if the Intelligence reveals the true motives of McConnell and Comey, both of whom were in a meeting with POTUS-BHO last September, when he asked the Republicans, represented by McConnell, to join him in releasing a bipartisan announcement to the public about Russia's involvement in the election. Rather than join POTUS-BHO, McConnell defaulted to his eight-year long position of disrespecting the sitting, convincingly elected president, twice, and threatened him. McConnell stated that, if POTUS-BHO went ahead with releasing the information without McConnell, the senator would claim that he was attempting to sway the election in favor of Hillary. POTUS-BHO backed off.
For GOP AND DJT's supporters to claim that POTUS-BHO is trying to undermine DJT (who is doing a superb job of undermining himself with the corruption that is evident in such a short span of time) is ludicrous, and hypocritical, considering McConnell's threat in hiding Russian involvement and Comey's presence in that meeting. All of this has been reported.
POTUS-BHO's officials did what was necessary, considering the corruption in the WH and the attempted cover up by GOP lawmakers. Shameful. Thank you, Obama officials.
For GOP AND DJT's supporters to claim that POTUS-BHO is trying to undermine DJT (who is doing a superb job of undermining himself with the corruption that is evident in such a short span of time) is ludicrous, and hypocritical, considering McConnell's threat in hiding Russian involvement and Comey's presence in that meeting. All of this has been reported.
POTUS-BHO's officials did what was necessary, considering the corruption in the WH and the attempted cover up by GOP lawmakers. Shameful. Thank you, Obama officials.
4
If the Russians are such bad guys why is Trump the only focus. Hilary by lack of disapproval allowed 20% of our Uranium to be sold to a Russian company. The former CEO's made large contributions to the Clinton foundation and Bill Clinton gave a half million dollar speech at one of the Russian banks the was involved in the deal. These are not murky shadow connections, these are out in the open deals selling valuable and strategic assets to Russia while getting various benefits.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-...
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-...
4
If there's an innocent explanation for all of this, I'd like to hear it, because I certainly can't imagine what it might be.
Technology is allowing and making it easier for both individuals and governments to influence elections of other countries around the world. Perhaps this is the beginning of what technology will eventually create for the future -- a one government system for the world.
I would have assumed that those who are in government or opposition parties are perfectly free to communicate with diplomats from any country. In fact, if they are not communicating, then they are not doing their jobs. This would be especially necessary if there were issues between their own country and that of the diplomat's. It does not surprise me that no attempt at reconciliation has been made when it comes to Russia. There are probably diplomats from other country that the U.S. just does not bother to speak to, except at the level of State where highly-publicized meetings can be spun to some effect. Such failure to communicate diplomatically we can perhaps take as an indication that the U.S. will go to war with said countries regardless of what possible reconciliations can be reached. I do recognize that it is much easier and less time-consuming to speak only to one's 'friends,' but that is not responsible governance.
1
This goes a long way to explain Trumps lightning pivot towards acting, and I mean acting, more sane and Presidential in his address to Congress.
Obviously, these officials who took it upon themselves to release classified information should be prosecuted and jailed
I forgot to add that I believe this lie under oath during his confirmation hearing makes his subsequent confirmation which is based on the answers he gave, invalid.
We need to get access to Trump's Tax records without any delay (by Congressional order, Court order) to figure out if the current President had been bought over by the Russians. The plausible Trump-Puttin dynamics could only be unraveled if we could get these documents.
1
If Sessions steps down now, will he be able to avoid prosecution later on?
Maybe Trump's family should start a global fund raising effort to consolidate worldwide relief aid that could give such donors & recipients the possibility of access to the White House. . .and have the older sons of the President to give speeches for hundred of thousands of dollars for each speech to those donors. Of course, this wouldn't be considered unethical.
A large part of the problem is the belief held by some not insignificant few that anything that one does to make oneself wealthier is "OK". Among that crowd (and they own the Republicans) the concept of selling the "General Welfare" of the American people for more wealth has no derogatory meaning. Quite the contrary; they believe that America and her people exist solely for the purpose of their own further enrichment. Understand that "that crowd" doesn't just influence this Administration; rather, this Administration is representative of "that crowd".
To properly analyze and predict "that crowd", one must discard all assumptions of "boundaries" on behavior emplaced by concepts such as morality, honesty, loyalty, honor, etc., to include the very concept that one unconsciously assumes is a prerequisite for national leadership: patriotism.
To properly analyze and predict "that crowd", one must discard all assumptions of "boundaries" on behavior emplaced by concepts such as morality, honesty, loyalty, honor, etc., to include the very concept that one unconsciously assumes is a prerequisite for national leadership: patriotism.
If there was reasonable suspicion or probable cause the FBI has jurisdiction, not the President.
Mr. Sessions' contacts with representatives from any foreign government is no more significant than John McCain going to Syria to meet with Assad. He was head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Of course he would have meetings with foreign representatives. Quit publishing this misleading, speculative nonsense until you have verifiable proof of wrong-doing.
What a mess..... I have no doubt that Republicans will focus on President Obama's efforts to preserve intelligence ABOVE any concern about what the evidence shows.
I always knew that House and Senate Republicans were shameless hypocrites.....I had no idea that they would so fully demonstrate it this early in the new administration!
I always knew that House and Senate Republicans were shameless hypocrites.....I had no idea that they would so fully demonstrate it this early in the new administration!
3
The GOP put countless man hours and dollars into the Benghazi hearings. And when they didn't find the answer they were looking for (that it was Clinton's fault), they held more hearings. Logic would suggest that the faintest suggestion of impeachable activity would spark immediate and incessant hearings. Unfortunately, pragmatism suggests far more strongly that they are partisan hacks, who will nail a strong democrat for jaywalking while allowing a feckless republican to commit treason. Permitting treason IS treason. Open, bipartisan investigation is the only satisfactory course.
1
Well Flynn resigning and his boss accepting before his seat was even warm,...doesn't help allay suspicions.
1
Maybe we can clear this up with 3 investigative committees, 8 hearings and and 11 hours of testimony (each) from Trump, Pence and Sessions.
4
Trump's best defense is to just declassify the details of everything. Just stating that there were "contacts" and "connections" without context allows the mind to spin whatever cynical fantasies it wants to fill in information vacuum. The FBI has already investigated the domestic side and found nothing illegal or improper from the Trump campaign. And the CIA has already investigated the foreign side and also found no evidence of collusion. Trump was the hapless beneficiary of Clinton's long career of making enemies. The administration should release the raw material FBI and CIA drew these conclusions from and quash the innuendo once and for all.
1
There is just way too much smoke here for Congress to ignore the underlying fire. This situation threatens the fundamentals of our democratic system, and should be dealt with quickly and forcefully. Those Republicans who still have their integrity intact need to step forward.
The Trump Administration could not be conducting itself in more of a suspicious manner if they tried. Every denial or attempt to downplay the importance of these stories is a red flag to anyone with an ounce of investigative curiosity.
If nothing untoward occurred during those two meetings, why did he lie under oath during the Congressional hearing that he'd had no contact with the Russian ambassador?
Tax returns will show that Trump pays no taxes, gives nothing to charity, launders Russian oligarch money, and profits from oligarch crime. Trump is vulnerable to blackmail because of compromising video recordings that would expose Trump to universal disgust/ridicule.
Indeed, as another commenter says, this is patriotism, and I'm sure that all (NOT) Republicans will eventually applaud these fine Americans for doing the Hansel & Gretl thing with our nation's security.
1
Although my heart and mind are with the democratic party I believe that some of its members and some members of the intelligence community need to see a psychologist to determine the origin and fervor of their anti-Russian feelings. As for now I am with John Mearsheimer 's dictum that there is no hard evidence for the alleged Russian attack on the American democracy. Similar fears that the Russians were undermining the democratic fabric in Germany were put to rest a short while ago by the BND, the national intelligence service of Germany, who had researched for one year in vain to find any clues for such an interference.
1
Excuse me! There's plenty of hard evidence, i.e. hacking and releasing the Democrats campaign emails. Flynn being kicked out for lying about secret talks with Russian operatives during the campaign... and now Sessions lying under oath about the same.
The FBI has jurisdiction, not the President.
2
Trump has given me no reason to trust him about anything at all. His lifelong personal and rabid business ambitions, his insecurity, and his certainty that he has been vilified by anyone with anything negative at all to say about him combine make me fear that he might doon permanently bar the press from any contact with the White House -- in the name of national security.
4
Just like with Watergate, the most important and provable offense will be perjury. Just as any parent tells their child, whatever was done, lying about it is twice as bad. Lying, like stealing, is the essence of corruption-- it's going to bring down all of them.
4
Something else to bear in mind: In the last great American betrayal, "the South" did not secede because of some disagreement over the morality of enslaving one's fellow man; rather, "the South" seceded because the application of "the North's" morality would inhibit their rate of wealth accumulation.
I.e., whatever action or behavior you believe would be unacceptable to even those who are utterly enslaved by their greed, isn't.
I.e., whatever action or behavior you believe would be unacceptable to even those who are utterly enslaved by their greed, isn't.
4
It is very doubtful that the Obama agents were concerned about the good of the country rather than pulling out the stops to subvert the Trump administration.
So hard to believe that this is going on in our country.
So what are the chances that we have a La La Land--Moonlight situation on our hands?
1
It is sad that there are so many voters in the U.S. that put hatred of other people above love for their country.
Will the Press do their due diligence and CHART Trump's numerous Russian connections? His dealings with Oligarchs off shoring money in the Bank of Cyprus would be a good place to start. (Trump is rumored to have made 60 million dollars on a real-estate deal in FLA with one of these entities). I found the failure to track Trump's "global" financial interests before the 2016 Election hard to fathom that it continues to be the status quo in 2017 is beyond comprehension unless the 4th Estate is intent on normalizing this President at all costs.
2
So the fact that the FBI is investigating doesn't give me much comfort. It seems like the head of it was also in on trying to get Trump elected and held back information until after the election.
2
This is so much Democrat " Resistance / IndivisibleAgainstTrump " political intrigue., theater , and garbage . Sessions was a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and talked with over 25 other ambassadors during the time of these fictions allegations. . So tired of the Russian Reset Button Democrats , who spent years placating KGB Putin , turn on Trump and the Republicans after they lost the last election. And the Republicans had better stand together fight this bullying or they will stand alone during the next election and be voted out of office.
1
Still doesn't excuse perjury.
Just because Sessions did not go to the Russian Embassy wearing a trump hat does not excuse his ethical lapses when he met with the Russian ambassador.
Just because Sessions crossed his fingers when swearing an oath does not excuse his lying to the American People.
Just because this thread is not a court of law does not mean Sessions is excused from being found guilty in the court of public opinion.
Resign, Mr. Sessions!
Just because Sessions crossed his fingers when swearing an oath does not excuse his lying to the American People.
Just because this thread is not a court of law does not mean Sessions is excused from being found guilty in the court of public opinion.
Resign, Mr. Sessions!
A spook leak? Is this from spies or Obama? Americans are tired of the sniveling whiny Democrats who can't even show respect for the widow of a slain American military hero. We want Jobs and security not a cry baby Democratic back stab!!! I'm a Democrat who voted for Trump. I really don't think I can ever go back to the current Democratic Party!
1
outgoing public servants didn't trust their successors to dutifully handle an unflattering (at best) investigation into their own activities. duh. who's going to pass off a file marked "Possible Criminal Evidence About You and Your Friends - ONLY COPY"?
There's a good deal of smoke, here. Only a thorough and independent/bipartisan investigation will tell us what is exactly burning. Frankly, Trump's people should be calling for this, themselves. If there is no "there" there as Spicer said, then they have nothing to lose and credibility to gain. Stonewalling seems fishy.
1
Preserving foreign intelligence records is competent, not noble. Have we sunk so low that passing classified information from one President to the the next is seen as...brave?
What could possibly be secret about such meetings - unless they are either embarrassing or illegal? Either way, they shouldn't be secret.
1
I love the words "create a false narrative." How can that be true if GOP campaign people are talking to Russians just prior to the election? And right after WikiLeaks released messages damaging to the Democrats. Of course the GOP would love to see this just go away. It needs to be aired out not buried.
Sessions in his Jan. 10th confirmation hearing denied knowledge of any communication with Russian officials. Even if he did have communication for legitimate purposes, such as his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, he did not make that distinction and instead denied outright. That is grounds for his dismissal. While this is a very serious matter, I hope the intelligence sources and methods used to prove this are protected, since they have far more long term value than the need to bring to justice the 'rouge' players on the Trump team.
1
But Obama knew better---he knew what was going on, and he knew that he was leaving us to our fate under Trump. However you look at it, he should have notified the public more forcefully. He was afraid of being called partisan--that was always his downfall. Afraid of being criticized. Afraid of not being "dignified" enough. But in the end, because he did not release this information, the Republicans may successfully keep it buried, directly threatening our democracy.
I guess that even today Trump electors do not realize the murkiness of this administration. How can they be so blind?
The speed in which disclosures from Michael Flynn and Jeff Sessions have come is not unlike a rusty old leaky faucet - drip drip drip.
Not sure what the new emerging tread at the White House is these days – misleading key individuals or getting caught misleading key individuals. Hmmm – potentially dire consequences no matter how it’s spun.
1
President Obama is an American Hero.
2
As our political leaders break through new lows in conduct we are left with new norms that would be called treason and perjury before our post-factual era.
2
It's absolutely absurd to think of any connection or affect such connection had with our election. Election were held in 3141 Counties, composing of 53,608 individual jurisdiction and each having their own voting machine, made up of Optical scanners, Paper Voting, Direct Electronic Recording, paper Ballot, and Mail-in Ballots. To claim that some portion of these combined methods have been compromised is absurd. But what is not absurd is that non-citizen voted and that was at the URGING of President Obama. So if anything ought to be investigated is how many illegal votes were cast.
The arrogant certainty of a Hillary win was so pervasive across the DNC, White House and press that Obama didn't do what he should have done much earlier: Disclose the Trump/Russian alliance to steal the election. And if there was concern about anyone being prosecuted, he should have granted them pardons.
Both Trump's theft of the election and Obama's cowardice to act are both disgraceful.
Both Trump's theft of the election and Obama's cowardice to act are both disgraceful.
1
I think that one very real test for the tRump-Russian conspiracy proofs would be: How many times did tRump operatives speak with Russian dignitaries compare with other Presidential campaigns in recent history? . . . . . . I haven’t seen a comparison, but I’d be very, very interested!
I’d bet it would be at least more than four times — (X4!) — that of any other Presidential campaign.
I’d bet it would be at least more than four times — (X4!) — that of any other Presidential campaign.
What kind of investigations can we expect from the GOP congressional committees? Little, given that committee chairs have already been condemning to the media the first Times story as wrong. And that's before they have even begun "investigating" these alleged Trump associates' contacts with Russia. With that mindset, why not just skip the meal and go right desert.
they didnt have anything . else they would have used it to defeat trump
Let's not forget what the Russian "Hacking" was really all about. It was the hacking of DNC emails and posting them on Wikileaks. From that "hack" we learned all kinds of things about the inner works of the Democratic Party, from Debbie Schultz's role in helping to push Hillary Clinton forward in the primary election over that of Bernie Sanders (which led to her resignation), to Hillary's "private position" and "public positions" on issues to John Podesta's "Spirit Cooking" rituals. None of it very flattering to their cause for sure. If this had a bad effect on the outcome, then that is simply not the Russians fault. If those email revelations had no effect on the outcome of the election, then Russian hacking had no effect, because that is essentially what the Russians did.
1
This is obviously the losers of the election trying to undermine the lawfully elected government of the United States through a continuous campaign of lies, accusations and insinuations, never with any accompanying proof whatsoever, aided and abetted by Fake News. How many would support trials for sedition when the perpetrators are uncovered, no matter who they are?
1
I'd love to see Trump impeached but the Russian hack is an evidence free zone. The Clinton team pushed the hack as the reason she lost, nevermind her 44% negative rating before the election, her fealty to Wall Street, and her distancing form the working class .
The Dems will forever be in the cellar if they don't run more popular figures and cut their ties to Goldman Sachs.
The Dems will forever be in the cellar if they don't run more popular figures and cut their ties to Goldman Sachs.
1
Only one word is required to sum up what former President Obama's actions make him: a "patriot".
2
While I wish this was handled pre-election (and can understand why it wasn't), I'm glad the groundwork was laid out for investigators. Had this not happened, chances are none to none that anyone in the Trump administration would've investigated itself, particularly with Jeff Sessions heading up the DOJ. Many thanks to the Obama administration for, once again, putting country first.
1
And so it begins.
I hope Obama sent it to WikiLeaks because at least there it will be preserved. I'm not sure we can trust our own FBI to keep tabs on this given they knew about this before the election and the only decided to lambast Hillary.
I think that investigative journalists should take a good look into the Russian born financier who was behind the failed Trump International Hotel in Toronto & his connections with Trump.The financier has strong connections to Ukraine, and made money in the steel business. What was the relationship,if any, between Trump's early adviser, Paul Manafort and the Russian investor,Alex Shnaider?
1
We have what can only be viewed as an astounding number of Trump campaign and administration figures who were chatting with the Russians, getting paid by their propaganda channels, running their puppet's campaigns, being presented with medals by Putin... We now have a Secretary of State with massive Russian interests, and a attorney general who communicated with the Russians at a key time in the campaign (Sept 8), and lied about it. We have public request from our now president requesting that the Russians hack his opponent's campaign. We have "hints" of surrogates about upcoming "surprises" anticipating the wiki-leaks disclosures, and absolute proof that the Russians were doing all they could to elect Trump.
Meanwhile, we have strong evidence (from Trump's kids) that Russian investment is very important to the Trump businesses. We also have Trump acting like he really has something to hide about his finances with his lies about not being able to release his tax information. Finally, there is the intelligence dossier that has at least been partially confirmed.
Had Clinton won, and this evidence was found pointing at her and her team, there can be absolutely no question that Republicans would have begun impeachment proceedings. Activity against Trump from Republicans: "crickets".
This is how democracy and countries die. Checks and balances only work when someone is ready to write the checks if necessary. Republicans want only to cash checks from their largest donors.
Meanwhile, we have strong evidence (from Trump's kids) that Russian investment is very important to the Trump businesses. We also have Trump acting like he really has something to hide about his finances with his lies about not being able to release his tax information. Finally, there is the intelligence dossier that has at least been partially confirmed.
Had Clinton won, and this evidence was found pointing at her and her team, there can be absolutely no question that Republicans would have begun impeachment proceedings. Activity against Trump from Republicans: "crickets".
This is how democracy and countries die. Checks and balances only work when someone is ready to write the checks if necessary. Republicans want only to cash checks from their largest donors.
2
Give Sessions immunity to sell out the rest of the administration! It seems to go deep and we need to know trump's involvement.
1
So good to know that Obama's administration was smart enough and cared enough to do this. May not have been perfect but sure was thoughtful and smart. Wish he was still there. Look at the mess we're in now because of this rigged election. Boy, do I miss Obama.
2
If I were a democrat, I'd be changing my party affiliation big time...I would not want to be affiliated with this group of haters...ever...completely disrespectful, intolerant, hypocritical ignoramuses...yep, I said it. Now, change to Independent!!!!!
Donald Trump doesn't do subtle. He has telegraphed in every way he can that he is up to his neck in inappropriate Russian connections. But the party who put him in power seems to have gone blind, deaf, and mute to the obvious. This is so much bigger and more serious than White Water or Watergate. We have Russian assets now in charge of the White House and an AG who lied under oath about his own Russian connections. We need the intelligence communities, the media, and the courts to protect us from the terrorists in charge.
1
Russia is already disillusioned with Trump's unpredictability and instability. When they're completely tired of him, Putin will finish Trump politically. I just hope that not too much irremediable damage is done before Trump's gone.
We got Nixon, and we'll get Trump.
We got Nixon, and we'll get Trump.
3
I clearly remember the end of the Nixon years when the Republican dead enders were still trying to cover up for him. The same thing appears to be going on now, but the floodgates will soon open and they either need to get out of the way or drown themselves. Some of them are already calling for a special prosecutor. And Jeff Sessions should resign and should be disbarred. Shameful, but not unanticipated. People have noted his character flaws for 30 years.
1
Rush to preserve? Why not just leave all the data in the government communications system so investigators can do their job? Some Obama officials were rushing to delete damaging information, like with a rag, and other officials were rushing to preserve the truth. Why not just leave all the information in the government system? Honestly.
Excuse me but, the Obama administration should have...? Buried the evidence? Destroyed it? What? Spun it?
I mean, this is newsworthy?
I mean, this is newsworthy?
Trump says wouldn't it be great if we got along with Russia. There are two unanswered questions: At what price and for whose benefit? .I wonder if Trump knows the difference between a con-man and a killer. He is over his head and does not know it.
russia
russia
5
Republicans are so funny not to mention hypocritical when they rail against "leaks" to the MSM....they say they want to find out who is leaking and punish them....different tune when the leaks about Hillary Clinton and the DNC came out non-stop during the election....no problem...that was truth and Americans needed to know...
Yes, what goes around comes around...
This will not go away until Trump and Co. realize that they need to be transparent about their relationship with Putin and Co....they don't like the speculation? ....well, then you can make it stop by being truthful....yes, the truth does come out sooner or later.
Yes, what goes around comes around...
This will not go away until Trump and Co. realize that they need to be transparent about their relationship with Putin and Co....they don't like the speculation? ....well, then you can make it stop by being truthful....yes, the truth does come out sooner or later.
4
This is the entire basis for our democracy, if the GOP doesn't want to investigate this then it's abundantly clear that they put the party over the country. Shameful.
3
What is most interesting is that these allegations have been on-going for months now and still there is not one piece of evidence that has been presented or verified. If there was truly evidence then why hasn't it been handed over to the FBI?
2
Trump has the ability to declassify any and all documents regarding contacts with Russian officials. Seems to me, if accusations are truly false, that he has every incentive to do so.
I would hope that all vigilant journalists with access to the administration are asking the question, "do you plan to declassify..." ad nauseum.
I would hope that all vigilant journalists with access to the administration are asking the question, "do you plan to declassify..." ad nauseum.
3
If it can be proven, this should result in more than impeachment, since impeachment would only deliver the Presidency to ANOTHER person who benefited from Russian conspiracy. If this is proven, it should invalidate the election.
Though I'm not sure it'll be proven, since the investigation is up to Congress (controlled by Republicans and clearly not willing to act ethically) and the FBI (under Comey, who himself intervened in the election to help Trump).
Though I'm not sure it'll be proven, since the investigation is up to Congress (controlled by Republicans and clearly not willing to act ethically) and the FBI (under Comey, who himself intervened in the election to help Trump).
5
The below extract is nothing but hearsay and innuendo without naming names of specifics. This smells of rumor mongering and not journalism. Mr. Sessions was approached once at the end of a speech by a group of diplomats who thanked him for his presentation and his attendance, among this group was the Russian ambassador, with no other interaction and the second meeting was with the Russian ambassador while Senator Sessions was a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee and this was an official contact with no discussion about the election or campaign.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The nature of the contacts remains unknown. Several of Mr. Trump’s associates have done business in Russia, and it is unclear if any of the contacts were related to business dealings.
The New York Times, citing four current and former officials, reported last month that the American authorities had obtained information of repeated contacts between Mr. Trump’s associates and senior Russian intelligence officials. The White House has dismissed the story as false.
Since the Feb. 14 article appeared, more than a half-dozen officials have confirmed contacts of various kinds between Russians and Trump associates. The label “intelligence official” is not always cleanly applied in Russia, where ex-spies, oligarchs and government officials often report back to the intelligence services and elsewhere in the Kremlin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The nature of the contacts remains unknown. Several of Mr. Trump’s associates have done business in Russia, and it is unclear if any of the contacts were related to business dealings.
The New York Times, citing four current and former officials, reported last month that the American authorities had obtained information of repeated contacts between Mr. Trump’s associates and senior Russian intelligence officials. The White House has dismissed the story as false.
Since the Feb. 14 article appeared, more than a half-dozen officials have confirmed contacts of various kinds between Russians and Trump associates. The label “intelligence official” is not always cleanly applied in Russia, where ex-spies, oligarchs and government officials often report back to the intelligence services and elsewhere in the Kremlin.
2
Sessions gave clever, safe answer... but yes, misleading and carefully correct in his mind's constructed context. Honest Abe, the president POTUS admires would,be so proud.
Maybe they were simply talking about branding a new Russkaya vodka, ... um, um, um "Trumpskaya," or maybe simply talking about the Russian River that they named in honor of President Trump.. "the Don River."
check it out, google it...
Maybe they were simply talking about branding a new Russkaya vodka, ... um, um, um "Trumpskaya," or maybe simply talking about the Russian River that they named in honor of President Trump.. "the Don River."
check it out, google it...
3
Now I get why Trump had so much trouble looking at the Dems, and all those women in white, without casting accusative glares of unfairness at their feet.
I would LOVE to play poker with this chump. He is so guilty. Hey, Trump, telegraph me another one! Whenever he gets blamey, you know we got another dump coming.
I would LOVE to play poker with this chump. He is so guilty. Hey, Trump, telegraph me another one! Whenever he gets blamey, you know we got another dump coming.
2
Did Session lie under oath in congress during confirmation hearing? How many Russian moles are planted in our government and congress? A thorough independent transparent investigation is MUST and should be started today, sooner the better. Black smoke is covering White House and government . We want to know that it is only smoke or there is any fire.
2
First Flynn, now Sessions, my God we are but 6 weeks out from Trump becoming president and already hard evidence surfaces almost daily of what a swamp like administration we have. The sad part is anyone following the events in the months leading up to election day could tell from the "leaking of DNC and other communications' that there were influences at work..... (in the 70's it was called a breakin - later... Watergate).... but many still voted for Trump!
Jeff Sessions lies under oath about any contacts with Russia leading up to the election... our previous President (Obama) feels compelled to leave important discoveries made by Intelligence Organizations with various sources because he is concerned what will happen once Trump is in office. Spicer checks all cell phones for calls made.... my God - where is Harrison Ford - this could only happen on a movie screen... please shake me - this can't be happening in our country. We have all been asleep too long.
Jeff Sessions lies under oath about any contacts with Russia leading up to the election... our previous President (Obama) feels compelled to leave important discoveries made by Intelligence Organizations with various sources because he is concerned what will happen once Trump is in office. Spicer checks all cell phones for calls made.... my God - where is Harrison Ford - this could only happen on a movie screen... please shake me - this can't be happening in our country. We have all been asleep too long.
2
Trump and Co. are as crooked as they come. Deeply in bed with the Ruskies, money laundering, shady real estate deals, and all the rest. If Trump is so innocent, what does he have to fear from an independent investigation?
Let's get to the bottom of this!
Let's get to the bottom of this!
3
May be the greatest thing Obama did for the country. Stinks everywhere. Can't get rid of it. No wonder, Trump calls it mess.
2
"False allegations, partisan attempts to undercut Trump, fake news, I never met...." These are familiar words to us by know, as echoed by Paul Mannafort, then Mike Flynn. I have a feeling the dominoes won't stop at Jeff Sessions either. This is not going to go away. No matter how desperately the current administration attempts to distract
1
So puppet trump got new clothes and became a talking head, that is all.
trump blames the generals for a Navy Seal's death while puffing himself up over a solder's Widow.
The trump blame continues, trump attacks on new media still continue and trump supporters hate of anyone that doesn't whorship their master is undiminished.
He must attack in order to feel good and get himself worked up - hope he does not have this issue when performing his marital duties as a husband.
Again, all we saw was a campaign ad staged in the House chamber, no substance, no facts, no nothing!
Many of the voters, despite the polls, did not fall for this next level of the con - nothing has changed and we still do not trust you.
trump blames the generals for a Navy Seal's death while puffing himself up over a solder's Widow.
The trump blame continues, trump attacks on new media still continue and trump supporters hate of anyone that doesn't whorship their master is undiminished.
He must attack in order to feel good and get himself worked up - hope he does not have this issue when performing his marital duties as a husband.
Again, all we saw was a campaign ad staged in the House chamber, no substance, no facts, no nothing!
Many of the voters, despite the polls, did not fall for this next level of the con - nothing has changed and we still do not trust you.
1
Now, were does Comey fit in all of this. No problem blasting to everyone about the Clinton investigation, not a word about the Russia investigation. Tell me what was more important for the American people to know before they voted. Why did the FBI want Clinton taken down? Why did Obama feel he had to hide the Trump information?
2
I have a very dark view of Comey and what he did regards Clinton. But lately I have been getting the nagging suspicion that what he may be really after is a much bigger fish, or maybe even kettle of fish, than some basement email server. Now that Trump is elected, and it appears ever more likely that his entire circle of key players are nothing less than an international espionage and money laundering ring willing to barter away nothing less than the free world for illicit gain, well that's a much bigger feather in his Director's cap. Had Trump not been elected, the trap could not have been sprung, nor the hooks baited. Just a theory, however, nothing more.
Silly question. Would the Russians have been welcome to lobby at the DNC Convention? I mean, if they hadn't been so stupid as to get behind a Trumpet for a mole who blew the lid off their little tea pot. Would that have been Kosher? Because I don't think Russians get more than shade from any Dem I know unless they need aide fighting same hacking and fake news practices.
Not a fair question, whether the Dems would have ceded the Crimea to Putin had they been offered his blood money. Did the GOP? My understanding is the Russians invested in Congressional races, too.
Not a fair question, whether the Dems would have ceded the Crimea to Putin had they been offered his blood money. Did the GOP? My understanding is the Russians invested in Congressional races, too.
1
Stunning to learn that Mr. Sessions would blatantly lie to Congress. How could he have imagined he would not get caught? What else is he covering up and where is this leading? He has to resign immediately. This is really much worse than Watergate.
Is our government compromised by Russia?
Is our government compromised by Russia?
7
Just more treachery by internal leftist operatives. Has anyone lost sight of the fact that tossing this kind of data about is illegal? I suppose this behavior will have to run it's course, but the danger it poses will not be lost on the american people. It will have an impact going forward.
I'm often thinking about the Manchurian candidate lately. You have to wonder if Bannon wasn't somehow brainwashed by the Russians and found a perfect piece of putty in DT. Shower him with praise.
1
Colluded? Conspired? Discussed? Had contact with?
What does that mean?
Did Trump give the Russians the password to access DNC servers? No: a Democrat operative did that by mistake, a dumb mistake.
If Trump had said, Vlad, please hack her emails, and Vlad said ok, give me the password ... wait a minute, Trump didn't have the password ... "inviting" without being able to open the door is not illegal under any law. No means, no opportunity - motive only.
Case closed.
You folks better worry about how to revive the moribund Democratic Party. This is a dead end. A distraction for you. But keep going: it will all make it easier for Trump to enact his policies.
What does that mean?
Did Trump give the Russians the password to access DNC servers? No: a Democrat operative did that by mistake, a dumb mistake.
If Trump had said, Vlad, please hack her emails, and Vlad said ok, give me the password ... wait a minute, Trump didn't have the password ... "inviting" without being able to open the door is not illegal under any law. No means, no opportunity - motive only.
Case closed.
You folks better worry about how to revive the moribund Democratic Party. This is a dead end. A distraction for you. But keep going: it will all make it easier for Trump to enact his policies.
2
President Obama knowingly or unknowingly ran a "blue-dye" operation on Team Trump. Sanctioning Russia at the end of 2016 got Flynn on the horn to his Muscovite buddies and kept the spotlight on this whole affair.
Hey everyone, I've found the needle...
"Former senior Obama administration officials said that none of the efforts were directed by Mr. Obama."
Haystack: This article may or may not be true.
Needle: But don't credit or blame Obama for anything
"Former senior Obama administration officials said that none of the efforts were directed by Mr. Obama."
Haystack: This article may or may not be true.
Needle: But don't credit or blame Obama for anything
"Obama Administration Rushed to MANUFACTURE Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking"
Fixed it.
Fixed it.
What do you mean with "recuse"
If he lied then he resigns
Why this administration can get away with everything?
Is that the example we give our youth?
You lie and that's ok?
Shame !
If he lied then he resigns
Why this administration can get away with everything?
Is that the example we give our youth?
You lie and that's ok?
Shame !
3
Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied to Congress - period! He must resign immediately.
Session secretly met with the Russian ambassador -- at the same time Russia was trying to influence our election.
Even worse, during his confirmation process, multiple senators asked Sessions if he had met with Russian officials during the campaign. Sessions said flat out that he hadn’t -- and now we know he wasn’t telling the truth.
Sessions cannot continue to lead the Department of Justice. Michael Flynn already had to resign as NSA Director over secret communications with Russian officials and for misleading VP Pence about it. But the DOJ will oversee investigation of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia -- and it can’t do that credibly under Sessions’ leadership.
Sessions must immediately resign as Attorney General.
And I add this: What did President Trump know and when did he know it? A Special Prosecutor MUST be appointed IMMEDIATELY to examine ties, communications and connections among Trump, his campaign and his administration to Russia - both before the election, after the election and before he was sworn into office, and after he was inaugurated.
This is a matter of our national security.
Session secretly met with the Russian ambassador -- at the same time Russia was trying to influence our election.
Even worse, during his confirmation process, multiple senators asked Sessions if he had met with Russian officials during the campaign. Sessions said flat out that he hadn’t -- and now we know he wasn’t telling the truth.
Sessions cannot continue to lead the Department of Justice. Michael Flynn already had to resign as NSA Director over secret communications with Russian officials and for misleading VP Pence about it. But the DOJ will oversee investigation of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia -- and it can’t do that credibly under Sessions’ leadership.
Sessions must immediately resign as Attorney General.
And I add this: What did President Trump know and when did he know it? A Special Prosecutor MUST be appointed IMMEDIATELY to examine ties, communications and connections among Trump, his campaign and his administration to Russia - both before the election, after the election and before he was sworn into office, and after he was inaugurated.
This is a matter of our national security.
3
Is the new standard that no public official can have a conversation of any sort with an ambassador of a nation with which we maintain diplomatic relations lest she or he be disqualified from a future cabinet Post?
The Times is squandering what is left of its tattered reputation by chasing after every bunny the sore-lower Democrat operativeslur release.
Please straighten up and fly right.
The Times is squandering what is left of its tattered reputation by chasing after every bunny the sore-lower Democrat operativeslur release.
Please straighten up and fly right.
1
The standard is, don't lie to congress. Sessions did. Is that hard to get? He should resign and be prosecuted.
The crescendo of leaks and information about Trump's and his campaign's contacts and ties to Russia is building. While he and the Republicans are engaged in a desperate cover-up, three Russian ambassadors are suddenly dead. This is not leaked emails, this is a conspiracy to attack our democratic systems. A careful and thorough investigation is critically important. In the meantime Sessions has lied to Congress, he should resign.
2
I can't enjoy the idea of anyone getting RICO'd for trying to protest THIS crook which my state now endorses, but images of Our Gang re-decorating Trump's weekend work place look marvelous in my home movie house. When no one with the skill set will answer your ads...
"Get that lawn mower over here; this carpet is way to shaggy."
"Who do this man think he is, the King of Angleland?"
"Get that lawn mower over here; this carpet is way to shaggy."
"Who do this man think he is, the King of Angleland?"
Thanks, Obama aides for preserving intelligence about some very suspicious activities. Luckily those aides can be called to testify about where to find it to those on committes to investigate Trump. Quick and good thinking.
I'm confident that by Monday all this will be buried beneath the sands of a weekend golf game.
2
Obamas golf game?
How many in the Clinton campaign had "contact" with Russians during the past 2 years (election cycle)?
2
NoBody Rides with the Russians for Free, NoBody.
3
If politicians and media were principled, this wouldn't be a problem. Enough blame to go around all parties and all media. It's time to stop or the country won't make it to 250 years.
No wonder Trump hates Saturday Night Live so much - thanks Al.
4
My oh my, the gentleman from Alabama may well have lied. Heaven forfend, I do declare I feel the vapors are upon me. If only dear Jeffrey would life his head out of that white sheet we might get know him a little better.
4
The Russians have meddled in or attempted to do so in American politics since 1917 and the Communist maby before. I would be surprised if any Senator who is own the intelligence, foreign relations, or defense committees has not had contact with the Russians. It would be their job to do so. It seems to me that this is a move to de legitimatize the American political system knowing that it would be aided and abetted by political opposition and much of the media.
Who among the trump WH has not been in contact with the Russians?
7
AG speak with sporked tongue, find new one NOW.
1
Clearly the biggest threat to the United States and our democracy are our elected officials in Washington.
5
Release the information and let the chips fall
2
Wow, so Hillary actually took money from Russia and the left still pulled the lever for her. As far as I'm concerned I could care less who did the hacking, the collusion between the press and democrats is not any less due to who uncovered the evidence.
If it was Putin, I would like to send him a Christmas card.
If it was Putin, I would like to send him a Christmas card.
3
I am glad Obama had the foresight to do this or else there would have been a huge cover up.
3
Why is a person given anonymity to make this kind of statement?? Seems you are giving anon when you shouldn't be, NYT.
A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, backed up Mr. Sessions late Wednesday, calling the accusations “the latest attack against the Trump administration by partisan Democrats.”
A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, backed up Mr. Sessions late Wednesday, calling the accusations “the latest attack against the Trump administration by partisan Democrats.”
1
I think Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were also involved. We should expand the investigation to Disney......
1
Good thing they saved the information or this administration would have buried it. Such dupes were the minority of Americans who elected this crew! Talk about a swamp...
2
Quite the coincidence that this NYT article (and one from the Washington Post) came out immediately following a broadly praised Trump speech. This article doesn’t seem to report anything new – other than there is a coordinated effort to leak classified material and sabotage the Trump presidency. I’m starting to think we need a few special prosecutors – one for the ongoing classified leaks, one for Clinton-Cash, one for Clinton Emails, one for treating corporate settlements like a government special interest piggybank. I do very much want to get to the bottom of the reporting, and maybe the Trump admin can release the Flynn transcripts and other material.
It would also be helpful to all to understand the definition of a ‘Trump Associate’. Friends? Staff? What.
It would also be helpful to all to understand the definition of a ‘Trump Associate’. Friends? Staff? What.
1
Where is Edward Snowden when we need him? Can any soon-to-be retirees from the CIA, FBI or IRS leak all of the relevant information so that a proper outside investigation of these serious questions be either validated or dis-regarded as rumors, if that is what they are.
Whistle blowers come forward. the American people need your help.
We obviously cannot trust the Senate or the Congress to get to the bottom of this mess.
Whistle blowers come forward. the American people need your help.
We obviously cannot trust the Senate or the Congress to get to the bottom of this mess.
5
Who is the one that let Russia take over Crimea and the Ukraine, who is the one that told the PM of Russia he would have more flexibility after the election. Who is the one that sold 20% of our uranium to the Russians only after her "foundation" received a $140,000,000 dollar payment. WHO where those people????????
3
I get what Trump's payoff for playing Putin's game is - money, when no one else would lend him any. But why would Flynn and Sessions and God only knows how many others risk their honorable name and careers to do Trump's treasonous bidding? There has to be more to this story than meets the eye.
Thank you, New York Times!
Thank you, New York Times!
3
Putin had approached Obama with a deal. Putin would help the U.S. with our fight against ISIS in return for greater freedom for Russia's involvement in eastern Europe. Obama didn't bite.
Through Flynn, and perhaps other Trump campaign officials, the same deal was offered to Trump. However, Trump was not yet President. So Putin had to sweeten the deal. He would have to do whatever he could to get Trump elected (hacking etc.) because without this, the deal would be of course worthless to Putin. Trump took the deal.
Unfortunately Trump is naive to the fact that once you make a deal with mobsters, they can own you. The day after the election, a gleeful Putin realized that he had significant compromising leverage. Trump's supposed extra-curricular activities in Moscow in 2013 (the dossier) and the money laundering by crooked Russian oligarchs "placing" their ill-gotten gains in asset purchases, namely Trump affiliated properties; perhaps gives Putin the ability to "milk" Trump should he so desire. I hope Trump learns quickly that Putin is not his friend, even though he seems to pretend otherwise.
Through Flynn, and perhaps other Trump campaign officials, the same deal was offered to Trump. However, Trump was not yet President. So Putin had to sweeten the deal. He would have to do whatever he could to get Trump elected (hacking etc.) because without this, the deal would be of course worthless to Putin. Trump took the deal.
Unfortunately Trump is naive to the fact that once you make a deal with mobsters, they can own you. The day after the election, a gleeful Putin realized that he had significant compromising leverage. Trump's supposed extra-curricular activities in Moscow in 2013 (the dossier) and the money laundering by crooked Russian oligarchs "placing" their ill-gotten gains in asset purchases, namely Trump affiliated properties; perhaps gives Putin the ability to "milk" Trump should he so desire. I hope Trump learns quickly that Putin is not his friend, even though he seems to pretend otherwise.
2
Secrecy seems to be the Trump dynasty policy, especially to prevent any unseemly truths to emerge. Why no disclosure of income tax? Why no admission of connecting with Putin? Can it be that the entire Trump administration is illegal?That it was bought?That the LEADER is more interested in himself and his profits than in his job?
2
This is no longer a matter of partisan politics. We are now in the territory of a grave threat to our national security. An independant and non-partisan investigation must happen immediately. There is no other solution.
4
Details matter. It is more alarming to see Sessions met twice with the Russian Ambassador rather than just once. Of course buried in the details we find the first "meeting" was at a convention that included several ambassadors. The loosely used term "associates" is also a little disturbing. Why not name them?
The final interesting point for me is the outrage the Russians may have been involved in hacking the DNC and releasing information to Wikileaks. When Edward Snowden released classified information to them, he was hailed as a hero by the left. The Russians do it, and the information was not classified, and it is intolerable. In both instances the truth was exposed. Is it okay, or not NYT? I guess it depends on if you lean left or right.
The final interesting point for me is the outrage the Russians may have been involved in hacking the DNC and releasing information to Wikileaks. When Edward Snowden released classified information to them, he was hailed as a hero by the left. The Russians do it, and the information was not classified, and it is intolerable. In both instances the truth was exposed. Is it okay, or not NYT? I guess it depends on if you lean left or right.
1
It seems Republicans learned something from all those HIllary email witch hunts after all: Don't use email, just contact them directly.
2
This would all make a really good movie.... SAD thing is it is the truth.
1
Actually the best movie would be a remake of an old Twilight Zone episode called "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" only this time the Russians are the monsters (to risk giving away the ending).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2466PJizkU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2466PJizkU
For sanity's sake, can we get real? There is nothing wrong, nor illegal for another country, friend, or foe with a vested interest in the outcome of an election in another (especially in a large one, like the US) doing its best to exercise some influence and prepare for either eventuality.
Whether it is Russia, or China, or Germany, or France, South-Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel (especially Israel), it's the same, each and every time.
And the US does it too: like Obama did regarding Brexit, just before the vote in the UK.
Which IMHO is a grave insult to all.
The US has been doing the same since times immemorial and not always just watching from the sidelines, or 'communicating through their Ambassador' but in open armed intervention.
So why all this fuss?
Whether it is Russia, or China, or Germany, or France, South-Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel (especially Israel), it's the same, each and every time.
And the US does it too: like Obama did regarding Brexit, just before the vote in the UK.
Which IMHO is a grave insult to all.
The US has been doing the same since times immemorial and not always just watching from the sidelines, or 'communicating through their Ambassador' but in open armed intervention.
So why all this fuss?
2
Now if you can only figure out where the tax returns were hidden.
3
Dear GOP,
Not demanding Trump's tax returns during the primary will be considered the worst mistake you ever made for your party and the country. The NYC banks that fund just about everyone that breathes and can pay have refused to lend money to Trump for decades. Trump lives in the dark world of money laundering and we don't know what. The GOP has just approved Wilbur Ross, the co-chair of the Bank of Cyprus, to be Sec'y of Commerce. The Bank of Cyprus is Putin's money laundering portal.
The longer you work as Trump and Putin's portal to power the harder and longer you will fall. The truth is coming.
Not demanding Trump's tax returns during the primary will be considered the worst mistake you ever made for your party and the country. The NYC banks that fund just about everyone that breathes and can pay have refused to lend money to Trump for decades. Trump lives in the dark world of money laundering and we don't know what. The GOP has just approved Wilbur Ross, the co-chair of the Bank of Cyprus, to be Sec'y of Commerce. The Bank of Cyprus is Putin's money laundering portal.
The longer you work as Trump and Putin's portal to power the harder and longer you will fall. The truth is coming.
4
This reader gives thanks for a free and independent press. If president trump had his way, the press would be muzzled to hide his connection to Russia. Mr. Sessions behavior raises very serious questions about the circumstance under which he was selected as attorney general.
2
I feel like this is the part of the Movie where the Cavalry is arriving!!!!
I'm old. But the Cavalry isn't!
I'm old. But the Cavalry isn't!
1
Why isn't this enough to impeach and lock the administration up?
1
Though Palin was exaggerating, seems the Trump Administration can see Russia from the WHouse.
4
How do know that Hillary was not involved with the Chinese since we can throw out all these charges without any proof. Back in the 90's the Chinese and Bill Clinton were buddy - buddies so why not conclude that the Chinese were in bed with the Clintons which is as much a possiblity as Trump was with the Russians
3
of course, lets blame Hillary for Trumps incompetence
Are they any people in the Trump administration that can tell the truth? Soon we will be known as the United States of Liars. I believe that Trump has discredited the media and the intelligence agencies, because they will find out the truth. The Trump supporters have to be pretty gullible to believe that he will make America great again, so he assumes they are gullible enough to believe the new is fake.
5
There's a very simple proof that all this noise is just a latest invention. Hillary used all the dirt, all leaks, all the tools to hit Trump. She stopped at nothing and would have no problems with any attack on Trump. If there was ANYTHING in these current accusations - you think it wouldn't be poured onto Trump in the elections?
2
Hmmm...curious how you know that Hillary used "all the dirt" - keeping in mind that Trump generated tons and tons of it publicly and on recorded video (remember him and Billy Bush discussing Trump's assaults on women?). There was just so much material for her to use! And it appears - and may yet be proven once Sessions recuses himself - that Trump's campaign and the FBI kept all the Russian "dirt" under wraps.
These are the consequences of alternative facts, where a large swath of the population ceases to believe established truths, preferring instead to elect a border-line, unapologetic traitor to lead the country. Besides, I did not for once believe that Trump fairly won Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin. From election night I always believed the Russians rigged the results.
3
And the sudden unexpected death of Ambassador Kislyak. Is that suspicious or what!?
1
As soon as Putin realizes the Trump Administration is so incompetent as to be useless to his aims, he will leak the fatal blow to Trump, which will still help his goal of destabilizing Western Democracies.
2
When you have an Oscar award winning performance by Trump, you do have to give him credit for one thing: His "Art of the Distraction." Let's all pretend we don't know "why" he suddenly went "presidential."
Oh puhlease! When the evidence against a guy is such that at any minute the fragility of his status can come crashing down on his head, he would pull out the "Mr. Charm" card to distract the most gullible from his guilt.
Guilty men can be so charming butter wouldn't melt in their mouths when its suits the need. And right now, the Svengali charm is all Trump has left.
It makes sense now "why" the Obama Administration withheld the evidence of the Russian hacking. If they had disclosed it, the Republicans would have had a feast calling it "political partisan influence." Ironic as that may be.
The irony is that while President Obama was trying to contain the damages that it might cause Trump's campaign, it also helped Trump win the election in hindsight and allowed the Republicans to get away with ignoring Russians hacking into our election. That WAS the Republicans WMD. They knew if they said nothing and Obama couldn't, they had Trump in the White House without a doubt.
Games, games, games. It also shows all of us why Comey soft sold the information about the Russian hacking and heavy handed the emails that sank Hillary's election.
Absolution from this comes down to men who know want to say, "Okay. So the Russians hacked an election. Let's move on." Typical.
Oh puhlease! When the evidence against a guy is such that at any minute the fragility of his status can come crashing down on his head, he would pull out the "Mr. Charm" card to distract the most gullible from his guilt.
Guilty men can be so charming butter wouldn't melt in their mouths when its suits the need. And right now, the Svengali charm is all Trump has left.
It makes sense now "why" the Obama Administration withheld the evidence of the Russian hacking. If they had disclosed it, the Republicans would have had a feast calling it "political partisan influence." Ironic as that may be.
The irony is that while President Obama was trying to contain the damages that it might cause Trump's campaign, it also helped Trump win the election in hindsight and allowed the Republicans to get away with ignoring Russians hacking into our election. That WAS the Republicans WMD. They knew if they said nothing and Obama couldn't, they had Trump in the White House without a doubt.
Games, games, games. It also shows all of us why Comey soft sold the information about the Russian hacking and heavy handed the emails that sank Hillary's election.
Absolution from this comes down to men who know want to say, "Okay. So the Russians hacked an election. Let's move on." Typical.
2
Let's face it, Republicans, you backed and are still supporting a dark dirty horse as our "commander in chief".
You were so ecstatic that Trump somehow pulled off an electoral victory that you now APPEAR completely unwilling to do even half of what you did to Hillary Clinton, who, after many investigations, was found to be innocent of what you hoped to hang her for.
All this stuff and all these details and more will be written into books which will be read for years and years. What will your children and grandchildren attending their High Schools and Colleges, who require these books to be read, think?
Republican Congress People, are you Trump At All Cost people or are you American public servants?
You were so ecstatic that Trump somehow pulled off an electoral victory that you now APPEAR completely unwilling to do even half of what you did to Hillary Clinton, who, after many investigations, was found to be innocent of what you hoped to hang her for.
All this stuff and all these details and more will be written into books which will be read for years and years. What will your children and grandchildren attending their High Schools and Colleges, who require these books to be read, think?
Republican Congress People, are you Trump At All Cost people or are you American public servants?
5
The Trump administration so far has proven the be either incredibly inept or incredibly corrupt. Trump can clear the air once and for all by releasing his taxes. If not, bring on the special prosecutor. We've all been kept in the dark for long enough, and the American people deserve the truth.
2
So not only is sessions a grand marshal of the Ku Klux Klan but he's also a Russian spy?
2
He's a busy guy.
"Lock him up"!
"Lock him up"!
I can't wait to read Obama's book. He deserves the $60M. This man saved us all from the 2008 crisis and now is still protecting us. While all of us gained monies in our 401ks during his administration, Obama saw none of these gains as he followed the ethics rules and cashed out all of his funds into US bonds. Trump has sold nothing and gains from his lies.
We all miss you so much President Obama.
We all miss you so much President Obama.
5
Listening to the radio news this morning I'm struck by the commentary about AG Sessions obvious perjury. Saying now that he never discussed the election in multiple meetings with the Russian is saying that he would not have perjured himself had he been asked a different question. He was not asked a different question. Take him out in handcuffs today.
1
For Republicans this is clear evidence of their perverse "party before country" position.
They see only a need to hang onto as much power as possible to drive as much of the Dark Money agenda as possible. They are beholden to their donor class, and are working against the majority of America's interests.
They will use Trump until he is no longer necessary. Their perversion of Democracy is sickening.
The GOP is morally and ideologically warped and almost wholly unAmerican. Soulless and godless power mongers.
My god.
They see only a need to hang onto as much power as possible to drive as much of the Dark Money agenda as possible. They are beholden to their donor class, and are working against the majority of America's interests.
They will use Trump until he is no longer necessary. Their perversion of Democracy is sickening.
The GOP is morally and ideologically warped and almost wholly unAmerican. Soulless and godless power mongers.
My god.
2
The obstructions that Obama cleverly moved to prevent happening is horrific. And it is reminiscent of Nixon's equally dangerous abortive destruction of 18 minutes of tapes made in the Oval Office -- these come back to haunt anti-democratic officials in democracies - thank heaven. The NYT and WPost are uniting to seek what every anti-democrat fears most - people discovering the truth.
You go, guys. We have your back.
You go, guys. We have your back.
5
But now here we are. And these flabbergasting facts that appear to need serious investigation will try to be swept under the rug by every level of the current regime in charge at the federal, state and local levels. This administration continues to try to fire those who aren't loyalists, to block the intelligence departments from getting to the truth and to smear the media seeking facts. No fictional book or movie could imagine the possibilities this has wrought. It also proves in blazing technicolor that the outrage over Benghazi and emails was completely the fakest of all because nothing is more serious than this yet Rs continue to seek, at most, their own investigation behind closed doors.
2
"..American intelligence began picking up conversations in which Russian officials were discussing contacts with Trump associates, and European allies were starting to pass along information about people close to Mr. Trump meeting with Russians in the Netherlands, Britain and other countries.."
"Trump associates" and "people close to Mr. Trump"
And their names are..?
"Trump associates" and "people close to Mr. Trump"
And their names are..?
Need an independent counsel to investigate.
4
Sessions: a malignant elf. Apologies to actual elves.
1
There aren't any elves or any story except a made up one but you believe in actual elves so fake news is as good as any. Apologies to actual normal people that aren't gullible cretins.
And what about Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov's admission in an interview with Interfax that during the campaign “there were contacts” with Trump's people, and “Obviously, we know most of the people from his entourage"? Godspeed to the investigators. We are hungry for, and our country's welfare depends on, the truth. ~
1
You've been programmed to be hungry for something, I wouldn't exactly call it the truth.
We would do well always to remember President Reagan's famous words about dealing with Russia, "Trust, but we don't have to bother to verlfy."
1
Jeff Sessions is not fit for the job of Attorney General. He is a liar, a racist, and and criminal. He lied, under oath, during confirmation hearings. Fire him, then indict him.
3
What, no trial first?
Winston--Uh, I think the indictment comes BEFORE the trial. Oh, yes there should be a trial. There should be SEVERAL trials.
"A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, backed up Mr. Sessions late Wednesday, calling the accusations “the latest attack against the Trump administration by partisan Democrats.”
Given Trump's tirade against press use of unnamed sources, would you please add the phrase "despite the president's insistence that sources be named" whenever you use the phrase "a White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity?"
Given Trump's tirade against press use of unnamed sources, would you please add the phrase "despite the president's insistence that sources be named" whenever you use the phrase "a White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity?"
I'm sure our fearless, incorruptible FBI will get to the bottom of this one. Oh wait, the same FBI that basically cooked an American presidential election just three months ago?
Comey has been cozy with Republicans in Congress his whole career. He will do what he's told. If McConnell and Ryan have trouble controlling Trump, the FBI will provide the ammunition to blackmail him, and, if necessary, get him impeached.
But after last November, none of us should expect FBI will do the right thing for the country. The FBI should be considered an arm of the Republican Party at this point.
Comey has been cozy with Republicans in Congress his whole career. He will do what he's told. If McConnell and Ryan have trouble controlling Trump, the FBI will provide the ammunition to blackmail him, and, if necessary, get him impeached.
But after last November, none of us should expect FBI will do the right thing for the country. The FBI should be considered an arm of the Republican Party at this point.
14
"There continues to be no there, there", said Mr. Spicer. We've heard that before, and most times there is something there. With the passage of time we shall see. A harbinger will be when headlines include the word "Russiagate".
7
Obama and his aides should ALL be locked up. This is a disgusting display of abuse of power. NO evidence that a single law was broken...yet because they failed for 8 years to work with Russia they want to poison the waters for the next president. It is beyond disgusting. While, clearly he was a failed president, I always thought he was a nice man. I'm sickened to see how low and guttural he really is. A SAD day in America.
2
I'm interested to see all the information that is going to start leaking out, regarding Obama's foreign policy failures in Libya, Syria and Iraq. I'm sure there is plenty of "confidential" intelligence that we'd all love to see. Also, maybe we can finally see the withheld files from Fast & Furious and the Lois Lerner scandals.
All this negative news about the Trump administration has been a bit hard to take, hey? Drip, drip, drip.... Get used to it.
1
Oh the irony. Did you even read what you wrote - Obama aides should be "locked up" on your demand because they conducted an investigation of actual, documented contacts between Trump advisors and Russia? How is conducting an investigation any crime? & Trump voters wonder why thinking, educated people condescend to them. Please.
PRESIDENT Barack Obama: One of the most brilliant, (cautious and insightful) individual to hold office.
16
Trump & Co.
THEY. ARE. ALL. ROTTEN. TO. THE. CORE.
THEY. ARE. ALL. ROTTEN. TO. THE. CORE.
9
Either Trump surrogates were complicit in traitorous activity or they were unwitting dupes of Russian intelligence. Sadly the Republicans are determined to place party and power above country. Definitely we need need an independent commission to investigate.
9
These and all accusations like them are clear, repeated attempts at disrupting the new pro America government that the left never thought would be elected. obama's operatives present nothing but accusations and repeated attempts to cripple Trump and his administration. There is never any proof presented and when that becomes evident, they move on to new accusations. This is sedition plain and simple. If they continue the public will support arrests and swift trials for all involved. The alternative is a civil war in which the left will be completely decimated. And rightly so.
2
I feel like the Obama administration where like Hansel & Gretel leaving indestructible breadcrumbs leading to justice.
8
Seems like fake news to me. Is talking to a Russian now a crime ? Pathetic how the left can't cope with the election loss. They need psychological help
3
No but it is perjury to lie under oath.
DrT, my concern is Sessions offering alternate facts to questions asked of him during his confirmation hearings. He denied having communications with the Russians when in fact he had. Twice. An AG of the US providing alternate facts to a reality does'nt bother you?
Would there be all this partisan outrage today if the same supposed contacts had been made with the Australians? If elections are truly supposed to be purely objective academic exercises in choosing the most qualified candidate, why are campaigns even allowed - all they're about is propaganda and deception and selling myths. The Russians couldn't have manipulated something that wasn't designed in the first place to be manipulated. If not them, then the Koch brothers or any other number of well-connected could conceivably pull off the same. I have a lot of fond childhood Cold War memories too and it would be fun to feel young again by trying to relive them, but where this seems to ultimately be taking us is stupid. Aren't there enough problems to worry about without creating new ones?
When is Director Comey going to be implicated? Now THAT'S the connection that needs to be unearthed.
5
It will essentially come down to who might be willing to go to jail for Donald Trump, and who will not.
If we consider the insular nature of Trump's campaign team, how it was always a family affair, who else was privy to this insider information? Ever in need to prove himself to his children, after his atrocious treatment of their mothers, Donald constantly heeds a call to impress them. If you think his narcissism unleashed on the world is bad, imagine being his kid.
If Donald sucked his children into this, he will certainly go for broke in his need to distract us. Will it be a scuffle with Iran? North Korea?
Or will McCain, the man who refused to use his status to abandon his brothers in a POW camp, allow a cowardly draft dodger to once again conjure a heel spur?
Expect Trump's attacks on the intelligence community to ramp up. Expect his attacks on the New York Times and Washington Post to escalate.
I have all along suspected that Trump has not divested of his assets because he knows he's going to need substantial resources to afford a defense of what very well may be the most criminal political scandal in American history. Collusion is treason, after all.
Imagine Sunday nights, watching Game of Thrones with his boys, musing about building a wall, chatting about the latest tip from Manafort's sources.
I'd place real money that somewhere there are servers, backed up, with all the evidence Trump knows is needed. Turn up the heat. Let's see who yells first.
If we consider the insular nature of Trump's campaign team, how it was always a family affair, who else was privy to this insider information? Ever in need to prove himself to his children, after his atrocious treatment of their mothers, Donald constantly heeds a call to impress them. If you think his narcissism unleashed on the world is bad, imagine being his kid.
If Donald sucked his children into this, he will certainly go for broke in his need to distract us. Will it be a scuffle with Iran? North Korea?
Or will McCain, the man who refused to use his status to abandon his brothers in a POW camp, allow a cowardly draft dodger to once again conjure a heel spur?
Expect Trump's attacks on the intelligence community to ramp up. Expect his attacks on the New York Times and Washington Post to escalate.
I have all along suspected that Trump has not divested of his assets because he knows he's going to need substantial resources to afford a defense of what very well may be the most criminal political scandal in American history. Collusion is treason, after all.
Imagine Sunday nights, watching Game of Thrones with his boys, musing about building a wall, chatting about the latest tip from Manafort's sources.
I'd place real money that somewhere there are servers, backed up, with all the evidence Trump knows is needed. Turn up the heat. Let's see who yells first.
2
There is one way Congress can prevent Sessions from suppressing the Russian investigation: a special investigator. A Ken Starr for our so-called President's connections to Russia, campaign and otherwise.
5
Seems Obama did not want to be seen interfering in this manner with the election. Would that the Republicans had a fraction of his decency.
8
There's evidence that indicates the Russians have been interfering in the elections of other countries (e.g. France) as well. Why aren't Republicans alarmed by this?
9
We tried to start a Tea Party like organization in during the early Obama years. The IRS was intimidating an Evergreen, CO Tea Party group. They had a couple lawyers working for them. Our little group, Resistnet.com, part of the Grassfire.com group, was intimidated into not giving any money because of IRS intimidation. I am demanding justice. I believe this corruption goes all the way to the top. Responsible parties should be imprisoned.
1
Dude -utter fail. 404 Not Found on your resist.not
Truth check - IRS put 300 501(c)(4) social welfare tax exempt org applications under additional review, 75 were tea party, 9/12 beckheads, patriot or constitutional education groups, ie, conservative and the other 225 were liberal groups including some occupy related groups. Almost all apps eventually approved.
Truth check - IRS put 300 501(c)(4) social welfare tax exempt org applications under additional review, 75 were tea party, 9/12 beckheads, patriot or constitutional education groups, ie, conservative and the other 225 were liberal groups including some occupy related groups. Almost all apps eventually approved.
The light that shines for me is the reporters that are making it their mission to uncover the truth. I know that the information will come out, the story will come together. I'm so grateful for the work NYT & Washington Post among others are doing.
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Reporters are not enough (though we're grateful!) They do not have the power to subpoena testimony and examine all documents. We need an independent investigation. Not Sessions, not someone Sessions appoints. An independent investigation. Because at this point we already know that Sessions and other Trump advisors were in contact with the Russians. They cannot be allowed to investigate themselves.
3
Of all the disturbing things that happened during the election, and now after the election .... this is the MOST disturbing.
1
Before Trump is impeached, GOP will use him as a Trojan Horse to pass legislation destroying our country.
1
Even those the cia, fbi and the senate int commitee has repeatedly confirm there is nothing to these Russian contact stories NYT continues to spread #FAKENEWS
3
Comrade, in the name of the immortal congressman Joe Wilson, "You lie."
A lot of hypocrisy gets attached to this issue. For all you who are so up in arms about this, think about the numerous governments the US has either directly overthrown, or the ones done through covert means. It is a truly long list. Sorry, I ain't a-marchin' any more.
2
Oh, the Trump line -- "we aren't so innocent either."
Sorry, I'm not rolling over for this one and I'm not ignoring the other misdeeds either.
Sorry, I'm not rolling over for this one and I'm not ignoring the other misdeeds either.
Like a broken clock that's right twice a day, Trump can stumble upon the truth. He just happens to use it for really horrific reasons.
As long as he keeps fulfilling the GOP wish list, he will have to be caught, gun in hand, robbing a bank, before Congress will even consider impeachment. The integrity of our electoral system is not a high priority for a party that already had a track record of influencing elections through racially targeted state laws and gerrymandering.
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You just can't just take a bath with the Russians and only expect the Tub Ring to be Dirty afterwards.
2
Many have said here that Obama was far too slow to respond and publish what he knew. Not hard to imagine how that would have been spun and twisted by Trump & GOP as Obama/Hilary/Dem desperation to sway the election and discredit Trump. And would have tipped them off to start covering there tracks. Power under restraint takes immense discipline and patience especially when your reputation, accomplishments and legacy are being slandered. Obama White House was shrewd and deliberate, quietly preserving intel so that we could get Flynn,Sessions, Trump etc. denials on record. It took down Flynn, and now maybe Sessions too, and we can only hope Trump. This steady drum beat also serves to keep Trump WH on defensive, distracted and irritated. As it is they cannot get any traction; signatures on executive orders are just smoke and mirrors for his faithful.
Listen - Trump supporters don't care now - they voted for him and to denounce him now would mean they take responsibility for the destruction and peril of the US he will cause. But this will change when they personally experience their healthcare being taken away, and understand that their job lost is not coming back due to automation and modernization, and start paying more for retail and food because of import taxes and loss of immigrant workers. Then this steady drip drip of Russian involvement with Trump and election will be the backdrop the GOP cannot get away from.
Listen - Trump supporters don't care now - they voted for him and to denounce him now would mean they take responsibility for the destruction and peril of the US he will cause. But this will change when they personally experience their healthcare being taken away, and understand that their job lost is not coming back due to automation and modernization, and start paying more for retail and food because of import taxes and loss of immigrant workers. Then this steady drip drip of Russian involvement with Trump and election will be the backdrop the GOP cannot get away from.
7
Even the Nixon administration did not stink this badly, and they were a pack of low life scum. Do we really deserve this?
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The hen house is full of foxes.
5
The President's men are in trouble.
This whole Russian thing reminds me of a line in the movie "Wall Street":
".., you will sell your mother to make a deal,"
It is hard to see how 45 will ever be able to govern. To think about it, he never seemed to have the desire to govern.
This fight, a fight for our country, is worth having, so, let it roll.
This whole Russian thing reminds me of a line in the movie "Wall Street":
".., you will sell your mother to make a deal,"
It is hard to see how 45 will ever be able to govern. To think about it, he never seemed to have the desire to govern.
This fight, a fight for our country, is worth having, so, let it roll.
7