I can't express how morally and even physically repugnant this man has become to me, and I don't like feeling that way about anyone. He is demeaning and diminishing the nation, and its citizens, myself included.
7
Trump wakes up every day and thinks of a new Lie. He has stated so many untruths since taking office it's incredable...... You think he would have the same position if it was Chelsea Clinton who had the meeting?
1
A bird has to sing, a fish has to swim, a grifter has to grift.
3
No, it's not ! When a foreign power who is our adversary undermines our democracy and you collude with them in our election " to get dirt " on your American opponent you have debased our country and sold America out to Russia. Trump has to go and the GOP has become the party of Putin !
3
We've known all along that Trump wasn't a politician so it should come as no surprise that an act, laced with the stench of treason, committed by his son seems to him to be a basic fundamental principle of politics. I'm not a politician, either, but I believe I would recognize a criminal act presented to me on a gold platter as being wrong. The problem with the Trump clan is they can't see beyond what looks like gold.
Would that all this nonsense were simply the result of unsophisticated, bumbling fools in the White House; I'd be inclined to believe that was all there is to it. But then Rip Van Spicer insisted that the meeting was about adoption and I remembered: this is hardly a group of activists trying to find homes for orphaned children . . . . Ah, yes they were planning to sell them.
My father wasn't a politician either, but I know he wouldn't have smiled and said: "Oh, everyone is doing it," had I committed a criminal act . . . and then lied about it . . . multiple times.
The Donald has taught his children all he knows, but while he is unsophisticated and bumbling, he's no Chauncy Gardener. He lies and doesn't even try to make it sound true; he expects us to accept it. We don't have to believe it—he's rich, so he's entitled to do it and the peons must accept his "fake truth." Hence, little Donnie does the same. The Donald cheats—and lies about it with his jabberwocky explanations; hence, Ivanka does it, too.
It's politics? It's an abomination.
Would that all this nonsense were simply the result of unsophisticated, bumbling fools in the White House; I'd be inclined to believe that was all there is to it. But then Rip Van Spicer insisted that the meeting was about adoption and I remembered: this is hardly a group of activists trying to find homes for orphaned children . . . . Ah, yes they were planning to sell them.
My father wasn't a politician either, but I know he wouldn't have smiled and said: "Oh, everyone is doing it," had I committed a criminal act . . . and then lied about it . . . multiple times.
The Donald has taught his children all he knows, but while he is unsophisticated and bumbling, he's no Chauncy Gardener. He lies and doesn't even try to make it sound true; he expects us to accept it. We don't have to believe it—he's rich, so he's entitled to do it and the peons must accept his "fake truth." Hence, little Donnie does the same. The Donald cheats—and lies about it with his jabberwocky explanations; hence, Ivanka does it, too.
It's politics? It's an abomination.
10
It's all about the timing: Trump Jr.'s meeting is June 9th. Shortly after, Candidate Trump hints information on Clinton is forthcoming.
On June 12th, Wikileaks Julian Assange's pops out.A nd on June 15th, a hacker named Guccifer 2.0 storms the internet.
Leaks from the DNC are non-stop, as Guccifer directs journalists to send their questions through Twitter. Security experts eventually concluded Guccifer 2.0 was a persona created by Russian intelligence to claim credit while deceptively shifting the blame.
Experts discovered that leaked documents revealed metadata references to the first director of Soviet intelligence services, and these documents had been opened on multiple virtual machines.
Ultimately, the fake persona was found to speak Russian.
As spokesperson Sean Spicer says "there was nothing as far as we know that would lead anyone to believe the meeting wasn't about adoption policy, one of the security experts notes what a tangled web these Trumps weave.
On June 12th, Wikileaks Julian Assange's pops out.A nd on June 15th, a hacker named Guccifer 2.0 storms the internet.
Leaks from the DNC are non-stop, as Guccifer directs journalists to send their questions through Twitter. Security experts eventually concluded Guccifer 2.0 was a persona created by Russian intelligence to claim credit while deceptively shifting the blame.
Experts discovered that leaked documents revealed metadata references to the first director of Soviet intelligence services, and these documents had been opened on multiple virtual machines.
Ultimately, the fake persona was found to speak Russian.
As spokesperson Sean Spicer says "there was nothing as far as we know that would lead anyone to believe the meeting wasn't about adoption policy, one of the security experts notes what a tangled web these Trumps weave.
1
Oh, I know, I know: Tweet out another hint about what "covfefe" means!
2
In the politics of getting elected, I suppose that's so. There's a lot to politics that neither side who are a party to it like to talk about. This is why bathrooms have doors on them and exhaust fans.
This is standard operating procedure in Trumpworld where behavior such as this is just politics, after a cursory review of his history in and out of the courts Trump is correct in saying there is nothing new here.
2
How can one still support this guy?!? It’s insanity..... Watch this video of george bush and clinton talking on stage. Remember when presidents used to actually be decent people with morals. Yes neither of those men are perfect and both made some serious mistakes, but they were still good people at heart when it came to the country and politics. This guy has only known a life of wealth, stealing, manipulation and laundering. His life has revolved around schemes and plots and lies. Not to mention he is just a terrible person none of you would ever want at your dinner table. He represents everything bad in this country, I can’t wait for the day he is exiled this from this country like Napoleon was from France.
2
How would spicer know what happened in the meeting? Was he there? All of this is lies piled on top of more lies.
3
Trump is proud that he can sign his name? And lied about the rate he can do it?
1
Politics as usual?
Cheating as usual.
Ignorant as usual.
Lying as usual.
Embarrassing as usual.
Winning as usual?
Cheating as usual.
Ignorant as usual.
Lying as usual.
Embarrassing as usual.
Winning as usual?
3
"Russia Meeting? ‘That’s Politics,’ Trump Tweets"
No Trump, that is NOT politics. Not with a foreign country; not with an enemy state; not with any government led by your friend Putin who wants to overthrow our country, our government and our Democratic way of life.
Putin is an unrepentant communist, KGB official, and leader of the government that is doing all it can to snuff out free speech, a free press and people opposed to his regime. Putin wants to bring back the old Soviet Union with him as it's dictator.
No Trump, that is NOT politics. Not with a foreign country; not with an enemy state; not with any government led by your friend Putin who wants to overthrow our country, our government and our Democratic way of life.
Putin is an unrepentant communist, KGB official, and leader of the government that is doing all it can to snuff out free speech, a free press and people opposed to his regime. Putin wants to bring back the old Soviet Union with him as it's dictator.
4
Clear violation of Federal election law for Junior. Everyone else is guilty of a conspiracy to commit a violation of Federal election law. Not even close.
2
And if I had a Twitter account, my reply would be -- "That's Trump!".
2
The participants of the meeting can't recall the meeting, but do remember that Kushner left after a few minutes. Amazing recall, there.
1
Actually, it's treason.
1
Really? Precisely what is treason? Having a meeting with Russians? Good to know folk are not allowed to speak with or have a meeting with Russians.
You guys get sillier and more hyperbolic by the day.
You guys get sillier and more hyperbolic by the day.
Oh to say to Trump - 'that's life" as the helicopter lifts off.
1
I suspect that much of the GOP apparatus and its leaders are knee-deep in this Russian stuff. This is why they are staying quiet. Stay tuned.
3
Maybe some patriotic citizen will set up a GoFundMe page with the goal of shutting down Trump's Twitter account and hiring a white hat hacker to do it?
It would be like taking a weapon out of the hands of a toddler - in fact, there's no "like" about it - that's exactly what it would be.
It would be like taking a weapon out of the hands of a toddler - in fact, there's no "like" about it - that's exactly what it would be.
3
The issues surrounding the meeting were incriminating for Trump even before the meeting's details were revealed, as I wrote here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-settlement-prevezon-case-raises-more-q... But there is so much more than the media is missing about Trump's Russian connections, as I note here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trump-biggest-scandal-us-history-he-tool-... and I have so many new layers I am adding even to this
2
"That's politics! Which I spent 18 months telling you I am no good at!"
6
Trump's defense of 'business as usual' is disgusting on two levels. First, it broadcasts the total lack of ethics in political actions by his gang and by the GOP who have failed to en mass rebuke them. Second, the GOP decades old cry asking that a 'business man' be president, highlights the level of ethics within the American business model.
Ethics matter. Subscribing to ethical behavior is crucial to USA's governance. Sharing the code of ethics glues society together. Trump and GOP are dissolving the code and glue.
Ethics matter. Subscribing to ethical behavior is crucial to USA's governance. Sharing the code of ethics glues society together. Trump and GOP are dissolving the code and glue.
9
"That's collusion"
6
In the mean time the national economy is on the rise after 8 years of being held back by Obama's "progressive" policies. Ultimately no one really cares about this Russia bologna - what they care about is their prosperity.
1
Trump has a point about politics, but let's not forget a few key facts:
First, Russia is not only a foreign country but is a foreign country against whom the US currently has sanctions. In the modern world, sanctions are an alternative to war when, for example, a country invades another. Imagine the outrage if Iran had set up the meeting to talk about the easing of sanctions outside of the four corners of the existing non-nuclear proliferation agreement. This is worse.
Second, a quid pro quo, money or other support for action, is always a problem for politicans. Although the phrase of the month is "smoking gun," let's not forget that circumstantial evidence is also perfectly good evidence. The circumstantial evidence that Team Trump set out to act on behalf of Russia after the June 9 meeting is overwhelming: Trump's statement about big new about HRC's misdeeds, Manafort's strenuous effort to remove a plan critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine--to the amazement of the rest of the GOP--both occurred immediately after the meeting.
I believe that the crime here is conspiracy to "give" the Ukraine to Russia.
First, Russia is not only a foreign country but is a foreign country against whom the US currently has sanctions. In the modern world, sanctions are an alternative to war when, for example, a country invades another. Imagine the outrage if Iran had set up the meeting to talk about the easing of sanctions outside of the four corners of the existing non-nuclear proliferation agreement. This is worse.
Second, a quid pro quo, money or other support for action, is always a problem for politicans. Although the phrase of the month is "smoking gun," let's not forget that circumstantial evidence is also perfectly good evidence. The circumstantial evidence that Team Trump set out to act on behalf of Russia after the June 9 meeting is overwhelming: Trump's statement about big new about HRC's misdeeds, Manafort's strenuous effort to remove a plan critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine--to the amazement of the rest of the GOP--both occurred immediately after the meeting.
I believe that the crime here is conspiracy to "give" the Ukraine to Russia.
6
Trump doesn't understand the difference between business as usual and politics as usual. The problem isn't that he's a businessman but that he doesn't understand how our government works and the constraints on how it was designed to operate. In short, he isn't qualified to be President. He shouldn't be removed because of this but for the actions he's done because of it.
14
And I don't think he even took the time to just brush up on the basic simple rules of government. Trump is just an airhead who thinks his bark will get him away with everything.
4
I'm a linguist, a translator, by trade. I've spent 14 years paying exact attention to every word I read: what it means, what it intends or does not intend to mean, what it might unintentionally mean, etc. Let's just say I think I pick up on more nuance when it comes to language than the average bear. Every once in a while I read something that everyone else has seemingly overlooked which jumps out at me. This is one of those things:
“Mr. Spicer then added, 'And there was nothing as far as we know that would lead anyone to believe that there was anything except for discussion about adoption and the Magnitsky Act.'”
"...as far as we know..."?
"...would lead anyone to believe..."?
This screams "plausible deniability"to me. What do you mean "as far as we know"? Spicer is saying in essence that the Trump administration is not privy to any more information than anyone else. Except that's clearly not the case. This is the president's son we're talking about. To expect us to believe that they don't know more than we do in the public sphere is absurd.
What really excites me is when Trump et. al. says something that can be independently verified. It gives us something to objectively prove or disprove. Notice the shift in language from the White House: from “the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period” to “as far as we know”.
It's become quite vague. (for the same reason they don't want to hold on-camera press briefings anymore: deniability. "We never said that").
“Mr. Spicer then added, 'And there was nothing as far as we know that would lead anyone to believe that there was anything except for discussion about adoption and the Magnitsky Act.'”
"...as far as we know..."?
"...would lead anyone to believe..."?
This screams "plausible deniability"to me. What do you mean "as far as we know"? Spicer is saying in essence that the Trump administration is not privy to any more information than anyone else. Except that's clearly not the case. This is the president's son we're talking about. To expect us to believe that they don't know more than we do in the public sphere is absurd.
What really excites me is when Trump et. al. says something that can be independently verified. It gives us something to objectively prove or disprove. Notice the shift in language from the White House: from “the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period” to “as far as we know”.
It's become quite vague. (for the same reason they don't want to hold on-camera press briefings anymore: deniability. "We never said that").
7
Why all the feigned shock and indignation in these comments? Trump's "Thats politics" comment is exactly what you would expect from him, consistent with his behavior during his campaign and his presidency. He is the person Americans elected as their president, there are no surprises here.
1
The Trump Administration has become an unfunny joke. It's totally incompetent and unfit to lead a town much less a nation. The sooner they disappear from the White House, the better off our country will be. Hopefully all the damage they’ve done can be fixed and no sign of them will remain - except in our history books. By the way, the only thing missing in that photo is a collar and leash for Pence.
8
"That's politics," says a man who is better equipped to say, "That's show business, folks," something he actually understands with rules he actually follows.
What amazes me about Donald J Trump is not actually the man himself, but the apologists who have allowed him to invent a presidency that has never before existed and which whether it's acknowledged or not, was not the presidency he sold during the campaign. Although his die hard fans do not appear to be paying much attention, I doubt they listened to his campaign schtick and thought being a "non politician" and metaphorically sticking it to the man would consist primarily of setting up a nice, little, nepotistic kleptocracy in the Oval Office, refusing to show the taxes he promised to reveal and filling his cabinet with billionaires, lobbyists and this may be fine with them, people who appear to either know nothing about or despise the departments they are running.
What amazes me about Donald J Trump is not actually the man himself, but the apologists who have allowed him to invent a presidency that has never before existed and which whether it's acknowledged or not, was not the presidency he sold during the campaign. Although his die hard fans do not appear to be paying much attention, I doubt they listened to his campaign schtick and thought being a "non politician" and metaphorically sticking it to the man would consist primarily of setting up a nice, little, nepotistic kleptocracy in the Oval Office, refusing to show the taxes he promised to reveal and filling his cabinet with billionaires, lobbyists and this may be fine with them, people who appear to either know nothing about or despise the departments they are running.
2
Politics as usual, dishonesty and lying as usual... the Trump brand, now made in America. Disgusting and sad. And why is Pence always smiling?
8
If you were to be the next President and had no sense of ethics or morality, wouldn't you be smiling?
2
Why is Pence smiling? Because he's enjoying watching Don dig himself an even deeper hole.
2
It is rapidly coming down to whether Trump will resign or whether he will have to be kicked out of office. I think the former would be much better for America.
4
I predict he'll come up with some nonsense excuse to quit, perhaps sometime within the next year.
This man has virtually made a mockery of the office by not having any basic understanding of government and how it works, as well as how truly serious the job of president is.
It's just too hard -- he's admitted as much -- so he'll walk away and leave behind yet another huge mess for others to clean up.
Worst. President. Ever. Bar NONE.
This man has virtually made a mockery of the office by not having any basic understanding of government and how it works, as well as how truly serious the job of president is.
It's just too hard -- he's admitted as much -- so he'll walk away and leave behind yet another huge mess for others to clean up.
Worst. President. Ever. Bar NONE.
2
Personally, I hope he resigns too just so as not to give the Democrats the opportunity to beat their self-righteous chests any more than they will undoubtably anyway. Then what does the dog do once it's caught its tail?
These last six months have shown the scorn of the left to be not any less than that of the right. In at least one area they do agree.
These last six months have shown the scorn of the left to be not any less than that of the right. In at least one area they do agree.
..at least eight people, including Manafort, Kushner, jr., a former Russian intelligence officer-a floor below senior!- talking about adoption, acoording to Spicer! How heart warming! The real outrage is for how stupid they think all Americans are because the dumbest one voted for their lies and deceit.
7
We need to stop entertaining intellectual curiosity items about this guy and hold him to account for doing everything from obstructing investigations to enriching himself by refusing to divest interests. His henchmen keep trying to normalize the abnormality of his behavior. Nothing about his time in office has been normal and nothing about him has changed. He is grossly incompetent and proves it daily. He is using the office to enrich himself and his spawn, and proves it daily.
13
Remember Trump's obsession with Obama's birthplace and the President's ultimate loyalty to the United States? Now we know where that fear was coming from - Trump's knowledge that he is the complete puppet of Vladimir Putin.
15
I appreciate the investigations and reporting of the Times, and other news organizations that have persisted in peeling back the layers of this rotten onion to reveal the truth about this administration and its connections/collusion with the Russians. Despite the lies, denials and obfuscations of our President, it is my belief that the TRUTH will eventually be revealed by the Mueller investigation. The FBI has the necessary power and resources to put all of the pieces together in a coherent form, and I look forward to the result. Keep tweeting Mr President- the more you lie, the more severe will be the consequences to you, your associates and the Republican Party.
8
OMG, this morning Trump is selling hats on his Facebook page. I guess he needs more money for lawyers. This is about as humiliating as it gets.
8
“With the help of the research team, we killed a Bloomberg story trying to link HRC’s opposition to the Magnitsky bill a $500,000 speech that WJC gave in Moscow.”
- May, 2015 email from Clinton campaign staffer
- May, 2015 email from Clinton campaign staffer
2
Thanks, Boris.
1
While truthful ...this was hacked and goes against Hillary ...
therefore it will be ignored ...
(no media bias here)
therefore it will be ignored ...
(no media bias here)
1
... and?
I don't think that pressuring a U.S. news organization is the same as conspiring with Russian agents. Do you?
I don't think that pressuring a U.S. news organization is the same as conspiring with Russian agents. Do you?
Would it just be 'politics' if Chelsea Clinton had conspired with the Russians to get dirt on Trump?
7
Yes.
Conspired = I have evidence that Trump is taking $ from Russia ... Chelsea
checks it out ...finds nothing ... moves on.
If she did that I don't have a problem ... neither would you.
checks it out ...finds nothing ... moves on.
If she did that I don't have a problem ... neither would you.
I can see that Trump, Jr's Russian meeting is already fading from the news. Instead of headlines, it's further down the page. The story comes 3rd or 4th on network news. It's slipping from our consciousness, which is what Trump wants. With his team beating the drum of what a mundane event it was they are successfully sweeping it away. This episode will take it's place beside all the other Trump actions that make a mockery of the office of president. I am still hopeful that next year we may get rid of some of the Republicans in Congress who cover for Trump, but I fear he will never be made to account for the damage he's done.
7
Where was the future President, "The Donald", when his minions- three were planning dastardly doings? Was he perhaps in the room? Was he on the phone?
Donald's three top operatives were at a meeting. His family was there. Donald is a control freak. If he didn't know what was happening when three of his top political advisors go off to a top secret meeting, he is not the executive he claims to be.
Go ahead. Convince me he did not know what was happening.
He knew! If he did not he is an incompetent administrator.
Donald. You're fired!
Donald's three top operatives were at a meeting. His family was there. Donald is a control freak. If he didn't know what was happening when three of his top political advisors go off to a top secret meeting, he is not the executive he claims to be.
Go ahead. Convince me he did not know what was happening.
He knew! If he did not he is an incompetent administrator.
Donald. You're fired!
3
Waiting for tax returns and money laundering.
10
DJT may be one of the greatest blamers of other people of all times. What does the man see when he looks in the mirror?
4
"That's politics?" No, that's treason.
10
No ethical core or sign of a conscience. Sad. No fake news here.
8
Ready!........
Aim.............
Collude!!!!.........
Aim.............
Collude!!!!.........
3
This digusting individual assumes that everyone is as despicable as he is. He assumes that everyone is just as immoral. This is his defense, falsely procliming that everyone in politcs would do this. He who has no thought process other than how would this help me, probably is incapable of understanding that most people have a line of morality that they would not cross. There is no such lion with Mr. loathsome.Never was, and never will be.
10
You don't see a connection between Bill's $500,000 bribe and no sanctions against Russia?
If any American still has any doubt whether Putin attempted to affect the US election for his own personal reasons, watch this morning's CBS Morning News interview with Bill Browder.
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/bill-browder-on-past-dealings-with-russian...
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/bill-browder-on-past-dealings-with-russian...
2
Next he'll be back to tweeting something about Clinton, Obama or Loretta Lynch in his constant attempt to get people to look the other way. His tactics are so transparent its kind of embarrassing.
14
"The lawyer, Alan Futerfas, said in a statement that he and his client 'were fully prepared and absolutely prepared' before the initial article on the meeting to make what he called 'a fulsome statement about the nature of the meeting, what led to the meeting, what the conversation was in the meeting,' but they were overruled."
People who use the "fulsome" often think it's a fancier way of saying "full" or "complete," but it actually means "foul or offensive to good taste."
In this case it's not clear whether Futerfas knows that.
People who use the "fulsome" often think it's a fancier way of saying "full" or "complete," but it actually means "foul or offensive to good taste."
In this case it's not clear whether Futerfas knows that.
9
...coming from them, it was most likely thought of in the sense of "a fooling" statement, like everythng else..
1
And keep in mind that, one of these people who met with Russian officials during the campaign but completely forgot the meeting(s) is now the US Attorney General. Incredible.
14
It's a sad day when the President of the United States doesn't understand the most basic things about politics and patriotism. It's even sadder when the people who do understand politics do nothing about it. Treason, collusion and dereliction of duty lurk in the corners.
16
Once again, the truth is whatever Trump says it is.
Yeah, okay, whatever. Some of us know differently.
Yeah, okay, whatever. Some of us know differently.
9
no it isn't. its corruption.
8
"That's treasonous politics!" says Trump... and the GOP agrees with him all the way.
2
And all Trump's promises - won't touch Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security - were "just politics" too. No intention to keep those promises, only to fool the electorate. Did you see the new Republican budget plan includes over $200 billion in cuts to Medicare and Social Security? Lying liars, all of them.
8
Imagine Trump if this was going on in a Hillary Clinton campaign, including every single aide/campaign official "not remembering" having met with Russian Officials and lying about it on forms to get security clearance, and one of them being made the top law enforcement officer in the country. Trump would be exploding with rage, screaming "Crooked Hillary!", calling them traitors, liars, and demanding they have their clearance stripped, not to mention saying they'd be in jail if he were president.
Trump and Republicans have made me feel so insecure about this country because they have shown us all how fragile our democracy is and how easily it can be shredded by unprincipled people and partisan warfare, holding one standard for oneself and the completely opposite standard for the same behavior from the other party.
I feel like there is no solid ground under my feet with him as president and them in full power. It doesn't feel good.
Trump and Republicans have made me feel so insecure about this country because they have shown us all how fragile our democracy is and how easily it can be shredded by unprincipled people and partisan warfare, holding one standard for oneself and the completely opposite standard for the same behavior from the other party.
I feel like there is no solid ground under my feet with him as president and them in full power. It doesn't feel good.
12
Hey - Impeachment - That's politics!
18
“Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent,” Mr. Trump wrote just after 10 a.m. “That’s politics!”
Name one. Seriously, name a single politician who, since the end of WWII, met with representatives of the Soviet or Russian governments to obtain information about their opponent. Only someone as dumb as a fence-post would be that stupid.
Name one. Seriously, name a single politician who, since the end of WWII, met with representatives of the Soviet or Russian governments to obtain information about their opponent. Only someone as dumb as a fence-post would be that stupid.
12
Well, it would seem Mr. Trump has now found himself a handy meme to dole out whenever there's a question of corruption, illegality or an ethics violation: "That's politics!" Trump's proverbial trump card. I can already see SNL satirizing this as a running gag line that might be offered up on a banal sitcom, the audience calling it out whenever cued.
4
It's the same as when Clinton called his shady commercial practices and bankruptcies into question in the debates, and his response was "That's called business, by the way."
Any reputable businessman would say otherwise, just as any reputable statesman would never have gotten himself into this situation in the first place. And America Corp. remains in big trouble.
Any reputable businessman would say otherwise, just as any reputable statesman would never have gotten himself into this situation in the first place. And America Corp. remains in big trouble.
1
Are our tax dollars now being used to have "Mr. Trump’s aides" help to "write his son’s initial statement explaining why he had met with Ms. Veselnitskaya?" Has Congress authorized funding to provide legal and writing assistance to anyone related to Mr. Trump? How many aides are now employed (along with defense lawyers) to provide personal services to Trump and his family members?
What would the ethics office say? Is this just the usual US government policy?
What would the ethics office say? Is this just the usual US government policy?
5
We need to bring civics lessons back into schools and our everyday world. But the meeting goers should not get a pass. The law is the way it is for our democracy. I am not certain that they will suffer the consequences of their actions.
5
Actually, that's collusion!
5
Trouble is--with the help of Fox, right-wing radio, and a passive profit-driven media--Trump and Pence may well get away with whatever they're doing with the Russians. No one is holding them accountable now except a handful of real journalists and the Democrats on the House and Senate committees. Americans need to know just how far the Russians went to help Trump get elected and how far Trump's family and campaign went to help them. Nothing less than the legitimacy of the 2016 election and this administration's legitimacy is at stake here. Too many Americans get all their information from right-wing information/propaganda outlets. They are clueless about what may really be going on. A few years down the road we may all wake up one morning and discover just who is really running the government--and it won't be Trump, Pence, Ryan or McConnell. Then it will be too late to ask the questions that we need to ask and get the answers that we need.
6
I would like this cleared up once and for all.
From what I've read, taking donations or in-kind donations (information) from a foreign national or foreign government during a federal election campaign is illegal. Is this true? If it is true, why is the justice department waiting to file charges against, Flynn, Trump Jr. Manafort, Kushner and the others who met with Russian agents?
From what I've read, taking donations or in-kind donations (information) from a foreign national or foreign government during a federal election campaign is illegal. Is this true? If it is true, why is the justice department waiting to file charges against, Flynn, Trump Jr. Manafort, Kushner and the others who met with Russian agents?
5
It is not politics; it is corruption.
7
So many lies, so little time.
4
Just politics, sick sleazy swamp politics that for all intent and purpose are probably exactly what most people expect from sick sleazy people. Only in Trumps demented world are such tactics considered appropriate.
8
Keep your fulsome thoughts to yourself! Just the facts will do. We've had it up to here with fulsome.. Also, with noisome
"Alan Futerfas, said in a statement that he and his client “were fully prepared and absolutely prepared ...to make what he called “a fulsome statement about the nature of the meeting..."
I don't care by which definition, fulsomeness need not apply when it comes to giving evidence:
complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
synonyms: excessive, extravagant, overdone, immoderate, inordinate, over-appreciative, flattering, adulatory, fawning, unctuous, ingratiating, cloying, saccharine; More
enthusiastic, effusive, rapturous, glowing, gushing, profuse, generous, lavish;
informal: over the top, smarmy
2.
of large size or quantity; generous or abundant.
"Alan Futerfas, said in a statement that he and his client “were fully prepared and absolutely prepared ...to make what he called “a fulsome statement about the nature of the meeting..."
I don't care by which definition, fulsomeness need not apply when it comes to giving evidence:
complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
synonyms: excessive, extravagant, overdone, immoderate, inordinate, over-appreciative, flattering, adulatory, fawning, unctuous, ingratiating, cloying, saccharine; More
enthusiastic, effusive, rapturous, glowing, gushing, profuse, generous, lavish;
informal: over the top, smarmy
2.
of large size or quantity; generous or abundant.
1
Perhaps he meant full-throated or fully revealing?
1
That's NOT "politics!" It's a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act, that prohibits “any foreign national from contributing, donating, or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them.”
This Act should also include immaterial funding, like passing on damaging information that would help a candidate gain an edge over his/her rival.
This Act should also include immaterial funding, like passing on damaging information that would help a candidate gain an edge over his/her rival.
8
Trump's alternate reality. He thinks what he says, goes. He did it throughout his campaign and got away with it. He's still at it.
9
What Donald Jr did was politically foolish, personally sleazy, and yet another sign of the Trump family's low moral and ethical character. Yet it wasn't illegal per se. Carter and JFK were offered Soviet intelligence on their rabidly anticommunist opponents but refused to take it, mostly because this would be seen as treasonous in the Cold War era. Today, however, despite Ukrainian propaganda, there is no (or their need be no) Cold War. We collaborated with Russia in taking down ISIS in Syria and bringing Iran to the bargaining table to halt its nuclear weapons program. Taking campaign dirt from Russia is literally the same as taking it from Ukraine, Saudi Arabia or Israel, but you won't hear anyone talking about that, perhaps due to the continuing American foreign policy fetish for fascistic regimes.
3
Why did you not call Sean Spicer out on his baldfaced lie? He said "Mr. Spicer then added, “And there was nothing as far as we know that would lead anyone to believe that there was anything except for discussion about adoption and the Magnitsky Act.” Except for this:
"Emin just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting.
The Crown prosecutor of Russia met with his father Aras this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.
This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump"
"Emin just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting.
The Crown prosecutor of Russia met with his father Aras this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.
This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump"
4
Like the people on the streets of NYC, pushing their 3-card monte games and literal shell games, "Which one is it under?:, Trump has perfected his verbal shell game - Which of the many things I have said is "true"? Take your chances, hey, it's just a dollar to play, he says to his marks.
He's playing his shell game over and over, now as president. Some have figured it out by now, and some of his marks want to believe they can still win, about 36% of them. But savvy people know the game is rigged and the marks lose way more often.
I can't wait for the "police" to come and shut down his street game. Mueller is working hard; let's hope he can work fast. Hopefully, people in Congress are paying attention and are finally tired of being marks. The rest of us sure are.
He's playing his shell game over and over, now as president. Some have figured it out by now, and some of his marks want to believe they can still win, about 36% of them. But savvy people know the game is rigged and the marks lose way more often.
I can't wait for the "police" to come and shut down his street game. Mueller is working hard; let's hope he can work fast. Hopefully, people in Congress are paying attention and are finally tired of being marks. The rest of us sure are.
11
'"“It is quite often for people who are given information during the heat of a campaign to ask what that is,” Mr. Spicer told reporters during a briefing at which cameras were banned. “That’s what simply he did. The president’s made it clear through his tweet.”"
Dag! Now he's speaking like Jabba the Hut?
"It is often for people"?
"That's what simply he did?"??
The president made clear through his tweet???
He made something clear, alright, but whatever part of his body it came from, it wasn't his tweet.
In the again bushes should hide Spicer simply
Dag! Now he's speaking like Jabba the Hut?
"It is often for people"?
"That's what simply he did?"??
The president made clear through his tweet???
He made something clear, alright, but whatever part of his body it came from, it wasn't his tweet.
In the again bushes should hide Spicer simply
12
Another clear demonstration of Trump's core values:
THE only consideration, always, ever, in this grotesquely crude person, is naked self-interest. Displayed and cultivated in many forms, every action he takes comes down to that one priciple: Does it make ME bigger, richer, grander, more powerful, more important, etc., etc? What do I get out of it? And because this is a zero-sum game, how can I take from others, in order to enlarge myself?
This orange tsunami of destruction is nothing short of catastrophic to American core principles of justice, freedom, equality, norms....he will steamroll over anything or anyone who gets in the way of himself and his self-interest. When our national catastrophe finally limps to an end, he will have left us all bloodied by the road-side, as he laughs all the way to his (Russian) bank. SAD.
THE only consideration, always, ever, in this grotesquely crude person, is naked self-interest. Displayed and cultivated in many forms, every action he takes comes down to that one priciple: Does it make ME bigger, richer, grander, more powerful, more important, etc., etc? What do I get out of it? And because this is a zero-sum game, how can I take from others, in order to enlarge myself?
This orange tsunami of destruction is nothing short of catastrophic to American core principles of justice, freedom, equality, norms....he will steamroll over anything or anyone who gets in the way of himself and his self-interest. When our national catastrophe finally limps to an end, he will have left us all bloodied by the road-side, as he laughs all the way to his (Russian) bank. SAD.
11
The projections of this man belie his misdeeds:
1. During the debates, he says "You're the puppet" after Clinton mentions his fondness for Putin
2. "If I lose, the election is rigged"
3. "I'd like to see those emails "
I'm sure there are countless more but I haven't had my coffee yet.
If you want to know what Trump is up to, look at what accusations he flings at his rivals.
1. During the debates, he says "You're the puppet" after Clinton mentions his fondness for Putin
2. "If I lose, the election is rigged"
3. "I'd like to see those emails "
I'm sure there are countless more but I haven't had my coffee yet.
If you want to know what Trump is up to, look at what accusations he flings at his rivals.
12
As if any further proof that this woefully incompetent president is completely amoral, here it is. The man is a complete and total disgrace! And the GOP just so totally own this catastrophe!
11
I say, let's have a Democratic candidate openly work with people closely associated with the Chinese government to get their assistance winning a 2018 Senate seat through illegal hacking....and then watch how loudly the Republicans squeal about collusion with a foreign adversary.
10
No it is not politics, it is Trump politics---whose only moral compass points to his winning.
9
Kinda agree with Prime Minister Trudeau.
Can't meet up with the federal head fine. Go around.
True States can't negotiate with a sovereign nation on their own.
There is nothing about states negotiating with provinces.
Can't meet up with the federal head fine. Go around.
True States can't negotiate with a sovereign nation on their own.
There is nothing about states negotiating with provinces.
4
No, it is not "Politics"... It was and is Collaboration with an actively hostile foreign power...
9
Trump's tweets and actions clearly show his methodology in both business and how he plans on leading this country. He has no integrity or honesty and in my opinion his intelligence is questionable. He's proved numerous times that he is unfit to be President of this country and playing to his 35% voter base is not what the President of this country is tasked to do. It very apparent that he's not capable of looking at the big picture and is only focusing on what he believes he needs to do to be reelected. The sooner that the House can move forward on impeachment proceedings the better it will be for this country.
10
What's the problem? In Trump's world, everybody cheats, everybody lies, everybody breaks the law, everybody puts their personal ambitions and money above their country's security, everybody, everybody uses elective office to enrich themselves. Everyone colludes with Russian agents to attack our democracy, Too bad we have a ruling party which puts its own agenda above their country and their oaths of office every single time. What''s the limit, arresting reporters and God knows what? With this gang in office there may be no limits.
12
No, it is not politics - it is treason, and everyone involved needs to go to prison.
13
Any atomic scientist who needs money for a new car would have sold bomb secrets.
2
In seeking to compromise Clinton, the Trump clan has compromised itself. There is a moral lesson to be learned here, but I doubt that the self-centered and arrogant family will see it.
I'm sure it'll be somebody else's fault... or a trap... or taking advantage of naive individuals.
I'm sure it'll be somebody else's fault... or a trap... or taking advantage of naive individuals.
7
Does mean he was at the meeting? Since he is a politician and his son is not.
8
No meetings with Russians, its a ruse, why would we meet with Russians, how many time do I have to tell you, no Russian meetings. Get caught, oh it politics as usual, but nothing really happened in the meeting. Why in the world would any rational person believe nothing really happened.
10
Russia meeting to skew the results of a U.S. Presidential election? That’s treason.
12
Now he admits to what he categorically denied up to now, so you have to wonder what other sleazy, under-the-table communications/meetings/contacts there were to destroy and denigrate his opponent involving Russians either connected to, hired by or part of the Russian government. Since none of his family or anyone representing them are no longer credible, any denials by them are meaningless. The question is - what happens next, do we just reel from one shocking revelation to the next?
11
Would it have been ok for Junior/Manaford/Kushner to gather dirt on an opponent by meeting with Iranian operatives? With N. Korean operatives? With Cuban operatives? Maybe the RNC should keep Assange on retainer for this sort of thing?
8
This goes beyond even politics. Colluding with, or soliciting the assistance of, a hostile foreign power in order to obtain high political office closely resembles treason.
11
And Watergate was a botched burglary orchestrated by Nixon's top aides. It wasn't Watergate that doomed Nixon; it was his lying and denials to the American people. It was his disregard for the office of President. It was his insane arrogance. Sound familiar? Trump has already commuted Nixon's crime and more and this time with a foreign government. Treason.
11
And since his son did it, it is Presidential-son-ish.
3
Didn't we just spend six months hearing from a host of Trump satraps that the reason the President has done and said so many inappropriate things is because he and his family are new to politics and don't know anything about the art of politics?
Now, does the President expect to get his oldest son a pass for colluding with Russians because Don Jr is so adept at politics?
I don't think so.
Now, does the President expect to get his oldest son a pass for colluding with Russians because Don Jr is so adept at politics?
I don't think so.
4
Trump most often appears surrounded by elderly white men. What a narrow-minded approach to governing such a diverse nation. No wonder more than half this nation gives him a thumbs down.
4
Trump knew from the start. That would be at least with Manafort's entry into the campaign. Mueller will prove collusion at some level. All that is needed is that proof. Trump's own public testimony will do the rest.
5
Trump and his family have placed themselves on a pedestal above the law, above ethical governance and above the will of the people. By all that we should hold dear, Trump should be impeached for conduct unbecoming the Office of the President.
He won't, of course, but for a growing majority of Americans who are angry and embarrassed that this inferior man somehow made it into the Oval Office, Trump will never be viewed as legitimate, trustworthy or effective.
The sad fact is that Trump doesn't seem to know or care that he is a disgrace and a nightmare. Sad. Pathetic. Disgraceful. A serial liar.
He won't, of course, but for a growing majority of Americans who are angry and embarrassed that this inferior man somehow made it into the Oval Office, Trump will never be viewed as legitimate, trustworthy or effective.
The sad fact is that Trump doesn't seem to know or care that he is a disgrace and a nightmare. Sad. Pathetic. Disgraceful. A serial liar.
6
Cant make a head or tail of it all
1
Pure projection on Trump's part. He presumes others are as morally bankrupt as he is. And he doesn't even get how corrupt he sounds when claiming that most politicians would do what his son did rather than report to the FBI.
Corrupt, tone deaf, narcissistic, infantile, and staggeringly stupid. Just what you want in a president.
Corrupt, tone deaf, narcissistic, infantile, and staggeringly stupid. Just what you want in a president.
7
That's treason!
Politics by definition is the activities associated with governance not treacherous back room dealing with our enemies. That meeting served as a harbinger of how the Trumps planned to execute their brand of politics.
6
Even were it the case that such a meeting were routine (and it isn't), the fact remains that Trump has been lying about meetings between his campaign and the Russians for a year. His attempt to move the goalposts on this issue is, frankly, staggering.
5
I thought Mr Trump ran on a platform of draining the swamp, not playing in it. One can only imagine the tar and feathers that would be out if the Clinton's were on the other side of this mess. Also, let's do not forget that someone seems to have hacked the computerized voting machines in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. If Mr. Trump wanted to get to the bottom of this, we would have gotten there by now.
5
Enough to indict a number of people for conspiracy to do a number of things, including election and wire (Internet) fraud.
2
So who's going to roll on Trump? His son or his son-in-law?
4
This is getting so bad I am having trouble even hearing about it. How bad does it have to be before Trump voters see what is going on? How bad does it have to get before Republican politicians quit being apologists for Trump? I know they want their big tax cuts for the wealthy, at the expense of other Americans, but is it so important that they will sell the country out? The only way Nixon was banished was when some principled Republicans saw the light. I know the Republican Party has changed a lot since then, but aren't there any Republican politicians who still care about the country? So far, it doesn't look like it.
12
Donald, if Russia story is just politics then why hire so many lawyers? Your junior meeting with an adversary was collusion. How can anyone believes you?
7
In the last paragraph of this story, Alan Futerfas, lawyer for Don Jr., remarks that his client wanted to be forthcoming but that they were overruled by the White House.
Last week the NYT reported that Little Jared's lawyers were referring to Don Jr.'s lawyers all questions about the June 9, 2016 meeting.
Bottom line: By dispatching a lawyer claiming to have dirt on Ms. Clinton, Vladimir Putin has not only pitted the FBI against the White House but also has sparked potential legal battles within the first family.
Talk about a good return on a small investment!
Last week the NYT reported that Little Jared's lawyers were referring to Don Jr.'s lawyers all questions about the June 9, 2016 meeting.
Bottom line: By dispatching a lawyer claiming to have dirt on Ms. Clinton, Vladimir Putin has not only pitted the FBI against the White House but also has sparked potential legal battles within the first family.
Talk about a good return on a small investment!
10
The photo at the beginning of this article is something many children and their parents will recognize: Big Truck Visiting Day at pre-school.
1
Does Trump really mean that consorting and conspiring with enemies is "politics as usual"? That no crime was committed if you break into a safe but it turns out that it was empty so you couldn't steal anything?
8
Could someone ask your President if he or any of his businesses have ever been involved in money laundering.
7
Honest Abe,,,Lying Don Most politicians might have taken the meetings(no evidence) or reported it to the FBI like the Gore campaign did. You are motivated and attempt to collude with a foreign entity,but you get no useful information is is a crime? You rob a safe but the safe is empty.....nothing to see hear
2
News flash for president Trump supporters: The man lies. Constantly. You should be able to at least grasp that reality by now.
12
Russia if your listening.. can you please release his tax returns..
17
Trump attempting to make his next distortion of the American Democratic Republic stick.
Repression of the Press.
Suppressing the vote in the name of imaginary voter fraud.
Running foreign policy as an extension of his personal business.
And now: Collusion with a hostile foreign government which has hacked our own Presidential election--is fine.
Don't accept this constant destruction of American Democracy.
Decide now that you will fight it.
Repression of the Press.
Suppressing the vote in the name of imaginary voter fraud.
Running foreign policy as an extension of his personal business.
And now: Collusion with a hostile foreign government which has hacked our own Presidential election--is fine.
Don't accept this constant destruction of American Democracy.
Decide now that you will fight it.
5
No Mr. President, in my book that's moral treason.
5
When the Gore campaign was handed a bunch of supposedly Bush campaign 'inside' information in 1980, they gave it to the FBI.
6
*2000
2
In all this, does anyone in the Trump administration question why Russia, an adversary of the USA, wanted to help Trump win, why he was their favourite candidate? Does poor befuddled Trump question why the Russians "support" him?
5
the revulsion of the Trump-GOP camp for all lesser folk would be intolerable, insupportable in a functioning democracy
4
Why are White House aides writing statements for DJT Jr? He's not a government employee or official
Reject the American Romanovs
Reject the American Romanovs
12
He should be ok with the 2020 candidates using China's hackers to get elected.
5
When Russia offered Al Gore dirt on his opponent, he did what most people who are not named Trump would have done: he went to the FBI.
11
Donald Trump is incapable of nuance. You are either his wonderful, dear friend or a worthless, despicable enemy. Of course, that polarity can change overnight. His grasp of issues is equally simplistic. Sadly, Trump reflects the views of a significant minority of many Americans.
55
The characteristics you name are hallmarks of a Narcissistic and Borderline Personality disorder.
1
At what point do a sufficient number of Americans become so enraged that this unqualified charlatan and his minions are destroying the very fabric of our Republic that even the Republicans in Congress stand up and take notice?
7
Trump has a strange concept of what's normal conduct.
He says "a lot of people" would jump at the chance to collude with the Russian government in a US election.
Similarly, he says "a lot of people" get into trouble for bar-room brawls - such as Felix Sater, the two-time felon jailed for stabbing someone with a broken glass, who went on to become a Trump business partner and "Senior Advisor to Donald Trump".
He says "a lot of people" would jump at the chance to collude with the Russian government in a US election.
Similarly, he says "a lot of people" get into trouble for bar-room brawls - such as Felix Sater, the two-time felon jailed for stabbing someone with a broken glass, who went on to become a Trump business partner and "Senior Advisor to Donald Trump".
9
When you're the type of person who lies and cheats as easily as breathing, you think everyone else does likewise because that's your default position.
You think you're normal or even superior.
You think you're normal or even superior.
10
iF you are a Republican, you accuse everyone else of being even more sleazy than you know yourself to be.
3
Those tax returns!!
4
As if this crude Washington outsider would know what is standard in politics. Humph.
4
"Okay, first thing we need to do before we get down to business is to decide what our cover story will be if this meeting becomes known."
"How about adoptions, no one can be against adoptions, right?"
"Good, adoptions it will be."
"How about adoptions, no one can be against adoptions, right?"
"Good, adoptions it will be."
3
No, that's not politics!
That's collusion;
That's conspiracy;
That's un-American;
That's not what we expect from the President of his family.
That's collusion;
That's conspiracy;
That's un-American;
That's not what we expect from the President of his family.
9
Such a foolish faux statement. So that's politics in traitorous Trump-land, but not in patriotic America-land.
6
Meanwhile, while the reality TV version of a presidency plays out, the people behind the scenes are turning the knobs and flipping the switches of the government machine--dialing in court appointments, for example. Behind the curtain of drama, the future impact of this administration is being laid, and that's the real victory for the Republicans. These appalling stories, and blatant examples of dangerous incompetency, none of which cause action to be taken, simply buy Republicans time to install an infrastructure of policy and thought that will reach well into the future. That, too, is politics.
5
These people will turn the federal judiciary into a chamber of horrors.
4
That's not American politics President Trump and you're self-deluding if you believe such nonsense.
Colluding with Russia was immoral, unethical and illegal behavior.
Colluding with Russia was immoral, unethical and illegal behavior.
6
We are no strangers to the arrogance of politicians, but it's the low, low level of indolent, criminal LYING that is so INSULTING!!!!
Sorry… going back to watching the Corleones now, alternative fiction calms me down.
Sorry… going back to watching the Corleones now, alternative fiction calms me down.
8
With respect to Alan Futerfas's statement at the end, may I suggest that those of you who don't know the meaning of "fulsome" look it up? Maybe Futerfas should have, too.
3
Are these really "tweets"?
Or should we call them "quacks"?
Or should we call them "quacks"?
7
Futerfas' statement stood out for me because of one word - "fulsome". Per Don Jr's lawyer, he and Jr. were fully and absolutely prepared to make a "fulsome statement about the nature of the meeting..." before the NY Times published what they had uncovered.
Interestingly, "fulsome" is defined as: complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
I doubt it was his intention, but I think perhaps he chose the perfect word!
Interestingly, "fulsome" is defined as: complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
I doubt it was his intention, but I think perhaps he chose the perfect word!
10
I think attorneys working at that level are capable of choosing their words very carefully and with full intent. That leads me to believe that is was probably a cynical play on what is likely the common misperception that "fulsome" has something to do with "full", as in making a full statement.
2
Can we please keep our eyes and a firm attention to what matter most: winning back Congress.
It's our only hope to stop Trump & CO.He ain't going anywhere. Even if we find out Putin was living in Trump tower last year, the cultists GOP in Congress will shrug it off. He is completely inoculated.
When will Dems in Congress force Pelosi to step down? Everyday Trump sees Pelosi and her cabal sitting haplessly in Congress, the grin on his face grows wider. He knows his obedient GOP will keep both chambers next year. Dems will be completely shattered with less than 100 seats. We will never win Congress back with Pelosi there.Period.
The longer Pelosi stays, the more assured and happy Trump and CO will be.
It's our only hope to stop Trump & CO.He ain't going anywhere. Even if we find out Putin was living in Trump tower last year, the cultists GOP in Congress will shrug it off. He is completely inoculated.
When will Dems in Congress force Pelosi to step down? Everyday Trump sees Pelosi and her cabal sitting haplessly in Congress, the grin on his face grows wider. He knows his obedient GOP will keep both chambers next year. Dems will be completely shattered with less than 100 seats. We will never win Congress back with Pelosi there.Period.
The longer Pelosi stays, the more assured and happy Trump and CO will be.
3
Trump/Russia is a serious issue which also is hurting the Republican party's chances of keeping seats. He will not lose all of his base ( he will lose some) they are convinced fools. But that leaves a large percentage of other voters who will vote against him and the party.
5
Just never seems to end with this crew. First we hear no contact with Russians, then it gets altered when Sessions, Kushner, and now little Donny get caught with hands once again in the cookie jar. When caught just admit it as your lies, deflection, denial and blaming are getting soooo old. Dirty tricks are part of our political history but not the brand seen here where issues of national security are very much a concern. But who cares about this little meeting when we have the big guy sharing classified information with Russian diplomats in the halls of the White House. Politics as usual? Not really but then again nothing seems to be "usual" with this band of cheats, liars, arrogant, ignorant and sinister group. Time for Mueller et al. to put an end to this fiasco and the sooner the better as I would like someone to inform me what exactly this administration has accomplished except to sign untold executive orders tearing apart constructive programs, appoint a cabal of incompetent cabinet members, wreak havoc with allies, and repeatedly mislead the unfortunate folks who voted this idiot into office. Time for a change.
3
Every day our Fearless Leader demonstrates once again how unsuitable he is for the job he holds............
7
The functioning of the White House is quite bizarre. We haven't seen or heard from Sean Spicer in any major capacity for weeks, since he crawled into a hole to lick his wounds, and now he pops his head out like he's literally been in the dark and states that the meeting was about adoption (which of course is directly related to The Magnitsky Act), days after Don, Jr. publicly acknowledged that it was really about dirt on Hillary. The dynamics of this White House are head scratchingly, stupendously idiotic.
6
Donald Trump and his team by taking the meeting and not reporting to FBI compromised national security of US in a big way, they actually allowed the Russian meddling of the US election go unnoticed or only suspected. If they contacted FBI at that time, the FBI would have had a wonderful opportunity to focus on the Russian "team" involved even before the release of the DNC emails and could have uncovered the bigger plot perpetrated by the Russians. Is it not an obstruction of justice that FBI and all the national intelligence were investigation Russian influence in the election and the Trump team did not report an actual attempt of the Russians to influence them? Unless of course Trump et al actually colluded with the Russians in the whole plot, that is probably the only scenario where not reporting before or after could happen no?
5
Of course seeking dirt on the other side from whatever source is a longstanding tradition in American politics. All this holier than thou talk is merely designed to keep the Republicans on the back foot until at least the midterm elections. Unfortunately for the Democrats resistance by any means necessary is not in the best American tradition and the voters will be repulsed in the end.
2
This was not politics. This was business. For both Jr and sr they are one and the same.
4
Hey, occupant 45, you know, the one with the 36% approval rating. Why don’t you give me a list of the things that you have accomplished since your entrance into your “throne room”? I don’t anticipate a rapid response to this question as you need some time to figure out another distraction/tweet so that you can fill the airwaves with bluster. Looking forward to 2018.
3
"That's politics!" Also, likely, collusion. And reprehensible. And not disclosed as legally required. And seriously poor judgement. Yes, it's all of those things. It may also be the end of the illusion of Trump's "victory" being legitimate for many, many voters. I think Trump is showing increasingly more signs of being deluded, out of touch, irrational, erratic and unstable. Not the kind of person we need in the president's chair.
42
Correction: That's normal for
'Trump politics.'
What's normal for the Trump family and friends is unethical, immoral, illegal, and now includes collusion with a hostile foreign government.
'Trump politics.'
What's normal for the Trump family and friends is unethical, immoral, illegal, and now includes collusion with a hostile foreign government.
36
Just curious...
Wonder what the Republicans would say if Donald Jr. was looking for dirt on Clinton and got caught meeting secretly with the Ayatollahs of Iran or Kim Jong-un's government minions?
Oh wait...those countries don't have nuclear-armed ICBMs programmed and targeted AT THIS VERY MINUTE to strike our largest cities and industrial areas. How exactly does that work, anyway?
Are there any of America's enemies that the Trump family can't secretly meet with for political advantage?
Wonder what the Republicans would say if Donald Jr. was looking for dirt on Clinton and got caught meeting secretly with the Ayatollahs of Iran or Kim Jong-un's government minions?
Oh wait...those countries don't have nuclear-armed ICBMs programmed and targeted AT THIS VERY MINUTE to strike our largest cities and industrial areas. How exactly does that work, anyway?
Are there any of America's enemies that the Trump family can't secretly meet with for political advantage?
18
What really bothers me is that there is - or was - a common sense ethical standard citizens naturally have that it's wrong to work with a foreign adversary to undermine fellow Americans. Now, who knows how many of my fellow citizens are going to accept Trump's new corrupt standard as the norm. "That's politics,"he says and they'll go with it. So candidates were just handed permission to use a new bottom-feeder set of rules in their elections. "Take dirt from Russia, the Chinese, North Korea, Iran, and promise anything, as long as your side wins - that's politics!" Well, I don't accept that and I am disgusted that the President of the United States is leading our people to accept it. Now we need new, stringent laws that forbid all candidates for federal office to take ANY meetings regarding foreign policy with members of foreign governments or their representatives; new laws that force all candidates for Federal office to release their financial information; new laws of divestiture for Federal officeholders; and a thousand more, all because of this batch of cheaters and those who'll use their precedent to drag our government to a new low. DRAIN THE SWAMP!
34
When economics begin to take over how we talk about life & human value (transactional relationship, collateral damage) & became the model for educating our children (STEM? what about CHECK: character, honesty, ethics, civics & knowledge?), we allowed consumerist definition of success (winning) to invade our moral imagination.
Donald jr. has reaped the whirlwind of his father's devouring emptiness.
But the larger whirlwind is the one that's coming for our children, the consequences of a status, image & profit-driven world view.
Trump Sr is not the root of the problem, he's just the fruit that hasn't fallen far from the tree. We need to take a good hard look at ourselves: WE bore this fruit.
We need to decide what truly matters: honor, insight, compassion, reasoned thought and speech, courage, imagination...
integrity.
Or not.
Donald jr. has reaped the whirlwind of his father's devouring emptiness.
But the larger whirlwind is the one that's coming for our children, the consequences of a status, image & profit-driven world view.
Trump Sr is not the root of the problem, he's just the fruit that hasn't fallen far from the tree. We need to take a good hard look at ourselves: WE bore this fruit.
We need to decide what truly matters: honor, insight, compassion, reasoned thought and speech, courage, imagination...
integrity.
Or not.
32
As far as Trump is concerned, as long as you are a 'star' you can get away with it.
At what point will there be acknowledgement that trump is in the White House illegitimately? No matter how you add it up, from hacked emails being leaked, to internet trolls planting targeted fake news to suppress turnout, to pernicious voter id laws to also suppress turnout, to outright collusion by a historical adversary, and God knows what else, there is no rational way to accept the current resident as having earned his position.
30
He can call it a cake-walk if he wants, what the DOJ calls it on the indictment paperwork will be something entirely different.
11
Impeachment Trump now.
That's justice.
That's justice.
17
Outrageous comments by Trump.
Next time he should take a leaf from the Democrats and launder his Russian oppo research through an elaborate set of shell companies. He can then moralize about how he'd personally never consider attending such a meeting all while quoting directly from Russian dossiers.
Learn the way of the swamp Donald.
Next time he should take a leaf from the Democrats and launder his Russian oppo research through an elaborate set of shell companies. He can then moralize about how he'd personally never consider attending such a meeting all while quoting directly from Russian dossiers.
Learn the way of the swamp Donald.
6
Wrong comparison. Chelsea Clinton was not approached by a representative of an adversarial regime, being informed before the meeting of its collusional nature, with an offer to provide dirt on her mother's opponent. In exchange for something, of course. That's where the Magnitsky act comes in, it's about more than just adoption. In the past, the Dems called the FBI when approached with dirt on an opponent by a shady source. And they do not use "shell companies" for legitimate oppo research. Shell companies are used for tax evasion and money laundering, also specialties of Trump.
10
The Democrats solicited dirt on Trump from Russian operatives and paid hard cash for it. The solicitation was laundered by twice removing the gatherers of Russian dirt from it's seekers via 2 companies, Fusion GPS and Orbis. You can shrink from the term shell company if you want but the effect is the same as in the financial world & precisely why swamp creatures use entities like Fusion GPS: plausible deniability.
2
Two legitimate oppo research companies, who researched possible collusion by Trump and his campaign, and possible blackmail of Trump by the Russians through dirt they had on him ... That's not collusion, and it's not solicitation of dirt, it's about what the Russians do with that dirt.
Next he'll be erecting statues and yuge photographs of himself across the country while the evangelicals enforce their version of sharia while tweeting "That's dictatorship!"
17
But his emails!
12
That is not politics, NOT MY PRESIDENT. Rather collusion with a foreign agent is TREASON! Look him up!
17
Donald doesn't understand that colluding with our adversary, the Russians, is not 'politics as usual.' The real problem is that he thinks colluding with them is the natural thing to do. But impeachment is the natural thing to do.
17
Trumpcare goes down in flames due to lack of Republican support. THAT'S politics!
16
Dealing with Russian spies used to be called TREASON.
24
Doing business with Russian government agents in order to win an election IS treason.
31
His statement is proof positive that he is corrupt and that the swamp he intends to drain are those not loyal enough to him to ignore his bad acts. Why hasn't he been impeached yet?
35
So....Trump Jr wanted to give a more fulsome statement initially and didn't. Who dissuaded him? The Prsident? Who wrote the initial account of the meeting? Did the Presidnet interfere (?obstruct) his son from telling the truth? Maybe the lies are coming home to roost...it's Mueller time.
18
If "that's politics!" and nothing more then why the tremendous secrecy around this meeting? Why not come out and say from the start it was about collecting damaging information on Hilary--that's just politics! We had a couple of Russians close to the Kremlin there--that's just politics! We considered trading their dirt for loosening sanctions imposed by the Magnitskey Act--hey, that's just politics. Let the corrupt Russians go back to doing business in the States, what do we care, we just want the opposition research on Hilary. Damage our democracy? Come on, don't take it so seriously, it's just politics!'
31
Hey...Donald "he's a good boy" Trump Jr., welcome to the karma you invited by killing innocent animals in order to cut off their tails.
https://zimbabwe-today.com/donald-trump-jr-s-kills-an-african-elephant-a...
https://zimbabwe-today.com/donald-trump-jr-s-kills-an-african-elephant-a...
23
These Trumps have some serious issues in overcompensating for their feelings of inadequacy. But their issues wreck havoc and misery on everyone and everything they encounter.
3
What absurdly backwards fool would kill an elephant for 'sport' in this 21st Century?
5
Well, I guess the Magnitsky Act has achieved the same third-rail status as Social Security and defense. Any elected official who advocates for its repeal now will immediately be suspect.
6
That's politics! It's like when they tried to teach him about politics and five minutes into it he shouted That's Politics! and switched to online poker. Soon he was cheating at poker and yelling That's Poker!
26
A "fulsome statement" it was, even if the lawyer doesn't know the meaning of the word.
14
"That's politics"? Name another candidate who accepted help from the Russians (with glee, no less!)
22
All the press keeps trying to explain that monsters actions in normal terms. Ain't gonna work folks. The fraud does not think like most of us do. Sociopathic behavior is the norm for a man who groped women, bragged about it, mocked a disabled person and lies like no one has ever done before. His family is morally corrupt as he is. And meanwhile, back at the ranch Mueller keeps grinding away.... Tick tock, tock tock
24
I'm just so so sick of this man 's lies and deceitful behavior. What's that expression? Oh yeah - lock him up! Lock them ALL up.
37
President Trump has on a number of occasions said that any serious politician would have taken that meeting. It is virtually impossible that he didn't pick up some of the buzz from the meeting. Can he be telling us that he was there or that he approved it. What else could he mean by those comments?
10
The Republican party has descended into an abyss of cynicism that plunges even further down into nihilism. What, at long last, is wrong with these people?
18
"What, at long last, is wrong with these people?"
Some people are just EVIL. And evil can be collective. In the case of this administration, that is what we have, for the most part: Collective evil. Trying to disenfranchise and harm millions of citizens, constant lying, constant trickery, constant obfuscation, obstruction of justice, vilification of the press, and the list goes on. When Hitler came to power, he, and his administration, too, convinced millions of Germans of very bad things...he tricked, he constantly lied, he obfuscated, he obstructed justice, he vilified the press, he harmed, disenfranchised, kidnapped, tortured, murdered...Is it so far-fetched to think that this kind of evil chicanery (and worse) could not START happening HERE...and snowball into something far worse. Because what I see HERE is the beginning of Fascism...They do not persist in this evil for no reason; there are gains--POWER AND MONEY.
Some people are just EVIL. And evil can be collective. In the case of this administration, that is what we have, for the most part: Collective evil. Trying to disenfranchise and harm millions of citizens, constant lying, constant trickery, constant obfuscation, obstruction of justice, vilification of the press, and the list goes on. When Hitler came to power, he, and his administration, too, convinced millions of Germans of very bad things...he tricked, he constantly lied, he obfuscated, he obstructed justice, he vilified the press, he harmed, disenfranchised, kidnapped, tortured, murdered...Is it so far-fetched to think that this kind of evil chicanery (and worse) could not START happening HERE...and snowball into something far worse. Because what I see HERE is the beginning of Fascism...They do not persist in this evil for no reason; there are gains--POWER AND MONEY.
9
WE STILL remember Trump falsely claiming Obama tapped his phone. He claimed that the State Department unmask his associates. Now his Son got caught in a web of lies ---- just politics! Habitually lying leads to burdening of the memory. The President's crying Wolf and know painting his son as an innocent sheep --- is indefensible!
16
Trump the candidate promised to end politics as usual. Now, as president , he unintentionally stumbled on the truth when he tweeted " That's politics ". It's not. No American politician has ever colluded with a hostile government before.
Lying about a previous lie , which Trump does often, makes him even less credible than he already is.
Lying about a previous lie , which Trump does often, makes him even less credible than he already is.
29
Urge Congressmen that Trump should be censured! Loyal Americans, patriots, would apologize, not excuse even family members seeking negative information from our 60 year cold war enemy to influence our presidential election in his favor. It's not collusion and impeachment's a bridge too far. But it is dishonorable, disgraceful and should be beneath the dignity of the office. But do it now, because otherwise scandal fatigue will set in!
14
It is illegal--PROHIBITED--according to the FEC regulations. One cannot get any "thing of value" (such as "dirt" on an opponent) from a foreign national during a federal election campaign. I don't know if the proper word is COLLUSION, but this behavior is PROHIBITED. It is especially untoward since the foreign national(s) at this meeting were citizens of a HOSTILE foreign power, that has consistently tried to undermine our democracy, and has been proven by 14 American intelligence agencies to have interfered in our electoral processes.
6
What thing of value was delivered at the meeting? A thing of value may have been hoped for (although information, in a society with free speech, probably would not qualify on policy grounds), but wasn't obtained.
I ask myself if I would have taken the meeting, and can't honestly say I wouldn't have just to see what was offered--figuring nothing is genuine anymore but what the heck. If the FBI thought the Steele Dossier was worth looking at, I would be interested in what a highly placed Russian lawyer might produce. As a lawyer, I don't see what laws would be broken just listening to see what would be said. Since this situation doesn't come up very often, it doesn't scream moral depravity--like dropping bombs on people in a foreign country we invaded with no cause. Now that's a transaction I wouldn't want any part of from the get-go.
I ask myself if I would have taken the meeting, and can't honestly say I wouldn't have just to see what was offered--figuring nothing is genuine anymore but what the heck. If the FBI thought the Steele Dossier was worth looking at, I would be interested in what a highly placed Russian lawyer might produce. As a lawyer, I don't see what laws would be broken just listening to see what would be said. Since this situation doesn't come up very often, it doesn't scream moral depravity--like dropping bombs on people in a foreign country we invaded with no cause. Now that's a transaction I wouldn't want any part of from the get-go.
2
Wrong again Donald. If your son and son in law are under investigation that makes your statements obstruction of justice.
18
Yes it is politics....at it's worst (using a foreign adversary to provide oppo)...so if you want to say the Trump team practices the worst kind of politics...OK...you win.
10
Actually, "That's treason!"
26
Well, you have to hand it our Benedict Trump: treachery toward one's country in the service of personal gain is a form of politics—just not one most loyal Americans applaud (nor should citizens and the Republican Congress countenance it).
23
I hope this becomes a question asked of anyone running for national office. "Would you or would you not have 'taken a meeting' with a Russian who might offer you dirt on your opponent?" This sort of behavior simply can't be normalized, and we need to vote accordingly.
21
Being a half a world away from ‘the ruckuses the Times has raised linking Trump-Russia-Trump I would have to agree its politics. To say others would not have attended such a meeting must means that got the message ‘bad press’ and know the intelligent reply, not that they would not have gone.
The beneficial effect of the Trump coverage is that never has the public know in such detail what the POTUS is up to; can only wish the practice is institutionalized but it will not be – generally boring.
The beneficial effect of the Trump coverage is that never has the public know in such detail what the POTUS is up to; can only wish the practice is institutionalized but it will not be – generally boring.
1
Talk about privilege.
6
We seem to have been hearing from an unending parade of Trump apologists make spurious claims about whether the meeting was at all significant, or that it was not illegal, or that it didn't last very long.
But, it seems to me the essential question which has not been asked sufficiently is: "Why does your story about the meeting keep changing?" Or, "why should we believe today's version of events when it doesn't jibe with yesterday's version"?
Between DJT, Jr.'s evolving stories about who was there and what it was about, or the President's insistence that "he's a good boy" (this is something one says about a pet dog, but not about one's adult son), and that everyone does it (not true), why can't this gang get their (allegedly) true story straight?
But, it seems to me the essential question which has not been asked sufficiently is: "Why does your story about the meeting keep changing?" Or, "why should we believe today's version of events when it doesn't jibe with yesterday's version"?
Between DJT, Jr.'s evolving stories about who was there and what it was about, or the President's insistence that "he's a good boy" (this is something one says about a pet dog, but not about one's adult son), and that everyone does it (not true), why can't this gang get their (allegedly) true story straight?
17
Nothing will come of this.
3
Does anybody really care what this President says?
6
I do!
I would love to hear him say, "I resign immediately."
I would love to hear him say, "I resign immediately."
12
It's all about real estate folks. From the highest office in the land they are now auctioning off our country. Trump is making deals, and selling us off. He could care less about this nation, he only sees dollar signs. And little Donny, well his father is a selfish, thoughtless, entitled egomaniac, with an emotional compass of a child, but the descendant is likely all of this as well, but I suspect also with a deeper potential to be cruel. Truly cruel.
10
I wonder what the history books will say about the Trump Administration 50 years from now. I guess that depends on whether we go down in the shipwreck with him, or right this country's course and acknowledge the most shameful Presidency this country has ever produced.
Oh wait, if the former, there will be no (real) history books.
Oh wait, if the former, there will be no (real) history books.
16
This entire family is shameless in their disregard for the truth, the constitution, and the rule of law. They have spent an entire lifetime assuming rules for "the masses" do not apply to them so why should we be surprised when they bring that attitude and those behaviors to the White House. What I cannot fathom is the utter corruption of our congress who knows better yet stands idly by while the Republican party and our democracy itself is dismantled by this con man and his entourage of thieves, liars, and grifters.
50
And I thought the demise of Ringling Brothers was the end of the elephant-themed circus
17
I hate that the elephant is the symbol of the GOP...such a lovely, intelligent animal. Their symbol should be a boa constrictor or a rattlesnake.
8
The Photo: Pence looks like the canary eating Cat. Biding his time, grinning that Cheshire Cat Grin. I'm on to you, Sir. Trump is totally incompetent and , well, delusional and dementia addled. You, however, are afflicted with a different, worse form of delusion. The " Holy Man" syndrome. God help US.
52
Treason is 'politics'? That's news to me.
20
So the email promised that the Russian lawyer had dirt on Clinton but it never came up. And of course, Jr just sat there silently hoping it might but never asking, gee, didn't you say you had something to tell me about Clinton? So the Russian lawyer flew from Moscow to New York to have a twenty minute meeting about babies and puppies that was immediately forgotten because it was a "nothing burger," my new least favorite term. And again, Jr never asked "where's the beef?" And even though there was discussion of the Magnitsky Act, an official US sanction against Russia, Jr and Sr tell us it was just a conversation about US parents trying to adopt Russian babies, just a heartwarming topic about love and longing. So the best they've got is that this heartwarming topic was only worth twenty forgettable minutes.
Can I interest them in buying the Brooklyn Bridge (really, it's a beautiful bridge)? I guess they figure they already own it.
Can I interest them in buying the Brooklyn Bridge (really, it's a beautiful bridge)? I guess they figure they already own it.
29
Add to this that after six months, it was imperative to Kushner to set up a secret communications system with Moscow inside a Russian embassy or consulate to avoid law enforcement or intelligence agency scrutiny.
That whole idea just spontaneously popped into his head after six months of quiet thinking about the babies and puppies. Any politician would have done the same.
Except that in the entire history of the country, no politician has done this. No opposition researcher would break the law to get information, nor would any legitimate political campaign use information obtained by theft or espionage or hacking.
Only the crime family currently occupying the White House thanks to their beloved puppetmaster Putin. And all the little Republican idiots run around drooling their endless love for their master, the brain damaged, morally bankrupt criminal Trump.
That whole idea just spontaneously popped into his head after six months of quiet thinking about the babies and puppies. Any politician would have done the same.
Except that in the entire history of the country, no politician has done this. No opposition researcher would break the law to get information, nor would any legitimate political campaign use information obtained by theft or espionage or hacking.
Only the crime family currently occupying the White House thanks to their beloved puppetmaster Putin. And all the little Republican idiots run around drooling their endless love for their master, the brain damaged, morally bankrupt criminal Trump.
40
Tremendously well reasoned. White House staff spins some very tall tales.
10
The MAGA emperor tweeted, did the full Nero while the Rome he sacked now burned.
7
First they said there was no meeting.
LIE, all top campaign officials met with them despite not disclosing it are required.
Then they said it was about adoption.
LIE, adoption ban is related to response to Maginsky act sanctions on Russian criminal elite trying to launder money.
Then they said it was not about collusion.
LIE, clear notice it was Russian government offer of help and initial response was"I love it" with a timing suggestion.
Now they say no information was provided.
LIE, a steady stream of info from DNC servers started to be released strategically thereafter.
LIE, all top campaign officials met with them despite not disclosing it are required.
Then they said it was about adoption.
LIE, adoption ban is related to response to Maginsky act sanctions on Russian criminal elite trying to launder money.
Then they said it was not about collusion.
LIE, clear notice it was Russian government offer of help and initial response was"I love it" with a timing suggestion.
Now they say no information was provided.
LIE, a steady stream of info from DNC servers started to be released strategically thereafter.
20
LIE: Long In Exaggeration.
6
Yes, only in the corrupted government, most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don Jr. That is like inviting your mother in law, sister in law, brother in law, friend, or spiteful coworker to rule your house.
8
Trump has no shame, which isn't anything new. Trump Jr. lies just as much as his father.
Does anyone really believe this meeting was the only direct interaction between the Trump campaign and the Russians to try to tilt the election?
Does anyone really believe this meeting was the only direct interaction between the Trump campaign and the Russians to try to tilt the election?
19
Trump and his colleagues have turned the Washington "swamp" into a sewer. Everything associated with Trump just stinks.
28
The more trump protests the more I am convinced he and his clan are guilty.
22
Uh, Donald, I think the old adage is, "That's entertainment!"...
13
No, this is not "normal politics". This is "Trump politics". Meaning whatever action taken, statement made or threat implied is justified by the overall goal to win "Bigly". Let's just not be fooled. Absolutely none of it, the "winning" included, has anything to do with actually wanting to assume the actual responsibilities and bearing required of the office of the President.
20
Would VP Elmer Gantry (Pence) say the same if his son met with the enemy prior to Marines deploying in action? Would it be okay if the enemy was Russian?
Would it be part of the Elmer Gantry (Pence) usual practices?
Would mom being there for son's meeting with the enemy, if the enemy sent a woman as a representative, make it okay?
Would it be part of the Elmer Gantry (Pence) usual practices?
Would mom being there for son's meeting with the enemy, if the enemy sent a woman as a representative, make it okay?
14
I believe in the background of all this, Trump actually thought that Ivanka would become the first female President, and Jared would be her partner in crime as First Gentlemen.
Trump would accomplish two things with this: 1. Drive a stake even further into the heart of HIllary and Bill. 2. Keep control of the United States as a conduit for Trump, Inc. Why else have the two of them as close advisors? Trump thinks that the United States of America is now his private enterprise to plunder and hand down to his children.
It's all falling apart. Trump's incompetence could be covered up in the private sector, but under the glare of public office, he can't hide. This is his great frustration.
He cannot control everything any more. He can't say to the media, "you're fired." He admires and envies Putin, naturally. Putin can fire the media and kill his enemies. All Trump can do to the media and his enemies is Tweet at them. Not nearly as effective.
The bottom line of all this is that the Trump's, their associates, Jared Kushner, and all their apologetic enablers are just a bunch of selfish takers. All of them are the worst of us.
Trump would accomplish two things with this: 1. Drive a stake even further into the heart of HIllary and Bill. 2. Keep control of the United States as a conduit for Trump, Inc. Why else have the two of them as close advisors? Trump thinks that the United States of America is now his private enterprise to plunder and hand down to his children.
It's all falling apart. Trump's incompetence could be covered up in the private sector, but under the glare of public office, he can't hide. This is his great frustration.
He cannot control everything any more. He can't say to the media, "you're fired." He admires and envies Putin, naturally. Putin can fire the media and kill his enemies. All Trump can do to the media and his enemies is Tweet at them. Not nearly as effective.
The bottom line of all this is that the Trump's, their associates, Jared Kushner, and all their apologetic enablers are just a bunch of selfish takers. All of them are the worst of us.
33
I wonder if Ivanka is involved? Her husband, her brother, and her father are in the middle of what seems to be a criminal endeavor to win the election with the help of an enemy state. She must have known about everything. Was she more directly part of it? It would be a good thing to have every single one of these lying sleazes investigated and prosecuted. Maybe their ill-gotten wealth could be confiscated and help the poor.
8
She's bff with Putin's girlfriend, Rupert Murdoch's ex
1
So wait, the reason that the meeting didn't last very long is because it didn't focus on the illicit information that they all hoped it would. That's their defense?
This people are clearly messed up.
This people are clearly messed up.
23
The Trump administration claims they're disrupters, that they're doing things a new way. Great, lets do things a new way.
Forget impeachment, forget Article 25. We the People, at 70% disapproval [lets name it Article 70], which is where we are now, can vote no-confidence in a special election to remove an entire administration.
Forget impeachment, forget Article 25. We the People, at 70% disapproval [lets name it Article 70], which is where we are now, can vote no-confidence in a special election to remove an entire administration.
38
It's hard to believe that Jr. didn't tell Daddy Warbucks about this meeting, or that Kushner and/or Manafort didn't say anything.
Maybe there are more emails out there. Maybe the Russians can help us find them. I tell you, the press would pay handsomely for those.
Sound familiar?
Maybe there are more emails out there. Maybe the Russians can help us find them. I tell you, the press would pay handsomely for those.
Sound familiar?
14
Collusion with agents of a foreign government is not "politics", rather that is likely treason.
Sometimes winning at any cost is not winning when one loses so much.
Sometimes winning at any cost is not winning when one loses so much.
20
Trump last week: "We have never had any kind of collusion with the Russians. Get over it, now!"
Trump this week: "Collusion with the Russians? That's politics! Get over it, now!"
What? Truth is supposed to be consistent?
Trump this week: "Collusion with the Russians? That's politics! Get over it, now!"
What? Truth is supposed to be consistent?
19
It makes perfect sense. When your moral reasoning is twisted, the people you choose to surround yourself with, including your family, will have a similar twisted reasoning. This is why DJT doesn't realize when he's doing something wrong. And he's the President of, supposedly, "the greatest country in the world".
10
If Trump met with the Devil, he'd say it was politics too.
27
Yes, most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don Jr only in the corrupted government. That is like inviting your mother in law, sister in law, brother in law, friend, or spiteful coworker to rule your house. Good luck for that.
1
Your job, Mr. President, is not to raise good sons. Your job is to raise good Americans. How would you characterize a good American? Someone willing to commit treason? No. The usual exceptions we make for our racist or drug addict or unreliable relatives do not apply to your situation. You cannot excuse behavior that damages the fabric of a country because the person doing it is doing it out of loyalty to you. Country first, Mr. President.
11
Don't bet on it. Country is never first - money is always first for the Grifters.
11
Now I am no Ronald Reagan but RR would never have taken that meeting. Nor would he allow any of his staff to take such a meeting.
Jimmy Carter would never have taken such a meeting nor would Gerald Ford. Barbara Jordan would not have taken that meeting.
I doubt that Tip O'Neal or Bob Dole would take that meeting. Shirley Chisholm would not have taken that meeting. Mike Bloomberg would be no where near that meeting. Christy Todd Whitman would not have taken the meeting.
Anthony Wiener might have taken that meeting or perhaps Newt Gingrich would have taken it. Paul Ryan might have taken the meeting or may be even Chris Christie would have taken the meeting. Sarah Palin would have take the meeting in a heart beat.
Do you catch the drift - men and women of integrity and moral courage would not have taken a meeting setup with the premise that a foreign power - a shall we say hostile foreign power - was interested in manipulating the election for the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
No Mr President (Trump) this is not politics as usual, this is a nightmare become reality.
Jimmy Carter would never have taken such a meeting nor would Gerald Ford. Barbara Jordan would not have taken that meeting.
I doubt that Tip O'Neal or Bob Dole would take that meeting. Shirley Chisholm would not have taken that meeting. Mike Bloomberg would be no where near that meeting. Christy Todd Whitman would not have taken the meeting.
Anthony Wiener might have taken that meeting or perhaps Newt Gingrich would have taken it. Paul Ryan might have taken the meeting or may be even Chris Christie would have taken the meeting. Sarah Palin would have take the meeting in a heart beat.
Do you catch the drift - men and women of integrity and moral courage would not have taken a meeting setup with the premise that a foreign power - a shall we say hostile foreign power - was interested in manipulating the election for the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
No Mr President (Trump) this is not politics as usual, this is a nightmare become reality.
52
Ronald Reagan - "... beware the temptation of pride–the temptation of blithely..uh..declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil."
A KGB officer tried to contact Robert Kennedy to offer Russia's aid to Kennedy but "meet a polite rebuff."
Not politics as usual: treason.
A KGB officer tried to contact Robert Kennedy to offer Russia's aid to Kennedy but "meet a polite rebuff."
Not politics as usual: treason.
10
The premise of his election was no more politics as usual, but more business-like conduct and efficiency. Instead we get dirty politics compounded by his unethical business practices, plus his absolute ignorance of normal, civil behavior. A shameful embarrassment to the US.
21
Makes you wonder how he ran his businesses, doesn't it.
11
So it's "just politics" is it? In what parallel universe is this part of draining the swamp?
20
I still want to know what the dirt on Hillary supposedly was. Why is that such a closely guarded secret? Nothing else is. Makes me wonder.
3
You could always contact the Russians who were at the meeting, and ask them what the "dirt" was on Hillary...but I don't know if they would tell YOU. YOU have nothing that they want.
3
Joe McCarthy would have called it treason.
12
I knew this too would pass into the hall of fame for transgressions , along with the many other offenses to our ideals, our laws, our ethics and our common sense -when the stock market didn't budge over this- the fix is in and we should replace E Pluribus Unum with Life ain't fair- get over it.
5
The latest joke circulating at my water cooler, Trump is tweeting his anger as people claim more Russians attended the Donnie Jr. meeting than attended his inauguration.
22
I sure hope everyone is paying attention to Mike Pence through all this.
12
Donald, holding regular, free-wheeling press conferences is at the core of politics! Just what are you afraid of?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
7
He is incapable of holding a NORMAL, INTELLIGENT press conference, and THAT is why he does NOT have them. Oh, I MISS Obama's press conferences!
5
No ethics, no morals. The sleaziest family in the United States. Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?
22
The Trumps don't represent America. They represent themselves. I am not less proud to be American because Trump is President. I don't give him anywhere near that much regard or credence.
The Trumps are a virus. They give us a headache, and we'll feel bad for a while. It will eventually be a bad memory.
The Trumps are a virus. They give us a headache, and we'll feel bad for a while. It will eventually be a bad memory.
7
Gerry in St. Petersburg - I agree that trump does not represent America, and someday this nightmare will end. But the havoc he can wreak until then is immense. Tilting the Supreme Court to the far right for another generation and hastening the destruction of our environment are two long term disasters that spring immediately to mind. I shudder to think what his incompetent administration will do to the timebomb of the Middle East. He is a Godzilla raging through our Tokyo. This will not be over in a little while.
3
Spicer: ". . . as far as we know , . ." A very careful statement. Maybe the emails of HRC were provided at the meeting on discs in an envelope. What was discussed would be unimportant - would't even need to make sense, and middlemen (or middlewomen) could drip drip them to Wikileaks.
10
Its good to see that our president is taking his valuable time very seriously and utilizing it in wise ways... He feels the need to defend his sons actions over a social media platform for everyone to see. His relationship with Russia seems to have been a shady one since he reveals little about it. Any contact he has with them seems to be a big event no matter how trivial it actually is. Why is the press and social media so fired up about it? Maybe the people are confused and want answers when none seem to show up? If Trump could enlighten us about what he seems to be hiding from America, maybe all will flow smoother once that is off his chest. Its strange how the NYT calls his tweet a defense... First off, why would he be defending his son? Most innocent people don't need defense, right? Food for thought. Information is a very powerful motive and people to do dumb things to get it. I wouldn't want our president or his family to get caught wrapped up in a pickle because of a dispute over information leaked in a political meeting. As long as everyone is calm, respectful, and thinks through what they will say, all the future meetings trump will have will be painless and leaked info wouldn't be a problem. Mr. Trump is a very busy man and shouldn't have to worry about these trivial things. His son is a grown man and doesn't need to be publicly defended. Trump shouldn't use his down-time for tweeting about family matters. Thanks for your time!
2
Much is made of Don Jr's, "I love it!" response to the purported damaging material. But what about his complete lack of reaction to the revelation that the Russian government - at the highest level - had effectively setup a russian Trump campaign headquarters? He loves the idea of damaging info, but neglects to mention the Russian support effort itself. To me this reads as though he was already famiiar with it.
17
It's pathetic. Why doesn't Trump get rid of Jared and just hand over all our secrets?
10
Few people would be so foolish as to think that meeting with people that seemingly have some sort of ties to a hostile power would do such a thing. And there's no way that Daddy Dearest didn't know about the meeting.
21
Yup. In the building, a few floors up, at the same time as the meeting took place. If you really think dear Jared or Jr. didn't run up to tell him, you are a hopeless deplorable.
10
For months the Trump White House expressed outrage that anyone suggested collusion was possible despite Trump's using a campaign rally to propose the Russians hack Hilary Clinton's emails.. So this argument that collusion is just a normal part of political life should come as no surprise.. Venality, lies, manipulation-- that's what this administration is about. Yes, Shaub is right, we are a laughing stock.
20
Trump thought he'd swoop in and save the day and be loved and revered by all. Because he's an incompetent, delusional, narcissistic egomaniac.
One thing about incompetent people is...they're too incompetent to realize how incompetent they are.
One thing about incompetent people is...they're too incompetent to realize how incompetent they are.
37
If you plan with others to commit a crime, it's conspiracy.
DTJr. claims that the information provided by the Kremlin was nothing he could use. If you conspired to receive stolen goods and when you saw them you decided they were junk, you would still be guilty of conspiracy.
DTJr. claims that the information provided by the Kremlin was nothing he could use. If you conspired to receive stolen goods and when you saw them you decided they were junk, you would still be guilty of conspiracy.
32
"In response to the article, Mr. Trump’s aides helped write his son’s initial statement explaining why he had met with Ms. Veselnitskaya ..."
Deceitful liars all.
Deceitful liars all.
19
For too, too. too long trump's insanity has been accommodated. Even the Grey Lady resisted calling his lies lies until the shame attendant the dodge threatened to obscure both her greyness and her ladyness. You can't, it was argued, call a liar a liar in the absence of knowing intent.
Thus when W sit an half-empty reviewing stand and wrestled the plastic poncho seeking refuge from the rain plaguing the sparse crowd at trump's innaguration trump was not called a liar when he later said that for the sun dappled crowd that stretched back as far as the eye could see he stepped to the podium and delievered the most uplifting speech in the history of the Republic. There wasn't even the courage to call him a lie and point out that you did so as a charitable means of avoiding calling him the only other plausible alternative, a lunatic.
Had enough people called a spade a spade from the beginning of this Orwellian odyssey made the spade who's taking us further and further down this worm hole would not feel as though
he had an unbounded license to do so.
Thus when W sit an half-empty reviewing stand and wrestled the plastic poncho seeking refuge from the rain plaguing the sparse crowd at trump's innaguration trump was not called a liar when he later said that for the sun dappled crowd that stretched back as far as the eye could see he stepped to the podium and delievered the most uplifting speech in the history of the Republic. There wasn't even the courage to call him a lie and point out that you did so as a charitable means of avoiding calling him the only other plausible alternative, a lunatic.
Had enough people called a spade a spade from the beginning of this Orwellian odyssey made the spade who's taking us further and further down this worm hole would not feel as though
he had an unbounded license to do so.
17
I find myself wondering not so much about what the Russians gave the Trumpkids but what the Trumpkids gave the Russians at this meeting.
17
I don't know that DJT Jr has committed a prosecutable crime here (unless stupidity and recklessness are crimes), but I think young Jared may be in a heap of trouble, given his security clearance application and WH appointment. And I can't help but think that his law degree will work against him - eg, harder for him to claim ignorance of laws/rules, like Martha Stewart feigning ignorance of securities fraud laws when she was once a licensed stock broker. If I were a friend (not ) and offering him advice, I think I would say "For the love of God, don't lie when testifying before Senate committee."
35
GH, it depends how they "look" at the regulations under the FEC, regarding being a member of a campaign and trying to accept an "thing of value" from a foreign national, which is PROHIBITED by the FEC. Which is what trump, jr. set out to do, didn't he? And then he lied about it; changed his story several times...so, if it was all innocent, and on the up and up, why didn't he disclose it until the NYT found out about it, and told him that they found out about it, and were going to print it, and why did he change his story a few times, about what the meeting was about, and why did he not disclose ALL the people that were present at the meeting? If everything is so honorable, and good, and great, and it is ONLY stupid and reckless, but nothing else...WHY LIE ABOUT IT?????
7
True enough, Elin. Or as my mother would say, "If it's not something you would want me to know about, you probably shouldn't do it."
7
A very smart, wise, and cute remark from your mother. My mother would have said the same, and then both my parents would have locked me in my room if they thought that I was going to do it anyway! I would have been SO AFRAID had the Russians contacted me, I would not have only called the FBI, but the CIA, the fire dept., the police, the attorney general, the NYT, Law and Order Criminal Intent, and my mother and father, of course...then I would have run and hid in a closet!
3
If the be the new "politics" then God save America.
12
It's treason, not politics.
Dan Kravitz
Dan Kravitz
37
Ask this question and ask it repeatedly of any dt supporter.
"Would you tolerate Obama or Clinton doing what trump has done?"
And everyone knows the answer.
Never trump. Ever.
"Would you tolerate Obama or Clinton doing what trump has done?"
And everyone knows the answer.
Never trump. Ever.
29
Dear Dangerous Donald,
Your son is going to go to jail and you won't be far behind. Jared, too.
Your son is going to go to jail and you won't be far behind. Jared, too.
42
That's nepotism Trump's way!
6
Meet the new swamp, same as the old swamp.
Thats treason.
Thats treason.
22
Trump, his family, and their close cohorts, have their own set of values and ethics. 'Anything we do to achieve our ends justifies our means.' The only thing that matters is a win for them. It was clear during the campaign and it's even more demonstrably true in Trump's administration. Sadly, and very concerning, is the Republican apathy for stopping the unprecedented abandonment of protocol, rules, telling the truth, and transparency, in the administration. There are marauders tearing down our government from within! Can't the 60% take back our country?
31
When Malaysia Flight 117 exploded over the Ukraine in 2014, 298 people fell dead to the earth. In October, 2016, the Dutch Safety Board proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the plane was brought down by a Russian missile that was fired by pro-Russian insurgents who quickly retreated back to Russian territory. Russia has not yet answered for this travesty.
We may never be able to force Russia to take responsibility, but numbers of us can haunt her leaders every July 17 via social media, and by marking every stone in the Kremlin with the scarlet letters, "Malaysia Flight 117".
We may never be able to force Russia to take responsibility, but numbers of us can haunt her leaders every July 17 via social media, and by marking every stone in the Kremlin with the scarlet letters, "Malaysia Flight 117".
32
The Trump campaign failed to follow Kindergarten rules. Respect yourself, respect others, and make smart choices. If it doesn't pass the Kindergarten rules test you most likely have not made the right choice(s).
34
Unfortunately, many of our fellow citizens are not aware of the Kindergarten Rules.
7
It isn't politics as usual, it's something invented by Trump and the Trump family, collude with the Russians. that's just a sleazy Trump thing to try and divert attention from his incompetence.
26
I think the Trump supporters, who claimed that the Democrats and "elites" (the latter is apparently, with the recent polling on university education, includes anyone who attends college) have been disrespectful of them and their values, have achieved exactly what they complained about. I've tried to be compassionate as to their disenfranchisement, but that is now impossible. The willful ignorance, including their "disbelief" of science or facts, and sole-sourcing Fox News and the alt-right, exclusive of any mainstream reporting, has devolved into an anti-intellectual, deluded willingness to shut out all but exactly what they want to hear, putting at risk what all patriotic Americans hold dear. My disrespect for this group is full-tilt; they deserve no compassion or understanding of their perspective, as they prove daily that they have zero respect for anyone other than themselves as Trump supporters. I am disgusted, and can't imagine feeling any compassion for them when they reap what they sow with Trump and complicit GOP.
60
Who was the eighth man at the meeting?
20
That's treason! Are there any boundaries for this awful person? Would he or his son or campaign staff happily take a meeting with ISIS hackers or with North Korean ones?
Patriotism has been sold off. Trump's financial dealings with Russia or his blackmail by Russia must be enormous.
This is illegal. It is treasonous. Where is the outrage by Republicans? Putin is a dictator who kills his opponents, journalists, gay people, and has his whole career. He is a war criminal who deliberately bombed hospitals in Syria and humanitarian convoys.
Russia is pointing hundreds of nuclear weapons at the U.S. Are Republicans so ignorant, so stupid that they think Russia is a friend?
Trump's sexual assaults, fraud, and money laundering for Russian mobsters would have led to jail if he were a poor black man, or a Democratic politician. Because he's a wealthy Republican bigot, he really could get away with murder in the street.
Shame on every Republican that turns his head so often from Trump's immoral and illegal behavior, that all their heads are spinning on their shoulders now.
Patriotism has been sold off. Trump's financial dealings with Russia or his blackmail by Russia must be enormous.
This is illegal. It is treasonous. Where is the outrage by Republicans? Putin is a dictator who kills his opponents, journalists, gay people, and has his whole career. He is a war criminal who deliberately bombed hospitals in Syria and humanitarian convoys.
Russia is pointing hundreds of nuclear weapons at the U.S. Are Republicans so ignorant, so stupid that they think Russia is a friend?
Trump's sexual assaults, fraud, and money laundering for Russian mobsters would have led to jail if he were a poor black man, or a Democratic politician. Because he's a wealthy Republican bigot, he really could get away with murder in the street.
Shame on every Republican that turns his head so often from Trump's immoral and illegal behavior, that all their heads are spinning on their shoulders now.
49
I have to come to Trump’s defense here. This is not like Watergate. The Watergate scandal involved a crime that appeared to have been orchestrated and/or covered up by Richard Nixon. This whole Russian thing isn’t at that level. There is no evidence of a crime. In order for there to be collusion, I think there would need to be something offered by Donald Trump to the Russians beyond the brief use of a conference room and perhaps a glass of drinking water. Unless we see solid evidence of collusion, I think Trump is going to bounce back quickly from this.
5
Any thoughts on ethnically acceptable behavior?
4
"there would need to be something offered by Donald Trump to the Russians "
Since he said the meeting was about "adoptions" it appears that what likely was offered was in return for putting Trump in the White House they would get rid of the Magnitsky Act and then help the newly freed corrupt oligarchs to launder their money in Trump real estate deals
Since he said the meeting was about "adoptions" it appears that what likely was offered was in return for putting Trump in the White House they would get rid of the Magnitsky Act and then help the newly freed corrupt oligarchs to launder their money in Trump real estate deals
8
Maybe trump promised to roll back the Magnitsky Act? Maybe he told vlad he would give the Russians their American estates back? (You know, the ones where they do their spy work...on our own American soil.) Maybe trump and vlad have an ongoing deal to dismantle the United States government and turn it into a Russia-like oligarchy? That is one of Russia's goals, in case you didn't know. They like to take democratic governments, interfere in them, and turn them into oligarchies that are sympathetic to Russian agendas and ideologies. Bye-bye Democracy! Omigosh, there is SO MUCH that trump could have offered to the Russians! What about laundering Russian money? A lot of Russian crooks (and politicos) launder money by buying American real estate...Well, whatever it may be, I have confidence that Robert Mueller will follow the money, and he will find out. And of course 14 American intelligence agencies have VERIFIED that there was Russian interference in this election, and trump has done some things which REEK of obstruction of justice (like firing Comey and Bharara...We just have to see what Mueller's fine tooth investigation yields.
4
Trump says collusion and treason are just politics.
Republicans are strangely quite as the cameras are turned off in press briefings.
Why is Trump Administration afraid of having open and recorded press conferences and briefings? The only reason is guilt.
Pictures, video and audio are powerful, it is hard to hide lies when there are recordings or videos.
Republicans are strangely quite as the cameras are turned off in press briefings.
Why is Trump Administration afraid of having open and recorded press conferences and briefings? The only reason is guilt.
Pictures, video and audio are powerful, it is hard to hide lies when there are recordings or videos.
23
'That's Treason'. (There, fixed it)
13
If White House or Trump family lawyers had to drink shots each time the president tweeted something stupid or compromising, there would be AA meetings every Thursday held in the West Wing.
14
I think the results would be more serious: alcohol poisoning with death as an outcome. The outcome, you see, is self-inflicted. The outcome is a result of a lifelong occupation of 'Anything Goes.'
11
And the rest of the GOP is complicit by its thundering silence. Well, now that we know what the President thinks is acceptable in an election campaign, let's hope the Democrats stop playing nice and start playing hardball.
14
I would like to see a NYT collection of remarks made about Trump by House and Senate leaders during the primaries.
24
Lots of outrage and handwringing here in the comments, but to Trump there is only WINNING and LOSING.
This is how he has operated his entire life, even as a child who liked to fight.
He still likes to fight, has a psyche that feels energized by it, and loves the attention.
Don't mistake the mess for a big Trump problem. He relishes mess and like many disturbed people, can't live without it.
This is how he has operated his entire life, even as a child who liked to fight.
He still likes to fight, has a psyche that feels energized by it, and loves the attention.
Don't mistake the mess for a big Trump problem. He relishes mess and like many disturbed people, can't live without it.
26
It is just politics and Trump is president. Get over it.
7
A thoughtful comment.
1
I think the bottom line here - speaking as an outsider ( Australian) is that the intent of the meeting was unpatriotic. It is clearly wrong to conscript the input of a person or persons who you have been informed are representative of an adversarial foreign country. The Trumps biggest mistake was to blur the lines between their allegedly questionable business activities and political activities.
24
Trump is the swamp, get rid of the whole grifter Trump clan.
27
No. " That's Trumpism !!!" The sleazy, dishonest, corrupt, even Treasonous form of politics. Greed is Good, but Sleaze is better!!!!!
19
I have advised national politicians for more than 50 years and can say without doubt virtually none would have done a meeting with the Russians as Donald Trump Jr. did.
79
As the entire Trump family moral compass tilts sideways and there was no recording device at this meeting we will probably never know what really transpired at this meeting. I think we need to move on and accept that these folks rule the country for the next few years at least. The only way we can remove the Trumps is by taking control of Congress.
12
Regardless if an attempt or if collusion had occurred, the Russian's have achieved their objective: to create doubt, turmoil and a schism amongst the American electorate. It is common knowledge that allies and foes have a history of espionage and often interfere in foreign elections. For many collusion with the Russians and alleged Russian interference has made Donald Trump commander and chief. How else could have Hillary lost? This past presidential election nominated two sub-par, ethically and morally challenged candidates. Both had high unfavorable ratings; both had issues with trustworthiness and likability. Hillary, along with her husband, have constantly stretched and blurred the boundaries between and often crossed the legal parameters into the realm of illegality. It is true, each candidate does its research on the other in an attempt to reveal unknown facts. It is a fair question to ask, if Hillary had the opportunity, would she accept the meeting on the promise of receiving information on Trump? The Trump's camp's denial, obfuscation, prevarication and sophistry is how Hillary explained her email mail use. In 2016, there were two damaged and disliked candidates; the question became who do you dislike the least? Presently, Trump is at a all time low; yet, the democrats flounder with low approval ratings and are labeled as the party of opposition with little or no substance to offer the American electorate!
11
Good observation. A nice departure from the "our team vs. your team" idiocy.
After 50 years of voting Democratic, I became an independent by last Thanksgiving, As sickening as Trump is, the Democrats, in my view, have descended to his level and below. I was revolted by "Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi." But that has become a shriek of "Russians! Treason! Russians!" The Dems have become "Birthers."
Until the Democrats can figure out a way to represent me -- instead of how to connive me into wasting a vote on them -- I'll vote for an independent or won't vote.
Trump is a disaster delivered by the fecklessness of the modern Democratic Party, not the Russians.
After 50 years of voting Democratic, I became an independent by last Thanksgiving, As sickening as Trump is, the Democrats, in my view, have descended to his level and below. I was revolted by "Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi." But that has become a shriek of "Russians! Treason! Russians!" The Dems have become "Birthers."
Until the Democrats can figure out a way to represent me -- instead of how to connive me into wasting a vote on them -- I'll vote for an independent or won't vote.
Trump is a disaster delivered by the fecklessness of the modern Democratic Party, not the Russians.
4
Please specify all the times Hillary crossed into the realm of illegality. Moreover, explain the techniques she used to avoid the Sheriffs of Whitewater the Marshalls of Travelgate and Ranger Trey and the Benghazi Brigades, not to mention Holy Comey the Inquisitor.
If 1/10th of the investigative resources directed towards catching Hillary had been devoted to catching trump, for 1/10th of the time, Hillary would now be the president and trump would be inmate #111-1!
If 1/10th of the investigative resources directed towards catching Hillary had been devoted to catching trump, for 1/10th of the time, Hillary would now be the president and trump would be inmate #111-1!
4
A friend in college once asked me to go to a building site and grab cinder blocks that they would leave outside overnight. I told him no because that would be stealing. I also suggested he not take the cinderblocks Later, After he called me from the Police Station for being arrested for petty theft ....
You get the picture.
So, a 39 year old a University of Pennsylvania Graduate like Don JR should know right from wrong. If someone contacts you in the middle of a US presidential campaign offering damaging information on your opponent AND that person tells you the information comes from an enemy foreign government AND you GLEEFULLY take that meeting dragging along other top campaign officials YOU CLEARLY DO NOT KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG.
You get the picture.
So, a 39 year old a University of Pennsylvania Graduate like Don JR should know right from wrong. If someone contacts you in the middle of a US presidential campaign offering damaging information on your opponent AND that person tells you the information comes from an enemy foreign government AND you GLEEFULLY take that meeting dragging along other top campaign officials YOU CLEARLY DO NOT KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG.
29
Jr Donald learned his ethics from his daddy. It is in the family DNA and reinforced in daily dealings/deals. Junior's college education could not give him knowledge of right from wrong because he likely would be demonstrating to the class the art of working around the boundaries, laws, regulations.
8
And he still has supporters!
11
So, the Russian lawyer was given special permission by Lynch to come to the US and the "interpreter", as It turns out, was a Clinton state department ex-employee.
Wow!
Wow!
5
She came with permission to represent a client.
9
Wrong. The translator did not work for the State Department as an employee but occasionally as a contractor. The special permission was simply to represent the Russian firm at a trial as the attorney of record.
The person who got the Russian lawyer a front row seat at the hearing was the husband of Trump's Florida campaign chair.
How do you explain away the entire Russian government representation that the email asserted, as well as the intelligence officer present?
The person who got the Russian lawyer a front row seat at the hearing was the husband of Trump's Florida campaign chair.
How do you explain away the entire Russian government representation that the email asserted, as well as the intelligence officer present?
8
False. You are repeating what the liar-in-chief said. Lynch and her office had no authority on this matter. It was Homeland Security. The press is real, the liar-in-chief is fake.
16
Is anyone really expecting trump to say, "Yeah, you caught us, we were colluding with the Russians to fix the presidential election. We told them we wanted all the dirt they could find on Hillary Clinton, and what they couldn't find, they were to make up." Don't look for this to happen.
If the expectation is for the American public to believe any rendition of trump or trump jr.'s version of events then, that too, is open to question. The feelings of the majority of Americans don't amount to a pile of ash, because it is the Republicans in the house that count. Regardless of the evidence of collusion, regardless of what trump says, or doesn't say, the republicans will stay with him. There is NOT ONE republican who cares more for country than he or she does for their grip on power. Where is the Greatness of America now?
If the expectation is for the American public to believe any rendition of trump or trump jr.'s version of events then, that too, is open to question. The feelings of the majority of Americans don't amount to a pile of ash, because it is the Republicans in the house that count. Regardless of the evidence of collusion, regardless of what trump says, or doesn't say, the republicans will stay with him. There is NOT ONE republican who cares more for country than he or she does for their grip on power. Where is the Greatness of America now?
16
Sick at heart over the goose-stepping party walking in step behind our dishonest traitorous President. He is Not a Republican and I truly doubt that his party is either.
20
The president just issued an invitation for all journalists to ask the next politician they encounter the dreaded question; "what would you have done?"
Good luck finding any that will admit that they would've attended that meeting.
Good luck finding any that will admit that they would've attended that meeting.
9
That is Treason, we aren't accepting your tricks anymore!
11
"That's politics!"--
Nothing has changed. Mr. Trump will say anything. Facts, expertise, knowledge, promises, principles, and ethics are irrelevant.
He doesn't value democracy, fair elections, rule of law, the free press, and the faithful execution of the office.
His twin aims are still the adoration of the mob, and making the most of the once-in-a-lifetime money-making opportunity.
He's still looking to Fox, Breitbart, Alex Jones and Infowars for ideas, conspiracies, and talking points, e.g., "that's politics."
Nothing has changed. Mr. Trump will say anything. Facts, expertise, knowledge, promises, principles, and ethics are irrelevant.
He doesn't value democracy, fair elections, rule of law, the free press, and the faithful execution of the office.
His twin aims are still the adoration of the mob, and making the most of the once-in-a-lifetime money-making opportunity.
He's still looking to Fox, Breitbart, Alex Jones and Infowars for ideas, conspiracies, and talking points, e.g., "that's politics."
14
So if the Democrats asked Briatin to hack his tax returns would he call that politics too?
20
If Trump really believes 'everyone' would have taken this meeting, he is delusional, as it is clear that the statement is absolutely devoid of fact. If Trump is making these statements to desperately cling to his supporters, it is a true sign of political despotism. Either way, these statements do nothing to provide a defense for him and his family. They may however, provide further evidence of a cover-up of a meeting which may be legally considered collusion, should the discussions held during the meeting lead the investigators to that conclusion.
12
This more looks like Russians tried to probe whether Trump Campaign would be willing to collude or not. Or whether Trump campaign will even report this contact at all. Why would Russians want to trust his campaign in just one meeting? Looks more like an attempt to create even more confusion and chaos by them.
4
Trump has no moral compass. He doesn't seem to understand - you do not want help with your campaign from a foreign government. His only ideal of right and wrong - is what's right for him.
21
I respectfully disagree with President Trump -- this is not OK, it is not politics as usual.
Scrubbing subpoenaed emails, meeting on the tarmac, leaking debate questions, and rigging democratic primaries are OK. Those are politics as usual, but not this.
Scrubbing subpoenaed emails, meeting on the tarmac, leaking debate questions, and rigging democratic primaries are OK. Those are politics as usual, but not this.
2
The Democratic primaries were not rigged. If you would name the individuals you claim rigged it, then at least they could make you prove this criminal allegation in a court of law.
6
Since when did Trump's son become a politician?
7
From what I have read of the meeting, all Russians present were registered lobbyists, no matter how sinister they may be described to be. Thus, they were not covert spies or secret agents. They were registered lobbyists, in conformance with US law.
If they are registered lobbyists, they are permitted, under US law, to meet with people and government officials, and quasi government officials, can meet with them. Yet I have heard this meeting described as "treasonous".
I would like to see a list of all the "traitors" in the US government who have met with these registered lobbyists over the last 5 years, and ask them whether they viewed their meetings as improper, illegal, or "treasonous".
If they are registered lobbyists, they are permitted, under US law, to meet with people and government officials, and quasi government officials, can meet with them. Yet I have heard this meeting described as "treasonous".
I would like to see a list of all the "traitors" in the US government who have met with these registered lobbyists over the last 5 years, and ask them whether they viewed their meetings as improper, illegal, or "treasonous".
5
Not true. "In a March letter to the Justice Department, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley accused Akhmetshin of failing to register properly under the Foreign Agents Registration Act." http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/14/russia-lobbyist-rinat-akhmetshi...
If you didn't know before, now you know. So if you repeat this talking point, you'll be lying.
If you didn't know before, now you know. So if you repeat this talking point, you'll be lying.
11
Raph, you have the impishness of Tim Kaine. The man is registered, and the Grassley letter was challenging whether he should have been registered. There is no indication that his registration status had changed in response to the letter.
If you keep repeating this talking point, you will be lying.
If you keep repeating this talking point, you will be lying.
5
Moreover, Raph, the Grassley letter was sent in March 2017, long after the June 2016 meeting.
1
According to Fivethirtyeight, President Trump's net approval rating is now at -16%. Fun with statistics: Our President's first six months in office is a two sigma event. Trump's current net approval rating is two standard deviations (1 SD = 26.7) below the mean of the last 12 US Presidents.
5
If he was two SDs below the mean, his net approval would be -53.4.
The mean is 38, not zero. Two SDs is ~54. 38 - 54 = -16, which is Trump's net approval rating.
2
No, sir, that's treason. And there are consequences to that. You cannot rewrite via Twitter America's ethos, though you may try.
8
So someone who ran as the anti-establishment candidate is now claiming establishment politics as a defense? Something is truly rotten in the state of Denmark.
14
That's politics! That's illegal! That's treason, Donny!
16
Looks like the 'pin the blame on someone else' game has ended since this was just business as usual. Last week it was Loretta Lynch who was pinned for letting the lawyer in. The the Secret Service was impaled for letting the lawyer into Trump Tower. And somehow I think the lawyer was less of a threat than Don King who was let in when Trump was President.
1
Read the law, people. Just read it.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/11/110.20
§ 110.20 Prohibition on contributions, donations, expenditures, independent expenditures, and disbursements by foreign nationals (52 U.S.C. 30121, 36 U.S.C. 510).
Key sections regarding Junior's legal exposure, and if Daddy Warbucks knew about it, his as well:
(g)Solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of contributions and donations from foreign nationals. No person shall knowingly solicit, accept, or receive from a foreign national any contribution or donation prohibited by paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
(h)Providing substantial assistance.
(1) No person shall knowingly provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance, or receipt of a contribution or donation prohibited by paragraphs (b) through (d), and (g) of this section.
(2) No person shall knowingly provide substantial assistance in the making of an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement prohibited by paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/11/110.20
§ 110.20 Prohibition on contributions, donations, expenditures, independent expenditures, and disbursements by foreign nationals (52 U.S.C. 30121, 36 U.S.C. 510).
Key sections regarding Junior's legal exposure, and if Daddy Warbucks knew about it, his as well:
(g)Solicitation, acceptance, or receipt of contributions and donations from foreign nationals. No person shall knowingly solicit, accept, or receive from a foreign national any contribution or donation prohibited by paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
(h)Providing substantial assistance.
(1) No person shall knowingly provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance, or receipt of a contribution or donation prohibited by paragraphs (b) through (d), and (g) of this section.
(2) No person shall knowingly provide substantial assistance in the making of an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement prohibited by paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.
16
So - will we know if, at that meeting, the HRC emails were provided directly to the Trumps, on San cards or usb drives, maybe in an unaddressed envelope? If the Trumps had them from jump street, that would explain some of the magic email reveal timing (like right after the Billy Bush moment). And it would explain why the discussion part of the meeting did not matter, and why it was so short. And prove Assange's Russia-connection-denial to be true.
6
Since when do two wrongs make a right?
7
It may be politics as usual to get dirt on an opponent. But anyone with Trump, Jr.'s responsibilities should know that it's different if the dirt is coming from the Russian government to help a presidential candidate.
10
No, that's collusion, that's dishonest, that's un-American, that's wrong, and that's treason. If the Republicans were not in control of the house and senate, he'd have already been impeached and he should probably be jailed.
"Lock him up and vote them out!"
"Lock him up and vote them out!"
24
Actually, NO. It's not "just politics." It is, in fact, a felony - a Federal crime, to conspire with a foreign government to influence a national election.
Trump and Kushner and mini Trump have no concept of shame, morality, ethics or even legality. Laws, morals and ethics are for others, the losers. They are weaknesses.
But the problem is that there is no one to prosecute them, with the possible exception of Robert Mueller. Sessions? NO. Congress? NO. I suspect that if Mueller gets close Trump will fire him just as he fired Comey. The only solution is for the public to fire Congress in 2018 and to fire Trump in 2020. And if that happens, let's pray they go peacefully.
Trump and Kushner and mini Trump have no concept of shame, morality, ethics or even legality. Laws, morals and ethics are for others, the losers. They are weaknesses.
But the problem is that there is no one to prosecute them, with the possible exception of Robert Mueller. Sessions? NO. Congress? NO. I suspect that if Mueller gets close Trump will fire him just as he fired Comey. The only solution is for the public to fire Congress in 2018 and to fire Trump in 2020. And if that happens, let's pray they go peacefully.
35
if it's politics as usual, why the lies and prevarications? Why forget to report it when asked? But then again, 45 never admits mistakes because they are never his fault.
20
“Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent,” Mr. Trump posted...
Can you get just three to step up and identify themselves?
Can you get just three to step up and identify themselves?
17
At this point mr. t has a few set categories of tweet, "that's politics" being one.
Each it meant to reign in a core sub-group of his faithful from looking beyond Fox and his GOP echo chamber.
Each it meant to reign in a core sub-group of his faithful from looking beyond Fox and his GOP echo chamber.
4
He's a pathological liar. He's ignorant, arrogant and incompetent. He know no details about anything.
Who care what he tweets - it's all lies, exaggerations, or incomprehensible gibberish.
Who care what he tweets - it's all lies, exaggerations, or incomprehensible gibberish.
20
This so called President has absolutely no ethics or grasp on anything resembling the truth. Dealing with Trump is basically like asking, "Which way is the wind blowing today?" as he sticks out his tiny fingers. SAD!
10
Russia meeting? That's treasonous! Russia broke every international law in the book when it took over Crimea and attacked eastern Ukraine. There is a reason we kicked out their diplomats. There is a reason we sanctioned them to the gills. All this was common knowledge. They were on our radar as a rogue country. Perhaps privilege and monied entitlement makes greasy princelings believe their hatred of a powerful woman transcends law.
14
Surely we are at the "liar, liar pants on fire" stage of this Republican administration.
18
Mr Trump thinks we live in the republic of anything goes. Let see how he navigates the Russian's demand to have their compounds returned. Even if it were the right thing to do, which it is not, if Trump acceded it would be more evidence that he is a Putin lacky.
How about Ukraine? They want to join NATO and the EU. That serves all American's interest except Trump because he needs to payback Russia for election "favors". Shameful!
How about Ukraine? They want to join NATO and the EU. That serves all American's interest except Trump because he needs to payback Russia for election "favors". Shameful!
6
In that Trump hasn't take responsibility for any of the ridiculous lies and excuses he has made in the past or will continue to do well into the future, it is well past time that the GOP leaders who are enabling our President to make a mockery of the office either call him out or pay for it the next time they come up for election.
4
It is amazing that a person with such a limited vocabulary is able to simultaneously trash his son, destroy masses of expensive legal work and insult the entire Congress, accusing most members of not knowing the difference between politics and treason. I bet all these folks are quite impressed.
20
"That's politics." No. That's treason!
16
No, Mr. Trump what your son did is not OK, and certainly not just politics. That's why so many are vocal about this and why this story won't go away.
In fact, I suspect that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I've heard experts in Russian influence peddling use what's called a "dangle": an initial testing to see how corruptible a new candidate is.
It's clear Don Jr. passed the dangle with flying colors. That's why it should be interesting to see how Robert Mueller's investigation unfolds, because if the Russians kept hanging around--and we know they did, and indeed are likely still here--then it's highly possible there was a system of signals and conduits to ensure the Russian hacking bore fruit for Mr. Trump.
In fact, I suspect that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I've heard experts in Russian influence peddling use what's called a "dangle": an initial testing to see how corruptible a new candidate is.
It's clear Don Jr. passed the dangle with flying colors. That's why it should be interesting to see how Robert Mueller's investigation unfolds, because if the Russians kept hanging around--and we know they did, and indeed are likely still here--then it's highly possible there was a system of signals and conduits to ensure the Russian hacking bore fruit for Mr. Trump.
48
How would Trump know what politics is? What the laws and norms are, and why they're put in place? He couldn't care less plus it's not vaguely in his limited knowledge base.
He and his family are just taking their ruthless, make 'em make me obey the law, snooker the little guy approach to business and moving it into the White House. So many new little people to swindle.
He and his family are just taking their ruthless, make 'em make me obey the law, snooker the little guy approach to business and moving it into the White House. So many new little people to swindle.
23
Trump knew enough about politics to win the presidential election even though many Republicans found repugnant.
1
His "win" should really have an asterisk next to it.
2
Let's poll the members of both the House and the Senate and ask how many would have "taken that meeting" and do they view it as ordinary opposition research. The silence is indeed curious on the Republican side of the aisle (with a small number of exceptions) which does lead one to ask if working with hostile foreign powers is now a part of their political playbook. Maybe they could approach North Korea and Iran for help in the midterms next year.
18
Several years ago, while queuing on line to purchase a movie ticket at a local theatre, a gentleman in his late 50s was approached by a woman who offered him "a good time" for a sum of money. The man agreed upon a price, and was soon arrested for solicitation; The woman with whom he had negotiated was an undercover officer. His marriage of over 40 years came to an end shortly thereafter.
Although the man did not carry out on his intent with the officer, he was prosecuted because he had violated the law by attempting to solicit the woman.
Although the situation here differs from Mr. Trump's, the basic concept has many similarities.
Although the man did not carry out on his intent with the officer, he was prosecuted because he had violated the law by attempting to solicit the woman.
Although the situation here differs from Mr. Trump's, the basic concept has many similarities.
20
It is my most fervent hope that this ends with the entire trump family in jail.
73
@ Bob
And I hope the whole mob family lands as well in the poor house when Russian banks and other foreign ones demand the money back that the Apprentice-president is owing them.
And I hope the whole mob family lands as well in the poor house when Russian banks and other foreign ones demand the money back that the Apprentice-president is owing them.
6
Would not be surprised to learn Mike Pence and Steve Bannon are the key figures in crucial leaking. They played a major role in shaping Cabinet choices such as Scott Pruitt and in pushing Trump to undercut a broad range of administrative rules. Pence will never confront President Trump directly but quietly seeks to manuver him into a situation where his own imprudence catches him in either such a clear abuse of authority or politically-damaging situation where he either leaves office voluntarily (probably after a serious medical "condition") or Pence and the Cabinet can with heavy heart and great reluctance act for the good of the country via the 25th Amendment. Republicans lack the courage to move to impeachment but more to the point they lack any reason to do so. Trump may be undermining America's place in the world but so far there is no clear security threat. And his willingness to sign anything Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan place before him means they have a clear path to legislation they seek. But the Russian thing and Trump's corruption of office are jamming the legislative pipeline and it may be necessary to remove him to get that flowing. Russian plans to hack the 2018 and 2020 elections turn not on altering vote counts but on voter suppression. Blocking voting through manipulation of registration is easier than hacking vote counting and works in concert with Kris Kobach's proposals. The national registration data bank would provide Russia with critical file access.
18
There is so much more to come out of this meeting. In no way did Donald Trump Jr arrange the meeting himself and then inform Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort afterward. Someone had to have told Junior to go ahead and set up the meeting. Further, even if the Trump administration received no information about Hillary Clinton, the Russians sure learned a lot about the Trump campaign. This Russian fishing expedition showed Putin that the Trump campaign was willing to play. And once the Russians learned this, there were without a doubt additional contacts between the Russians and the campaign.
31
It may be POLITICS to Trump (we know how deceitful he is), but it still remains a federal offense, particularly when applying for a security clearance.
21
It's politics... if your last name is Soprano. Sorry, Don Ciccio. Anyone with the slightest glimmer of patriotic feeling would find your amoral, greedy, crooked administration and your big fat lies repellent. Mike Bloomberg summed you up accurately. Too bad the rest of the country didn't know you as well as New Yorkers do. Mafia family values is not what we expect in a president.
21
Donald Trump's moral bearing is beneath contemptible. He is so bereft of ethical standards that he doesn't even recognize what is right and what is wrong. Indeed America has become a laughingstock because we have elected an immoral clown as President. Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and all the rest of our past leaders are turning over in their graves because they see how low America has sunk. And still more than 30% of those questioned in a recent poll think he is doing a good job.
21
No, what Trump's son did is beyond politics, or at least it is beyond what American politics used to be. Instead his behavior and that of the rest of the Trump family recalls dictatorships like that of Mussolini in the 1930s for the overt manipulative, unabashed lying, immoral, bigoted and unethical mistreatment of the American people. Worst still this evil is ignored and even emulated by the Trump cabal, including WH advisors, the Vice President, the Cabinet and the Republican Party, all of them eagerly goose-stepping behind their pompous fascist leader.
18
Oh, does he mean those Russian meetings that he previously swore "never occurred" and were "fake news?" Impeach.
47
Some how, some way he will blame "this Russian thing" on Obama. The wheels are turning, albeit slowly.
20
This cannot be considered "news." We already know that Trump will say whatever, whenever, and however it suits him and his family alone. "News" will be when Trump admits to either making a mistake or wrongdoing, and I'm not going to hold my breath.
10
No, it's not politics, Donald, it's a crime.
Given your troubles with veracity, your limited vocabulary, and your adverse history of litigation, I can understand why you do not have a clue about the laws you have been elected to administer. However, ignorance--even total ignorance (the unwillingness to learn), is not a defense.
It is a good thing you and your family are "lawyering up," you are going to need them. You may not spend time jail, the rich usually don't, but at least you won't be wasting our time, our money and our future in the White House. It's almost over Donnie. Are you sure you want to bring to the family down from New York, or is it to you help pack?
Remember Trump, when you bragged that you were getting the goods on Hillary before Donnie Jr. left to the get goods? That is just one of several slips of the lip that is going to cook your goose. Thankfully, you cannot keep your mouth shut. (Probably explains the inability to listen and learn.)
Keep on Tweeting! Soon we will have enough rope.
Given your troubles with veracity, your limited vocabulary, and your adverse history of litigation, I can understand why you do not have a clue about the laws you have been elected to administer. However, ignorance--even total ignorance (the unwillingness to learn), is not a defense.
It is a good thing you and your family are "lawyering up," you are going to need them. You may not spend time jail, the rich usually don't, but at least you won't be wasting our time, our money and our future in the White House. It's almost over Donnie. Are you sure you want to bring to the family down from New York, or is it to you help pack?
Remember Trump, when you bragged that you were getting the goods on Hillary before Donnie Jr. left to the get goods? That is just one of several slips of the lip that is going to cook your goose. Thankfully, you cannot keep your mouth shut. (Probably explains the inability to listen and learn.)
Keep on Tweeting! Soon we will have enough rope.
66
The Trumps don't know a thing about what's legal, let alone ethical. Their only measure is whether it makes money. Business ethics, they call it. But white collar crime is what the rest of us call it.
He has filled DC with the swamp water of real estate, including money laundering for South American and Eastern European and Russian mafia/oligarchs.
I expected nothing more from the Trump family. The ones who turn my stomach are people from backgrounds where a little more honor is expected, like the military (Flynn) and the Senate (Jefferson Beauregard Sessions).
He has filled DC with the swamp water of real estate, including money laundering for South American and Eastern European and Russian mafia/oligarchs.
I expected nothing more from the Trump family. The ones who turn my stomach are people from backgrounds where a little more honor is expected, like the military (Flynn) and the Senate (Jefferson Beauregard Sessions).
11
"The Trumps don't know a thing about what's legal, let alone ethical"
ITA about having no knowledge of ethics, but Sr seems to have legal advise or an innate sense as to how far he can go just before crossing the line. Putting their feet in their mouths is another story.
ITA about having no knowledge of ethics, but Sr seems to have legal advise or an innate sense as to how far he can go just before crossing the line. Putting their feet in their mouths is another story.
1
Poor fake president Tweetie Pie. All the dark scams and lies that "worked" for him and his family in the private sector won't fly in the light of day in the public eye. It's time to stop all the whining and take your Russian dressing down like a man, Donnie. Orange is the new Red. SAD!
21
Just to make sure everyone knows, the reason Trump did not dump the Hillary information the following Monday was that the Orlando Nightclub Shooting occurred the Saturday night after meeting, but before that Monday. So, in retrospect, had the shooting not occurred, the data that was probably ill-gotten at that meeting would have been made public right away. As it was, he released it a few weeks later, and then went on to all the other odd Russian links that keep popping up.
Overall, I have concluded that Trump was certainly aware of this meeting and the only thing we know about our President is that nearly everything he does or says is a lie.
Overall, I have concluded that Trump was certainly aware of this meeting and the only thing we know about our President is that nearly everything he does or says is a lie.
60
And, President Trump is right! Clinton is known for being crooked, however, the russians may have had information that we already did not know. Obviously, they did not. But, in any event, the meeting was for business - and if the American people were to gain jobs and business for our country, so be it!
Trump is dealing with democrats who want nothing more than to get rid of Trump -- and in the process are NOT working for the American people as they should be, and that also goes for some Republicans -- who also are NOT doing their job for the American people. Plus, Trump also is dealing with media who are so political that they too are NOT reporting the facts to the American people.
Trump may not be perfect, but he does PUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST.
Trump is dealing with democrats who want nothing more than to get rid of Trump -- and in the process are NOT working for the American people as they should be, and that also goes for some Republicans -- who also are NOT doing their job for the American people. Plus, Trump also is dealing with media who are so political that they too are NOT reporting the facts to the American people.
Trump may not be perfect, but he does PUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST.
5
Uh, hooking up with Russians to hack our elections has ZERO to do with "putting American People First". Are you kidding?
8
He puts several American people first, the Trumps. That's where his concern ends.
6
I wonder if you were as outraged by the republican congress while President Obama was in office. Also, the republicans control both houses, if they knew how to govern they could be getting things done.
5
It's funny the outrage meter is not well calibrated at nyt. American ambassador killed - business as usual. Some one meets a foreign lawyer - get the nooses out.
NYT needs to look deep into the last 8 years of incompetent journalism before saying anything about President Trump. And the whole Russia thing - you are pushing it so hard, it's not even funny anymore. We all know why Clinton lost - it's not because of Russia or for that matter, any other country. It was because the Clintons amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in the name of charity with total disregard for US interests. The sooner nyt comes to accept this, the better it will be for US democracy. And no matter what, Trump is gonna be your President for 8 long years.
NYT needs to look deep into the last 8 years of incompetent journalism before saying anything about President Trump. And the whole Russia thing - you are pushing it so hard, it's not even funny anymore. We all know why Clinton lost - it's not because of Russia or for that matter, any other country. It was because the Clintons amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in the name of charity with total disregard for US interests. The sooner nyt comes to accept this, the better it will be for US democracy. And no matter what, Trump is gonna be your President for 8 long years.
4
Clinton didn't lose. She beat Trump in the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, and all Trump can do is whine that he didn't get 100% of the popular vote. He lost the popular vote by the largest margin of any loser in history. He knows it, and that's why he pushing this nonsense about voter fraud. He's a complete and utter fraud.
13
Given that it appears you voted for Trump, I think it is YOUR "outrage meter," not that of the NYTimes, that is wildly out of wack. Where is YOUR outrage at what he has said and done while campaigning and while in office?
6
"The sooner nyt comes to accept this" ....
Will mean that the end of our country is all but done.
Will mean that the end of our country is all but done.
4
"That's politics."
Yes, and another part of politics is that nothing comes free. The Russians clearly expected a quid pro quo for their help. What were they promised by the Trump team?
Yes, and another part of politics is that nothing comes free. The Russians clearly expected a quid pro quo for their help. What were they promised by the Trump team?
13
The argument supporting Trump's inane statements is that he was not a politician. But now he's an authority.
7
Its pretty obvious someone within his administration is working with law enforcement to not only leak pertinent information that they believe may be in the process of being destroyed, but to also refute on more than one occasion the storyline coming from the White House. If the New York Times acquired Donald Jr.s email regarding the June 9th meeting forcing him to reveal further details, then that person is more than likely within the email chain within the administration. One would think that between all those highly educated minds, they could come up with something less akin to e Keystone Cops episode.
1
When the information is offered by another country, especially one that has a history of rivalry and antagonism with the US, it's not politics, it's TREASON! Trumps don't have any ethics - sad! But also dangerous for the country.
6
Let's not be too eager to chase down the false trail of what "most politicians" would have done. There are still unanswered questions about this meeting.
Was there an as yet unidentified "translator" present? Why was one needed if
the Russian-American lobbyist was there? And by what channel were the lobbyist and translator notified of the meeting and invited?
Also if someone like the wily Soviet spymaster in LeCarre's novels were running this operation wouldn't he arrange that the translator be the crucial contact?
With two "slightly dirty" vaguely connected stooges there to provide cover and magnetize intelligence attention? So that son, son-in-law and campaign director could declare under lie-detector and court or congress oath that they
had received nothing of value from lawyer or lobbyist?
Was there an as yet unidentified "translator" present? Why was one needed if
the Russian-American lobbyist was there? And by what channel were the lobbyist and translator notified of the meeting and invited?
Also if someone like the wily Soviet spymaster in LeCarre's novels were running this operation wouldn't he arrange that the translator be the crucial contact?
With two "slightly dirty" vaguely connected stooges there to provide cover and magnetize intelligence attention? So that son, son-in-law and campaign director could declare under lie-detector and court or congress oath that they
had received nothing of value from lawyer or lobbyist?
4
It would make no difference if Vladimir Putin had attended the Trump Tower meeting. Collusion is only criminal if it involves a conspiracy to commit a crime. No one has alleged that the participants in the Trump Tower meeting conspire to commit a crime. Presenting or accepting incriminating information about a political rival is not a crime, even if the source is a foreign national or representative of a foreign government.
1
Translator was identified several days ago: Anatoli Samochornov
2
"No person shall knowingly solicit, accept or receive from a foreign national any contribution or donation," reads Title 11 in the Code of Federal Regulations, section 110.20 (g). A contribution can be "anything of value," including negative information about a political opponent.
It is unlawful to "provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance or receipt of a contribution or donation," reads 11 CFR 110.20 (h).
It is unlawful to "provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance or receipt of a contribution or donation," reads 11 CFR 110.20 (h).
2
Well.
It Kind of us.
Not nearly the worst thing that's happened in DC
It Kind of us.
Not nearly the worst thing that's happened in DC
1
No Mr. President, that's not politics, that's treasonous behavior. Why don't you just meet with Kim Jong Un and ask him how best he can tell us how to destroy our own country and democracy. Only an absolute misfit would say something like this, but then again....you are what you are.
6
The participants in the Trump Tower meeting discussed documents that purportedly showed the Democratic National Committee accepted illegal campaign contributions. Do you really think exposing election law violations would destroy America and democracy?
2
When you engage an adversary to undermine your own country, then yes...that is treasonous. Russia is no friend of ours, never was. The old bald guy himself said..."we will bury you" to America. That doesn't sound like kind words or that of an ally. Particularly in this case when they meddle in our democratic process to effect a result they desired. We don't know exactly what documents the Russian presented, but what we do know is that they wanted Trump to win and did what they could to achieve that goal.
2
What an obscene human being. The leader of the "Birther" movement now trying to normalize clear-cut attempted collusion? Try again. By the way, when are you going to release your taxes?
22
As much as I deplore Donald Trump, I'm getting deja vu back to the election campaign, where TV and print news was "All Trump, All the Time." I'm sure it's great for clicks and ratings because his behavior is so horrifying we can't look away. But just being anti-Trump didn't keep him from being elected, and paying constant attention to his ridiculous and humiliating (for the country) behavior won't keep the hypocritcal and cynical Republicans from protecting him. As a matter of fact, they must really LOVE Trump because he's providing such great cover for them to pursue their heinous agenda. Please, Main Stream Media, I implore you to give greater time and space to really educate your viewers and readers about issues that are just as important to the well-being of our country as the Russia investigation. We all know what a dispicable liar Trump is. We need to keep up with the latest efforts by Republicans toward voter suppression, the degradation of women's rights, human rights, the elimination of important regulations that protect us and our environment. Please! Stop burying your coverage of such key issues under the Trump Thing, regardless of the profit motive. Who knows, you might just give some Democrats some great ideas to run against Republicans that will be far more effective than the fact that Donald Trump is a corrupt idiot.
9
When you hear about his base still supporting him -- remember that 80 percent of Republicans still supported Nixon up through the day he resigned. No one likes to admit they're wrong.
21
Nixon by comparison with Trump was a saint.
6
When you get elected by a majority of low-information voters - like my sister-in-law who doesn't read anything, doesn't analyze anything, only listens to Fox news, then it is no surprise that these voters would continue to support Trump - even if he were to -as he said - shoot someone on 5th avenue. These supporters would think the person deserved it because that is what Trump would tell them.
7
No, that's trumps definition of politics. What we have here is a lie by omission,
which is a lie, any way you slice it.
LIAR-LIAR is the subtitle for this entire group.
His son's meeting will be the unraveling of his tenure. An so it begins............
which is a lie, any way you slice it.
LIAR-LIAR is the subtitle for this entire group.
His son's meeting will be the unraveling of his tenure. An so it begins............
6
Ukrainian meddling during the 2016 election was far more effective than Russian meddling. The Ukrainian government revealed the “Ukrainian Ledger,” which purported to show Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort accepted millions in illicit secret payments from a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party, and hinted Manafort was the subject of a criminal investigation. Ukraine backed off the allegations after the election, but it forced Manafort’s resignation. A Ukrainian-American operative who worked as Democratic National Committee consultant met with Ukrainian Embassy officials to conduct opposition research on Trump and Trump associates. The Ukrainian ambassador wrote an editorial for The Hill, in which he chastised Trump for says he was willing to consider recognizing Russia’s annexation of the Crimea as legitimate. Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs referred to Trump as a “clown” and twitted that Trump was “an even bigger danger to the US than terrorism.” Ukrainian meddling created the narrative that the Trump campaign was being run by Russian operative and gave Hillary highly effective talking points to use against Trump in the presidential debate. Nothing the Russians did or allegedly did compares.
1
Please.
Paul Manafort worked for a pro-Putin candidate in Ukraine. For Big Bucks.
Did you get that? Manafort was on the payroll for a pro-Putin candidate. And he was Donald Trump's MANAGER.
Paul Manafort worked for a pro-Putin candidate in Ukraine. For Big Bucks.
Did you get that? Manafort was on the payroll for a pro-Putin candidate. And he was Donald Trump's MANAGER.
7
Don't you get that Democrats colluded with the Ukrainian government to influence the U.S. 2016 election?
1
How a purported 'Nationalist" could countenance interference in our elections by a foreign nation, especially a hostile one, is beyond me. Whether Robert Mueller finds evidence of illegalities or not, one thing is already clear: Donald Trump is a morally deformed human being. Everyone in his orbit becomes compromised and debased: his children, his minions, the party he purports to lead, the predominantly White Evangelical movement, 80% of whom continue to support him. This is a sad and disturbing time in this country.
10
"That's politics" is the same refrain Ivanka invoked when she was booed for saying that nobody is a bigger supporter of woman and families than her father at the Woman-20 summit in Berlin. This is not a family that self-reflects and adjusts with criticism. It's one that digs in more defiantly.
12
Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator.
Chatting online and making a date with who you think is an underage hottie, but when you show up it is a middle aged male cop sitting with Chris Hansen. Just because the underage hottie isn't real doesn't mean that you haven't committed a crime and are leaving in shackles."Just politics"=just criminal conspiracy with an unfriendly foreign power.
Chatting online and making a date with who you think is an underage hottie, but when you show up it is a middle aged male cop sitting with Chris Hansen. Just because the underage hottie isn't real doesn't mean that you haven't committed a crime and are leaving in shackles."Just politics"=just criminal conspiracy with an unfriendly foreign power.
10
I'm beginning to suspect that he'd take the conviction if only they'd let him name the prison after himself...
12
Now that's funny!!
But we all know this President at least wants to do something big and good for our country.
But we all know this President at least wants to do something big and good for our country.
2
Trump politics rule of thumb when you are caught: Lie, after all, the Trump voters don't care and neither does the GOP and they are in charge. When the shoe is on the other foot....scream outrage and fake Americanism.
7
Reckless, and a liar, too. A dynamic duo sure to scramble yours and my investments' prospects for growth and security for years to come. And we invested in The United States of America, once the gold standard for investments. Now the closest we can get to gold is the vanity of a fool and his hair.
5
All water off a duck's back to Trump's supporters.
What will eventually smoke them out of hiding? Trump's fans talk mostly to themselves, except when they unpleasantly show up on your Facebook feed screaming insults at total strangers in ALL CAPS, some kind of weird hobby. But even their talk among themselves is mostly done in code: "Pepe the Frog," "41," "patriot," "snowflake," "troll" ("libtards" are all trolls), "unleashing" many force-projecting institutions in our society: the military, ICE/Border Patrol, local police, corporate dig-and-build juggernauts. But not the IRS, ATF or environmental police though.
Sooner or later some aspect of the right's "true" plan must stumble badly enough to trigger audible howls from the congenitally furtive. We know by now that it won't be degradation of women, or blocking the travel ban, or political dirty tricks or family nepotism or even the Obamacare speedbump. There hasn't been much hue and cry over building the wall, either. FOX is stepping back some, stalwart warhorses like Krauthammer are distancing themselves, but the true believers still cling like barnacles. As Sigmund Freud once so plaintively asked: What do crypto-fascist xenophobic woman haters REALLY want?
What will eventually smoke them out of hiding? Trump's fans talk mostly to themselves, except when they unpleasantly show up on your Facebook feed screaming insults at total strangers in ALL CAPS, some kind of weird hobby. But even their talk among themselves is mostly done in code: "Pepe the Frog," "41," "patriot," "snowflake," "troll" ("libtards" are all trolls), "unleashing" many force-projecting institutions in our society: the military, ICE/Border Patrol, local police, corporate dig-and-build juggernauts. But not the IRS, ATF or environmental police though.
Sooner or later some aspect of the right's "true" plan must stumble badly enough to trigger audible howls from the congenitally furtive. We know by now that it won't be degradation of women, or blocking the travel ban, or political dirty tricks or family nepotism or even the Obamacare speedbump. There hasn't been much hue and cry over building the wall, either. FOX is stepping back some, stalwart warhorses like Krauthammer are distancing themselves, but the true believers still cling like barnacles. As Sigmund Freud once so plaintively asked: What do crypto-fascist xenophobic woman haters REALLY want?
5
They seem to want "Big Dad".
ugh.
ugh.
3
They lie to your face , how obtuse this family is about right and wrong ? It is not just politics , this crosses the line between being morally challenged and being , heaven forbid , crooked as he voiced so stirringly at his rallies about Hilary. I'm sure they probably look at themselves in the mirror and see only pure white driven snow , or they just don't care . Say something often enough and you begin to believe it .
3
That's 'adhering to our enemies,' which is treason.
4
Trump's tweets are meant only for his rabid supporters and his media propagandists.
He's a master salesman who is trying to shape bad news into something positive - for him - nor for the country. He is trying to distract and deflect. It might be working for the faithful. But those who were willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt are dwindling.
Whether Junior committed a crime by taking the Russian bait dangled before him is almost irrelevant.
The meeting is significant because it makes brazen liars of all those in the Trump circle who denied having contacts with Russians, including his son, Junior.
And it more than justifies the "witch hunts". Junior and his buddies evidenced eagerness to work with the Russian government in the campaign. If Rosenstein hadn't appointed a Special Prosecutor as a result of Comey's firing, this new discovery would have provided justification on its own.
Keep tweeting, Trump. Your efforts at distraction just highlight your desperation. At some point, your supporters will have to decide how far down the rabbit hole they want to go.
He's a master salesman who is trying to shape bad news into something positive - for him - nor for the country. He is trying to distract and deflect. It might be working for the faithful. But those who were willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt are dwindling.
Whether Junior committed a crime by taking the Russian bait dangled before him is almost irrelevant.
The meeting is significant because it makes brazen liars of all those in the Trump circle who denied having contacts with Russians, including his son, Junior.
And it more than justifies the "witch hunts". Junior and his buddies evidenced eagerness to work with the Russian government in the campaign. If Rosenstein hadn't appointed a Special Prosecutor as a result of Comey's firing, this new discovery would have provided justification on its own.
Keep tweeting, Trump. Your efforts at distraction just highlight your desperation. At some point, your supporters will have to decide how far down the rabbit hole they want to go.
5
Trump and his son and his croonies like Gilliani, Chris Christy, Connaway etc are biggest LIARS. Shame on people who voted for this LIAR. Who is paying for his every weekend out to his Hotels? Who is paying for private Lawyers he is hiring every day? Why should Tax payers pay for all this?
VERY SAD any one who voted for him should be charged for crimes against USA>
VERY SAD any one who voted for him should be charged for crimes against USA>
4
No. THAT'S SLEAZY TRUMP POLITICS!!! Brought to you by Americas'
First Family of Greed.
First Family of Greed.
7
Putin is so good at oppo research that he has no oppos left to run against or even debate when he "runs" for reelection in 2018.
Is that just politics? Not politics the American way.
Is that just politics? Not politics the American way.
5
TRUMP'S POLITICS As usual channeled three of the most dangerous men of the mid-twentieth century: Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover, when he said, That's politics as usual. He was referring to Don Jr's meeting held at the Trump Tower that included the agents of a foreign power, Russia (with friends like that who needs enemies?). This is an example of Trump's kleptocracy at its grossest. His philosophy is to grab whatever he wants. Why? Because he's entitled! That's why. How precisely do these actions reflect upon the validity of Trump's oath of office, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all threats, domestic and foreign? The short answer is that they don't! Trump's attitude is grandiose. That he's above the law. He makes Richard Nixon and the Watergate gang of criminals look like pikers on an afternoon at the beach. Trump's actions are those of a hard-core psychopath successful white collar criminal. Let's hope that someone can convince Trump to invoke the 25th Amendment and leave office immediately. Let's also hope that he can convince some of the leaders of his Thugocracy to do the same, including Pence, Sessions, Ryan, McConnell and others. They should all be permitted to invoke the 25th Amendment or to resign using ordinary procedures, such as submitting letters of resignation to the Thug-in-Chief, the Trumpenstein Monster.
3
Today, Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover would be prime proponents of the Russian collusion witch hunt. They were experts of trumping up charges against anyone perceived as overly friendly to Russia, the Soviet Union or Communist Party. They were masters of establishing "guilt by association."
2
William Case:
FYI: Roy Cohn was Donald T's personal lawyer and mentor. He taught the old boy all he knows.
Trump's "birther" nonsense was a prime example of Donald's guilt by association. He uses it regularly. Ted Cruz' dad and Oswald for example.
FYI: Roy Cohn was Donald T's personal lawyer and mentor. He taught the old boy all he knows.
Trump's "birther" nonsense was a prime example of Donald's guilt by association. He uses it regularly. Ted Cruz' dad and Oswald for example.
6
"But interviews with politicians by various news outlets have revealed that few elected officials were willing to say they, too, would have taken such a meeting"
And you believe them?
I don't see anything new in your piece. Why do you waste our time and yours repeating the same things over and over again, day after day. It's almost like MSNBC.
In the mean time, we are in danger of loosing our Health Insurance
And you believe them?
I don't see anything new in your piece. Why do you waste our time and yours repeating the same things over and over again, day after day. It's almost like MSNBC.
In the mean time, we are in danger of loosing our Health Insurance
1
NYT once again fails to give team Trump credit for keeping their word to end "politics as usual." The typical politician would have declined the meeting and reported it to the FBI. Not these guys. Never even considered taking that path.
6
Trump tweeted the truth. Politics as it is played today is mostly a tapestry of nauseating behavior by feckless egomaniacs. This was an ethical transgression that had no impact on the final result. I'm guessing most of those in a blind rage were Clinton supporters, a candidate as ethically challenged as any presidential candidate ever. I won't bother listing her rap sheet, for which she was given a pass. If you're actually truly shocked - shocked! - by this story, then by extension you should have been voting for Sanders. Stop being so hypocritical.
4
"No person shall knowingly solicit, accept or receive from a foreign national any contribution or donation," reads Title 11 in the Code of Federal Regulations, section 110.20 (g). A contribution can be "anything of value," including negative information about a political opponent.
It is unlawful to "provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance or receipt of a contribution or donation," reads 11 CFR 110.20 (h).
It is unlawful to "provide substantial assistance in the solicitation, making, acceptance or receipt of a contribution or donation," reads 11 CFR 110.20 (h).
3
None of this matters because eighty-five percent of all Republicans continue to support President Trump. They don't care if he lies about what he or his family is doing or has done, is using the office of POTUS to enrich himself and his family, or engaged in a conspiracy with a foreign power in order to win election for the same reasons they don't care that he has a history of sexual assault, shady business dealings, failed ventures and lying whenever it suits his purposes. Trump is their man and nothing he has done or will do is going to change that. They have been convinced that Trump's character and habits are about average for a politician, though perhaps they are surprised that he is not as good at hiding these things as they believe other politicians are. If all politicians are corrupt, thieving liars, the best you can hope for is that they are, at least, *your* corrupt, thieving liars.
Assume for a moment that Manafort, Kusher, Don Jr. and Flynn are indicted tomorrow and that the day after, Manafort and Flynn turn state's evidence, delivering audio recordings that document an active conspiracy involving the Trump family to steal the election with help from the Russian government. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that (a) the support figure I quoted above won't change by more than ten percent and (b) a motion to impeach would not pass in the House.
Assume for a moment that Manafort, Kusher, Don Jr. and Flynn are indicted tomorrow and that the day after, Manafort and Flynn turn state's evidence, delivering audio recordings that document an active conspiracy involving the Trump family to steal the election with help from the Russian government. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that (a) the support figure I quoted above won't change by more than ten percent and (b) a motion to impeach would not pass in the House.
3
Not surprising for a guy who thought partnering with Putin on cybersecurity was a good idea!
Trump has plenty of enemies in his own government but no one more dangerous than himself. He is destined to do himself in.
Can't wait for the day the whole family takes their last walk across the White House lawn and waves good bye from Marine One. I expect it will be well before 2020.
But we need to keep the Tweeter in Chief in place through the 2018 mid terms, he is the best friend the Congressional Democrats have.
Trump has plenty of enemies in his own government but no one more dangerous than himself. He is destined to do himself in.
Can't wait for the day the whole family takes their last walk across the White House lawn and waves good bye from Marine One. I expect it will be well before 2020.
But we need to keep the Tweeter in Chief in place through the 2018 mid terms, he is the best friend the Congressional Democrats have.
7
Chaos, confusion, incompetence, collusion, conspiracy, criminality, cover-ups,....
"From Russia With Love", America!
"From Russia With Love", America!
8
So let's see... when the president admits that his son went to a questionable meeting that's 'just politics'... when it is reported by the news media it is 'fake' news...
Seems like someone has their hand stuck in the cookie jar and can't figure out how to get out of it!
So sad...
Seems like someone has their hand stuck in the cookie jar and can't figure out how to get out of it!
So sad...
44
Not a cookie jar, but instead a unusually small Chinese finger trap. It probably came in a big red box with a note attached written in Russian.
5
Treasonous Trump. Worst President ever. Couldn't win an election without Russia's help
20
Lock him up!
1
President Trump side-steps the real issue: the repeated lies that his campaign had no contact with Russians. That, plus at least the appearance of a coverup, collusion, or both, is what makes the meeting so foul.
As someone who understands realpolitick, I don't care so much that the meeting occurred. I care that Donald Jr changed his story several times and that he and his father have criticized (falsely) the news media for bringing up the issue, have disparaged the intelligence community for trying to get at the truth, and have destroyed trust in the presidency through their dissembling and incompetency.
The standard for a president has to higher than "it was legal". It may have been---we don't know yet---but still it was wrong.
As someone who understands realpolitick, I don't care so much that the meeting occurred. I care that Donald Jr changed his story several times and that he and his father have criticized (falsely) the news media for bringing up the issue, have disparaged the intelligence community for trying to get at the truth, and have destroyed trust in the presidency through their dissembling and incompetency.
The standard for a president has to higher than "it was legal". It may have been---we don't know yet---but still it was wrong.
9
"As someone who understands realpolitick, I don't care so much that the meeting occurred."
As someone who grew up with Realpolitik, I am horrified that this meeting occurred, because Realpolitik meant having to live with the USSR and not settling everything through war.
Realpolitik never meant normalizing the actions of an undemocratic nation in manipulating our democracy through a candidate for President and Commander in Chief.
As someone who grew up with Realpolitik, I am horrified that this meeting occurred, because Realpolitik meant having to live with the USSR and not settling everything through war.
Realpolitik never meant normalizing the actions of an undemocratic nation in manipulating our democracy through a candidate for President and Commander in Chief.
And the tweet we're all waiting for (cue drum roll and trumpets):
The "so-called president" DID attend the June 9, 2016 meeting! But he wasn't listening, folks. Not a word. Didn't hear a word. Don't speak a bit of Russian, but do love the dressing. Lots of it on a reuben sandwich.
The "so-called president" DID attend the June 9, 2016 meeting! But he wasn't listening, folks. Not a word. Didn't hear a word. Don't speak a bit of Russian, but do love the dressing. Lots of it on a reuben sandwich.
35
More like a rube.
3
Basic question comes to mind: How would Trump know what politics is? Based on what we have seen since he was sworn in all we have seen is a mess...a hot mess. The guy is unable to play his cards close to his chest (most pols learn this early in the game), he doesn't take advice, won't listen, has failed the current affairs test any 10 grader could pass, and is indifferent to the process of building a consensus (politics 101). The guy is a rube. He'll be remembered as the imbecile he is.
14
When I went to work for a government agency the woman who hired me gave me the following advice: remember that everything you create is a public record and don't do anything you wouldn't want to read about on the front page. Lots of things come up but that's the standard against which they need to be measured. Not everyone would have taken that meeting.
25
And to think Diaper Donald was outraged at the idea of the Trump campaign working hand in glove with Boris and Natasha. Outraged he was ! Until he got caught red-handed doing it. Nothing burger ! More like a Whopper.
12
Trump blows his trump.
His son junior got caught dealing with the Ruskies, so he fessed up. That's not politics, it's dealing with an unfriendly foreign power under the table! I hope that all those investigations get to the bottom of the truth over trump's lies and those of his son. Of course, according to trump's version "That's Politics"!
His son junior got caught dealing with the Ruskies, so he fessed up. That's not politics, it's dealing with an unfriendly foreign power under the table! I hope that all those investigations get to the bottom of the truth over trump's lies and those of his son. Of course, according to trump's version "That's Politics"!
8
But I though Donald was not a politician??
12
Mexico’s meddling in the 2016 election was much more effective than Russia’s meddling. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini. Mexican consulates launched a campaign to encourage the three million Mexican nationals residing legally in the United States to become voters by applying for dual citizenship. Austin-based Mexico consular general Carlos González Gutiérrez said, “There are more than 600,000 Mexican legal residents living in Texas who have the right to U.S. citizenship. We have been instructed by the secretary of foreign affairs to promote aggressively the benefits of dual citizenship.” Mexico warned Mexican Americans they would be subjected to racial profiling if Trump were elected. The Clinton campaign colluded by encouraging Mexican nationals residing legally or illegally in the United States to make their voices heard. Waving Mexican flags, they staged some of the election campaign largest and most violent demonstrations. The Clinton campaign also publically recruited thousands of foreign national enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to work as campaign volunteers. They stuffed envelopes, organized rallies, conducted voter-registration campaigns and made campaign speeches. They helped Clinton rolled up her four-million voted margin in California, which accounted for her victory in the popular vote.
3
I can't imagine why Mexico had a negative view of trump.
12
Brought to you by the Fake News.
1
Mexico meddling was so aggressively that Donald Trump accepted Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's invitation to Mexico City in a effort to get Mexican leaders to tone down their anti-Trump rhetoric. This is unprecedented. Never before has a U.S. presidential candidate had to travel to a foreign country to defend his political platform.
1
Politics? No. The behavior of a bully? Probably. Therein lies the real problem - willful ignorance. Anybody with a modicum of understanding of the laws and rules of elections and campaigns would know that that kind of meeting should only take place if an FBI agent or two were invited and somebody would probably leave in handcuffs.
This kind of "meeting" is more typical of a street bully looking to slander somebody. The source doesn't matter, just the dirt.
The sad reality is that nobody in Trump's family has bothered to study the process knowing full-well that Trump won't.
This kind of "meeting" is more typical of a street bully looking to slander somebody. The source doesn't matter, just the dirt.
The sad reality is that nobody in Trump's family has bothered to study the process knowing full-well that Trump won't.
10
I thought that was bordering, if not yet cross the line, on treason. Sad!
5
Survey says: only 36% of Americans polled approve of Donald's performance as he nears the 6 month mark of this presidency.. In another survey, 70% of those polled said he has acted in an unpresidential manner since assuming office.
Donald responds via Twitter that an approval rating of "almost 40% is not bad at this time." I guess if you allow that by not bad Donald means the most unpopular since modern day polling began in the Truman era, then he is technically correct.
In terms of his claim that "Most politicians would have gone into a meeting like the one Don Jr. attended in order to get info on an opponent. That's politics!", you have to hand it to him. He is just playing back all of the ducking and the deafening silence from GOP leaders like Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Tom Cotton, Mark Meadows and I could go on. Sly like a fox, our Donald. Silence taken as approval.
Completely in character for the Republicans but nevertheless, beyond staggering.
Donald responds via Twitter that an approval rating of "almost 40% is not bad at this time." I guess if you allow that by not bad Donald means the most unpopular since modern day polling began in the Truman era, then he is technically correct.
In terms of his claim that "Most politicians would have gone into a meeting like the one Don Jr. attended in order to get info on an opponent. That's politics!", you have to hand it to him. He is just playing back all of the ducking and the deafening silence from GOP leaders like Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Tom Cotton, Mark Meadows and I could go on. Sly like a fox, our Donald. Silence taken as approval.
Completely in character for the Republicans but nevertheless, beyond staggering.
272
The Republican's silence only goes to prove, that the trumps and kushners are not the only ones committing treason ! The elected republicans, after gaining control of both the House and Senate, decided to look other way is also treasonous, by aiding abetting the crimes of the trumps, kushners and the banons !
1
Trump doesn't know that both Kennedy and Gore were made similar offers and both rejected them. Gore took it to the FBI.
So, as with everything this abnormal individual does, let me get this straight:
First, no one ever met with Russians or Russian government officials. Never happened. Oh wait, Flynn, Sessions, Kushner all had multiple meetings and acknowledged that after they were caught. Flynn "fired." Sessions recused. Kushner? Action still pending.
As to Don Jr's meeting, never happened. Oh wait. Happened, but nothing happened. But there's more: happened with two Kremlin-linked individuals behaving in classic kompromat behavior. Don Jr goes "transparent" with the email trail, only after the NYTimes has the story.
Don Sr., of course, never knew about the meeting until days ago, but somehow paid Don Jr.'s defense counsel (out of campaign funds!) a week before the story broke.
But simultaneously, Don Sr promises to dish dirt on Hillary Clinton, then doesn't.
And now we learn that a sheaf of materials that may match the DNC email dump by Guccifer 2.0 (Russian hacker) was left behind after the meeting.
Well that certainly clears the president of any wrongdoing, right?
And indicts the GOP for colluding in outrageously unethical conduct and against their oaths of office.
I'm betting on Mueller uncovering major Russian money laundering through Trump's Florida real estate ventures.
Nope, nothing to see here.....
First, no one ever met with Russians or Russian government officials. Never happened. Oh wait, Flynn, Sessions, Kushner all had multiple meetings and acknowledged that after they were caught. Flynn "fired." Sessions recused. Kushner? Action still pending.
As to Don Jr's meeting, never happened. Oh wait. Happened, but nothing happened. But there's more: happened with two Kremlin-linked individuals behaving in classic kompromat behavior. Don Jr goes "transparent" with the email trail, only after the NYTimes has the story.
Don Sr., of course, never knew about the meeting until days ago, but somehow paid Don Jr.'s defense counsel (out of campaign funds!) a week before the story broke.
But simultaneously, Don Sr promises to dish dirt on Hillary Clinton, then doesn't.
And now we learn that a sheaf of materials that may match the DNC email dump by Guccifer 2.0 (Russian hacker) was left behind after the meeting.
Well that certainly clears the president of any wrongdoing, right?
And indicts the GOP for colluding in outrageously unethical conduct and against their oaths of office.
I'm betting on Mueller uncovering major Russian money laundering through Trump's Florida real estate ventures.
Nope, nothing to see here.....
747
yup - just a matter of time
2
Priceless.
1
Spot on Phil but why limit it to Florida? This deception by the Trump family runs deep and wide.
2
How in the world would Trump even know what "politics" are?! He's no politician as, lo, these horrendous past six months have proven. Trump has no ability to discern what is political and what is not. This has been reinforced again and again, even with this very tweet. So don't tell us "That's politics" because you are in position to be able to judge that, Mr. President.
4
He's also running on a promise to Putin to end democracy as usual.
9
Mr Fake President;
Selling your country out for personal gain is called: TREASON
Selling your country out for personal gain is called: TREASON
29
What will it take for Republicans on the Hill to finally claim "enough!" and put country before party? Will Trump really have to walk along Fifth Avenue in NYC and shoot somebody?
6
I have worked in local political campaigns in my city, county, and state. When offered negative information about an opponent from a source we decided was unreliable or had an inappropriate agenda, we declined to take the meeting or pursue the matter in any way. That is normal ethics in politics if you are a decent person, or if your candidate is a decent person.
35
What world are the Trumps living in when meeting with a foreign hostile power is "just politics"?
12
Politics? I'd call it something else, like being in bed with a hostile foreign power. Trump appears to be that rarest of animals, a perfect blend of Kremlin prostitute and Fox News clown. But whatever he is, he certainly has no business being president of the United States.
99
Our country is being governed by tweet from the golf course. That's abysmal. That we are expected to believe Jr. didn't tell daddy is laughable if we could laugh at this charade. The whole story will eventually come out. Some of us will nod and say it's about time. Some will nod and say it's unfortunate. Some will shake their heads in disbelief and say the should have known. Some will shake their heads in disbelief and blame Clinton for her fake news campaign.
In the business world, every entry-level buyer, claims adjuster, and well, just about anyone in a position to be influenced, is required to take and pass a basic ethics course that includes "meetings" with prospective suppliers. This meeting Jr. took would be on the list of "don't do this."
In the world of government and clearances, folks all the way up the ladder would be summarily dismissed if they lied they way Jr. and the entire administration have lied, twisted, and manipulated. Deliberate omissions are lies, plain and simple.
That there was no dirt delivered at the meeting doesn't make it clean. As others have pointed out, there's no way a spy is going to start the conversation by asking for what they really want. Our problem now is that, as it turns out, Jr. gave Russia what they wanted: more discord and deflection from what used to be the USA. Lies and confusion and obfuscation, seems that's all that's made in the USA now. What a poor, sorry excuse for leadership we have.
In the business world, every entry-level buyer, claims adjuster, and well, just about anyone in a position to be influenced, is required to take and pass a basic ethics course that includes "meetings" with prospective suppliers. This meeting Jr. took would be on the list of "don't do this."
In the world of government and clearances, folks all the way up the ladder would be summarily dismissed if they lied they way Jr. and the entire administration have lied, twisted, and manipulated. Deliberate omissions are lies, plain and simple.
That there was no dirt delivered at the meeting doesn't make it clean. As others have pointed out, there's no way a spy is going to start the conversation by asking for what they really want. Our problem now is that, as it turns out, Jr. gave Russia what they wanted: more discord and deflection from what used to be the USA. Lies and confusion and obfuscation, seems that's all that's made in the USA now. What a poor, sorry excuse for leadership we have.
7
No it isn't "just politics". It is part of Trump's deliberate policy of collusion and conspiracy with foreign enemies to win the election, and once having won, to profit from the office.
9
I think what I detest most about Trump is how he profoundly damages our society by corrupting everybody he possibly can, and then spreading the flat-out lie that everybody else is just as corrupt as he is. They aren't. Out of his thousands of lies -- large and small, premeditated and casual -- this may be the most pernicious and destructive of them all.
38
Since when meeting with foreign spies under the radar and lying about it is politics?
11
So much for draining the "swamp." It's more like he's stocking it.
11
I wonder how many people who believed him during the campaign are making the connection between "drain the swamp" and "that's politics".
3
Al Gore during his run for president was handed a purloined "Republican playbook".
He walked it straight over to the FBI.
He walked it straight over to the FBI.
50
Making attorneys get attorneys aka "maga"
4
Trump would have us believe the meeting to receive pilfered documents from a foreign government that wishes to influence the outcome of a federal election just normal, lawful political activity that is commonly undertaken by good, law abiding candidates as a matter of course.
If that is so:
- Why have none of the members of the Trump campaign been open and candid about who was at the meeting, the purpose of the meeting, and what took place?
- Why did Manafort and Kushner repeatedly fail to report the meeting and the contacts established therein when filling out and revising security clearance applications?
- Why did Mr. Trump and his staff approve (or was it dictate?) Donald Trump, Jr's initial statement about the meeting, which was so misleading and opaque that he had to revise and contradict the story in subsequent days of revelations?
- Why can the Russian born attendees recall the details of the meeting while the Trump representatives claim their memories cannot extend one year into the past?
- Why do the Trumps and their lawyers keep stressing that they did not get the information Donald, Jr. sought if it would have been ethical and lawful to do so?
This is not normal. This is not nothing. This is incriminating behavior that the Trump family continues to try to cover up and lie their way out in order to avoid the justice and judgment they deserve.
If that is so:
- Why have none of the members of the Trump campaign been open and candid about who was at the meeting, the purpose of the meeting, and what took place?
- Why did Manafort and Kushner repeatedly fail to report the meeting and the contacts established therein when filling out and revising security clearance applications?
- Why did Mr. Trump and his staff approve (or was it dictate?) Donald Trump, Jr's initial statement about the meeting, which was so misleading and opaque that he had to revise and contradict the story in subsequent days of revelations?
- Why can the Russian born attendees recall the details of the meeting while the Trump representatives claim their memories cannot extend one year into the past?
- Why do the Trumps and their lawyers keep stressing that they did not get the information Donald, Jr. sought if it would have been ethical and lawful to do so?
This is not normal. This is not nothing. This is incriminating behavior that the Trump family continues to try to cover up and lie their way out in order to avoid the justice and judgment they deserve.
529
Why do Manafort and Kushner still have security clearances?
2
twit tweet: "Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent. That's politics!"
Here we go. trump is chumming the water for you know what! First, it was "I would have taken that meeting." Then, "I just learned about it the other day." Then, "It was opposition research, anyone would have taken the meeting." Now, it's "most politicians would have gone..."
trump is using the media to learn how legal or illegal the meeting was before telling us what we already know.
Get ready because trump is going to reveal: "I was at the meeting and there was nothing wrong with attending the meeting."
Just you wait and see.
Here we go. trump is chumming the water for you know what! First, it was "I would have taken that meeting." Then, "I just learned about it the other day." Then, "It was opposition research, anyone would have taken the meeting." Now, it's "most politicians would have gone..."
trump is using the media to learn how legal or illegal the meeting was before telling us what we already know.
Get ready because trump is going to reveal: "I was at the meeting and there was nothing wrong with attending the meeting."
Just you wait and see.
34
Junior is a disgrace to our country. He has to testify in open session.
4
What's all the Hullabaloo?
If the Average Voter Can't keep up with Dishonesty,
Intrigue, Lying , Nepotism ,Collusion and Self Enrichment then They should Lose THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE
Im forgoing copyright here
The President may reuse my Narrative
If the Average Voter Can't keep up with Dishonesty,
Intrigue, Lying , Nepotism ,Collusion and Self Enrichment then They should Lose THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE
Im forgoing copyright here
The President may reuse my Narrative
3
He's being kind. Junior had it right: a big nothing burger, over-reported from predictable angles, asking all the wrong questions, looking away from all the obvious ones, hysterical headlines, comment lines designed to accumulate attaboys only. Fact is, the story, whatever it was, is over. Last person, please blur the headline.
2
Indeed, but again he wouldn't had to change his story three times if wasn't a nothing burger as you put it. They were willing to get in bed with anyone even if it was unethical or immoral to find damaging information on Hillary. The irony was since Hillary has been in the public eye for 40 years. All they had to do was google her to find any oppo research. The emails alone spell it out in black and white to the alleged criminality of their acts. The first rule of politics, lie and deny up to the point one is handcuffed or put out of office.
4
And if Chelsea Clinton had met with a Russian operative offering dirt on Don Sr, can we assume you'd call that not news also?
4
@Ray
Yes, if she hit abort in ten minutes.
Yes, if she hit abort in ten minutes.
1
That's not politics, "That's Espionage" but he probably didn't know how to spell the second word.
25
Unhinged bomb thrower that Trump fellow. All in all , part of America's decline. And it started way before when the US transitioned from a manufacturing economy to a finance economy in the 70's . Going from Henry Ford to Goldman Sachs. Other previous finance economies also collapsed : the Dutch, Spain. Britain also is heading for collapse . Here comes China !
2
Actually, the law is clear. Even taking such a meeting given the premise laid out in the email chain's Subject Line makes it explicitly prohibited according to Federal laws regarding Foreign Nationals:
https://transition.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.shtml
Another, older on-line PDF at that federal site clarifies the "anything of value" covers the scope of what might be sought, received or purchased.
https://transition.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.shtml
Another, older on-line PDF at that federal site clarifies the "anything of value" covers the scope of what might be sought, received or purchased.
9
It may be the case that it will not be proven that Trump is a traitor in the narrow sense of the word, involving military betrayal during wartime.
The people need to think instead about the President as being disloyal to America.
I think that the President has been and is disloyal to the United States of America.
And I think that that is an impeachable offense.
One could argue that being disloyal to the America goes not violate a law and is not a crime.
But surely it is a violation of his oath to protect and defend the constitution. You cannot protect the American constitution while working toward Russian interest for financial gain.
Impeachment is in the air and it should be. Legalistic violations are not the only issue. Disloyality--in the sense of betrayal of the public interest for self-gain--is still a high crime and I for one am eager to see Trump hung upside down the way they did to Mussolini.
The people need to think instead about the President as being disloyal to America.
I think that the President has been and is disloyal to the United States of America.
And I think that that is an impeachable offense.
One could argue that being disloyal to the America goes not violate a law and is not a crime.
But surely it is a violation of his oath to protect and defend the constitution. You cannot protect the American constitution while working toward Russian interest for financial gain.
Impeachment is in the air and it should be. Legalistic violations are not the only issue. Disloyality--in the sense of betrayal of the public interest for self-gain--is still a high crime and I for one am eager to see Trump hung upside down the way they did to Mussolini.
6
Personally, I think Cyber Warfare is still Warfare.
5
WeHadAll,
CyberWarfare is warfare. And if Trump took part in Cyberwarfare against the United States, including its central governmental institution--the electoral process--that could be construed as treason. But if such participation in cyberwarfare against the US is not found, disloyalty is still there and it is an impeachable offense, in my view.
CyberWarfare is warfare. And if Trump took part in Cyberwarfare against the United States, including its central governmental institution--the electoral process--that could be construed as treason. But if such participation in cyberwarfare against the US is not found, disloyalty is still there and it is an impeachable offense, in my view.
4
The reality is that, in the Trump era, what Trump describes as the accepted norm is, in fact, the accepted norm. He's right. He gets to decide what it means when he says "That's politics". The GOP is not going to get in his way either. they are just letting him be the spokesperson for their own base instincts. People that oppose this travesty in the White House have to stop acting surprised and indignant with every thing he does and says, as if sarcasm, outrage, disbelief and shock mean a damn thing to a clearly mentally ill person like Trump. The only way to stop this tyrant is to let your congressional representative know that you will not be supporting him or her in the next round of elections. You can also support municipal and regional initiatives that defy federal orders from a rogue White House. Besides that? Nothing. It's not as if sane people couldn't see this coming.
6
Not politics, treason.
14
Well. We've come a long way from Trump's outright denials that anyone from his campaign met with or colluded with Russia to interfere in our election.
Now it's "most politicians would have gone" to a meeting he repeatedly denied happened.
Trump can spin away all he wants. The truth will eventually come out. If Trump thought transparency was the best way to make all this go away, he would've thrown the truth in the face of his critics and declared victory.
What did the President know and when did he know it?
Now it's "most politicians would have gone" to a meeting he repeatedly denied happened.
Trump can spin away all he wants. The truth will eventually come out. If Trump thought transparency was the best way to make all this go away, he would've thrown the truth in the face of his critics and declared victory.
What did the President know and when did he know it?
414
he knew everything - get two men and a truck - move the treasonous traitor out
2
Much intell now that President was AT the meeting. More to come...
Trump was clearly in the loop in June 2016. Not only that but what Lona here calls the 'spy dossier' given to McCain becomes more clearly accurate by the day. No doubt Mueller is studying it carefully. Interesting that the dossier's most shocking revelation concerned the same kompromat situation in 2013 that brought the Russian public prosecutor Chaika, who organized the June meeting with the Trump campaign, to power in the first place, after he validated the same compromising behaviour in his predecessor as public prosecutor. Leopards don't lose their spots.
I really wish that this clown prince would actually make a firm unchanging statement for a change. There was no contact; then there was; then it was only his son, that he described as a 'good kid', but it was only his son involved; then it was a major percentage of his staff only; then it was also Russian spies and financiers, but not he himself personally, but he was upstairs one floor, and didn't know about his son or staffs activities; then it was "just politics!"; etc. Come on Donnie boy: give your sheep like followers some more synthetic fodder to hate with, and change the story again. And again. And again...
238
The president will tell any story that he thinks will help him at any time and excuse himself saying it is politics and everyone else is doing it. Funny thing is that that does not make it right, even it was true. Liar in chief I say!
1
It is all in the capable hands of Mr. Mueller !
Mr. Mueller knew all these meetings before Times published or before the trump dropping posted his tweet !
Mr. Mueller knew all these meetings before Times published or before the trump dropping posted his tweet !
1
The theme song of this administration is the Eurythmics "Would I lie to you?" As practiced by Team Trump, this is not a nagging rhetorical question. Lying is about making reality and truth transparently opaque. Draining the swamp is about deconstructing the administrative state. Russian collusion is another word for good government by bad actors. After all, everyone colludes.
In an of itself, who cares whether the Don Jr. meeting was illegal. It's importance is revelation of suspicions realized. Trump's lies are starting to fall behind what can't be hidden from persistent scrutiny. Here's what the meeting was: an anchoring event in the Trump campaign timeline. It puts Russians in the same room as Trump's braintrust, it creates an email chain linking before and after communication that led to what is now being investigated. Deny that in a tweet or hire Jay Sekulow to set the stage for firing the special prosecutor who was only hired after the former FBI director was axed to end the bureau's Russia investigation, which began a few weeks after this opposition research gathering took place. In truth, it was the beginning of the end.
In an of itself, who cares whether the Don Jr. meeting was illegal. It's importance is revelation of suspicions realized. Trump's lies are starting to fall behind what can't be hidden from persistent scrutiny. Here's what the meeting was: an anchoring event in the Trump campaign timeline. It puts Russians in the same room as Trump's braintrust, it creates an email chain linking before and after communication that led to what is now being investigated. Deny that in a tweet or hire Jay Sekulow to set the stage for firing the special prosecutor who was only hired after the former FBI director was axed to end the bureau's Russia investigation, which began a few weeks after this opposition research gathering took place. In truth, it was the beginning of the end.
1
Mr. President: Were your unfounded and baseless attacks on President Obama (birtherism and wiretapping Trump Tower) "just politics?"
380
@sox - welcome back! I've missed your wonderful comments these past months! Good to have you back, friend!
3
Poor Spicer, he is still around.
answer duh - do you really have to ask the question - of course
attacks from him are huge likes
attacks from him are huge likes
‘That’s Politics!’ ....said Donald Trump and Benedict Arnold....what's the problem ?
27
The audacity of the Trump family and administration on their display of what they think of the intelligence of the American people. Politics? Trump Jr. hasn't been involved in anything political before his father became president, and especially this particular topic that Trump is saying the meeting was about. Where is there any evidence related to adoptions that would make the Russians feel Trump Jr. would be the person to talk to? He had NO power at that time and the election had not even been held yet, so the Russians had no guarantee that Trump would be president 5 months before the election was even held (unless there was something else going on we're not aware of)! Again, there are no prior tweets, or videos, or talk show recordings of Trump Jr. expressing his thoughts on anything political to the point where anybody would think he was a viable person that regularly discusses politics. And the excuse that he mistakenly took this meeting because he's new and didn't understand political protocol shows even more that he's not the person one would be looking for in the Trump campaign to have this discussion with. This administration has diluted every thing that the Oval Office stands for to the point where we now can't even accept what we're reading from the emails Jr. put out because now every thing is up for "interpretation"! They came out with the same kind of excuse for the "back channels" Kushner was trying to set up. Remember?
24
It is so frustrating to watch Trump get away with this garbage and utterly debase the office of President of the United States -- simply because the Republicans in Congress are protecting him.
I don't think Trump has ever claimed that he's honest, or that he's a politician, or that he's an honest politician. The Republicans in the House and the Senate, however, claim to be honest politicians, and that is somehow at least as galling as what Trump does -- probably more so because they are such galactic hypocrites.
I don't think Trump has ever claimed that he's honest, or that he's a politician, or that he's an honest politician. The Republicans in the House and the Senate, however, claim to be honest politicians, and that is somehow at least as galling as what Trump does -- probably more so because they are such galactic hypocrites.
59
Republicans - - Profiles in Cowardice. Historians and future patriots will not be kind to the Republican-controlled Congress or the Trump Administration. We are seeing the end of America's leadership in the world and we did it to ourselves.
8
The phrase "That's politics!" has never meant "We're excited about coordinating with hostile foreign powers to damage our electoral opponent, despite how that undermines American sovereignty and leaves us vulnerable to blackmail."
107
@MDM, for Obama it did.
Weak and self-debasing.
When was that?
2
The oft-misattributed to WC quote, "The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter," seems to have been proven. Half (less the famed 3 Million) of America’s voters appear quite willing to sell the souls, and disrespect the sacrifice, of their ancestors just to appease a Russian doll.
7
Sadly, I think in the end if evidence is revealed that Trump knew about this particular meeting and even openly/actively colluded with Russia throughout the campaign and his presidency, most (if not all) GOP congressional members will suddenly share the sentiment expressed in this tweet. That is where we are in this country today.
And Trump knows it.
And Trump knows it.
18
"That's politics?" Hardly. While the Republican Party spent the past 35 years building the swamp Trump vowed to drain, there have been strict laws in conducting politics. One law that has been honored, until now, is the contact of foreign powers to influence our elections. Which means, even if Donnie Jr had met with a government lawyer from Denmark or New Zealand, it would have been illegal.
The fact that Little Donnie knowingly met with with a lawyer representing a hostile nation-state, RUSSIA, makes it a high crime. One man attending that meeting a former Russian army intelligence officer-turned-lobbyist living in NYC, became an American citizen with duel citizenshipis working in Russia's interests. Then there is the music promoter Donny Jr met in Russia during the Miss Universe pagent in Moscow.
The only reason it seemed a good idea for Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner to be invited to the meeting was the notion of getting dirt on Hillary. This is like watching a meeting conducted by Tony Soprano for putting out a contract on an opponent.
But Trump's tiny-brained fan base will not only forgive Big Don and Little Don for their sins (they always do), they will villify the messengers, not the message. Little wonder our standing in the world is sinking fast.
The fact that Little Donnie knowingly met with with a lawyer representing a hostile nation-state, RUSSIA, makes it a high crime. One man attending that meeting a former Russian army intelligence officer-turned-lobbyist living in NYC, became an American citizen with duel citizenshipis working in Russia's interests. Then there is the music promoter Donny Jr met in Russia during the Miss Universe pagent in Moscow.
The only reason it seemed a good idea for Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner to be invited to the meeting was the notion of getting dirt on Hillary. This is like watching a meeting conducted by Tony Soprano for putting out a contract on an opponent.
But Trump's tiny-brained fan base will not only forgive Big Don and Little Don for their sins (they always do), they will villify the messengers, not the message. Little wonder our standing in the world is sinking fast.
28
When John McCain was given the so-called spy dossier on Donald Trump, he did exactly what a patriot does when approached by the agent of a foreign power for political reasons. McCain took it to the FBI. Trump Jr should have done the same with this contact.
393
You are forgetting. In Trumpland, the government is the evil force. They have spent their lives trying to get around laws, not abide by them.
3
It will be nice when we can say to Trump - "that's life"
14
The President is sticking to a time worn tradition:
1. Lie.
2. Repeat as often as possible.
Of course most politicians would not try to collaborate with a foreign government to influence a U.S. election.
1. Lie.
2. Repeat as often as possible.
Of course most politicians would not try to collaborate with a foreign government to influence a U.S. election.
9
Trump is far and away the most crooked president the United States has ever had. There is no equivalent, and there should not be any new normal.
4
The main thing we know about this meeting is that both of the Trumps lie.
A puzzling angle to me is why would Putin even want to share opposition info with Trump. There are a million ways for Putin to get out sensitive info to support Trump. In fact, Trump himself never once provided any revelation about Clinton. Suppose Putin just wanted to make the Trumps look dirty (though they also act guilty with all this lying).
The $20M from Agalarov for Miss Universe - is that a normal number? What's the going rate? None of these articles say.
A puzzling angle to me is why would Putin even want to share opposition info with Trump. There are a million ways for Putin to get out sensitive info to support Trump. In fact, Trump himself never once provided any revelation about Clinton. Suppose Putin just wanted to make the Trumps look dirty (though they also act guilty with all this lying).
The $20M from Agalarov for Miss Universe - is that a normal number? What's the going rate? None of these articles say.
7
Who are the few politicians who have said they would attend such a meeting? Some examples would be helpful.
10
The Building Code wouldn't permit
That many
That many
2
Just having that meeting in Trump Tower with those senior campaign staff signaled to Putin that Trump would be glad to have Russia interfere in the election on his behalf. We cannot rely on a Trump moral compass to steer this country - it does not exist.
12
When Trump says "most politicians" would have taken the meeting, it says his people are no better than most and worse than some, and that's okay by him.
Draining the swamp would at least be adhering to the standards that some already reached. It would never be settling for what most do: that would be the swamp.
Draining the swamp would at least be adhering to the standards that some already reached. It would never be settling for what most do: that would be the swamp.
2
"When Trump says "most politicians" would have taken the meeting,"
It would be great if someone (like Ryan?) would ask him to name those politicians, or at least one.
It would be great if someone (like Ryan?) would ask him to name those politicians, or at least one.
3
Now, if Trump had tweeted, "That's kleptocracy!," well, it would have been true. But I guess truth is not always its own defense. Maybe that's why Trump lies all the time.
If you're innocent, then maybe the truth willl set you free. If you're guilty, not so much.
If you're innocent, then maybe the truth willl set you free. If you're guilty, not so much.
5
Does the malignant narcissist even know the meaning of "kleptocracy"? I doubt it given his 4th grade level use of the English language. No offense to 4th graders of course, but until the twits in the GOP who have sold their souls to the devil decide to buy them back, we can expect more of the same garbage from the Trumps and their lackeys.
Every morning I am reminded of the quote from Dorothy Parker as I log on to the NYT: "What fresh hell is this?".
Every morning I am reminded of the quote from Dorothy Parker as I log on to the NYT: "What fresh hell is this?".
3
For how long did we hear it's fake news from Trump now it's just what everybody running for president does. What I find more scary than Trumps nonstop lies is the fact that 36 percent of Americans believe them !
11
When he says “most politicians,” does he include himself?
If so, does that mean he would have given an OK to the meeting if asked?
And if not, does that mean Don Jr. is part of the corrupt swamp that needs to be drained?
Sounds like he wants it both ways: appear like a loyal father, but leave himself some wiggle room if it looks like his son is going down.
If so, does that mean he would have given an OK to the meeting if asked?
And if not, does that mean Don Jr. is part of the corrupt swamp that needs to be drained?
Sounds like he wants it both ways: appear like a loyal father, but leave himself some wiggle room if it looks like his son is going down.
2
" does that mean he would have given an OK to the meeting if asked?'
Damn, knowing the degree of control he exerts over the rest of his life, I'm having a hard time imagining that he didn't give his "ok" for this meeting. Am I the only one?
Damn, knowing the degree of control he exerts over the rest of his life, I'm having a hard time imagining that he didn't give his "ok" for this meeting. Am I the only one?
3
That's collusion. Everyone with a brain knows that you knew. We just can't prove it....yet.
7
Planet Money has an excellent 20 minute episode on this issue. Worth a listen to understand the forces at work behind that meeting.
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/07/14/537304186/episode-784-meeti...
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/07/14/537304186/episode-784-meeti...
1
What would the government look like under a President Tony Soprano?
A lot like this one, but with more self-awareness.
A lot like this one, but with more self-awareness.
5
Lying about everything all the time. That's Russian politics!
365
That's Trump politics!
Hillary didn't need to fish for quasi-legal dirt, she had CIA-NSA, Susan Rice, Comey-Lynch, and New York City's broadcast media central working her side of the street hourly, seven days a week.
Still she lost with a NYT 95% chance to win the White House. How'd that happen without the 30,000 or so emails recovered by the FBI? Blind arrogance, perhaps?
Still she lost with a NYT 95% chance to win the White House. How'd that happen without the 30,000 or so emails recovered by the FBI? Blind arrogance, perhaps?
3
Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. She lost because of the Electoral College. When you claim that the polls were wrong, you have to remember that the popular vote did not vote for Donald Trump.
8
This is a thread about our current president and his treason with Russia.
3
Hillary didn't resort to espionage for her dirt.
She lost, in part, because Trump's foreign dictator/BFF was besieging America with propaganda, and some Americans were not quick on the draw enough to recognize it.
S'okay, America will be made great again once Junior is in jail and Senior has been impeached. Sooner, the better.
She lost, in part, because Trump's foreign dictator/BFF was besieging America with propaganda, and some Americans were not quick on the draw enough to recognize it.
S'okay, America will be made great again once Junior is in jail and Senior has been impeached. Sooner, the better.
7
That's politics?! Not only has Trump failed to “drain the swamp,” he has expanded its reach to Russia.
72
In making an argument for the border wall, I recall Predident Trump saying such a barrier was needed or else we are not "a country" anymore. His argument was that physical lines make a nation a nation, by ensuring its geographical safety and helping it maintain its sovereignty.
Election laws and political barriers exist for the same purpose. If a candidate breaches those ethical walls, if he works with a foreign government to bring about the demise of an opponent, if he trash talks a political appointee to an ambassador of a rival nation, if he sees he has more in common with a foreign adversary than with his counterpart across the aisle, then what kind of nation are we? I'm afraid we're one I don't recognize or feel at ease in.
This is serious, Mr. President, and decidedly not normal. We want our country back.
Election laws and political barriers exist for the same purpose. If a candidate breaches those ethical walls, if he works with a foreign government to bring about the demise of an opponent, if he trash talks a political appointee to an ambassador of a rival nation, if he sees he has more in common with a foreign adversary than with his counterpart across the aisle, then what kind of nation are we? I'm afraid we're one I don't recognize or feel at ease in.
This is serious, Mr. President, and decidedly not normal. We want our country back.
150
IMO, destabilization was the goal of Russia's contribution/interference w the election. Looks like they received good value for their efforts....
85
So that's Trump's treason defense -- everybody does it? Frankly at this point, I'm not even sure the Trump clan is smart enough, individually or collectively, to actively collude with the Russians. They seem almost pathologically oblivious to anyone or anything but themselves.
26
As the latest WaPo/ABC News poll shows, trust in Trump is at unprecedented lows just 6 months into his presidency--or, as he probably thinks of it, his reign. His tweets are clearly not helping him, but he's beyond rational at this point. Like the old saying about insanity equating to doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result, this endless tweeting on points that have already been widely discredited indicate just how hopelessly clueless this president is. It's symptomatic of what Charles Blow wrote in his column today--Trump's inability to articulate even the most basic concept in a convincing and coherent manner.
6
"Trump's inability to articulate even the most basic concept in a convincing and coherent manner....'
Doesn't mean a thing. He (and Puitn) are still calling the shots.
Doesn't mean a thing. He (and Puitn) are still calling the shots.
Trump is probably right - many others WOULD have taken that meeting. He and his millions of fans are clearly not alone in believing that ONLY short term interests matter.
I've always believed that America's special power was uniquely blending in the long view. It MADE Silicon Valley - one of my fave places in the world.
I'm sad to see the grave warping of the American brand. And I'm losing hope that it will snap back before it yields permanently.
I've always believed that America's special power was uniquely blending in the long view. It MADE Silicon Valley - one of my fave places in the world.
I'm sad to see the grave warping of the American brand. And I'm losing hope that it will snap back before it yields permanently.
3
What does Trump know about politics? Nada
4
Trump tweets that "[m]ost politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended" because he fears it will be proven that he personally endorsed holding that meeting. It's just like Trump continuing to maintain that it was proper for Michael Flynn to discuss sanctions with Ambassador Kislyak last December -- because Trump fears that his endorsement of that conversation will soon come out.
TrumpSpeak is becoming so transparent -- only not in the way Trump thinks.
TrumpSpeak is becoming so transparent -- only not in the way Trump thinks.
6
Let's change the slogan to Win At Any Price. If ISIS or North Korea want to sell good opposition research, the Trump Cartel will pay any price.
3
Politics?? The US needs a president who is loyal to his oath to uphold the laws of the nation in letter and spirit, not a carny barker who lies the way other people breathe.
If Trump is innocent, he's insane.
If Trump is innocent, he's insane.
14
It's not okay to sell out your country.
14
Donald, if there were anything normal about this meeting, your time would not have tried to hide it, lie about it, then shrug it off.
9
No, that's sleazy real estate development! You're not in Kansas, Dorothy.
4
he's a really scary, though much beloved by many in our country, dangerous, duplicitous bozo, as are most of his team, including the vice-president, so dont impeach donald, just dont let him do anything and then vote them both out in 2020. its life or death.
11
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain", the great and powerful OZ has spoken.
He is nothing more than a fraud, the same huckster who sold the Dorothy to go on a mission to recover the broomstick, and when she delivered, he still could not...
He is nothing more than a fraud, the same huckster who sold the Dorothy to go on a mission to recover the broomstick, and when she delivered, he still could not...
7
My parents were both at times elected officials with high posts in county, state, and federal government.
"That's politics!"???
No it isn't. I grew up in the swirl of politics. What they did is a sickening corruption of what politics usually is and should always be. Tolerance of such corruption by POTUS is intolerable, just as it was when it was King George III tolerating it.
"That's politics!"???
No it isn't. I grew up in the swirl of politics. What they did is a sickening corruption of what politics usually is and should always be. Tolerance of such corruption by POTUS is intolerable, just as it was when it was King George III tolerating it.
19
That's politics and maybe conspiracy and treason too.
The more I read the more I believe that Twitter is for Twits.
The more I read the more I believe that Twitter is for Twits.
5
If we are going to talk about Don Jr trying to get dirt on Hillary, we should ALSO be willing to talk about Hillary's campaign getting dirt on Trump... Oh, I guess you haven't heard ANYTHING about that. It just so happens that a member or Hillary's campaign flew off to the Ukraine to receive a dossier on Mr Trump. That operative received the now debunked documents from a PRO-RUSSIAN member of the Ukrainian government, who obtained the dossier from a former British MI6 spy. The docs were brought back to the USA, published and distributed by the DNC, yet a fruitless attempt to obtain dirt on Hillary from a Russian lawyer, in the US on a Special DOJ visa-less admittance program, and who was personally invited by Potus Obama to lobby against Russian Sanctions being considered by Congress, is the crime of the century!!! Try again , Einsteins, there is ALOT less in Jr's meeting than the Clinton Campaign's foreign travels to obtain dirt on Trump. Try again next week !!!
3
"here is ALOT less in Jr's meeting than the Clinton Campaign's foreign travels to obtain dirt on Trump."
Um, no. That's far from accurate. Try again. In FACT, it's the opposite. Nothing more then a little research is required.
Um, no. That's far from accurate. Try again. In FACT, it's the opposite. Nothing more then a little research is required.
6
I don't know what Hillary's campaign did vis-a-via the Ukraine. I'll look for credible reporting on your allegations, which stand as a separate issue providing no excuse for Donald Jr. to accept a meeting with someone described as working for the Russian government in furtherance of its desire to help Donald Sr. win the presidency.
3
"That's Treason!" Americans tweet
2
Actually, what it was, was ILLEGAL, and quite possibly treasonous.
If Trump were a Democrat, the Republicans would already be holding impeachment proceedings, so the fact that they haven't is a good measure of their dedication to party over country.
If Trump were a Democrat, the Republicans would already be holding impeachment proceedings, so the fact that they haven't is a good measure of their dedication to party over country.
816
@Kingfish52
Please cite the laws which you claim were violated and how.
Please cite the laws which you claim were violated and how.
1
From the NY Times 7/11/17:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/opinion/donald-trump-jr-treason-email...
“The potential offenses committed….include criminal or civil violations of campaign finance laws.
…then there is the question about whether the statements of enthusiasm on behalf of the Trump campaign constituted assent on the behalf of the Trump campaign for continuing Russian help…can be reasonably understood to signal a broader receptivity to Russian aid…(which) brings conspiracy law into play.”
But impeachment proceedings would most certainly provide the evidence you seek.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/opinion/donald-trump-jr-treason-email...
“The potential offenses committed….include criminal or civil violations of campaign finance laws.
…then there is the question about whether the statements of enthusiasm on behalf of the Trump campaign constituted assent on the behalf of the Trump campaign for continuing Russian help…can be reasonably understood to signal a broader receptivity to Russian aid…(which) brings conspiracy law into play.”
But impeachment proceedings would most certainly provide the evidence you seek.
4
Why aren't the Democrats doing what you suggest the Republicans would have? Answer: Because they weak and ineffective.
1
Trump's statement about most politicians taking the offer of such meeting is yet another projection from Projector-in-Chief ...
Gore campaign is on record having contacted FBI and turned over information about an offer in similar context during Gore-Bush election cycle.
As dirty as US elections tend to get most politicians know better to draw the line ... usually at the nation's borders ... when it comes to getting info on their political opponents. Current POTUS and his family are rare exceptions.
Gore campaign is on record having contacted FBI and turned over information about an offer in similar context during Gore-Bush election cycle.
As dirty as US elections tend to get most politicians know better to draw the line ... usually at the nation's borders ... when it comes to getting info on their political opponents. Current POTUS and his family are rare exceptions.
290
The trumps are very tempted by all the billions of dollars that Putin and his oligarchs are trying to make available to trump family, these guys are like hyenas around a carcass in the wild .... growling and looking menacing , never want to let that billions slip away !
2
It's like The Hills have Eyes comes to Washington DC
Trump hearing things,or his friend Jim,plus his reading of the Enquirer,denote a low grade low informed commander in chief.
This is not " just politics ". At best it is another example of a flawed, immature, developmentally arrested personality who does not have the emotional or intellectual skills to lead a nation in these troubled times. At worst, it is collusion with an enemy with concerns about him being compromised by a foreign government, perhaps even treasonous acts. Our security is at incredible risk with this cast of characters in the White House. The Republican leadership is complicit by simply making excuses and rolling over. What cowards they are.
688
" What cowards they are."
What cowards are WE? We're fiddling while Rome burns. It's OUR freedom at stake. Why are we sitting here, complacently waiting for Congress to do something? We should let them know we're demanding action and if they don't take it, we will.
What cowards are WE? We're fiddling while Rome burns. It's OUR freedom at stake. Why are we sitting here, complacently waiting for Congress to do something? We should let them know we're demanding action and if they don't take it, we will.
2
Yes, we already know Dad is perfectly willing to share classified information harmful to an allied nation with Russian operatives in the Oval Office. Without a second thought.
4
There's a word for the current GOP and its leadership. More than "complicit," it's collaborating. Like the Vichy French government collaborated with the Nazi occupiers in the round-up of Jews in 1942, to be sent to the murder camps in the east. Trump Crime Family, rest assured that Emmanuel Macron has your number, just as the French voters knew that Marine Le Pen and the FN were collaborating with Putin.
3
Dear NY Times: Donald Trump lies about everything. Some Americans don't care, so there's no point in telling them about it. The rest, a large majority, know that he lies about everything, so again, there's no point telling us about the latest one. Please redouble your fantastic, if incredibly late, investigative journalism on this administration, and leave aside the trivial instances of our President's (and his followers') lies. Thank you.
18
Besides the fact that Don Jr is NOT a politician . . .
17
I thought Trump Jr and Eric were managing the Trump businesses in order to prevent Trump from having conflicts of interest. If so, what was Trump Jr. doing in that meeting?
Also, why do we hear nothing about or from Flynn?
Also, why do we hear nothing about or from Flynn?
2
Who me? That's not my hand you see caught in the Russian cookie jar ! It's fake news !!!!
20
Each of the most vital aspects of our lives is placed on courses determined by government and, therefore, politics. Family....to whom one may marry; work...wages, safety, opportunity; health...insurance; education...accessible and equal. Although Republicans appear to define hypocrisy, both of the major political parties have defiled and booby trapped the arteries of our lives. At long last, what has happened to the souls of our leaders and countrymen?
3
Since when does inanity become news? Trump Sure knows how to get NYT 's attention much to the detriment of any genuine news of the day.
3
I for one, don't have the means to know what's going on in the Trump admin, without these news reports, so I appreciate them much more then a mad man's daily tweets. I certainly hope NYT continues to expose his insanely dangerous activities.
7
From the overt wording in the Goldstone e-mails it looks like this meeting was a trap set up by a more savvy political operative.
7
Indeed, this looks like a trap sprung by Putin to provide the leverage needed to bring Trump to his knees on command. I do believe Putin has a lot of "dirt" on Trump and is just waiting for the right moment, such as during an election, to use it against The Donald.
3
Can't believe we pay this nasty scavino person to insult people on behalf of the bully in chief.
8
-Hillary not in the White House.
-Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court with two more to follow.
-Obama's Nazi-esque climate policies gone.
Already worth the price of admission, everything else is just icing on the cake.
I am so glad this happened to progressives while I am alive and young enough to savor it.
No, I am not tired of winning.
-Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court with two more to follow.
-Obama's Nazi-esque climate policies gone.
Already worth the price of admission, everything else is just icing on the cake.
I am so glad this happened to progressives while I am alive and young enough to savor it.
No, I am not tired of winning.
5
Let's see what dirty air and water and a lack of affordable health care do to your lifespan.
3
liar liar corrupt pants on fire.
4
Aside from the cringing that comes with reading the Tweets, there is so often a new revelation . . .
This says;;;;
"His aides helped writ his son's initial statement describing the meeting as the flew back fro the G20" ???
Presidential aides are now providing legal services in the form of writing a more believable narrative on behalf of a family member who is not part of the government, was possibly violating US Law or customary procedures, AND who,in fact, is supposed to be operating daddy's businesses at arms-length? DID anyone in the press ask about this? Will Donjr be able to read from a statement prepared by others as if it was his own words when he is ultimately asked to testify? Do the Trumps have all the statements memorized by now?
Every day - more than once a day - the dirty Presidency gets more soiled.
This says;;;;
"His aides helped writ his son's initial statement describing the meeting as the flew back fro the G20" ???
Presidential aides are now providing legal services in the form of writing a more believable narrative on behalf of a family member who is not part of the government, was possibly violating US Law or customary procedures, AND who,in fact, is supposed to be operating daddy's businesses at arms-length? DID anyone in the press ask about this? Will Donjr be able to read from a statement prepared by others as if it was his own words when he is ultimately asked to testify? Do the Trumps have all the statements memorized by now?
Every day - more than once a day - the dirty Presidency gets more soiled.
107
Your right. The presidents aids are paid by the federal government to be the presidents aids in the execution of the functions of the presidency, NOT to provide public relations or legal services to the presidents family. So is that not an prohibited use of funds?
4
I believe trump on this point: most politicians HE KNOWS, would take that meeting with a "Russian government lawyer" with hacked "dirt" on his opponent.
Do you believe Donny Jr. didn't brag to papa about his "scoop!"?
Do you believe Donny Jr. didn't brag to papa about his "scoop!"?
20
Papa is a famous micromanager. I have no doubt he read the email and directed the parties to take the meeting. If not attended it himself.
7
"The president has insisted he learned of the meeting only a few days before The Times article."
And he has a way successful casino in Atlantic City to sell you.
And he has a way successful casino in Atlantic City to sell you.
7
Come out swinging when backed into a corner. Remember he hits back ten times harder. Don King and Vlad must be so proud!
9
Remember, too, that Big Don was trained by Sen. Joe McCarthy's chief counsel at the Army-McCarthy hearings in the 1950s. It is all about lying, refusing to apologize, do not take responsibility for what went wrong, put the blame on other people, hit back harder ...
The Times ran a story last week about the Trump family history of bluster, cruelty and fraud. It's an important read.
The Times ran a story last week about the Trump family history of bluster, cruelty and fraud. It's an important read.
5
Seriously? This is ordinary politics, according to the politician whose administration lied twenty different times in denying that this ever happened.
First they say it never happened. Then it happened but was about adoption. Then, oh, maybe dirt on Clinton was mentioned. Then the emails show Junior loving the chance to obtain highly sensitive opposition research from a hostile foreign power. That's conspiracy to violate election laws, at a minimum.
If "most politicians" are really doing it, then "most politicians" need to be indicted for it.
And THIS politician promised to "drain the swamp." In truth, the Trump Family Syndicate is the biggest swamp of all.
First they say it never happened. Then it happened but was about adoption. Then, oh, maybe dirt on Clinton was mentioned. Then the emails show Junior loving the chance to obtain highly sensitive opposition research from a hostile foreign power. That's conspiracy to violate election laws, at a minimum.
If "most politicians" are really doing it, then "most politicians" need to be indicted for it.
And THIS politician promised to "drain the swamp." In truth, the Trump Family Syndicate is the biggest swamp of all.
252
Dishonest Don, dissembling again.
"Everybody goes to meetings!"
disclaimer: this one had a Kremlin connected attorney working his dishonest son who like Pops, "forgets" a LOT, even though he is "a child"!
14
Trump's American conditioning to acceptance our becoming dictatorship is getting easier every event; the media treating them as just another commercial minute. And Media are afraid to educate citizens or itself incrementalism which allowed Nazism and Fascism to fully develop. And so we best on -
6
“Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent,” Mr. Trump posted on his Twitter account just after 10 a.m. “That’s politics!”
What a strange statement from the man who ran his campaign on not being a politician and "draining the swamp." Does Trump not understand how ridiculous he sounds and how journalists will call him on this? His lack of political savvy is stunning.
What a strange statement from the man who ran his campaign on not being a politician and "draining the swamp." Does Trump not understand how ridiculous he sounds and how journalists will call him on this? His lack of political savvy is stunning.
118
MEM, He only says these ridiculous things so that his base and right wing media can repeat it, becoming an echo chamber which, after time, is accepted as truth (to his base). Our job as rational citizens is to continue to counter this narrative by pressuring our representatives in DC, who are the only ones with the power to stop it, by resisting. So far our protests have fallen on deaf ears, and the Republicans have been complicit allowing this behavior to continue. But I have to believe the truth will eventually win out, and all these traitorous bums will suffer their folly and be voted out. It can't happen soon enough.
1
The Apprentice was crooked in private life and he has just moved his tendencies further up the food chain to the Presidency. This is his biggest threat to our national well being. He is changing our culture in Government from positive to negative. This is the real reason he must be gotten rid of as soon as possible. The fallout from Trump's criminality is dangerous to our national reputation and perceived behaviors.
7
Nope, that's not politics, that's collusion.
150
Russia, in exchange for a tacit understanding that Trump will revisit sanctions on them if he is elected, agree to give the Trump campaign $100 million!
Oh wait, no, it wasn't money that was going to change hands but rather Russian intelligence on Trump's opponent.
Either scenario is highly illegal and, without question, criminal conduct. Or are we to believe that the Russians were simply prepared to "gift" the intelligence. Putin is, after all, a well known philanthropist.
Oh wait, no, it wasn't money that was going to change hands but rather Russian intelligence on Trump's opponent.
Either scenario is highly illegal and, without question, criminal conduct. Or are we to believe that the Russians were simply prepared to "gift" the intelligence. Putin is, after all, a well known philanthropist.
7
What would Trump know about politics?
11
'Witch' one?
3
Winning two presidential elections.
Yeah, I know, you'll just have to wait for it.
Yeah, I know, you'll just have to wait for it.
Senate,
He has yet to win one.
He has yet to win one.
1
Since when do two wrongs make a right?
3
Just as "you can't legislate morality," you can't decide legality by majority vote outside the jury room. The family Trump continues to show its contempt and disdain for the ethics and legalities of P.C., as in Politician's Correct, behavior. They have clearly crossed both lines in meeting with Russian operatives with direct links to the Kremlin for the explicit purpose of colluding to undermine the Clinton campaign. Whether or not this reaches the level of treason is best left for Special Counsel, Robert Mueller III, to decide. The optics along with the facts so far made public are awful and do not and wiil not change by Tweet-thrashing Sec. Clinton or the media.
7
The President, as well as his son, are world-class liars. He continues to tweet to change the narrative, but you can't change the facts and Donald Jr. and Kushner, Manafort, et. al, were there to collude with our enemy. Shame on them to put the election over country.
138
I cannot begin to to imagine how near impossible it would be for the American electorate to accept the possible truth that the 2016 November election had been hacked down to manipulating the readings of digital voting mechanisms by Putin's cyber army.
5
We will see how Putin plays this because he is clearly in charge of the White House.
7
Donnie the Dunce can tweet, and we can read the emails that Donnie Jr the other dunce posted.
Russians offered, and Donnie Jr. accepted the offer of dirt to be provided by them. 11 CFR 110.20 makes that a violation of the law.
Russians offered, and Donnie Jr. accepted the offer of dirt to be provided by them. 11 CFR 110.20 makes that a violation of the law.
11
That's politics. Except even in the most Trump-favorable reading of the infamous meeting and the known details, Trump Jr. fell for the political equivalent of the "Prince of Nigeria" email scam and left himself--and on account of how Sr. mixes politics and family--and his father open to blackmail.
So even if Jr.'s political naïveté didn't result in anything on HRC or collaboration on the hacked DNC emails, Jr. leaves the unprepared Sr. in the terrible situation of having to negotiate with Putin holding a stacked deck as the cloud surrounding Sr. darkens.
But hey, "that's" politics. Just done poorly.
So even if Jr.'s political naïveté didn't result in anything on HRC or collaboration on the hacked DNC emails, Jr. leaves the unprepared Sr. in the terrible situation of having to negotiate with Putin holding a stacked deck as the cloud surrounding Sr. darkens.
But hey, "that's" politics. Just done poorly.
12
Seems he's more politician than the establishment he railed against.
9
Still, his greatest crime is debasing the Presidency.
14
And when Trump Jr. meets with Kim Jong-Un to negotiate a new Trump highrise in Pyongyang in exchange for nuclear tech, that's "just politics" too, right?
9
We do not know what they talked about. Subversion, treason, adoption, petty email scandal, elections interference, quid pro quo regarding business interests like oil leases and drilling, hotels, patents on Ivanka clothing lines....
The meeting was not 'politics as usual' and may or may not have been illegal, but the content and promises made are still secret.
There may be tapes or transcripts, or we may have to rely on interrogation under oath. Donald has a certain fondness for waterboarding and extreme vetting. Let's see if this extends to his campaign manager, his family, his DOJ Chief, the FBI, the Special Counsel....
The meeting was not 'politics as usual' and may or may not have been illegal, but the content and promises made are still secret.
There may be tapes or transcripts, or we may have to rely on interrogation under oath. Donald has a certain fondness for waterboarding and extreme vetting. Let's see if this extends to his campaign manager, his family, his DOJ Chief, the FBI, the Special Counsel....
9
This is just another baseless political attack by the radical liberal democrats and media.
Here is the law Trump's son is accused of breaking. First he never received any information. Therefore it had no value. All Americans should want to know everything about their presidential candidates no matter what the source.
(b)Contributions and donations by foreign nationals in connection with elections. A foreign national shall not, directly or indirectly, make a contribution or a donation of money or other thing of value, or expressly or impliedly promise to make a contribution or a donation, in connection with any Federal, State, or local election.
Here is the law Trump's son is accused of breaking. First he never received any information. Therefore it had no value. All Americans should want to know everything about their presidential candidates no matter what the source.
(b)Contributions and donations by foreign nationals in connection with elections. A foreign national shall not, directly or indirectly, make a contribution or a donation of money or other thing of value, or expressly or impliedly promise to make a contribution or a donation, in connection with any Federal, State, or local election.
3
No, actually the 'source' does matter and this was wrong. Illegal? We will see. Illegal or not though, this is wrong and ANYONE with a moral compass would see that. So, if this has been Clinton you'd be fine with it? No, you'd be trying to boil her in oil.
16
I personally think that all background information on a presidential candidate should be considered no matter what the source as long as it can be verified.
To many people vote and believe what they hear on the news based on their political party.
To many people vote and believe what they hear on the news based on their political party.
Don: Remember all those Dateline NBC To Catch a Predator episodes? The guy makes an online date with what he thinks is an underage hottie. When he shows up to find the underage hottie is a 45 year old male cop, just because he didn't get the criminal liaison he sought doesn't mean he walks away. He still leaves in shackles.
I'll go with criminal conspiracy here.
I'll go with criminal conspiracy here.
14
Trump is no longer towering, he is tunneling, and the hole just keeps getting deeper.
15
Thank God Robert Mueller is not one of Trump's gullible dupes who be fooled by Trump's many attempts at gaslighting.
12
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that the information Natalia Vaselnitskay shared at the Trump Tower meeting was “similar to what the Russian prosecutor general’s office gave to Re. Dana Rohrabacher (R., Calif.) in a Moscow meeting two months earlier. Donald Trump could have flowed to Moscow and received the same documents from the Russian prosecutor general’s office without violating U.S. election laws. Rohrabacher told The Hill that, “While in Russia, I had a meeting with some people, government officials, and they were saying, 'Would you be willing to accept material on the Magnitsky case from the prosecutors in Moscow? ‘And I said, 'Sure, I'd be willing to look at it.” Rohrabacher turned the documents over to House Foreign Affairs Committee as well as to the Treasury Department, which handles issues pertaining to the Magnitsky. Donald Trump Jr. apparently thought the documents he received from Vaselnitskay were not of any importance. He should turn the documents to the FBI and Treasury Department to see if they agree.
4
That's politics.....in Russia.
12
You people are a sad bunch. Instead of nonstop calling of Trump an outrageous liar, unfit to run the country you are still hemming and hawing and second guessing yourselves and our standards and laws? Is that how the GOP treated Clinton or Obama? Ya'll deserve at least EIGHT years more of Trump and worse. (btw, this is not how Churchill and Roosevelt countered the Nazis. they showed benevolence towards Germans only after the War was won.)
5
Wasn't his platform to drain the swamp and to stop this kinda thing? Now he says that's the way it is?
694
We misheard him. He didn't say "DRAIN the swam", he said "TRAIN the swamp".
8
No, he got a bit confused during the campaign. The plan was always to Build The Swamp and drain the Rio Grande.
7
what he meant - was that's the way he likes it
1
Trump tweets again and it's a headline. Really? There has to be a better mission for the Times....
35
I appreciate the reporting on Tweets by Trump. Because there is no way I'm going to add myself as a "follower", but I still would like to know what that small brain is spewing. But with distance and context.
19
That's conspiracy to break American laws about hacking and about Election Laws being broken.
113
No one can believe anything any of the Trump family says, and their multitude of lawyers certainly will not reveal the true content of the meetings.
9
Show us the law you are referring to.
2
Conspiracy, for starters.
For example, if I meet with you and discuss the weather, that's ok.
If I meet with you and plan a bank robbery, that is a crime.
What did they discuss, really? No one knows without tapes, or testimony under oath.
For example, if I meet with you and discuss the weather, that's ok.
If I meet with you and plan a bank robbery, that is a crime.
What did they discuss, really? No one knows without tapes, or testimony under oath.
6
Nixon: "I'm not a crook."
Trump: "I'm a crook. So what?"
Trump: "I'm a crook. So what?"
981
So what indeed. US politics in collusion with big money donors and ok’d by our highest Court has redefined what crook means, what corruption means, and what democracy itself means.
14
Classic. Absolute classic.
More than that. Trump is very evidently projecting his beliefs and personality onto others. When he says anybody would have taken that meeting, he is showing us that he would have gone to the meeting and sees nothing wrong with doing so.
So, when he said that the mainstream media was an "enemy of the people" he was again projecting. The actual enemy of the American people is this horrible, horrible family. Do you think they would go away if we paid them to? They might you know. Money is their religion.
So, when he said that the mainstream media was an "enemy of the people" he was again projecting. The actual enemy of the American people is this horrible, horrible family. Do you think they would go away if we paid them to? They might you know. Money is their religion.
No, that's espionage.
273
The problem is Sir when Jared not once, but twice decided to omit the meeting on the questionnaire he was asked to fill out before getting his security clearance.
What was he afraid of Sir?