Sessions role was simply to protect Trump by controlling and deflecting any Justice Dept investigations. That's why Trump did an atomic melt-down when Sessions recused himself.
28
Great article, but I think you forgot a dot..."Donald Trump Calls on Russia to Find Hillary Clinton’s Missing Emails" https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/us/politics/donald-trump-russia-clint...
21
I would not be surprised to see Putin wait awhile longer and then drop a dime on Trump- maybe a year down the road. Then, he could sit back and just watch the chaos. He seems to enjoy chaos.
21
If Russia had influence before the election what would make them stop now that Trump is in power? It seems that most of the steps Trump has taken as President are detrimental to our country. With "friends" like this who needs enemies?
23
The Trump people believed that disclosure of their contacts with the Russians would be detrimental to Trump's campaign, so they were deceptive and misled anyone who inquired. If Trump actually thought that he would be elected, he might have been more careful. Once the election was over and he was on to his next venture, it would be unlikely that anyone would care about any contacts with the Russians, so long as there was no actual collusion. When people think that they can do things without being held accountable, they can do a lot for which they would not want to be held accountable. So it would seem likely that if the Russians were conversing with the Trump people but the Trump people were not doing more than being informed. If in fact, Trump or his people were actually joining in with the Russians to make this all happen, then those involved likely broke some laws and should be prosecuted.
13
Don't be too dismissive of the Sessions role. The Emily Bazelon long article in The Magazine a couple of weeks ago provides a much deeper and more worrying/sinister look into the role of Sessions in conjunction with Bannon and Miller.
I agree there isn't a clear picture, but that is exactly what we need, Republican recalcitrance nonwithstanding. How far will Ryan and McConnell go in their dash to destroy the government before they realize our whole democracy is at risk. Aren't there any Republicans willing to defend the nation?
I agree there isn't a clear picture, but that is exactly what we need, Republican recalcitrance nonwithstanding. How far will Ryan and McConnell go in their dash to destroy the government before they realize our whole democracy is at risk. Aren't there any Republicans willing to defend the nation?
40
We have a lot of dots to connect, but I believe it will be possible if allowed to be investigated by independent non-partisan counsel. What I find disturbing is the alarmingly high mortality rates for Russians who have been connected Trump. I am not pointing fingers at TRUMP, seems something Vlad would not have a second thought about. But the TRUMP administration is trying desperately hard to sweep it under the rug, but dead bodies, and a dossier that is being corroborated every day, will be impossible to sweep under the rug. Honest persons have nothing to hide.
23
What about the tax returns of Donald Trump's immediate family? Because Trump works so closely with his three oldest children their tax returns might also contain data that would help explain Trump's admiration for Russia.
ivanka Trump visited some former and not-so-former Russian countries. Is there a basis for requesting her and her husband Jared Kushner's tax returns. They have assumed public roles and are using Donald Trump's position as President to further their own business goals. Surely, this cannot be legal!
ivanka Trump visited some former and not-so-former Russian countries. Is there a basis for requesting her and her husband Jared Kushner's tax returns. They have assumed public roles and are using Donald Trump's position as President to further their own business goals. Surely, this cannot be legal!
34
There has long been (purportedly) close cooperation between American and British intelligence. Wouldn't the CIA and possibly FBI have interviewed the MI6 guy, Christopher Steele by now? If I remember correctly, some (probably anonymous) CIA sources vouched for this guy's reputation and credibility. And what about the famous dossier? Certainly it could be subpoenaed and Steele could be asked to testify in front of (dare I dream it?) a special commission or real congressional hearings. Help us, Obewan.
Kristof’s dots are all good to note (except for #10, which isn’t really an evidence dot). I’d like to see a running compilation of ALL the evidence dots, as they emerge, so that the connections are so obvious they cannot be ignored.
Kristof’s dots are all good to note (except for #10, which isn’t really an evidence dot). I’d like to see a running compilation of ALL the evidence dots, as they emerge, so that the connections are so obvious they cannot be ignored.
21
This is one of those situations that until there is a narrative of what happened and who said or did what with or to who, it's mostly just speculation as to what might have happened. That narrative will not happen until there is a full and trustworthy disclosure of the events. Thus far, all involved have deliberately misled everyone who has inquired. There might be a genuine effort to determine what happened by Congress but with the Republicans in charge, it seems unlikely.
16
Why else create the wiretap story but as a pre-emptive strike against any evidence the Justice Dept. may have, or ultimately obtain, that directly connects the President with the Russians prior to the election? Preposterous, sure, but plenty good for the faithful. Perhaps he was telling the truth after all, and there was a 400lb guy sitting on a bed...in Trump Tower.
18
Trump's craziness and his Russian connection may have a positive lesson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trump suggests to me that benefits of COMPARATIVE POLITICS and personal political storytelling.
During the Obama years, things got down, but much of it was cut and dried, and rather dull and uneventful. Now, with Trump, the smallest detail can become interesting and debatable.
Obama gave good speeches, but they were rarely memorable. He spoke a lot, but he did not use Power Point visual aids, animations, etc to make his points. And Hillary was just plain dull and defensive in her campaign.
Perhaps we should be thankful to Donald Tump for the interest he brings.
=======================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trump suggests to me that benefits of COMPARATIVE POLITICS and personal political storytelling.
During the Obama years, things got down, but much of it was cut and dried, and rather dull and uneventful. Now, with Trump, the smallest detail can become interesting and debatable.
Obama gave good speeches, but they were rarely memorable. He spoke a lot, but he did not use Power Point visual aids, animations, etc to make his points. And Hillary was just plain dull and defensive in her campaign.
Perhaps we should be thankful to Donald Tump for the interest he brings.
=======================================================
6
Here is part of the web connect the dots : How Russian oil giant Rosneft could claim U.S. oil
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rosneft-russian-oil-could-claim-us-oil-trump...
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rosneft-russian-oil-could-claim-us-oil-trump...
12
Wow, so now everyone in America is infected with the conspiracy-theory virus--even people I thought were rational. As a trial lawyer I have always adhered to the saying "don't look for a conspiracy when usual human stupidity is the cause." The stupidity here was not having a robust anti-hacking team at the DNC, and having the brains not to click on strange e-mails. Sorry, but sometimes circumstances conspire (pun intended) to choose the winner and loser. Hillary is just unlucky. Oh, and Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
As with the assassination of JFK, It is difficult for the worshippers of Hillary the god to comprehend how she could be laid low by anything but a grand conspiracy, replete with spies and international intrigue, rather than the mere carelessness of the DNC and Podesta's click-Itis.
As with the assassination of JFK, It is difficult for the worshippers of Hillary the god to comprehend how she could be laid low by anything but a grand conspiracy, replete with spies and international intrigue, rather than the mere carelessness of the DNC and Podesta's click-Itis.
21
Trump's fondness for Putin seems bizarre. Putin is a vicious, murderous sociopath. It might be that Trump is truly frightened of Putin and gives him praise to avoid getting him angry. But nobody knows. For all we know, Trump really does admire Putin because he really is a dominant alpha male type leader.
42
"Be careful: Democrats should avoid descending into the kind of conspiratorial mind-set that led some Republicans to assume Hillary Clinton was a criminal..."
"Russia made compromising videos of Trump in 2013..."
"Trump has expressed a bewilderingly benign view of Russia and appointed officials also friendly to Moscow."
Let's look at these statements from your article. First, you tell us not to see conspiracies around every corner. Then you tell us Russia has compromising videos of Trump. I find it hard to believe that there could be any such thing as a compromising video of Donald Trump. He won the election despite telling his supporters that he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote. The infamous Billy Bush tape was made when Melania was pregnant with his son. There is no video that could compromise his reputation because it is already in the gutter. Why people would vote for a man like that is not relevant to whether there was a conspiracy between his campaign and Russia to defeat Hillary Clinton. Finally your allegation that he has taken a benign attitude towards Russia has a plausibly innocent explanation. He is trying for a Russian reset, just as Bush and Obama did before him. Remember Bush's statement about looking into Putin's eyes and seeing a good man?
I believe at this point you don't have many dots to connect and you are looking for conspiracies behind every corner.
"Russia made compromising videos of Trump in 2013..."
"Trump has expressed a bewilderingly benign view of Russia and appointed officials also friendly to Moscow."
Let's look at these statements from your article. First, you tell us not to see conspiracies around every corner. Then you tell us Russia has compromising videos of Trump. I find it hard to believe that there could be any such thing as a compromising video of Donald Trump. He won the election despite telling his supporters that he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote. The infamous Billy Bush tape was made when Melania was pregnant with his son. There is no video that could compromise his reputation because it is already in the gutter. Why people would vote for a man like that is not relevant to whether there was a conspiracy between his campaign and Russia to defeat Hillary Clinton. Finally your allegation that he has taken a benign attitude towards Russia has a plausibly innocent explanation. He is trying for a Russian reset, just as Bush and Obama did before him. Remember Bush's statement about looking into Putin's eyes and seeing a good man?
I believe at this point you don't have many dots to connect and you are looking for conspiracies behind every corner.
28
It took about 26 months from the Watergate break-in onJune 17, 1972 to Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974.
These investigations take time.
Information oozes out inexorably.
People will get careless and reveal facts.
People in the intelligence community disgruntled with Trump will talk to reporters.
Insiders will choose patriotism over ideology and turn on the Trump movement.
It's early.
But early gets late by and by.
And then Trump goes bye bye.
You'll see.
These investigations take time.
Information oozes out inexorably.
People will get careless and reveal facts.
People in the intelligence community disgruntled with Trump will talk to reporters.
Insiders will choose patriotism over ideology and turn on the Trump movement.
It's early.
But early gets late by and by.
And then Trump goes bye bye.
You'll see.
160
Given the amount of proven lies told by Mr. Trump just over the last year, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he's lying about his campaign's contacts with Russia.
Oh, and I also want him to be compelled to release his tax returns. I understand Larry Flynt has offered a cool million to anyone who gets them to him.
This whole presidency stinks to high heaven. The rot is tangible, and has to be uncovered.
Oh, and I also want him to be compelled to release his tax returns. I understand Larry Flynt has offered a cool million to anyone who gets them to him.
This whole presidency stinks to high heaven. The rot is tangible, and has to be uncovered.
222
Dot 11: Trump "friended" Putin on Facebook.
4
The way I see it and applying cold, hard logic, why would Putin stop with the election? Obviously he has leverage over the trump organization as all the money that have flown into it did so with Putin's consent. Having Trump as President and a cabinet that's working to dismantle everything that's good about our country, weakening our democracy and democratic institutions, dragging the country into constant war, spending money on building wall and hollowing out the State Department under the guidance of Tillerson, all work very well for Putin. My question: is Putin still meddling in our government?
14
I smell rotten borscht
6
"Any government investigation that doesn’t obtain Trump’s tax returns simply isn’t a thorough investigation." Why we & The Press are so somnolent on the Damn Taxes is beyond me. The "audit" is 100% irrelevant, yet like some meaty sop to the barking hound, muttering "It's still under audit" silences any questioner for the nonce.
ICE Raids; #RussiaGate; Tax Returns ↠ we need to be honed and vigilant and relentless in our utterly doggèd , even feral pursuit of non-obfuscation, of simple plain truth re these three matters.
ICE Raids; #RussiaGate; Tax Returns ↠ we need to be honed and vigilant and relentless in our utterly doggèd , even feral pursuit of non-obfuscation, of simple plain truth re these three matters.
9
You missed some. The Trump team'so role in softening the Ukraine statement in the republican party platform. Also the appointment of the kremlin well connected Tillerson as Sec. Of state. How many "coincidences" do we need?
10
Oh I feel sure all of us have been getting spam from Russia's Alfa Bank, right?
11
If Trump's the 'friend of Russia' then why is he the one rebuilding and boosting the military? Obama was the one cutting the military to it's lowest levels since WWII. We would never have heard a thing about Russia had Hillary won the election. This is all an attempt to undermine the Trump administration. Absolutely traitorous! Dem's even have moles inside leaking phone conversations and classified information to hurt Trump. Now the Wikileaks that CIA hacked and can leave crumbs that implicate that the Russians did it.
5
"He did not make an issue of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the campaign." Trump did make only one change to the Republican platform: to weaken support for Ukraine.
18
Comey must be sleeping well knowing that he protected us from Hillary's emails.
Sigh...
Sigh...
23
Why would we need an investigation? Mr. Kristof seems to have read a few reports and drawn a conclusion, as have a few other op/ed writers. These are the same op/ed writers who concluded President Obama had a far-too-cozy relationship with incoming President Putin after the message for Medvedev to give to Putin that "he must give me space". Right? Remember the opinion pieces connecting Obama's dots to Russia?
t
t
10
Listen, anyone who has reportedly done business with someone named "Fat Tony" should be investigated in my book.
27
I feel sure the Russians thought Hillary would win but I think they thought they would use a defeated Trump as "the loyal opposition" to her. Probably giving him hacked material he could use from the sidelines - possibly on his own new Trump tv network - to hurt Hillary, harass and insult her and in general undermine her presidency.
We don't yet know why Trump came up with his odious 5 year "birther" campaign against Obama but certainly he had been deeply financially involved with Russians years prior to that, as had people around him like Roger Stone - one of Trump's closest friends for 30 years.
Why isn't it possible the 'birther' campaign, which made no sense to sophisticated people, was actually trash the FSB and Putin came up with to tarnish and delegitimize Obama's presidency? It never made much sense Trump kept that whole thing afloat by himself for years and years - then suddenly abandoned it in September, alongside the Wikileaks dumps that were so helpful to him, with no explanation.
It's possible the whole Trump campaign carried water for Putin all along. Trump was toying with starting his own tv network a la Fox News after the campaign was over. Putin may have thought that would be his opportunity to have an RT channel in this country owned and managed by Trump, a Putin sympathizer.
All that ended when Trump surprised everyone by being elected.
We don't yet know why Trump came up with his odious 5 year "birther" campaign against Obama but certainly he had been deeply financially involved with Russians years prior to that, as had people around him like Roger Stone - one of Trump's closest friends for 30 years.
Why isn't it possible the 'birther' campaign, which made no sense to sophisticated people, was actually trash the FSB and Putin came up with to tarnish and delegitimize Obama's presidency? It never made much sense Trump kept that whole thing afloat by himself for years and years - then suddenly abandoned it in September, alongside the Wikileaks dumps that were so helpful to him, with no explanation.
It's possible the whole Trump campaign carried water for Putin all along. Trump was toying with starting his own tv network a la Fox News after the campaign was over. Putin may have thought that would be his opportunity to have an RT channel in this country owned and managed by Trump, a Putin sympathizer.
All that ended when Trump surprised everyone by being elected.
23
Interesting note: Manafort was still Trump's campaign manager when Trump gave his speech calling for the Russians to "hack" her emails.
27
Its simple:
Trump>Personal Loan $300MM>from Deutsche Bank Personal Banker Rosemary Vrablic>Guaranteed by Who?>Deutsche Bank> Money Laundered 10 Billion from Russia.
Trump>Personal Loan $300MM>from Deutsche Bank Personal Banker Rosemary Vrablic>Guaranteed by Who?>Deutsche Bank> Money Laundered 10 Billion from Russia.
6
I think there is a much more simple explanation for Trump's ties to Russia. He agreed to lift the sanctions in exchange for a piece of the pie when it came to the deal with Exxon.
What proof do I have? Absolutely none, but it is much more plausible given his bizarre and self-destructive behavior about the Russian connection. Trump probably doesn't think that chatting with a foreign egovernment about an American election is illegal, and, I highly doubt he think the American public would care about it if it was. He is probably correct about that when it comes to his supporters, in fact.
However, taking money from a foreign government in exchange for lifting sanctions is treason. It is obvious treason, and even he knows it is treason. He wouldn't just face a scandal were it to come out, something that he seems quite happy to do on a regular basis. He would face serious jail time.
That is the only explanation that I think explains his behavior on this issue. Time will tell.
What proof do I have? Absolutely none, but it is much more plausible given his bizarre and self-destructive behavior about the Russian connection. Trump probably doesn't think that chatting with a foreign egovernment about an American election is illegal, and, I highly doubt he think the American public would care about it if it was. He is probably correct about that when it comes to his supporters, in fact.
However, taking money from a foreign government in exchange for lifting sanctions is treason. It is obvious treason, and even he knows it is treason. He wouldn't just face a scandal were it to come out, something that he seems quite happy to do on a regular basis. He would face serious jail time.
That is the only explanation that I think explains his behavior on this issue. Time will tell.
7
Did the Russians set things up so it will look to investigators as though the Trump proper colluded? Whether they colluded or it just looks like they did, the Russians can blackmail Trump either way. On the other hand, Trump could say he's been set up, even if collusion did actually take place. The facts may be hard to determine and the public will be hard to convince..
2
Another Dot, more like a blot. $500 billion deal with Russia's oil giant Gazprom inked by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson 2 years ago while still CEO at Exxon. Deal is for Exxon to provide oil technology in return to a portion of oil reserves in Northern Siberia. Tillerson went ahead with the deal despite violating Dept of state sanctions imposed by then Hillary Clinton. Exxon and Putin needed her out so they can relax the sanctions and allow the deal to move forward. Trump was simply the unwitting means to that end.
Regardless, there's no way Trump can match wits with the crafty, ex-KGB agent Putin who controls the strings on our POTUS (Puppet In chief of the United States).
Regardless, there's no way Trump can match wits with the crafty, ex-KGB agent Putin who controls the strings on our POTUS (Puppet In chief of the United States).
12
Thanks for the summary of where we are--so far! The media does have to be careful not to jump to conclusions--but what yeoman work they are involved in trying to save our democracy. Hopefully we will come out of this a healthier nation--and we can watch the TV and movie adaptations of this harrowing tale with a rueful appreciation of how close we came to the edge.
7
Trump's tax returns are the answer to Trump's ties to Russia.
The tables will turn on Trump; and Tillerson and Wilbur Ross and others just
when ...the money trail is exposed....
I am amazed at this insane greed attached to Trump and his surrogates.
The tables will turn on Trump; and Tillerson and Wilbur Ross and others just
when ...the money trail is exposed....
I am amazed at this insane greed attached to Trump and his surrogates.
7
Thoughtful discussion c
2
Trump has always operated as if rules, rules of ANY KIND, do not apply to him. He colluded with Russia. He's a money laundering instrument of Russian oligarchs. And who knows what else...
His only interest is in his own self-aggrandizement.
His only interest is in his own self-aggrandizement.
12
You may or may not believe that some people have psychic abilities to foretell the future. But I have known three area "psychics" for years who have been used by several police departments to locate missing persons and/or solve crimes with amazing success. All three have told me Donald Trump will not finish his term for reasons they do not know. I was told this months ago.
Poetic justice? Karma?
Poetic justice? Karma?
7
All good points. There are simply too many ties between the Trump people and Russian contacts. Trump's finances are too murky. His unprecedented refusal to release his tax returns shows he is hiding something major. And his increasingly bizarre over the top conspiracy claims about Pres. Obama, the media and the intelligence community are either a descent into paranoia madness or a desperate attempt to preempt investigative findings.
There are obviously many ugly if not illegal actions hidden under the various rocks. The Republicans like Nunes and Sessions have already engaged in cover ups about this. An independent prosecutor is clearly needed. If Russia has financial or other holds over the president of the United States, it is a clear and present danger.
There are obviously many ugly if not illegal actions hidden under the various rocks. The Republicans like Nunes and Sessions have already engaged in cover ups about this. An independent prosecutor is clearly needed. If Russia has financial or other holds over the president of the United States, it is a clear and present danger.
15
11. He publicly encouraged Russian hacking
8
This is going to seem off topic some and it is probably going to aggravate in some form the partisan side of things. As the state department is hollowed out there needs to be more individuals who understand the state department taking up positions so they can act to defend it.
It's a shame that there really is not opportunity for Condoleezza Rice to take. She could run against Feinstein however this would only work to replace one good senator. if Feinstein does not retire I hope she is able to retain her senate seat. Governor of California does not necessarily need to be Gavin Newson however I do hope him the best in the campaign. I wish there was a place for Rice to emerge as I feel she can be a potent force against Trump. Perhaps if Feinstein decides to retire churn would yield to Rice. If not however, I'd hope that she could find another position perhaps Governor to run for and I hope she would be willing to do so. Governor may not be in the position to directly challenge Trump's stance on the State Department however it could still be powerful considering the size of California.
Beyond thus, I hope Samantha Powers, Susan Rice both run for Senate some where. Kerry I would suspect would be done with Senate, however perhaps he too can find a position, maybe governor or the head of a university system so to foster future state department workers.
Perhaps though a rebuilding will be exactly what the dr. ordered; that said we need experienced people to defend it from Trump.
It's a shame that there really is not opportunity for Condoleezza Rice to take. She could run against Feinstein however this would only work to replace one good senator. if Feinstein does not retire I hope she is able to retain her senate seat. Governor of California does not necessarily need to be Gavin Newson however I do hope him the best in the campaign. I wish there was a place for Rice to emerge as I feel she can be a potent force against Trump. Perhaps if Feinstein decides to retire churn would yield to Rice. If not however, I'd hope that she could find another position perhaps Governor to run for and I hope she would be willing to do so. Governor may not be in the position to directly challenge Trump's stance on the State Department however it could still be powerful considering the size of California.
Beyond thus, I hope Samantha Powers, Susan Rice both run for Senate some where. Kerry I would suspect would be done with Senate, however perhaps he too can find a position, maybe governor or the head of a university system so to foster future state department workers.
Perhaps though a rebuilding will be exactly what the dr. ordered; that said we need experienced people to defend it from Trump.
We can`t be far now from a full-blown nuclear war - propaganda has not reached such a pitch since the McCarthy years. How the liberal media has changed since then! What happened?
2
Donald is flailing and thrashing about deflecting everything in all directions.
Indeed the facts are beginning to cut to the bone of the problem.
Trump's team had a crystal ball or there must have been a two way conversation with the Russians for his minions to predict so accurately days before the releases of the damaging documents.
Coincidence? Nonsense! A completely open inquiry is the only way to air these issues of the legitimacy of this election!
What Donald fears the most is being exposed to the world as a fraud.
Indeed the facts are beginning to cut to the bone of the problem.
Trump's team had a crystal ball or there must have been a two way conversation with the Russians for his minions to predict so accurately days before the releases of the damaging documents.
Coincidence? Nonsense! A completely open inquiry is the only way to air these issues of the legitimacy of this election!
What Donald fears the most is being exposed to the world as a fraud.
12
Trump ran for president - a great surprise to many.
He did so because he knew he could/would win.
His entire outrageous and offensive campaign, his demeaning attitude toward many groups of persons, and his blatant over-confidence/swagger were possible because he knew he could/would win.
The election is"rigged" he said.
Yes - most likely for him and not for HRC. He implied it to be "rigged" for her more than once.
"Rigged" he said. He and other overt and covert operatives may know this to be the true case for him.
The main task is to find out who they are and/or who they represented.
Who did it? Russia or GOP or Trump or two of them as a combination or all of them together as one determined "400 lb. unit - sitting on a bed" of their own making.
Why was Trump so determined to ignore, drop, slide over the entire issue of the hacking of pre-election elements - the DNC for one.
To be considered is the hacking of the actual election in the compilation of the voting results received from all of the states.
Meeting predetermined results is possible in the computer software system designed to compile the final voting results in the aggregate.
77,000 votes spread over 3 states - is computer manipulation child's play.
Ask:
Can this act be labeled as high crimes or misdemeanors or even treason?
Win by sweeping the 2018 elections and then impeach Trump in the House.
It couldn't happen to a more deserving guy ....... or plant.
He did so because he knew he could/would win.
His entire outrageous and offensive campaign, his demeaning attitude toward many groups of persons, and his blatant over-confidence/swagger were possible because he knew he could/would win.
The election is"rigged" he said.
Yes - most likely for him and not for HRC. He implied it to be "rigged" for her more than once.
"Rigged" he said. He and other overt and covert operatives may know this to be the true case for him.
The main task is to find out who they are and/or who they represented.
Who did it? Russia or GOP or Trump or two of them as a combination or all of them together as one determined "400 lb. unit - sitting on a bed" of their own making.
Why was Trump so determined to ignore, drop, slide over the entire issue of the hacking of pre-election elements - the DNC for one.
To be considered is the hacking of the actual election in the compilation of the voting results received from all of the states.
Meeting predetermined results is possible in the computer software system designed to compile the final voting results in the aggregate.
77,000 votes spread over 3 states - is computer manipulation child's play.
Ask:
Can this act be labeled as high crimes or misdemeanors or even treason?
Win by sweeping the 2018 elections and then impeach Trump in the House.
It couldn't happen to a more deserving guy ....... or plant.
9
3 words: LOCK HIM UP!
9
I just learned President Trump has knowingly laundered trillions of dollars for Putin and Russian oligarchs. Very bad (or sick) guy.
I'd expect you to ask me for proof?
I'd expect you to ask me for proof?
9
Manafort, Flynn, Tillerson, then a quote from joint CIA, FBI and NSA report: "Putin and the Russian government aspired to help President-elect Trump's election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment." (https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf )
There's SO MUCH smoke coming out Trump-Putin connections, that Russia's embarrassing aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov pales against it.
There's SO MUCH smoke coming out Trump-Putin connections, that Russia's embarrassing aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov pales against it.
7
One important point you failed to make, that has been widely reported, is that at the Republican National Convention two members of the Trump campaign, J.D. Gordon and Carter Page met with the Russian Ambassador. Page also gave a speech criticizing American foreign policy and sanctions against Russia. Is it just a coincidence that after this meeting the Trump campaign gutted the GOPs strong stance against Russia regarding the Ukraine? The dots will eventually be connected to a quid pro quo between Trump's campaign and the Russians. People will eventually be indicted and go to jail. The President will be forced to resign or be impeached. I can think of nothing worse than a presidential candidate colluding, or being willfully blind to collusion within his campaign, with a state adversary in the hopes of winning an election. If this doesn't fit treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors I do not know what would. Every action taken by the President since he has been in office with respect to his treatment of Russia has only further tightened the distance between the dots. Just think about this for a moment ... while the President continues to speak highly of the Russians and Putin he has essentially treated the press (except for Fox and Breitbart), the intelligence community and the former President as enemies. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.
8
Mr. Trump never wanted to win. He always wanted to be "a winner." He never wanted to govern, but he wanted to be seen in the Oval Office - gold gilded now, just like Trump Tower - as the President of the United States. He has always been the CEO of his daddy's business, but he was never a real CEO responsible to a Board of Directors and shareholders. He has been a one-man Front Office, an executive producer, able to say "you're fired!" without consequences.
The problem with wanting to be the winner and wanting to be the president, but not really wanting the job is what happens at the end. He ran, he won, and he now has the office and the responsibility to govern. But he never wanted to govern and knows nothing about doing so or about picking competent people to do it for him. The result is what we have seen: extremist views that match his rhetoric, people with sullied or unknown pasts, and now, complaints about ties to the Russian government. All while two of the most powerful men in his administration silently and almost invisibly manipulate his strings as they work to destroy completely the administrative order.
It is a sad state of affairs for our country and the world. I doubt we, other like-minded countries, or the environment will be able to turn things around. Four years is a very long time. We have been at it for less than 100 days of them.
The problem with wanting to be the winner and wanting to be the president, but not really wanting the job is what happens at the end. He ran, he won, and he now has the office and the responsibility to govern. But he never wanted to govern and knows nothing about doing so or about picking competent people to do it for him. The result is what we have seen: extremist views that match his rhetoric, people with sullied or unknown pasts, and now, complaints about ties to the Russian government. All while two of the most powerful men in his administration silently and almost invisibly manipulate his strings as they work to destroy completely the administrative order.
It is a sad state of affairs for our country and the world. I doubt we, other like-minded countries, or the environment will be able to turn things around. Four years is a very long time. We have been at it for less than 100 days of them.
1
Yes, we have to connect the dots. Three things: 1) Re your number 7, don't forget Rudy Giuliani's gloating over what was to come in terms of the leaks/hacks, and look more into his involvement (he should be subpoena-ed by whatever independent inquiry happens). 2) No candidate for SCOTUS should be allowed to be confirmed before we get the results of such an independent inquiry. And 3) Listen to Rachel Maddow on the money ties.
6
I think there are even more dots than this. I'm not advocating tin foil hats or anything, but this stuff is so suspicious.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/19/us/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-russ...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/2/26/1638034/-Follow-the-Money-Tiller...
Perhaps Putin didn't think Trump could actually win (as the New Yorker said, they were like robbers who wanted blow the door off the safe but wound up blowing up the whole safe and its content), but there would certainly be a lot to be gained by having a friendly US president.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/19/us/politics/donald-trump-ukraine-russ...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/2/26/1638034/-Follow-the-Money-Tiller...
Perhaps Putin didn't think Trump could actually win (as the New Yorker said, they were like robbers who wanted blow the door off the safe but wound up blowing up the whole safe and its content), but there would certainly be a lot to be gained by having a friendly US president.
1
In point #3, regarding the mysterious server connection, it's worth linking to the Slate article. The Slate article goes into more technical detail and even interviews Paul Vixie. Paul Vixie *invented* the network protocol used by the mysterious server connection, and he had special privilege of investigating the raw network data firsthand.
.http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_...
.http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_...
3
Question comes "if when Soviet communism stopped being a deadly threat to the United States did we lose the ability, after the intensity of the cold war, to perceive a purely nationalist threat even if it is a deadly one?"
My personal opinion is that is so. The Donald may work his opportunist endeavours so blinded. The GOP is so blinded, also.
My personal opinion is that is so. The Donald may work his opportunist endeavours so blinded. The GOP is so blinded, also.
1
Would the formation of a Trump-Kremlin Commission be too much to ask? Our country needs to move forward to give credibility to the president. The longer an investigation is postponed, the harder it will be to retrieve evidence.
2
It is possible that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians during the election. But let us not forget, very few people thought Mr. Trump would win the election. Surely Mr. Putin did not expect him to actually win.
The Russians interfered in the U.S. election, which is a bipartisan issue and a very serious threat to American democracy. However, I believe the Russians' motive was more anti-Clinton than pro-Trump. They wanted to sow the seeds of doubt and distrust, and weaken American institutions.
The real issue is Mr. Trump's conflicts of interest. Where is the reporting on the Emoluments Clause, and the lawsuit by Mr. Painter and Mr. Eisen?
The Emolument Clause is the issue we should be focused on. Mr. Trump's taxes (which we will probably never see) are likely a red herring. Any quid pro quo with the Russians (if it exists) would likely be hidden through a Byzantine labyrinth of shell corporations. Mr. Trump probably doesn't want to release his taxes because: (1) he is not as rich as he claims, and may even have a negative net worth; and (2) he has not paid federal taxes for decades -- which he has already hinted at.
Mr. Trump's weakness is not the Russian connection in the election hacking. Rather, it is his conflicts of interest. His companies, that he did not divest from, are accepting money from foreign governments for which he has influence as POTUS. (This might include, but is not limited to, the Russians.)
The Russians interfered in the U.S. election, which is a bipartisan issue and a very serious threat to American democracy. However, I believe the Russians' motive was more anti-Clinton than pro-Trump. They wanted to sow the seeds of doubt and distrust, and weaken American institutions.
The real issue is Mr. Trump's conflicts of interest. Where is the reporting on the Emoluments Clause, and the lawsuit by Mr. Painter and Mr. Eisen?
The Emolument Clause is the issue we should be focused on. Mr. Trump's taxes (which we will probably never see) are likely a red herring. Any quid pro quo with the Russians (if it exists) would likely be hidden through a Byzantine labyrinth of shell corporations. Mr. Trump probably doesn't want to release his taxes because: (1) he is not as rich as he claims, and may even have a negative net worth; and (2) he has not paid federal taxes for decades -- which he has already hinted at.
Mr. Trump's weakness is not the Russian connection in the election hacking. Rather, it is his conflicts of interest. His companies, that he did not divest from, are accepting money from foreign governments for which he has influence as POTUS. (This might include, but is not limited to, the Russians.)
2
I never thought I would live see a real-life version of "The Manchurian Candidate." . It's simply astounding that this is happening and that the Republican Congress doesn't really care because this way they can ram through legislation that furthers their policies without regard for the integrity of their country or the American people. Shameful. Once their legislative agenda is taken care of, maybe they will begin to act slightly suspicious.
12
One thing you are dead right on - Manafort. Follow the Money. He is in deep and a bad dude.
5
There is no reason that trump cannot release his full tax returns. Not only is the "under audit" the most pathetic of excuses, but now with 2016 returns being readied, he is not under audit for this year's taxes. So let's see them, big boy. Show us what you've got. We should ALL be demanding this.
10
If Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton's
indiscretions warranted Special
Prosecutor's; surely foreign interference
in our election would call for one, No?
indiscretions warranted Special
Prosecutor's; surely foreign interference
in our election would call for one, No?
10
I think it would be useful to know what level of contacts the other presidential candidates maintained with Russia and Russians as a point of comparison.
1
If Russia was in any way connected with the release of honest information about Hillary tryng to influence the election by undermining Sanders that would seem to be an honest attempt to enlighten the U.S. voting citizenry. And who has more dots to Russian than Hillary and her sidekick Podesta both of whom have had direct ties with Russian activities lately? If all the U.S. politicians who have been working with Russia in trying to make a buck in recent months were placed end to end they would reach from Washington to Crimea with some distance to spare. The Russia influence on the election seems to be hidden in a curtain of speculation involving the Hillaries, Podestas, McCains, and other Washington figures. Any influence Russia had seems to have been constructive in exposing Hillarie's sand bagging of the Sanders campaign.
4
Follow the money.
2
There’s another consideration: If Trump and his campaign were innocent of any suspicious activity with the Kremlin, he should be the first to call for an independent investigation to clear his name. Why wouldn’t he? This issue is in the back of everyone’s mind, members of Congress included. Get rid of it and that’s one less weight encumbering his political agenda, one less bargaining chip in play. Plus, he could use the finding as ammunition against the “fake news” media and other detractors.
The fact that he doesn’t call for such an investigation, and his associates repeatedly lie about their contacts, makes me there’s a there, there.
The fact that he doesn’t call for such an investigation, and his associates repeatedly lie about their contacts, makes me there’s a there, there.
4
What about his appointment of Rex Tillerman as Secretary of State? Rex and Putin go way back as friends and business associates in the oil business. Trump did not know Rex before now. Seems suspicious.
Looking forward to more links and dots to connect.
Looking forward to more links and dots to connect.
4
Here's another connection: DASHA ZHUKOVA, wife of Russian industrialist billionaire ROMAN ABRAMOVICH was IVANKA's guest at the Inauguration.
ABRAMOVICH has a long and close relationship with Putin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Abramovich
Trump to Putin - apparently only 3 degrees of separation.
ABRAMOVICH has a long and close relationship with Putin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Abramovich
Trump to Putin - apparently only 3 degrees of separation.
7
While discussing some possible grand geopolitical objectives to explain why Putin has been so enthusiastic in helping Trump to get elected, Americans seem to be missing one simple Putin's motivation. Putin, who represents a circle of his oligarchic sidekicks and his partners in crime, has vested interests in having Trump in the WH for at least four years. He sees Trump as a guarantor of that clique's ill-gotten riches parked in the West. As a result of tremendous capital flight from Russia, over $1 trillion in cash has accumulated on thousands of off-shore accounts, in the most expensive real estate in New-York and London, gigantic yachts, etc. Net capital outflows in Russia in 2015 alone were $151.5 billion! Putin and his clique are in constant fear over losing their loot. American Dept. of Treasury holds its finger on the control switch and can activate freezing their assets anytime. They had no doubts that if elected Hillary Clinton would turn that switch on. That is why Putin desperately needed a self-appointed American oligarch and tax-evading "friend" in Washington with vulnerable business past who can be easily manipulated.
179
One hand washes another and the borrower shakes hands with the lender.
The last sentence says it all.
The last sentence says it all.
The truth may be a simpler version. Don't count out Rex, and his allegiance to ExxonMobil. Through his ability to aid in lifting US sanctions on Russia, he may allow for the continuance of a $500 billion oil deal with Putin. (That's 29,411,764,705,882 Rubles to you and me. . .)
Thank you for these original, thought-provoking comments. And if you aren't located in Idaho, you should be praised for personal courage, also.
1
Trump's determined emphasis not to release his tax returns is a clear and very obvious indication that he is hiding unsavory activities that could seriously damage his presidency.
Congressional members have resorted to subpoena of documents that were of much less significance than Trump's tax returns.
It puzzles me why pursuing a subpoena of Trumps tax returns are being studiously neglected, at every turn since his campaign..
Congressional members have resorted to subpoena of documents that were of much less significance than Trump's tax returns.
It puzzles me why pursuing a subpoena of Trumps tax returns are being studiously neglected, at every turn since his campaign..
94
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a Freedom of Information request to make Trump's tax returns public. If the ACLU wins, the public will be able to see the details of Trump's alleged business deals with Russia. It seems evident that his returns are a public record because he is the President.
5
"Trump's determined emphasis not to release his tax returns is a clear and very obvious indication that he is hiding unsavory activities that could seriously damage his presidency."
I consider my tax returns private. It is no ones business how much my family makes, what charitable giving we do, whether or not our Medical expenses are high enough to write off, etc. Our tax returns would reveal no unsavory activities yet we don't care to share them.
Many people hate President Trump and he is constantly attacked. I an imagine the wild speculations his opposition would fabricate. I voted for President Trump and hope he never releases his taxes because it would be such a major distraction. After seeing the false Russian Collusion narrative, complete with criminal leaks, and that people have raised impeachment funds since before he took office, I am convinced that many people are obsessed with destroying him.
I hope decent people will continue to push back against these unjustified attacks.
John
I consider my tax returns private. It is no ones business how much my family makes, what charitable giving we do, whether or not our Medical expenses are high enough to write off, etc. Our tax returns would reveal no unsavory activities yet we don't care to share them.
Many people hate President Trump and he is constantly attacked. I an imagine the wild speculations his opposition would fabricate. I voted for President Trump and hope he never releases his taxes because it would be such a major distraction. After seeing the false Russian Collusion narrative, complete with criminal leaks, and that people have raised impeachment funds since before he took office, I am convinced that many people are obsessed with destroying him.
I hope decent people will continue to push back against these unjustified attacks.
John
3
"Active Measures" a New Yorker article details Russia's strategy to influence the presidential election of 2016. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/06/trump-putin-and-the-new-col.... The writers conclude that Russian interference was only one reason that Trump was elected.
23
Sure, but that doesn't get the Trump campaign off the hook.
1
Tax returns are often the foundation of a legal investigation. Why haven't any of the congressional committees or other law enforcement agencies that are investigating Trump issuing subpoenas for the returns? Why are the American People, and their elected officials, not clamoring for the disclosure of the returns?
81
Republicans have no problem with Russia hacking Hillary Clinton's campaign emails - that's how they won the presidency.
Democrats need to find another way to subpoena Trump's tax returns.
Democrats need to find another way to subpoena Trump's tax returns.
Here's another VERY important dot:
1. Many key GOP members of congress are acting in ways that defy logic by refusing to investigate. Perhaps it's not a lack of logic or thirst for power, but instead an indication that the hacking of the RNC was more substantial than the public was made aware of? Is GOP resistance to investigation fueled by possible blackmail?
1. Many key GOP members of congress are acting in ways that defy logic by refusing to investigate. Perhaps it's not a lack of logic or thirst for power, but instead an indication that the hacking of the RNC was more substantial than the public was made aware of? Is GOP resistance to investigation fueled by possible blackmail?
63
I believe it's fueled by opportunism. Congressional Republicans see this as their opportunity to destroy the ACA, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Provide huge tax cuts to the uber-wealthy and control of women's Heath choices to Evangelicals and Opus Dei.
This is their best chance to turn America into a corporate owned theocracy.
This is their best chance to turn America into a corporate owned theocracy.
1
I haven't been to DC in 2 years. My last visit was to attend the Cherry Blossom festival. Luckily, we hit the date right. Walking to the Tidal Basin and seeing the entire periphy respemdent with those beautiful white (i always thought they were pink) flowers was breathtaking and ethereal.
We were wondering when to re-visit DC. Love the Smithsonian and there is something special about the monuments to our history. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, the reflecting pool. the gorgeous Capital, the majesty of the White House, Jefferson's monument, the Vietnam Wall, WWII, Korean war, FDR and MLK tributes. The heart swells with pride. We are the United States of America.
So, I need some help. I want to visit DC again. But I want to do it when the guys in white coats are chasing the Trumpster with large white nets on the West Lawn. Then I will know that the Union has won another civil war.
And then I can go back to DC. And rejoice in our core values.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. with liberty and justice for all. Untainted by the influence of a foreign adversary.
We were wondering when to re-visit DC. Love the Smithsonian and there is something special about the monuments to our history. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, the reflecting pool. the gorgeous Capital, the majesty of the White House, Jefferson's monument, the Vietnam Wall, WWII, Korean war, FDR and MLK tributes. The heart swells with pride. We are the United States of America.
So, I need some help. I want to visit DC again. But I want to do it when the guys in white coats are chasing the Trumpster with large white nets on the West Lawn. Then I will know that the Union has won another civil war.
And then I can go back to DC. And rejoice in our core values.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. with liberty and justice for all. Untainted by the influence of a foreign adversary.
58
Actually, come on Tax day, when there is a large protest planned. Judging from his usual reaction to large protests, you might get your white-coat chase a couple days afterward. Come anyway. It's time to send the liar a message.
1
I remain curious about the lack of reporting by the NYTimes on Wilbur Ross's connections to the Russians through his ownership of the Bank of Cyprus. Included in that pot of information is the item about Ross bringing the former head of Deutsche Bank to the Bank of Cyprus as its new chief. Deutsche Bank is Trump's biggest foreign lender.... The Bank of Cyprus is a favorite for Russian money laundering. The Guardian and Mother Jones have both done excellent jobs looking at this tangle involving Secretary Ross. Fake news? Please tell us that, if so. If not fake news, it should go on the list of 'dots' connecting the Trump administration to the Russians.
81
The Republicans speeded up the ACA repeal program to change the subject from Trump's over the top tweets about wiretapping, Comey's request to DOJ to stop it, the Sessions business, etc. Nonetheless this is going to blow skyhigh because it is not just the NYT or WP investigating Trump's Russian connection, there are foreign intelligence agencies investigating, too. They are going to find something, and the Republicans know it.
52
Am I misremembering, or did Trump not once say that he had met Putin and Putin said he was 'brilliant'? Then a Russian speaker chimed in and said that the word Putin actually used was better translated as 'colourful'....
I truly believe that not only the US but the whole 'Western World' is in balance at the moment - and it all depends on whether enough members of Congress can put aside their venality long enough to clean out the Trump swamp.
I truly believe that not only the US but the whole 'Western World' is in balance at the moment - and it all depends on whether enough members of Congress can put aside their venality long enough to clean out the Trump swamp.
37
Swamp is too nice, it is now a litter box.
2
intercepts of communications involving Russian officials, and by the British and Dutch governments monitoring meetings in Europe between Russians and members of the Trump team."
IF ONLY there was "leaky" fawcet in the UK and Netherlands. The Dutch are currently fighting off Russian interference and who knows, maybe Russia is behind BREXIT. So much to learn, so little time.
IF ONLY there was "leaky" fawcet in the UK and Netherlands. The Dutch are currently fighting off Russian interference and who knows, maybe Russia is behind BREXIT. So much to learn, so little time.
22
The Dutch are not just fighting the Russians, but conservative Americans are also funding the Dutch extreme right wing candidate.
1
Love the way you summed up all the key issues succinctly. These are scary times for those who value democracy and transparency.
38
It is high time for the US Senate to issue a subpoena for Trump's tax and business records. This is no longer a political issue, this is a national security concern. It is becoming more and more apparent that Trump is, as many reports have said for months, somehow indebted to the Russians and Putin, or worse, is compromised. The controversial "dossier", with its reports of financial and salacious activity has been largely ignored since its reveal, now looks like it might be more accurate than suspected. We truly have a crisis of the highest order before us, and that is not hyperbole. We cannot allow a person to hold the office of President who is beholden to, indebted to, ingratiated to, or in any way susceptible to foreign influence. This is no laughing matter. He may be a "manchurian candidate", whether he knows it or not, and we need to know the truth.
50
Couldn't agree more with Mr Kristoff's summation, except that I would like to add that Trump's immediate family members be also examind. In high risk, high stake games, most people would want to rely more on their own family than on others. Trump Jr by his own admission is privy to the money coming to them from the Russian clique; Ivanka reportedly has headed some major projects in that part of the world and hand carried large checks from those sources. It would be a case of malpractice on the part of KGB to not have tracked these deals and their own people in place to be part of the business teams. In addition, she has reportedly flown to Greece and other locations ostensibly on vaction with a girl friend of Putin, Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife.
It's really scary to think that our White House and national security apparatus is indebted to Putin through money and medals. With all our resources we have never been able to make a clean sweep like that in the smallest of banana states. No wonder they love Putin in his country, and perhaps fear in our own official circles.
It's really scary to think that our White House and national security apparatus is indebted to Putin through money and medals. With all our resources we have never been able to make a clean sweep like that in the smallest of banana states. No wonder they love Putin in his country, and perhaps fear in our own official circles.
26
Wikileaks promised to leak THE TAX RETURNS....
but They have not
Did they receive them?
False Information or none-existant or covering for Trump/Putin?
What does Mr. Chris Steele say, now that he has emerged from hiding?
but They have not
Did they receive them?
False Information or none-existant or covering for Trump/Putin?
What does Mr. Chris Steele say, now that he has emerged from hiding?
12
Good job on #7 - hadn't heard that one yet!
On #6 it's even worse: For a guy who fashioned himself as the 'rogue candidate' the ONLY item on the Republican platform that his team fought to alter was to weaken aid to Ukraine (I'm so proud of myself, I managed not to type "the Ukraine" - but it's really hard. Many years of training).
On #6 it's even worse: For a guy who fashioned himself as the 'rogue candidate' the ONLY item on the Republican platform that his team fought to alter was to weaken aid to Ukraine (I'm so proud of myself, I managed not to type "the Ukraine" - but it's really hard. Many years of training).
13
What the White House alleges is that federal agencies conducted a cyber surveillance of Trump advisors—not Trump himself—and found no evidence of collusion with Russian operatives. In today’s New York Times, Nicholas Kristof provides evidence that the FBI snooping occurred. In an opinion piece in today’s titled “Connect Trump’s Dots to Russia,” Kristof’s provides a link to an October 2016 New York Times article that states FBI agents “scrutinized advisers close to Donald J. Trump, looking for financial connections with Russian financial figures.” Kristof’s says this cyber surveillance revealed “unexplained communications between a Trump Organization computer server and Russia’s Alfa Bank.” However, the October article is headlined: “Investigating Donald Trump, F.B.I. Sees No Clear Link to Russia.”
3
Sounds like you are accusing yourself of lack of reading comprehension. The headlines are vague but the distinctions made in the articles are clear. They are based on the information from sources available at the time. That is why it is news and not news analysis. So your point is?...
1
"People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook."
--Richard M. Nixon
--Richard M. Nixon
25
And if Trump is indeed the puppet of Bannon, Miller, et al, we need to know that. Trump is probably not be the only crook.
1
It seems that this story is dead. It is no longer in CNN, ABC, NBC and FoxNews. On MSNBC, only Maddow and Rep Watters, what a duo, are keeping it in life support. Trump nuked the story with his wiretapping claim; where is the evidence about wiretaps? We need the New York Times to detail their evidence for the Jan. 20 front-page story with the headline “Wiretapped Data Used in Inquiry of Trump Aides.”
8
How do majority of republicans sleep at night? How do you do your job knowing that Donak Trump is more corrupt than Hillary ever thought of being. I have a feeling he will get away with all this and when they decide to wake up or finally do something it'll be too late.. WW3 is already brewing
18
Funny you should mention "House of Cards":
"Modern Russian spymasters get their ideas about the West from the West itself—they are generally convinced that the American political system is accurately portrayed by House of Cards. If Russian disruption efforts were more successful during the 2016 American election, it was not because the Russians have become so much better at what they do or have finally developed a sophisticated understanding of American politics—it is because American politics have come to resemble the TV caricatures." Source: Russia: The Conspiracy Trap, by Masha Gessen, in: The New York Review of Books
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/03/06/trump-russia-conspiracy-trap/
"Modern Russian spymasters get their ideas about the West from the West itself—they are generally convinced that the American political system is accurately portrayed by House of Cards. If Russian disruption efforts were more successful during the 2016 American election, it was not because the Russians have become so much better at what they do or have finally developed a sophisticated understanding of American politics—it is because American politics have come to resemble the TV caricatures." Source: Russia: The Conspiracy Trap, by Masha Gessen, in: The New York Review of Books
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/03/06/trump-russia-conspiracy-trap/
6
And let's not forget the other dot - the only party policy Trump insisted on changing at the time of the Republican convention was that the party did not advocate for arming the Ukrainians in their battle against pro-Russian separatists - NB - this was his ONLY change to party policy!
27
Any way to get Julian Assange to release those Trump videos?
17
Tony Schwartz who helped Trump with The Art of the Deal, said Trump despises Obama because he knows deep down that he can never be him. And it's true, he can't. This explains why Trump spent 4 years trying to bring Obama down with his bogus birther claim and his ridiculous insistence that his Inauguration crowd was bigger than Obama's.
Now he's won the same prize Obama won, the White House. But seven weeks in Trump is not doing well. A Washington Post journalist said Trump is haunted by Obama, comparing Obama's accomplishments to his own during the same time period. He hasn't been able to do what Obama did. And the work is hard. And his skill set isn't a good fit for the job.
Why would Mr Trump work with the Russians? If you don't think his Obama obsession figured in Mr Trump's dealings with Russia, consider what's in that increasingly verified dossier. Mr Trump insisted on staying in the same Russian hotel suite the Obamas had stayed in and invited guests urinate on the bed.
Our country should not be dragged into the netherworld of Mr Trump's psyche but sadly, we are.
Now he's won the same prize Obama won, the White House. But seven weeks in Trump is not doing well. A Washington Post journalist said Trump is haunted by Obama, comparing Obama's accomplishments to his own during the same time period. He hasn't been able to do what Obama did. And the work is hard. And his skill set isn't a good fit for the job.
Why would Mr Trump work with the Russians? If you don't think his Obama obsession figured in Mr Trump's dealings with Russia, consider what's in that increasingly verified dossier. Mr Trump insisted on staying in the same Russian hotel suite the Obamas had stayed in and invited guests urinate on the bed.
Our country should not be dragged into the netherworld of Mr Trump's psyche but sadly, we are.
35
The Russians hacked the Democratic Party. We know what they have because they released it.
The Russians also hacked the Republican Party, but have not (yet) released that information. What does Mr. Putin have on the Republicans?
The Russians also hacked the Republican Party, but have not (yet) released that information. What does Mr. Putin have on the Republicans?
34
Of course they also hacked the GOP. The GOP are scared of what they have. Russia will keep it until they need leverage. Scary.
2
DT has consistently acted exactly the way he would if he were compromised and under Putin's control. This is not just naivete, or a coincidence, or a weird personal fetish. Why won't DT release his tax returns? (See Kristof's #9.) Why not stop acting like a puppet and put the interests of the USA first? Until DT shows us otherwise, the most logical answer is that Putin owns him.
30
"Yet I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump team engaged in secret contacts and surreptitious messages, and had advance knowledge of Russia’s efforts to attack the American political process. And that would be a momentous scandal."
You've written another dishonest article, Mr. Kristoff.
It is you who should be truthful: A momentous scandal would be just what you would want, all of which of course would be scandalous only to the left, for whom Russia is apparently now the greatest geopolitical threat, the same Russia that the left laughed at Romney about when he said the exact same thing.
But that isn't the question, though you know that. The question is, was any of that illegal, and the answer is no. Private citizens speaking to foreign powers is perfectly legal, unless they are divulging state secrets. And that the DNC (also a private organization) is a bunch of dunces, which is essentially the only thing the supposedly Russian hackers unearthed, is not exactly a state secret.
If publishing political truth and informing voters is “interfering with US elections”, and "attacking the American political process", thank you Russia!
You've written another dishonest article, Mr. Kristoff.
It is you who should be truthful: A momentous scandal would be just what you would want, all of which of course would be scandalous only to the left, for whom Russia is apparently now the greatest geopolitical threat, the same Russia that the left laughed at Romney about when he said the exact same thing.
But that isn't the question, though you know that. The question is, was any of that illegal, and the answer is no. Private citizens speaking to foreign powers is perfectly legal, unless they are divulging state secrets. And that the DNC (also a private organization) is a bunch of dunces, which is essentially the only thing the supposedly Russian hackers unearthed, is not exactly a state secret.
If publishing political truth and informing voters is “interfering with US elections”, and "attacking the American political process", thank you Russia!
1
Colluding with a foreign power to influence an election and lying under oath aren't scandalous? Who knew.
11
De facto president, Steve Bannon describes his goal for this administration: " "deconstruction of the administrative state". Putin is his tutor and Bannon is a quick study, employing decoys thru out his administration.
The dots are connected, and we need to put aside our anxiety and
face our worse fears, before it is too late.
The dots are connected, and we need to put aside our anxiety and
face our worse fears, before it is too late.
13
Does anyone presume that this is the first instance where a Presidential candidate or President-elect or their staff had contact with a foreign officials?
I guess in July 2008, when Presidential candidate Sen. Obama went on his week long overseas tour of Europe and Middle East that he or any of his staff did not have discussions with foreign officials regarding policy. (Obama Heads for Paris and London, Erlanger, NYT, 08/26/2008).
Please let there be more historical context, rather than unintentionally (hopefully) implying that this is the first Administration to communicate with foreign government prior being sworn in.
I guess in July 2008, when Presidential candidate Sen. Obama went on his week long overseas tour of Europe and Middle East that he or any of his staff did not have discussions with foreign officials regarding policy. (Obama Heads for Paris and London, Erlanger, NYT, 08/26/2008).
Please let there be more historical context, rather than unintentionally (hopefully) implying that this is the first Administration to communicate with foreign government prior being sworn in.
1
Number 11 ... new Wikileaks dump of CIA information ... Trump will use this latest assist from Assange/Russia to emasculate the intelligence agencies and kill the investigations ... we had better be vigilant
12
Republicans are complicit in this treason. As such it seems a perfect coup, with the GOP gladly sweeping all the dots under the rug.
At the very least there should be a Select Committee established with even numbers of Republicans and Democrats, dedicated to the Russian involvement of the campaign. Yet Mitch McConnell would rather put his Party before the Country--again. He really really needs to get the boot, for us to get back on track as a symbol of freedom and liberty for all.
Until then we are mired in the McConnell/Ryan/Trump Republican Swamp.
At the very least there should be a Select Committee established with even numbers of Republicans and Democrats, dedicated to the Russian involvement of the campaign. Yet Mitch McConnell would rather put his Party before the Country--again. He really really needs to get the boot, for us to get back on track as a symbol of freedom and liberty for all.
Until then we are mired in the McConnell/Ryan/Trump Republican Swamp.
18
The Washington Post reported a few months ago that Manafort's lobbying firm had indeed taken money from Ukraine but that they in turn had passed some of the money on to Podesta's lobbying firm as well as a firm connected to Romney. Will Mr. Kristof now allege that Podesta and Romney are also agents of the Kremlin? If so, it seems like the entire US establishment is now owned by Putin, no?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/19/paul-manaforts...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/19/paul-manaforts...
2
Wasn't that clever of Manafort to hire Podesta's firm so people like you could come back with this? Story needs a little fleshing out, doesn't it?
The hidden $13 million was given to Manafort, not his firm.
The hidden $13 million was given to Manafort, not his firm.
7
I certainly hope that The New York Times is investigating the fact that eight Russians have died since the US election. Two of those deaths were on East 67th Street in Manhattan. I do not believe those deaths to be a coincidence.
I believe Putin is exerting his power and proving to Trump that he can easily get to people in Manhattan. This makes me fear for the journalists who are doing their jobs. Please, please, please keep reporting this story !!! Thank you.
I believe Putin is exerting his power and proving to Trump that he can easily get to people in Manhattan. This makes me fear for the journalists who are doing their jobs. Please, please, please keep reporting this story !!! Thank you.
19
Not sure why you would believe something "less transactional" happened between Trump and Putin; Trump is known as "Mr. Transactional." Perhaps neither believed he could ever be elected, but... then Mr. Comey came along and gave the needed 11th hour push.
6
I'm a big fan of yours but don't you think you owe Rep. Eric Swalwell a shout out for his earlier connect-the-dots work? You are pretty close to copying him.
2
The suspicion alone of HRT communicating with Russians would have had Republicans screaming conspiracy. Why can't Democrats start screaming, "Lock him up?"
10
In true House of Cards fashion the person to keep an eye on is Pence. He stands to gain the most if this thing goes big time. Stay tuned!
7
Yes, and they seem to be insulating him. Flynn's big sin seems only to be lying to Pence.
1
Dems are too weak and feckless to fight for their own skins, let alone go after trump.
We are sunk. see you in Costa Rica
We are sunk. see you in Costa Rica
1
One does not need Houdini to connect the dots - but what is needed is proof - evidence and that will come in time.
1
Do check out recent reporting by Rachel Maddow and The New Yorker. it's perfectly clear that Russia is getting what they want in return for hacking our democracy (not the voting machines, but all the one-sided "leaks" and lies, etc.).
A gutted State Department with a Russian friend at its head
Ukrainian modifications in Republican plans.
Putin is a wily bird, and there's lots of lots of material for speculation as to how many of these people are blackmailable.
Do we really want Bannon and Putin in charge?
A gutted State Department with a Russian friend at its head
Ukrainian modifications in Republican plans.
Putin is a wily bird, and there's lots of lots of material for speculation as to how many of these people are blackmailable.
Do we really want Bannon and Putin in charge?
29
Hello, Nicholas,
No matter how you draw the dots or connect (or disconnect) them, the fact remains that there appears to be nothing that non-Trump-voters can do about it. Donald Trump is selling our water, air, minerals, oil, land to the highest bidders with inside tracks who will profit him personally. Donald is Cheater-in-Chief and proud of it.
We know what the problem are. What we apparently don't have a clue about is the solutions.
Obama and the Clintons left the Democratic Party in a mess when they left office - out of touch with much of the country and with many voters. Obama's touted "Economic Revoery" was the smallest and took the longet of any "recovery" in American history (chart I saw today from the investment company, Edward Jones). The recovery left millions of people out and left more much poorer than before the crash. In the meantime, Obama congratulated himself and played lofty professor to their ignorance and poverty. Read Hillbilly Ellegy.
Donald Trump is just the top of the volcano - he could blow any time and burn the rest of us. The base of the volcano is made up of millions of angry, poorly educated people, who are fed up with Citizens United and can't tell that Trump is the ultimate Money-is-Power Politician-for-Purchase. Our problem is Trump voters, who will remain. Trump will pass - sooner or later.
No matter how you draw the dots or connect (or disconnect) them, the fact remains that there appears to be nothing that non-Trump-voters can do about it. Donald Trump is selling our water, air, minerals, oil, land to the highest bidders with inside tracks who will profit him personally. Donald is Cheater-in-Chief and proud of it.
We know what the problem are. What we apparently don't have a clue about is the solutions.
Obama and the Clintons left the Democratic Party in a mess when they left office - out of touch with much of the country and with many voters. Obama's touted "Economic Revoery" was the smallest and took the longet of any "recovery" in American history (chart I saw today from the investment company, Edward Jones). The recovery left millions of people out and left more much poorer than before the crash. In the meantime, Obama congratulated himself and played lofty professor to their ignorance and poverty. Read Hillbilly Ellegy.
Donald Trump is just the top of the volcano - he could blow any time and burn the rest of us. The base of the volcano is made up of millions of angry, poorly educated people, who are fed up with Citizens United and can't tell that Trump is the ultimate Money-is-Power Politician-for-Purchase. Our problem is Trump voters, who will remain. Trump will pass - sooner or later.
5
Democrats are really really good at circular firing squads and blaming their fellow victims.
But you are just an provocateur, stirring the pot.
But you are just an provocateur, stirring the pot.
1
The beauty of this deal from the Russian point of view is, even if they only did little and accomplished less, it still gives them ample political blackmail opportunity with which to pressure Trump on any issue, at any time.
7
Mr. Kristoff may have hit the weak spot on trump's outrageous claims of his alleged wiretapping. People do have a panicked tendency to lash out against a perceived threat by trying to divert attention away from themselves.
6
Not only should his tax returns be investgated publicly, but this should include somw forensic accounting. Someone in Russia owns him. This is a man who can't condemn anything that the Russian government does.
Again, somebody owns him.
Again, somebody owns him.
9
'That includes the most towering suspicion of all: that Trump’s team colluded in some way with Russia to interfere with the U.S. election. This is the central issue that we must remain focused on.'
In what way? This is fevered imagination stuff. Donald Trump may be many negative things, but a vassal of the Russian government he is NOT. Why do you persist in this ridiculous delusion?
This article is innuendo and garbage. The left leaning liberal media cannot accept the truth: Trump won because of massive dissatisfaction with the way America was being run and the left wing liberal bias of so much of the US's State apparatus as well as the mainstream media.
Mr Kristof, you sound like a Nutjob. Obsessed or even possessed. Just give it up. The Russians did NOT determine the outcome of the US Presidential election: the American people did it all on their own. You and your ilk actually helped them to reject the massively 'recommended' candidate.
If you want to get rid of Trump, try some other line to 'Russian poodle'. The latter is farcical.
In what way? This is fevered imagination stuff. Donald Trump may be many negative things, but a vassal of the Russian government he is NOT. Why do you persist in this ridiculous delusion?
This article is innuendo and garbage. The left leaning liberal media cannot accept the truth: Trump won because of massive dissatisfaction with the way America was being run and the left wing liberal bias of so much of the US's State apparatus as well as the mainstream media.
Mr Kristof, you sound like a Nutjob. Obsessed or even possessed. Just give it up. The Russians did NOT determine the outcome of the US Presidential election: the American people did it all on their own. You and your ilk actually helped them to reject the massively 'recommended' candidate.
If you want to get rid of Trump, try some other line to 'Russian poodle'. The latter is farcical.
3
Sticks and stones, sticks and stones. Kristof may sound like a nut job to you, but he is voicing the concerns of many, even conservatives. You, however, sound gullible.
3
Remember Watergate --- "follow the money." Item no. 9 of your list is critical. Also it is public record that Trump was at the very least running his stupid beauty pageants in Russia with Putin's involvement so there is at least this prior history of financial dealings.
Tax returns are necessary but they are only a starting point. Do not be fooled into thinking that they will tell all. Other information on the money links are necessary.
Also don't forget about Trump's outrageous public urging of Russia to hack into Clinton's emails. So he even made at least one public ask for this sort of interference. And it happened. There is no denying that.
Tax returns are necessary but they are only a starting point. Do not be fooled into thinking that they will tell all. Other information on the money links are necessary.
Also don't forget about Trump's outrageous public urging of Russia to hack into Clinton's emails. So he even made at least one public ask for this sort of interference. And it happened. There is no denying that.
8
There's a new scandal in town. Trump's easily refuted claim that Obama was wire-tapping him has turned the scandal around. People are now wondering just how much monitoring of the Trump campaign the Obama Administration was doing and whether the data gleaned from that bugging is being used illegally to subvert the Trump administration in its early days.
The Times itself has gone so far as to change a headline long after publication of a very important story it ran on Jan. 20:
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/445628/barack-obama-donald-trump-f...
There never was any evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians to fix the election or hack Democrats who were clueless about internet security. But there was apparently monitoring of people in the Trump campaign by an administration who had a huge stake in the outcome of the election and who, while trying to frame Trump associates, was going ridiculously easy on the obvious criminality of the Democrat candidate, EVEN AFTER it was discovered that the Attorney General met secretly with her husband who just happened to be a former President of the United States.
The Times itself has gone so far as to change a headline long after publication of a very important story it ran on Jan. 20:
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/445628/barack-obama-donald-trump-f...
There never was any evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians to fix the election or hack Democrats who were clueless about internet security. But there was apparently monitoring of people in the Trump campaign by an administration who had a huge stake in the outcome of the election and who, while trying to frame Trump associates, was going ridiculously easy on the obvious criminality of the Democrat candidate, EVEN AFTER it was discovered that the Attorney General met secretly with her husband who just happened to be a former President of the United States.
3
Douglas E of Texas: anything else but all-night publications available in Texas these days??
2
I just thank god that somebody who is not a known bomb thrower is writing about this. When it comes to the possibility that our government is being subverted by a foreign government, this should be talked about all the time. Now might be a good time to point out that every member of Congress had to take an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution from both domestic and foreign powers. Why every member of Congress is not demanding answers about the Russian contacts, the tax returns, Trump's unsubstantiated parries, etc - 24 hours a day - is beyond me. This is what they are supposed to do, per their oath of office. We should say to them: Defend the Constitution or get out of the way.
16
When Putin tires of Trump he will continue undermining the US by releasing transcripts that indite Trumps Campaign and Administration for collusion.
When Putin decides Trump is no longer useful he will show him to be a "friend of Russia" to create more havoc in the US.
The SAD truth is the "Liar in Chief" still thinks he is the "only" one in charge.
When Putin decides Trump is no longer useful he will show him to be a "friend of Russia" to create more havoc in the US.
The SAD truth is the "Liar in Chief" still thinks he is the "only" one in charge.
8
I agree with your analysis that any investigation should be focused on Paul Manafort and Roger Stone. The reason for this is that both were previous business partners and both have a reputation for dirty tricks politics.
It was Roger Stone who became bent out of all proportion when Mr. Manafort had to leave the president's campaign in mid August 2016.
It was under Mr. Manafort's direction when the republican's platform had the words watered down regarding US sending arms to Ukrainians to protect themselves v pro-Russian separatists. This was the red flag on top of Mr. Trump's past comments which seemed to downplay the significance Russia's invasion.
This was such an anomaly, that this is the time frame that I would want to check out fully. And my antenna was raised when Donald Trump and his team kept denying any involvement in adjusting the platform's wording when there were credible witnesses saying otherwise.
The Christopher Steele dossier (which has not been fully authenticated and verified) reports that a Russian diplomat operating in the U.S., Mikhail Kalugin, was relocated back to Moscow around August 2016, when it became obvious that Paul Manafort was undergoing scrutiny.
the McClatchy publishing company has reported two sources with knowledge of “multi-agency investigations” into Kremlin influence on the US elections, have confirmed that Mr Kalugin was under scrutiny when he departed.
It was Roger Stone who became bent out of all proportion when Mr. Manafort had to leave the president's campaign in mid August 2016.
It was under Mr. Manafort's direction when the republican's platform had the words watered down regarding US sending arms to Ukrainians to protect themselves v pro-Russian separatists. This was the red flag on top of Mr. Trump's past comments which seemed to downplay the significance Russia's invasion.
This was such an anomaly, that this is the time frame that I would want to check out fully. And my antenna was raised when Donald Trump and his team kept denying any involvement in adjusting the platform's wording when there were credible witnesses saying otherwise.
The Christopher Steele dossier (which has not been fully authenticated and verified) reports that a Russian diplomat operating in the U.S., Mikhail Kalugin, was relocated back to Moscow around August 2016, when it became obvious that Paul Manafort was undergoing scrutiny.
the McClatchy publishing company has reported two sources with knowledge of “multi-agency investigations” into Kremlin influence on the US elections, have confirmed that Mr Kalugin was under scrutiny when he departed.
10
The American People deserve an 'Independent Special
Committee' to access levels of Russian interference in our '2016 Presidential Election'.
There are just too many House & Senate committee members who were part of President Trump's election campaign to provide the 'trust' needed for impartial proceedings.
Committee' to access levels of Russian interference in our '2016 Presidential Election'.
There are just too many House & Senate committee members who were part of President Trump's election campaign to provide the 'trust' needed for impartial proceedings.
12
"Trump has expressed a bewilderingly benign view of Russia..." People insist on this view as proof of the existence of kompromat on Trump because they can't find a reason to explain it according to their own instruments, but if you snoop around the alt-right information sphere a little you will find it's not that bewildering to them: "We are in a war of civilization with Islam," etc., "we need allies," etc., and the biggest and most important potential ally is, of course, "Russia." More precisely a version of it. From this perspective, from Planet Bannon, Trump's view makes all the sense in the world. I'm amazed that the media don't focus on this.
6
Though we're all speculating, the article does not specify the hacks, propaganda, smears or tricks that would be more damaging to Hillary if they were committed or assisted by Russian intelligence, as opposed to the ruthless Trump campaign working alone. One possible answer: the Russians can lean on WikiLeaks, where Assange has made it clear he despises Hillary (as does Putin) and advocates anarchism ("chaos"), as so many full-time hackers do. These dots need connecting too, even hypothetically, especially since Bannon (Manafort before him), Assange, and Putin all aim to "deconstruct" the U.S. "administrative state," post-modern jargon for tearing down democracy. Trump helps this team by appointing unqualified people to some cabinet positions: several are there clearly to neutralize the power of their own agency. If the Russian people play along with Putin, and Congress plays ball with Trump, the planet will be run by two neo-fascist presidents, and there'll be only one dotted line left, the one between the WH in the West and the Kremlin in the East.
11
We're so divided as a nation right now that even if concrete evidence proving that Trump colluded with Russia emerges his supporters will chalk it up to a left wing conspiracy to end his presidency. There will be no winners in the war to save our country.
19
There may or may not be too much focus on Sessions. That does not change the fact that he lied to Congress.
17
And looked really squirrelly doing it. Maybe he is not a key player, but he knows something, otherwise, why? Why get yourself in hot water that way if there is nothing fishy going on?
3
Yes, it should be absolutely disqualifying for an Attorney General to lie under oath.
And he did it so ineptly, very cutesie-folksy all-friends-here. Ugh!
And he did it so ineptly, very cutesie-folksy all-friends-here. Ugh!
5
Sessions is crucial to all this: he is the boss if the FBI, sits on the WH National Security Council, was the first Senator to endorse Trump, had Stephen Miller as a top staff member, and more. It will be vey very hard to get an impartial investigation and the full evidence with Sessions in this position, even if he is recused from leading it directly.
2
I cannot see any scenario where Trump serves out his term. He's like a toddler about to tucker himself out during a long tantrum. The best we can hope for is impeachment, really. But then what? President Pence would be equally unsavory and divisive, if not more so.
We need a cultural shift in America, and we need to respect learning and knowledge more than reality TV stars. The environment and community health are the two most important functions of our federal government, not global hegemony. How can we teach that to the Trump camp, who will exist long after he leaves office?
We need a cultural shift in America, and we need to respect learning and knowledge more than reality TV stars. The environment and community health are the two most important functions of our federal government, not global hegemony. How can we teach that to the Trump camp, who will exist long after he leaves office?
20
My frustration is with the scores of so-called "conservatives" who are always willing to believe the most far-fetched and bizarre conspiracy theories about Democrats but seem to have no concern whatsoever with the increasing evidence regarding Russia and Trump.
29
I agree that its not likely Trump and Putin met in a dark alley and agreed to steal the election so Trump would do Putin's bidding.
My guess is it started with small things. Russian representatives (overt or covert) offered Trump's campaign oppo research on Hillary (whom they expected to win, but wanted wounded), perhaps talking points about foreign policy matters useful to Russia, so the campaign would sound sophisticated, a heads up on Russian policy moves so the campaign would be prepared, and then maybe some give and take on sanctions, and what Trump would need to lift them. Ultimately, maybe some money.
In exchange, Trump would not make Russian the demon in foreign affairs that his campaign would focus on, perhaps some loose understanding that sanctions would go away sooner rather than later. He probably thought in all sincerity, there is nothing here untoward. "they hate Hillary, so do I." "I'm not revealing state secrets" "If Putin admires me, others will too"
My guess is it started with small things. Russian representatives (overt or covert) offered Trump's campaign oppo research on Hillary (whom they expected to win, but wanted wounded), perhaps talking points about foreign policy matters useful to Russia, so the campaign would sound sophisticated, a heads up on Russian policy moves so the campaign would be prepared, and then maybe some give and take on sanctions, and what Trump would need to lift them. Ultimately, maybe some money.
In exchange, Trump would not make Russian the demon in foreign affairs that his campaign would focus on, perhaps some loose understanding that sanctions would go away sooner rather than later. He probably thought in all sincerity, there is nothing here untoward. "they hate Hillary, so do I." "I'm not revealing state secrets" "If Putin admires me, others will too"
11
Every time I see a mention of Trump's tax returns, I get crazy. We know the 2015 returns are under audit. I assume the 2016 returns are also unavailable since they are not due until 4/15/2017. What about the returns from 2006 through 2014? All under audit? Past new presidents have often provided 10 years of returns during their campaigns. What makes me crazy is I have never seen or heard a reporter ask Trump or his minions if those previous years are also under audit. If the answer is no, let's see them. If the answer is yes, what the hell is going on? The next stop for the astute reporter is the director of the IRS. The first question for John Koskinen is, "How in God's name do you have 10 years of an American citizen's under audit with no results?" Next question is, "How many other citizens have a decades worth returns under audit?" The NY Times has great columnists and I may of missed piece where the above scenario was discussed. If so, please refer me to that article and I'll shut up.
44
It had never crossed my mind but I am with President George W. Bush. We need answers.
The dots seem to start with President Trump's business with Russia and Russians as confirmed by Donald Jr. Then at some point, Putin owned Trump and thought it was safe to have him in the White House.
The rest is operations, including Roger Stane's sneak preview in Tweeter. However, the dots do not end in the White House, they end at the Trump family net worth. We are not there yet.
The dots seem to start with President Trump's business with Russia and Russians as confirmed by Donald Jr. Then at some point, Putin owned Trump and thought it was safe to have him in the White House.
The rest is operations, including Roger Stane's sneak preview in Tweeter. However, the dots do not end in the White House, they end at the Trump family net worth. We are not there yet.
9
How about dealing this the Trump way? Just make a statement that he has, in fact, colluded with Russia and then let him try to disprove it, starting with his tax returns.
11
Great column as usual Mr Kristof.
"The way to ease these suspicions would be to examine Trump’s tax returns: Any government investigation that doesn’t obtain Trump’s tax returns simply isn’t a thorough investigation."
That is the key to this whole Russian affair, so-called President Trump's tax returns. Releasing would prove he is innocent and not a corrupt dupe of Vladimir Putin and the FSB.
But for some reason he does not want to release his tax returns willingly. I wonder why?
It is possible that there are no links to the Russians, maybe he just does not want us to find out that is is really not a billionaire? Or maybe that his operation is some sort of Ponzi scheme? Or maybe both?
But definitely not Russia. After all, didn't "The Donald" say "no puppet, no puppet" during the debates? How much more proof do you enemies of the people need?
As you can see I am more than willing to give so-called President Trump the benefit of the doubt.
==
Think of the children:
https://userctl.com/BlueVsRed/058.png
"The way to ease these suspicions would be to examine Trump’s tax returns: Any government investigation that doesn’t obtain Trump’s tax returns simply isn’t a thorough investigation."
That is the key to this whole Russian affair, so-called President Trump's tax returns. Releasing would prove he is innocent and not a corrupt dupe of Vladimir Putin and the FSB.
But for some reason he does not want to release his tax returns willingly. I wonder why?
It is possible that there are no links to the Russians, maybe he just does not want us to find out that is is really not a billionaire? Or maybe that his operation is some sort of Ponzi scheme? Or maybe both?
But definitely not Russia. After all, didn't "The Donald" say "no puppet, no puppet" during the debates? How much more proof do you enemies of the people need?
As you can see I am more than willing to give so-called President Trump the benefit of the doubt.
==
Think of the children:
https://userctl.com/BlueVsRed/058.png
2
Certainly things are getting too hot, and Trump is going nuts.
4
Going nuts?
He's obviously been an off-the-hook wiggy nut since he began his reign of terror campaign.
He's obviously been an off-the-hook wiggy nut since he began his reign of terror campaign.
1
I'm just in shock that the GOP congress are such fierce supporters and enablers knowing all of this information. It would appear that impeaching Trump and having Pence take office would be a win-win situation for them. I really hope the smoking gun is found quickly. I'm not sure how much more I can take of this.
9
And one thing not mentioned... Why would Mitch McConnell not do the cynical but political thing when staring down the barrel of a Clinton Presidency, and allow the Garland Supreme Court nomination to proceed? Might he have been told that there would be an October surprise that would push the election towards Trump? Oh my.
4
Oh, but McConnell DID do the cynical and political thing by stonewalling any chance of Garland getting on the Supreme Court. His party's approach for eight years was to block anything Obama did, and the Garland nomination was more of the same. It worked, too. Had Hillary won in November, but the GOP held on to the Senate, they presumably would have tried to block her nominees. It was all about obstruction. Since the GOP won the White House, they now get to consider a nominee more to their liking. That's easily enough to explain McConnell's actions.
Like Mr Kristof and many Americans, I believe it’s essential (albeit too late) for President Trump to release his taxes. Let's not be naive, though—who among us believes that TrumpLLC submits truthful returns?
8
It's not too late to see his tax returns. The media owes it to the public to reveal what goes on behind closed doors in Washington, D.C. After all, the government's job is to protect its citizens. If Trump's income and other business dealings have indeed been with Russia, and the election hack is connected to that, the American people need to know and Congress must act on it.
6
I didn't even think he paid taxes and I'm sure if he did he was never honest about it. The article forgot to mention the house Trump sold for millions more then it's market value to a Russian. The Russian paid tens of millions more then it was worth.
1
So do you want to see his K-1s (which tell you nothing except his share of gains or losses from each partnership) or do you want to see the detailed 1065 tax returns from each of his 400 partnerships? To do that, of course, you need permission from the other partners. And then, like Kristof, will you call his deductions for depreciation a "loophole" inferring he's done something shady, even though every business in the free world is allowed to depreciate their fixed assets for tax purposes? Trump has been audited by the IRS every year, never charged with any wrongdoing, yet you are convinced he is doing something criminal? Why do you harbor these fantasies?
"What is desperately needed is an independent inquiry modeled on the 9/11 Commission."
"Modeled on," yes. But the new panel cannot be politically constrained the way the 9/11 Commission was. That commission was not a fact-finding body but a "lessons learned" panel. It was opposed by the Bush Administration initially because the latter feared that it might turn up unpalatable facts -- the Bin Laden family's financial support to Mr. Bush's Texas oil company, the fact that demolition charges were used to bring down the twin towers and building 7, to name just two, the fact that NORAD and FEMA were preoccupied with "exercises" on September 11, to name just a few -- that would cast doubt on the official narrative of events, not to mention the NIST findings that "fire," for the first time in US history, had caused the collapse of high rise steel-reinforced structures.
"Modeled on," yes. But the new panel cannot be politically constrained the way the 9/11 Commission was. That commission was not a fact-finding body but a "lessons learned" panel. It was opposed by the Bush Administration initially because the latter feared that it might turn up unpalatable facts -- the Bin Laden family's financial support to Mr. Bush's Texas oil company, the fact that demolition charges were used to bring down the twin towers and building 7, to name just two, the fact that NORAD and FEMA were preoccupied with "exercises" on September 11, to name just a few -- that would cast doubt on the official narrative of events, not to mention the NIST findings that "fire," for the first time in US history, had caused the collapse of high rise steel-reinforced structures.
1
This is why the NYT is worth its weight in gold - careful analysis and appropriate questions rather than the lies, conspiracy and obfuscation of Briebart, Bannon, Spicer and company!
10
Looking forward to seeing Trump's "perp walk".
3
I agree. Sessions is a dry hole. The guy probably said hello to the ambassador, asked where he could get some decent pickled menhaden or blini and that was that. Sessions doesn't strike me as the kind of guy you put in the middle of carrying information back and forth. Manafort is a different kettle of smoked fish altogether. He could hard wire a deal between Putin and Trump with a wink and a nod, leave no paper trail, use other people's cell phones, and never send any emails. But, maybe in his haste, he slipped up a time or two.
When you read Manaforts dossier you see the breadth of international one on one experience and the shady characters he's worked with. It isn't much of a stretch to see him as the "go to guy" or even the initiator of plans to undermine Hillary with with the willing hand of the Russians.
Now, the Russians are not going to out Manafort. No upside. He is too valuable for future electoral destabilization planning world wide. The guy is a regular "dark envoy". So, our DOJ is investigating with one arm tied behind it's back. With deals to offer anyone or people to "flip". And, sadly, under Sessions, they will be loath to pursue any leads. So, it falls to Congress to push forward with the investigations and the FBI...Comey has alreaddy told Trump he is not playing ball...and ain't going anywhere.
When you read Manaforts dossier you see the breadth of international one on one experience and the shady characters he's worked with. It isn't much of a stretch to see him as the "go to guy" or even the initiator of plans to undermine Hillary with with the willing hand of the Russians.
Now, the Russians are not going to out Manafort. No upside. He is too valuable for future electoral destabilization planning world wide. The guy is a regular "dark envoy". So, our DOJ is investigating with one arm tied behind it's back. With deals to offer anyone or people to "flip". And, sadly, under Sessions, they will be loath to pursue any leads. So, it falls to Congress to push forward with the investigations and the FBI...Comey has alreaddy told Trump he is not playing ball...and ain't going anywhere.
2
Newest report is that Trump's intervention to change one GOP plank -which he did- was one quid pro quo
1
If russian mobsters invested in, or purchased Trump properties or assets, wouldn't there be a public record to follow (real estate)? NYT, get on it!
6
“I can see Russia from my house"
.....Sunny Isles, Florida (immediately north of Miami) is known, locally, as Little Moscow. Entire floors of glitzy Trump condos are owned by Russians, their agents or LLCs.
.....Sunny Isles, Florida (immediately north of Miami) is known, locally, as Little Moscow. Entire floors of glitzy Trump condos are owned by Russians, their agents or LLCs.
1
You forgot to include trump's denials that he had met any Russians and then the fact that Russia's ambassador was at one of his private speeches as an invited guest and that he had met the man before the speech.
There's smoke and fire. Let's see those tax returns.
There's smoke and fire. Let's see those tax returns.
7
Jeff Sessions didn't exactly come clean about speaking to the Russian Ambassador, either ... and he was under oath!
Kristof, it really wouldn't be that hard to establish a set of dots connecting Obama to having intelligence agencies spy on the Trump campaign. That would be an even bigger scandal don't you think?
2
good thought, wrong forum
1
What part of "needing a court order" do you not understand?
3
The most likely explanation at this point is that Trump is leading a long-term, multi-faceted campaign to benefit our chief global adversary that continues today--and is intensifying. The most probably reason Trump is leading this effort is financial. He has already received a 60 million dollar wet kiss from Putin buddy "fertilizer king" Dmitry Rybolovle. Dimitry continues to support Trump, meeting with him (or his team) from time to time at airports around the country where his plane "just happens" to be in the same place as the Trump plane--including more "coincidences" both after the election and after the inauguration. (and this is only one of the many Trump-team Russian coordination mechanisms found so far).
Republicans, of course, put party above country, lies above reality, and money above the health and lives of their constituents, and will not recognize treason in a Republican no matter what.
Republicans, of course, put party above country, lies above reality, and money above the health and lives of their constituents, and will not recognize treason in a Republican no matter what.
2
What if there is no evidence or not enough evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign to remove him? Does that mean he is free and clear to continue as president? There are so many actions he has taken and so many outrageous things he has said that should disqualify him. He is so obviously unfit to be president that just his conflicts of interest or SOMETHING would be enough to terminate his presidency. Although I hope the ties to Russia work, I hope his removal from office does not hinge on this issue.
2
oh please. Please find something to get trump out. Please. I love Obama, I could tolerate Hillary. I'm a liberal, progressive, a good person, not like those nasty Republicans. Isn't there some way we can disenfranchise those who voted for Trump? PLEASE. It isn't fair he won. He couldn't have really won could he? It must have been Comey, the Russians. Somebody did it. It couldn't have been because the electorate didn't like HRC and repudiated 8 years of Obama UN Care for the good old US. Somebody stop the madness.
Progressives are beyond belief.
Progressives are beyond belief.
Hmm. A few days ago Masha Gessen published an article in which she suggested there might be little to the Russian accusations. She warned against making a big deal out of meeting with an ambassador and she pointed out that when the Trump team had the section about lethal aid to Ukraine removed from the Republican Party platform, this was actually in keeping with current policy. Obama had not authorized lethal aid either. She urges us instead to focus on the legislation Trump and Congress are trying to enact now. The problem is Trump and company continue to behave in such suspicious way that it's unsettling. I agree with Mr. Kristof that we need answers. I for one will probably never be capable of trusting Trump and his administration until he releases his tax returns. Otherwise I will continue to be nagged by the sense that he is hiding something.
1
Thanks Mr. Kristof for recounting the details of what we know so far. This will forever stand as a GIANT QUESTION MARK to remind us that the Republicans persist in keeping any and all Congressional investigations of these matters behind closed doors.
There are no dots needed for distinction just a firm emboldened STRAIGHT line....any other belief is that of an Alternate World reveled and engrossed in ALTERNATIVE Facts!!"
Let's also not forget that our new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was a total unknown to Trump before the election. There are critical layoffs of key personnel at state, with a 37% budget cut, if I have that figure right. He is also refusing to speak to the press but only allows them photo ops when he is meeting with other heads of state. He, too, was placed there by the Russians to dismantle our state department, which sets out our world view and policy that Putin would like to see neutered.
3
You and Rachael Maddow should team up, although her dots turned out to be only specks of mud on the wall. How about connecting the dots between Bill, Hillary, and Russia? Your comment about "half-a-dozen people in Trump's circle" contacting Russians is journalistic muckraking in its purest form. What do you consider Trump´s circle? Business people, political advisors, friends vacationing in St Petersburg? I have had 5 or 6 contacts with Russians over the past few years. I also know President Trump. Maybe I am a dot!
1
"Yet I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump team engaged in secret contacts and surreptitious messages, and had advance knowledge of Russia’s efforts to attack the American political process. And that would be a momentous scandal."
True, but the Republican Congress will try its best to sweep it under the rug.
True, but the Republican Congress will try its best to sweep it under the rug.
10
Simple. The Repubs may try to weep it unde the rug, but they won't be able to kep it secret. If the voters are interested they can sweep them out in 2018. If not, they will deserve what they get; and for certain, it won't be America Made Great Again.
What are we waiting for?!
6
Keep connecting those "dots," Mr. Kristof. You might come out with a nice picture of a horsie or something. Or, if you are really lucky, you might convince Democrats to reconstitute the McCarthy hearings (to get those "commies" out from under our beds).
2
Better yet, he will come up with the clear picture of Trumpco colluding with the Russian Government to undermine the democratic process and steal the election from Hillary Clinton. I just don'r understand people like you. Yo want to lock Hillary Clinton up for some e-mails, yet you don't want to know the truth about the Trump Russia connection.
1
When did Senator Graham become a Democrat let alone Congressman Issa?
You can always count on rats jumping ship........The question is when......
7
You are being far too generous in your assessment and are forgetting Bannon's affiliation with the European alt-right, a fascist, 'Eurasian' philosophy, and Trump's desire to eliminate trade blocks and deal one-on-one with countries, upending the global economy. Trump is implementing Putin's policy, not what's best for America. While everyone is scrambling around, digging out of a massive web of lies, Putin has his fingers on two powerful nuclear arsenals through hi surrogate, Trump and no doubt several other FSB operatives in government. I know it sounds crazy. It only makes sense if you look at Trump through Russian eyes.
12
Thank you for the outstanding analysis, Mr. Kristof.
This time, the showers on Don the Con's parade will not be so golden.
This time, the showers on Don the Con's parade will not be so golden.
12
There is something definitely very dodgy about Donald Trump's ambiguous Relationship with Russia. I think that your evocation of Trump's hysterical self-defence is the key behind a tremendous scheme of complicity behind Trump's operators and the Kremlin. The general public is already aware of Trump's salacious side -- it has to be something far more serious than a banal honeypot set-up which doesn't shock anyone anymore. Let us just hope that he does not decide to take everyone down with him in flames in the event darker truths emerge.
11
Manafort was dropped because probing was just getting too close for comfort. Nick Kristof is correct. The whole saga stinks to high heaven. I am just one powerless member of the American public, but I am outraged that we have been duped by a cadre of liars, thieves, and conspirators. t is a cruel, crude fraud. We are totally reliant on serious and meticulous probing of this convoluted scheme. SOMEBODY can get those tax returns. That information would blow the whole thing open.
19
Nixon's boys scuttled the Paris peace talks for political advantage. Costing and additional 25 thousand americans deaths and many more shredded for life.
Reagan's goon, GHWBush, did the same with the Iran hostage talks, for political advantage.
GWBUSH, rose to office on the back of some very shady dealings. (which dems were too weak and feckless to battle).
The last 3 GOP presidents were run from Saudi
Are we surprised this president will be run by Russia?
See you in Costa Rica
Reagan's goon, GHWBush, did the same with the Iran hostage talks, for political advantage.
GWBUSH, rose to office on the back of some very shady dealings. (which dems were too weak and feckless to battle).
The last 3 GOP presidents were run from Saudi
Are we surprised this president will be run by Russia?
See you in Costa Rica
1
Don't the facts about between Russians, the Trump campaign and the Trump administration suggest a simple hypothesis: One or more Russian agents have controlled or manipulated Trump for a long time and aim to undermine key functions of the U.S. government and the press?
5
Rachel Maddow connected another series of dots that was very illuminating. When added to the the context of all the other dots explained in this article, the picture of Trump's debt to Russians is so clear.
From an article summarizing Maddow's episode on this topic: This one involves newly-confirmed Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Ross sits at the center of an extremely shady Florida real estate deal between Donald Trump and a billionaire Russian fertilizer magnate named Dmitry Rybolovlev with a need to hide large amounts of money.
Said Maddow: “At the time this magical deal emerged out of nowhere that put tens of millions of dollars in Donald Trump’s pocket... Trump was financially having a very difficult time. It is a matter of public record that he was fighting very hard among other things to avoid paying off a very big loan that he had with Deutsche Bank. Deutsche Bank needs the money that means Trump needs the money, that means Trump needs to get the money, so… This mysterious infusion of cash from the Russian guy came at just the right time for now President Trump.”
Added Maddow: “Every investigative reporter in the country right now is trying to figure out whether there is some reason our president appears to feel so beholden to Russia, and to Vladimir Putin. Well this part here is not like a loose thread, this is like a rope ladder hanging down from the ceiling begging people to crawl up this and look around.”
From an article summarizing Maddow's episode on this topic: This one involves newly-confirmed Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Ross sits at the center of an extremely shady Florida real estate deal between Donald Trump and a billionaire Russian fertilizer magnate named Dmitry Rybolovlev with a need to hide large amounts of money.
Said Maddow: “At the time this magical deal emerged out of nowhere that put tens of millions of dollars in Donald Trump’s pocket... Trump was financially having a very difficult time. It is a matter of public record that he was fighting very hard among other things to avoid paying off a very big loan that he had with Deutsche Bank. Deutsche Bank needs the money that means Trump needs the money, that means Trump needs to get the money, so… This mysterious infusion of cash from the Russian guy came at just the right time for now President Trump.”
Added Maddow: “Every investigative reporter in the country right now is trying to figure out whether there is some reason our president appears to feel so beholden to Russia, and to Vladimir Putin. Well this part here is not like a loose thread, this is like a rope ladder hanging down from the ceiling begging people to crawl up this and look around.”
21
Yes, I saw that . She then connected it farther when she explained how he Russian guy who was CEO of Deutsche Bank was let go when Deutsche Bank was fined 600 million dollars for helping the Russians to launder billions of dollars. He then moved to the Bank of Cyprus. Guess who has been the vice-chairman of the board of Bank of Cyprus PCL, the largest bank in Cyprus since 2014. Secretary of Commerce- Wilbur Ross. This gets curiouser and curiouser said the White Rabbit to Alice.
2
I think the mostly likely explanation is that Russia/Putin has financial leverage on Trump. They propped up his business when no one else would. Trump's worst nightmare is not being seen as wealthy and successful. Russia/Putin/Oligarchs have the ability to bankrupt Trump by calling in loans. Trump doesn't have enough assets to cover his debt. He'll be broke. And we'll all know it. Worst nightmare!
That's why Putin wanted him elected - absolute leverage over the American president.
That's why Putin wanted him elected - absolute leverage over the American president.
10
One of those dots that needs the bight light of day shown upon it is Cambridge Analytics. After Kushner met with them did he pass the keys to the Kingdom to Russia? Why is no one investigating Robert Mercer and his connection with Bannon?
6
It's an interesting dynamic. When Trump was elected, it appeared that he had the Republican Party under his thumb. Now, if the Party plays its cards right, they have him boxed in and can make him sign anything simply by threatening to open inquiries into the Russia issue, dragging it all into the light. Same thing in exposing him as either a liar regarding the wiretap charge, or exposing the Fisa court allowance of such a tap as legal and thus necessary.
8
Trump and Manafort lied about not having anything to do with changing the GOP platform in favor of Russia vs. Ukraine. It's on video. Now they're finally admitting they did indeed change the GOP platform in favor of Russia. Rachel Maddow has done an amazing job connecting these dots. Anyone who hasn't watched, should. The next question she's asking -- is the decimation of the State Dept. under Tillerson and Trump a payback to Russia for their help getting Trump elected. Tillerson came out of nowhere and is pals with Putin. Putin hates our State Dept. and would love to see it weakened. And it seems he has his wish. The GOP needs to wake up and stop enabling the destruction of our country and world standing. It's abundantly clear that something is going on -- yes, it seems like a bad spy novel, but the dots keep connecting. And as Kristof rightly states, there are many of them.
It's too bad the GOP can't seem to step up and protect our democracy. As a start, we need independent investigations -- and they need to be accelerated. The press is moving much faster than the current investigators, so it seems the latter are dragging their feet (at best).
It's too bad the GOP can't seem to step up and protect our democracy. As a start, we need independent investigations -- and they need to be accelerated. The press is moving much faster than the current investigators, so it seems the latter are dragging their feet (at best).
10
From August 15, 2016 Atlantic Monthly article:
"In a major piece published Sunday evening, The New York Times delves into the work of Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in Ukraine. For years, Manafort worked for Viktor Yanukovych, a Kremlin protege who was deposed as president amid widespread demonstrations in 2014."
You've trolled these waters before, and came up with?? Right, NOTHING. So today, you have nothing new to say, but use your vaporware as one peg in a non-existent conspiracy that everyone has already conceded, did nothing to "hack the election." Some Russians hacked the DNC; a miniscule story last October that you are blowing into an atom-bomb because Trump won. BTW, Yanukovych was "deposed" after being elected. How many other elected officials in Europe have been similarly deposed in the last 5 years? Any wonder Russia sees his ouster as a NATO-led "coup"? Do you ever wonder if you are a pawn of neo-cons who want war with Russia?
"In a major piece published Sunday evening, The New York Times delves into the work of Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in Ukraine. For years, Manafort worked for Viktor Yanukovych, a Kremlin protege who was deposed as president amid widespread demonstrations in 2014."
You've trolled these waters before, and came up with?? Right, NOTHING. So today, you have nothing new to say, but use your vaporware as one peg in a non-existent conspiracy that everyone has already conceded, did nothing to "hack the election." Some Russians hacked the DNC; a miniscule story last October that you are blowing into an atom-bomb because Trump won. BTW, Yanukovych was "deposed" after being elected. How many other elected officials in Europe have been similarly deposed in the last 5 years? Any wonder Russia sees his ouster as a NATO-led "coup"? Do you ever wonder if you are a pawn of neo-cons who want war with Russia?
In 1973, President Nixon stated: "I'm not a crook." It took a lot of "trolling the waters" to eventually connect the dots of Watergate.
The "everyone" that you cite are, in fact, NOT ready to "concede" that the election wasn't hacked. Don't project your own narrow mindset onto the rest of us who want the truth exposed (and want to save our country).
The "everyone" that you cite are, in fact, NOT ready to "concede" that the election wasn't hacked. Don't project your own narrow mindset onto the rest of us who want the truth exposed (and want to save our country).
2
Not a shred of evidence related to Russia according to Clapper. These nonsensical articles in the NYT by rabid partisans are pure garbage and a cover for illegal activities conducted by democrats. Kristof has been denigrating Trump forever and cannot be trusted to write anything that is not a lie. NOT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE and there never will be because it is all fake news. Kristof should have had somebody take him up on his attempt to bribe somebody at the IRS to give him Trump's taxes, then we could get him arrested for conspiracy to commit a felony. I'd love to see this traitor Kristof behind bars.
1
Not a shred of evidence? Then no problem with an investigation.
2
It doesn't matter whether or not you shout at us using capital letters; that doesn't make your assertion about "not a shred of evidence" any more credible.
And are you some kind of magical genie who can predict the future (i.e. "there never will be")? If the evidence exists, we simply haven't found it yet; that doesn't mean that we should stop looking.
And lots of the things that tRump (and his "rabid partisan" followers like yourself) have claimed to be "fake news" along the way have in fact been demonstrably true.
You betray your rabid partisanship (and undermine your credibility) when you call Mr. Kristof a "traitor" simply for asking questions.
You don't seem to be able to handle living in reality without spewing ad hominem attacks. So, go slithering back to Faux News, where trolls like you who believe in "alternate facts" and conspiracy theories belong.
And are you some kind of magical genie who can predict the future (i.e. "there never will be")? If the evidence exists, we simply haven't found it yet; that doesn't mean that we should stop looking.
And lots of the things that tRump (and his "rabid partisan" followers like yourself) have claimed to be "fake news" along the way have in fact been demonstrably true.
You betray your rabid partisanship (and undermine your credibility) when you call Mr. Kristof a "traitor" simply for asking questions.
You don't seem to be able to handle living in reality without spewing ad hominem attacks. So, go slithering back to Faux News, where trolls like you who believe in "alternate facts" and conspiracy theories belong.
2
At this point, seems pretty certain that the dots will connect...all the way to the president. It's just a matter of how many others go down with him. Its also fairly certain that any 'investigation' at the political level will move at a snail's pace, if at all. So to all journalist, news reporters and commentators - keep on digging, and searching and connecting those dots - PLEASE! Do not let this go until we have ALL the facts!
10
One other thing, Nick: Trump would never EVER allow his campaign staff to contact the Russians without his permission. I doubt whether he would allow any member of his team to do much more than visit the toilet without his consent. He's a (tiny) hands-on guy who takes personal credit for anything and everything. Who would possibly have taken such risks without his knowing about it?
6
I got to admit I've never seen a political scandal so obvious, but I am willing to give it the showiest trial Trump will love the best because it will be the greatest ever!
39
Perhaps he should invest in some lovely gold handcuffs. This man is scum of the lowest order. Always has been, always will be.
1
Nick: Thanks for cutting to the chase. You rock!
Now to hurrying along this momentous threat to our democracy:
SCOTUS: You have the facts. You see that this administration is incapable of investigating itself. The election was tainted. Call for a new election for president/vice president and issue a state of emergency.
As Nick said we need an independent inquiry, and likely an independent prosecutor to go after the facts and subsequent prosecutions for treason.
WHISTLE-BLOWERS: support our democracy and involve the public by leaking anonymously to reality-based respected media--Trump's tax returns for the past 10 years, Russian connections and true health status.
Everyday, important laws and protections are being removed by these villains. Jobs lost, respect lost, science lost. We cannot wait a moment longer. Step up SCOTUS and WHISTLE-BLOWERS!
Now to hurrying along this momentous threat to our democracy:
SCOTUS: You have the facts. You see that this administration is incapable of investigating itself. The election was tainted. Call for a new election for president/vice president and issue a state of emergency.
As Nick said we need an independent inquiry, and likely an independent prosecutor to go after the facts and subsequent prosecutions for treason.
WHISTLE-BLOWERS: support our democracy and involve the public by leaking anonymously to reality-based respected media--Trump's tax returns for the past 10 years, Russian connections and true health status.
Everyday, important laws and protections are being removed by these villains. Jobs lost, respect lost, science lost. We cannot wait a moment longer. Step up SCOTUS and WHISTLE-BLOWERS!
21
New election......because all of them, being part to one degree or another of
a treasonous event are out.......Pence cannot benefit from an illegal and
treasonous act.
a treasonous event are out.......Pence cannot benefit from an illegal and
treasonous act.
5
Nothing can be truer!
1
I agree with your hypothesis that what'll probably come to light isn't likely to be clear and well defined deal. More likely to be Russia offering information and help, and Trump's team feeling like it'd be impolite to not respond - or being full of themselves feeling like spies but still doing things that are inconsequential.
That said, I think the real story is to be found in Trump's finances. Ryobovlev following him around during the campaign, and showing up at Mar el Lago the last three weekends for golf - that doesn't look so great. Particularly since he bailed Trump out with some well timed gifts of tens of millions of dollars. There'll be evidence of an inevitable bias towards those who've saved your bacon, not a criminal enterprise.
But I could be wrong. Hope I'm not.
That said, I think the real story is to be found in Trump's finances. Ryobovlev following him around during the campaign, and showing up at Mar el Lago the last three weekends for golf - that doesn't look so great. Particularly since he bailed Trump out with some well timed gifts of tens of millions of dollars. There'll be evidence of an inevitable bias towards those who've saved your bacon, not a criminal enterprise.
But I could be wrong. Hope I'm not.
24
trump's team thinking it would be "impolite" not to respond......
Really? Impolite? When have you seen some example of politesse
from that campaign?
Really? Impolite? When have you seen some example of politesse
from that campaign?
5
remember, they're responding to friends not foes. Trump is unfailingly polite if he thinks he can get something from someone.
In exchange for Russian help, “the Trump team agreed to sideline Russian intervention in Ukraine as a campaign issue.”
They did that. They changed the RNC plank to eliminate military support for the people of Ukraine. Donald and Manafort both said they knew nothing about it, but they were fingered by the Russians.
Steele's dossier is checking out in every respect. But spare me the golden video.
They did that. They changed the RNC plank to eliminate military support for the people of Ukraine. Donald and Manafort both said they knew nothing about it, but they were fingered by the Russians.
Steele's dossier is checking out in every respect. But spare me the golden video.
31
If so, checkmate? I hope that someone with influence is ready to offset the threat of instability. When the dominos fall, 39% of us will still be zealous supporters of Trump. The Country needs, now, an alt/parallel leader with the grounding spirit of a Cronkite. If we are really a nation that governs by the rule of law, there is a massive coil under compression ready to spring, either sooner or later.
Why do we need Trump's permission to see Trump's tax returns? The US Treasury, specifically the IRS, already has Trump's tax returns. We only need a law declaring that the President's tax returns shall be made public information.
There is no Constitutional issue in making the President's tax returns public information. The Constitution does not guarantee the privacy of any person's tax returns, since the US Income tax and the requirement for individual tax returns did not exist when the Constitution was written in the 18th century. The Income tax and the associated requirement to file tax returns were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th century. There is no mention of them, or of any right to keep them secret, in the Constitution.
We need to pass a law making the tax returns of the President, and his highest officials, public information. They are already required to submit this information to the Treasury. It should be made public.
There is no Constitutional issue in making the President's tax returns public information. The Constitution does not guarantee the privacy of any person's tax returns, since the US Income tax and the requirement for individual tax returns did not exist when the Constitution was written in the 18th century. The Income tax and the associated requirement to file tax returns were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th century. There is no mention of them, or of any right to keep them secret, in the Constitution.
We need to pass a law making the tax returns of the President, and his highest officials, public information. They are already required to submit this information to the Treasury. It should be made public.
36
The problem has been that the GOP-led house has voted down a bill that would force Trump's taxes. They know that they will likely find something illegal and don't want to take the chance of Trump's public supporters turning on him and the rest of the party.
4th amendment,
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
even this dirt bag is protected
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
even this dirt bag is protected
but there is probable cause, too much of it!
I suspect that there are far more than mere dots to tie Scheme Trump to Russia.
Perhaps Vladimir Putin will leak Trump's personal and corporate income tax returns along with his personal and corporate business holding records, contacts and deals.
Or maybe Xi Jinping will be so inclined to embarrass the Russian Bear hugging of our so-called Presidential Apprentice Trump.
The Chinese Dragon is rising while the Russian Bear is setting. About 20% of humanity is ethnic Han Chinese. The ethnic Russian Orthodox majority is rapidly aging and shrinking in a Russian nation of 143 million persons. America spends 9x more on arms annually than Russia. While China spends a third of America on arms.
Or Donald can ask his ethnic Slavic communist atheist 1st wife Ivana and 3rd wife Melania what their fellow ethnic Slavic communist atheist blood brother Czar wannabe Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin really intends to do.
W imagined that he got a sense of Putin's soul while gazing in his icy blue eyes. Obama thought that he had more flexibility to big red reset button the Russian American relationship. Their delusional lunacy seems to be contagious. Putin is sculpting and skulking and stalking America in plain sight.
Perhaps Vladimir Putin will leak Trump's personal and corporate income tax returns along with his personal and corporate business holding records, contacts and deals.
Or maybe Xi Jinping will be so inclined to embarrass the Russian Bear hugging of our so-called Presidential Apprentice Trump.
The Chinese Dragon is rising while the Russian Bear is setting. About 20% of humanity is ethnic Han Chinese. The ethnic Russian Orthodox majority is rapidly aging and shrinking in a Russian nation of 143 million persons. America spends 9x more on arms annually than Russia. While China spends a third of America on arms.
Or Donald can ask his ethnic Slavic communist atheist 1st wife Ivana and 3rd wife Melania what their fellow ethnic Slavic communist atheist blood brother Czar wannabe Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin really intends to do.
W imagined that he got a sense of Putin's soul while gazing in his icy blue eyes. Obama thought that he had more flexibility to big red reset button the Russian American relationship. Their delusional lunacy seems to be contagious. Putin is sculpting and skulking and stalking America in plain sight.
12
Let me add some more data.
Sessions met w/ Kislyak for the 2nd time on Sept. 8. Here is what was going on at that time. Three days before Sessions met w/Kislyak in September, Obama met w/Putin at the G20 summit. At the G20 summit, Obama & Putin discussed sanctions that US imposed on Sept 1, which Putin said were inconsistent w/future cooperation. On Sept 7, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper publicly suggested for the first time that Russia was behind the DNC hack. Then, on Sept. 8 - the day of the Sessions-Kislyak meeting - Trump told a Russian TV network he didn't think Russia was behind the hack. That same day, Trump suggested it would be "wonderful" if we had a relationship with Russia. ALSO on the same day, both Trump AND Pence heaped praise on Putin & his leadership style. AND, on that same day Russia suddenly became optimistic about building good relations w/the US. In sum, at the start of the week, Russia wasn't optimistic abt cooperation, but after the Sessions-Kislyak meeting, that changed.
Here's the kicker: 5 days after Sessions-Kislyak meeting, the hacked DNC emails were released. BOOM. Coincidences?? This should be on Kristof's, and more importantly, Congress's list.
Sessions met w/ Kislyak for the 2nd time on Sept. 8. Here is what was going on at that time. Three days before Sessions met w/Kislyak in September, Obama met w/Putin at the G20 summit. At the G20 summit, Obama & Putin discussed sanctions that US imposed on Sept 1, which Putin said were inconsistent w/future cooperation. On Sept 7, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper publicly suggested for the first time that Russia was behind the DNC hack. Then, on Sept. 8 - the day of the Sessions-Kislyak meeting - Trump told a Russian TV network he didn't think Russia was behind the hack. That same day, Trump suggested it would be "wonderful" if we had a relationship with Russia. ALSO on the same day, both Trump AND Pence heaped praise on Putin & his leadership style. AND, on that same day Russia suddenly became optimistic about building good relations w/the US. In sum, at the start of the week, Russia wasn't optimistic abt cooperation, but after the Sessions-Kislyak meeting, that changed.
Here's the kicker: 5 days after Sessions-Kislyak meeting, the hacked DNC emails were released. BOOM. Coincidences?? This should be on Kristof's, and more importantly, Congress's list.
35
Which investigating committee can subpoena Trump's tax returns and how soon can this be done?
21
NOT gonna blow the US ending of HofC as it's still hanging out there, Chads.
But the last of the UK's three makes of the great trilogy about betrayal of democracy explains everything. It's the gas shares thingy. Trump's getting the riches he always desired but he had to defraud the USA to make it. FU got a Brazilian oil dealall for himslefishness. It made him squeal so hard, Stamper had to put a damper on it. Bye, bye, blow hard.
But the last of the UK's three makes of the great trilogy about betrayal of democracy explains everything. It's the gas shares thingy. Trump's getting the riches he always desired but he had to defraud the USA to make it. FU got a Brazilian oil dealall for himslefishness. It made him squeal so hard, Stamper had to put a damper on it. Bye, bye, blow hard.
1
Great article. Examining the individual dots, there’s a compelling pattern. A strong pattern. Yes, we need a full investigation.
Trump is not afraid of using innuendo, rumor, and outright dishonesty to get attention. He got launched politically by claiming Obama didn’t have a US birth certificate. He knew that wasn’t true. But that outrageous claim launched him on Fox News and the pre-campaign trail. Trump realizes that spectacle generates headlines and TV coverage. It doesn’t matter if it’s true. The more times the media repeats it, the more real it becomes. That can be useful to divert attention away from something like Sessions’ contact with the Russians.
Lakoff wrote a great post 2 days ago. https://georgelakoff.com/blog/ He outlines how the Trump’s diversions work. And how the more times a something gets repeated, the more accepted it becomes.
Trump is not afraid of using innuendo, rumor, and outright dishonesty to get attention. He got launched politically by claiming Obama didn’t have a US birth certificate. He knew that wasn’t true. But that outrageous claim launched him on Fox News and the pre-campaign trail. Trump realizes that spectacle generates headlines and TV coverage. It doesn’t matter if it’s true. The more times the media repeats it, the more real it becomes. That can be useful to divert attention away from something like Sessions’ contact with the Russians.
Lakoff wrote a great post 2 days ago. https://georgelakoff.com/blog/ He outlines how the Trump’s diversions work. And how the more times a something gets repeated, the more accepted it becomes.
9
By all means, lets investigate his Russian ties, but the real scandal here is the Republican party's willingness to tolerate Trump's attitudes towards Putin, whatever their motive, and complete unsuitability and lack of qualifications for the office he holds.
27
Thankyou!! My god, what's it gonna take for them to get rid of him? They're using him to get what they want with no shame. Tax returns please!!!!
The Russia issue must be examined immediately, and an organized movement is needed to make it happen. We all have to step up. Trump, who has no mandate, trashes America's constitutional and broader institutional order to protect the dominance of his own obvious incompetence. Eager to use his legislative pen to advance cruel policies ignoring the glaring needs of the poor, the middle class, and the environment to preserve their victory in the class war they've won in favor of the wealthy, Republican leaders ignore this national crisis. One option is to smugly await the Republicans' owning the tragic consequences. A better choice is to rise up to affirm the best American values. Those values demand that the government that works for all of us serve the common good.
270
Gary, you are surely aware of the wealth of Democrats and the ties of leaders of the Democrats to Wall Street, right?
1
Mr Kristoff, your #2 mentions no obvious links between Trump campaign officials and Russia, yet this July 18 story in the Washington post reports one link, which was to alter language in the GOP platform in such a way as to favor Russia ... of course, there may be others but this connection is from a reputable news company ... otherwise, thx for the many dots! https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-campaign-g...
6
EXACTLY!! Follow the dots...all the way to Trump and beyond!! He is guilty for sure...
4
To flesh out Kristof's offering here read:
http://billmoyers.com/story/dig-deep-russia-love-money/
"Dig Deep: From Russia with Love Money"
BY GAIL ABLOW | MARCH 6, 2017
Rachel Maddow — Nails down inescapable conclusions.
Politifact — Runs down the dots more comprehensively
I find it galling that the Times with all its resources can't get the documented facts out and do a better job of lining up indisputable logic. If nothing else read the Bill Moyers article, it is jaw dropping.
http://billmoyers.com/story/dig-deep-russia-love-money/
"Dig Deep: From Russia with Love Money"
BY GAIL ABLOW | MARCH 6, 2017
Rachel Maddow — Nails down inescapable conclusions.
Politifact — Runs down the dots more comprehensively
I find it galling that the Times with all its resources can't get the documented facts out and do a better job of lining up indisputable logic. If nothing else read the Bill Moyers article, it is jaw dropping.
6
the Times helped sell the Iraq invasion. They helped give billions of exposure to trump. The continued the Hillary e-mail "scandal" well past the date on which it was all debunked.
the Times liberal? whatever you're smoking, share it around
the Times liberal? whatever you're smoking, share it around
"......when a leader goes berserk and unleashes tirades and threats at investigators, that’s when you’re getting close." This statement sums up what we all know - the bully in the White House is throwing tantrums because those whom he loathes so much are getting very close to unveiling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So....help us God!
9
As always, follow the money. The answers are all in the tax returns. Let us not forget Trump's lame excuse during the campaign that his returns were being audited. Wow! This is some big league audit....the biggest and longest ever....the greatest....believe me!!
11
what nonsense!! Tax returns do not even show assets. These silly people never bothered to even think about it as stock holding appear nowhere!!! Go to the Federal Elections Commission data where Trump filed is financial statement. I feel sorry for you if you evaluate companies based upon their tax returns.
1
Hmmm . . . if WikiLeaks is good enough to hack the CIA, why haven't they hacked the IRS for Trump's tax returns? I sincerely doubt that the IRS has tougher encryption than the CIA.
Could it possibly be that Julian is not an honest broker? And is in cahoots with Russian intelligence? Who was/is in cahoots with the Trump campaign? How 'bout those dots?
Could it possibly be that Julian is not an honest broker? And is in cahoots with Russian intelligence? Who was/is in cahoots with the Trump campaign? How 'bout those dots?
18
Kristof is a Russian puppet and should be treated as the true Fake News author he really is.
The big thing missing from this and similar stories is the money. Trump is motivated by two things - fame/spectacle and money. We need to know who is financing his enterprises and deals. The book Red Notice lays out the role of Putin and his cronies in stealing the Russian economy from its rightful owners. Team Trump, I suspect, is a partner with the oligarchs.
As a Wise lobbyist taught me -- follow the money.
As a Wise lobbyist taught me -- follow the money.
13
Obama grew up in a Muslim country, his closest advisor, now housemate, is Iranian, and Hillary's closest advisor, always present, has strong familial ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Considering that Obama/Hillary have been deferential to Islamists demands here and abroad, confer with CAIR, and pushed for swarming our country with unvented Muslims while shutting the door on persecuted Christians, it is these dots, rather than Trumps, that must be investigated to unearth what may well be Islamist interference in our country. A special prosecutor for Obama/Hillary along with their capos (Lynch, Podesta, etc.) is necessary.
2
Dr. Paul, please tell me you don't practice a dentistry.
A European woman brought back the act of immunization after visiting the Middle East, though people insisted on suffering in ignorance for another century. Why Bannon and company insist we assume Muslims are ignorant and radical is just stupidly divisive.
A European woman brought back the act of immunization after visiting the Middle East, though people insisted on suffering in ignorance for another century. Why Bannon and company insist we assume Muslims are ignorant and radical is just stupidly divisive.
10
Living fours years in a country is not the same as "growing up" there. (Not to mention growing up in a country does not necessarily determine one's politics.) Jarrett was born in Shiraz, Iran, to American parents James E. Bowman and Barbara Taylor Bowman. She's not Iranian, she is an American. So, two points in the first sentence of the argument being misinformation one can only doubt the veracity of everything else to come -- which I didn't even bother to read; fact-checking takes too much time.
One child lives in Indonesia during his middle school years, another departs Iran by the time she's five - I do catch the word Muslim mentioned a few times and can only imagine the implications.
This is why political discourse is so difficult and sometimes fruitless.
One child lives in Indonesia during his middle school years, another departs Iran by the time she's five - I do catch the word Muslim mentioned a few times and can only imagine the implications.
This is why political discourse is so difficult and sometimes fruitless.
2
You need to step out of this country and travel abroad. Muslims are everywhere and everyone knows one or two. Even Muslims do not like Islamists. Ask anyone on Dubai or Indonesia, Nairobi or Kyrgyzstan ...
1
And more dots: McClatchy reports Russian Oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev's plane shows up along the campaign trail (and flight logs also show in Croatia when Jared and Ivanka were on vacation there with Wendy Murdoch, who may or maynot have dated Putin)....And the Mercury News points to Ivanka and Jared's ultra-rich Russian friends who they openly hang with at the US Open...And then there's the banks and billionaire investors like Yuri Milner, who the Times reported back in January are helping keep the Kushners afloat.... Maybe there is an innocent explanation for this, right?
5
To the tune of " matchmaker, matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof.
Tax cheater, tax cheater
Show us the forms
Just put them them out there
Conform to the norms
Tax cheater, tax cheater
Why, why deny
We need to know
Why continue to lie
Tax cheater, tax cheater
Why shouldn't you pay
A fair share is good
Just why won't you say
Tax cheater, tax cheater
Show us the forms
Just put them them out there
Conform to the norms
Tax cheater, tax cheater
Why, why deny
We need to know
Why continue to lie
Tax cheater, tax cheater
Why shouldn't you pay
A fair share is good
Just why won't you say
2
Hey, Nick....that "Red Scare' thing kinda back-fired on ole Joe McCarthy. 'member?
2
And without a shred of evidence to support the claims, it is clear that Kristof is a fraud and liar. The NYT should never allow these hit jobs to occur because the NYT has zero credibility left.
Of course you understand the difference between Reds and Russians, right?
1
Please see:
http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2017/03/06/how-diana-denmans-singul...
from Jonathan Tilove, Austin American Statesman's chief political correspondent, 6 March. Truth (and demoncracy) dies in darkness . . .
http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2017/03/06/how-diana-denmans-singul...
from Jonathan Tilove, Austin American Statesman's chief political correspondent, 6 March. Truth (and demoncracy) dies in darkness . . .
The IRS employee that leaks Trump's tax returns will be a hero
7
and also go to jail along with Kristof for his conspiracy.
Great reporting, Mr. Kristof! Your report here and Rachel Maddow's TV coverage from last night (3-8-17) provide credible reasons for stepping up the independent investigations into Trump's and his associates' activities during at least the last several years! I agree with you that Mr. Sessions is irrelevant to any future investigations for quite a few reasons.
TRUMP MUST BE FORCED TO SHOW THE PUBLIC HIS FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS as all modern presidents have done! It is clear that Trump is HIDING something!
TRUMP MUST BE FORCED TO SHOW THE PUBLIC HIS FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS as all modern presidents have done! It is clear that Trump is HIDING something!
5
Many of us, myself included, begged the Times, right after the tussle on the platform plank surfaced, to put more into the ties to Russia than the (ridiculously repeated) front page articles about Clinton's emails. I often wonder what it felt like to be the Morton Thiokol engineers who implored NASA to not launch the challenger on the morning of the disaster, or the Intelligence personnel who contributed to and drafted the "Bin Laden to Strike in US" (with planes) pdb that Bush ignored. ... well, i hardly put myself in that category, but I have a hint of it. The problem here is that there isn't a spectacular catastrophe like the challenger or WTC attacks, there is a fast-moving but not visual, not sudden, not explosive, erosion of everything we believe in, and most importantly--our government--the State Department, the checks on the President by Congress. It's already been put into motion. The dye is cast. And without a very muscular 'full-court press' WILLING TO BE AS NASTY as the President is/will be to falsely defend himself [by projecting onto others ("Hillary Clinton will be the most corrupt politician ever to hold the office, if she is elected..."; "the Press is the enemy of the People", etc) or by saying the most offensive things about everyone involved], we can lose everything--much more than healthcare. Bannon's objectives must be addressed. If nothing else, the President will spend us into oblivion as we did the USSR. What better desserts for Vladimir Putin?
12
Dems are too weak and feckless to fight for their own skins, let alone go after trump.
We are sunk. see you in Costa Rica
We are sunk. see you in Costa Rica
Is Manifort living and working at Trump Tower? For how long has this been going on?
9
Lock. Him. Up.
14
How is colluding with a foreign government, Russia, not.....treason?! How?! Can you imagine the outrage from the Republicans IF this were the Obama administrations campaign?!!
There is a mountain of evidence, and more, IF you add the dossier compiled by the retired MI-6 spy on behalf of a group of Republicans prior to the election.
WHO will have the courage and the integrity on the GOP side, to insist on an independent investigation?! Who?! Anyone, Republicans? Or is it always party before country?!
There is a mountain of evidence, and more, IF you add the dossier compiled by the retired MI-6 spy on behalf of a group of Republicans prior to the election.
WHO will have the courage and the integrity on the GOP side, to insist on an independent investigation?! Who?! Anyone, Republicans? Or is it always party before country?!
9
dems don't fight - nothing will happen - see you in costa rica
A more obvious yet even deeper connection to Russia everyone in the press as well as ( at least publicly ) the Intelligence Community seems to be ignoring ;
1)Breitbart receivers the majority of its funding from Russian oligarch Alexander Dugin who is for all practical purposes Putin's right hand man and who's stated agenda is to create a New EuroNeoFascism to be spread thur out the western world .
2) Sessions has been associated with Breitbart in his senate campaigns over the last few years , during the Trump campaign and continues to be .
3) Trump used Briebart from the beginning , then hired Bannon to head up his campaign and later installed Bannon in the Whitehouse after becoming POTUS
4) Several other key members of Trump's staff have had long term relations with Breitbart .. not to mention several key RNC members of Congress as well as the Senate
So ... Dugin + Breitbart + Bannon + Trump = Russia . Honestly . Could the connection be any clearer ? Not to mention deeper ?
1)Breitbart receivers the majority of its funding from Russian oligarch Alexander Dugin who is for all practical purposes Putin's right hand man and who's stated agenda is to create a New EuroNeoFascism to be spread thur out the western world .
2) Sessions has been associated with Breitbart in his senate campaigns over the last few years , during the Trump campaign and continues to be .
3) Trump used Briebart from the beginning , then hired Bannon to head up his campaign and later installed Bannon in the Whitehouse after becoming POTUS
4) Several other key members of Trump's staff have had long term relations with Breitbart .. not to mention several key RNC members of Congress as well as the Senate
So ... Dugin + Breitbart + Bannon + Trump = Russia . Honestly . Could the connection be any clearer ? Not to mention deeper ?
11
nothing about Donald Trumps July 2016 invite to break into Hillary's emails?
6
It seems the Russians have been grooming many members of the Republican Party for the past 8 years.
It is surprising how so many GOP lemmings willingly will throw us all off the cliff so that they can maintain power and keep their donors happy
Take their flag pins away. They are all frauds
It is surprising how so many GOP lemmings willingly will throw us all off the cliff so that they can maintain power and keep their donors happy
Take their flag pins away. They are all frauds
9
I'd add another to your list. It's seriously weird that Trump is gloating over the CIA Wikileaks thing. What normal president would celebrate having one of his departments hacked??? He's also not asking his new head of the CIA to make sure it doesn't happen again. Why? Probably because he gave the order to the new CIA head to pass on the info to Putin's Wikileaks. I mean, why else would he be gloating as if the CIA is some kind of vanquished enemy? Despite it happening on his watch ... not long after his new head is in place?
I'm sure it's high treason to pass off secret info on government workings to a foreign propaganda source like Putin's Wikileaks. But who's going to investigate?
What Mafia Don investigates himself??? And the GOP pols are too busy grabbing their own share of the plunder. That's why they're moving so fast and ignoring input from their constituents. Crooks always move fast. So I guess the government will be hollowed out and sold off for parts to the Koch brothers and Putin & his pals. Meanwhile the ordinary People of this once great nation will be left without much of anything.
I'm sure it's high treason to pass off secret info on government workings to a foreign propaganda source like Putin's Wikileaks. But who's going to investigate?
What Mafia Don investigates himself??? And the GOP pols are too busy grabbing their own share of the plunder. That's why they're moving so fast and ignoring input from their constituents. Crooks always move fast. So I guess the government will be hollowed out and sold off for parts to the Koch brothers and Putin & his pals. Meanwhile the ordinary People of this once great nation will be left without much of anything.
9
Trump places loyalty above all else, but when he knows you're a toxic investigation waiting to happen expect to be cut loose; like Manafort and Flynn. The mindlessly partisan effort masquerading as an investigation doesn't seem interested in them, nor Trump's taxes. Just saying ...
2
I hope he cuts them loose and makes them so angry they decide to turn state's witness on Trump's sorry self.
2
When Trump joined in the chorus of "Lock her up!" he was giving in to his own inner fears--with good reason. His tweet about Obama's wire-tapping authorization is a sign of panic What may he do next? As the two eminent psychiatrists imply in their letter in today's NYT, Trump is a danger to himself, to the American people, and in fact to the world at large.
9
This is similar to the writer's thoughts about "House of Cards". When I see HBO's political comedy "Veep" which, 5 minutes ago, was hip and topical, now seems as quaint and ancient as "The Beverly Hillbillies"
2
This column opens with a reference to comparing the Trump Adminstration to the Netflix series, "House of Cards." One of the Trump campaign's most anxiety-provoking (and likely most effective) TV ads also opens with a more subliminal reference to "House of Cards." The scene of an underpass in D.C. (where, perhaps not coincidentally, the Democratic National Committee headquarters is situated on the corner) with fast-paced foreboding music is a steal from the TV series. Worth a look for a few seconds... https://www.facebook.com/realTheTrumpPledge/videos/1293937170653987/
In terms of connecting the Russian dots, this commentary by Rachel Maddow sought to explain the puzzling decimation of the State Department, and scared the living daylights out of me. And I am about as far from being a tinfoil conspiracist as you could find. https://youtu.be/FzYjebmHlPM
5
Few writers have picked up on the strange behaviors of Rex Tillerson, our new Sec. of State. Rachel Maddow showed a video of a news opportunity with him in which Andrea Mitchell tried to ask him a pertinent question and she was unceremoniously shuffled out of the room as he stood there and ignored her. He will be making a trip to somewhere this week but refuses to take the usual number of journalists, or aides because his "plane is too small." What's going on in State? Seems to me that this new administration is not worried that the State department is gutted already. Tillerson looked calm as chaos swirled around him when Andrea was removed. He continued to conduct a meeting with another official as if nothing were amiss. It was a bizarre thing to watch. Tillerson has received awards from Putin, Tillerson and Trump didn't know each other at all before the election and now he's our secretary of state? Come on!!
17
Mr. Kristoff loses all credibility when he equates real life to an obnoxious HBO mini-series.
No wonder this country is in serious trouble. The reporters cant distinguish fantasy from reality.
No wonder this country is in serious trouble. The reporters cant distinguish fantasy from reality.
1
Shorty, there's a difference between "compare" and "equate." Flyover Country, indeed.
2
It's sad when reality has become so bizarre, you can't actually tell the difference. I used to think that Idiocracy was a comedy, now I think it's a sad commentary on our current Republican leadership. It's not Kristoff's fault that Trump & company are so off the wall!
Thank you - please keep up your investigations and analyses- It is simply shocking that republicans in congress still put self interest before the common good of the country.
6
Rachel Maddow on msnbc had a republican campaign worker telling who-why-how Trump people objected to only one platform item: the offer to give Ukrsinecwespons to protect its sovereignty from Russia-- they got that deleted.
Every night she has something based on facts or first person testimony... the fact that a Russian billionaires private plane and Trumps plane were in same airports at same time. Several times during the campaigner in odd places for the Russian "Fertizer King" like Concorde NC.... And Trump-Russian property sales where the low purchase then high sale price look like money laundering in the millions... etc
Every night she has something based on facts or first person testimony... the fact that a Russian billionaires private plane and Trumps plane were in same airports at same time. Several times during the campaigner in odd places for the Russian "Fertizer King" like Concorde NC.... And Trump-Russian property sales where the low purchase then high sale price look like money laundering in the millions... etc
7
Ever since Buzzfeed made Steele's dossier available, I have been studying it, inserting the memos in a timeline I was obliged to assemble, a timeline more detailed than any I have seen available in the media. Actually, I feel Kristof made a poor case for the Trump-Putin involvement. The dossier's memos are proving to be on the money, as have the Assange Wikileaks sabotaging Clinton's campaign. I beleve that some of the media have the answers to the few remaining questions. We have been attacked and we are at war, make no mistake.
5
It would also be useful to follow the money trails of Deutsche Bank, Russia, Trump and Kushner.
Briefly: Deutsche has longstanding ties to Russia.
Where other banks refused to loan money to Trump, Deutsche stepped in.
Deutsche also extended loans to Kushner.
Did Trump and Kushner borrow Russian money?
Briefly: Deutsche has longstanding ties to Russia.
Where other banks refused to loan money to Trump, Deutsche stepped in.
Deutsche also extended loans to Kushner.
Did Trump and Kushner borrow Russian money?
3
Nick, your number 6 is inaccurate:
6. Trump has expressed a bewilderingly benign view of Russia and appointed officials also friendly to Moscow. He did not make an issue of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the campaign.
Point of fact, the Trump team DID make an issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, striking specific language in the Republican Party Platform that referred to sanctions imposed as a result of this invasion. Now why would he insist on that detail, while letting everything else in the platform stand as written?
6. Trump has expressed a bewilderingly benign view of Russia and appointed officials also friendly to Moscow. He did not make an issue of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the campaign.
Point of fact, the Trump team DID make an issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, striking specific language in the Republican Party Platform that referred to sanctions imposed as a result of this invasion. Now why would he insist on that detail, while letting everything else in the platform stand as written?
2
Rachael Maddow is about 30 steps ahead of everyone else on the Russia puzzle. The starting point for every reader and journalist should be her recent work. She has already painted a far richer Russka picture than this article paints.
3
Start the impeachment motion now, Republicans. You are to blame for this unfolding disaster. You may save face by doing the right thing for your country now. The connected dots are there for all to see, and you in congress swore to defend and protect the constitution of the United States of America, not the actions of the twisted mind in the oval office. Do your duty!
3
Of course there was no quid pro quo. A wink and a nod accomplish the same thing and cannot be traced.
2
The selection of Rex Tillerson is also odd and perhaps a choice suggested by the Russians or their supporters?
3
Given Tillerson's lifelong connection to the oil industry, and being a receipiant of the Russian Medal of Honor -- it's not too odd.
No question that "Sessions seems a red herring," but when the Attorney General fails to disclose meetings with the Russian ambassador during his confirmation hearings, Americans deserve a full explanation as to why.
4
"Sessions seems a red herring, in that he wasn’t a secret conduit to the Kremlin."
This is simply an assertion based on noting at all.
Let's turn the story around, and ask how many "inexplicable" things suddenly make sense if Team Trump colluded with Putin in rigging the election. This is NOT proof, but suggests things to consider and investigate.
If Team Trump was in bed with Mr. Putin, then it is highly unlikely that Jeff Sessions lied under oath for no reason at all about meeting with the Russian ambassador, and refused to clear up misunderstandings over the past two months. The timing suggests that Sessions and the Russian may have discussed the forthcoming Wikileaks release of Clinton's emails and Russia's fake news campaign.
Mr. Trump's inflated claims about his electoral victory, corrupt votes and the historic crowd at his inauguration have broadly been explained by his emotional insecurity. The alternative view is that Trump knows eventually his legitimacy will come under scrutiny, after it comes out the election was rigged.
Why did Mike Flynn lie to VP Pence about his conversations with the Russians, and why did Trump keep Pence in the dark about those lies? If Flynn and Trump knew they were breaking the law, they would NATURALLY have kept Pence in the dark because Pence could have used evidence of wrongdoing to unseat Trump and replace him in office. When it comes to impeachable offenses, the interests of Trump and Pence are at odds with each other.
This is simply an assertion based on noting at all.
Let's turn the story around, and ask how many "inexplicable" things suddenly make sense if Team Trump colluded with Putin in rigging the election. This is NOT proof, but suggests things to consider and investigate.
If Team Trump was in bed with Mr. Putin, then it is highly unlikely that Jeff Sessions lied under oath for no reason at all about meeting with the Russian ambassador, and refused to clear up misunderstandings over the past two months. The timing suggests that Sessions and the Russian may have discussed the forthcoming Wikileaks release of Clinton's emails and Russia's fake news campaign.
Mr. Trump's inflated claims about his electoral victory, corrupt votes and the historic crowd at his inauguration have broadly been explained by his emotional insecurity. The alternative view is that Trump knows eventually his legitimacy will come under scrutiny, after it comes out the election was rigged.
Why did Mike Flynn lie to VP Pence about his conversations with the Russians, and why did Trump keep Pence in the dark about those lies? If Flynn and Trump knew they were breaking the law, they would NATURALLY have kept Pence in the dark because Pence could have used evidence of wrongdoing to unseat Trump and replace him in office. When it comes to impeachable offenses, the interests of Trump and Pence are at odds with each other.
4
now what does an American patriot do on the ground in the face of a psychotic, morally bankrupt administration that is tearing and burning empathy, love and the bonds of all citizens ?
3
It is critically important to investigate possible corruption of the election, but it is immediately critical to investigate the corruption of the current government by Trump business indebtedness and use of the office of president to profit his businesses. Foreign governments and wealthy oligarchs may be calling the shots for the US government if we can't demand enough transparency to prevent it.
8
Yet another dot may be Boris Epshteyn, a Russian-born investment banker, Trump campaign adviser, surrogate, who has promoted investment in Moscow.
1
Thank you. This is a particularly thoughtful, clear-eyed analysis of what is most likely to be important and what is probably not. I do disagree about Sessions, but only to this extent: he did lie, and, particularly in these times when truth is so devalued, it's important not to let him get by with it. That said, I think your focus on Manafort makes a worlds of sense.
1
The D's must retake the House in 2018 and investigate Trump into oblivion if he hasn't destroyed the country by then.
1
Excellent summation. Now all we need is for an independent counsel to look at it all so that Trump can be impeached, before too much irreversible damage is done to our country!
1
Agreed. Based on what we know, an independent commission is more than justified. And the reasonable working hypothesis at this point is that there was collusion between the campaign and Russian intelligence to damage Hillary Clinton, because nobody believed Trump would win the election--including Trump himself.
An important question is, why Manafort to lead the campaign after it became clear in 2016 that Trump was going to win the Republican nomination? Manafort had been out of US politics for a decade, having become a political hack for dictators such as Yanukovych of the Ukraine. And why Tillerson?, whom Trump had never met before he won the election, and who has deep ties to Russia. As documented by Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show, Tillerson is now gutting the State Dept.'s career experts in ways never seen before. Russia benefits from less capable American diplomacy and soft power.
You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to conclude that a comprehensive, truth-finding, independent commission is needed to get to tell the full story of the 2016 election, PLUS any ongoing collusion with Russia since Trump's inauguration.
An important question is, why Manafort to lead the campaign after it became clear in 2016 that Trump was going to win the Republican nomination? Manafort had been out of US politics for a decade, having become a political hack for dictators such as Yanukovych of the Ukraine. And why Tillerson?, whom Trump had never met before he won the election, and who has deep ties to Russia. As documented by Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show, Tillerson is now gutting the State Dept.'s career experts in ways never seen before. Russia benefits from less capable American diplomacy and soft power.
You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to conclude that a comprehensive, truth-finding, independent commission is needed to get to tell the full story of the 2016 election, PLUS any ongoing collusion with Russia since Trump's inauguration.
2
there's rarely a clear cut quid pro quo around any business dealing - that's an illusion - and this was a business deal in the mind of Trump since he didn't expect to win either. the absence of a clear cut quid pro quo doesn't make it any more ambiguous or less transactional ; rather it's a fluid and ongoing negotiation to get as much as you can. give and take, back and forth. i think you are right in every other regard.
1
Nicholas Kristoff's points #5 and #6 certainly seem to explain Trump's disinterest in Putin's invasion of Ukraine, though Trump has never shown any kind of a worldview on anything other than where his next hotel and golf course will go. He is as unworldly and unsophisticated and disinterested as are his followers.
Trump is brilliant, however. He made up the nonsense of President Obama "wiretapping" his campaign offices to get the still-unwitting press to back off exploring a Trump-Putin connection. Brilliant strategy.
Trump is brilliant, however. He made up the nonsense of President Obama "wiretapping" his campaign offices to get the still-unwitting press to back off exploring a Trump-Putin connection. Brilliant strategy.
2
We had another time period when a no one connected the dots and the outcome was disastrous for America-9/11. Hopefully Americans are smarter now and realize that dots count as do words and connecting them is important. It seems unbelievable that Wikileaks and Russia believe that Americans will keep falling for the same tricks over and over without connecting the dots Wikileaks=Russia.Trump needs a full investigation of both campaign and now his administration or else the Republicans will be responsible for the next disaster because they would not connect the dots.
2
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the Jeff Sessions connection.
I was just startled by the degree Sessions went out of his way to perjure himself. When Senator Franken asked him how he would investigate alleged contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia, Sessions answered a different question, and lied about it.
He denied his own meetings when he wasn't even asked about them. It's as if someone asked him "Jeff--have you seen the butter?" and he replied, "No, and I haven't stolen any cookies from the cookie jar, either!" I mean, that's not the question we asked, but now we're really wondering about what's going on with that cookie jar.
I was just startled by the degree Sessions went out of his way to perjure himself. When Senator Franken asked him how he would investigate alleged contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia, Sessions answered a different question, and lied about it.
He denied his own meetings when he wasn't even asked about them. It's as if someone asked him "Jeff--have you seen the butter?" and he replied, "No, and I haven't stolen any cookies from the cookie jar, either!" I mean, that's not the question we asked, but now we're really wondering about what's going on with that cookie jar.
6
Yes, Trump is seeming more unhinged these days so maybe the net is getting closer to snagging the traitors. More telling to me, however, is the recent Wikileaks dump of CIA hacking tools. The Russians are sending a warning and that is an indication that they are feeling the heat as well. I just hope our intelligence services are up to the challenge.
2
Thank you for the analogy, Mr. Kristof.
Not being familiar with the show "House of Cards", I'm sure it is far more amusing show than what we are seeing now with this presidency -- which is not amusing at all.
In fact, it's rather frightening. Starting with the cast, and the inability to turn the show off.
Not to mention the "dots". There's lots of those, and invariably little doubt as to where they connect. Especially as the distractions that Donald Trump produces have become more frequent and outrageous.
But if this is a sign that the digging is getting closer to its mark, don't stop now.
Not being familiar with the show "House of Cards", I'm sure it is far more amusing show than what we are seeing now with this presidency -- which is not amusing at all.
In fact, it's rather frightening. Starting with the cast, and the inability to turn the show off.
Not to mention the "dots". There's lots of those, and invariably little doubt as to where they connect. Especially as the distractions that Donald Trump produces have become more frequent and outrageous.
But if this is a sign that the digging is getting closer to its mark, don't stop now.
1
Some days I get caught in the deepest worry that our country and its ideals are now past tense - all because of Trump and friends. Then I think, how could this be - how can one man and many millions of deluded, selfish followers take down the free world without a shot? The destruction of government agencies is smart if your goal is to take down democracy. Joining hands with Russia, Putin and oligarchs around the world is smart if your goal is to take down democracy. God almighty.
1
An excellent column. More, please. People with a reason to be nervous have dismissed the dossier of Christopher Steele as politically-motivated (which it was) and unsupported by evidence, but the funny thing is that, as more information surfaces, the claims in this dossier turn out to be true.
Mr. Kristof is absolutely right: we need an open, public investigation along the lines of the 9/11 Commission. Anything short of that will be a disservice to the American people.
Mr. Kristof is absolutely right: we need an open, public investigation along the lines of the 9/11 Commission. Anything short of that will be a disservice to the American people.
3
A watched pot never boils is, of course, not literally true and this pot is starting to simmer. Even though it seems like it's taking forever, the dots are close to becoming connected.
1
Mr. Kristof, you forgot one dot. As widely reported at the time, during the Republican Convention, the Trump campaign showed absolutely no interest in shaping the Republican Party platform, with one interesting exception: they intervened to kill a proposed platform amendment calling for maintaining or increasing sanctions against Russia and increasing aid to Ukraine, including providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine. Of course, the Trump campaign at first denied any involvement in having the proposed platform amendment squashed, until they later admitted their role.
3
I see a lot of Putin apologists and Trump supporters on Facebook who are in denial about the Trump-Russia connection and claim that there is some sort of "hysteria" about this subject among Democrats. Let us instead return to the world of facts, and stop indulging in pleasant delusions that may not correspond to reality. Kristof ably summarizes aspects of the issue that Congress and the Federal Government should be investigating on an urgent basis. My take: where there's smoke, there's fire.
3
When you look at all of the "dots" and how they align with Russia - I would guesstimate that the odds are astronomically against these being benign coincidences.
It's not just the people and their histories - it's the actions, the timing of those actions, and the (currently known) results of those actions, and how they align, in toto, going back to the very beginning of Trump's modus operandi.
It's not just the people and their histories - it's the actions, the timing of those actions, and the (currently known) results of those actions, and how they align, in toto, going back to the very beginning of Trump's modus operandi.
2
#11: The $100 Million sale of a $40 Million dollar property by Trump to a Russian Oligarch. If that does not raise suspicion, what would?
#12: Reports that the airplane owned by the same oligarch was located at the same airport as Trump's plane several times during the campaign. Either a very strange coincidence or a clandestine meeting.
#12: Reports that the airplane owned by the same oligarch was located at the same airport as Trump's plane several times during the campaign. Either a very strange coincidence or a clandestine meeting.
If there wasn't something to the Russia questions, Trump wouldn't be throwing up smokescreens. He's trying to discredit, in advance, any investigation that takes place. He's panicked. If he hadn't lied about so much before, during and after the election his denials might have more credence now. But, it's too late, he's lost all credibility, and we know that whatever he says, the opposite is probably true. Which means, there's definitely something to all the Russia accusations.
this all boils down to the desperation on the part of dems to find any illegitimate reason (other than HRC was a terrible candidate) for Trump's victory. It couldn't be that the people rejected the dems after 8 years of a muddled presidency and the dems putting forth a corrupt candidate -- otherwise -- the lefts' favorite ploy -- calling people they don't like stupid simply won't work. Oh, yes, the progs call Trump and his team stupid (all those generals and billionaires, how'd they succeed if they were so stupid) -but they can only get away with that as long as there is an alternative reason for the dems losing the election -- any reason will do, the more sinister the better --other than the Repubs ran smart candidates at all levels and the dems approach to governance was too "stupid" for the people to allow it to continue.
In short -- the Russian hoax is simply an orchestrated plot by dems -- including Obama -- to have something to blame for their loss other than his failed policies and the incompetence and lack of appeal of the Clinton campaign.
If the repubs are so stupid, how come they won? Oh, they cheated and lied to the American people with the help of Russians -- and I think Big Foot intimidated people at the polls and Martians did something, something about ray guns or something that altered people's behavior. Yeah, right.
In short -- the Russian hoax is simply an orchestrated plot by dems -- including Obama -- to have something to blame for their loss other than his failed policies and the incompetence and lack of appeal of the Clinton campaign.
If the repubs are so stupid, how come they won? Oh, they cheated and lied to the American people with the help of Russians -- and I think Big Foot intimidated people at the polls and Martians did something, something about ray guns or something that altered people's behavior. Yeah, right.
1
Trump inherited a nice fortune and went bankrupt several times. No one in the NY banking and financial community wanted anything to do with him. His father made him several loans for as much as 14 million.
There are plenty of people far wealthier than Donald Trump, who did not inherit a bundle from their father or got bailed out as well, and did not use his unscrupulous methods to cheat business partners.
Tell me this is a really smart guy. Without his tax returns we will never really know the true amount of his wealth , or for that a matter debt.
Republican won through the concerted funding efforts of the Koch Brothers who have made their intentions known to influence as many local elections as possible, or do you not read the real news. It was the outdated electoral college which as twice in recent years handed the election to a Republicans,
Remember, Hillary Clinton still won the popular.
There are plenty of people far wealthier than Donald Trump, who did not inherit a bundle from their father or got bailed out as well, and did not use his unscrupulous methods to cheat business partners.
Tell me this is a really smart guy. Without his tax returns we will never really know the true amount of his wealth , or for that a matter debt.
Republican won through the concerted funding efforts of the Koch Brothers who have made their intentions known to influence as many local elections as possible, or do you not read the real news. It was the outdated electoral college which as twice in recent years handed the election to a Republicans,
Remember, Hillary Clinton still won the popular.
2
Thank you Mr. Kristof for reminding us that "coincidences happen." There has been far to much hysteria in the NYT and elsewhere, following every contact with Russia by anyone with the remotest connection to the Trump side. The Sessions connections must be follow up, but it is easy to imagine they might have been just part of his business as a secretary. And his muddled responses to Al Franken could also have been those of a tired, confused guy eager to make sure those contacts were understandable.
Yes, let's connect the dots. Draw no conclusions just because we want those conclusions. But be very thorough and diligent. See what we find out.
Yes, let's connect the dots. Draw no conclusions just because we want those conclusions. But be very thorough and diligent. See what we find out.
It's safe to assume that whatever happened, the Russians - the way smarter negotiating partner in the transaction - assuredly played the Trumps without the Trumps even knowing it.
1
Follow the money. The Russian fertilizer king Rybolovlev paid trump $100 million for a Florida mansion trump had purchased for $40 million. Where did the excess $60 million go? This is a classic money laundering move. Some of the money may have been paid back by trump organization to a shell corporation owned by Rybolovlev. Just saying...
2
I tend to agree with Kristof''s opinion on where this smoke might lead. Trump was desperate for capital not too long ago and Russian money offered a lifeline. There is likely dirt here that could be crippling and his hands-off approach to Russia could be his way of trying to keep the lid on some shady financial dealings. If their is any collusion around the leaks, my guess is it was opportunistic. He also has been a magnet for Russophile types, either for gain (Manafort, Page, Ross) or ideological reasons (Bannon, Flynn). Also wouldn't surprise me if he was even aware of all machinations going on in the background with this crew. Either way, it's not a good spot to be in.
I think Putin did think Trump could win because he knew the west was ripe for a sort of 'revolution.' I think he understands our weaknesses in a far greater way than we do-namely no real journalists anymore due to job cuts and economic depression denied by the mainstream. I don't think it is a coincidence he was reportedly behind the Euro 2016 Cup clashes of violence against British fans. I think he was trying to stir up nationalism and bring about brexit. I do agree with brexit but I never liked the idea of the west being weaker in relation to Putin.
I'd be happy to learn there's nothing there so we can move on to other issues. But the lack of transparency by the Trump administration makes an investigation necessary.
1
Where is the investigative journalism that exposed Nixon? Surely there are some deep throats with all those that have been shorted, slighted, demeaned by this vile human being who is insidiously eroding American values on every level.
Somebody please find this tax returns.
Somebody please find this tax returns.
2
I've had no doubt about Russian interference in the elections. I have no doubt the sitting president is in bed with them. Every cabinet "loyalist"
(good for Putin) is out to destroy (dismantle) the dept. in which they're in charge. Many have Russian ties. We don't know how far this goes - can we actually get an independent commission to cover all this kleptocracy's deals with other dictatorships? Tillerson is keeping all of it quiet. The state dept. title is ludicrous when there isn't a state dept.
On 2/27, David Frum and the ex-editor of Time mag. implored us to demand an investigation before it was too late. People on the news are looking a bit frightened today. Time to call Congress and demand constantly demand an independent commission because we are being obviously taken over by Russia.
(good for Putin) is out to destroy (dismantle) the dept. in which they're in charge. Many have Russian ties. We don't know how far this goes - can we actually get an independent commission to cover all this kleptocracy's deals with other dictatorships? Tillerson is keeping all of it quiet. The state dept. title is ludicrous when there isn't a state dept.
On 2/27, David Frum and the ex-editor of Time mag. implored us to demand an investigation before it was too late. People on the news are looking a bit frightened today. Time to call Congress and demand constantly demand an independent commission because we are being obviously taken over by Russia.
1
I strongly suspect that people have been convicted of murder on the basis of circumstantial evidence less compelling than what is now being revealed about the Trump campaign/administration and the Russians. Time to start calling for investigations into Treason.
6
Follow the money. Trump was dead broke not too many years back. The US banks wouldn't go near him. Where did the millions come from to reboot his corporation? That Putin supported Trump in the election because of hatred for Hillary Clinton is another red herring. It was all about money and power. Trump probably owes Russia millions and he could pay it back by ignoring Russia's aggression in Ukraine and their desire to drill in the arctic.
4
Thank you for staying focused on this issue, clearly it's caused panic in the Trump White House, and Russia, and GOP, evidenced by bizarre tweets accusing President Obama of spying on him in Trump Tower, his attacks on the Press, the FBI - and his refusal to ask his own Justice Department to confirm that there was no FISA warrant issued for him during the campaign or Transition. Wikileaks timely release of CIA hacked documents this week was equal to that of Wikileaks time release of Clinton emails - all to help Trump. Then Ryan releases healthcare "replacement" bill, without it having first gone to CBO and without the buy-in of his own party leadership.
When you add in all the contact and meetings between senior Trump Campaign and White House advisers including his own son-in-law together with Flynn during Transition, Bannon's Leninist leanings, and Robert Mercer's extraordinarily large hedge fund investments in Russia, Trump Org reliance on Oligarchs fundings - well, all is not as it should be and we need to know what that is. Everyone in the free world knows Trump could have released his tax returns to turn back the questions of his ties with Russia. He won't for a reason, he can't.
When you add in all the contact and meetings between senior Trump Campaign and White House advisers including his own son-in-law together with Flynn during Transition, Bannon's Leninist leanings, and Robert Mercer's extraordinarily large hedge fund investments in Russia, Trump Org reliance on Oligarchs fundings - well, all is not as it should be and we need to know what that is. Everyone in the free world knows Trump could have released his tax returns to turn back the questions of his ties with Russia. He won't for a reason, he can't.
2
The investigation into Trump's campaign and Russian influence must continue as a priority until we truly know what happened.
3
There's a at least one more, relatively new, dot: Cutting 1.3 billion dollars from the Coast Guard budget while increasing the overall military budget by 10 percent or more than 50 billion. Russia is trying to take over the natural resources in the Arctic at a time when it has something like a 20-1 advantage in icebreakers and other ships already working to this end. The Coast Guard is our last line of defense against Russia establishing a strategic beach- or icehead at the North Pole, which could also have military implications as well. Trump drastically reducing the Coast Guard budget at this crucial time, thereby going easy on another one of Putin's endeavors, is yet another dot in the already-well-established pattern of his administration cutting Russia considerable slack while continuing to reap the benefits of its election meddling.
5
The way I see it, Trump is like the sports equipment store guy in Sopranos, and the Russians have ordered a lot of pianos on his imploding business, so the singing better get started or Junior's gonna blow another casket.
1
The Russians must have been alarmed that they were dealing with such incompetent partners. One or two partners would have been sufficient for a real clandestine operations. That Trump's administration required contacts by "at least a half dozen" suggests that Trump was so gleeful about his new found influence that he babbled to his various campaign cronies in the same way as he tweets:
"I got it in the bag, the Russkies are going to sink Hilary and Podesta with some huge baggage."
"I got it in the bag, the Russkies are going to sink Hilary and Podesta with some huge baggage."
2
Your remark that "Democrats should avoid descending into the kind of conspiratorial mind-set that led some Republicans to assume Hillary Clinton was a criminal" is avoiding the reality that Republicans lied, and lied, and lied about Hillary Clinton deliberately---not from some kind of paranoid mind-set, but from malice aforethought.
The recent news that Citicorp, one of the ten largest petroleum corporations in the US, owes $billions to the Russian government it is very disturbing news. If Rosneft becomes a major stakeholder in an American company, we have trouble!
With our Secretary of State firing most of the employees in the State Dept., we have a staunch friend of Russia, reigning in solitary splendor in his dept--and that's not OK!
But who is going to step up and hold the Trump administration to account?
The recent news that Citicorp, one of the ten largest petroleum corporations in the US, owes $billions to the Russian government it is very disturbing news. If Rosneft becomes a major stakeholder in an American company, we have trouble!
With our Secretary of State firing most of the employees in the State Dept., we have a staunch friend of Russia, reigning in solitary splendor in his dept--and that's not OK!
But who is going to step up and hold the Trump administration to account?
7
"Follow the money." Still important advice. The obstacle we face is our Congress, which sees an opportunity to gut all kinds of government and government-funded programs, from voting rights to clean water protections to birth control access to museum support, while Trump gyres and gymbles in the wabe. An investigation into Trump and Co.'s Russia dealings might lessen or put an end to Congress's chances to make America a country of paupers and serfs supporting a very few very wealthy. GOP members of Congress are already tainted, most of them, so they can't stop now. Americans must demand a bipartisan investigation, and not let up until we get one. We must demonstrate that we, the people, are stronger than the billionaires and their lapdogs in Congress and the Trump administration.
Yes there does seem to be plentiful real evidence of contacts, but as Masha Gessen points out in her recent NYRB piece (see http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/03/06/trump-russia-conspiracy-trap/ ), with the exception of hacking, many or even all of these contacts may very well turn out to have been of such minor consequence as to render the whole Russia furore a tempest in a teapot, intelligence and media assertions notwithstanding. Meanwhile other more serious instances of malfeasance take a back seat by comparison.
Lots of people have referenced Rachel Maddow. Her coverage the last few weeks has been great and consise, but she is not reporting on anything new. There have been several people, some reporters with sources, some intrepid sleuths working from publically available data who have been reporting for months what Rachel has been reporting for a week. Most are extremely active on Twitter, some have been on MSNBC and other networks. The women especially have been called lunatics and much worse. One had a twitter fight with Roger Stone this past weekend that resulted in Stone deleting incriminating past tweets and showing his true colors.
Taxes are what put Al Capone away and it will be the same with Trump. That and readily available public documents found by patient and diligent people who are connecting the dots in this huge spider web. Not to mention that certain people such as Stone, Giuliani and even Sessions can't seem to keep any sort of secret without projecting, hinting and acting as smug as 8 year olds. There are too many cooks in this pot and sooner or later one will cave. My money is on Carter Page, who doesn't look like he's willing to take the fall for anyone.
Taxes are what put Al Capone away and it will be the same with Trump. That and readily available public documents found by patient and diligent people who are connecting the dots in this huge spider web. Not to mention that certain people such as Stone, Giuliani and even Sessions can't seem to keep any sort of secret without projecting, hinting and acting as smug as 8 year olds. There are too many cooks in this pot and sooner or later one will cave. My money is on Carter Page, who doesn't look like he's willing to take the fall for anyone.
1
Here are more dots as reported elsewhere by credible reports:
11. Donald Trump bought a Palm Beach mansion for $40M at a bankruptcy auction, sold it after minimal improvements to Dmitry Rybolovlev, the billionaire Russian "Fertilizer King" for $95M. Trump was in some financial distress at the time.
12. Donald Trump's private plane and Rybolovlev's were seen near each other on the same tarmacs several times during the presidential campaign.
13. Other flight tracking information shows Rybolovlev's plane in the Hamptons and other locations when members of the Trump team were in the same places.
Plenty of dots to commission an independent investigation.
11. Donald Trump bought a Palm Beach mansion for $40M at a bankruptcy auction, sold it after minimal improvements to Dmitry Rybolovlev, the billionaire Russian "Fertilizer King" for $95M. Trump was in some financial distress at the time.
12. Donald Trump's private plane and Rybolovlev's were seen near each other on the same tarmacs several times during the presidential campaign.
13. Other flight tracking information shows Rybolovlev's plane in the Hamptons and other locations when members of the Trump team were in the same places.
Plenty of dots to commission an independent investigation.
Thank you Mr Kristof for reminding us to keep our cool. This is a nuanced situation and one that the politics of a polarized red state, blue state mentality cannot effectively solve. Although there is much to dislike about Sessions, you're right in saying that we need to stay focused and, to use a phrase from Watergate, "follow the money."
We have helped to create a very unstable situation by allowing a dictator of a relatively small state like Russia to maneuver into a power position over a much larger wealthy state like ours. There is no question of the atrocities that Putin has presided over and that even though the US has it's share of nefarious deeds in our history. However, we should also avoid getting pulled into the 'we did it too' ruse that Trump has tried to distract us with.
Our two-faced GOP leaders, McConnell and Ryan, as well as the rank and file GOP that stay in lock step with them, are only making a solution more difficult to find. How do we get an electorate to stop believing Trump's (and the GOP's) outright lying more than evidence based journalism? It seems like an intractable problem. Maybe the clumsy actions of the Trump administration made during and after the election will force the system to lurch toward solving the problem, but the odds aren't looking too good.
We have helped to create a very unstable situation by allowing a dictator of a relatively small state like Russia to maneuver into a power position over a much larger wealthy state like ours. There is no question of the atrocities that Putin has presided over and that even though the US has it's share of nefarious deeds in our history. However, we should also avoid getting pulled into the 'we did it too' ruse that Trump has tried to distract us with.
Our two-faced GOP leaders, McConnell and Ryan, as well as the rank and file GOP that stay in lock step with them, are only making a solution more difficult to find. How do we get an electorate to stop believing Trump's (and the GOP's) outright lying more than evidence based journalism? It seems like an intractable problem. Maybe the clumsy actions of the Trump administration made during and after the election will force the system to lurch toward solving the problem, but the odds aren't looking too good.
I agree that some people have to focus on the Russia/Trump axis, but the central focus has to be on Trump's day be day destruction of the government's protection of those who most need its help -- including many, many Trump voters -- and the environment in which we all live.
Trump has continuously denied ever being in contact with Russia, which is a blatant lie. The closer Congress gets to an investigation, the more he deflects such as Obama wiretaps. Trump is getting desperate. His deflections are getting more absurdist. Any credibility he had is gone, and now it's inimical to the nation because he cannot govern until this investigation ends. The man is a pathological liar. But the proverbial Pandora's box is open. Trump can run, but he can't hide,
We need to be clear headed with a laser focus on Trump's business ties to Russia and subsequent communication. Like the bad guy in every movie chase who throws impediments behind him as he's chased in the final scene, rump is a master at diversionary tactics and manipulation. We also must concentrate on the GOP, whose larger dysfunction led to Trump's ascent. A major party in the United States has become so weak, corrupted, and bereft of ideas that it allowed this unqualified in every way individual to head the GOP ticket because they put party loyalty and desire for power over the welfare of the country. The Republican Party needs to be unmasked for what it is: a danger to democracy for all citizens.
1
Rachel Maddow's program last night was almost entirely dedicated to the "Russian Connection." One additional "dot" that was mentioned: The GOP changed its platform to remove a reference to arming Ukraine to counter Russian aggression. She said a former campaign worker said the request to change the platform to favor Russian interests came from then candidate Trump. And we know that Paul Manafort was working for pro-Russian individuals in Ukraine. Manafort had said that there was no Trump campaign involvement in the platform.
Too many denials from too many Trump associates make the Trump administration look highly suspect in the allegation of collusion with Russia. Representative Adam Schiff said he was willing to travel to London to meet with Christopher Steele. Concerned citizens should support every effort to investigate the Russian connection and present the facts to the American people. Our democracy is at stake.
Too many denials from too many Trump associates make the Trump administration look highly suspect in the allegation of collusion with Russia. Representative Adam Schiff said he was willing to travel to London to meet with Christopher Steele. Concerned citizens should support every effort to investigate the Russian connection and present the facts to the American people. Our democracy is at stake.
2
The trouble with most of the hand-wringing about Trump's Russia connection is that it approaches the matter from the wrong perspective. We are witnessing something never before seen in our civic and political history. Rather than assuming innocence on his part and wondering where these scraps of evidence might lead, investigators must act from the viewpoint that he and many of his cronies are guilty of the worst offenses, which would include an ongoing collaboration with the Russians. Then see if any evidence surfaces that disproves that viewpoint. I am convinced the man is at best compromised, at worst a committed stooge of Putin, and pray that I'm wrong.
Every major newspaper in the US ought to be running front-page editorials demanding the release of trump's tax returns. Every Democratic Senator and Representative and every living former POTUS ought to be holding press conferences demanding the release if trump's tax returns. Pressure needs to be exerted continually. There is no defensible reason why trump's tax returns have nit been made public.
3
I agree that AG Sessions is a diversion from the real issue which are it appears but needs to be investigated the money trail between foreign governments and people associated with President Trump who may have broken the law because they had failed to register as foreign agents, (I noted today that General Flynn has belatedly registered), Paul Manafort is especially interesting because he failed to disclose the funds he had received for his services to a Ukrainian faction.
The question that must be addressed is, what harm has this activity brought to the larger security interests of the United States citiizens? Clearly, all of the activities must be investigated and the determination made. In the end this will restore the public trust in the Congress and the Presidency.
The question that must be addressed is, what harm has this activity brought to the larger security interests of the United States citiizens? Clearly, all of the activities must be investigated and the determination made. In the end this will restore the public trust in the Congress and the Presidency.
We need an independent commission or prosecutor that can decide if all the dots do indeed connect. Until then, all we have is a lot of suspicion and a ranting, possibly ill man in the White House who is putting our national security at risk.
I always find it helpful to ask the question, "What do you want?", when trying to uncover people's true motivations.
1. Donald Trump - wants money, fame/attention, and to be both loved and feared.
2. Hillary Clinton - wants to be president, have power, and a ensure her own historic legacy. She would strengthen the administrative state. She is no friend of Russia.
3. Vladimir Putin - wants to contain or weaken NATO and the EU, and to solidify or expand the Russian regional sphere or influence. A weakened, or domestically distracted, U.S. helps advance this agenda. (The U.S. is far less likely to intervene in Ukraine or Syria if we have our own troubles or scandals at home.) NATO and the EU are consistent with the status quo of the "administrative state" in the U.S.
4. Steve Bannon - wants "deconstruction of the administrative state." This is consistent with Putin's goals, but for different reasons.
----
Now think back to the election of 2016. Almost nobody expected Mr. Trump to win in November. Few people expected him to win the Republican nomination before that.
Putin interfered in the U.S. election to weaken American institutions and sow the seeds of doubt. The Russians also hacked the Republicans. Had any other (anti-Russian) Republican been nominated, Putin would have leaked Republican info as well.
The Democrats, if anything, wanted Trump as the Republican nominee. No one took him seriously. The conventional wisdom was that he would defeat himself in November.
1. Donald Trump - wants money, fame/attention, and to be both loved and feared.
2. Hillary Clinton - wants to be president, have power, and a ensure her own historic legacy. She would strengthen the administrative state. She is no friend of Russia.
3. Vladimir Putin - wants to contain or weaken NATO and the EU, and to solidify or expand the Russian regional sphere or influence. A weakened, or domestically distracted, U.S. helps advance this agenda. (The U.S. is far less likely to intervene in Ukraine or Syria if we have our own troubles or scandals at home.) NATO and the EU are consistent with the status quo of the "administrative state" in the U.S.
4. Steve Bannon - wants "deconstruction of the administrative state." This is consistent with Putin's goals, but for different reasons.
----
Now think back to the election of 2016. Almost nobody expected Mr. Trump to win in November. Few people expected him to win the Republican nomination before that.
Putin interfered in the U.S. election to weaken American institutions and sow the seeds of doubt. The Russians also hacked the Republicans. Had any other (anti-Russian) Republican been nominated, Putin would have leaked Republican info as well.
The Democrats, if anything, wanted Trump as the Republican nominee. No one took him seriously. The conventional wisdom was that he would defeat himself in November.
1
Comparing Democrats (and other reasonable, sane people) suspicions that there's a Trump/Russia connection to the conspiratorial mind-set of Republicans and their supporters is a false equivalence.
The former is reasonable based on the evidence of meetings, phone calls, business ties, interfering in our election, Trump's gushing about Putin, etc. The latter is based on a myopic, willfully ignorant mindset, raw hatred and a blithe disregard for facts.
More evidence that they're false equivalents? Why is there no outcry and demonization of Trump and his administration using private email servers? Why no excoriating him over his hasty Yemen decision?
The former is reasonable based on the evidence of meetings, phone calls, business ties, interfering in our election, Trump's gushing about Putin, etc. The latter is based on a myopic, willfully ignorant mindset, raw hatred and a blithe disregard for facts.
More evidence that they're false equivalents? Why is there no outcry and demonization of Trump and his administration using private email servers? Why no excoriating him over his hasty Yemen decision?
2
"One reason I’m increasingly suspicious is Trump’s furious denunciations of the press and of Barack Obama, to the point that he sometimes seems unhinged. Journalists have learned that when a leader goes berserk and unleashes tirades and threats at investigators, that’s when you’re getting close."
I worked for many years for a bully and general all-around jerk. I learned very early on to watch for the moment when he started yelling and confronting, because that meant that whoever had spoken, includingI, was getting close to the truth. I never told him that I'd figured him out, because waiting for him to aggress became a handy way of seeing through his deceptions. I would just try this or that until he started shouting. Then I knew.
Trump reminded me from the start of this of noxious boss – although the boss was a lot smarter than Trump – and I wait for him to freak out to determine whether the media is on the right track. The media should keep chasing the Russian connection, because the evidence is there to be found. I agree with Nick that there was no express quid pro quo, but think that whatever happened, at least via Trump's aides, came very close to that.
I worked for many years for a bully and general all-around jerk. I learned very early on to watch for the moment when he started yelling and confronting, because that meant that whoever had spoken, includingI, was getting close to the truth. I never told him that I'd figured him out, because waiting for him to aggress became a handy way of seeing through his deceptions. I would just try this or that until he started shouting. Then I knew.
Trump reminded me from the start of this of noxious boss – although the boss was a lot smarter than Trump – and I wait for him to freak out to determine whether the media is on the right track. The media should keep chasing the Russian connection, because the evidence is there to be found. I agree with Nick that there was no express quid pro quo, but think that whatever happened, at least via Trump's aides, came very close to that.
4
This is one of the best and clearer descriptions I have read about Trump and his ties to Russia. What still puzzles me is that the Republicans are not interested in the truth. The smell of power is more important to them than the nation. Sad.
4
the GOP does not have a shred of ethical decency. These are moral criminals who hold twisted self serving philosophies. How they can breathe the same air ( as long as air is breathable) as decent fellow Americans is astonishing to me. They need to destroy themselves and not us.
What I don't understand is why Trump would list the loans from Russia. At first glance, obviously for a deduction and I assume a foreign loan qualities. It seems though that he wouldn't want to disclose something that pointed to any nefarious actions on his part. And , as it was confirmed by earlier releases of his past tax returns, he's free of paying taxes for the next several years so why do a deduction at all. If the Times or some savy reader would give an explanation then any doubts could be alleviated.
The Sessions recusal was done deliberately by this sly political from Alabama. He volunteered that infamous response to Franken's query so that he could recuse himself from the Russian investigation but still remain as Attorney General. Remember he didn't tell Trump of his decision to recuse so he could get out of that tar baby investigation eventually ruining his professional career and/or find himself caught up in the coverup.. And in all likelihood saw to the leaks that made his recusal a fait accompli.
The Sessions recusal was done deliberately by this sly political from Alabama. He volunteered that infamous response to Franken's query so that he could recuse himself from the Russian investigation but still remain as Attorney General. Remember he didn't tell Trump of his decision to recuse so he could get out of that tar baby investigation eventually ruining his professional career and/or find himself caught up in the coverup.. And in all likelihood saw to the leaks that made his recusal a fait accompli.
More suspicious details that need to be investigated:
1. Page 30 of the dossier: Trump is promised 19% of Russian oil company Rosneft in exchange for eliminating the sanctions.
2. Jan. 2017, 19.5% of Rosneft is secretly sold but with so many shell companies impossible to tell to whom.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-rosneft-privatisation-insight-i...
3. Exxon Mobil, under Rex Tillerson (now Trump's Sec. of State), brokered a deal with Russia in 2013 to lease over 60 million acres of Russian land to pump oil out of (5X as much land as they lease in US), but all that Russian oil would go through pipelines in the Ukraine, which heavily taxes the proceeds. Putin invades Ukraine in 2014 and secured the routes to export the oil tax-free by sea. After Obama sanctioned Russia for the invasion, Exxon Mobil could only pump oil from approximately 3 of those 60+ million acres. The Russian government’s oil company, Rosneft, will make half a trillion dollars from that much untapped oil, all pumped tax-free through Crimea, stolen from Ukraine, now owned by Russia. Putin may have subverted our government just for this deal to go through.
1. Page 30 of the dossier: Trump is promised 19% of Russian oil company Rosneft in exchange for eliminating the sanctions.
2. Jan. 2017, 19.5% of Rosneft is secretly sold but with so many shell companies impossible to tell to whom.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-rosneft-privatisation-insight-i...
3. Exxon Mobil, under Rex Tillerson (now Trump's Sec. of State), brokered a deal with Russia in 2013 to lease over 60 million acres of Russian land to pump oil out of (5X as much land as they lease in US), but all that Russian oil would go through pipelines in the Ukraine, which heavily taxes the proceeds. Putin invades Ukraine in 2014 and secured the routes to export the oil tax-free by sea. After Obama sanctioned Russia for the invasion, Exxon Mobil could only pump oil from approximately 3 of those 60+ million acres. The Russian government’s oil company, Rosneft, will make half a trillion dollars from that much untapped oil, all pumped tax-free through Crimea, stolen from Ukraine, now owned by Russia. Putin may have subverted our government just for this deal to go through.
5
I always thought this was the gusher when others keep harping on the pee party. It's not intelligence unless you read it.
Totally freaked Carter Page is promised transactions of shares in a Russian gas company when things are over.
Trump wants know why Carter Page keeps showing up in the press acting nervous? I'd be nervous too if I were the pin that sticks these dots together. That's why he's pressing it, so they can't have him murdered quietly, as seen on TV.
Totally freaked Carter Page is promised transactions of shares in a Russian gas company when things are over.
Trump wants know why Carter Page keeps showing up in the press acting nervous? I'd be nervous too if I were the pin that sticks these dots together. That's why he's pressing it, so they can't have him murdered quietly, as seen on TV.
4
This all started by Clinton's attempt to hide her corruption by sifting attention to Russia hacking. It didn't work hence our President Trump but there are still people who believe they can still pull something off whatever that maybe. Until someone from anywhere answer's this very important question "What was the hack that cause Clinton to lose the election". Quit defending corruption, wasting peoples time, and how about giving your President respect.
2
It isn't a waste of people's time to find out the veracity of these claims. The truth is important. While some may wish to put on blinders; others wish to have the unvarnished non gold-plated truth. While some may feel that enabling unethical, self motivated or dishonest behavior is an acceptable price to pay, there are those of us who feel that this will weaken the foundation of this country and spread rot through very core of the structure that is our country.
2
We're not defending corruption, which is why we want Trump investigated. Trump makes Clinton look like a saint. Every New Yorker know this. He is as crooked as the day is long. I am not looking for vindication on Clinton, that is done and in the past. I want that traitorous know nothing out of office and for that I am willing to risk President Pence. Think about that for a minute and then pull your head out of the sand.
1
It's hard to believe that America has elected a mentally deranged, delusional narcissist as President. It's sad to watch daily events as he lines his pockets with tax dollars in one form or another while on a mission to reduce or eliminate so many worthwhile programs and departments in the fields of healthcare, the environment, and education. Trump is a dangerous man embracing the dark side just like a Star Wars episode, fully acting out the role of Darth Vader, ruler of the universe. Except...this is for real, thanks to the legions of Republicans and their fat cat donors who have sold out this nation to the highest bidders. Wake up folks...this movie is still playing and the ending does not look good except for the one percent oligarchy who have taken over. It's time for all citizens to join the Resistance.
8
Where's there's smoke...
Keep pressing on through all of Trump smokescreens, NYT and Washington Post. It must feel like you're constantly responding to the small fires on a daily basis, but stay the course.
You found the big fires before and put them out. Our country needs you now to do the same.
Keep pressing on through all of Trump smokescreens, NYT and Washington Post. It must feel like you're constantly responding to the small fires on a daily basis, but stay the course.
You found the big fires before and put them out. Our country needs you now to do the same.
4
Impeachment is not enough- we need multiple perk walks-- jail.
2
It's a coup. And Republican, so addicted to accumulating control, will accept the coup. It's also a Russian coup that will lead to the deaths of millions of Americans when health insurance becomes unaffordable (a lot easier than the old fashion way of invading and slaughtering). And millions of more deaths worldwide will result from Trump's alliance with pro global warming, ant-foreign aid interests. Thanks brilliant Trump supporters.
3
It seems like the author is too eager to dismiss Sessions as a red herring. He's the acting Attorney General and can probably still impede any investigations. He's said he will recuse himself, but he also lied to Congress under oath. The pattern seems to be to lie, and when confronted with evidence of having lied, to lie again. Eventually the subject gets changed, and questioners give up. This will probably continue to be the pattern as long as there is no serious independent investigation. We don't know the actual content of his conversations with Kislyak, but it seems like a mistake to let Sessions of the hook too easily.
2
Your analysis is spot on. I would add that Putin is a professional spy. He wanted to weaken Clinton and by extension the US. He was able to do this because our internal political institutions are the weakest they have been since just before the Civil War. What he didn't count on was Trump actually winning. Now he's stuck with a crazy person in the White House. He likely has financial leverage and probably honey trap leverage. But his problem is that he can't actually use it on anything meaningful for him. Because of the brave American leakers and investigators, the word is out. Trump can't deliver for Putin now or everyone's fears will be confirmed.
2
Any inquiry must begin with the full release of Trumps current and several years previous tax returns . Then subpoena Comey, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort and Christopher Steele before House Committee. I smell a rat and it's name is donald trump.
2
Rex Tillerson. BFF of Putin. Never met Trump until he was nominated for Secretary of State. If Trump never met the guy, how did he pull out his name out if that magic hat when there are so many other more qualified candidates than an oil guy whose main job was to screw ant tiny country that had a drop of oil and no rule of law?
Now the State Department is slowly being turned into a ghost town with budget cuts and Tillerson being pretty much invisible.
Again, Tillerson is BFF with Putin. Dots connected.
Now the State Department is slowly being turned into a ghost town with budget cuts and Tillerson being pretty much invisible.
Again, Tillerson is BFF with Putin. Dots connected.
4
Tax returns from a life long con artist like Trump may not be as revealing as people think.
1
I still can't believe Kristof won a Pulitzer. #5 is enough to get his jurinalist's card yanked. He even contradicts himself regarding the Great Collusion Conspiracy. Trooth and Facks at their finest. Nick must be channeling Roy Cohn from the '50s.
1
About those "unexplained communications between a Trump Organization computer server and Russia’s Alfa Bank"--isn't it interesting that the other organization receiving communications, albeit a small percentage of them, from the Trump Tower server was a server belonging to Michigan-based Spectrum Health. The reason it's interesting is that Richard DeVos, husband of the new Secretary of Education, is the current chairman of the board of directors for Spectrum Health System. Well, I found it interesting, but apparently the FBI didn't and accepted Spectrum Health's statement that all they received was a small number of spam marketing emails for Trump hotels.
2
Little or no attention has been paid to the logic behind the Republicans' refusal to consider Obama's Supreme Court nomination and their insistence that nomination of a replacement for Scalia should be the prerogative of Obama's successor. That was at a time when Clinton was the overwhelming favorite to succeed Obama. To me that suggests the GOP was privy to information that led them to believe that Clinton would not be the next president.
3
11/3/16 meeting in Concord NC is the key!
WHO did Dmitry Rybolovlev meet & WHY-5 Days before Elections?
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/mobile/m-top-stories/article137115918.html
WHO did Dmitry Rybolovlev meet & WHY-5 Days before Elections?
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/mobile/m-top-stories/article137115918.html
3
Sounds like one of Donald Trump's specialties is selling over-inflated properties to billionaires withholding assets from their soon to be divorced spouses. Spicer just said Trump has cleared himself, so now I expect divorce papers any day.
Not this time-It was Putin's way of adding $ 55 M to Trump-This theft of our election in works for a long time. trump owes 100s of Billions to Russians.
I would love to pin collusion with the Russians on Trump. I would pin a tale on the Donkey if it would eliminate him from the current scene.
I do not expect that whatever transpired between foreign interests and Trump will amount to enough to force President Chaos out of circulation.
I do not expect that whatever transpired between foreign interests and Trump will amount to enough to force President Chaos out of circulation.
3
I hope Mr. Kristof is correct that Trump's unhinged behavior is an attempt to distract us from the President's Russia connections, as opposed to his engaging in the only behavior he knows how to. Because even a shrewd manipulator would be preferable to a completely delusional incompetent.
1
Others in these comments have underlined the "unhinged" used by Mr. Kristoff. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), in the section on Narcissistic Personality Disorder (which according to the manual Mr. Trump fits), says:
... criticism may haunt these individuals and may leave them feeling humiliated, degraded, hollow, and empty. They may react with disdain, rage, or defiant counterattack...
I find that description very much predictive of what we can expect; last week Mr. Trump may have felt humiliated by the recusation of Mr. Session, and during the weekend his rage exploded to attack Mr. Obama.
Another predictive passage in the DSM is: "Though overweening ambition and confidence may lead to high achievement, performance may be disrupted due to intolerance of criticism or defeat". So I expect that during this presidency, because of the criticism and defeat that will come at times, his performance will be very much disrupted.
... criticism may haunt these individuals and may leave them feeling humiliated, degraded, hollow, and empty. They may react with disdain, rage, or defiant counterattack...
I find that description very much predictive of what we can expect; last week Mr. Trump may have felt humiliated by the recusation of Mr. Session, and during the weekend his rage exploded to attack Mr. Obama.
Another predictive passage in the DSM is: "Though overweening ambition and confidence may lead to high achievement, performance may be disrupted due to intolerance of criticism or defeat". So I expect that during this presidency, because of the criticism and defeat that will come at times, his performance will be very much disrupted.
26
Show us the money! We want to see Trump's taxes.
Then we will begin to play connect the dots....
Then we will begin to play connect the dots....
55
Well, now we know why Assange is giving CIA a kick in the halls, for having the goods on Trump. Sounds like Trump's folks got caught up in our surveillance of Russians!! You don't need a warrant to capture that, but you may have to open an investigation to look any further at what the Prism guards are holding. Tempora comes from the UK without any content, so you'd have to ask the Five Eyes for that before it goes bad. 30 days.
6
Another dot - the reports today of the NRA Delegation trip to Russia in December 2015 and their meetings with, among others, Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin? Just before the NRA ponied up $30 million in ads for the Trump campaign.
56
We need to see his tax returns... Dig, dig, dig!
We need to see his tax returns... Hack, hack, hack!
We need to see his tax returns! Is there no heroic mole within the IRS?!?
We need to see his tax returns... Hack, hack, hack!
We need to see his tax returns! Is there no heroic mole within the IRS?!?
157
The heroic mole could also work for Trump accountants.
Can the head of the IRS at least say that his returns are under audit? Trump has lied about everything else, I want it confirmed, at least that his tax returns are really being audited.
I only know about the protections presidential tax returns likely have in the IRS from an incident one my sisters' employees at the IRS caused many years ago. This employee was investigating a tax return and mistakenly typed in the wrong Social Security number. Loud alarms went off, the employee's terminal was locked, and armed guards came running. The employee had mistakenly typed in Gerry Ford's SSN (only one off from the needed number), when he was the sitting president. Took a while to sort out and even longer for everyone to calm down.
I would guess that Trump's return is far better protected inside the IRS than Gerry Ford's return was protected decades ago. Only a pretty large scale high-level conspiracy would have any kind of chance of getting the returns (and remember that Trump's returns are big enough to take a good while to fully download and transfer to a thumb drive). Accomplishing this inside the IRS without a near certainty of discovery is very remote. Someone trying this with the knowledge, skill, and authority needed would be well aware that they would most likely fail, and almost certainly be caught and prosecuted.
I would guess that Trump's return is far better protected inside the IRS than Gerry Ford's return was protected decades ago. Only a pretty large scale high-level conspiracy would have any kind of chance of getting the returns (and remember that Trump's returns are big enough to take a good while to fully download and transfer to a thumb drive). Accomplishing this inside the IRS without a near certainty of discovery is very remote. Someone trying this with the knowledge, skill, and authority needed would be well aware that they would most likely fail, and almost certainly be caught and prosecuted.
1
I guess Joe McCarthy, like Joe Hill, never died.
8
Have you forgotten about the son in law, Jared Kushner meeting with the Russians in December?
And, as always, follow the money.
And, as always, follow the money.
75
that would be after the election.
Keep the pressure up.
40
We need to write or call our congressional representatives, shame them into investigating.
Is there any chance the fbi and cia are investigating this. Stay after 'em.
14
Here's the funny part...no one who knows can say so, and if they do, they go directly to jail, no stopping off for their $200. This explains how insane this all is, so I'm hoping Liz might give us a wave off from across the pond.
1
Why does Loudon Wainwright singing, “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road” keep playing in my head?
22
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C01E4D7143AEF33A25754...
In the last paragraphs, the Bolsheviki of Wall Street suggest Russians are repulsed by a man on horseback and prefer a people's pitchfork...so this banker is also a horse's. Bannon only wishes he had his stock.
In the last paragraphs, the Bolsheviki of Wall Street suggest Russians are repulsed by a man on horseback and prefer a people's pitchfork...so this banker is also a horse's. Bannon only wishes he had his stock.
2
Trump sometimes seems unhinged?
21
OK, he had that hour plus where he acted the part long enough to fool half the people for half the time.
Bigger than Watergate!
25
"...Trump’s furious denunciations of the press and of Barack Obama, to the point that he sometimes seems unhinged. Journalists have learned that when a leader goes berserk and unleashes tirades and threats at investigators, that’s when you’re getting close."
How can you tell, Nick? I thought that was his everyday demeanor.
How can you tell, Nick? I thought that was his everyday demeanor.
10
You need to watch the UK version, because KellyAnne gets hers in the second season of the xeries, "To Play the King." Am I not right? The pollster, Sarah Harding, who pushes FU's right hand man Stamper to unspeakable heights?
I'm sorry, but ONLY Sir Richard Anderson can spread my mustard, Spacey.
I'm sorry, but ONLY Sir Richard Anderson can spread my mustard, Spacey.
I hope you're wrong in your "guess" that there was no collusion, only knowledge, between Trump's campaign and Russia. With Ryan and McConnel in charge it will take outright traitorous proof to get this demented man out of office.
27
Trump has done enough to bury any other President 10 fold. What is the intelligence people waiting for? If not soon ,we will be destroyed. He is weakening every agency by replacing or reducing budgets... EPA, EDUCATION ,STATE DEPARTMENT, HUD, . and now he is getting into China with his businesses. When does it stop! He even has his own small protection company...as a business. He is draining the coffers for his own personal wealth.
40
With all these leaks and clever hackers around, how come no one is able to leak or get at Trump's tax returns???
55
Trump said Jon Huntsman gave USA to China.
Now Trump nominates Huntsman to give remain to Russia.
Now Trump nominates Huntsman to give remain to Russia.
14
RUSSIAGATE MUST BE INVESTIGATED BY A WATERGATE TYPE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, NOW! There is no greater enemy than those who seek to destroy the vote.
48
The new Russo-American Empire. Solidarity with White Christian biker gangs against Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. What a crummy way to end the world.
5
Here's the story of Trump full throttle.
First some will hate 'im.
Then a lot'll.
Apologies to Ogden Nash
First some will hate 'im.
Then a lot'll.
Apologies to Ogden Nash
4
Trump is gutting the State Department. Is he doing Putin's bidding?
6
This is irresponsible to keep putting out the 'Trump Russian conspiracy theory'. There are loads of FBI, CIA and intelligence operatives who loathe Trump, yet they have come up with...nothing, nada, rien.
I was not a Trump supporter but I accept him as our President. The truth is, the media and the liberal left cannot accept that Hillary Clinton LOST. Yes, that's right...millions of people were so repulsed by her corruption and sense of entitlement that they held their nose and voted for a flawed, Twitter-addicted candidate.
That's the thing the left and the liberal media just can't get past. It's been four months since the election. Grow up and get over yourselves, please! Attacking Trump at every turn and wanting him to fail is simply bad for our country.
I was not a Trump supporter but I accept him as our President. The truth is, the media and the liberal left cannot accept that Hillary Clinton LOST. Yes, that's right...millions of people were so repulsed by her corruption and sense of entitlement that they held their nose and voted for a flawed, Twitter-addicted candidate.
That's the thing the left and the liberal media just can't get past. It's been four months since the election. Grow up and get over yourselves, please! Attacking Trump at every turn and wanting him to fail is simply bad for our country.
1
No, Trump, the lying, conning, Groper in Chief, is bad for our country. Very Bad. And Hillary Clinton was not corrupt. She duly reported her speaking fees in her tax returns (Trump still has to show his), paid taxes over them and gave part of it to charity. You should grow up. Millions more voted for Hillary Clinton than for Trump.
2
He's not my president, he's a phony Russian stooge and a world wide joke. And you are an idiot if you still support him.
This is not about losing. This is about having, at a minimum, a probably crook in the White House. If there's no there there, fine, but we deserve to know.
As to his being the President, unfortunately for us, he is. While I don't root for him to fail, I am horrified at what he's done so far. I have seen NOTHING to support him for yet. He's the sorest, most disgusting "winner" we've ever had to deal with. He doesn't even TRY to reach out to all American's, in fact he called those who voted against him his "enemies". I am horrified, why aren't you?
As to his being the President, unfortunately for us, he is. While I don't root for him to fail, I am horrified at what he's done so far. I have seen NOTHING to support him for yet. He's the sorest, most disgusting "winner" we've ever had to deal with. He doesn't even TRY to reach out to all American's, in fact he called those who voted against him his "enemies". I am horrified, why aren't you?
I am amazed that the Trump campaign (proving we are in now the never ending form of such) has not bought ads to put out the other big statement Clapper made last Sunday, which was: no evidence of collusion between Trump and Putin was found.
That sound bite is the perfect "proof" that the MSM picks and chooses to make FAKE NEWS.
The dots biz, and the call for a "special prosecutor", is really a means by the people way out of power to get a white water style fishing license. But the Clinton special prosecutor happened because one party controlled the Hill and wanted to undercut the White House. That is not the chess board now.
The folk that want to play this game know that Trump can NEVER PROVE THE NEGATIVE.
As far as the truth about 16? Clear enough... foreign (and domestic) intelligence did try to put a heavy thumb on the scales to "influence" the election. They did so by being the still working contacts inside that the MI6 "emeritus" Kristof cites that tried to run an old cold war story. And the effort to turn every Russian with any contact into a Boris or Natasha KGB agent since is more ridiculous than the "dossier" the American voters tossed on the trash heap.
As far as Kompromat, I'd worry more about the in watched Watchers who can turn on any Congressperson's telly. A lot of Orwell style black mail there (indeed, why doesn't the Times explore the reason that the "groping" tape survived/existed, which has the smell of TV executives fearing law suit type kompromat)
That sound bite is the perfect "proof" that the MSM picks and chooses to make FAKE NEWS.
The dots biz, and the call for a "special prosecutor", is really a means by the people way out of power to get a white water style fishing license. But the Clinton special prosecutor happened because one party controlled the Hill and wanted to undercut the White House. That is not the chess board now.
The folk that want to play this game know that Trump can NEVER PROVE THE NEGATIVE.
As far as the truth about 16? Clear enough... foreign (and domestic) intelligence did try to put a heavy thumb on the scales to "influence" the election. They did so by being the still working contacts inside that the MI6 "emeritus" Kristof cites that tried to run an old cold war story. And the effort to turn every Russian with any contact into a Boris or Natasha KGB agent since is more ridiculous than the "dossier" the American voters tossed on the trash heap.
As far as Kompromat, I'd worry more about the in watched Watchers who can turn on any Congressperson's telly. A lot of Orwell style black mail there (indeed, why doesn't the Times explore the reason that the "groping" tape survived/existed, which has the smell of TV executives fearing law suit type kompromat)
"the other big statement Clapper made last Sunday, which was: no evidence of collusion between Trump and Putin was found."....Which should not be taken to imply that the Russian did not try. The purpose of an investigation should be to find out what the Russian were doing and how they were trying to influence outcomes.
4
Manafort...Wilbur Ross...Sessions....Tillerson...
Connect these dots and multiply times 10.....
Connect these dots and multiply times 10.....
12
I would feel comfortable describing Donald Trump "as sometimes appearing/seeming unhinged" if he was trying to convince me to sign a lease on a Condo in Manhattan. Unfortunately, he is POTUS. "Dangerous and unstable" are more appropriate adjectives describing the current state of affairs radiating from the Head of State (sometimes) occupying the White House. Wake up America! There is a STRONG Skunk smell emanating from the WHITE HOUSE and the KREMLIN. Keep digging... this is not a Television Series... this is REALLY HAPPENING. The story will unfold and we will learn what we already know. Trump is Putin's Puppet. But WHO ELSE is involved? Stay Tuned.
2
Are you sitting in a lonely dark room with a lit cigarette creating smoke? That's the best you've got? Too many ifs.
My mother used to caution me that you could judge a person's character by the character of their friends. Choose wisely she advised. Who are or have been Trump's closest advisors/friends:
1. Chief legal advisor: Roy Cohn
2. Chief political operative: Roger Stone
1. Chief legal advisor: Roy Cohn
2. Chief political operative: Roger Stone
12
And what about Evraz steel for the pipeline.
3
Hope that the Congress will accept your arrangement of the "dots."
8
Didn't you notice Cameron's father had REAL tax dodging investments revealed in the Panama Papers? Do folks thin Panama Papers is a TV show about 1970s dope blowers?
Why did that plot unseat a PM in the UK version allowing FU to slip inside 10 Downing, but David Cameron walked like he never had GCHQ remove the corrupting email from a suspect's cellphone that saved Murdoch $2 billion in bacon, too? Good morning, Q.
Why did that plot unseat a PM in the UK version allowing FU to slip inside 10 Downing, but David Cameron walked like he never had GCHQ remove the corrupting email from a suspect's cellphone that saved Murdoch $2 billion in bacon, too? Good morning, Q.
3
Where DID all that pesky content go? Here comes the JUDGE!
page five, follow the property possession trail...when was Cameron's email sent tha later was found to be missing its contents, and how long until GCHQ could return the device to the owner for downloading of same to teveal this missing evidence?
30 days? Tempora trails, dudes. Obviously its what GCHQ told NSA they'd learned to do by 2011 November's next memo...crack the Berry's compression technology.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140122145147/http://www.leve...
Mr. Jay tells the witness he has been asked by unknown parties for her to attest to this timing chain, like a mechanic knew it was about to blow. Way to go, Tom Watson! Tell Sherlock he's the best!
page five, follow the property possession trail...when was Cameron's email sent tha later was found to be missing its contents, and how long until GCHQ could return the device to the owner for downloading of same to teveal this missing evidence?
30 days? Tempora trails, dudes. Obviously its what GCHQ told NSA they'd learned to do by 2011 November's next memo...crack the Berry's compression technology.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140122145147/http://www.leve...
Mr. Jay tells the witness he has been asked by unknown parties for her to attest to this timing chain, like a mechanic knew it was about to blow. Way to go, Tom Watson! Tell Sherlock he's the best!
1
Tax returns!
Tax returns!!
Tax returns!!!
Tax returns!!
Tax returns!!!
67
Now that we have a gutless State Department headed by FOP - Friend of Putin - and fellow traveler, Rex Tillerson, I'm surprised good ol boy Rex doesn't show up for his smiley face photo-ops wearing his 2013 Communist Russia Order of Friendship medal on his chest ala Leonid Brezhnev.
6
“I will tell you this, Russia: If you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” the Republican nominee said at a news conference in Florida. “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”
Isn't this a big dot? A direct public invitation to the
Russians and a blatant directive to the
trump circle to coordinate with the Russians.
Isn't this a big dot? A direct public invitation to the
Russians and a blatant directive to the
trump circle to coordinate with the Russians.
3
Softening the RNC position on Ukraine (to benefit Russia) is a huge red flag.
Manafort's career path with Russia is a huge red flag.
Michael Cohen offering a pro-Russian Ukrainian "peace plan" that involves kompromat and the toppling of Poroshenko is a huge red flag.
Tillerson installed as Secretary of State is a gigantic red flag.
Roger Stone and his relationship to Wiki leaks, and Rudy Giuliani and the FBI are two disturbing red flags.
Red flags are waving, and dots are intentionally not being connected by the Republican party. Why is that?
Manafort's career path with Russia is a huge red flag.
Michael Cohen offering a pro-Russian Ukrainian "peace plan" that involves kompromat and the toppling of Poroshenko is a huge red flag.
Tillerson installed as Secretary of State is a gigantic red flag.
Roger Stone and his relationship to Wiki leaks, and Rudy Giuliani and the FBI are two disturbing red flags.
Red flags are waving, and dots are intentionally not being connected by the Republican party. Why is that?
12
Jared Kushner's complicity in Flynn's lie about no contacts with the Russian ambassador when he was present at the meeting in Trump Tower, his admission only after it was public knowledge that the CI had evidence of it and him not being fired by Trump are multiple huge red flags. Trump obviously knew and Pence most likely did as well. Trump probably ordered the meeting just like he ordered the changes in the GOP platform that Putin wanted and he and his staff lied about.
An examination of his taxes and his companies finances would would bring clarity to these allegations. If the President is unwilling, as a public figure, a logical conclusion can be drawn by his accusers. He is the MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, but not with diode implants but with obligatory loans and favorable business dealings, that otherwise would not have occurred . I do not think President Putin would permit a tax audit either even the country that he dominates.
5
If this article was a trial, and I was a judge, I would throw it out of court...come back when you have real evidence, and stop wasting my time. Next case.
1
You forgot big mouth Gulliani bragging about some revelations about to be disclosed. You also missed Rachel Maddow's show the past few days. She shows how Trump sold a horrible house in West Palm to a Russian that leveled it after Trump made something like $40 million in less than 2 years on a house that no one else wanted.
13
Trump bought it for $40 million and sold it to Rybolovlev, the "fertilizer king", for $100 million. Trump therefore reaps a profit of $60 million. Rybolovlev is a Russian oligarch and in Putin's circle.
1
Exactly. Rachel Maddow is on point and exposing all the rats involved on the sinking ship.
1
Thank you Mr.Kristof for presenting the fact pattern.
In the interest of fairness, the CONTENTS of the wikileaks about Podesta, DNC and Hillary campaign are also disturbing. An ugly portrait of collusion, bullying, contempt for democracy.
We need to clean up both sides. I'm in favor of intellectual honesty in reporting Mr.Kristof, how about you?
In the interest of fairness, the CONTENTS of the wikileaks about Podesta, DNC and Hillary campaign are also disturbing. An ugly portrait of collusion, bullying, contempt for democracy.
We need to clean up both sides. I'm in favor of intellectual honesty in reporting Mr.Kristof, how about you?
2
It's a shame the NYTimes and the other news outlets were not connecting the dots before the election.
9
This morning the wife came down for breakfast and I looked at her and deadpanned "Trump just declared war on North Korea". She gasped and I relented, "just kidding honey... although some morning I won't be."
Anything can happen with a pissed and irrational Donald attempting diversion.
Anything can happen with a pissed and irrational Donald attempting diversion.
6
Another Fake journalist.... 0% of evidence and 100% insinuation. Trump would be proud. Keep it up!
This is an opinion piece, in the opinion section. I worry about people who can't tell the difference between a news story and an opinion piece.
Absolutely bang on Nic- please, oh please keep digging. Manafort and Stone are very big threads....keep pulling on this and I hope and pray the press in this country pursue this to the very end....this clown is completely corrupt and america deserves better, regardless of party.
11
Follow the money...
6
Putin helped Tump get into the White House. I'm putting my money on Putin getting him out. In addition,, check out his relations with Azeberjhan's known corrupt official,, who was in partnership with Iran's Revolutionary Guard. His 60 million $ windfall with sale to Russian billionaire. Not impeachable.(.perhaps?,) but certainly reflects his lack of "due diligence".
7
Imagine this plot on T.V.. A wealthy, " celebrity " NYC real estate developer, out of money and finally not able to find anyone stupid enough to extend him further Huuuuuge sums of credit, turns to shady Russians for cash. They have plenty of it, and want it laundered, and it invest in the USA.. Of course, there are also plenty of brokers, bankers and quasi- government officials, in Russia, involved. Lots of cash involved, and an endless stream of enormous profit, for everyone. So, they must protect their boy, their frontman, their USA partner. Just what can they do???
And this, is just the pilot episode.
And this, is just the pilot episode.
11
FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!!!! Trump is into the Russian kleptocracy big time. CHECK THE TAX RETURNS FOR MONEY LAUNDERING OPERATIONS couched as businesses and shell corporations. Manafort is a point man.
12
You nailed it, sir. Manafort has been open in saying that he wants World War 3. He's in charge in Washington, not the buffoon, racist, woman abuser. Yes, #45 is most definitely a part of it. He's a moron, focused on money. He doesn't care if the world blows up, as long as he has enough money to build a palatial shelter to hide from it. Keep the focus on Manafort. HE does connect the dots and he MUST be stopped.
12
Lock Him Up! Lock Him Up!
11
I'd add Trump's furious denunciations of leakers.
He seems completely unconcerned about problems with his staff but rather furious with those exposing them.
And last, add his bizarre behavior with staff. Michael Flynn is a case in point . . . Trump offered his full-throated support of Michael Flynn and believes what he did was appropriate. He then fires him because he didn't tell Pence? . . Really??
He seems completely unconcerned about problems with his staff but rather furious with those exposing them.
And last, add his bizarre behavior with staff. Michael Flynn is a case in point . . . Trump offered his full-throated support of Michael Flynn and believes what he did was appropriate. He then fires him because he didn't tell Pence? . . Really??
5
Your going to need more dots... how about how the Trump campaign got the GOP to remove its anti-Russia stance from their platform at the convention.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-campaign-g...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-campaign-g...
8
Is there a link between a couple of Republican congressmen's hearings, majority leader, Wikileaks. V. 'Putin' , and Trump. What... coincidences on Wikileak.. leaks?
1
Mr. Kristof’s very first point, “President Trump and his aides have repeatedly and falsely denied ties to Russia. USA Today counted at least 20 denials. In fact, we now know that there were contacts by at least a half-dozen people in the Trump circle with senior Russian officials” does not mention that except for Jared Kushner’s contact that was voluntarily disclosed by the White House, the others were acknowledged only after a diligent media had exposed them.
So what is the Trump administration covering up? If there is no “there” there, then why all the flailing and protesting? Trump’s tax returns would go a long way to proving this Russia connection is much ado about nothing, but the White House resists. It seems like only a special prosecutor with subpoena power can establish how deep Moscow has landed on the Potomac?
So what is the Trump administration covering up? If there is no “there” there, then why all the flailing and protesting? Trump’s tax returns would go a long way to proving this Russia connection is much ado about nothing, but the White House resists. It seems like only a special prosecutor with subpoena power can establish how deep Moscow has landed on the Potomac?
9
Trumps pandering Putin and Russia is over the top. It is the job for responsible Republicans in the Senate to start an investigation that will subpoena Trumps tax returns as well as those that have lied about Russian Ties. The importance of this action is of the ultimate. Our democracy, our political system and our future demands it. Trumps stonewalling with the support of Senate and House leaders are putting the country in peril.
I understand the Republican leaders in the Senate wanting to use the power of a Republican president to advance their agenda. Getting Trump out of there will not jeopardize that agenda, only postpone it. They will still have a Republican president.
I understand the Republican leaders in the Senate wanting to use the power of a Republican president to advance their agenda. Getting Trump out of there will not jeopardize that agenda, only postpone it. They will still have a Republican president.
It is possible that another dot is Steve Bannon. He has described himself as a leninist. he says he wants to destroy what he calls "the administrative state;" a singularly un-american term and/or description of our historically successful form of government.
Great job, Nick.
Great job, Nick.
3
Yeah, and that would also include Ryan, who cannot for the life of him, fathom why government is good for all, despite always being employed by the government (will not call him a civil servant as he does not deserve the respect that connotes) and the recipient of social security when his father died, as well as the great medical insurance he has via his job. (and don't forget the pension).
1
That guy is a total joke who thinks he's William Boyce Thompson, copper magnate who made out like a bandito in war profits. Thompson's friends advised him to keep out of politics and let the politicians do the heavy lifting for him. This Bolsheviki of Wall Street who cornered their markets gave up on becoming Gov of NY and settled on plotting Tea Pot Dome.
We're taking this whole enchilada off of coal and going for the oil booms, baby! Blame the Oil Barons, West Virginia! After they picked out the perfect Cabinet for this lease acquisition campaign to fashion the entire western oil infrastructure, they picked up Harding to front the whole operation.
We're taking this whole enchilada off of coal and going for the oil booms, baby! Blame the Oil Barons, West Virginia! After they picked out the perfect Cabinet for this lease acquisition campaign to fashion the entire western oil infrastructure, they picked up Harding to front the whole operation.
Nicholas Kristof of the Times
Doesn’t deal in nursery rhymes.
The topics that he writes about
Make his readers scream and shout.
But he’s running out of steam
With his Trump-is-evil theme.
Come on, Nick; how ‘bout some more
On sweatshops helping out the poor?
Doesn’t deal in nursery rhymes.
The topics that he writes about
Make his readers scream and shout.
But he’s running out of steam
With his Trump-is-evil theme.
Come on, Nick; how ‘bout some more
On sweatshops helping out the poor?
There certainly is smoke ... we need a thorough, independent investigation to see if there is any fire.
1
Notice that Roger Stone is involved with both the Nixon train wreck and the Trump train Wreck? He has the reverse Midas touch.
1
If you're counseling the dems to avoid conspiracy theories, read the rest of your column today. It sure reads like a conspiracy theory! Fortunately, your bottom line is correct: Independent investigation is nedded.
What do the Russians have on Donald Trump?
4
Follow the money!! It was great advice during Watergate and it's the best advice now. All will be revealed if you just follow the money.
5
The Russian conspiracy theory is essentially that the Russians hacked the DNC e-mail and released the e-mails to the public and by doing so, influenced the election.
Only a reckless and irresponsible individual would put potentially compromising comments in an e-mail that could be hacked by the Russians,the Chinese, Wikileaks, any other country, and any hacker in the world including high school kids.
Only a reckless and irresponsible individual would put potentially compromising comments in an e-mail that could be hacked by the Russians,the Chinese, Wikileaks, any other country, and any hacker in the world including high school kids.
Not only did the Kremlin not think Trump would win, Trump didn't either. While Russia was using its leverage with Trump to try to damage Clinton, he may well have been setting up business deals (loans?) that would pay off after the election. The voters spoiled the payoff scenario.
4
You'll know you've hit a raw nerve when "Twitler" starts referring to the White House as his "bunker" and begins ranting even further about "disloyal reporters who are enemies of the people". Wait, sorry, he's already doing the second one.
At any rate, he will surround himself with "loyal" followers in his "bunker" and tweet interminably until, perhaps, the end of April if history is any kind of teacher on such matters.
Tell me, does Mr. Bannon have a club foot much like one of his heroes in the past?
At any rate, he will surround himself with "loyal" followers in his "bunker" and tweet interminably until, perhaps, the end of April if history is any kind of teacher on such matters.
Tell me, does Mr. Bannon have a club foot much like one of his heroes in the past?
1
People have and will continue to commit treason in the name of profits, and we the American people remain blind. Shame on us and the selfish world we have created for ourselves. By the time we wake up to this sorry situation it will be too late. Steve Bannon said he is a Leninist, wasn't it Lenin who said of America, "We will hang you with a rope of your own making." ?
3
No mention of Bannon, the bantam perched on the shoulder of Trump, a dark bird and eminence grise who, unlike Cardinal Richelieu, holds office?
1
Do not forget the Tax Returns!
4
Don the Con has played the "con game" all of his life. It is finally catching up to him at age 70!
6
It comes down to Congress. Is their loyalty to America or to having a Republican in power?
7
Dear Mr.Kristof,
I don’t believe that anyone with an open mind doubts for a minute that there was and is collusion between Trump & Russia, & that Russia did what ever they could to put Trump in office. The problem is, that as long as there is hope among the largest voting block in the country the non college white working person who put Trump in the White House, that Trump will give them high paying Jobs, they will continue to support him.Should he falter in any way, his house of cards will come tumbling down.It’s very early in his administration, and so far aside from his tweets, & innuendoes, he has not accomplished anything .His one incursion into Yemen was a disaster.The country is more divided than ever, & hatred is running rampant.He doesn’t have to show his tax returns, the mere fact, that he won’t, is reason enough for the people to feel he’s hiding something.If there is not a boom in Jobs & the economy, by the Mid Term elections, the Blue collar workers will not come out to vote, & Trump will lose his mandate, & spend his last two years as a lame duck & a failure.
I don’t believe that anyone with an open mind doubts for a minute that there was and is collusion between Trump & Russia, & that Russia did what ever they could to put Trump in office. The problem is, that as long as there is hope among the largest voting block in the country the non college white working person who put Trump in the White House, that Trump will give them high paying Jobs, they will continue to support him.Should he falter in any way, his house of cards will come tumbling down.It’s very early in his administration, and so far aside from his tweets, & innuendoes, he has not accomplished anything .His one incursion into Yemen was a disaster.The country is more divided than ever, & hatred is running rampant.He doesn’t have to show his tax returns, the mere fact, that he won’t, is reason enough for the people to feel he’s hiding something.If there is not a boom in Jobs & the economy, by the Mid Term elections, the Blue collar workers will not come out to vote, & Trump will lose his mandate, & spend his last two years as a lame duck & a failure.
5
Yes, very true. And the legislature is not balanced at the moment. How much will it take for Trump's supporters to realize that he is a "fake" (ineffective for them, threatening to the country) president? And how will they react if he leaves office? I fear even imprisonment after conviction of crimes would not dent their sense of being victimized by liberal media and elite, and rigged judiciary etc etc etc. How can we re-unite our country around basic common interests? Even national security has been whipped into a tuning fork for the polar opposites.
From your keypad to God's ear. But, don't count on it. There was an excellent discussion this morning on "Morning Joe" and neo-con anti-Trump John Podhoretz was one of the guests. He correctly pointed out the 46 percent of the nation in Trump's corner are still solid for him. They don't read the NYT or WaPo.
More importantly, Dems can't stop shooting themselves in the foot thanks to the activist hard left part of the base. They don't want center-left candidates in "purple" states or in competitive or lean GOP House races who might well win.. Unless you insult and stereotype middle America as knuckle-dragging dumb white racists, you must not run they scream. They make no effort to reach out to persuadable voters because they are old and white and just "icky". Until that changes and the Dems become a bigger tent, and stop with the political correctness on steroids (who outside elite academia and tiny activist groups says "cisgendered"?) they will not fulfill the outcome we both seek.
More importantly, Dems can't stop shooting themselves in the foot thanks to the activist hard left part of the base. They don't want center-left candidates in "purple" states or in competitive or lean GOP House races who might well win.. Unless you insult and stereotype middle America as knuckle-dragging dumb white racists, you must not run they scream. They make no effort to reach out to persuadable voters because they are old and white and just "icky". Until that changes and the Dems become a bigger tent, and stop with the political correctness on steroids (who outside elite academia and tiny activist groups says "cisgendered"?) they will not fulfill the outcome we both seek.
The Christopher Steele dossier was known to the press, and our government, for over six months now, and still no answers.
Isn't that really it's own independent outrage? Comey was fretting about -- and publicizing -- yet another obsessive review of HRC's emails, but on Weiner's computer. But could he be bothered to investigate whether an actual Manchurian candidate was going to be installed in office? No. That, somehow, someway, wasn't as important as freaking out about HRC's mundane emails.
And the press too -- Podesta thinks he can make creamy risotto!! They were reporting on that, but reports of potential treason.... Nope, not a priority.
Hillary! Emails! Hillary! Emails! Putin has a golden showers tape .... Snooze, no one cared.
I really can't get over that.
Isn't that really it's own independent outrage? Comey was fretting about -- and publicizing -- yet another obsessive review of HRC's emails, but on Weiner's computer. But could he be bothered to investigate whether an actual Manchurian candidate was going to be installed in office? No. That, somehow, someway, wasn't as important as freaking out about HRC's mundane emails.
And the press too -- Podesta thinks he can make creamy risotto!! They were reporting on that, but reports of potential treason.... Nope, not a priority.
Hillary! Emails! Hillary! Emails! Putin has a golden showers tape .... Snooze, no one cared.
I really can't get over that.
9
I share your outrage, but the network bosses have already "fessed up". They admit DT was catnip for ratings and they just couldn't help themselves. It was Donald all the time even on MSNBC, and other outlets not just on Faux News. Then in their defense they cite the election polling which said he couldn't win.
1
Unconvincing. If that's all that there is on Trump, it's safe to say that he's but a victim of a mccarthian witchhunt.
1
Oh, please, get your head out of the sand. Trump owes Russian banks money, wake up!
11. The unexplained removal of the Ukraine plank from the RNC platform last year.
12. Gutting the State Department of career staffers.
12. Gutting the State Department of career staffers.
7
Tax returns! Obama provided his birth certificate! Let's see Trump's tax returns!
4
The main point I get from this article is that Trump or Trump Tower was 'wiretapped" or under US Government surveillance. So Trump was correct after all...interesting.
I don't know if Trump belongs to Putin, but he certainly is acting like he is. Even in the friendly confines of Bill O'Reilly's studio, Trump would rather smear the US than criticize Putin. There might be treason going on, and the Republicans who refuse to investigate are accomplices after the fact. This is the most unpatriotic act by American politicians since the Civil War.
9
Now, Trump and Russia are suddenly keeping a public distance of each other, a behavior that might reflect the intention of hiding the connection.
2
Bingo.
No one thought Trump would win, so it will not be surprising to eventually find out that his surrogates saw any attention from the Russians as simply 'good for future business.' Also given Trump's propensity for ruthlessness, any advantage he thought he could gain in the election by capitalizing on Putin's interference would be 'fair game' in his book.
And finally, as most journalists are now starting to point out, being picked up on a wire tap because you're talking to the Russians (who would be wire tapped) does not mean you are the target...you're second hand smoke.
Isn't it obvious then that only in Trump's maniacal mind would he make such tapping about Him vs Them.
This onion really stinks the more layers you pull off.
No one thought Trump would win, so it will not be surprising to eventually find out that his surrogates saw any attention from the Russians as simply 'good for future business.' Also given Trump's propensity for ruthlessness, any advantage he thought he could gain in the election by capitalizing on Putin's interference would be 'fair game' in his book.
And finally, as most journalists are now starting to point out, being picked up on a wire tap because you're talking to the Russians (who would be wire tapped) does not mean you are the target...you're second hand smoke.
Isn't it obvious then that only in Trump's maniacal mind would he make such tapping about Him vs Them.
This onion really stinks the more layers you pull off.
8
What I find perplexing is why the Trump campaign officials (at least 6) bothered communicating in the first place. I find nothing to be gained by Trump's campaign. And which party initiated the contacts, Russia or Trump's people?
Could it be as simple as ignorant and inexperienced campaign officials? That's the conclusion that I keep reaching. Just look at how they operate now that they're in charge!
Could it be as simple as ignorant and inexperienced campaign officials? That's the conclusion that I keep reaching. Just look at how they operate now that they're in charge!
Unhinged is the perfect word to describe Trump. Notice he is looking older by the day, the stress of so many lies must be starting to get to him. Never let up!
1
Rachel Maddow is coming closest to uncovering things, I think. We'll see.
2
We need the investigation and let the chips fall.
This is not a bad case that Kristof (Russian name) projects -- certainly cogent.
The fact that the plank in the Republican National Convention's platform about Russia was the ONLY one that Trump's campaign insisted be changed, so as to try to very much weaken the U.S.'s strong stance against Russia's actions and the U.S.'s impositions of sanctions against Russia, is to my mind a HUGE smoking gun.
3
Two words: tax returns.
There is a wonderful article in this month's Vanity Fair magazine about Trump, his corporations and his dealings with Russia. I suggest everyone read it. It sheds some light on some of Trump's business deals.
Why havent Trump's tax returns been leaked? With everything else that has been leaked, i find this curious. Any thoughts?
1
Mr. Kristof lays it out clear and plain: Focus, focus, focus.
1
So we have a major Wikileaks "Leak" of explosive materials about the CIA just when the Trump/Russian scandal is beginning to catch fire. Since Russia seems to have provided the ammo to Wikileaks on Mrs. Clinton could there be a connection to Russia on this one too? That would be Russia getting materials to Wikileaks to save Trump from the Russian connection to his campaign. You almost can't make this stuff up......This is going to be a major movie sometime in the future.
1
I only want to know one thing, who was General Flynn talking to between his calls to the Russian Ambassador, and what was said? The General has fallen on his ceremonial sword, and he may want to pull it out. Put him under oath.
2
Follow the money! Who got paid, how they got paid, where they got paid and who paid them are key questions that need answers.
1
And could we investigate whether the Trump empire was involved in money laundering for Russians?
The Trump team may have sent ambiguous rather than tacit signals to the Russians but the Russians surely have recordings of those contacts as their insurance policy.
It seems like the GoP is colluding with Trump and his minions re: this Russia affair. They need to stop colluding. Where are the patriots? Where are the truth seekers? Where are the people of honor? Missing in action. It is a national disgrace that this Congress is dragging its' feet. We know they are perfectly willing to investigate Democrats, Benghazi is the perfect example. So what is stopping them here? Crass party politics over the health of our form of government. I say, take off those flag lapel pins, Republicans. Actions speak louder than words. At this point you are not being Americans we can be proud of. Veterans must speak out. They fought for this country for this?
1
There's push-back from folks saying people are going all conspiracy theory regarding the Trump team's ties to Russia. So glad Mr. Kristof clearly lays out the contacts and what's at stake. Trump never ever, ever does anything for good or altruistic motives and if he wasn't saber rattling with Russia during the campaign or now, it's because he had good, self-serving reasons not too. I hope the Trump presidency ends with him leaving office in disgrace before his term is up. The only good he is capable of is the resistance his noxious actions have inspired.
1
Also, as Rachel Maddow reports almost every night, one by one, the claims in the Christopher Steele dossier are, unbelievably, panning out, including the quick return of an official in the Russian Embassy in Washington back to Russia (the one responsible for paying for the DNC hacking), and another shadowy Russian figure who traveled twice to the U.S. before the election by his own admission expressly to influence the Russian-Ukraine position on the Republican platform. (He was successful).
7
Let's discuss all their significant reversals and denials, such as this:
On March 4th, 2017, Mr. J.D. Gordon, Trump's national security policy rep at the Republican Convention, told CNN he had made a GOP platform language change based on what “Donald Trump himself wanted + advocated for” at a March 2016 meeting at Trump Hotel in D.C.
On March 7th, Gordon changed his story on his involvement in changing the Ukraine amendment to pro-Russian language: “I didn’t change the platform nor did I say I did.”
(He did say he did)
Gordon made this abrupt statement change within 3 days. WHY?
You'll recall it was ties to a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine that resulted in Paul Manafort's resignation as Trump’s campaign chair Aug. 19th.
Christopher Steele, former MI6 spy, will be testifying before the Senate Intel Committee’s investigation into Trump's links to Russia.
In June, he delivered a spy memo to the FBI stating that Trump’s team agreed to a Russian request to "dilute attention on Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine."
4 days later Trump publicly stated he'd recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Republicans on the RNC platform committee were already on record complaining Trump removed a pledge for military assistance to Ukraine against separatist rebels in the east of the country. They can be googled by name.
That same day, Trump called on Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Trump staffers were later outed for their Russia contacts, Trump still in denial.
On March 4th, 2017, Mr. J.D. Gordon, Trump's national security policy rep at the Republican Convention, told CNN he had made a GOP platform language change based on what “Donald Trump himself wanted + advocated for” at a March 2016 meeting at Trump Hotel in D.C.
On March 7th, Gordon changed his story on his involvement in changing the Ukraine amendment to pro-Russian language: “I didn’t change the platform nor did I say I did.”
(He did say he did)
Gordon made this abrupt statement change within 3 days. WHY?
You'll recall it was ties to a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine that resulted in Paul Manafort's resignation as Trump’s campaign chair Aug. 19th.
Christopher Steele, former MI6 spy, will be testifying before the Senate Intel Committee’s investigation into Trump's links to Russia.
In June, he delivered a spy memo to the FBI stating that Trump’s team agreed to a Russian request to "dilute attention on Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine."
4 days later Trump publicly stated he'd recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Republicans on the RNC platform committee were already on record complaining Trump removed a pledge for military assistance to Ukraine against separatist rebels in the east of the country. They can be googled by name.
That same day, Trump called on Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Trump staffers were later outed for their Russia contacts, Trump still in denial.
1
well laid out. I think both Trump's ties to Russia and the Clinton Money Machine should both be thoroughly investigated. In the interest of intellectual honesty, Mr.Kristof perhaps you can write a bit about the disturbing money from foreign entities the Clintons received over the years? Thanks.
1
since the policy of limiting any comment on 1500 characters, in dividing the previous comment and rushing to post them one after another to have an hopefully continuous reading, i noted, after posting it, that it should have been
"settlements in palestinian territory " instead of "establishments in ...."
"settlements in palestinian territory " instead of "establishments in ...."
Get the Tax Returns. You will probably find answers there.
2
First of all, Nick, this is simply ridiculous -- the innuendo, the false claims, the dots that don't connect except in the fevered brains of progressives.
2 -- Russia did not steal the election. The worst that happened was that some embarrassing e-mails were released. Show me one vote that was changed because of wiki-leaks revelations.
3 -- Trump hadn't put his hat in the ring until July 2015 and was considered a side show at that point. And that was around the time that whoever hacked the DNC - hacked. Makes no sense that Russia & Trump were working together at that time.
4 -- we have no hard proof the Russians hacked the dems. We have the judgment of intelligence officials who didn't like Trump for the most part and were under tremendous political pressure from Obama to make a report.
And we now know our CIA can hack someone and make it look like someone else (Russians) did it.
5 -- the "Russian" dossier was garbage - you know it. Fake news.
6 -- There was nothing illegal about Flynn's contact with the Russian ambassador. Nor were Sessions contacts illegal.
7-- Would it surprise you if in 2016, once it was clear Trump would win the nomination Russians would want to get to know Trump and his team?
Anything illegal there?
8 -- all reports from gov sources say there was no collusion
9 -- Why would Trump collude in any way with Russia on this? Where's the motive?
All you have are dots, most imaginary. You have not made a case for connecting lines.
2 -- Russia did not steal the election. The worst that happened was that some embarrassing e-mails were released. Show me one vote that was changed because of wiki-leaks revelations.
3 -- Trump hadn't put his hat in the ring until July 2015 and was considered a side show at that point. And that was around the time that whoever hacked the DNC - hacked. Makes no sense that Russia & Trump were working together at that time.
4 -- we have no hard proof the Russians hacked the dems. We have the judgment of intelligence officials who didn't like Trump for the most part and were under tremendous political pressure from Obama to make a report.
And we now know our CIA can hack someone and make it look like someone else (Russians) did it.
5 -- the "Russian" dossier was garbage - you know it. Fake news.
6 -- There was nothing illegal about Flynn's contact with the Russian ambassador. Nor were Sessions contacts illegal.
7-- Would it surprise you if in 2016, once it was clear Trump would win the nomination Russians would want to get to know Trump and his team?
Anything illegal there?
8 -- all reports from gov sources say there was no collusion
9 -- Why would Trump collude in any way with Russia on this? Where's the motive?
All you have are dots, most imaginary. You have not made a case for connecting lines.
1
2 -- - You can goto the website fivethirtyeight.com and they show using statistics and polling that the email drops had a huge effect on the election.
3 -- That does not mean Trump did not coordinate with the Russians. The Russians could have had the emails and then went to Trump.
4 -- No hard proof but every US Spy agency said they hacked the Russians hacked the emails. Do you want the US Spy agencies to release their evidence and put people and their methods out in the open?
5 -- the "Russian" dossier was garbage - you know it. Fake news. - Well half the Dossier has already proven to be true. Also one of the Russians suspected of being in the dossier was murdered.
6 -- Then why did Flynn lie again and again about it. Why was Flynn telling the Russians not to retaliate. Why did Trump not want the Russians upset after they hacked our elections. I thought Trump would hold foreign powers accountable and not push the US around.
7-- Yes it is suspicious why Trump would want to bully our allies in Europe and Asia and even Mexico but hug the Russians.
8 -- There are a lot of circumstantial evidence so far.
9 --So he could win the election. The Russians have blackmail on him. So he can make money.
10. There are only dots for now that are being connected. They are not imaginary.
3 -- That does not mean Trump did not coordinate with the Russians. The Russians could have had the emails and then went to Trump.
4 -- No hard proof but every US Spy agency said they hacked the Russians hacked the emails. Do you want the US Spy agencies to release their evidence and put people and their methods out in the open?
5 -- the "Russian" dossier was garbage - you know it. Fake news. - Well half the Dossier has already proven to be true. Also one of the Russians suspected of being in the dossier was murdered.
6 -- Then why did Flynn lie again and again about it. Why was Flynn telling the Russians not to retaliate. Why did Trump not want the Russians upset after they hacked our elections. I thought Trump would hold foreign powers accountable and not push the US around.
7-- Yes it is suspicious why Trump would want to bully our allies in Europe and Asia and even Mexico but hug the Russians.
8 -- There are a lot of circumstantial evidence so far.
9 --So he could win the election. The Russians have blackmail on him. So he can make money.
10. There are only dots for now that are being connected. They are not imaginary.
Joe McCarthy couldn't connect the dots either, but he destroyed the lives of a lot of people before he was finally neutered.
There was also nothing illegal about Schumer, Pelosi and McCaskill interacting with the Russian Ambassador, but they forgot about those encounters until the record proved they "misstated" the truth.
There was also nothing illegal about Schumer, Pelosi and McCaskill interacting with the Russian Ambassador, but they forgot about those encounters until the record proved they "misstated" the truth.
Yes, clearly contact between Russia and the Trump campaign. Carter Page even made a trip to Russia in July 2016 with [then] campaign manager Corey Lewandowski's approval.
Trump <=> Russia
Roger Stone even boasted of having a back channel to Assange and WikiLeaks on Twitter, but that tweet was deleted while US Intelligence suggested Russia was supplying hacked information to WikiLeaks. This hacked information was released on a clear timetable and/or when the "hot" news would benefit Trump by its release [try Google+Excel].
Trump <=> WikiLeaks <=> Russia
In 2008, Donald Trump Jr. also stated Russians provided a "pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets ... ", and Trump coddles benefactors (don't talk about them, they give me money). Yes, any investigation not looking at Trump's tax is a wash (and pretty much what we would expect by a mindlessly partisan effort that's a lot of show to mask the lack of relevance).
Is "not at this time" an alternative fact for "haven't been caught yet"? The Washington Post was the crucible of Watergate. Which one in the [currently] American free press will it be now? Steele's dossier may be a good start.
Trump <=> Russia
Roger Stone even boasted of having a back channel to Assange and WikiLeaks on Twitter, but that tweet was deleted while US Intelligence suggested Russia was supplying hacked information to WikiLeaks. This hacked information was released on a clear timetable and/or when the "hot" news would benefit Trump by its release [try Google+Excel].
Trump <=> WikiLeaks <=> Russia
In 2008, Donald Trump Jr. also stated Russians provided a "pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets ... ", and Trump coddles benefactors (don't talk about them, they give me money). Yes, any investigation not looking at Trump's tax is a wash (and pretty much what we would expect by a mindlessly partisan effort that's a lot of show to mask the lack of relevance).
Is "not at this time" an alternative fact for "haven't been caught yet"? The Washington Post was the crucible of Watergate. Which one in the [currently] American free press will it be now? Steele's dossier may be a good start.
Steele's so-called dossier is a joke. Anybody, whether Trump's Republican enemies in the primaries or, later, the DNC, were fools if they paid Steele a penny for his schlock. The only people who have given it any credence are frothing liberal media who hope that no one has actually read it. You notice that Kristof did not provide a link to the real thing. He probably hasn't read it either.
Defining the issue defines the solution. If you limit possibilities, you impose bias (intentional or not). Critical problem solvers need to be willing to be proven wrong, at any time, on any matter. Being sure of yourself is a sign of weakness.
In 2008 Donald Trump, Jr. said, "Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia." Follow the money.
3
As we connect Trump's dots to Russia, do we also need to start connecting Trump's dots to China? The Industrial & Commerce Bank of China, a state-controlled enterprise and the world's biggest lender by assets, is also Trump Tower's largest office tenant. Yesterday, the Chinese Trademark Office provisionally granted Trump 38 trademarks. That is the same Chinese government entity that had denied Trump those naming rights for a decade even as Chinese-owned businesses used his name.....
2
I guess when Clapper (Obama guy) says no evidence, idiot Kristof insists otherwise. Lots of mentally deranged lunatics in the Newspaper.
Nick, go connect the Hillary dots to pay-for-play and uranium or Obama to Tony Rezcko bribes. Those things actually happened.
Facts. Try them on for size and not rehashed smoke you lefties started and blew towards the Right.
Nick, go connect the Hillary dots to pay-for-play and uranium or Obama to Tony Rezcko bribes. Those things actually happened.
Facts. Try them on for size and not rehashed smoke you lefties started and blew towards the Right.
1
Another well reasoned,objective, cogent and civil jeremiad from the right wing fever swamps of conspiracy hate and ignorance.
You are referencing and conflating the wrong issue, Blah Blah, which conservatives tend to do regularly. Clapper was talking about there being no FISA warrant that would have allowed the FBI to tap Trump's phones in NYC. And there is no evidence Obama ever make a request for a warrant. But our wonderful president refuses to believe that, or any other facts that don't align with his delusions.
Try those facts on for size.
Try those facts on for size.
1
Clapper was obviously lying. Did you notice he never looked at Chuck Todd once during that interview. No eye contact, just looked down at the table in front of him. That's what liars do. Clapper can't be trusted. Nor Brennen.
Another dot. Wilbur Ross, Trump's Commerce Secretary, owns a Cyprus bank with a Russian Billionaire and Putin friend and beneficiary. He bought a Palm Beach mansion from Trump and paid Trump $100 million and Trump paid $40 million 2 years earlier. A $60 million profit in 2 years! Really? See Rachel Maddow Show. http://www.msnbc.com/transcripts/rachel-maddow-show/2017-02-27.
3
If the Trump administration has nothing to hide then there is no excuse for not agreeing to a special prosecutor. It will clear the air, everyone can play nice again and all will be well. ...but I don't think so.
1
Trump appears to be at war with his own government and, by extension, his own country. His behavior, over months before and after the election, strongly suggest a culpable link to Russia that he's trying to hide or deflect from.
Methinks thou dost protest too much, Mr. President.
Methinks thou dost protest too much, Mr. President.
2
Kristof needs to read Matt Taibbi's latest in the Rolling Stone. All of this speculation is going to hurt if the dots do not eventually connect. There is a lot of smoke, but if the fire never arises, well, Kristof, Maddow, Hayse, Reid, et al. will be seriously damaged goods, like Beck--who no reasonable person takes seriously.
1
The only question you have to ask is: "Why was contact by Trump operatives made only with Russia and no other country?" It would seem that contact with allies would be the most natural first step during a campaign. I haven't seen or heard anyone ask that particular question.
3
Trump <=> Russia
Yes, clearly contact between Russia and the Trump campaign. Carter Page even made a trip to Russia in July 2016 with [then] campaign manager Corey Lewandowski's approval.
In 2008, Donald Trump Jr. also stated Russians provided a "pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets ... ", and Trump coddles benefactors. Yes, any investigation not looking at Trump's tax is a wash (and pretty much what we would expect by a mindlessly partisan effort that's a lot of show to mask the lack of relevance).
Trump <=> WikiLeaks <=> Russia
Roger Stone even boasted of having a back channel to Assange and WikiLeaks on Twitter, but that tweet was deleted while US Intelligence suggested Russia was supplying hacked information to WikiLeaks. This hacked information was released on a clear timetable and/or when the "hot" news would benefit Trump by its release [try Google+Excel].
The paper-trail cover-up, like Trump's taxes, isn't by a small group, like with Nixon's Watergate, but by the Republican controlled House, Senate, and Justice Department.
Yes, clearly contact between Russia and the Trump campaign. Carter Page even made a trip to Russia in July 2016 with [then] campaign manager Corey Lewandowski's approval.
In 2008, Donald Trump Jr. also stated Russians provided a "pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets ... ", and Trump coddles benefactors. Yes, any investigation not looking at Trump's tax is a wash (and pretty much what we would expect by a mindlessly partisan effort that's a lot of show to mask the lack of relevance).
Trump <=> WikiLeaks <=> Russia
Roger Stone even boasted of having a back channel to Assange and WikiLeaks on Twitter, but that tweet was deleted while US Intelligence suggested Russia was supplying hacked information to WikiLeaks. This hacked information was released on a clear timetable and/or when the "hot" news would benefit Trump by its release [try Google+Excel].
The paper-trail cover-up, like Trump's taxes, isn't by a small group, like with Nixon's Watergate, but by the Republican controlled House, Senate, and Justice Department.
4
The only way government officials will regain public respect is through a good faith, nonpolitical investigation, starting with Trump's taxes. Nothing less will do.
5
Our hero Obama did more to elect the Clown-in-Chief Trump than the Russians could ever do. With just one executive order he could have changed the November 8 results: fire Comey the night he called Hillary "extremely reckless". Cops, even Top Cops, don't judge. They indict. If no indictment is warranted, then no opinion should be voiced in front of Congress. If Comey had been silenced, Clinton would have easily picked up the 50,000 votes she needed to carry the rust belt and stop Trump
2
Trump is hoping that the press and the American people will have the same attention span he does; and not stay with this long enough to unravel it. But the press and the American people know this is too important not to get answered.
The GOP touts recent polls saying that "90% of the people who voted for Trump still support him." Just 46% of the voters went for Trump. 90% of 46% is 41%. That suggests that the remaining significant majority of voters (59%) are not happy with his performance. Elected officials looking for somewhere to hide should consider these true math facts and keep connecting the dots.
The GOP touts recent polls saying that "90% of the people who voted for Trump still support him." Just 46% of the voters went for Trump. 90% of 46% is 41%. That suggests that the remaining significant majority of voters (59%) are not happy with his performance. Elected officials looking for somewhere to hide should consider these true math facts and keep connecting the dots.
Rachel Maddow has been connecting the dots. As to the Republican platform change regarding the Ukraine, Carter Page has admitted the demand for changes came directly from Trump (probably at Bannon's suggestion). They all lied about it. Time for indictment.
16
She also had an interesting take on what is happening at the State Dept as a part of all this. Very odd the way Tillerson has done or said nothing in regard suggested budget cuts that would cripple State.
2
I believe that there was a clear-cut quid pro quo.
Politico ran an article yesterday about Manafort contact Konstantin Kilimnik. 'Kilimnik, a joint Russian-Ukrainian citizen who trained in the Russian army as a linguist, told operatives in Kiev and Washington that he met with Manafort during an April trip to the United States. And, after a late summer trip to the U.S., Kilimnik suggested that he had played a role in gutting a proposed amendment to the Republican Party platform that would have staked out a more adversarial stance towards Russia, according to a Kiev operative.'
We now know that it JD Gordon who changed the platform and he now says it was Trump himself who ordered the change...the only change to the platform that the Trump campaign requested. There is video of Trump saying that he had nothing to do with the change. Why all the denying?
Meanwhile, Russian diplomats, intelligence operatives, and contacts with the Trump campaign have been dying at a rather alarming rate.
Politico ran an article yesterday about Manafort contact Konstantin Kilimnik. 'Kilimnik, a joint Russian-Ukrainian citizen who trained in the Russian army as a linguist, told operatives in Kiev and Washington that he met with Manafort during an April trip to the United States. And, after a late summer trip to the U.S., Kilimnik suggested that he had played a role in gutting a proposed amendment to the Republican Party platform that would have staked out a more adversarial stance towards Russia, according to a Kiev operative.'
We now know that it JD Gordon who changed the platform and he now says it was Trump himself who ordered the change...the only change to the platform that the Trump campaign requested. There is video of Trump saying that he had nothing to do with the change. Why all the denying?
Meanwhile, Russian diplomats, intelligence operatives, and contacts with the Trump campaign have been dying at a rather alarming rate.
12
The dots could be flashing and talking neon lights but the GOP still wouldn't see them let alone connect them.
9
Russians forgives 367 million of Trump debt in exchange for loosening sanctions which allows Russia to bring in 5 times that.
5
So he did not have any contacts with Russians when he was there for the Miss Universe contest?
3
Somewhere deep in the FBI or CIA someone or some group is sitting on a lot of dots of information that could bring this presidency down---could be videos, could be laundered money, could be money and videos---at what point does that someone or some group connect the dots.
3
Did anyone see the Marie Le Pen interview on 60 minutes where she admitted Russia lent her campaign $11 million? It is not so far fetched that Russian money has funded the Trump Organization. And why are we no longer hearing about the emoluments clause that he is in clear violation? His baseless accusations regarding voter fraud and President Obama hacking him should have consequences - Amendment 25! And finally, do not let Sessions off the hook, he LIED under oath and he should be forced to resign.
5
From Watergate all the way through the pedophilia in the Church, it has been journalists who have been best at finding the truth by digging the dirt. Thorough investigative journalism takes time...I, for one, hope the best available are on the job! The results will be spectacular!
5
Some of us connected the dots long ago, and I for one believe it goes beyond Trump and his campaign. Why do you think the entire Republican establishment has backed the Citizens United decision which allows unregulated, untraceable, dark money to influence our elections?
4
Thanks Mr. Kristof, you're dead on with this column.
And then, of course, there's what's visible to the naked eye, and that has the so-called Republican party's fingerprints all over it:
Rolling back fuel efficiency standards?
Gutting the Clean Water Act?
Taking health insurance away from millions?
Scheming to transfer our public lands into private hands?
Hunting down humans like animals because they were born elsewhere but work here?
Only 18 months til 2018, folks.
And then, of course, there's what's visible to the naked eye, and that has the so-called Republican party's fingerprints all over it:
Rolling back fuel efficiency standards?
Gutting the Clean Water Act?
Taking health insurance away from millions?
Scheming to transfer our public lands into private hands?
Hunting down humans like animals because they were born elsewhere but work here?
Only 18 months til 2018, folks.
5
I grew up during Watergate, and watched the first televised hearings in my Senior high school government class. It was a slow drip. Took investigators and prosecutors several years to bring Nixon down. Almost everyone around him had already gone to prison. He denied it right up until the day he resigned in utter disgrace, and was essentially persuaded to leave quietly rather than put the country through a long and torturous Constitutional impeachment process.
In the end, even the narcissistic Nixon at least put his country first...I doubt this president would do the same.
In the end, even the narcissistic Nixon at least put his country first...I doubt this president would do the same.
6
It's all about the money.
At the bottom of all this unease about the Trump-Putin connection is the simple suspicion that Trump, his family and his "Organization" have a large financial exposure in Russia.
Russia is a big-oil kleptocracy, with a large element of organized crime stretching around the globe. It is also no secret that New York real estate is a favorite money-laundering spot for the Russian oil moguls.
Add to this the well known fact that Putin is personally involved in all big international business deals involving Russia and you have a recipe for disaster.
In short, to use the old Yankee business expression, there is less than an "arm's length" relationship between Trump and Russia.
Of course, the only way we can truly get to the bottom of all this is to see Trump's tax returns and financial statements. Nothing will get resolved until we get this critical information. Until then, we are just shooting in the dark.
At the bottom of all this unease about the Trump-Putin connection is the simple suspicion that Trump, his family and his "Organization" have a large financial exposure in Russia.
Russia is a big-oil kleptocracy, with a large element of organized crime stretching around the globe. It is also no secret that New York real estate is a favorite money-laundering spot for the Russian oil moguls.
Add to this the well known fact that Putin is personally involved in all big international business deals involving Russia and you have a recipe for disaster.
In short, to use the old Yankee business expression, there is less than an "arm's length" relationship between Trump and Russia.
Of course, the only way we can truly get to the bottom of all this is to see Trump's tax returns and financial statements. Nothing will get resolved until we get this critical information. Until then, we are just shooting in the dark.
6
Biggest interference was between the FBI and the Trump team just before the election when Giuliani forecast the "release of something big" during a TV interview. That violation of our election law and Comey's "new investigation" was the straw that broke our democracy.
Months and years of vilification of HC by Republicans and her own inability to express the economic plan of the Democrats weighed her down. But all that we have seen since the Comey announcement is the consequence of that evil deed.
Months and years of vilification of HC by Republicans and her own inability to express the economic plan of the Democrats weighed her down. But all that we have seen since the Comey announcement is the consequence of that evil deed.
6
Nicholas Kristof forgot to connect one glaring dot: During the campaign, Trump encouraged Russia to hack Hillary's email. This is a blatant admission of guilt. Why isn't America taking him at his word? That combined with all of the other dots Kristof lists makes a clear case of guilt and perhaps treason.
7
once again, the times commentariat don't know the facts. In a July 2016 speech Trump facetiously said something to the effect that the Russians should release the 30,000 e-mails they'd hacked from Hillary's private server she used as Secretary of State. This was after it was public that HRC had bleach bitted her server and destroyed the e-mails that were under subpoena by the House. This wasn't a call to hack her server -- that server had already been destroyed. Trump was simply riffing on the widely held and reasonable assumption that while HRC might have deleted the e-mails in 2015, it was likely that foreign entities had hacked her server while was SofS and had them. Trump was simply saying, release them if you have them, and noted that journalists would likely pay a pretty penny for those e-mails.
Period.
Period.
Two other dots that deserve to be included in this list: 1) Trump bought a notoriously garish Palm beach mansion for $40 million, then sold it to a Russian oligarch looking for a place to hide money from his ex-wife for $100 million. Neither man ever lived in the house, the Russian never actually saw it. 2) Wilber Ross, the billionaire and our new Secretary of Commerce, was until recently a director of the Bank of Cypress, the well-known favorite of the Russian oligarchs for laundering their money.
8
Mr. Kristoff,
Thank you for an excellent summary of what we know, what we don't know and what some people suspect may have happened.
Like you I don't believe "that there wasn’t a clear-cut quid pro quo between Trump and Putin to cooperate in stealing the election, but rather something more ambiguous and less transactional..."
Taking into account that the unexplained communications between the Trump organization and Russia's Alf Bank may be spam, I have always wondered whether or not Trump has business or financial ties to Russia that compromise his ability to act independently without undermining his interests, which if they exit, remain hidden in unleased tax returns.
One should be wary when considering The Steele dossier, however, given the Russian government's long record of manuvering opponents into compromising situations and Trump's past behavior one cannot simply dismiss the dossier as being pruient non-sense. should be viewed
Thank you for an excellent summary of what we know, what we don't know and what some people suspect may have happened.
Like you I don't believe "that there wasn’t a clear-cut quid pro quo between Trump and Putin to cooperate in stealing the election, but rather something more ambiguous and less transactional..."
Taking into account that the unexplained communications between the Trump organization and Russia's Alf Bank may be spam, I have always wondered whether or not Trump has business or financial ties to Russia that compromise his ability to act independently without undermining his interests, which if they exit, remain hidden in unleased tax returns.
One should be wary when considering The Steele dossier, however, given the Russian government's long record of manuvering opponents into compromising situations and Trump's past behavior one cannot simply dismiss the dossier as being pruient non-sense. should be viewed
5
I am also deeply troubled by Putin's financial support of the European far-right, and what appear to be attempts to meddle in European elections as well. The ideological connections between Bannon, Sessions and Putin -- the bigotry and cultural conservatism -- makes me think these guys would help each other if they could.
5
The European far right is being energized by a tsaumni of non-European immigrants and refugees, not by Putin's financial support. Most of these immigrants and refugees are Muslims whose bigotry and radical conservatism far surpass that of European alt-right. For example, the European far right thinks women should be permitted to appear unveiled in public.
Rachel Maddow is doing Congress's job. Her program should be required viewing for all patriotic Americans.
When will Congress investigate the Grifter Family's Azerbaijan crimes?
When will WikiLeaks release the Grifter Family's tax returns? If they have CIA materials, then they surely have his financial records, including all tax returns.
When, oh, when?
When will Congress investigate the Grifter Family's Azerbaijan crimes?
When will WikiLeaks release the Grifter Family's tax returns? If they have CIA materials, then they surely have his financial records, including all tax returns.
When, oh, when?
That the Repubs are objecting to an independent investigation of this is a complete joke. The swamp was to be cleaned in favor of astute businesspeople who knew how to get things done. Not one of them would allow “company time” to be spent on an inquiry they felt was not a problem, they’d farm it out and get on with their business. They’d only keep it “in house” if they felt it was a real problem and they wanted to control/direct and spin the outcome. Our 8 years and running do nothing Congress would rather spend their time and our money on things that get little accomplished except their re-election. “Deja vous all over again”.
This all makes perfect sense. The media, especially the New York Times, needs to keep constant, high pressure and attention on the administration's Russian connection. To that end, why not have an article on this issue at the top of the front page every day; as soon as readers land on the NYT's page, it is among the first things they see.
Thanks Nick, for laying out all "dots." You're right about Paul Manafort who just been revealed to also have lied about having "zero" contacts with Russian operatives. In fact, Manafort colluded with a Russian Intelligence agent to weaken an anti-Russian, pro-Ukrainian plank in the Republican party platform. Hers we have the actual fire of collusion beneath the smoke of denial and coverup.
What has bewildered me throughout the election cycle and now early in the new administration is how scandal just bounces off our new president. He doesn't seem to care or acknowledge truths that would skewer any other elected official. His response to proven Russian collusion will likely be "so what?, I won".
There is too much smoke not to be a fire somewhere. Support quality journalism. Those journalists are the fire department.
2
Bottom line is that little will happen unless enough "principled" and "patriotic" GOP members of Congress join the demand for an independent investigation. I wouldn't hold my breath for this to occur, which is why journalists must keep on digging, leakers keep on leaking, and the public keep on clamoring for the answer to how it came to pass that Putin's cyber army was selectively deployed against HRC and the DNC while powwowing with Trunp campaign officials. My take is that this is Watergate on steroids.
1
What are the odds that the Republicans will grow enough of a conscience to so much as care about all this?
1
As Americans we should demand answers. For those that take a more relaxed position, describe when and how it would change for you? Everyone has a tipping point.
1
Identifying the dots, let alone connecting them, is our primary concern. This is journalism's bailiwick. The level of trust in congressional and other formal investigations is low. Please, along with your colleagues at the NYT and other outlets, continue to publish your findings but be leery of arriving at premature conclusions. Our dire situation requires clear and convincing evidence to take or force remedial actions.
2
The more Trump is cornered, the more "unhinged" he will become. I hope somebody in his circle with some kind of sanity will hold him down when he loses it because he is a terrifying loose cannon.
2
This is like the game Wheel of Fortune. Here is what we have so far - "Trump is _uilty" - Doesn't take a genius to solve this puzzle.
1
What is unprecedented is the coordinated effort to undermine and delegitimize the elected President. Kristof is mad because he did not get to see Hillary start a new war in Syria and ramp up the cold war (or worse) with Russia.
I think despite their brave faces GOP leaders, secretly believe that Trump colluded with the Russians. That is why they are so furiously trying to turn the issue on it's head by focusing on the illegality of the leaks.
By the way, this is a 180 degree turn from when the DNC leaks were coming out. At that time, they said over and over, that the media should focus on what was IN the leaks and worry about the illegality less. Whatever happened to that?
By the way, this is a 180 degree turn from when the DNC leaks were coming out. At that time, they said over and over, that the media should focus on what was IN the leaks and worry about the illegality less. Whatever happened to that?
3
It makes me sad when so many commenters state that Republicans must put country before party politics/ideology That is what Republicans do and have done for many years. I don't believe they will change . . . and I don't believe in the tooth fairy.
2
FBI Director Comey should be under investigation as well. His announcement about a Clinton email investigation so close to the election while not mentioning anything about an investigation of possible Russian intervention is, at least, worthy of an inquiry.
6
I think the Russians have the goods on Comey too.
Does anyone else remember the tape of Obama speaking with Putin, saying Obama will have more flexibility after the 2012 election? Anyone remember the republican rage? Those same individuals who called out Obama for that "scandalous" conversation, refuse to acknowledge Trump as a Russian puppet. After watching Maddow last night concerning Konstantin Kilimnik, there is not a doubt in my mind that, given the proper investigation, Donnie Moscow will be impeached. Key word: proper investigation.
4
Thank you Mr. Kristof for pointing out potential connections between the Trump Administration and the Russian government in rationale way without the over the top claims often seen in other opinion pieces on this subject.
We do deserve a complete and impartial investigation of these issues and if there was no collusion then the President and his cabinet and staff and the country can move on to other important issues that face the country. If we learn that Trump associates or Trump were involved in activities that violate ethical or legal standards we can demand resignations of those involved and criminal prosecution if the actions were criminal or if false statements under oath were given by witnesses.
Until an investigation is completed, the ranting and outlandish statements from both sides of this issue are not helpful and in my opinion are destructive to our democracy. I have told my liberal and conservative friends that just because you believe it, or want it to be true, does not mean that it is true.
We need a complete and unbiased investigation, to the extent that is possible, and we also need to tone down the nasty rhetoric, starting with Mr. Trump himself and the members of Congress.
We do deserve a complete and impartial investigation of these issues and if there was no collusion then the President and his cabinet and staff and the country can move on to other important issues that face the country. If we learn that Trump associates or Trump were involved in activities that violate ethical or legal standards we can demand resignations of those involved and criminal prosecution if the actions were criminal or if false statements under oath were given by witnesses.
Until an investigation is completed, the ranting and outlandish statements from both sides of this issue are not helpful and in my opinion are destructive to our democracy. I have told my liberal and conservative friends that just because you believe it, or want it to be true, does not mean that it is true.
We need a complete and unbiased investigation, to the extent that is possible, and we also need to tone down the nasty rhetoric, starting with Mr. Trump himself and the members of Congress.
2
It's really a rare example of extra-territorial loyalty on the part of a US national, also now the first citizen, that for purely selfish motives of gaining power and wealth not only could he make himself vulnerable to the blackmail of an estranged foreign power but also expose the national security of the US to foreign threats and manipulations.
5
Given Hillary's campaign also had numerous interactions with Russian officials, are we not to conclude that she was also conspiring with the Russians?
2
Putin sees Hillary as his enemy. As Sect'y of State, she endorsed sanctions that prevented him from cashing in on an oil deal with Exxon, which is the reason he wanted her defeated, so that those sanctions could be lifted. There would be no conspiracy between the two.
The Trump circle simply has not behaved as if they are innocent. They are behaving as if they have things to hide.
13
How many times did Hillary and her staff bump into Russians? How many times did Obama and his staff bump into Russians? How come no one is asking theses questions? How many times does government officials bump into Russians in DC or other cities? Is this a crime to be investigated? Perhaps the Russians were trying to influence the election in favor of Hillary and Obama?
1
Nice try, herbie, really.
1. Hillary and her staff are not suspected of colluding with the Russians to influence the election. So no one cares.
2. Mr. Obama was the PRESIDENT, not a CANDIDATE. Mr. Obama represented the government, and as such had the authority of the government to talk in a diplomatic capacity.
3. See point 2 and substitute "Government Officials" for "President Obama".
4. Nice job at grasping at straws and trying to blame the victims. At least you have been paying attention to Donnies tactics.
2. Mr. Obama was the PRESIDENT, not a CANDIDATE. Mr. Obama represented the government, and as such had the authority of the government to talk in a diplomatic capacity.
3. See point 2 and substitute "Government Officials" for "President Obama".
4. Nice job at grasping at straws and trying to blame the victims. At least you have been paying attention to Donnies tactics.
1
I believe Putin intended to do more than just wound Ms. Clinton.
Perhaps if we knew exactly how much money and resources Mr. Putin spent to flip our election we would better appreciate what he expected to buy for his money.
Perhaps if we knew exactly how much money and resources Mr. Putin spent to flip our election we would better appreciate what he expected to buy for his money.
3
Thank you for this comprehensive piece on the subject. I have been frustrated by the lack of this (to my knowledge). Please stay on top of it (and report to us) in the same systematic way.
5
Regarding point #3: the “unexplained communications” from Alfa Bank weren’t just communicating with Trump’s server, but during the same time there was also a small amount of data exchanged with a server owned by Spectrum Health in Michigan. Dick DeVos (the Education Secretary’s husband) is Chairman of the Board for Spectrum Health. What innocent explanation is there for that coincidence?
11
There is only one reason that Trump continues to protect his "precious" tax forms: revealing them would be much more damaging than the continued criticism he gets for refusing. When they finally get hacked, that when the whole thing will blow up in his face. The clock is ticking and he knows it.
2
Sad to see Nick fall into the fever swamp of conspiracy theory. Clapper said there is no evidence of a conspiracy and until facts are produced (which won't happen) I will take his word over rank over rank conjecture.
1
I think last weekend's tweet about Obama tapping Trump Tower says a lot about this man's fear of being caught out in the Russian connection. Many reports say Trump was furious. Many times the underlying emotion fueling anger is fear. Just an observation.
2
CONNECT THE DOTS And circle the wagons. I have another dot, # 11. Medical disability rendering Trump incapable of fulfilling his official duties. His father was grandiose in his later years and died of dementia at 83. At 70, Trump is not too young to have symptoms of dementia, as he probably inherited the genes for that disease. Trump is disoriented in time, place and person, as when he confuses 9/11 and 7/11, which are times, places and names. He tweeted that Paris is in Germany and asked voters to cast their ballots for him on 11/28. Trump uses neologisms or made up words such as "bigly" and "asterick." He declined daily security briefings because he did not want to hear the same words repeated to him daily for the next 8 years, meaning that his language and memory functions are severely impaired so he can only recall words and phrases but not context or narratives. Trump has a new open door policy. Since his memory extends only to writing a 140 character tweet, the constant interrupts will assure that he does not know what's going on. Due to memory impairment, I think it's possible that Trump did not recognize any of the women who alleged that he had assaulted them sexually. He engages in magical thinking, that he has only to imagine or think something and real changes occur in the world. Such thinking is concrete, primitive and infantile. There are enough dots to make a case for measles.
2
Your Dot #8, Trump's financial dealings in Russia, should be Dot #1 and the starting point for all of this. I agree that Sessions is a red herring, except that he is our country's chief law enforcement officer and has already shown himself to be a liar. But the real liar is Trump, who swears, "I don't know Russia," although there are numerous videos of him there and interviews in which he claims to have met Putin. His tax returns are the key to unraveling business ties, but he also needs to be deposed and questioned under oath, just as Clinton was by Ken Starr, about those ties. If he lies, that's grounds for impeachment. As for his 2016 campaign, I agree that Manafort is the key. How did he happen to become Trump's campaign manager? Who recommended him? He is still very much around - the Monday after the Inauguration, he strode right by me at Reagan-National as I was waiting to return home after the Women's March. Follow the money and follow the managers!
2
Absolutely crucial that trump's US tax return is made public for scrutiny and investigation. It will answer many questions, one way or another.
5
Anyone who knows Trump, like many of we New Yorkers do. knows nothing is beyond his scruples. He's a deeply troubled individual.
Trump has always loved the limelight. He did his earnest to be accepted by the poobahs here. But ever since he arrived from Queens, he's always been seen for what he is, a complete buffoon, a walking talking joke, always so full of himself. Trump carried a chip on his shoulder throughout his career. If Trump's name was plastered on a building, it was persona non grata to most natives. Only touristas and rubes who knew Trump from his selling of schlock thought Trump a class act. He never was.
When things went bust for his company, Trump was reduced to selling pizza for Pizza Hut and burgers for Burger King. Then he realized he could put the Trump brand on products made in sweat shops and charge a premium price to gullible types who didn't know better.
Trump, to folks in flyover country, has always held a fascination. He's been a person they look at in admiration, the man who has everything. It is a facade, a canard, but they want to believe.
Trump is a poor person's idea of a rich person. Among his colleagues here, Trump is a known commodity. Class has never been mentioned in the same sentence with Trump. He was, is, and will be always known as the kid from Queens, a Manhattan wannabe. An also ran, Trump was never in the running.
DD
Manhattan
Trump has always loved the limelight. He did his earnest to be accepted by the poobahs here. But ever since he arrived from Queens, he's always been seen for what he is, a complete buffoon, a walking talking joke, always so full of himself. Trump carried a chip on his shoulder throughout his career. If Trump's name was plastered on a building, it was persona non grata to most natives. Only touristas and rubes who knew Trump from his selling of schlock thought Trump a class act. He never was.
When things went bust for his company, Trump was reduced to selling pizza for Pizza Hut and burgers for Burger King. Then he realized he could put the Trump brand on products made in sweat shops and charge a premium price to gullible types who didn't know better.
Trump, to folks in flyover country, has always held a fascination. He's been a person they look at in admiration, the man who has everything. It is a facade, a canard, but they want to believe.
Trump is a poor person's idea of a rich person. Among his colleagues here, Trump is a known commodity. Class has never been mentioned in the same sentence with Trump. He was, is, and will be always known as the kid from Queens, a Manhattan wannabe. An also ran, Trump was never in the running.
DD
Manhattan
3
"A poor person's idea of a rich person". Perfect.
2
What we don't need is an investigation that drags on for years while the country is lead by an increasingly unstable and incompetent president.
3
Trace the money. Luke Harding's (Sr. International correspondent for The Guardian and former Russian Bureau Chief's) in-depth investigation to Putin's connection to billions in secretive offshore accounts is interesting. I wonder if there might be dots connecting Trump or his advisors and colleagues: Page, Manafort, Flynn, Tillerson or others to deposits in these accounts. And who benefits from the lifting of sanctions?
1
the only thing Nick forgets to mention -- the only "dot" on the 2016 radar that proves the will of the people was subverted -- the dems throwing the nomination to Hillary. It's not just Bernie, the dems actively supported the Clinton nomination and actively discouraged any others who might want to run. Then they undermined Bernie's candidacy.
If the readers want a political scandal, there it is. But instead, all the Times has time for is chasing the chimera of Trump-Russian collusion in "stealing" the election -- a complete fabulation of nonevents (dots) and imaginary lines. The election wasn't stolen, it's questionable as to whether the Russian government hacked and a complete distortion -- fake news as it were -- that the Trump campaign colluded.
But keep it up Nick -- I'm sure Carlos Slim will put something nice in your stocking for Christmas.
If the readers want a political scandal, there it is. But instead, all the Times has time for is chasing the chimera of Trump-Russian collusion in "stealing" the election -- a complete fabulation of nonevents (dots) and imaginary lines. The election wasn't stolen, it's questionable as to whether the Russian government hacked and a complete distortion -- fake news as it were -- that the Trump campaign colluded.
But keep it up Nick -- I'm sure Carlos Slim will put something nice in your stocking for Christmas.
1
As a longtime Bernie Sanders supporter, it sickens me when Trump supporters, individuals who are against everything that Bernie stands for and against American values use what happened to Bernie's campaign as an excuse to support a white house that has this type of taint on it. Stop doing it. It is not the same! Bernie wanted to build this country and take it in a positive direction, The current occupant of the White House and his cohorts want the opposite! Starting with taking away Health Care from the most vulnerable in our society.
1
Anyone interested in learning more about the murky, if not criminal, business dealings of Trump and his family should read a very well researched article published in this week's New Yorker. The article begs two questions: Why Trump continues to get away with decades of bad acts; and why responsible print media appear inclined to avoid probing events that indicate a troubling repetition of worrisome conduct.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/donald-trumps-worst-deal
5
The hacked Democratic National Committee email revealed that DNC leaders worked to ensure Bernie Sanders didn’t upset Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. The assertion that this “revelation” cost Hillary the presidential election is laughable. The email that hurt Clinton was the email found on her private server, and it was the New York Rimes—not the Russian or WikiLeaks—that broke the news about the server’s existence. Now the New York Times appears to be attempting to atone for the damage done.
Assertions that Russian propaganda efforts help Donald Trump win the election are equally absurd. The intelligence community report concluded that Putin stopped saying nice things about Trump because the Russians realized it was backfiring against Trump. Hillary made the Trump’s alleged ties with Putin relationship a major talking point in debates and in her campaign speeches. Russia cost Trump votes.
Assertions that Russian propaganda efforts help Donald Trump win the election are equally absurd. The intelligence community report concluded that Putin stopped saying nice things about Trump because the Russians realized it was backfiring against Trump. Hillary made the Trump’s alleged ties with Putin relationship a major talking point in debates and in her campaign speeches. Russia cost Trump votes.
1
to my mind trump is so amoral that he wouldn't have even seen anything wrong with collusion with the Russians to get help with the election - he probably thought that was normal and fine. Because that kind of thing is how he does business.
5
One can surmise by the many reports about Trump's management style that he was a micro-manager. He had a very lean organization allowing him to manage minute details about the operation. He also built a culture that was based on loyalty and taking huge risks. Why do we think he would have conducted his campaign for President in any other way? He would have made it his business to know what was happening in his campaign. I am certain that the people around him would have known about how he felt about loyalty. But, let us assume he did not know what was happening in his campaign. That is worse? Can we trust him to manage a bureaucracy like the federal government?
I don't buy that there was no quid pro quo between Trump and the Russians. The Russians knew it was possible Trump could win especially with their help. It would have been greatly to their advantage to persuade Trump that they could make him president. Then the screwy "forget about Russian aggression in Ukraine" plank showed up at the Republican convention. The truth is hiding in plain sight.
No, the central issue should be the nation in the future and global warming and the coming robot Revolution and perhaps the fact that we are not in any fashion a republic or a democracy and haven't been for a long time.
Mr. Kristof indeed connects the dots. He appears to still be reluctant to use the word that is also emerging as the dots are connected: "treason." It is time to call it what it is. This was the coordinated effort to work with a hostile foreign power to alter the course of a U.S. presidential election. What we don't yet know for sure, is how much of the administration's activities since the inauguration are payback to Russia for services rendered.
If the softening of the language in the RNC platform to remove the promise to supply the Ukraine government with arms to fight against Putin backed rebels wasn't enough, the proposed 37% cut in the State department is the smoking gun. This comes as a completely silent Rex Tillerson smiles for the cameras as Andrea Mitchell is pushed out of the room for having the temerity to ask a question.
Where are our heroes, and who among the GOP will stand up and admit that our government has been co-opted by the Kremlin? Is satisfying special interests so important that abandoning our sovereignty is acceptable?
Where are our heroes, and who among the GOP will stand up and admit that our government has been co-opted by the Kremlin? Is satisfying special interests so important that abandoning our sovereignty is acceptable?
Just imagine, if all this were to be true. For the sake of what is good and right, the allegation of collusion with the Kremlin must be proven or disproven. Keep on asking questions and don't stop until everyone is satisfied that truth has seen the light.
President Donald Trump is a dirty old man who is presently getting dirtier by the day. What a stench! “We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia,” Donald Trump Jr. was quoted as saying in 2008. Russia may have gained leverage over Trump through loans to his organization or other business dealings. The way to ease these suspicions would be to examine Trump’s tax returns: Any government investigation that doesn’t obtain Trump’s tax returns simply isn’t a thorough investigation. What a stench in Washington...we smell it all over North America.
3
Much like the 9/11 attack, the cyberattack (and possible outlying events) by Russia has kind of reached a success for the perpetrators in that chaos has ensued and our way of life as well as trust in our democracy is crumbling. While I think that in the long run we will persevere, I also believe that we will long carry the scars of these events. Just the fact that our government, while often suffering curable scandals, has become a parallel to the corruption and subversiveness previously relegated to news stories from Third World Countries and conspiracy spy novels, undermining our stability and trust. These are dark days indeed.
1
Dot connection is a hard process unless all facts are known. Once facts are known and placed in a timeline, dots tend to connect themselves. So far, the clearest dots show conversations between Trump campaign people, the watering down of the Ukraine plank in the Republican platform and then the release of the Wikileaks material from the DNC hack.
My speculation is that Trump and his cohorts were never bothered by their collusion with the Russians because winning is everything and they had already demonized Hillary. It was a wonderful windfall and they never thought twice about it.
My speculation is that Trump and his cohorts were never bothered by their collusion with the Russians because winning is everything and they had already demonized Hillary. It was a wonderful windfall and they never thought twice about it.
1
There are plenty of dots and plenty of ways to connect them that will lead to the obvious conclusion that Donald Trump and his campaign were assisted by Russian government and/or private Russian oligarchical interests.
Czarists, Soviets, and now oligarchs have ruled Russia. Why should we tolerate for even a moment a president assisted by Russia in power in Washington? The Republican leadership in Congress can't believe that their dream-come-true trifecta is too good to be legitimate. Rule by a Russian puppet harms our laws, traditions and our future. The Trump presidency is a blunder on the order of the invasion of Iraq. Or Viet Nam. Or 9/11. This time the shock and awe have come home to the USA, and we need to shake it off. Watergate pales beside this trashing of American democracy.
Czarists, Soviets, and now oligarchs have ruled Russia. Why should we tolerate for even a moment a president assisted by Russia in power in Washington? The Republican leadership in Congress can't believe that their dream-come-true trifecta is too good to be legitimate. Rule by a Russian puppet harms our laws, traditions and our future. The Trump presidency is a blunder on the order of the invasion of Iraq. Or Viet Nam. Or 9/11. This time the shock and awe have come home to the USA, and we need to shake it off. Watergate pales beside this trashing of American democracy.
Without either a special prosecutor or non-partisan select committee I fear the truth will never be uncovered. Having said that, not enough attention is being paid to MI6 agent Christopher Steele's report. His report details many meetings with top Trump advisers and Russian operatives in European cities in the summer of 2016. His report clearly states that there was direct collusion with Trump's knowledge. Steele was MI6's top Russian spy for decades. He had great contacts and was so upset that the FBI was not pursuing leads that he actually worked for a period of time for free. The NY Times corroborates the European meetings as was passed on by Dutch and British intelligence agencies. The collusion was real. I believe Christopher Steele got it right.
4
As Craig (Queens, N.Y.) makes clear, there must be an independent investigation that earns public trust. Steele emerges as a credible source whose findings are essential to any serious inquiry.
While I agree with Mr. Kristof, Trump does not have to disparage President Obama to appear unhinged. But I digress.
What needs to happen here is that some guy like Flynn needs to be immunized and hauled before a grand jury - followed by Manafort. That same grand jury can subpoena Trump's tax returns.
The American people need to know exactly how we did this to ourselves. No president has ever been more obviously unfit for office.
What needs to happen here is that some guy like Flynn needs to be immunized and hauled before a grand jury - followed by Manafort. That same grand jury can subpoena Trump's tax returns.
The American people need to know exactly how we did this to ourselves. No president has ever been more obviously unfit for office.
2
I believe that Trump arranged to have a pro-Russian provision added to the Repub. platform at the Rep. Convention. Can't remember the details. No one else on the platform committee wanted it, but their nominee did. It was one of the few Trump additions and it looked very odd at the time.
Don't forget that not only did Trump not make arming Ukraine a campaign issue, but that idea was also mysteriously deleted from the official Republican platform at the convention. There has never been a sufficient explanation about who took it out.
3
I agree with most of what's written here, but I disagree with not going after a Trump surrogate, because when you have one of them over a barrel facing criminal charges, they will most likely want to cut a deal and spill all the beans, example : John Dean during the Watergate hearings, buried the President (Nixon) and his close circle of friends. Both Sessions and Manafort should be squeezed to find out as much as they know during preliminary hearings. That's how a President is taken down and removed from office.
5
Don't miss the forest for the trees. Unlike Nixon's Watergate, that cover-up was by Nixon and his merry men. For Trump the "who, what, when, and where" is out in plain view, with his campaign/administration a leaking sleeve of information (most in his org. seem to suffer from ego, pride or both). The "why" that really helps pin it down is being covered up by the Republican controlled House, Senate, and Justice Department. Taxes are just one example they don't want you to see. But, like Watergate, the free press can make the truth come to light and set us free.
Look up the death of Alex Oronov. Oronov is related to Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen. His death was announced by the Kremlin's "peace plan for Ukraine" sponsor, Artemenko. It happened on March 2; read about it on the the independent.co.uk website. And let us not overlook the gutting of the US State Dept, that would have more Americans up in arms if they weren't more worried about the cost of their family's health care plans. These facts on the ground are strongly suggestive of a White House fulfilling Kremlin wishes. That cannot be allowed to stand, wherever the investigation might lead, because it would then open the floodgates for other countries to decide to sponsor their own pet candidates, in the future. China, Saudi Arabia, Iran: these are just a few of the powerful states that could borrow a page from Putin and impose their own puppet in 2020. No: this has to stop now. Subversive elements must face consequences and the whole world needs to see the American people completely in control of our own elections again.
3
Many commentators have made the unassailable point that Russian interference in our electoral process constitutes a serious blow to our way of life. Getting to the bottom of this should be a bipartisan issue. The Democrats should frame their calls for an independent investigation as a matter of patriotism, in urgent language that Trump's "America great again" supporters will understand. Sens. Schumer and Warner are the natural leaders for spreading this message. To paraphrase Margaret Thatcher, it's no time to go "wobbly."
3
In the last few weeks, whenever there is a true story - he tweets about something insignificant and irrelevant at the same time to distract the American people. Even the botched up release of the GOP's health care plan is a plan to deflect attention from Russia. Interestingly, he achieves what he wants. Ever since he made claims of President Obama wiretapping him illegally, there has been little talk about anything else on television channels. I know he is President and his words need to be taken seriously. But this is a President like no other. He should be treated for what he is - a con artist.
1
Kristof's "momentous" editorial is worthy of the Pulitzer Prize. It is not easy, and takes courage to "connect the dots" of a monumental scandal when the Republicans, who are in the majority in Congress, are stonewalling the investigation, and even participating in "fake news" by appearing regularly on unbalanced and unfair Fox News.
There may not be a single smoking gun to implicate the president, but multiple smoldering guns correlated with the many contacts between Trump associates and Russian officials and business people connect to the Russian government and Putin.
One must understand Trump's (paranoid) mindset prior to the election. He like most everyone else thought he was going to lose. This may have led Trump and his associates to cross the line to gain an unfair advantage over his opponent, Hillary Clinton. When Trump asked the Russians to hack Ms. Clinton's emails it was viewed by many as a joke. As the scandal unfolds, his
Freudian slip may be seen as Trump's Moment of Truth.
There may not be a single smoking gun to implicate the president, but multiple smoldering guns correlated with the many contacts between Trump associates and Russian officials and business people connect to the Russian government and Putin.
One must understand Trump's (paranoid) mindset prior to the election. He like most everyone else thought he was going to lose. This may have led Trump and his associates to cross the line to gain an unfair advantage over his opponent, Hillary Clinton. When Trump asked the Russians to hack Ms. Clinton's emails it was viewed by many as a joke. As the scandal unfolds, his
Freudian slip may be seen as Trump's Moment of Truth.
1
trump's invitation to Russia to hack his opponent in our election, should never have been taken by anyone as a joke. he should have been investigated and interviewed at that very moment. If he was suspected of treason, then fine-- try, convict and punish him. At the very least the GOP should have reined in or FIRED him right then. But wait-- they knew he was the only candidate who had a chance of beating HRC, so they let it roll. And here we are, in a crisis of magnitude.
1
I believe that the Economic Sanctions that the European Union, Canada and the U. S. increased, following Russia's annexation of Crimea and advisory role. along with funding and arming the Ukraine Rebels, will be the thing to watch.
As Russia has focused, more and more, on Military spending, foregoing vital Consumer needs, its Economy has been devastated. If Trump starts to ease them, even just a little, that would gradually enable Russia to request greater flexibility, ease the consumer demand and, at the same time, shift funds into its defense budget.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
As Russia has focused, more and more, on Military spending, foregoing vital Consumer needs, its Economy has been devastated. If Trump starts to ease them, even just a little, that would gradually enable Russia to request greater flexibility, ease the consumer demand and, at the same time, shift funds into its defense budget.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
The problem with Trump (among dozens and dozens of other issues), is that he does not, under any circumstances want to be the transparent President. So long as he can prevent the American people from seeing in black and white (i.e. tax returns) that he/his organization definitively have (take your pick), (a), pending loans from Russian interests, (b), past or pending "deals" with Russian interests, (c), assorted documented business dealings with Russian and other foreign interests which will prove @POTUS has lied to the voters, including his red hat wearing base, and that his life is a house of lies. Bring on the totally independent investigation of his business interests as part of the DJT-Russian Connection and (a), you'll have a dandy movie script, and, (b), we will all see this sociopathic liar and ego maniac for who he is.
1
Another dot is also the connection of the Trump Team through Cohen (his lawyer) to the unexplained death of a Russian in one of Trump's buildings in Florida. The following article came out March 1, he "died" on March 2. So many of the business deals seem to involve large amounts of cash, which is what Russian oligarchs need to move into legitimate assets, preferably in the U.S. Putin saw Trump had exactly that talent, long ago.
2
Overall a good summary. You did leave out a few things.
1) Flynn, who it now seems was having encrypted conversations with Russia. Why is that?
2) Kushner was involved in multiple meetings. He also has billions in business tied up with Russia.
3) While you mentioned Trump's Russian business ties, you kind of glossed over them. Trump has had transactions with some of Russia's shadiest Oligarchs are mobsters. They own a disproportionate share of some of Trump's properties and the prices paid were way over market price. While this is not specific to the campaign, it would make Trump a criminal if it was proven that he was laundering money for the Russians.
1) Flynn, who it now seems was having encrypted conversations with Russia. Why is that?
2) Kushner was involved in multiple meetings. He also has billions in business tied up with Russia.
3) While you mentioned Trump's Russian business ties, you kind of glossed over them. Trump has had transactions with some of Russia's shadiest Oligarchs are mobsters. They own a disproportionate share of some of Trump's properties and the prices paid were way over market price. While this is not specific to the campaign, it would make Trump a criminal if it was proven that he was laundering money for the Russians.
1
To my mind, if Russia gained influence with Trump, there's no reason why they'd stop using that influence once the election was over. We may be looking at a tainted administration even today.
Pence said “Of course not. Why would there be?” We don’t know either, Mr. Vice President."
The Russia-Trump connection-is. What is it?
Apparently standard practice at this point.
Read pg 420 of Oliver Stone's "The Untold History of the United States". There is described how Regan supporters (including George Bush, Bill Casey and Robert Gates) bargained with Iran before the election of Regan, to keep the Iran-hostage crisis going till after the election. The Republicans made a better deal than Carter did, who, as president, offered up to $500 million in arms to Iran. Carter wanted them released before the election, which it was thought would have cinched the election for Carter.
The Russia-Trump connection-is. What is it?
Apparently standard practice at this point.
Read pg 420 of Oliver Stone's "The Untold History of the United States". There is described how Regan supporters (including George Bush, Bill Casey and Robert Gates) bargained with Iran before the election of Regan, to keep the Iran-hostage crisis going till after the election. The Republicans made a better deal than Carter did, who, as president, offered up to $500 million in arms to Iran. Carter wanted them released before the election, which it was thought would have cinched the election for Carter.
1
Your point 3 states that there was repeated communication between the Trump Organization computer the Russia Alpha Bank. So does that mean the Trump Tower was under surveillance, possibly a wiretap. So is Trump statement, at least that part of it accurate? That would be damaging to both the Obama administration and the press.
The most interesting part about this to me is that even if all of this was figured out and made public I suspect Trump will still get reelected
The most accurate thing he said during the campaign was his comment that he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and it wouldn't matter
The best shot the democrats may have in dethroning Trump maybe to find an even larger than life character.
Maybe run Tom Hanks. It seems the majority of the electorate in many states cares more about shiny objects than self preservation.
The most accurate thing he said during the campaign was his comment that he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and it wouldn't matter
The best shot the democrats may have in dethroning Trump maybe to find an even larger than life character.
Maybe run Tom Hanks. It seems the majority of the electorate in many states cares more about shiny objects than self preservation.
One simple question for those who feverishly cling to the notion that Trump collaborated with Russia to hack the election: given Russia's sophisticated data gathering tools, why didn't they hack Hillary's server and release the 33,000 obviously damaging emails she scrubbed while they were under subpoena?
Podesta was hacked not by any technological wizardry, but because he fell for a primitive phishing scam. Would the Russians, if they were in a conspiracy with Trump, stop there, even if they were in fact responsible for the phishing?
Yet Kristof and other intellectually challenged commenters on the left continue to ignore this elephant in the room.
Again, why didn't Russia, if they wanted Trump to win, hack Hillary's server and expose her emails? Until you credibly answer that, all your flailing about dots and what not, is just that, flailing.
Podesta was hacked not by any technological wizardry, but because he fell for a primitive phishing scam. Would the Russians, if they were in a conspiracy with Trump, stop there, even if they were in fact responsible for the phishing?
Yet Kristof and other intellectually challenged commenters on the left continue to ignore this elephant in the room.
Again, why didn't Russia, if they wanted Trump to win, hack Hillary's server and expose her emails? Until you credibly answer that, all your flailing about dots and what not, is just that, flailing.
1
What an empty argument. Perhaps they did and found out that she was telling the truth and they were all uninteresting personal e-mails? Publishing that would expose their hack, and obviously wouldn't push their agenda.
Sometimes seems unhinged? I'd say it's a pretty constant state. Starting with anger management issues in his childhood years. The Republican party seems to be determined to follow the Republican president off the lemming cliffs and into the shoals of crazy. Unfortunately, so are the rest of us.
American values and our unique form of pluralistic government is now in play.
We have elected the equivalent of Willie Sutton and he is out to rob the bank for himself and his cronies. He has no moral values and no understanding of history or foreign relations.
The world political order has always been very fragile. We can not allow anyone to put this hard fought balance of power in play. Trump doesnt appear to give a whit about anything but his own limited self interest.
I would immediately offer Henry Kissinger a long term contract. We need brains----not narcissism, and rage coupled with a 7 year olds understanding of the world.
We have elected the equivalent of Willie Sutton and he is out to rob the bank for himself and his cronies. He has no moral values and no understanding of history or foreign relations.
The world political order has always been very fragile. We can not allow anyone to put this hard fought balance of power in play. Trump doesnt appear to give a whit about anything but his own limited self interest.
I would immediately offer Henry Kissinger a long term contract. We need brains----not narcissism, and rage coupled with a 7 year olds understanding of the world.
1
Let's get on with an investigation. Let the truth come out. Let us in particular see the tax returns. My guess: At a minimum, it will be found that Trump people and probably Trump himself were sending a "no objection" message to Russian-engineered leaks aimed at damaging the Clinton campaign. That's just a hair from a formal impeachment count. If anything close to coordinated, direct collusion is found, the case for impeachment will be beyond debate.
1
Plot thickens. Russia has almost taken over the State Department. Just watch what is happening at the State, exactly what Putin wants.
Interestingly, the Republican party has realized that they just have 2 years to get their work done, i.e., destroy the very institutions that makes this country the greatest on the face of this earth. God bless us all.
Interestingly, the Republican party has realized that they just have 2 years to get their work done, i.e., destroy the very institutions that makes this country the greatest on the face of this earth. God bless us all.
1
Tax returns should be higher on the list.
They are the most likely path to answering whether corruption is involved between the business mogul and the KGB agent who are now presidents of the two most powerful countries on the globe.
They are the most likely path to answering whether corruption is involved between the business mogul and the KGB agent who are now presidents of the two most powerful countries on the globe.
4
I hope your column today causes a course correction by our most powerful and wide reaching news providers, of which the NYT leads. The tendency continues to be that of getting caught up in the latest outrage (which occur at least daily and sometimes hourly) with this swamp monster government we now have to endure.
I have thought all along that the likelieast way to get out of this mess is through Russia. It is a place where the left and right find common ground.
Back in February, Trump accused the intelligence community of illegally leaking information leading to questions about his ties to Russia, a senior intellingence officer's tweet was retweeted by the recipient in the intellgence community, it stated "He will die in jail". This is chilling to read. What do they know or suspect and when will we have any Republican acquiescence for a thorough airing of information? Until then we are left to wonder and fret about our country's future. And frankly it makes me think that some of these other serious matters won't continue to matter.
Focus must remain on the questions you raise because the specter of treason is in them.
I have thought all along that the likelieast way to get out of this mess is through Russia. It is a place where the left and right find common ground.
Back in February, Trump accused the intelligence community of illegally leaking information leading to questions about his ties to Russia, a senior intellingence officer's tweet was retweeted by the recipient in the intellgence community, it stated "He will die in jail". This is chilling to read. What do they know or suspect and when will we have any Republican acquiescence for a thorough airing of information? Until then we are left to wonder and fret about our country's future. And frankly it makes me think that some of these other serious matters won't continue to matter.
Focus must remain on the questions you raise because the specter of treason is in them.
If only connecting the dots is all that is need for the country as a whole to stand up and say 'he has to go', but in these times facts are relative to a person's wishes and beliefs. Trump's tweets seem to be more real to many people than anything a commission or a government agency might say.
Trump has a way of wiggling out of his problems leaving someone else holding the bag. Likely, one of his associates will take the fall should one need to be taken.
Meanwhile, the Republicans will not want to rock their party boat as it floats on a steady stream of Trump fueled frenzy. They will protect him at all costs because planning for a future that is longer than 2 years is not in their makeup.
Would the Trump tax returns have a line item that says Russian Money. I doubt the tax returns would reveal much since the international business community has more ways than a slot machine to shuffle money around. Trump never has honored tax rules.
Patriotic Democrats and Republicans are only going to be left with the anxiety and heartburn that Trump and his lacks in Congress cause as they dance around truth and ooze hypocrisy.
Trump has a way of wiggling out of his problems leaving someone else holding the bag. Likely, one of his associates will take the fall should one need to be taken.
Meanwhile, the Republicans will not want to rock their party boat as it floats on a steady stream of Trump fueled frenzy. They will protect him at all costs because planning for a future that is longer than 2 years is not in their makeup.
Would the Trump tax returns have a line item that says Russian Money. I doubt the tax returns would reveal much since the international business community has more ways than a slot machine to shuffle money around. Trump never has honored tax rules.
Patriotic Democrats and Republicans are only going to be left with the anxiety and heartburn that Trump and his lacks in Congress cause as they dance around truth and ooze hypocrisy.
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The article neglects to mention Trump's surrogates going out of their way at the Republican Convention to modify the Republican party platform regarding Russian sanctions for their conduct in Ukraine and Crimea. Obviously the sanctions are what's most damaging to Russia and it'd be top of Putin's wish list for US foreign policy changes. However, why would Trump's campaign be so motivated to make that change? Trump barely had a handle on the basic facts on foreign policy. There was obviously something that motivated Trump to order the change be made to the Republican Party platform.
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Trump and the Russians is "deja vu all over again" for the Republicans. One doesn't have to look all that far back to recall the secret deal between the Republicans and Iran to exchange spare parts for their American-based military hardware in exchange for not letting the hostages go from the Embassy until Reagan was sworn in. The ongoing crisis doomed the chances of Jimmy Carter's second term, much as the various leaks now doomed the chances of Hillary Clinton's first. So collusion with foreign powers to steer election results is nothing new for Republicans. But, to be fair, Democrats allegedly colluded with the Mafia to help put Kennedy over the top in Illinois in 1960.
As much as we entertain the fantasy of "free and fair" elections, they are as much games of psychological warfare on both sides to steer the course one way or another. From the examples above to the "swift boats," to the Citizens United decision, various big power players are now regular participants in the campaign process. And we're none the better for it. But can we shut the barn doors after all the cows are out? And at that point does it even matter? For we've all been gored by the whole circus the process has become.
As much as we entertain the fantasy of "free and fair" elections, they are as much games of psychological warfare on both sides to steer the course one way or another. From the examples above to the "swift boats," to the Citizens United decision, various big power players are now regular participants in the campaign process. And we're none the better for it. But can we shut the barn doors after all the cows are out? And at that point does it even matter? For we've all been gored by the whole circus the process has become.
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"because Putin ..... didn’t imagine that Trump could actually win."
This is probably true and probably explains why the Russians were so sloppy.
It is also probably true that a quid-pro-quo will not be found, but that doesn't excuse treason in the act and the ongoing cover-up.
How much did Trump know? How much does he remember? His reality seems quite flexible to current circumstances and he may genuinely "not recall", a phrase I am sure we will hear repeatedly from many should an investigation ever include sworn testimony.
This is probably true and probably explains why the Russians were so sloppy.
It is also probably true that a quid-pro-quo will not be found, but that doesn't excuse treason in the act and the ongoing cover-up.
How much did Trump know? How much does he remember? His reality seems quite flexible to current circumstances and he may genuinely "not recall", a phrase I am sure we will hear repeatedly from many should an investigation ever include sworn testimony.
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"[W]hen a leader goes berserk and unleashes tirades and threats at investigators, that’s when you’re getting close." This is exactly right. This was my first thought re: Trump's 6:35 a.m. "Obama bugged me" nonsense. The early morning hour, the abject craziness of the accusation, bespeak a rising hysteria. To my mind, the smoking gun -- the conclusive evidence of collusion -- occurred last summer during the GOP convention. Here we have a candidate, Trump, singularly uninterested and uncurious about policy issues of any nature: let alone the obscure (to most Americans) issue of whether the U.S. should provide the Ukrainians with anti-tank missiles and over-the-horizon radar to better defend against Russian aggression. And yet, this was the ONLY GOP platform issue with which Trump operatives involved themselves -- the only one -- and did so in a way entirely consistent with Kremlin interests. (Putin is intensely concerned about the Ukrainians being effectively armed because this means more Russian soldiers coming home in body bags and, consequently, more domestic resistance to his invasion of Ukraine.) There simply is no rational explanation for the Trump effort to change the original GOP position in favor of arming the Ukrainians other than a quid pro quo between Trump and Putin. It certainly wasn't for U.S. political reasons because most Americans (especially Trump voters) can't locate Ukraine on a map and couldn't care less about what happens to this country.
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It amazes me that Democratic liberals keep referring to Trump and the Russians as having stolen the election. They just can't accept the fact that Clinton ran a bad campaign, never really embraced the Sanders wing of the party and relied on a statistically driven group of advisors who thought they knew everything.
Clinton lost Michigan by roughly 10,000 votes. But when she campaigned there she never went to a single UAW union hall. She lost the election by about 50,000 total votes from Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The number of registered Democrats from those states who didn't vote at all is more than twice that number.
The Wikileaks emails may have turned off some voters, but even the Clinton campaign admits that Comey's false investigation probably did far more damage than the emails.
The vaunted Russian bear that Democrats are so excised about has a crippled economy less than one tenth the size of our, military expenditures around sixty billion, compared to our 700 billion, no and an army basically organized as a home defense force.
Cyber wars not withstanding, this drumbeat of the Russian threat is mostly myth. So why was Trump cozying up to Putin? To try and split the growing Russia-China economic alliance and take Obama's Asian pivot to the next level. China is Trump's target, for now, not Russia.
Clinton lost Michigan by roughly 10,000 votes. But when she campaigned there she never went to a single UAW union hall. She lost the election by about 50,000 total votes from Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The number of registered Democrats from those states who didn't vote at all is more than twice that number.
The Wikileaks emails may have turned off some voters, but even the Clinton campaign admits that Comey's false investigation probably did far more damage than the emails.
The vaunted Russian bear that Democrats are so excised about has a crippled economy less than one tenth the size of our, military expenditures around sixty billion, compared to our 700 billion, no and an army basically organized as a home defense force.
Cyber wars not withstanding, this drumbeat of the Russian threat is mostly myth. So why was Trump cozying up to Putin? To try and split the growing Russia-China economic alliance and take Obama's Asian pivot to the next level. China is Trump's target, for now, not Russia.
Preeminence aside, campaign strategies aside, disenfranchised voters aside, put succinctly: there is too much circumstantial evidence around Donald Trump to ignore the important question of whether or not he colluded with a foreign power to nudge the razor thin margins (that you mention) in his favor. Americans have the right to see all the cards on the table.
You completely miss the point. I have no heard one person say that "the Russians stole the election." It is the attempt to influence the election, possibly in concert with Trump, that is the problem.
Get your blinders off and stop creating straw men.
Get your blinders off and stop creating straw men.
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