Of course, this is purely political. His approval ratings are dropping and unless this order is retroactive to the 2016 election interference by Russia with actual new hard sanctions that are enforced then it's just a bunch of fluff. Besides, there's already a history from 45 of not enforcing timely sanctions.
This order should also apply to US actors who have tampered with elections!
Really sad situation here!
If he'd only made this order retroactive he could've sanctioned his own administration.
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Maybe what we need to do is to have sanctions against states and their legislators who attempt to interfere with our elections through voter suppression!
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A prudent and wise policy in normal times is risible in these times.
Trump and this GOP aren't the ones who will protect us from anything. The proof is I what they've refused to do: increase the budget for state election protection.
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We're Watching an Antidemocratic Coup Unfold and Other Such Writings
https://wp.me/p2KJ3H-37g
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@Rima Regas Yup. The problem is this takeover was referred to as a non-military coup in July 2017 (by me :) ).
Increasing the budget? $10 million was transferred from FEMA by the DHS for ICE (god, too many acronyms) and DHS denied it (lied) until the docs were produced. Takes money to pay for internment camps and the 1% took ours.
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---Wow, fantastic! And...it only took the administration a year-and-a-half to try to implement what many are likely to suspect is little more than window dressing before the upcoming Mid-Term elections, intended to dispel criticism of what has largely been a non-response to the threat to our electoral system, previously referred to as...an excuse by the Democrats for not having won the election.
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Why aren’t we being proactive instead of reactive and work on solutions to prevent this as well as identify and target entities involved in the past
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IF I were the president (... pray to whatever you hold dear that it never comes to that) and under the same kind of suspicions as Trump, no hurricane would delay my signing of this order. And every minute that wasn't spent dealing with hurricane preparedness and relief efforts would be spent talking almost EXCLUSIVELY about my intent to make good on the intent of the sanctions immediately.
Why the razor focus? Well from Charlottesville to Sessions to NFL pre-game ceremonies, the president's positions on any number of topics have already been painfully... insultingly... REPEATEDLY established. Trump's position on Russia, both personally and as president, is the subject of much debate. Say what you will about "smoking guns," Trump has been acting like a cheating spouse... well he IS a cheating spouse, but you get the image. Conveniently forgotten meetings, lies about what was discussed at those meetings, attempting to set up back channel communications (the political equivalent of a burner phone), private alone-time with Putin with no records of what was discussed, taking rhetorical sides with Putin against U.S. institutions and our allies... it doesn't inspire confidence.
Let Trump show as much heartfelt passion in excoriating Putin as he does, say, LeBron James, Jeff Sessions or an uppity Gold Star family. No canned, grudging recitations of statements someone else wrote for him. I'm not a Trump disciple like some, but if he's a "counter-puncher," let's see it.
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Where was Democrat Party concern when the Communist Party USA, almost entirely funded by the USSR, would run candidates in elections and receive actual votes. Gus Hall ran time after time for President in a campaign funded by the USSR. I never heard a Democrat complain about foreign interference. If having your name on the ballot isn’t interference, then there can be no interference.
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Ever since Trump's tariffs tirades, it feels as though it is OUR country that has been sanctioned. I'm sure when it comes to the money that Russia is raking in while China buys its corn, soy, and pork, and much more to come from Russia, instead of us, they're not going to care at this point about any sanctions.
So, what about us. What about OUR country. How long will it take for us to recover from Trump's idiotic nonsense that HAS BEEN benefiting Russia more than this country. Every time he sets up another tariff tantrum, we are getting hammered.
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Finally something has come out of this. It should be broad based. Including international corporations seeking special interests. Enticing public opinion for a political agenda for a friendlier face towards a foreign entity , even if its a allied nation.
Given the administration’s ongoing closeness with Russia I’m highly skeptical of this measure. The administration has no credibility in its handling of anything Russian. Sanctions seem a small enough response long after we were aware of Russian interference, and let’s see if these sanctions are actually enacted or enforced. Meanwhile what’s being done to stop actual interference and secure our voting process?
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