Cool! Sounds like all the best parties I've been to.
Absent some demographic data that might prove me wrong, I don't think all trump supporters fall into the Dunning-Kruger category. However, I remember what that fake website guy, Paul Horner, said before he died from an accidental overdose, "His followers don’t fact-check anything — they’ll post everything, believe anything."
Photo caption-
"Stop! Go Back! 'Make America Great Again'. It's a COOKBOOK!"
1
Oh, come on folks - we, Republicans have a reason to celebrate.
Just imagine if it had been the other way around.
We would be talking about President Pence declaring "our long nightmare is over."
And folks below who appear Democrats - should remember the triumphant march led by vice president Al Gore after Clinton was acquitted in the Senate as a show of a big Democrat win..
Or was it after House had impeached him as a show of defiance to Republicans.
What is important - time to move on.
2
Seems like Mueller punted the question of collusion and obstruction to Barr who has decided to support Trump and the administration stating nothing happened. Although it is evident that Trump and his team of cronies are the most corrupt administration in the history of the republic, he will allowed (in plain view) to continue to trample American values with policies and actions that can only be described as aligned with dictatorships. The policy that says a sitting President cannot be indicted is at the center of this mess. If a President cannot be indicted, he is in effect, above the law and can do what he pleases, legal or not.
Be ready for 2020 when we see more Russian interference and a rigged election that no one can do anything about.
3
The crowd at Trump Tower was larger than the inaugural!
3
Democracies depend on having an educated electorate. We could well lose our democracy.
And to Jeffress: I'll agree. Trump will remove adultery and dysfunctional lying from the Ten Commandments. You and he will have to deal with that on Judgement Day.
What the larger portion of the American public still believes, considering all the Emperor Trump's clothes lying (forgive the pun) on the floor at his feet is
why, as a candidate, Trump did ask Russia for help — and got it within minutes. Strange, no?
So, Trumpeters are blowing their horns in celebration and downing vodka.
There was a series of you-should've-immediately-called-the-FBI events that were carried out by the above-the-law Trump family members and people around him that connect them with Russia.
What if, with all the breadcrumbs Mueller has left out there for other courts to investigate, there's much more between Trump and Russia that his supporters are willing to see? No collusion, says the Mueller Report, but the Trump is not fully exonerated. How low we are setting the Barr for a sitting president of the US of A? Invitations to break into his opponent emails? Porn stars? Hush money to stop his Bible-tumbling electorate from learning about his extra-marital affairs? The myriad of fact-checked lies? Tump's ravenous desire to destroy the media other than Trump TV?
What I find bizarre in Trump's backers worldview is that they are telling their children this is the role model they want their children to be.
They find America will be great with lies, falsehoods, corruption, a-to-z scandals and a bare minimum of humanitarian empathy.
Trumpists must expect their children to follow Trump's life example. And they bizarrely believe THAT will make America great.
1
Truly America? A segment of your population is celebrating the fact that Russia tried to influence your election? Drinking Russian vodka?
Please, for the world's sake, invest in your clearly busted education system. Please.
8
@Karolina Hordowick
There was no controversy on whether Russia attempted to influence the election. The issue under review was whether the President colluded with the Russians for that purpose.
Why did Putin prefer Trump? Perhaps he, like tens of millions of Americans, did not want a war monger like Hillary in power. Why did you want someone who disposed Quaddafi in favor of a terrorist friendly band of rebels, who rewarded us for our help by murdering our Ambassador?
2
Boy, I bet none of these folks were upset by the Bengazi investigations, or Ken Starr. Fasscinating.
5
...and somewhere in Russia, Vladimir Putin is chuckling to himself...
6
I hope all those celebrating with Russian vodka have a good supply of spirits since they will need it when their health care is stripped away when Obamacare is gone.
4
Wow! The whitest crowd I've ever seen in New York City - only two brown faces! Collect your checks on the way out, folks - leave the flags and posters by the door.....
7
Somehow i don't think these people can celebrate the report. We haven't seen the report. Could be there's some really damning stuff in there.
6
Celebrating that a vulgar, vile, racist bully slipped past while his henchmen go to jail. The bar for American presidents has been set frighteningly low.
7
@Russian Bot Just a word of thanks to you and all the Russian ex-KGB agents and kleptocrats who helped out in the US election. Yes, I know: some people say you wish ruin on the United States, but that notion comes from the Fake News networks. Besides, it's irrelevant next to the fact that you hated Hillary as much as we do, and that you gave us the great gift of Donald J. Trump!
If only there were some kind of detailed report that could be released that would explain what actually happened, instead of leaving everyone to guess. That might help. Some kind of “Mueller report”, perhaps.
9
The devotion to Donald Trump, who is without question the most corrupt and narcissistic personality to ever become President, threatens the United States democracy.
Even people who are not completely lost in admiration support him because of policies or promises (mostly unfulfilled) that they like.
It is truly a cult, which is a characterized by great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement or work. More specifically, it is a cult of personality, which promotes adulation of a public figure.
This imbalance between rationality and morality versus irrational, amoral adulation has led to the rise of historical figures like Hitler and Stalin. I hope and pray it is not our turn.
5
Kudos to those who stood by their skepticism of 'collusion' and the campaign of anti-Russian hysteria, enduring savage attacks for expressing their views -- 'traitor!', 'useful idiot!' among the mildest.
My personal hero through these shameful-for-the-MSM 22 months is Prof. Stephen Cohen who carefully, with academic rigor, dealt with the Big Picture of the hoax and weekly on the John Batchelor Show examined the misleading and sometimes untruthful statements pushed by the media.
Until the Spring of 2016, Rachel Maddow was also a heroine to me -- always fearlessly questioning the powers-that -be and pressing the liberal and progressive viewpoint. Then came the Hilary defeat that stunned and dislocated her. Instead of examining as to how it was possible that a con man and clown like Trump could be elected, she led the band at MSNBC with the unshakeable conviction that 'Hilary didn't lose it, the Russians stole it'. And persisted daily until this weekend. And on Monday, not a hint of contrition about her shameful and distorted campaign. Unfortunately, with her total loss of credibility, we have lost the old Rachel Maddow -- she has become today's era's version of Judith Miller.
3
Ms. Maddow has voiced —with her remarkable vocabulary, by the way — what the larger portion of the American public still believes, considering all the Emperor Trump's clothes lying (forgive the pun) on the floor.
As a candidate Trump did ask Russia for help — and he got it within minutes. Strange, no? There was a series of "shoulda-called-the-FBI" events that were carried out by above-the-law Trump family members and people around him that connect him with Russia.
What if Ms. Maddow is correct in continuing to pursue this track? What if, with all the breadcrumbs Mueller has left out there for other courts to pursue, there's much more between Trump and Russia that his supporters are willing to see for a sitting president of the USA? No collusion, but much more damaging information.
We, the people, paid for it. We want to see it.
Ms. Maddow has a captivating way to connect facts that no else can on TV in a way that is well-informed, funny, humane and open to learn. All qualities I appreciate in any human being.
Trump TV, however, voices an acrid opinion and upholds a way of life that I find nauseating and unfitting as model to raise any child.
Instead, I'd rather keep watching Ms. Maddow's space.
2
@RussiaIfYouAreListening
Unfortunately, you and many other Dem voters appear to be continuing the dead-end strategy of drinking the MSNBC Kool-Ade and trying to delegitimize Trump rather than advancing an election platform that might get the odious Trump defeated -- the election is ONLY 20 MONTHS AWAY!
This strikes me as biased reporting. I mean among all those celebrants could the reporters not find a handful that weren’t woefully misinformed?
To hear supporter after supporter in the article offer one interation after another of “witch hunt!” or “no collusion!” or “hoax! “ or “but he’s our president!”
makes it seem like there isn’t a thoughtful, literate trump supporter in the bunch.
That can’t be true, can it?
@h leznoff: It can't be. I have relatives and friends who believe that the entire media and educational system lies, and it is only trump who tells the truth. Perfectly reasonable.
When trump accused Mika Brzezinski of having plastic surgery and bleeding from her face, we have only to accept the truth of his observation. When trump states that he knows more about war than all the generals, it is self-evident, sans critical thought. Such observations are thoughtful and literate, for sure.
1
Incredible. a GRU/Russian sponsored rally celebrating the success of a Russian campaign to influence a US election....in New York.
1
I didn’t even read the article, just saw the picture. I felt depressed because it showed how much hate there is out there.
2
That photo is worth 10,000 words.
2
@Curtis Schmitt - None of them printable.
3
No collusion, perhaps. That still leaves a multitude of sins yet to be accounted for...
3
No criminal collusion - ok I can accept that. Criminal collusion is a very high bar to prove. However, let us not forget that according to Müller the Russians “made multiple offers of assistance” - that the Russians felt comfortable approaching the Trump campaign speaks volumes. Let us not forget that five Trump close associates plead guilty and were convicted of various charges revolving around a common thread of Russia. Let us not forget that Muller’s finding were that “Obstruction of Justice took place” but left it up to DOJ Barr to determine if it could be prosecuted. Finally, Trump may not be a whiting Russian asset but he sure acts like a Russian Asset non the less. His behavior towards, and around Putin, is unexplainable, bizarre, and submissive. Time will tell.
2
The Trump campaign colluded with Russia through private go-betweens such as:
1) the oligarch who owned the troll farm
2) Trump Tower lawyer
3) Russian firm that got internal campaign polling data from campaign chair for targeting American voters
4) Don Jr's plan to set up "back channel communications" to Kremlin using Russian equipment.
The Barr summary says only that there was no "agreement" to "coordinate" with the "Russian government." It says nothing about the 100+ instances such as those above. It also ignores a likely hack of the RNC, with the fruits held for blackmail, and the infiltration of the NRA by the Russian government. Many more shoes will drop.
The full report will be released. And there is more to come.
3
Maybe you missed Trump's recent declaration in which he stated it's time for the entire ACA to end, including protections for preexisting conditions. That and the bringing back of lifetime limits on benefits. I suppose Fox News neglected to cover that in between its premature crowing of Trump's vindication. If you think the GOP will suddenly come up with a replacement then you're going to sorely disappointed. They've had a decade to offer an alternative to the ACA and haven't taken the first step. At least Trump helped fuel the Dems' 2020 platform.
2
Let’s thank those responsible for bringing us this disastrous spectacle. Hillary Clinton and her campaign team who concocted this yearn on the night of her election loss and funding the bogus Steele Dossier, and the media who made a fortune off of this. Rachel Maddow, the liberal Glenn Beck with her chalkboard -like Russian conspiracy theories, deserves a shout out too. Congratulations guys, you gave Trump a gift beyond measure but more importantly, you destroyed confidence in journalism as a profession and a key component of a healthy democracy.
3
Assertions that Trump and his associates unlawfully colluded with Russia’s effect to influence the U.S. 2016 election were always implausible because no collusion was required. Russia viewed Hillary Clinton as anti-Russian due to remarks she made and actions she took as U.S. secretary of state. Russia suspected the State Department encouraged nations to breakaway from the Russian Federation. Putin also nursed a personal vendetta against Hillary because she publicly accused him of rigging Russian mid-term election; he blamed her of inciting riots in Moscow.
Russia resented U.S. meddling in Russian politics and decided to meddling back. It would have support any candidate who ran against Hillary, but Trump campaigned on promises to prevent a new Cold War by improving U.S.-Russian election. Except for the collusion controversy, the Trump administration probably would have recognized Russia’s annexation of Crimea and brokered a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
The surprising thing is that Russian meddling was inconsequential. Putin described Trump as “smart.” Mexicos president compared Trump to Hitler. Trump took time off the campaign trail to fly to Mexico City and ask Mexico to tone down its anti-Trump Rhetoric. The Italian prime minister publicly endorse Hillary and called Trump a populist demigod. NATO heads of state grumbled about Trump promise to make NATO nations meet their funding goals.
1
"He wanted his friends to eat crow"
This is what bugs me the most about Trump supporters and it is why I no longer attempt to engage in any discourse with them, civilized or not. The details, the policies, the effects of some of Trump's worst decisions...none of it seems to matter. They - the ones I've run across - all seem to only be interested in gloating, shoving it in people's faces and deriving joy from other people's pain and misery. It's a spectator sport to them and, it seems, most of the people voting Republican these days.
3
I was on a plane headed for Salt Lake City through Detroit just weeks before the election in 2016. I sat next to a woman whose husband owned a large John Deere factory in Detroit. She was going alone to an AR-15 training camp near Provo, Utah for the weekend and was voting for Trump.
On my way back, I sat next to a successful business woman who owned multiple million dollar plus properties in Park City and was debating whether to vote for Trump. Like a close friend of mine, she was a second generation Hungarian Jew, which, given that country’s history, made her choice even more shocking.
Back in New York, through a journalist friend, I listened mostly to young men between the ages of 25 to 35 who loved a man who brazenly offended women and civil behavior. Many were minorities. Artsy friends of mine from the Cuban-American community in Miami also supported him.
I don’t think we have a clue how many people from what demographic voted for Trump. That is what is so frightening.
5
No American will accuse a Trump Supporter of being bright, but the Muller report has not been read by the Constitutional Branch of Government, assigned by the Constitution to study the report, and address the American people what it said.
Witnessing Attorney General Barr proclaiming a sale of fried onion rings and grits at Piggly Wiggly last Sunday, is not exactly what the Founding Fathers intended.
3
"Russia, if you are listening...," will be emblematic of Trump for the rest of my days. Mueller may have concluded that conspiracy did not occur legalistically, but unseemly contacts and communications with Russian operatives were documented. I am appalled by the acceptance by some Americans of Trump's undermining of the rule of law and embrace of Putin. Trump supporters may now be celebrating but this cannot end well.
2
@Dave
Gee Dave, were you in agreement when Obama ridiculed Mitt Romney for declaring Russia to be our Number One external threat in 2012?
“Mueller didn’t exonerate him, Trump exonerated himself.”
This is an astonishing example of how well propaganda works. Trump screams “Witch hunt,” as often as possible and for an alarmingly high number of people it becomes truth.
In fact the investigation resulted in quite a few arrests and convictions for crimes committed. In fact, the investigation found evidence that the election was compromised by Russian intervention.
His supporters also seem to brush right by the fact that he lost the election by 3 million votes, or that he has never had majority support and generally needs a bit of tail wind to get to even 40% approval. Despite their bluster, at some point reality will assert itself and make many of these folks realize that what they feel blowing directly in their faces are the winds of history. Those winds will, eventually, force a harsh reckoning with the delusions to which they are clinging.
Oh, and if you look carefully at the picture of the rally, it is a lot of old, white faces. As an old white person myself, I’m embarrassed for them, even if they aren’t for themselves.
This is an ugly period of our history, and future generations are going to look at it and wonder, “What could they have been thinking?,” much as history has asked that question about Germans during the Nazi era.
3
These people aren't just ignorant of the facts (Muller has prosecuted many of Trumps inner circle and laid the groundwork for further prosecutions), utterly hypocritical (where were their complaints over the money wasted on the Beghazi investigations that yielded no prosecutions?) They are actually mean. Utterly mean spirited. How would you bring vodka to your friends and want them to eat crow? That's not what friends do if you want to stay friends. That's just being a jerk regardless of your beliefs. As for crowing at this victory which is not yet a victory. An AG appointed by Trump who offers a précis of an FBI report on Trumps collusion with the Russians isn't the end of this or any matter. What has been amply been demonstrated over and over again is Trumps well documented collusion with criminals.
What will these rabid Trump supporters say when federal prosecutors find that Trump, his family, and other associates actually did "collude" with shady Russian oligarchs to launder their ill-begotten money, for the purpose of purchasing numerous expensive properties in the U.S.? There certainly were copious redactions in the previous legal filings of various prosecutorial teams, including the Mueller Investigation, indicating that by no means is this Fake President and his corrupt entourage yet free from serious, future legal jeopardy. This smug revelry by the loudmouth MAGA diehards could be proven to be way premature, quite baseless, and extremely embarrassing.
3
"Some conservatives said they decided months or years ago that there could have been no collaboration between the Trump campaign and Moscow."
That's the problem: Barr was among those holding predetermined views. Mueller too may have decided long ago to not indict trump because it would run contrary to longstanding Justice Dept. regulations against indicting a sitting president, and this may or may not have affected the overall aggressiveness with which he went after this bunch. But we'll have to see his report first to know.
But Barr's gambling that, with the passage of time, the will to push for the full report's release will weaken, as will interest in its contents. Only we can stop that creeping apathy from happening.
2
Part 1: The most fundamental problem with accusations of collusion is hypocrisy. I doubt that there are many Americans who do not understand that Russian actors interfered in the election and interfered to the benefit of Trump. I even suspect Trump understands this. I also am pretty sure other nations did the same. Does anyone want to examine the pro-Trump actions of Israel? The problem with making a big deal about it is, as I said, hypocrisy. Taking Russia as one example, if I had unlimited space I would start with US interference in Russia after the Revolution of 1917, but I leave anyone interested to look that up. More recently the US massively interfered in every Russian election after the fall of the USSR. Most of you probably remember Obama admitting that the US had tapped the private phones of various heads of state, Germany and France included.
4
@Jim Mamer - "The problem with making a big deal about it is, as I said, hypocrisy."
Perhaps but Finding out if Trump worked with the Russians is important. We ought to know the extent to which Trump is beholden to Russia.
2
@Jim Mamer
Whether or not we've interfered in Russia, and whether or not Americans are OK with this, has no bearing whatsoever on the question of whether we have a Russian collaborator sitting in the White House. No country would (or should) put up with the latter, yet almost every country is fine with (though they shouldn't be) with the former.
It is extremely discouraging that so many Americans seem determined to support a president that lies repeatedly, initiated several business scams before he ran for office, and associates closely with so many people who have broken laws governing business dealings. It seems that we may already have lost the respect for rule of law on which a true democracy rests. We have a long and hard fight ahead if we are going to heal our republic.
11
There are many layers to the onion. He will be found out for the cheap mendacious con-man that he is.
Don't let Trump continue his long con.
20
Laughable. Mitch McConnell will not allow a vote on a resolution . He says that the release "will be politically advantageous to one side or the other".
He knows that Barr's summary is a whitewash and much angst and heartburn will be suffered by Trump and his supporters.
13
I'm sure there was a party at the Kremlin, too. Rest assured, a lot more vodka per capita has been consumed over there...
9
Rather than angrily rehash all the reasons Trump is guilty I will say this - gloat while you may, Trumpsters. Will you like him so much when he comes for your healthcare? Your Medicare? Your Medicaid? Your Social Security? Russian vodka to celebrate the theft of free and fair elections... SMH Drink up! Enjoy!
8
I can't get over this feeling of impending doom, that we are looking at the beginning of end-days. The contentment of the Obama years, with the ACA, a plan for saving what's left of the planet, inclusion of all peoples, just gone.
9
Part 2: When pro-Russian Ukrainian President Yanukovych hired Trump’s eventual campaign manager Paul Manafort, Yanukovych was in the process of being deposed. The US was openly on the side of anti-Russian Victor Yushcheko. (Look it up, starting with the role of the then US ambassador.) I feel certain that there must be a country in Latin American in which the US has not interfered in both elections and coups, but I can’t imagine which one. Certainly not Nicaragua, where the US paid about 8 dollars a vote to elect Violeta Chamorro in 1990. I wonder if everyone knows that the US overthrew the election of Mohammad Mosaddegh as Prime Minister in Iran in 1953? Like I said hypocrisy. Yet celebrating “no collusion” on the basis of Barr’s personal summary of the unseen Mueller report does seem a bit premature.
3
@Jim Mamer No one is denying that the US has a history of overthrowing governments as in, Iraq, Iran and currently in Venezuela.
Trump is using his office to financially benefit himself and his family. If he is in bed with the Russians then we need to know it.
3
I voted straight Democratic ticket from 2003 until 2015 due primarily to the WMD lies and Iraq invasion. Like most New Yorkers I hated Donald Trump. When he began his run for president I wrote him off as a joke. But when I started watching the primary debates, I couldn't help finding myself agreeing with some of his ideas. I was delighted when he stood up to the Republican establishment and attacked them over the Iraq mess they had created. I was amazed when he confronted Roger Ailes and bowed out of a big Fox debate. I watched all his rallies (on MSNBC-TV) and I saw a lot of good humor and political incorrectness which I found refreshing. I no longer hated him but would never consider voting for him.
But over time watching MSNBC and reading the Times and Post I started seeing a hatred and bias against Trump which I found unfair. So many of his ideas were twisted and misrepresented. Practically every word that came out of his mouth was reframed by the media to fit their political agenda. To my horror, the mainstream media had turned into the old Fox News which I always hated...a propaganda tool for the left.
The more the media went after him unfairly, the more I came to support him. My liberal friends from New York, some friends for 30-50 years, cut me off when they learned I was leaning toward Trump. I found myself being branded racist white trash by the media. On November 8, 2016, I made my decision in the voting booth and went for Trump. I'm glad I did.
6
@rpe123
Trump was a crook long before the 2015 election. You don't just start being a criminal at 72.
From Politico:
"In his signature book, The Art of the Deal, Donald Trump boasted that when he wanted to build a casino in Atlantic City, he persuaded the state attorney general to limit the investigation of his background to six months. Most potential owners were scrutinized for more than a year. Trump argued that he was “clean as a whistle”—young enough that he hadn’t had time to get into any sort of trouble. He got the sped-up background check, and eventually got the casino license.
But Trump was not clean as a whistle. Beginning three years earlier, he’d hired mobbed-up firms to erect Trump Tower and his Trump Plaza apartment building in Manhattan, including buying ostensibly overpriced concrete from a company controlled by mafia chieftains Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno and Paul Castellano. That story eventually came out in a federal investigation, which also concluded that in a construction industry saturated with mob influence, the Trump Plaza apartment building most likely benefited from connections to racketeering. Trump also failed to disclose that he was under investigation by a grand jury directed by the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, who wanted to learn how Trump obtained an option to buy the Penn Central railroad yards on the West Side of Manhattan"
2
@rpe123- "The more the media went after him unfairly, the more I came to support him'
So you list all of the problems with Trump and he is being treated unfairly? Good thinking. Very logical
4
At last a human reaction from a thinking, feeling human being instead of the hoarse denunciations of fools who allowed themselves to deceived.
1
The fat lady has as not sung.
5
@R. S.
But she's definitely warming up.
1
The Trump administration is not criminally charged but they are still corrupt. McConnell & GOP are complicit & the Mueller report which nobody has seen yet will not change that. People get away with crime all the time it doesn't mean they aren't corrupt.
12
Imagine celebrating that there wasn't enough evidence to prove that the obviously corrupt president wasn't also a traitor. Cons are just plain wild.
8
If you were wrong about Trump then admit it. Otherwise your opinions on how to move forward are worthless. The NYT kept repeating the phrase “without evidence,” “without evidence, “ in its headlines on everything Trump said of his enemies when they were attacking him. Look who really had “no evidence,” I don’t think the NYT should use that Ill-considered and prejudicial phrase again.
1
No collusion parades, organized by Russians on Facebook?
5
In today's theater of the absurd, Trumpeters think it is cute to be cozying up to Russia, and don't mind that their President owes his job to Vladimir Putin.
7
The news is getting hillarious, that is if I understand it the way I think I understand it. I will try not to laugh.
1
you understand it.
"I get one day where I can gloat about it, and you all get upset,” ...
Is this what our country's future is about, one day to gloat? Sorry, Mr. Klaber, that wannabe national holiday was taken long ago by your precious President with one exception. For Trump, gloating, lying, exaggerating and pontificating is a holiday each and every day.
3
It's a victory for Trump and a defeat for the leftist Democrats as well as a large part of the media, i.e. CNN, MSNBC, NYTs and so on.
Denial at this point will serve the Democrats no better than did their support for the Russian collusion deal. The truth is that the leftist are extraordinarily immature and have very little sense of responsibility. To take responsibility they have to accept the Mueller report and admit they were incorrect. But chances of that are slim and none because they can't even accept that Trump defeated them in the presidential election. It's going to happen again in 2020 .
6
Let's not go overboard with this "mini parade," I am certain these current 469 comments far outnumber the amount of die-hard Trump cultists already...
2
Who says there is no collusion? I know there was (is & will be) collusion, because Adam Schiff told me so!
3
@Har
Trump sure had a lot of convictions of "witches" who were in charge of his campaign, though.
1
@Jbugko
Convictions for what?
really, it's something of a pyrric victory to conclude that the election was influenced by illegal intrusions of a foreign adversary but that the beneficiary of the plot was not charged with being guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in knowing about it or with conspiring with the foreign operators. that the idea of charging the President did not seriously come up, because a sitting president cannot be charged. are we supposed to be happy that the President's campaign team was able to marginally skirt the law? that they were approached by Russian agents numerous times but were too dumb to notice? that fall guys are going to jail but the head man has maintained plausible deniability? even from Barr's skewed take and tiny snippets, it does not now seem the Mueller findings give any reason to throw no collusion parties. and nary a word about obstruction, because the president gets to decide if there's a crime or not, and if he thinks not, no matter what he does, there can be no obstruction.
13
Given the context of the sentence by "Mr. Dieterle, who used to have a cutout of Mr. Trump at another restaurant he ran in north Georgia. “There was absolutely no reason to go after the man. They went after him because they didn’t like him.”
We can only presume Mr. Dieterle finds it is okay to employ liars, cheats, misogynists, and con men in the restaurant businesses he manages
There is hope then for ex-convicts with a tendency to lie, cheat, harass female customers and con his employers out of their money.
6
@Thaddman
The bigotry coming from the left is equal or higher and the misandry directed toward any white male is so obvious it reminds of the old saying. You can't see the forest for the tree.
@Dixon Duval - Nope not even close. The left only has a problem with white males who thinks that being white and male makes them superior to everyone else and entitles them to treat everyone else like second class citizens.
1
I am glad the investigation is over. I can even accept that Trump did not knowingly collude with Russia. However, many significant members of his family, his campaign and other of his cronies obviously did. The report did not change my opinion of the man. I personally believe that Trump did attempt to obstruct justice.
The report was inconclusive about Trump's actions regarding obstruction, but it did NOT exonerate him. As is typical of the man who has created more fake news than any other person or organization, he lied about what the report said.
Trump did not win. This is not a win for anyone. If anything it is a tie. Collusion, no; obstruction, maybe. I must confess I am now pinning my hopes on the Southern District's investigation of clearly illegal practices of the man who would be king.
What does annoy me is Trump and his supporters' behavior after the report. Trump's supporters eat up the lies he tells and then gloat. If anything they should be abashed.
Trump’s behavior after the Mueller Report came out reminded me of How The Grinch Stole Christmas (with some paraphrasing):
Well… in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch’s huge ego
Grew three sizes that day.
Our Grinch is stealing our Constitution unquestionably. His bloated ego and his presidency deserve to be shackled.
11
There were no celebrations where I live, at least no public ones.
What a display! These Donald Trump devotees seemed to have needed to grasp the merest shred of exoneration offered by an AG who said he would do just what he did. It confirms my personal conviction to avoid idolizing public figures. I only go so far as to admire their work in public life if it benefits society. When that happens, I support their incumnency.
Donald Trump is never even close to that standard, nor does he seek to be.
7
@MG The reason that there aren't more public demonstrations is because reverse discrimination is rampant across the states but much more so in some than others. This reverse discrimination is best illustrated by people like Jesse Jackson and his dupe Smollett.
Glad they are happy that their President did not collude with the Russian government, as Barr stated with some precision.
There's more to this story - and I give it a week before this starts to unravel.
5
@Pillai
It's not that it is going to unravel but that the infantile irresponsible attacks by the left will never cease. This is what is hurting the country- not Trump.
"The Special Counsel didn't find enough evidence to bring an indictment of conspiracy against the United States between our guy and its longest and most antagonistic geopolitical foe!"
Well, that's some campaign slogan.
7
These trump supporters don't know that trump doesn't care one bit about them.He only likes RICH people..can't understand why they don't GET this.
11
Not so fast. Let's see the report!
5
Not proven guilty is not the same as being innocent. Al Capone was never convicted of murder but he had committed muderer. OJ was never proven to kill two people, but we know he is guilty. Donald Trump was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt to have colluded with Russian, but Trump is guilty of many crimes.
8
Thanks to the rule of law and Trump’s use of it all those years in business he hasn’t been in jail for some of the things he’s possibly done. Ironic how now everyone keeps saying he thinks he should be above it. So far it’s seemed to have served him pretty well and thank you Robert Mueller for proving that. Trump would be a fool to kill his golden goose leaving the Democrats to instead.
I should not be surprised that there is a loud minority of the American public that is hungry for authoritarianism and cult of personality, but here I am.
9
Pathetic. We don't even have the full report and people are celebrating that the President of the United States does not appear to be Russian agent. How low can the bar go? How do you explain all the Russian meetings, the lies about the Russian meetings, the people going to jail because of those lies, the Trump Tower meeting and the lies about it, the private talks with Putin, the praise of all things Putin by Trump..... Until I see the full report and the results of the other 16 investigations I am reserving judgement.....
6
Repeating a tune endlessly unfortunately gets people humming it!
3
Is there any chance Mueller declined to come to a conclusion because Barr ended the investigation prematurely?
4
What is wrong with these people? Seriously.
11
Yes! There was a bigly number of them: Hundreds of thousands of them rallied on Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets. More than any Obama no-collusion celebration!
5
“Hundreds of Thousands?”
Got any photographic proof of your claim?
2
@Elli B
You cannot find hundreds of thousands between 56th and 57th Streets on Fifth. Cmon Man.
All these folks are complaining about the cost of the Mueller investigation? The one that provides evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 elections? The one that led to many indictments on related charges? The one whose findings haven't fully come to a conclusion in all the spin-off investigations? The one whose report hasn't been fully released?
Mueller's investigation cost $25 million dollars, according to the last GAO accounting in December. Do these critics also complain about the cost of the Ken Starr investigation, which consumed $70 million (that's $103 million in 2019 dollars) and lasted five years? How about the Benghazi hearings that cost $7.6 million, found absolutely nothing and resulted in no indictments and no convictions, and whose real purpose was a political hit-job on a presidential candidate, as Kevin McCarthy admitted?
Before all the crowing begins, let's wait for the full report. Barr's 'summary' only speaks about no evidence of *conspiracy* -- a fairly high bar to clear -- not collusion, and conveniently restricts this to the Russian government, not individual Russian entrepreneurs. And as has been reported many times since Sunday, it does not exonerate the President on the issue of obstruction; that was the convenient conclusion of Trump's toadie William Barr.
23
How about all the money spent on the weekly trips to Mar-a-lago?
5
@JRA, I think it’s about $3.5 million a visit...but have lost track of how many times Air Force One has flown to the “southern White House.”
The investigation started due to Russia’s interference in our election to favor Trump. There were numerous Trump actions which made it appear there could possibly be a quid pro quo including: the change in Republican platform to weaken support to the Ukraine, the refusal of Trump to agree with US intelligence reports about Russian responsibility for election interference (the 400-lb. guy) as well as the Helsinki cave-in, staff contacts with Russians and the negotiations about Trump Tower during the campaign. The investigation was clearly justified. I’m ready to accept the findings of the investigation pending the release of the report.
12
Why is Attorney General Barr not simply publishing the Mueller Report, if there is 'nothing to see here'?
Even as Mr. Barr offers only his own report, Trump and Republicans try to take away healthcare from tens of millions of Americans.
Will Mr Trump's supporters notice their added taxes in these coming years (GOP Tax 'cut' that's really a tax increase for middle class)?
Are Mr Trump and his self-centered self-serving nepotistic 'administration' so wonderful to supporters that Trump and GOP's goal to take away Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, and destroy the Affordable Care Act with its coverage of pre-existing conditions, young people, etc. worth it?
8
Amazing - it is almost as if the indictments and people heading to prison - all related to Trump - have zero meaning to some of these folks. Sorry, but the boss knew. He knew. Do his supporters have any standards - at all? It seems not.
20
it doesn't matter if Trump knew, if he gave orders or hinted at what he wanted done, went on a tryst with Putin in remote Finland, or anything else. what matters is if the admissible evidence amounts to a case or not. and if Barr is willing to allow a case can be brought, no matter what the charges or the evidence, against the President himself while he is in office.
There’s going to be significant backtracking once this report comes out. Everyone is so content to get a month ahead of the story.
3
There were plenty of reasons to be concerned about the behavior of Trump and people around him. It would have been irresponsible not to investigate. The appointment of a special prosecutor (who was Republican) was made by Rob Rosenstein (another Republican.)
5
Questions I still have
Why so many lies about Russia - by Trump and the people on his campaign? Lying is the fall-back for Trump but why did the others lie about their meetings and connections to Russia.
Why did Trump denigrate our intelligence service when they reported that Russians tried to interfere with our elections? Why did he say he believed Putin?
Why did Trump fire Comey “because of Russia” as he said?
Why did Trump say the most awful things about Mueller and the people conducting the investigation? What was he afraid they would find? Will he apologize?
7
Bottom line - we are still at the same place, Russia tried to influence US elections. I have not seen any action from Congress to prevent Russia or other bad actors from doing it again in 3920. They basically kicked it down to the states to deal with.
I shudder to think about Mr. Trump winning a second term. These last two years, believe it or not, he was hamstrung in a number of ways. I can’t imagine how wild and dangerous he would be after a second win. Now it is the time to make sure that does not happen - let’s get everyone out to vote in 2020.
7
Reading the remarks of Trump supporters at the rally forces me to remind myself that I already read today's update from The Onion, and this isn't it. The edge separating reality and satire is razor thin.
6
Trump is on tape asking the Russians the intervene on his behalf. The very next day, they did. He's also laundered rubles for years. No collusion? No.
5
I wonder if any of these people have preexisting health conditions. Will they still be cheering when they lose their insurance?
7
The only person who has seen the report is a man who was hired to protect the president and run interference. I'd say all these people are celebrating a bit prematurely.
8
What report are they celebrating? Certainly not Mueller's. Nobody has read it. And Barr's summary is his own creation, possibly based on nothing but his own preconceptions. Let's see the report and then decide whether to celebrate.
5
All the Trump supporters I know were girding themselves for the chance that Mueller’s report would have definitely proved conspiracy with Russia. And it wouldn’t have made the slightest difference in their support for Trump, anymore than the actual findings will change anyone’s mind who dislikes Trump. They had plenty of excuses lined up. Whaddabout Clinton with Uraniam I, whattabout Bill Clinton with China, whattabout Obama and his “greater flexibility after the election” and so forth and so on.
For most of us, our feelings on Trump are baked in. Our interpretation of the facts is shaped by that, not the other way around.
Last sentence is exactly right. Too bad the person who made it doesn't understand irony.
1
The Right has succeeded in creating alternative sources of information that both support the agenda of corporate America, our military industrial complex, and conservative religious institutions and confirm these people's prejudices. Their celebrations are just the latest, unseemly indulgence in the resulting tribalism, allowing such interests to maintain their control over the democratic institutions that might control and regulate their conduct for the public good. The Right's long term efforts to undermine public education is the icing on the cake, making sure the public does not have the knowledge and skills needed to critically analyze and evaluate the issues and claims of political candidates. Both in its breadth and depth, it's quite an accomplishment
15
I wonder how they'll feel about losing their pre-existing conditions protection?
57
I wonder why you think that will happen. Trump has said many times that he wants pre existing coverage to continue. Maybe you have some secret information that can be investigated.
3
@Richard Winchester
Trump has said many things - Mexico will pay for my wall, Obama was born in Kenya, Jon McCain wasn't a war hero (he likes people that weren't caught) the list is endless. . . Don't hold your breath.
1
Trump has succeeded in one respect--as he himself believes, it's all about Trump. But the investigation wasn't about Trump, it was about Russian interference in the election, which found that indeed they had and that some Americans had participated. Since the Russian interference clearly helped Trump, a man with no principles, he is unconcerned except as it relates to himself.
26
It was about Trump; it was always about Trump
1
Slow down there, MAGA folks. Let's see the report. Then, perhaps and fingers crossed, we will have our own demonstration. Sincerely, the rest of the country.
21
Trump’s declared victory on the Mueller report might just be short-lived. His supporters may be celebrating, condemning his opponents for initiating this “witch-hunt,” but there’s no way for Trump to clear up doubts about his presidential legitimacy.
William Barr is said to be willing to testify before Congress on the Mueller report. He can fool Trump and his supporters with weasel words, but not the enlightened public.
It remains to be seen whether “the Democrats have handed him a weapon for 2020,” as claimed by the evangelical pastor, Robert Jeffress.
It’s still 20 months away from the November 2020 election. Much can happen until then. Trump's legal woes go beyond the Mueller report, and it’s doubtful whether he would still be able to marshal voters the way he did in 2016.
11
I have never seen so many Disgruntled, Dissatisfied, Discontented, Malcontent, WINNERS.
Is America tired of winning yet?
The only thing that’s going to wake the Trumpeters up is a $7,000 emergency room visit for a preexisting condition and no Social Security check when the try and retire.
30
@ITsOK
And even then be the liberals fault!
1
One has to wonder how many of these people are getting their health insurance through Obama Care and have pre-existing condition or those are younger than 26 are on their parents healthcare.
16
Celebrate while you still can! I'm assuming no supporters here have health insurance through the ACA, because your president plans to nix it completely with no replacement in the works. Republicans have had 10 years and still no plan. That means over 20 million people lose insurance just like that. And 130-some million people have pre-existing conditions. They plan to roll back those protections, taking us back to the medieval days of 9 years ago when you could be denied treatment.
Now he's also free to enact his budget to cut $1.5 trillion from social security and $845 billion from medicare. How else did you think he was going to pay for tax cuts for the rich.
Oh, but the stock market is booming! Only that's not an indicator of how the average person is faring given that only some 50% of people have enough money to benefit. But carry on. Celebrate that your president meets the high standard of not enough concrete evidence of conspiring or obstructing. How low we've gone.
27
@Jane
The fact that so many are unaware of the perspective of trump voters is why he won in 2016.
Most of them not only do not have “Obamacare” (aka insurance bought on a private exchange because they don’t get it through work or Medicaid), but the insurance they do have through their employer (that doesn’t exclude preexisting conditions and didn’t before Obamacare either) was made significantly worse after Obamacare. Fundamentally the issue is that they now have several hundred or thousands of dollars a year in medical expenses that they did not previously have.
3
@Winning You really think that not having health insurance through a private employer runs along party lines? I'd be interested in some stats.
The reality is that lots of people in red states who claim to hate Obamacare actually love the ACA without realizing they're one in the same. And do you know how many people in poor red states got health insurance for the first time through medicaid expansion? That is if their governor didn't forgo funds offered by the federal government.
There's no such thing as a free lunch. The hard pill to swallow is that people might be paying more but since the ACA, no one can be denied treatment or have a cap on treatment. The other option is for people to have to forgo treatment or go bankrupt. That's untenable.
Besides, ACA was never able to fully flourish because Republicans crippled so many aspects of it. And they are too chicken to touch the real issue, which is controlling healthcare costs. They failed us. Not the ACA. How each state chose to deliver it and coordinate with hospitals and insurance companies impacted outcomes for people.
But your comment doesn't address the fact that there is no Republican alternative. Going back to the old days won't cut it.
1
I’m comfortable with stating that I don’t regard Trump supporters as real Americans, because real Americans are cringing in horror as Trump Administration does everything it can to destroy our democracy.
26
This is pretty sad to be honest. These people would rather have someone who is openly hostile against any critic than a person who's honest and smart. These people truly live in a bubble when they don't care about the fact that a former black president and a former presidental candidate has faced more harassment and investigations than any past presidents put together. The fake outrage against Mueller's investigation is unreal.
16
We haven't seen Mueller's Report. Why is the NY Times and other news outlets running with the conclusion that there was no collusion when it is Barr, Trump's staunch defender and appointee, who gave a "summary" in which we know nothing except what he told us. Trump is a conman and he is conning everyone once again. Let's see the report and then we'll know what really happened. Until then there is no vindication.
16
“I think, frankly, the Democrats have handed him a weapon for 2020,” Mr. Jeffress said. “(...) the attempt to overturn the 2016 election is going to energize the president’s base like no one can possibly imagine.”
Sad but true, Democrats...
Hope you have a better idea to deal with that (better then the past two years ideas)
4
Regardless of this report's finding, Trump is complicit in cozying up to Putin for reasons that pre-date the inauguration. Not a crime, but it's purely for selfish reasons. These supporters are not winners, they hate themselves for not competing hard enough and hate the fact that others with darker skin have succeeded by the very rules that once applied only to them. Trump has succeeded into tapping into their sense of victimization, its almost laughable. They have the american flag and drink russian vodka? Their loyalty to this country is questionable and laughable. They can wave their made in china american flags, but they will always have to deal with their dwindling economic status. The funny thing is that while they are parading in front of the Trump Towers, none of them can afford anything for sale on that street. In 10 years time they can gather here again and their economic situation will not have changed. FYI, all those immigrants they hate, are at work in this photo. Why aren't they?
9
No doubt Trump will soon be on TV bragging it was the largest assembly of humanity in World History.
6
To paraphrase Sinclair Lewis, when fascism comes to America, it will be draped in an American flag, wearing a MAGA hat, and be carrying a cross. Look carefully at the picture accompanying this article- they’re all carrying crosses ( and American flags, and MAGA hats.)
16
The hypocrisy is astounding. First Mueller was a bad guy straight out of central casting, part of the FBI's "deep state" while he was investigating the president. Now that he's finished his report and has passed the buck to AG Barr, Republicans are ready to canonize him.
7
Let's keep in mind what is motivating this behavior. Remember the trump supporter who said, "...he's not hurting the people he's supposed to be hurting..."
That's what this is all about. Never mind that not one of these people has read the Mueller report. Who cares if Russia interfered with our election. It's not important that trump is a complete boor. As long has he is sticking it to the rest of us, there is cause for them to celebrate.
That is, until they lose their health insurance. Sad, gullible souls. I almost feel sorry for them.
10
@A. Jubatus: why do you assume all Trump supporters are on Medicaid?
There is zero evidence of this.
The average Trump supporter has a household income of $77,000 which implies they have good jobs and benefits.
As this newspaper pointed out in an editorial a few days ago, Trump had no need to actively collude — he was getting all the help he needed from Russia anyway. Either way, the 2016 election is tainted.
To switch tacks for a moment, I have been following this saga, in its broad outlines at least, from the beginning. Yet the longer it goes on, the more absurd it gets, the more irretrievably polarized
U.S. politics becomes, the more I want to throw up my hands and say, “Enough, America. Get back to me when you’ve recovered your sanity.”
4
There were some very fine people at that rally
10
Awesome! What a tax waste this Mueller Report. So much copy wasted. I wonder how often this report was mentioned as headline? 300 times. Feels like a campaign to make Mueller a pop star.
Now loved even by Trumpists.
But what did we expect? Russians are too smart to not anticipate legal exit strategies for the meddler in chief.
That there was meddling directed by Trump is clearly indicated by the first victims Manafort, Cohen, Flynn...
There were too close to him and on his paycheck.
1
Just because there's a witch hunt doesn't mean there isn't a witch.
2
@S James Your right.
We need to set the record straight.
We're not hunting Witches
We're hunting Warlocks.
Let's see how many are celebrating when they lose their health insurance!
6
The right takes umbrage at the notion many of their core supporters are not the sharpest tools in the shed. Well, here you have it.
1. No exoneration of Trump on obstruction. Barr said that in under 48 hours after reading Mueller’s report functioning more as Trump’s lap dog than an AG.
2. Mueller concludes he can’t prove a conspiracy with Russia in the strict legal sense and Trumpians forget the last two years of every Tom, Dick and Harry connected to the Ttump campaign having meetings with Russians and lying about it.
Either they aren’t aware of real news reporting or can’t synthesize it.
This president should make every patriotic American cringe.
10
"No conclusion." There; I fixed it for ya'.
1
The people who elected Trump were the angry Democrats whowould not let their judgement be polluted by the woman they helped make the Democratic candidate.
Furious and resentful that Mrs Clinton also had friends and supporters in banking, and other well heeled political circles, that it was decided by many voters to vote "third party"-not Democrat. They expected her to win anyway-the New York Times "promised us" she would be President. So , upon the election of Trump, which none had expected,(including Trump), they were horrified-realizing that they were the prime -in fact, the only reason why Mrs CLinton had lost. Effectively, millions of otherwise passionate Democrats read gobs of Russian propaganda and nonsense from Wikileaks, and similar sites, and automatically believed everything they read. In our modern "Internet era", absolutely none of these people had heard of, or understood what "propaganda" was, They were convinced that everything they read must be true, because they read it on "their" internet.
Putin had all his work done for him by impoverished Russian hackers happy to take the cash the 'net would pay them for the crap they invented, wrote and got ignorant readers to consume like Wonder Bread-almost all empty ,gas filled slabs of hot air.
2
I can't say it often enough: The entire point of the Mueller investigation was never to prove collusion between Trump or his campaign and Russia. The point was to investigate the degree to which Russia and Putin interfered with the 2016 presidential election and what the purpose of that interference was.
We now know that the degree of interference was significant and that its purpose was to put Trump in the White House. That should alarm everyone, regardless of political leanings.
While the Trumpists enjoy their one day where they get to gloat, they had best remember that the report states that it does not exonerate Trump from obstruction of justice. The report did not have to say that, and the fact that it did so state is significant.
We, the people, need to see the report - all of it, every word.
11
I’m liberal, and I hope Trump is defeated in 2020. I never believed, though, that Trump himself conspired with Russian citizens and/or its government to rig the 2016 election. He's too intellectually challenged to have done that.
Given that no one other than a few people have seen Mueller's report and that Bob Barr stated Trump may have commmitted obstruction of justice, I'm not sure what Trump's supporters are celebrating, other than their own cognitive dissonance.
10
Manhattan used to be defined by a resilient and creative crowd, now we have this great bit of sadness.
3
All of DJT's supporters are celebrating that their guy may escape the worst possible scenario. But they forget that this investigation started out to determine the extent of the Russian meddling into our election (an issue that should scare and unite all Americans regardless of political leanings). That meddling has been proven beyond doubt, and the whole reason that DJT and his folks got dragged into this is because they kept lying about things that they probably did not need to lie about.
DJT is surrounded by a bunch of people whose shady activities and corrupt character makes one concerned that DJT gives them tacit approval, even if just by association.
What is now even more concerning is what sounds like a president and his cronies who are preparing for payback, to silence critics, and this is something we need to guard against.
DJT's supporters may celebrate the end of the investigation, but those of us who are objective should never forget how unqualified this man is to be president, and his corrupt and morally bankrupt administration needs to be voted out of office in 2020.
33
@Bubba T
If the investigation was about Russian interference in our election system you would be hearing about all the efforts to guard against it for 2 years now, but you don't. The whole thing was about getting rid of Trump. Period. And, it. failed.
2
If not colluding with Russians to influence an election is your baseline for determining fitness to hold the highest office in the nation, I can honestly say, I am 100% fit to be your President.
Thank you.
Now Let's Make Pinball Great Again.
Or something, at least.
13
The Democrats and the left should focus on the issues that people care about, namely, health care, environment and education. Instead they've spent two years not accepting the election result. Ironically, this attitude may cost them another presidential elections.
Yes, many people dislike Trump, to put it mildly, but "orange-man-bad" is not a policy nor a platform to run on.
7
@natan
The way I see it is that any interference in our election by a foreign power must be investigated. There were plenty of red flags to connect Trump to Putin and to not investigate would have really be nothing but a failure of our system. Time to get over it Republicans. There wasn't enough evidence to charge him. Move on.
5
@natan A nice sentiment, but if the Russians intervene again to elect Trump, all the solid policy in the world might not matter.
2
@natan The investigation was ongoing in 2018. Trump and his Republicans took an enormous drubbing all over the county, at both federal and state levels.
I’m not sure if you’re aware that Democrats did focus on healthcare and infrastructure and the environment, etc., during the mid-term elections, rather than on the Mueller investigation.
I’m not worried about additional gains for Democrats in 2020, as Trump proves himself unworthy everyday to serve in the presidency.
You might have noted, for example, that he is still trying to kill off Obamacare, removing protections for those with pre-existing medical. That won’t be forgotten by voters. Nor will the planned, massive budget cut to the Special Olympics, the forced separation of families at the border, etc.
Both Trump and a Republican-led senate will be probably be obliterated in 2020 and the Meuller investigation won’t be the reason why.
2
There is no irrefutable proof that he conspired directly with Russians because this corrupt mafioso-wannabe learned long ago to speak indirectly, leave no paper trail and let others who carry out your wishes take the fall. Which is what happened. With all the supported evidence that has been produced it is obvious that Trump falls into three categories in this matter: if he was not an active conspirator (which has not been disproven), then he was a willing puppet, or a complete dupe.
12
Precisely. Well-stated. Thankfully there are other investigations underway. Karma! trump will be held accountable even if he is nailed on something seemingly minor.
1
As Americans we need to get past partisan bickering and realize that there is only one side here, the American side.The Mueller report confirms that a hostile foreign power, Russia, interfered with our election in order to support Donald Trump. Given all of the things Trump said and the Russian connections of his inner circle, a thorough investigation was absolutely necessary. To put it another way, since many members of Trumps inner circle were seen flying around on brooms, a "Witch-hunt" was necessary.
All Americans should be relieved that no clear collusion was found. All Americans should also be thankful we live in a country where this kind of investigation is possible.
All Americans should also now shift their focus to a new question, How does our commander in chief behave when stressed? Does he work tirelessly to protect the country from hostile foreign powers like Russia and support our law enforcement at the FBI and justice department while they are investigating a true threat to our nation? Or does he tear down and denigrate American institutions when he feels threatened? The answers are pretty clear. If you are a true supporter of America, you will vote this weak, childish man out of office.
23
I think the people interviewed are ignoring the fact that there was an attempt by Russian agents to help Trump get elected as stated in Barr's brief letter.
This fact was reported to Obama and Trump before the election. McConnell blocked the publication of this fact before the election by threatening Obama that he would state that Obama was making a attempt to effect the election results.
Trump and republicans continued to insist that Russia did not interfere with the election and now Mueller has stated in his report that that they did as reported before the election.
This fact may not rise to criminal intent but it shows the republicans are guilty of collusion by denying that the Russians were interfering in the election when then knew their statements were not true.
16
@Bill
As a matter of fact, Bill, according to Mueller’s report, Russian agents DID approach members of the Trump campaign and were rebuffed.
Not much coverage of that, eh?
1
No matter your political stripes this matter, to paraphrase a term used by a senior government official or two, is a big deal in our history. It has morphed into a signpost showing how clearly divided our country is and probably will remain. I hope for and wish a middle line developing where the United States can move forward without constantly fighting each other. This is i believe a country with the best tools available to move forward with governing for our all best outcome and future. I would like to be able, as I think all of us would, to say what is on my mind and have it be treated respectively with me allowing the same to others. Politics is a rough way to govern but we have to be able to get the best outcome for us and our country's future.
2
If you are Trump supporter then sooner or later you have to switch to vodka to keep maintaining the special kind of reality you need around you.
48
Why would Trump supporters celebrate ?
The media found Trump guilty before the facts were in
"There’s really no question about Trump/Putin collusion, and Trump in fact continues to act like Putin’s puppet. The only question is how high the indictments will reach,and how much damage they’ll do"
Paul Krugman, NY Times, 2017/11/17
So, yes, Trump supporters have a point.
11
@John
If you "collusion" is the only worrying aspect of this presidency -- you are sorely missing the bigger picture.
4
@John Quoting you quoting Krugman: “The only question is how high the indictments will reach”
What's the point of celebrating? Krugman didn't predict who would be indicted. And collusion isn’t a crime.
The investigation of Trump and his administration did lead to criminal indictments of Manafort and Gates and Cohen and Flynn and several other people. Did those indictments do damage to the Trump administration? Look who's in control of the House a year after Kruman's article to find the answer.
Helsinki.
28
I would invite Trump supporters to reflect that it is Trump himself that ignited this entire spectacle by his stupid and immature behavior. Perhaps during their celebrations they might ponder this fact.
18
Great excuse for a parade.
No concrete proof that your president is a traitor.
27
It strikes me as hilarious that Trump supporters are acting as if all those instances of conduct 45's which defy an innocent explanation suddenly don't matter; why it's as if they never happened at all!! My takeaway is that we've lowered the bar to the point of absurdity if the best we can say is, "See, he wasn't indicted!!!" Let's wait for the Mueller report to be released so we can see just how close to the razor's edge the campaign went.
23
I am deeply disturbed by the Russian's premeditated manipulation of our election and equally disturbed that the Trump administration is not. The Russians supported his candidacy because they believed it would weaken the United States. What on Earth is there to celebrate in any of this?
28
This article, and the comments that follow, are a great example of how Democrats fool themselves into thinking a loss is a win.
At least the Dems have the Majority in the House, so they can fail to override Trump's veto.
Another win for Dems...
6
@Russian Bot
The real power is holding the Senate. Mitch knows that, the GOP know that and so do the democrats. Trump may now fill every vacant judicial post by the time he leaves office. IF he wins in 2020 he may get another SCOTUS pick or 2.
1
@Russian Bot Just a word of thanks to you and all the Russian ex-KGB agents and kleptocrats who helped out in the US election. Yes, I know: some people say you wish ruin on the United States, but that notion comes from the Fake News networks. Thus it is irrelevant next to the fact that you hated Hillary as much as we do, and that you gave us the great gift of Donald J. Trump!
@Tristan T
I've been considering changing my nym to CryptoCon since so many thick people don't get the "Russian Bot" joke and think I'm actually a Russian bot. These same thick people think I'm a conservative so maybe changing won't work either.
Ellison was right, the two most abundant elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity.
2
They supported Trump because this time they were going to prove what they've always known. That "only they" knew how to fix the country. The poorly educated, as Trump has called them. They're right. They've always been right. The educated elites are all wrong. Common scene tells them so.
And common sense tells them the worlds most acclaimed business man, a billionaire with a super model wife, a winner, could do the job. And prove their point.
And they've stayed with Trump through all the revelations about Stormy Daniels, the bankruptcies, Trump University, the "Access Hollywood" tapes etc. because they can never admit to themselves that they were wrong and perhaps the hated educated elites were right. It's not about Trump anymore. It's about pride. By his supporters who can't admit they were wrong. Again.
37
One might say that my politics lean left, though I am not party affiliated, nor do I vote party line. I for one am relieved there was no evidence of outright cooperation between the Trump campaign and the Russians. There was an obvious attempt, and they continue to do so, but I can feel confident that they did not succeed.
I feel it was a very thorough investigation and clearly they were right to pursue as long as they did. The simple fact that so many high profile campaign officials blatantly lied about their involvement.
I would imagine many of these people in the article are celebrating the same way someone celebrates when after years of smoking they get a clean bill of health. They continue to say "What they did to this man..." What they did expose the truth, for good or for ill, and for that we should all celebrate.
Honestly, I don't care what any of these people in the article think...they didn't see the evidence nor did they see the report. They had simple faith in him, and this time it paid off. To imply that it was baseless from the beginning, at a time when all of the government was Republican dominated, renders their opinions moot.
If it were the "witch hunt" they constantly shrieked about, he'd be tied to a stake already.
Conversely, anyone hoping for an outcome that meant he had handed Russia the keys to the kingdom is equally delusional. If Mr. Barr is not covering up by crazy redacting, then we should all be happy
17
I agree. It seems like many people are assuming that because the outcome was no collusion, that means the investigation was unjustified.
But that’s muddled thinking. The point of having an investigation is to figure out what happened. Given Russia’s election meddling and the many connections to the trump campaign, the investigation was absolutely justified, even necessary. And it turned up a lot of useful information that held some people accountable and will improve our election security.
5
@Marvin...you haven't SEEN Mueller's report only Barr's and he's a partisan hack working for the most corrupt president in American history.
3
I don't think Trump deserves a second term but these supporters are right that the results of this investigation and some of the stuff that went on will be used as a weapon against the Democrats.
8
@ Luke Ramondo
Especially the women carrying women for Trump signs, now there’s an interesting group.
11
@Luke Ramundo Unless he goes after Hillary which he is raring to do. Bannon says Trump is going to go 'full animal'. Should be an interesting 2 years. I hope we survive, as in the meantime we've cut off our allies, thrown regs out the window, bankrupting small farmers, and on and on.
4
@Luke Ramundo
... because the former Dean of Trump University hires only the best influence-peddling felons to manage his campaigns...
... until they end up in jail. But hey no collusion!
1
What is crucial to remember is that, regardless of Mueller's determinations or the AG's attempted spin, is that the special counsel's work appears to have provided assistance to numerous other federal investigations (SDNY, Eastern District of Virginia, DC Circuit Court) as well as legal actions or suits by State Attorneys General (NY, NJ, DC, MD). While the scope of his work was narrow by design, the others are not so limited. So stay tuned.
14
Until the full report with the backup data is released to the public, there will always be doubt as to how Mueller, and then Barr, reached their conclusions.
Concerning collusion: It is impossible to believe that the Trump campaign upon finding out that Russia was interfering with the 2016 election did nothing to stop it, and in fact was willing to use Russian info to damage HRC (e.g., Trump Tower mtg, etc.,) and worked with Stone/Wikileaks to get other supposedly info on HRC. No collusion? You have got to be kidding us, right?
Concerning obstruction: The reason Trump fired Comey is reason enough as the very definition of obstruction. And the Mueller report "did not exonerate" DJT. Apparently, Mueller felt the Congress and the people would demand a full investigation of this aspect, and if the House does not pursue this to its ultimate conclusion, that in fact, there has been many incidents of obstruction, the Dems in the House will lose the support of those who believe in our nation's values that no one is above the law regardless of their position and that Congress must stand up for our democracy. No obstruction? You've got to be kidding, right?
Therefore, only the full disclosure of the Mueller report and backup information, followed by the public testimony of Barr, Mueller and Rosenstein before the House committees, to explain their conclusion, can bring this to the proper close. Everyone knows it. The vote in the House of 420-0 to release the report agrees.
13
collusion was always a useful term for Trump, since it sounds like such a sinister charge, but is not really a crime. conspiracy is a crime. Mueller did not discover enough irrefutable evidence to bring ironclad federal conspiracy charges against Trump, it seems. that is not the exoneration from all culpability Trump and company are celebrating - in fact, Mueller seems to have said exactly the opposite. we await more details on the obstruction piece. perhaps the relief that Mueller's probing is finally ending is enough for the red hat gang to break out the vodka; it seems premature to me. but let them have a good time, as long as they don't drink too much vodka and then try to drive, as Republicans benefited from too much Russian election hanky panky and then tried to govern.
Seems like Mueller punted the question of collusion and obstruction to Barr who has decided to support Trump and the administration. Although it is evident that Trump and his team of cronies are the most corrupt administration in the history of the republic, he will allowed to continue to trample American values with policies and actions that can only be described as aligned with dictatorships. The policy that says a sitting President cannot be indicted is at the center of this mess. If a President cannot be indicted, he is in fact, above the law and can do what he pleases, legal or not.
Be ready for 2020 when we see more Russian interference and a rigged election that no one can do anything about.
7
@DSS No one, not even the President, should be exempt from the law.
2
How uplifting to see Americans marching in favor of more tax cuts for billionaires and massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
47
@Frank F And ridding Americans unnecessary health care especially for those under age 26 or with preexisting conditions. Bamboozler-in-chief. Just not cunning enough to collude.
4
is that very far from the same gang believing they could learn the secrets of real estate from a course at Trump University and then wind up billionaires themselves? it seems like such a disconnect but really it may really be an identity issue - they are always on the cusp of unlocking their own inner billionaire.
1
The Republicans may be angry enough to dig up old investigations about the treatment of Hillary Clinton’s emails by the FBI and the alleged bias inside the FBI, among her other supposed sins.
Personally I think that dog won’t hunt. The Republicans held numerous investigations in the Obama years, to “drag down our president” but nothing stuck on the wall. For example, there were seven congressional Benghazi investigations, 13 hearings and 50 briefings about Clinton’s role therein, and nothing came of it, despite a $20.5 million bill to the taxpayer.
But I think there’s more than anger driving the new “witch hunt” (and yes, it would really be one as opposed to the real need to investigate possible Russian involvement with the Trump campaign). The Republicans want to divert attention away from more than a dozen other investigations and lawsuits that Trump faces.
Two that come to mind are investigation into Trump’s trying to hide his extramarital affairs by using campaign funds for hush money, and possible influence-peddling by his Inauguration Committee.
They want to muddy the news cycle with their own investigations to blunt the impact of what is to come.
10
The Barr summary did not indicate that the Mueller report ruled collusion out. Somebody should ask the AG directly if the report stated that there definitely was no collusion. The summary stated that the report did not establish that there was collusion (which would be very difficult to prove anyway). Not being able to establish collusion is different from no collusion and the report may well have been more ambiguous on this question, perhaps closer to the obstruction of justice call. There is a simple test to see if this is correct. If it is, we will not see the report until Democrats win all branches of government. With this aging hack of an AG who thinks the US should have a dictator, the report will go the way of Trump's tax returns.
11
@The Hawk
Explaining nuance to a Trump fan is a pretty pointless exercise. Truth is nit something they are interested in anger and fear sustenance is a they ask from Trump. If Barr's cliff notes said he did collude they would just turn the signs around. "Deep State Conspiracy" is written on the other side. If Barr is a honest man he will release the full report. We just have to wait. I suspect the wait will be long.
6
I note that the Times made no mention of the size of the protests. But, I'm sure Trump believes they were the biggest New York has ever seen (the cameras were just angled wrong).
9
Trump: I love the poorly educated!
Crowd: U! S! A! (Cheers and claps)
Nothing much has changed since the campaign period. Trump can disparage his voters and take away their health care and impose more taxes on them and still they will cheer and clap and wear the Made in China MAGA hat.
16
I feel sorry for these people.They are about to lose their healthcare,any future social security benefits,any labor laws to protect them at work,a destroyed EPA so lots of exposure to pollutants.But I guess I feel more sorry for the rest of us.But we will continue to rally.We have 2020.Get out the vote!
19
@Nora
Indeed. But I think they take delight when Trump frustrates liberals, progressives, and Democrats.
2
I am working really really hard on Robotic Process Automation to eliminate all of these peoples' jobs.
9
Everything the Russians did to subvert democracy is OK so let’s drink vodka?
These people should stay indoors and be quiet, for they have no idea how loudly they proclaim themselves unAmerican once they go outside.
15
The hypocrisy knows no bounds. If people close to any Democrat candidate had the number of secret meetings with Russians along with the later indictments and plea deals stemming from this investigation, these Trump supporters would be howling. There was a time not too long ago that Republicans were rightly determined to rein in Putin's Russia. Now, known extensive election interference is just shrugged off and ignored.
8
I'm sure that celebrating the Barr cover-up brought some much-needed relief to trump's fans... but it ain't over 'til it's over.
9
God do we suck.
22
@Deanne Hart
Yep, we're pretty pathetic.
It's like everybody (both sides) is still in high school pulling for the football team against the big rival.
We need to see the full Mueller report, not the Cliff notes "Barr Report" written by a conservative hack who already prejudged the case by his own admission. His views before seeing any of the evidence were outlined in his long, obsequious, unsolicited letter to then-AG Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III. That letter which was Barr-man's de facto application to replace Sessions, which The Donald then did. Obstruction of Justice, thy name is Bill Barr.
9
Dangit, they are brilliant. What a missed opportunity on Democrats' part. I am inspired!
This weekend I am going to go eat at an international market, and hike Griffith Park in honor of Hillary Clinton's COMPLETE AND TOTAL EXONERATION from participating in global conspiracies!
But fellow American Trump-lovers - drop that potato vodka. Despite what Trump did or did not do, the Russian thugs still did attack our election and I will never stop loathing them and their socialist ways.
I'm going to celebrate Hillary with NAPA VALLEY white wine. Dump that Stoli and get Tito's Vodka from Texas, baby! USA!
8
@ann I like Yorvik vodka - the name is old Scandivian and means Yor’s Town = York And is distilled in the USA - we need to sell it to Russia! And once the hangover clears deman en masse to have Mr. Mueller’s full report - we paid for it!
It seems that it’s a little early to celebrate. Trump, Jared, Ivanka, Don Jr and possibly Eric may have committed acts that they will rue as the wheels of justice slowly turn.
Preet Bharara and others are pointing out that Barr is the President’s hand picked Attorney General who has done Trump’s bidding.
14
@Javaforce Why is no one talking about that fact that Jr, Ivanka and Jared weren't interviewed. That is just VERY odd!
7
@Javaforce : All AG's are 'handpicked' by the President who nominated them. Why do people persist with this obfuscation? Self-soothing perhaps, like the Solitary Vice. Do you think President Obama had AG Holder foisted upon him by meanie Republicans whereby he could hound Obama over trivial things?
The American people show themselves yet again to be part of an infinite feedback loop with cable news. The one feeds the other. The people react to and believe in what they are fed, and then the news agencies report on their behavior—a mirror facing itself... Abolish television! and the people's minds will be free.
7
Are none of Trump’s followers bothered by the established FACT that Russia, an enemy state, interfered in our election and wanted to install Trump as President? The fact is also undisputed that Russia made overtures to the campaign that were never overtly rejected. The Trump campaign and transition team never called the FBI to report such overtures, as they should have. Republicans in Congress have never investigated Russia’s hacking of our elections and not demanded more secure voting machines and protocols. As a former Republican, I have been certainly asking myself and my elected representatives “why” as to all of the above.
I think the partisan glee is a bit premature. As any lawyer can tell you, Mueller’s report was written within strict legal/law enforcement parameters with language to match. Barr, who conveniently prior to his nomination as attorney general opined that there could not be any collusion, made a political pronouncement that likely cherry picks language to support his views and those of the President. Collusion or not, Trump has done the will of Russia consistently, kowtows to the murderous thug Putin, and thereby damages our national security.
Every American has a right to read the Mueller report. Every American who puts country and the rule of law above mindless and ultimately self-destructive tribalism should demand answers as to why Trump and so many in today’s Republican Party are gleeful that Russia helped install Trump as President.
8
Well, there it is. Mr Dieterle sees no reason to have investigated Trump. Somehow he can look at the Russians working to get Trump elected, and the contacts with Russia of Trump and his inner circle, and not see anything to investigate. In fact, I expect he believes that it's Clinton who should be investigated for colluding with Russia, that's what Trump suggests. It's easy to make fun of that kind of thinking, but we have to seriously recognize that it's going on in this guy's head, and he's smart enough to run a restaurant, which takes some smarts. Very strange.
3
Just look at what they're celebrating! Good grief. A POTUS that might not have been found to have conspired to obtain help from our sworn enemy to win his election to the office. Seems like a pretty low bar to be celebrating. Anyway, it was an investigation that clearly had merit, and still does. He certainly appears (in Helsinki for certain) subservient to the Russian dictator, defending him constantly, despite all evidence pointing to Russian interference in our election for crying out loud. We still aren't 100% sure this is a done deal since the actual report hasn't been seen.
This is such a shameful period in U.S. history - one I truly fear we won't ever recover from.
11
Really, what did these same people think about the Whitewater investigation initiated as soon as Bill Clinton took office, and was still going on - for over 4 years - when the Monica scandal happened? Clinton was impeached in the House, but the Senate decided not to impeach him. And yet, we must believe that Trump is the worst treated president ever, and that it was all simply a fake news witch hunt.
Wrong. We still live in a democracy, with a free press, and if anything, must continue to hold Trump & the crooks in his administration accountable.
Every president must be held accountable for all their actions, as Obama, Clinton, Bush Sr. & Jr., yes even Reagan all were. If Trump was better at being a politician, he would not have been investigated in the first place. His own actions, tweets, and words have gotten him into trouble, not the "fake news" or the "deep state."
10
I never believed that Trump conspired or coordinated with Russia in 2016 for the simple reason that he had no need to. It was pretty clear to everyone that the Russian Federation felt it would have better relations with the US under Trump than under a President Clinton and wanted him to win. Under those circumstances, Trump going out of his way to conspire with Russian nationals makes no sense.
The reason that many in the media and others appalled by the idea of a Trump presidency so readily embraced Hillary's excuse for losing ("collusion") is that the press drumbeat for at least 90 days prior to the election (including on election eve) was that Hillary had a 95% chance of winning.
This created such a strong expectation on the part of largely liberal reporters and the public that there was a compelling psychological need to explain "how this could happen". Surely "something happened".
Something happened alright. Your hatred of Trump the man blinded you to seeing the strong national wave of national discontent that put Trump in the WH.
So the media, and Democrats, clung to this false explanation for the 2016 election like indigenous peoples struggling to explain a solar eclipse. And many clung so tightly that even post Mueller report you simply cannot let it go.
5
Looking at that photo, I'd venture to say that very few are New Yorkers, not only because by and large, we didn't vote for Trump -- but because we already knew what would happen if he ever got into the White House.
So let his supporters have their fun.
We'll see what happens after he strips them of the health care and other benefits.
And then there'll be the findings of the Southern District of New York...and no William H. Barr.
18
@N. Smith
New York State has 62 counties.
Trump won 45 of them in 2016.
Trump received 10% of the vote in NYC.
It’s possible they are in fact New Yorkers.
2
@Winning
FYI. there is a YUGE difference between New York City and New York State.
And 10% of any vote doesn't not even count for a flash in the pan.
Keep trying.
2
@N. Smith plenty of New Yorkers voted for Trump. Staten island to start with mostly voted for Trump.
1
I’ve heard that people danced in the streets after 9/11, too. I’m pretty sure Donald Trump said so, and we all know that he never lies.
9
Are we sure it's a rally? It appears to be a Trump university reunion.
13
There is no other way around it. Any way you look at it, this is a personality cult in action. The loyalty among these people is to the personality of Donald Trump and not to any type of policy or program, other than sealing all the national borders (well, maybe not Canada).
And their entire energy seems to be focused not on anything positive, but simply on taunting, trolling and otherwise bullying liberals. The celebration was not so much to celebrate Trump's non-criminality, but to rub it in to all the uppity liberals who always seem to lord it over them.
You would think that after two years of Trump's presidency, the wells of resentment would run dry and that they would focus their energy on something positive. They still don't seem to have grasped that they are now the ones in power, responsible for the national well-being, no longer the powerless outsiders. The responsibility for the national welfare is now on them and their cult leader, not on us liberals.
And of course there is the delicious irony that the celebration was held on Fifth Avenue, the very place that Trump famously said he could shoot someone and get away with it with his loyal followers. Talk about life imitating art!
8
Blind lemmings leading the blind lemmings. Overseas retirement is looking better and better. 2020 will be the deciding factor.
4
Such fierce and blind loyalty to Trump is not rational.
It can only be explained, I think, by the fact that these people, feeling left out in a world that is moving too fast (in every directions – not all of which are good) – RECOGNIZE themselves in him: a frightening sociopathy.
8
I only saw one non white face on that photo. That says it all.
4
That must be just about every Trump supporter in NYC in that photo.
6
All things considered, what prevents Democrats to offer Putin an even better deal if his trolls help them defeat Trump in 2020?
2
@ivo skoric
What prevents them?... It's something called the U.S. CONSTITUTION!
1
So unsettling, so disappointing to see so many fellow citizens being conned, being duped by the most clueless, corrupt president in history.
5
A new syndrome: the No Collusion Delusion.
29
Why bring up Dems when this investigation was conducted by Trumps DOJ with all Republican team? Why did Barr rush to make up his own conclusions before one word of the report is released to Congress? The report must be pretty bad but must be released.
22
I am so appalled at the passivity and the rolling-over-and-dying of the Democrats that I can barely contain my disgust.
Enough with pro-Trump comments that start with "The fact is..."
The fact is, we haven't seen the Mueller report. We've seen only an abridged interpretation of some of its findings, picked by the partisan attorney general who was appointed for this very purpose -- to obfuscate, distract and lie on behalf of the president.
Where is the full-blown outrage of the Democrats I helped elect to represent me? What is in the Mueller report?
30
This is the incredible power of the systematic brainwash on gullible people, a mass representing Trump's base.
21
@Armando
At the time that Nixon resigned & left the WH his public support was still 24% and there were almost as many US adults that claimed to "have no opinion" . Yet the Nixon tapes were known by the public and his voice and intentions to obstruct justice were clear.
The Trump-Kushner crime family supporters will believe that they got a tax cut (and didn`t) while the 1% who actually got a huge tax cut will smile on the way to their offshore bank.
1
Trump is colluding with oligarchs, why are they celebrating?
This is the same crowd who thought that John Gotti was a great guy cause he paid for fireworks.
20
More like “delusion day.” A celebration of Trump’s destruction of objective reality in the service of one. GOP be shamed.
15
Not one of the mob read a word of Mueller’s report, and if/when it’s released I’m sure they won’t read it. They’re clearly not concerned about 6 indictments coming out of the WH cabinet, 34 charges against individuals, and a patern of lying from Trump about the investigation. They see this as a cultural Yankees/Red Sox or Michigan/Ohio battle despite the fact that there is no exoneration according to Mueller.
21
But...but...but...I thought the FBI, Mueller, and the rest of the “Deep State” were hopelessly corrupt and could not be trusted. And the news, well, that’s all fake, right? Soooo, now that Trump’s supporters like what they hear from the very same sources they have been chanting against at Trump’s pep rallies, suddenly they believe it?
17
**"It’s just sad it had to happen,” said Ms. Joseph, 47, a stay-at-home mother who helped organize the Manhattan rally and also helped plan a 2017 “March Against Sharia” in Syracuse.**
March Against Sharia? Speechless.
15
Ho ho ho. So their hack-appointee of an A-G writes a summary memo claiming that "no evidence of conspiracy rises to the level of a crime," and "this does not exonerate obstruction of justice."
This I believe defines Making America Great Again: Obstruct Away! and Putin Collusion is iffy, but not criminal.
But if word of unfavorable news had come out, they'd be rallying with Fake News! signs. Either way, TrumpAmerica is Great with it.
8
I am glad to know that insufficient evidence equals total exoneration. This means that we will never again have to hear or see Hilary Clinton's name in a sentence with either "emails" or "Benghazi."
19
Love it
1
Well Trump said that he has the military, the police, the bikers, and that there will be a revolution if he is ever held to account for his misdeeds. He wasn’t joking about how he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue.... I think, unfortunately, a very large percent of the population of this country are just down with criminal and unethical activity and accept it, and even celebrate it, as the American Way, and that those who don’t are just fools.
12
Yay, yay.
He is a pathological liar corrupt real estate “developer” who cheated on his pregnant wife with a women his fixer paid off and can’t maintain even a skeletons White House staff who have not plead guilty or been convicted. We are so proud of our hero!!!!
8
"Beyond a reasonable doubt" is a standard to protect the rights of individuals against malfeasance of the state. "High crimes and misdemeanors" is a standard to protect the nation against malfeasance of an individual. They and the circumstances that call upon them are not interchangeable. They are principles that for compelling reasons err on the side of that which they are designed to defend.
1
I voted Trump. I think the Mueller Report simply validated my vote. That is what angered me about the investigation. I frankly don’t care if Russia interfered or if Trump had received helped. The report was an attempt to invalidate my decision to vote for anyone I want. That is my right as a US citizen. Good for this happy crowd. Wish I was there.
19
@Pilot
Your "right as a US citizen" should make you care about ANY kind of interference from a foreign country in our national elections -- especially an adversarial one.
Enjoy the Kool-Aid while you can.
34
@Pilot Trump supporters do not care if Russia helped Trump or interfered in the election; sums it up. Trump is the Rights all powerful God and they will literally follow him into the gates of hades. America is in very; very deep trouble. Ray Sipe
30
Russia wants a weaker, divided, ineffective America, because they benefit when what used to be called “American values” are diluted.
You remember American values: justice, integrity, truth-telling, defense of the poor, preventing the wealthy and powerful from abridging the rights of others, standing by our allies and opposition to tyrants and thugs....
21
I think that we all should be relieved that the Mueller report found no evidence of collusion. It means that our democracy works on some levels.
What has escaped me is the vicious attacks on Mueller and his team- why? if there was no collusion? What was the point of the attacks?
I am still puzzled why Republicans, and Trumpsters more than the average Republican, hate Democrats so much. It's a vitriolic environment where someone always has to be wrong, someone always has to lose.
Hate is the wrong path- it might be in fashion right now- but hopefully, during this next election cycle, we Americans will be given two candidates that run on issues, not personal emotional politics and vendettas.
3
Most comments on this article that point to the investigation as purely politically motivated and also expressing feelings that trump was exonerated are very misguided.
You need to read some more and stop watching Fox. Barr respected Mueller - they are friends (at least in employment) and have been for years. Barr even stated that Mueller would not be the type to become involved in something as politically motivated as a "witch hunt" - so even Barr upheld the continuation of the investigation.
The report, if so inconsequential, should be released - after all if trump is so innocent what does he or his "administration" fear? You would think trump and his cronies would want that - it could keep the Dems occupied while he tries to cut health care for ~20 million people, or steal funds to build a useless wall or any other of his ambitions to fund the rich at the expense of the rest of us - that means you too...
6
Robert Mueller's investigation shows no Russian collusion. At least, that is what the Attorney General's summary to Congress says. The report is ambiguous because of the narrow scope in which Robert Mueller was allowed to operate. The vehement denial of exoneration by Special Counsel himself questions Barr's overnight summary. Russians and Russia lovers are ecstatic but Americans are crestfallen over the results of an American investigation. To me that seems like Russians have been successful in their nefarious intent of destabilizing America. I'm sure their attention will now move to 2020.
22
@NNI I guess the Soviets did not lose the Cold War after all
1
@NNI: But how do u know Americans r"crestfallen "over the exoneration of the c-in-c b Muller? Appears most Americans with best interests of nation at heart should be overjoyed that after 22 months and 40 million dollars,our c-in-c, whom over 60 million cast votes for, has been cleared of alleged collusion!It was a vendetta instigated by Obama and Hillary's supporters, and now it is time to investigate HRC's shenanigans, but doubt that will ever occur!Re Joe Biden, considered moderate alternative for 2020, am looking forward to Peter Scheitzer's new book on Biden's son's Hunter's "manigances"as a lobbyist for the Ukraine and China which netted the Biden family tens of millions of dollars. If Hunter Biden's father were not the v.p, would he have had such influence with abovementioned foreign governments.Goal of any politico is to enrich himself.0bama, considered so pure and noble even the saints could not touch him, entered political arena poor but now lives like a Russian oligarch on an estate on Kalorama Road, THE most posh "quartier" in the District if not the entire country.Recall JFK's observation that John Connally, who came from a dirt poor part of the Texas panhandle, no sooner entered politics than he started buying himself $300 suits when that was a lot a money!Ironical that Michelle Obama, who never once deigned to set foot in slums of Chicago's south sides, where thousands have been killed, injured, didn't hesitate to intervene on behalf of Smollett.
1
It is time to place Russia under an entire global embargo for this stunt
I'm happy for them. As one late night host pointed out that's one down seventeen to go. Hope their just as ready to party when their Medicare and Social Security gets cut.
39
Let them suffer. They are now all in the Karma Cafe, no menues available, they will exactly get what they deserve
If Trump supporters think the investigations of the president are going to turn the tide against the Democrats in 2020, they are as deluded as the president. The investigations certainly did not hurt the Democrats in the mid-terms. We don't even know exactly what the Mueller report says, and yet Trump supporters are gloating. It must be nice to live in a fact-free bubble.
There is a photo with this article that shows perhaps a hundred people celebrating outside Trump tower. Maybe it is a few hundred. It is hard to tell for all the flags and banners. I'm sure Trump is saying it is the biggest no-collusion rally ever held, and he may be right about that. Meanwhile, I see exactly one dark-skinned face in that crowd, and that person appears to be neither holding flag, nor a banner nor wearing a Trump hat. He may well have stumbled into this rally on his way to work.
However many people were at this or other similar rallies, there are many millions of other Americans with enough sense not to be celebrating.
16
A common theme in criticism of trump supporters is belittling a perceived lack of education.
Just want to point out that a very common problem facing many young voters now and within the foreseeable future is the debt they took on due to the belief that college would benefit them in a worthwhile way OR to avoid the shame inflicted by the very people commenting here criticizing trump supporters for being “uneducated” or having lesser than occupations such as coal mining.
Trying to somehow parlay student debt into a call for free college tuition is probably not going to appeal to these voters who upon arrival into the “real world” are now acutely aware that not all majors are equal and neither are schools.
Neither will student loan forgiveness as clearly common sense in ones gut will suggest that this isn’t a good idea. So I urge people to consider their audience when they belittle lack of education.
The other thing to be mindful of is the fact that people are not equal when it comes to cognitive ability. There are plenty of people who are skilled and talented at many things but not writing, math, and schoolwork. So clearly anyone who falls into this category will be find the democrats overall message hurtful.
Shaming people is never a good idea.
11
Before casting stones: tell that to the Trump supporters who make shaming others political sport.
3
@Winning
These people, this president and the country are doing a good enough job of shaming themselves.
1
I live in Trump country. I'm retired and not in great health but regardless, my mandatory retirement was at 65 from a job I loved. My wife works for a company of about 300 employees and from the owners down, she only hears glowing remarks about Trump and the GOP. She has to keep her politics private, because if it was known she was a progressive, they'd find a way to fire her. Almost every employee meeting and any discussion with the owners, she must endure their praying being forced on her because they're very religious evangelicals and they must constantly thank God for their prosperity. Because Jesus made them very rich with a net worth easily in the hundreds of millions. Not their loyal Trump supporter employees, that are underpaid and have the worst group health insurance plan I've ever imagined existed. It's basically a catastrophic health plan that costs $450 a month. My bottom line observation of these typical zealot Trump supporters is, what has he done at all to warrant this blind admiration by his minions? All my wife now hears is that Trump was vindicated and found innocent of the Mueller witch hunt. For 22 months it was never discussed, except that Hillary should've gone to jail and Trump is the greatest President in American history. I just don't get it?
24
This President got lucky the first time he ran but he is a one and done type of guy. The Republicans will lose the White House in two years. Unless they can suppress the vote
9
@FV That's the problem. They CAN suppress the vote. It's called gerrymandering and the Electoral College.
3
In 2018 after meeting with Putin POTUS was asked: "Do you hold Russia at all accountable for anything in particular?"
His reply: "I hold both countries responsible. I think that the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. ... And I think we're all to blame."
Sounds like collusion to me. Republicans across the board are ignoring this statement from the Barr summary of the Special Counsel report: "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Mr. Barr fails to offer an explanation for why so many people lied about meeting with Russians.
15
...crowd size...?
As shocking as it is that American's that are NOT in the 1% or a GOP elected official are out-in-public cheering Trump, ...the crowd is less than a few hundred.
4
This is a President who started the birther movement in America and to this day has not apologized. It was this propaganda that sealed his name as the next POTUS.
7
“I get one day where I can gloat about it, and you all get upset,” Mr. Klaber, 43, an apartment building manager, said of his largely liberal circle of friends, who were not amused.
Until Barr releases the WHOLE Mueller report, and not just his 4 page description of it, we will not know what was found. Barr wrote a 19 page unsolicited "memo" in 2018 in which he basically asserted that a POTUS cannot commit the crime of obstruction of justice.
Barr evidently does not remember the Articles of Impeachment drafted in 1974 for Richard Nixon, in which the first article is an accusation of ... OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_process_against_Richard_Nixon#Articles_of_impeachment
Barr evidently does not remember the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Bill_Clinton#Impeachment_by_House_of_Representatives
"The impeachment of Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, was initiated in December 1998 by the House of Representatives and led to a trial in the Senate on two charges, one of perjury and one of obstruction of justice."
If Barr does not remember simple history, and asserts it is not possible for a POTUS to commit obstruction of justice, how well reasoned must his 4 page letter be?
Curious minds want to know.
17
@Joe From Boston
Barr is a twice over bag man.
3
@Joe From Boston,
I will not defend either Trump or Barr, but I must point out the obvious logic error in your post. Obviously, Barr remembers the charges against Nixon and Clinton. In his 19 page letter on the subject, he does not argue that the sitting President has never been charged with obstruction of Justice. Instead, he argues that a sitting President (as the ultimate authority in the Executive) cannot be charged with, according to that logic, be charged with interfering with himself. In other words, that the obstruction charges against Nixon and Clinton were impropsr.
This may seem like quibbling, but it addresses a fundamental error in your post.
2
For a few days after Election Night 2016, the Times carried two sorts of articles on Trump's astounding victory.
One part argued that white racism, sexism, and lack of education were the distinctive traits of Trump supporters. Russia was still some days down the road.
Such articles were "rejecting": Trump is illegitimate and the election is a joke. Indeed, the Trump voters were ignorant dopes. Don't take them seriously.
The other articles were thoughtful. Something had alienated a big part of Americans to an unimagined degree. The approach can be described as "reconciling", aiming at understanding, coexisting with, and ultimately reconciling with the immense alienated American subculture.
Within days reconciliation disappeared as a significant theme. The norm, which persists even now, is utter rejection and denigration of Trump and his supporters.
As Ted Koppel pointed out, these opinions conquered much of the front page, a la the #MeToo allegations, and treated as fact. Astounding accusations, even of "treason", became routine.
The charge "fake news" comes to mind.
The left has been talking to itself, working itself up, for so long that the untoward, but rather meagre, evidence of a Trump-Putin conspiracy has been puffed up into a conquest of the US by the disguised KGB.
Amazing charges call for amazing evidence. Mueller has correctly denied that such evidence can be found.
How could our best and brightest dig themselves such a pit?
46
Listening to Trump’s daily tweets and his very own words justified the Mueller investigation and continues justify a complete rejection of Trump.
44
@alyosha
Your comment is one of the most thoughtful I have read on this topic in the last two years about the media coverage of the election. It would be nice if @BrianStelter would have you on CNN to teach him a few things about objectivity.
12
@alyosha
So you are saying that Russia did not interfere in the election even though the report said it did? Are you saying that the Trump campaign didn't willingly cooperate with Russian interference even thought the report said they did? Are you saying there was no obstruction of justice even though Barr admitted that was the conclusion and there was no exoneration?
You are gloating and that there was no collusion and taking a premature victory lap on the 2020 election despite all the extensive indictments and on-going investigations into criminality of Trump and his trashing of the American constitution.
You forget too that Trump supporters are a minority and the majority question whether Trump won legitimately. I don't think he did and we KNOW that Russia interfered on his behalf - to an extent and with purpose unlike any other country.
I hope we can restore majority rule
23
I'm not sure why the Democrats have to take any, let alone all of the blame for the Mueller investigation when it was initiated when the Republicans held both houses of Congress under the Trump administration and commenced with the Trump Justice Department under his duly appointed AG Jeff Sessions.
21
Trump supporters are celebrating , a false reprieve from being guilty. We simply can’t ignore the numerous Trumites that had connections with the Russians and were indicted & sent to prison.The God Father doesn’t carry the gun his supporters do.
Barr, a strong supporter of Trump and an out spoken critic of Muller, & said before he was made attorney General that there was no obstruction of Justice, simply absolved Trump of the crime
8
What are the MAGA Hat wearers going to say if New York State indicts Trump and or members of his family on the multiple crimes they have committed under NYS jurisdiction? And what are they going to say when the House has the Mueller Report and starts to build a case of obstruction against Trump and his henchmen?
I would like to pose a question to them. What is Donald Trump's most endearing trait? Is it the white collar criminality, the greed, the cruelty, the misogyny or his overt racism against Blacks, Muslims and Hispanics?
16
I really do not understand Trump supporters. They seem like a cult to me. The list of his corrupt, inept, crass, morally bankrupt, hypocritical behavior is too long and damming to list. Why can't they see it ? Just last week he trashed a life long Republican hero. One who served his county with honor, courage and dignity. What they have to say to that ? What excuse will they come up with now ? Imagine if Hillary had payed off two men just days before the election. Imagine the outrage then!!! Spare me this jubilation! I believe we should hold tight. The ride is not over just yet!
22
Please get off the streets of my town.
11
Ah, leftist tolerance at its best. All are welcome as long as they agree with progressive groupthink, right PA?
1
The MAGA hat is the new ‘in your face’ gloating confederate flag.
14
@Wordy
And that MAGA hat is made in China.
3
@Wordy
Worse. Even the misguided young man that shot that mob boss in front of his own house in SI recently had MAGA and other Trumpisms penned on his palm at his arraignment. I predict that there will next be a tidal wave of holdups at convience stores with the armed robber proclaiming MAGA because the clerks are not true blooded Americans.
1
This was a legal investigation into possible treason by the president of the US. Treason is still on the table with the way he has dealt with Putin in secret, and his love affair with Kim Jong Un, jerking American foreign policy around to fit his teenage infatuations with a dictator. At the peril of US security and US foreign policy.
The idea that this was some kind of witch hunt is a lie. The right should celebrate trump escaped criminal indictment, I guess, since they have to find some silver lining in the dark cloud of trump.
People are going to jail for crimes to which they've confessed. There are crimes all over. Trump is a thief. He's a liar. He's a cheat. He's an adulterer. He has sexually harrassed women. He has denigrated people he should respect. He is seeking to destroy the social safety nets for the poor and middle class. He attacked an American war hero 7 months after he died because he's jealous of the man, and blames him for acting on his conscience.
Trump will go to jail before it's all over. Truth will out.
5
The truth of the matter is that America is a right of center country and most Americans just want to do well and work and provide for their families. Most of us just want to be left alone without the government intruding into every aspect of our life. Democrats love to tell you what you should be doing because they know so much more and are morally superior. The folks who do the heavy lifting are somehow inferior to the Hollywood and coastal folks who look at us with disdain. And you wonder why Trump has so much support? It will be the same reason why he wins by a landslide in 2020. Trump gives voice to the people.
27
Trump is corrupt. Always has been.
29
@Sven Gall You start out your comment with a completely false statement and build a case on this crumbling foundation.
If the USA is a 'right of center' country, how is it that the Democrat won the popular vote by 3 million votes (you once again incorrectly say that Trump won 'in a landslide') and in the 2018 midterms something like 8 million more votes went to Democrats rather than republicans?
Come out of the Faux News bubble. We will welcome you to reality with open arms.
11
@Sven Gall
Heavy lifting? That's a laugh
9
Collusion by Trump with Russia is a fact. We all saw Trump ask Russia to interfere in our political process when he asked them to hack Hillary's email server. We are also told there were 14 contacts in all.
What was not legally established was conspiracy. Mueller was tasked with investigating conspiracy, not collusion (which is legal).
14
With Trump involved in 15+ active investigations including, SDNY, multiple States AGs, Congressional committees etc., regarding campaign finance violations, money laundering, fraud and obstruction, republicans would be wise to not declare victory after the 1st inning. There are still 8 long innings to go.
10
I'm curious about how big this rally was. The picture is on a NY City street, it's hard to tell whether it was a block or two, or more. How many New Yorkers support Trump?
6
It was very small, perhaps 100 people in all. And everyone in it appeared to be from New Jersey, parts of very republican states island and Long Island. Certainly didn’t reflect New Yorkers, nor the many more of us looking on.
3
@Eero
We didn't vote for him -- and he hates coming back here.
That's all you need to know.
1
@Catherine
Thanks!
The bubble thickens it’s walls. If a democratic candidate had invited Russia to hack his opponents emails, fired the head of the FBI because he was looking into an unprecedented number of contacts between his campaign and Russia (a hostile foreign power that had interfered in our election on his side) and ubiquitous lying about it; had a bone-head son that took a meeting under the pretenses of receiving aid from Russia, had business entanglements with Russia and lied about it, behaved like a beaten puppy in front of Putin on the world stage; attacked the FBI, judiciary, attorney general and intelligence agencies relentlessly ...I don’t think the Trumper crowd would be crying “witch hunt” if a SC was appointed to look into it.
13
I am truly happy that our President is not a traitor. But let’s be clear, this was a Republican self inflicted wound. The House and Senate were Republican controlled when this started. Democrats had no oversight powers whatsoever and could not appoint a special prosecutor if they wanted to. Which brings us to the Republican Attorney General and all the other Republican political appointees by President Trump who did. Why did they?
Supporters can claim “fake news” and “witch hunt” all they want but the facts are that more people were convicted or plead guilty to crimes than any other special prosecutor before Mueller. Stunningly, Mueller found more criminals than President Trump’s voter fraud commission did investigating the 2016 election which supposedly had millions of illegals voting.
Release the whole Mueller report and let’s move on.
4
@Progers9
Yes -- Let's move on to the Southern District Court of New York.
1
20 years from now, only 10% of the Americans will admit having voted for Trump in 2016. Mark my words.
8
to quote David Leonhart "He directed a criminal conspiracy to break campaign finance laws. He has used the presidency for personal enrichment. He has undermined democracy. He has damaged America’s global standing. He has lied repeatedly to the American people. He has obstructed justice" In other words, he was rotten before Mueller and is rotten after. Whether he colluded or not is almost irrelevant
18
Sounds like Mr. Klaber’s social network just got a lot smaller.
The bar is getting lower under the Trump Regime.
How can an investigation that reveals so much self dealing, corruption, indictments be seen as a vindication of the President?
The NY Times did provide too much front page headlines speculating about Mueller's investigation instead of ceding the space to cover the harmful and mindless policies of this administration.
8
From 2015 - 2017 trump was asked if he had business in Russia. He lied. He was asked if he had money from Russians. He lied. He was asked about his people contacting Russians. He lied. He was asked about Russian interference in the election. He lied (it was a 400 pound guy in bed! The FBI and CIA are stupid!).
So everything we could check on? He was lying.
And the investigation was improper?
Get a grip. No reasonable cop would have left this alone.I
8
If a Democrat was in Trump's position they would have been screaming for an investigation. Look at Benghazi. Look at what they still want to do to Hillary. Hypocrites
9
@Bob
And we all know what would happen had this been Obama....
1
No collusion. But, obstruction was left wide open, and I can't trust Barr who was personally appointed by trump. We don't know what else is in the report, but we DO know that trump criminally used his "foundation" as a personal piggy bank, that he criminally and fraudulently overstated and understated insurance and loan applications.... and so many other things that are downright unacceptable. Dancing in the streets for a thug of a president is really sad.
8
Of course the Russians didn’t collude with Trump. C’mon, see a movie, read a spy novel, look at the smirk on Putin’s face. Yes, they did interfere with our election and, yes, they did help Donny boy to get some votes that he never would have without their help but, no, they have always been way too smart about their espionage tactics to get involved directly with a loud-mouthed, empty-headed fool like Trump. Now, Saudi Arabia - that’s a different story. Their “useful idiot” of choice seems to be our boy Jared and they’ve got him “hook, line and sinker”. Look down the road a little further and let’s try to figure out which creep with a buck is lining up the troops for his shot as the next cult of personality, bread and circus, reality star, pseudo-leader of our rapidly dissolving democracy.
10
I am sure they all watch Fox News. Maybe nothing but.
6
Guess what? Trump's "fiercest" supporters have been proven right while all of the left and almost all of the media have been proven WRONG!
Guess the dolts" that inhabit flyover land might have a better view of reality than those cocooned in NYC and Wash DC.
3
@Steve W
Don't swallow a biased report as an honest representation of 22 months of investigation. Let the process play out. William Barr was brought in to protect Trump. It's not gospel.
2
Curious to know how many of these people are native New Yorkers.
3
@A
Not many...if, any.
1
I confess. I'm not surprised by the Mueller finding about collusion. Not because there WAS no collusion/conspiracy and not because Trump was fiendishly clever about it. We all recognize the impossibility of that. Mainly it's because I figured Putin was way too smart to be caught, or to allow his agents to be in any direct relationship and he recognized who he was dealing with. Putin was not about to be ensnared by relying on Trump's intelligence or presence of mind to keep him out of trouble.
2
The Mueller report is sort of like the Warren Commission report. Not that people who don’t believe either Warren or Mueller are incompetent, people just don’t trust their conclusions.
1
The deep irony is the flag waving. Oh, and the "Women for Trump" signs. Breathtaking.
72
They should be waving Russian flags
1
@Laura Gardner
They should go back where they came from.
It's so ironic that Trump in real life has nothing but scorn and disdain for these people who idolize him. They don't ever understand how they're being used. But Trump understands, and you have to give him credit for masterful appeal to people's lowest impulses.
44
@John
The Hispanics and Blacks are doing so much better economically under Trump. Compared to Hillary asking for their vote and then departing by saying “I’ll see you in 4 years”, what is not to like?
5
@Sven Gall
Not according to Hispanics and blacks - only according to Trump. Are you saying the race baiting, hate tactics and fear mongering and rise of white supremacy is so good for Hispanics and blacks?
Here is a fact check tidbit for you:
"And a big problem with that claim is that those rates had been falling for long before Trump took office, and their declines don't appear to have picked up speed. This implies that there's nothing specific that Trump did to change this rate.
Indeed, both of these rates (unemployment) have been falling relatively steadily since around 2010, early in President Obama's tenure in the White House"
1
The extent of the problem is evident in these pages. Trump’s critics are just as blind and ignorant as his most loyal supporters. You’ve been manipulated by the corporate media who kept feeding you what you wanted to hear. They cashed in, and you kept spitting out the nickels and dimes.
11
@Edward Nah, it was when he called Mexicans rapists, and that all muslims should be banned from entering the US where I knew he had absolutely no business being President. No media had to manipulate it, I heard the words come straight from his mouth.
4
@Edward in Honolulu.
The whole idea of counterintelligence is to prevent security breaches before they happen. That’s why when people in your campaign are feeding proprietary information to Russian operators the FBI notices. They start asking what else you might do in the future.
The cavalier attitude of Trump supporters is flat out dangerous to national security. You’re begging to have security problems. Then you’ll wonder how it happened.
I hope people with this attitude don’t have a security clearance. If they do, it should be pulled.
2
Anti-Trumpers were sore losers when Trump won the presidency and again with the Mueller findings. His 2020 re-election will surely drive you all off the cliff.
10
Unfortunately if that happen he will take the entire country over the cliff with him. He remains dangerously deranged and crooked. Just because there was no collusion over the election with Russia doesn’t mean his unnatural affinity for an enemy of the USA isn’t wrong.
3
Linda in NYC, & that’s the point isn’t it, electing Trump again. Nor some vague promise of “making America great again” by the grifter in chief. No instead let’s try poking “liberals” in the eye. So in order to hurt your “enemies” you’ll join fellow trump fans in driving us all over the cliff. Then as you approach the bottom with both friends & enemies in tow you can cry “I’m a winner just like Trump”. He’ll smile, Putin will laugh, democracy will die. What a triumph!
4
@Linda
Congratulations! Go ahead idolize him vote for him again if you must but he is unfit for the job and no amount of gloating will change that.
3
Who are these people? This smells strongly of Astroturfing.
7
>>> "This smells strongly of Astroturfing."
Not even close. Even if these rallies were assisted by professional organizers, it is absolutely certain that there are large segments of our population that eagerly support them and endorse the message.
The failure to understand the 40-plus percentage of our fellow citizens who continue to support Trump is a failure to understand our nation and its culture. It is a failure that got us where we are, today, and is quite likely to lead us deeper into reactionary darkness if we don't correct it.
2
"Russia, if you're listening..."
12
“Oh, look at the pretty wrapping!” Nevermind the smell coming from it, that’s just moral rot.
Hysterical: 2 years of investigations, 500 witnesses, tens of thousands of pages of evidence, can all be reduced to a 4 page letter from dear leader’s attorney. Rejoice! I was blind, and now I’m blinder!
20
Too soon.
2
His supporters ignore the obvious "exoneration" lie. Trump says one thing, Barr says the opposite. The American people should be demanding the full report regardless of who they support. While it may not provide evidence of collusion, there is little doubt it will show this administration in a very poor light.
19
@Warren
You know, Collusion Delusion is a treatable condition.
3
So the racists, fascists and xenophobes had a small demonstration based on Trump’s lie of complete exoneration. Some folks just love being conned.
30
Wow, maybe we should turn Madison Square Garden into a 21st century coliseum ?
And by the way, it never was a witch hunt. Trump is a male, so call it a warlock hunt. Get your facts right MAGA people!
8
A foreign government illegally interfered in the election for President of the United States. That is plenty of justification for a thorough investigation! Although we know how hard it is to prove conspiracy, the evidence is still damning. Going forward, just remember that Donald Trump clearly was and is the favorite candidate of Russia; any patriotic American should vote him out of office. In the meantime, hope that he doesn’t sell us out.
12
@anna shen
This has been what was lost during the past 22 months and I hope the Democrats circle back to this. Forget Trump "collusion." What did the Russians do and what have we done about it? Nothing. Trump may not have conspired, but he sure has heck hasn't protected us from further interference. So, because he wasn't found guilty of the "big" crime, his dereliction of duty and unpresidential behavior (Helsinki) is totally forgotten.
“... and you all get upset,”
This is the operative mentality of this administration and its base of support.
It’s policies and rhetoric are not good faith efforts to improve the lives of Americans. They are primarily attempts to shame, break, or seek revenge.
Ending Obama care without a plan to replace. Cutting funding for Special Olympics. Cutting funding for the arts, education, the humanities? Cutting funding for veterans of wars. Shutting down a government to fund a symbolic ineffective wall. Preventing voters from exercising their rights. Failing to acknowledge the foreign threat to our Democratic sovereignty. Giving the rich a tax cut while raising taxes on the middle class.
!!!VOTE — NOV 3 2020 — VOTE!!!
15
I study the photo leading the article, and now I understand these voters for the Electoral College/Trump University graduate.
I never understood who they were. Now I see.
Memo to TV producers: A reality show featuring these people telling us how they spent their tax cut.
19
@Raul Campos
Hate to break this to you, Raul, but when the Wall comes, you'll be on the other side.
2
@Raul Campos
That photo is a joke and says nothing.
Do you know how many of us there are in New York City? -- Besides that, we didn't vote for him.
2
How could this investigation not have gone forward when the president refused to believe the US intelligence community's reports that Russia hacked our 2016 election process and then go on national TV and announce to the world that he trusted Putin's word over his country's data? With Putin standing next to him with a smirk on his face as the president made this proclamation, it sure looked suspicious.
13
@bea durand
It wasn't "his country's data" it was a manipulated and much hyped report by lying Obama administration holdovers like Brennan who all can now see for what they are.... liars and scoundrels.
@Steve W when will President Obama stop being blamed; the man that Trump wrongfully accused of not being a US citizen? To deny that our election was interfered with by the Russians is truly fake news most likely played on fox. As far as being liers and scoundrels, what do you think of the 39 indictments against Trump and the people that helped him get elected? Trump lies hourly on social media and on TV and then denies he said the things he says. Being naive to this man's actions and statements is dangerous for our country.
A major Party’s nominee for the American Presidency publicly implored a foreign adversarial power to commit espionage against a U.S. citizen: Russia ... if you’re listening...”
That very adversarial state subsequently commenced a targeted espionage operation against that very citizen not even twenty-four hours after receiving Trump’s request.
If that’s not colluding, then the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) has some serious revising to do
16
Oh, please. This is more proof of the oft made contention that liberals have no sense of humor. When Trump said words to the effect of: Hey Russia, if you’re listening, please try to find Hillary’s missing emails, it was obviously a joke. It was said satirically. Watch the video. This is why so many of us have thought of the Mueller investigation as a big, expensive, damaging farce. It was instigated by bitter, angry members of the establishment and deep state who thought they would get ahead in an HRC Administration and couldn’t stand losing to an outsider with whom they had no influence.
6
@Qev That was a joke and a funny one at that.
2
Ohh and I am totally convinced that when Trump said he believed Putin over his entire American intelligence team in Helsinki he was also being sarcastic. The President is so incredibly funny, why can’t Democrats see that?
3
Let's be clear: the charge of collusion was essentially that Trump actively courted Russians. What we know from evidence available to anyone is that he was complicit, at the very least. This means a crime was committed, and he sat knowing what was going on--and all evidence is that he cheered. As Russia tries to destroy our democracy and turn it into a dictatorship these thoughtless goons are celebrating?
They are unAmerican. Pure and simple. They dislike what's best in America. So I would advise them to leave and go to Russia
17
@Rich
That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard
2
Hey, Rich, assuming the truth of your own conclusion doesn’t magically make it true and sure doesn’t make it convincing outside of Club Groupthink. I’ll bet you were a huge supporter of the oh so honorable Robert Mueller right up until his report stated that there was no collusion.
3
The Good Reverend Jeffress says there was no foundation for a special prosecutor. Convictions of campaign officials, meetings and backdoor communications between family members and Russians peddling stolen emails? The newly elected president trying to tamp down the investigation into his victory? Trump supporters see what they want to see.
The Special Prosecutor found no collusion between the trump campaign and the Russian GOVERNMENT. Curious about what the report says about collusion with Russian nationals. Clearly Mueller found something “fishy” and apparently 40% of America can live with that stench.
9
No Collusion Day.
Mueller came out and saw his shadow.
Six more years of President Trump!
11
@JQGALT while you’re celebrating, realize that Russian collusion is only ONE of the many investigations being pursued by NY and Congress. One down and 48 to go!
Meanwhile, during your festivities distraction, the Trump administration is trying to strip healthcare from over 5 million people who never had it. I hope you’re covered.
4
@Btbost
Yes, the Democrats are chasing new shiny objects since “collusion” was exposed as a hoax.
2
I thought the pic was a parade celebrating people who had graduated high school.
11
What does that even mean?
1
@Brian G
"not" was missing from before graduated.
1
No Collusion? Too early to celebrate, Is it not? Let us read the whole report and then decide.
1
@Reader
You can find it at your local library between the unabridged Warren Commission Report and Area 51.
1
These people don't seem to mind being seen decked out in Trump regalia.
Lord, do I live in a different world.
8
Comey and McCabe used the dirty Dossier to kick off the Mueller probe. Get ready for incoming Comey and McCabe. The world will soon find out how you let a felonious HRC off the hook and prevent Trump from winning.
7
@P McGrath wow!
The Democratic Party is moribund waste and needs to go. The United States and the American Left needs a new party to actually stand for something in this nation.
6
I don't care what these low-information-by-choice people think. Really don't. Mark Twain said something like "Never argue with a fool. He'll drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience."
There are more Trump detractors than Trump supporters. VOTE in 2020, and not for some 3rd-party feel good candidate, which will simply drain support from the Democratic nominee.
These folks are already on the scrap heap of history. Send Donald to join them.
35
@alexander hamilton. Vote and boycott the base.
1
@alexander hamilton
Gee Alex, pretty amazing that these "low information" voters had the most momentous political questions of our age right while you and your ilk were dead wrong, isn't it?
You will never learn, will you?
@Alexander hamilton. Agreed. I am so tired of reading about them.
1
Wow, remember when Republicans accused Democrats of being communists? Remember "Better dead than Red?" So now they are the "Red Hat" party celebrating our chief executive's bromance with Putin and perfectly fine with cozying up to Russia. How times have changed--and not for the better.
9
Do witch hunts usually end with the supposed witch free to take revenge?
5
These same bitterly biased partisans have been screaming, caps lock on, for months that Mueller was leading an illegal “WITCH HUNT.” Now that Trump has been allegedly exonerated, at least according to Barr’s bowdlerized gloss, the report is Holy Writ. Rank hypocrisy.
8
"Obama is a muslim"
"Benghazi"
"Hillary and her emails"
"Lock her up!!!!"
People on the right have demonized their opponents for years now. I'm happy that there was no collusion, indeed it is a good signal of strength to our democracy. If we want it to continue, both parties must stop this politicization of character assassination
3
My first thought on seeing this picture was a flashback to the Nixon years and the so-called Silent Majority crowds. That movement supported Nixon despite his deceitful conduct which extended the tragic Vietnam war using his "secret plan."
Trump's similar crowds are beset with similar qualities: blind loyalty to a president despite his dishonesty. We know how the Nixon administration ended with his resignation. Sadly today's Congress and today's FOX news/Tea Party power blocks the government from doing with Trump what was done with Tricky Dick.
7
Lindsay Graham announced that Barr will be sending the report to Trump so that Dumpy can cross out the bad parts before letting the public see it, I feel better already.
2
Was Trump a victim of a witch hunt?
Days prior to the release of Mueller's report half of America thought so, according to a March 18 USA Today / University of Suffolk poll.
Republicans: 86% said yes
Democrats: 14% said yes
Independents: 54% said yes
I'm interested to know whether of not the no collusion report confirmed the witch hunt for independents. And if it did, does the renewed House witch hunt forecast a possible Democratic backlash at the 2020 elections?
3
@GWB
Please go and review the poll and you will see it was skewed and does not represent "The American people". I was surprised the author of the article stated that when it clearly only represents whom they polled and it was not a representative sample.
Republicans were over represented at ~ 34% (25% of Americans identify as Republicans so therefore 85% from Republicans is 85% of 25%)
Independents (at 42% of the population ) were under represented at only 23%
Whites were over represented at 69% (when they are 60%)
Questions were leading or slanted such as the approval chart that included Nancy Pelosi but not Mitch McConnell.........
And you seem to ignore that the Mueller report confirmed that Russia interfered in our election with the cooperation of the Trump campaign. No collusion. Yes cooperation.
So go ahead and gloat on a shallow victory that most did not think rose to collusion and that is very hard to prove definitively. I personally was relieved that Mueller didn't find collusion (although he did find obstruction) since it would have compelled Congress to impeach.
I think the Democrats and Independents - which comprise the majority of Americans - are waiting for the 2020 vote. So- go ahead and gloat. We always have known that the minority Republicans are poor winners
@Deborah
It is a poll by reputable agents. Depending upon your happiness with the results the numbers are always challenged by those unhappy losers. I have sometimes been among those unhappy losers.
Me? Yes, count me among those who believe it was and remains a witch hunt. Trump supporter? More like one who supports the Office of the President.
If Trump attracts a primary challenger, I'll probably go for him or her. A reincarnation of an Elizabeth Dole would suit me just fine. Her qualifications overshadowed every other candidate. Unfortunately, it was not her time.
Meanwhile, I'm waiting to see what Biden and Henry Schultz decide.
Thanks for your comment.
@GWB
So basically you are saying that you agree with the poll regardless of the quality or accuracy because you like the result more than the truth.
Please go and read the poll like I did before you malign my assertions. You clearly didn't. Even I could see that It did not represent the American people. it was a poll conducted on "likely voters" in Florida (so one state and limited to "likely voters which introduces bias right there), that did not represent the demographic of America.
How can you say a poll that over represents whites, is conducted in Florida on "likely voters", over represents Republicans and vastly under represents independents is a valid indicator of what Americans think?
Also the question about the "witch hunt" was 2 part and the second part asked if Trump had undergone more investigations than other presidents. If I was asked that I would have answered yes because Trump has warranted those investigations.
You come across as most Trump followers, allergic to the truth.
How can anyone say ‘there is no reason’ to investigate Trump? From before he was in office he acted suspicious about Russia. His National Security Advisor was promising the Russians a new day with the Trump administration and withdrawal of sanctions for invading the Crimea. Why would any American think it is okay to side with a foreign adversary over your own intelligence? What makes people comfortable with Trump and his advisors working to get a Trump Tower built in Moscow and handing over polling data to our adversary during the election period and then lying about it and over 100 contacts with Russia? Who would want a president that demonizes over half the population and attacks anyone who disagrees with him? Why would you support a president and administration that is so corrupt, there is a scandal almost every week? Who could have any faith in a man who lies continuously and spends more time watching Fox and calling friends than actual work in the Oval Office? There was no criminal conspiracy but there was tons of collusion with Russia and certainly one would think not worthy of a celebration. Yay, my President isn’t a felon. Justice will be served. The day of reckoning will come.
26
@GraceNeeded Amen to you! Those who support and make excuses for this vile person were finally able to come out from under the rocks from where they hibernated during the 8 years of our first black president. He's been sued for housing discrimination and lost, employed undocumented immigrants on his projects, paid of politicians for years and cheated contractors and financial institutions throughout his life. Self promotion for himself and his family is ALL this man is about and his declaration that he is a Nationalist, not a globalist, when he has his name on buildings around the world seems to escape his narrow minded base. I'll stop my rant here as I know this is only a place to vent a little, and goes nowhere.
3
Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller, III was unable to find sufficient evidence to charge and convict Donald Trump and others beyond a reasonable doubt for conspiring and coordinating with the Russians in order to get elected President.
That is not the same thing as " no collusion" .
This " Russia thing" was no "hoax" nor " illegal" nor " harassment".
America intelligence had clear and credible evidence of conspiracy and collaboration and coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russians.
16
@Blackmamba
And that's also not the same thing as "exoneration".
Next stop... Southern District of New York.
1
From the article and comments, it is obvious there will be no healing of divisions in this country anytime soon. And Trump being Trump, he will be emboldened to stoke our differences ever more. He personally will want retribution, and will urge his minions to do the same. I hope the dems put up a strong candidate in 2020.
12
Once again, the Right got to the story first and set the frame for the discussion. Once again, the masses lap it up without considering the source or other factors. We have not seen the report yet. Everyone needs to chill.
12
So they just ignore the confirmation that Russia interfered in our election, possibly changed the outcome and the Trump campaign (and with all probability according to the Cohen testimony, Trump) cooperated with Russia, even if it didn't rise to collusion.
I didn't think it was collusion either. It is not vindication nor exoneration for obstruction. It was Barr that cleared him of obstruction, not the Congress who has yet to see the Mueller report they commissioned.
6
The basic reason why they (enthusiastically) stay with him is simple: they see themselves in him and they see their approach to life as having won with him. I don’t believe they have the concept of Pyrrhic victory.
17
No healthcare plan, no infrastructure plan, cuts to medicare, cuts to social security, cuts to medicaid, cuts to the VA, CO2 emissions up, no plans for climate change, no immigration reform, deficits rising and nothing to show for it, laughing stock of the world. He may have been cleared for deliberate conspiracy but he's still Individual One, a Felon Co-conspirator who would be sitting in a jail cell next to Cohen if he wasn't president and he's still be investigating for other felonies. Worst President US history. They have nothing to celebrate.
27
@kay
Thank you for the best response of the day, hands down.
I'm saving your note for future responses with people who truly don't see the damage Trump has and will continue to do.
1
For any number of people to actually be disillusioned because a sitting U.S. President is found not guilty of something displays a sick, and misguided attitude. Time the Congress got on with doing the people's business by passing productive, and positive legislation, instead of wasting two years and millions of dollars to produce nothing.
7
There is no small irony that this “no collision” celebration took place around Trump Tower, the site of the meeting between the three top figures in the Trump campaign, and a Russian operative, to broker a deal for Russian government dirt on Clinton in exchange for a reduction of sanctions by a Trump administration.
It may be that my understanding of collusion is way off base, but I would like to see the entire report to find out just what mueller thought it was.
9
More glaring evidence that the gap between liberals and conservatives is as wide as ever. They see the investigation as a witch hunt, politically motivated and that liberals just don't like Trump. I recall the crass and racist demands of Trump that instigated the birther movement; the declaration by Mitch McConnel that he would make sure Obama was a one-term president; the derision of Obama through stereotypes and Islamaphobic diatribes - all this and our perception of that as hatred for the president, because he was black, was, by conservatives, considered unfounded. We are the inverse of one another but still not equivalent. The injustice is on the conservative's side.
8
The celebrants described in this article are irrelevant and always have been. They are the people about whom Donald Trump was speaking when he said he wouldn’t lose their votes if he shot people “in the middle of Fifth Avenue.”
Very soon, it will become apparent that Attorney General William Barr drew false conclusions from the Mueller report and disseminated them. It is also being revealed that Donald Trump intends to take health care away from 21 million Americans by finally destroying Obamacare and intends to make obtaining health insurance difficult or impossible for another 133 million Americans who have “pre-existing conditions.”
None of this will change the minds of the Fifth Avenue celebrants depicted in this article.
Why bother to give these irrelevant people this inordinate publicity?
8
"In interviews from suburban Atlanta to Houston to Orange County, Calif., conservative supporters said they were still furious — and felt more besieged than ever."
What always amazes me about many Trump supporter, besides their fealty to him, is their constant anger. Angry that anyone would even consider investigating Trump, angry that it cost so much money and took two years. Angry that people don't understand that he was COMPLETELY exonerated, even though all the facts haven't been made public. Angry that they hadn't been able to get Hillary Clinton and "lock her up" after years of investigations at who know what costs.The hypocrisy is staggering.
Much of this is being driven by Fox News, talk radio and the right wing media. They do a great job keeping these people in a constant state of anger and fear, though these people are either choosing to be this way or it's, in some way, their reality.
The bottom line seems to be that, Russians interfered with the 2016 election. The Trump campaign didn't get indicted for working directly with them but it's publicly known it wasn't for not trying. And Republicans don't care.
I believe there's much more to come, possibly from the Mueller report once it see the light of day, more likely from the SDNY and other states looking into criminal activity from the Trump org.
Regardless what happens, Trump supporters will stand by him no matter what he says or does. He is their "Dear Leader"...
14
@Kevin Graber
Trump supports are the "angry" ones? Seriously? Where have you been for the last 26 months? The airwaves have been awash in the most vitriolic hate filled tirades against President Trump since his election. I have never seen such a display of anger against anyone in my entire life. All because their preferred candidate did not win. And no she did not win. The popular votes matters not in Presidential Elections. Trump supporters are not the angry ones.
5
Look in the mirror. For that matter, look at the comments following any NYT article about Trump and you will see a parade of leftist rage against President Trump and his supporters. Your blindness to the sick bile spewing forth from your own side from the time Trump was elected is both amusing and astonishing.
1
@P. Ames
So in the article when Trump supporter say they're angry that doesn't mean they're angry? When Trump says he's angry, a constant on the media or his beloved Twitter, does that mean he's not angry? When Sean, or Rush, or Laura, or Tucker rant about some perceived injustice, does that mean they aren't angry? When Trump supporters chant "lock her up" and what to go after someone who lost the 2016 election, does that mean they aren't angry?
I am not angry that my preferred candidate did not win. I am angry that a foreign power interfered with the 2016 election, seems those who care about voter integrity would care as well. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case...
These people are celebrating an opinion about a report put forward by someone who was appointed with the express intent of shielding the president from this very report. As a matter of journalistic principle and the need to inform the citizenry, until the full report has been released Mueller’s name needs to be taken out of any description or reference to it. Call it the Attorney General Summary of the Special Counsel Report, or the Department of Justice Partisan Assessment of the Special Counsel Report, or Bill Barr’s Fig Leaf Legal Shield for the President. The fact that the partisan hackery of this whole thing is not a bigger story is a disservice to an informed public and a disgrace to journalism.
9
Go ahead, have your fun. I'll have mine when he finally crashes and burns. Al Capone went to the Big House for Tax Evasion.
Just saying.
19
Why did New York Times feed us these stories all this time ? Media (although not fake news) has done disservice to the people by feeding the frenzy of Russian collusion just as much as has Trump. Last story on Deutsche Bank and Trump was revealing in that it was full of innuendos with cherry picked facts. No wrong doing there other than "inflating his self worth" which is not a crime.
5
Inflating one’s self-worth can be a crime—fraud—when done to gain something one would not otherwise have access to, such as insurance or a bank loan. I think we all should just slow down a bit and wait to see how the facts develop before declaring what the facts will tell us.
1
I think now we can lay the idea of 'sophisticated New Yorkers' to rest.
4
It's pretty clear from the reaction to the Mueller/Barr report that this was never about collusion. Instead it was an attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election. Now that the collusion narrative has been debunked, Democrats and the MSM will need to find other reasons to get rid of Trump.
Similarly, it was never about Russian interference in the election. That was clear early on, even if Trump didn't agree. But very few people, even in the media, cared much about that story. The interesting story was Trump's alleged collusion with the Russians. By focusing on the collusion narrative rather than Russian interference, Putin's attempt to divide and sow discord in the US has been made even more effective.
5
@J. Waddell Plenty of reasons out there. We will find a legal way to make sure he is never re-elected. Can’t wait to vote.
5
@J. Waddell: Actually a lot of the coverage was exactly about Putin's efforts to sow discord and division by supporting Trump's campaign, and undermining the Democrats. There was also considerable coverage of the criminal behavior of many of Trump's close friends and advisors, many of whom seemed to show a pattern of lying about their contacts with Russia. All these interesting stories suggested the possibility that Trump's own awareness of Russia's efforts on his behalf might have risen to the level of "collusion". Fortunately, the interest in Trump's level of involvement didn't keep the mainstream media from covering the story of Russia's involvement in the election.
1
The only people who ever claimed it was not about Russian interference in the 2016 election is our 'president' and his FOX snorting minions.
I hope Democrats do not give up on trying to prosecute/impeach Trump. Other than the entertainment value of watching them splatter themselves in an eventual collision with facts, they are also increasing their alienation of voters, and thus, decreasing the odds that the US will turn into Latin American basket case.
12
What’s more important, your revenge fantasy, or policies that benefit all Americans?
3
I had no idea that so many coal miners lived in NYC.
69
The crowds cheering were huge, larger than the crowd at Trump's inauguration.
Just kidding.
Who would have believed that so many are easily fooled by a con artist.
In time those adoring fans may realize they were on the means to an end. And Trump cares little about them.
43
Over 100 contacts with Russians by himself and staff.
His supporters are fine with very long investigations against others that do not agree with Trump.
Trump can ask a foreign nation publicly to spy on and do something illegal against an American political opponent.
Trump can say, out loud that someone is evil and treasonous in speeches and twitter storms without proof.
Trump can threaten violence by his supporters if he doesn't get what he wants.
OK, just trying to keep some of the facts about Trump that his supporters are OK with that wouldn't be OK for anyone else.
Yep, these folks are ready for an authoritarian presidency.
62
What are the celebrating ? The report has not been released. Second, plenty of crimes were committed by this president’s campaign and appointees.
38
People can celebrate but Barr says the report does not exonerate Trump, and we don’t know what the full report says. And there are other investigations into an administration and family that are blatantly corrupt.
Democrats need to focus on retaking as much of the Senate as possible and getting an ethical person back in the presidency. The party in power does not represent the majority, they are stacking the courts and legislating away our rights to decent wages, education, health care, food security, clean air and environmental security by the day, in order to line their pockets and the pockets of private industry. Bad policies that don’t take care of the middle class and the poorest among us is a capitalism that is collapsing on itself. Trump fans who like his policies aren’t seeing the big picture.
16
It’s interesting to watch people celebrate the fact that only about 20 people were indicted, and only half a dozen close advisors went to jail, but sonce none of those people actually was Donald Trump, he must be completely innocent. Also- the double standard is amazing. I’m sure the democrats might consider apologizing... when Trump and the other side apologizes to Hillary Clinton- or at least stops calling for another investigation.
The relationship between Trump and The Base is a codependency that could very well take down the entire country.
26
You are aware that the convictions you cite have nothing to do with collusion and nothing to do with Trump, right? TDS strikes again.
2
The image was taken in such a fashion that it shows what is in actuality a very small group of people who are tightly packed together. The "herd" in herd mentality is surely evident.
The collective number of synapses firing appropriately in this assemblage would be interesting to measure as opposed to, say, a similarly sized group attending a Philharmonic concert at Lincoln Center.
47
@Bob: Yes, they always cover demonstrations that way, or any other group appearing in public. It's just the common practice of photographers to make groups fill the screen. Good to be aware of it.
I am an Old Blue. I hate TTrump.
However, very da we spend mulling over Mueller is a day wasted now. We have to start prepping for 2020.
I have to say that the Trumpista drinking Vodka to celebrate is pretty droll.
8
The reporting on the release of the Mueller report should ALWAYS include the relevant context related to Barr, Mueller, etc.
It should point out that we paid for the Mueller investigation but are being prevented from reading the report ourselves.
It should point out that Barr is where he is because he openly opposed the Mueller investigation.
It should point out that the Mueller investigation found clear evidence of criminality on the part of numerous Trump insiders, and according to Cohen's testimony, Trump himself.
It should point out the legal terminology weasel words and self-limiting strictures placed on the investigation.
Mueller should be testifying under oath in open session in front of Congress right now, and the full report unredacted should be available for all Americans to read right now.
Regarding Trump's partying supporters, note that people celebrate when Duterte brags about killing people, and that Putin's followers are thrilled when he rides with violent right-wing motorcycle gangs. A portion of the German public went into spasms of ecstasy when their Fuhrer launched into his oratorical rants.
It can happen here.
35
@Steve Davies
Hopefully Mueller *will* be called to testify in front of Congress (the ones doing their job, that is: the various House committees) so we can get an unfiltered, unsound account.
3
Trump said “no collusion” more than 200 times. Mueller needed to say it just once. I’m impressed that former Mueller acolytes, intellectual and moral giants all, haven’t lost their ability to pout, grouse and rationalize in the wake of yet another defeat.
3
@John D The only “defeat” is for the whole country. It will take a very long time to undo the damage Steven Miller has wrought.
2
He didn’t say it.
Barr did.
2
The Dems need to take back control of this narrative.The special prosecutor was appointed by the assistant AG after the AG recused himself wit the full support of the Republican congress to investigate Russian interference with the election. The investigation proved Russian interference and uncovered crimes committed by numerous members of Trump's inner circle. It did not exonerate him from obstruction this inquiry, it only failed to find proof of collusion with the Russians by Trump. And all this based on a cursory report by his latest AG. We haven't even read it. But his two year propaganda campaign has convinced his supporters that this was somehow a partisan witch hunt directed at him solely for partisan reasons.
17
That event was probably Putin continuing to cause trouble. Without better media (extreme vs extreme, for profit) and centrists we are lost. Nothing is getting solved. Eight years of Obama and now Trump. Let us make better political parties.
Democrats in Congress need to get to work on legislation, but people are counting on the free press to continue the pressure on the AG to release Mueller’s actual findings. Please stop being confused by what Mueller is saying and what Trump’s carefully handpicked AG interprets. We haven’t heard from Mueller yet.
24
@Dr. Girl: Still, there is a suggestion that we shouldn't expect some miracle, even from the full report. Interesting information about Russia's campaign against Clinton, and maybe some of the inner workings of Trump's campaign, but probably not the end-of-the-line revelations many of us were expecting. I agree entirely that we need to see the full report. But at this point I don't expect it to tear the lid off anything.
Is there a reason that the actual size of the crowds is rarely shown at Trump rallies, parades, or protests? Not since his infamous inauguration hissy fit over crowd size, have I seen the camera's pan out to show the size of supporters at any rallies or parades. Senator Sanders could and does eclipse him in number of supporters everywhere he goes.
18
But it only matters at the ballot box.
@Sonia6512: They almost always frame pictures of crowds at events like that, it's not just Trump events. They try to fill the frame with the crowd, which is the subject of the story. It often gives a false impression, but if there's an agenda, it's just to make the story seem important, who-ever it's about.
Of course, none of these people have actually read Barr's report. They just blindly follow their leader, and he proclaimed
“total exoneration.” In reality, that's not what Mueller, or even Barr, said at all.
Mueller didn’t absolve Trump of obstructing justice. Instead, according to Barr, Mueller “did not reach a conclusion — one way or the other” about whether actions by Trump constituted obstruction. Barr quoted Mueller as saying: “While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
Barr and Rosenstein then made their own decision to claim that Mueller did not establish that Trump obstructed justice.
This distinction is lost on the Trump hoards.
77
I question if Rosenstein had any part in the decision. It just seems like one strategy to make Barr sound more legitimate, when neither should have made the decision on obstruction. Remember Rosenstein was involved in Comey’s firing and Barr doesn’t believe a president can obstruct.
19
I fear you could've stopped at "none of these people have actually read" and still have been right...
5
@Dr. Girl It was reported days before Mueller delivered his report that Rosenstein would stay longer to be a heat shield/punch bag for Barr. It was a calculated move by Barr. https://theweek.com/speedreads/830160/why-rod-rosensteins-doj-extension-could-sign-mueller-report-coming
2
sorry folks, for me when trump stood next to putin in Helsinki and sided with the dictator over our own intelligence agencies regarding Russia's interference into our 2016 elections, that was collusion to me. trump has never come out and held Russia truly responsible for there actions, and has been very reluctant to sanction them as Congress has passed. trump tried to pass the blame onto the past administration for not doing enough, yet here he has full control and he holds back. Its just like the release of the Mueller report, trump says he is okay with its entire release, but its up to Barr. trump can order Barr to release the report, but I believe its already been worked out by both the White House and the DOJ, that trump will say its okay with him if its released, knowing Barr won't do it, as preplanned. trump if your as innocent as you have said for the past two years and the Mueller report agrees with you, then order Barr to at least release the full report un-redacted for both houses of Congress. As the Nike sayings goes "just do it".
64
kind of wonder if the non-exonerated obstruction of justice helped with the inability to find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of collusion
4
@Anne Morris Or just that DOJ by its rule that President cannot be indicated and leave it to congress. However, Barr jumped in inappropriately with an attempt to clear trump.
@Anne Morris: Good point. The investigation was supposed to go on until Mueller was confident he had gotten down to the roots.
(Which is why it's kind of weird that he left the question of obstruction of justice unresolved. Why didn't he keep investigating until he resolved it, which was the whole point of the investigation? He knew Barr would absolve Trump, given the chance, and he gave him the chance. Was that his underlying Republicanism kicking in?) We need to see the whole report, to understand the criteria he was using, and what paths he pursued.
The right was fine with almost 30 years of attacks on and investigation of Hilary Clinton (which found nothing), eight years of savage political and personal attacks against Barack Obama, and general obstruction of Senate function by McConnell. Yet, for the so-called president, at best a crude, unethical, constitutionally ignorant embarrassment, they are upset that there was a special prosecutor appointed to investigate what appeared to be suspicious behavior? Spare me the hypocrisy. Perhaps, too, they should remember he was not exonerated of obstruction.
801
I would give you 100 recommendations if it was allowed. In addition, look at all the guilty pleas and prosecutions that occurred. It’s not like they didn’t break any laws. They just didn’t collide with a foreign government, well that’s a pretty low expectation. Trump has not sanctioned Russia for their interference. He gives Putin a pass.
57
@Dianne Fecteau I know some of these types of people and they just dig in their heels when they read and hear what they don't want to read and hear. It's human nature for us to "stick by our guns" even when we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
28
@Dianne Fecteau Exactly!
11
So the shocking conclusion from this story is that Trump supporters are delusional, unprincipled and not too smart. Nothing new there.
271
It should be obvious to anyone who followed this story that Donald Trump both colluded with the Russians and obfuscated justice. When will we have real justice done? Why did Mueller punt to Barr? Many of us want answers and we want them soon!
69
@Barry Lane "It should be obvious to anyone who followed this story that Donald Trump both colluded with the Russians and obfuscated justice."
Well, that's the problem Barry. If you "followed this story" through liberal media outlets like the NYT, you got taken on a wild goose chase lasting two years.
4
@mpound
I have listened a few times to Fox News and read some of the editorials of the Wall Street Journal. I found both to be extreme and narrow in their viewpoints. Pure propaganda based on a primitive ideology of which the purpose is to create an alternate universe. I believe that liberal media is much closer to the truth, and if you read the Times, somehow I know that you do too.
1
If Mueller had stated explicitly that Trump had indeed colluded with the Russians, these same people would have come out marching in Trump's defense. It doesn't matter what Trump does since many of his supporters see themselves as victims in a changing world. A country that looks a little less white, a rising China, technological change, and the list goes on. They are frightened, angry, feeling vulnerable, and want someone who is not afraid to bypass procedures, rules, or norms i order to pump the breaks or reverse the changes they feel and see. By fighting and investigating Trump, you are fighting their "defender and protector". This is an uncomfortable political reality for the country today and if Democrats want to win and implement policy they need to stop using language that only appeals to the big cities and college towns. We can complain about the electoral college and call people racists and give righteous applause and tell people to resign, or we can develop a clear sensible strategy to actually win elections and implement real policy for the country. What would you rather do?
19
@American
Yes they are frightened and angry but you left out ignorant. They have been victimized by Fox News and Citizens United. But they will blame everyone else because Trump does that and has, for them, legitimized irresponsibility.
2
His supporters were right though, and you were wrong.
2
“Mueller didn’t exonerate him,” he said. “Trump exonerated himself.”
Report: it doesn't exonerate him.
Trump and his people: Yay! Exonerated!
These people just can't read, I guess.
86
@Eric or, more simply put:
“Mueller didn’t exonerate him,” he said. “Trump exonerated himself.”
Exactly.
2
@Eric - I suspect they simply do not know the meaning of exonerated. That is a lot of syllables for some people...which is why they like Trump. Only one syllable and simple to spell...
4
Trump and the kleptocratic elite have a small victory. Let us see the full contents of the report. Would someone please publish it online?
18
Perhaps we can appeal to Assange or China. It isn’t conspiracy anymore... no collusion.
3
I really don't see how an investigation into Russian interference and possible coordination or cooperation with Russians was a bad thing. Esp. when there was the photo of Trump in the White House laughing with the Russians where no reporters were allowed. He bragged about how firing Comey took the pressure off him and many times remarked Comey was a bad cop! He met with Putin.. of all people ..with no one present but the stenographer and claimed he believed Putin was not involved in the swaying of the election. Why would the American public not want an investigation into this bizarre behavior by the President of the USA? Who isn't glad to know that besides all the other convictions and imposed sentences...Mr. Cohen gave revealing and compelling testimony regarding the Trump Administration. Other matters have been referred to other agencies...what are those matters and what are the agencies? Time will tell. All this information hidden from the American Public until now has now been exposed. Who really believed there was direct collusion between Trump himself and the Russians? If Comey had not been fired at the time that he was...we would not know what we know today ! Too many of us are enjoying our delusion regarding the worst administration in our history. Look at the numbers of us gleefully proud of being part of Fox Nation! I for one am glad for the report and look forward to what it will yet reveal...it's not over yet !!
16
It is definitely way past time to move past the whole Mueller report thing. Simply let the wheels of justice turn- and let's quit with the 24/7 speculation.
There is important work to do. Do not waste energy on this. 2 years wasted already. If there were crimes, they will be eventually exposed. Kudos to the Democrats for taking action and releasing a proposal for fixing healthcare. *that* is an example of actually doing their job and is what will win in 2020.
That said, why are these people celebrating? The Barr summary "does not exonerate the president" (its actual words), it unequivocally stated our elections were influenced by a hostile foreign power and there are dozens of other pending investigations/ lawsuits against the president. That really does not seem to be a reason to joyfully take to the streets.
17
It’s not about collusion. It’s about the loss of kindness, safety, respect, mindfulness, tolerance and peace that define America under the “non-colluder.”
11
Those qualities don't define the America that I've been living in for a long time. So, they're not being lost but now seen way out of reach.
3
So the guilty pleas and former Trump stafffers going to prison, those mean nothing?
76
Obama was the last fully American elected president! Let that sink in. The future could mean one picked by Iran, Venezuela, Cuba or etc... all is fair in love, war and US elections.
19
It's strange to say, but Obama was in many ways more of a "nationalist" than Trump. Trump claims to put America first, but if he's required to choose, he will put the Republican Party or his own business first (or, more accurately, attack the Democrats), even if it means siding with a foreign adversary. His communication to the FSB ("Russia, if you're listening") is the perfect example of this.
Trump will harm American liberals even when doing so violates his duty to the United States. While not technically treason, this pathological behavior is deeply treacherous and harmful to national security.
4
"What? No, we haven't been stealing eggs." Said the fox positioned just outside of the henhouse.
12
I see in the accompanying photograph hoard of people that I’m ashamed to share this wonderful country with. They tolerate an individual who has debased the office of the presidency, our judicial system, our fundamental principles. They are my enemies and I intend to treat them as such.
41
And that this crowd of Trump supporters is in NYC and getting bigger here too --is frightening. I always thought his base supporters resided only in the Red states. Trump is a master at manipulation and his connection with Fox News isn't helping any.This is an even bigger war between parties now
and as Sun Tzu wrote in Art of War...
" All warfare is based on Deception" .
" To know your enemy you must become your enemy"
i believe it's time for that. Learn how he is fighting because unfortunately it seems he is winning and we cant let that happen in 2020
3
JGM, they have treated you as their enemy all along, even before you ever heard of them.
2
These people want trump no matter what it cost the nation.
14
scary to think that but its so true :(
2
Yet they will all cheer more Clinton and Obama investigations.
23
@Michael...I’m cheering!
2
If we ever see Mueller’s report it, so much will be redacted that all we’ll be left with are punctuation marks and page numbers.
14
Very astonishing some peoples idea of what a great President is, or what constitutes "making America great."
20
Dictators have a way of manipulating the minds of normal people and Fox News is helping that happen every second . scary
1
At first I wondered why Trump did not choose a more elaborate metaphor than the stale “witch hunt,” a hack phrase overused at least since McCarthy era. But now I know that his “base” would be dumbfounded anything more complex. For a time it was even a “rigged witch hunt.” Never mind the tautology though. I guess now it’s a fair witch hunt.
10
@Tristan T
well said and His " base" is getting bigger which is frightening
1
Apparently nothing can be done about it: Trump supporters will always hand-pick the reality they want. Their "witch hunt" mantra about the Mueller investigation conveniently leaves out the Clinton emails, Assange, Stone, the Trump Tower meeting with Russians, firing Comey etc. etc. And it's a fact that Russia interfered with our elections. *Of course*, then, there had to be an investigation to ensure that the Trump Administration didn't collude with Russia. If Trump supporters understood deeper than the MAGA hats on their heads, they'd know the investigation was for the sake of all Americans, not just Democrats. Imagine, say, the same sort of investigation being carried out in Russia?
As for Trump being "exonerated" by the Barr report of the Mueller report: um, he'd need a soul transplant to be exonerated of his lies, cruelty, greed, and arrogance.
23
For the record, no one I know (on the left) actually put much thought or energy into the Mueller investigation. Most of us are focused on the future, which is to say, we believe that the next election should concentrate not on Trump, who is both corrupt and incompetent. No, the battle must be fought on issues: health care reform, infrastructure investment, intelligent immigration reform, preservation of the social safety net and a reversal of the tax scam perpetrated by the Republicans, etc.. Also, it would be wonderful to witness the next president (a Dem) reversing all of Trump's executive orders.
21
This is almost as good as election night.
Libs and certainly all the main stream media pundits assumed long ago there was collusion.
Let’s celebrate a little and then focus on payback. Trump has no other way!
10
Shall we suppose that this WWF-inspired attitude toward domestic governance is typical of Trump supporters?
17
@ben220 Yes, sadly. Most Trump Supporters see themselves as aggrieved, in an unfair world. Their "go-to" is to replicate the dysfunction, not to right the wrongs....
3
@Jay Lincoln
Precisely the idea that you suggest, “focus on payback” is a sad reality of Trump and his vengeful supporters.
A truly patriotic, caring President would say, “Thank you Mr. Mueller for your service to our country. It is time for all of the people of our country to put aside our differences, unite and move forward.”
But Trump and his followers can’t even be gracious in victory! SORE WINNERS! SAD!!!
4
crying 'witchhunt' in a crowded field of your indicted campaign and business associates from a president who can't separate fact from fiction, and champions the Russian oligarchs over our own intelligence agents, may not be a crime of direct collusion but it does reek of coverup, obstruction of justice etc as we will come to witness. the president and his loyalist only believe in their own 'witch hunts' and manufactured 'crisis'. .
12
So it was unfair to the American people that the investigation states there was no collusion. Please explain to me why this was unfair to the electorate to feel mores secure in the occupant ( I don't) of the office of the President.
8
Exactly who are “the Russians”? There is nothing inherently wrong with Americans doing business in Russia nor is it inherently wrong for Russians to do business in the U. S. Let’s stop playing games and realize that anybody who aspires to be POTUS has the right to make a living regardless of how poor or wealthy they might be. These silly arguments should stop. Who cares who Putin wants to be president of the US? I suspect that ultimately he wants somebody he can have a civil talk with and that can’t be all that bad for either country.
8
Reasonable, straightforward business relations do not include hacking emails and voter registration systems while running extensive propaganda campaigns.
16
@Confused most Americans care for very good reasons, what Putin wants is not what I would ever agree with. that's why he wanted trump to be in the White House, its not about having a civil talk, which next to impossible with trump. Maybe you should read some books about Russia, its not so much about the citizens of that country who like most people just want better lives for themselves and there children, but the past and current leaders, all dictators.
3
In other words, I care about the national security of the United States except when it gets in the way of my chosen candidate being elected to the Presidency.
1
Where is the incentive for the Trump administration to change anything about our national security as it pertains to foreign cyber attacks?
6
Bit early for celebrations. 1) No one within any credibility has commented on the actual findings of the Mueller Report. Our attorney general is an established liar who formerly covered up the Iran Contra findings to avoid the prosecution of Ronald Reagan. 2) There are at least a dozen ongoing investigations, state and federal, concerning the criminality of our sitting president and his family. 3) The summary explanations given by Barr for both the "no collusion finding" and "no obstruction of justice finding" make no sense legally.
245
@jwljpm And I haven't heard anyone mention the AG in the Oval Office taking part in the "dear leader" speeches when they were talking about immigration---which is embarrassing but also scary.
1
Sadly, they all look alike. Ten years of mental anguish (8 glorious ones with President Obama + two playing defense) and they look terrible. Do they not work?
Nobody has read or seen the report yet, but they are acting like TV props. They look like their lives hinge on every syllable, every tweet, of trump.
Interesting to see them in their natural habitat.
Remember the laugh-track behind a lot of old sitcoms? Someone pushes a button and there is laughter?
Sadly it looks like these people are related to that fake laughter somehow.
Will someone tell them that this is just the beginning? That they should reserve future weekends for more protesting/celebrating?
7
Let them laugh (or for the occasion, drink their brains out with Vodka).
But for the rest of us, let’s remember the Special Counsel assignment was not about Trump himself. It was about Russian interference in the election and the campaign. The only reason it became about Trump was because he repeated the word collusion so many times that it became an alternative reality to distract everyone, including all media, from the actual facts: there was russian interference in the election. People in the campaign facilitated these actions of foreign interference.
15
It's as if these people have read the Mueller report, and it's good news for them. But we all know they haven't read it. It's too early to celebrate.
10
The special investigation was convened to get to the bottom of Russian interference in the 2016 elections. This report proves Russian interference and operatives have been indicted.
Trump, meanwhile, maintains that there was no interference because Vladimir Putin told him to his face that there was no interference. Trump's irrational statement put us on alert. In addition, the behavior of Trump and his campaign staff gave the impression there might have been collusion: the Trump campaign took a meeting with Russian operatives who promised illicitly obtained information; Trump's public call for the Russians to release stolen emails in order to hurt his political opponent; Trump's associates maintaining clandestine and illegal relationships with Russian operatives; Trump attempting to conduct large real estate deals in Russia while he campaigned for President; and more than I can list in a short comment.
Americans deserve to know how and to what extent the Russians interfered and whether Trump sought to work with them. That's why we need the Mueller report. It's to everyone's benefit to know what happened. That's not a witch hunt nor is the completed report a justification for Trump supporters to celebrate.
20
I think Repubs and Trump should be very hesitant to claim exoneration on the basis of a 4-page summary of the report prepared by an AG who got his job by writing a memo dissing the investigation. We'll see if the Pres considers Mueller a national hero at that point.
15
I am so tired of hearing that Dems did all this because of the election results of 2016. It is absolutely not the case. The Russians DID interfere with the election; they approached multiple Trump campaign actors, who said nothing to anyone (like the FBI) and lied about it when questioned. If it can be determined that all the Russians wanted to do was talk about the weather, so be it. I sincerely doubt that, however. The Republicans in this campaign passively colluded, in that they knew about the interference and said nothing. It's just hard to prove is all.
15
I am a Trump supporter and am celebrating the Mueller report that proved President Trump is innocent of all charges brought before him these past two years. I was unable to attend Saturday's rally due to a previous engagement but if there is another count me in. I will gladly attend to show my continued support of our president.
9
@KMW- you're "celebrating the Mueller report that proved President Trump is innocent of all charges"
Did you read the summary? It specifically says "does not exonerate the president" (of obstruction).
Why celebrate that?
11
Me, too. The libs were sore losers after the election and are sore losers now. Thoroughly entertaining!
4
Please read the AG's letter, KMW. It's arguably biased and misleading, but at the same time it's a part of reality. Your comment does not reflect reality.
2
“I would rather be Russian than a Democrat.” — bestselling shirt during MAGA rallies
Always a beautiful sight to behold, these apparatchiks who really believe that spymaster Putin is not pulling the strings of their draft-dodging man, Trump.
177
As reported elsewhere, when Trump supporters have a rally, hate crimes spike an average of 266%.
I wonder what happens when they have a “moment”?
33
So tell me this: are the hate crimes perpetrated by Republicans or Democrats?
10
@Corbin I believe this. What happens is that people with MAGA hats get attacked by members of the Democrats' diverse coalition.
10
@Corbin
Nothing personal, Corbin, but you seem to have pulled those "statistics" out of your behind. Show your work. What does "reported elsewhere" mean? How are you defining the subjective "hate crime," and where is the objective analysis linking Trump rallies to extemporaneous crimes -- inferred by you to mean crimes committed by Trump Republicans against so-called "protected" minorities, who probably, coincidentally, just happen to be Democrats? Thanks.
3
the only thing we know is what Trumps handpicked AG says the report says
35
Any AG is handpicked by the president. Weak argument.
4
@Confused, the only thing we know is what the Attorney General says the report says. Happy now?
2
Lol Trump supporters celebrate when they can it’s not to often they have anything to be proud over so cut them some slack.
8
I have to wonder, were it any other scam artist and cheat would these people feel the same way? Or is it just something about Donald Trump? I am just unable to fathom why so many people rally around a person with such a sordid and dishonest past. I really am. It makes me depressed there are so many.
180
Your problem as with most Democrats is that you cannot understand the difference between offensive behavior and political policy There is a significant difference. You will find that large numbers of Trump supporters can’t stand him personally but love his policies.
12
@Confused
There is very little difference between his behavior and policy since most of his policy (if you can even call it that) stems from his behavior.
Most people who are able to think critically understand this.
41
@John in CAWhat policies are you talking about? I am concerned about healthcare--what is his plan other than to say it will be the best healthcare ever in the history of the universe, or the environment---or infrastructure?
14
Democrats need to move on. This pony is dead. Give me a positive reason to support a Democratic Legislative agenda that addresses the need for a single payer health insurance system, reforming prescription drug pricing, a realistic Immigration policy that requires all new residents to conform to the law, and infrastructure renewal.
Every person hour spent wallowing in investigations is an hour lost in meeting Americans needs.
138
@RM
Those will be done AND holding Trump & Co. responsible for what they have done. Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time with ease. No one, least of all Trump, is above the law.
82
@RM add to that: let's all work together to make sure only America influences our elections?
41
@RM...we asked that of Gowdy but he didn't listen. We will move when we feel like it and all stones are uncovered.
Remember, the House's job is to investigate. Republicans had ten years to flounder and was the least productive House in history. TEN YEARS!
Step aside, adults are in charge now.
This is the end of the beginning.
35
I can remember quite well the endless outrage over poor Obama's treatment. Now these same people are very openly admitting to trying to "bring down a president".
Please forgive us for not taking all their offense over hypocrisy seriously.
11
There's nothing hypocritical about holding Trump accountable.
8
It matters whether the president is incompetent and obviously corrupt.
4
@AACNY obama is not and never has been a criminal. Trump is one of the most criminal persons to ever occupy political office at any level. He is an inveterate tax cheat and has probably broken every financial fraud law in the book running the Trump Org
4
Why are people celebrating over the fact that Russia tried to influence the U.S. election?
460
@Craig
Why are democrats so upset and angry that a US president didn't collude? They clearly wanted it to be true. Examine that for a moment.
17
@AACNY
It's pretty clear to anyone with eyes that he did collude. it just couldn't be proven that he colluded directly with the Russian GOVERNMENT. He colluded big time with many private entities with RG ties.
It's not done yet. Sideshow Don may have you fooled, but not most of us. And, do you care that the Russians interfered with our elections? Many of them?
66
@Kat
It's not clear. It wasn't clear to Mueller after an exhaustive investigation. You simply cannot make this claim.
It's what you want to believe, and, of course, you are entitled to your opinion, but the clarity you claim is unfounded.
10
It’s interesting how Mr. Dieterle laments that the Democrats “went after Trump for no reason”. I wonder if he was included in the droves of right-wingers who ripped on Obama for no apparent reason during his entire eight years.
22
Isn’t it a tad premature to celebrate? None of us have read the actual report. If it says that the countless meetings between the Trump campaign and the Russians were merely a coincidence and that all the Trump campaign lies about said meetings were nothing burgers then yes, the Trump fans should guzzle down gallons of vodka until their livers burst.
21
This fiction of Trump being exonerated by Mueller needs to be corrected.
It’s ‘Barr Says Mueller Says’
If the Mueller Report exonerates Trump why is it not being released publicly?
This is yet another example of Trump using the power of presidency to get whatever he wants. To stay above the hands of the law (if he’s so honest, why all the lies? Why hide his tax returns?)
His supporters can crow about this ‘exoneration’. These are the same people who were calling it a ‘witch hunt’. Whatever Trump says goes for them. They even want him King...
28
@Patrician I wonder which prince or princes is in line for the throne?
1
Looking at this not too large a crowd, -it does not even receed further than 20 feet into the back....with a lot of out-of-towners-, Matthew 5.3 comes immediately to mind:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
9
"I could walk out on fifth avenue and shoot somebody and they would still love me." - Donald Trump.
Still true today.
22
I’m certainly not celebrating but could use several shots of that Russian vodka.
31
Oh the sweet joy of it all... tapes of pols and pundits and 'journalists' predicting Trump doom and Trump gloom will be wall-to-wall centerpiece of the 2020 re-election victory. Brought it on yourselves, guys.
12
@Ken
That's two major failures. The third is unfolding. The media will likely get it as wrong as the first two. I am referring to the next investigation into the origins of the Trump allegations.
We can, of course, expect the media to ignore it or turn it into a political he said/she said, which is what it does when it doesn't want to actually investigate. Easier to cover the optics. Actually, always easier to cover Trump's response than the legitimate reasons for it.
9
@Ken, if you've read the Mueller report, please share it! These people standing in Manhattan are celebrating a short, hurried, and strangely-worded letter that only purports to summarize the Mueller report, and even then it can't avoid acknowledging that Trump committed acts that could be prosecuted as obstruction of justice. Not anything to be proud of at all.
9
Trump fans. Please try and answer an uncomfortable question. Why was Putin so eager to help Trump get elected in the first place? He has already admitted that he wanted Trump to win. Why is that? And why did Trump lie when he claimed over and over that he had no "dealings" with Russia when we now know that he was actively pursuing a business deal with the Russians right up (at least) the GOP convention in '16? There are still many more questions than answers here.
Celebrate if it makes to feel vindicated for voting for this incompetent charlatan, but don't delude yourselves that Trump is an honest, patriotic American.
167
@Raindog63
Two reasons. First, he was taking revenge on Hillary Clinton for very publicly implying his own election win was illegitimate. Second, this is what the Russians do all over the world.
It wasn't about Trump. It was about the Russians and Putin's vendetta against Hillary.
Conveniently lost in all this was the fact that it was President Obama's responsibility to protect our election. He failed. A good offense is the best defense. It soon became all about Trump, allowing Obama to avoid any and all responsibility. Very clever political move.
7
@AACNY
Thank you! Despite the best efforts of our media to bury these inconvenient truths they won't go away.
2
@AACNY,
It was McConnell who obstructed Obama’s decision to have a bipartisan declaration that Russia is interfering in the Presidential elections. A decision based on the idea that the current administration shouldn’t be seen disparaging the Republican candidate and by extension, helping the Democratic candidate. You can always count on McConnell to obstruct anything Obama related.
The book House of Trump House of Putin also reports that the day Trump got the Republican nod, Kremlin became the biggest donor to McConnell’s Super PAC, a donation that is as steady as a monthly salary and continues to trickle in, at least until the book’s pre-publication fact checking.
Facts. Stubborn, aren’t they?
6
The Trump supporters are a major reason we are unable to respond to climate change. The Trump supporters are ensuring we will lose the clean energy race with China. The Trump supporters will ensure that you will lose your healthcare when you lose your job. The Trump supporters really don’t care if many lives are shortened because of government policies.
40
I'd love to know what it is about this president that makes these people so loyal. Even if they're fans of his policies, how can they overlook his crass behavior, his sycophantic praise of dictators, and his obvious attempts at obstructing justice (and many more offenses) to the extent that they will put so much effort into celebrating "No Collusion?" I can't help but feel they're part of a cult of personality that blinds them to the many apparent shortcomings of Trump as a leader, and it's that more than any actual leadership on his part that drives them. It frightens me that these demonstrations of hero worship have become a defining element of American culture, and I hate feeling this way about my countrymen.
333
@Michael
Not all Americans care about bad behavior, especially if their desired policy goals are being achieved. A perfect example of this, of course, is that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. Anyone who voted for a Clinton has no basis for criticizing anyone.
11
As others have commented in these pages, Trump is a weak person's idea of a strong person. I realize it's more complicated than this but it seems a good place to start.
99
@Michael
What makes a Trump supports loyal can be found in Victor Davis Hanson’s new book, The Case for Trump. You can also view his interview now on the C-Span archives online
7
Let us all see the "FULL" Mueller report before we say much more! He wasn't totally excused from wrong doing. The Special Counsel states that “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
52
What Trump and his party, the former Republican Party, have done, since election day 2016, is shown how easily an organized group can take over the trappings of government, upend all that is accepted as normal, and get completely away with it, in its entirety.
A template now exists, created by the United States of America, a template providing all the directions for like-minded governments all over the planet, an how-to guide, and many such governments are heartedly engaged in carrying out the same agenda that has worked here in America, England is one with its Brexit mania, Poland, mentioned today in the Times, is another, Russia openly is engaged in the Baltics, in reestablishing its hegemony, and throughout Europe and Asia we see the rule of law being flouted by all manner of Trump wannabes.
I'm convinced that the Democrats are being deliberately weak in their useless attempts to mount an offensive, as I believe they are quietly aligned with many of the Trump Party goals, including the fake Trump attack on Obamacare, with the Democrats "Protect Obamacare" initiative, which is nothing more than a sophisticated diversionary tactic, designed to refocus the electorate on "saving" Obamacare, so the now immensely popular Big Insurance destroying "Medicare for All" plan, is obliterated, protecting the fortunes of Big Insurance and insuring that Big Insurance continues to fill the treasure chests of both parties.
There is a game being played, and we the people are the pawns.
8
Why not? Trump survived another major onslaught. The media got it sensationally wrong again. He was not found to have colluded after an exhaustive and impartial investigation.
It was an exoneration on so many levels. Trump's supporters are all out there watching. And they will certainly vote.
12
@AACNY Not to mention the fact that the press is playing a dangerous game. In order to promote their liberal agenda (which is not necessarily a wrong thing), they look at every step Trump takes, trying to pressure him when in fact that pressure is beneficial for him. He and his supporters will rightfully claim at the next election that the media was unfair to them. Look for instance at the fake story published by Buzzfeed. When will they be held accountable?
Unfortunately, nowadays, the press starts with the conclusion before they even write the article, not giving any opportunity for the reader to make a conclusion by himself/herself.
7
I just think it's weird and grasping to celebrate a four-page letter by the Attorney General that states, inter alia, that Trump can't be exonerated for obstruction. Nobody's seen the report, or even an entirely trustworthy summary of it. Nobody's seen the results of the counterintelligence investigation.
5
@Alex
You're among readers here who are, essentially, responsible for all these fake reports. They want fake. Look at how they're responding to the truth -- ex., that Mueller found no collusion. They're not going to pay for that. They're going to pay for reasons why they can discount it and hold onto their views.
You think Maddow would last for 2 days if she spoke the truth? She's paid to provide fake news, and her million-dollar-salary depends on it.
5
Am I living in an alternate universe?
Why is anyone celebrating this report?
Are we just going ignore the countless convictions, all the press conferences, all the ridiculous lies told over and over about the meetings that first didn't happen, then did, etc.
221
Not to mention the fact that the report expressly declines to exonerate Trump of the accusation that he committed the crime of obstruction of justice.
19
Just so relieved our great leader is removing requirements around energy-efficient lightbulbs. Classy.
12
It's mind boggling that a man who has tried to do so much to hurt so many of our fellow citizens is supported by others! Trump is complicit in: trying to take health insurance away from 21 million Americans by doing away with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; giving plutocrats ever larger tax breaks while trying to diminish Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, keeping dangerous new airplanes in the air; polluting our air, soil and water; allowing pharmaceutical companies to stall conversion of brand name drugs to lower cost generics; paling around with Putin and Kim while denigrating our own 17 intelligence agencies; enabling mass murders in our schools by preventing any common sense gun regulations; turning a blind eye to misogyny, bigotry and racism, creating a dysfunctional government by appointing agency heads with personal agendas; enriching himself in violation of the emoluments clause of our Constitution; fomenting unrest in the Middle East by supporting extreme right wing Netananyu; trying to hide adulterous affairs; spending work days watching tv; roiling trade and causing price increases with ill-conceived trade practices; working hand in glove with McConnell and Graham who are from some of the least informed, poorest states in the U.S. If this is what his supporters "like" about this guy, it gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "shooting yourself in the foot."
99
@R. Anderson
Well said - I guess you can't overestimate the power of blind hatred.
5
@Matteo, please read R. Anderson's comment. You must have stopped reading after the first sentence. The answer to your question is in the comment itself.
Congratulations Trumpsters. After 2 more years you'll have poorer schools, worse health care, poison water and air. Corporations and the one percent will have paid less to support our crumbling infrastructure. Perhaps the Republicans will even gut medicare and social security. But at least if Trumps family met with Russians and his associates lied and committed fraud, he didn't know about it.
299
It’s disingenuous to ignore fantastic economy. The stock market has been booming since the day after Trump’s election.
4
@Linda
The market was doing well before Trump was elected, due to President Obama's hard work during the previous eight years; it's disingenuous to ignore that.
It's even more disingenuous to ignore the issues that Andrea brought up in her post. Not just disingenuous, but mean-spirited and dissolute as well.
38
@Linda - How exactly does the stock market benefit the Trump supporters living on minimum wage?
47
Never in my darkest imaginings did I envision that this outcome to the Special Counsel investigation could make our political divisions even more toxic and polarizing, and yet here we are.
Trump's supporters, already steeping in his and his propaganda mouthpieces' 'alternative facts' world, are now armored against reality forevermore. I despair. Someone please stop the world; I need to get off.
17
@a "Someone please stop the world; I need to get off."
Patriots do not step away from supporting & defending justice. Find ways to bring the Trump-Kushner crime family & their abettors to justice and out of office.
I must have missed the expressions of outrage from these same people during the 8 years Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump were “dragging down” their president.
484
@MH
Plenty of outrage over Obama's treatment from the very same people who now want to "bring down" a president.
6
@AACNY
Except President Obama wasn't behaving like a mob boss; he actually behaved like a public servant and worked at the job to which he was elected.
55
What’s to celebrate? Are Trump supporters really going to be ok when other presidential candidates knowingly accept illegal campaign assistance from other countries? Let the record show that it is now acceptable to sell our presidency to the highest bidder.
500
@Brett
It's been acceptable for decades, and both mainstream parties have been deeply engaged in selling access, for the 69 years I've been alive.
Americans have no idea what this corporate owned American government is all about; to tell them the depth and scope of the wrongdoing is to invite conspiracy labeling and biting criticism.
Frankly I believe it's game over; the short American attempt to create an enduring representative government, is just about over.
27
@Brett
Actually, the record shows no such thing. JJust because you can draw lines doesn't mean you should connect all dots.
10
@Brett Our political SYSTEM has been for sale for half a century at least. Without campaign finance reform it will get worse in 2020 no matter which party takes control. Ever notice how campaign finance is always a topic early in the primaries and then conveniently disappears after the conventions. Both!
8
What about Ken Starr, what about the birther conspiracy? There’s no objectivity, only their side and the other side, winning and losing. These are the people dividing America.
7
I'm bewildered by the fact that Trump supporters don't understand that it was Trumps pick (Rod Rosenstein) and not Democrats, that set the Mueller investigation in motion. Trump and his supporters should blame Trump. Odd, right?
26
@Andy Miller
It was a fake dossier that started the investigation into Trump. This scandal is about to be blown wide open.
9
That’s wrong. The investigation was started to study the proven Russian interference into the election. Your government concluded in fact there was interference in the election. I suppose that’s fine with you and many others. Maybe just think about a foreign country’s influence in our elections.
2
@AACNY- Fake how? Most of it has proven to be true.
4
Now that the outrage meter is shifting to the other side of the spectrum, where does that leave the supposed center we hear about? Does it exist? Did it ever? Fortune favors the bold. Hope has two daughters: anger and courage. One is sorely missing in our benighted states of america.
6
When was the last time people on this side of the fence came out in a crowd in New York City?
Public crowds, whether for support or protest, have almost always been the exclusive purview of the left. Let alone Trump supports in New York. Tells me that the issues that bring these people out into the street are not going away after Trump.
Democrats need to take note and get back to the kitchen table. There is more here than intellectually lazy name calling.
6
@CNNNNC
The Left?
The "ISSUE" that brought these people out is going away in a New York second.
5
What gets me is not the hypocrisy or gloating of conservatives about the finding of no collusion but their failure to say anything at all about the other half of the original reason for the Mueller appointment. To quote from the Mueller appointment letter. "to ensure a full and thorough investigation of the Russian governments efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election"
The Barr report states there was interference. What Mueller did was to indict 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies on conspiracy charges.The charges related to a Russian propaganda effort designed to interfere with the 2016 campaign. The companies involved are the Internet Research Agency, often described as a “Russian troll farm,” and two other companies that helped finance it to conduct disinformation and social media operations in the United States designed to sow social discord, with the aim of interfering with the election.12 Russian GRU officers from Russia’s military intelligence service were charged with crimes related to the hacking and leaking of leading Democrats’ emails in 2016 and attempts to hack into state election computer systems. Footnote: the hacking attempts by russians also include 8 different state election systems.
It begs the question. Sure there was no collusion but is there no concern by conservatives that our election system and social media were infiltrated by Russians?
28
@tom
Of course there’s no concern by conservatives because it’s all okay if you’re a Republican. It’s only outrageous if you’re a Democrat. If Obama did half the things Trump is doing now, there would demonstrations and much screaming and yelling. The hypocrisy is stunning.
4
Had Mr. Mueller found President Trump guilty of collusion, the same people interviewed for this article would have said that it was all "fake" evidence concocted by a "deep state" out to get Mr. Trump. Even though the Mueller report exonerated Mr. Trump of collusion (but, importantly, not of possible obstruction of justice), these people still believe it was a "rigged game," rather than the work of a fair-minded investigator. You know you believe in a conspiracy theory when no matter the evidence or outcome, you still reach the same conclusion.
It should be remembered that in the wake of McCarthyism and Watergate, many people supported McCarthy and Nixon. Some still do, just like some Russians still think Stalin was a hero and patriot. As others have noted, President Trump was correct when he quipped he "could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters." Sadly, the people celebrating Mr. Trump's "accomplishment" prove that true.
127
@jrinsc
Exactly. Somehow throughout history, 30% of people support the dictators and somehow they overwhelm the 70% who do not.
Scary times are here.
9
@Currents. At least in this country, it's because the 70% are too busy attacking each other than standing together against the greater threat. I wasn't too proud of my liberal, libertarian, or independent friends in the last election, either. We have to find a way to look past differences for a greater good right now - for health care, the environment, wages, our schools, rational leadership.
1
I have given up caring what Trump supporters think. The facts do not seem to matter to them. So, this might seem like a victory to them, but all they hear is "exonerated," and refuse to hear the "not" in front of that word.
307
@Panthiest As long as Trump is not in any legal jeopardy and the investigation concluded that it was no collusion, then yes, they can claim victory. They also have the strong argument that nobody in the press can tell exactly what potential crimes he committed.
5
@Panthiest I don't like trump personally, but his supporters had a "No Collusion Day" rally. Not a "no exoneration [from obstruction of justice] day" rally...that's not a distinction without a difference
4
'Russian vodka'. There are many kinds. The Finns make some really good ones and so do the Poles. But if we stick to the 'real thing' the Russian variety, by far the best known is the Stoli (nickname for Stolichnaya).
Which is not even Russian-made. It comes from Latvia.
Go figure.
14
Having seen and absorbed the constant barrage of malicious treason charges on our democratically elected president for the past 2 years, I can understand the relief and joy that DJT supporters are feeling at the moment. It’s a joy that truth prevailed.
17
@Resident Which truth would that be? That Trump lied about not having any business dealings with Russia when we later learned that he was actively pursuing a Trump Tower - Moscow deal even while running for president?
Or the truth that he stated he believed Putin over our own intelligence analysts that Russia did not try to interfere in our presidential election?
Or the truth that since he's been president, foreign leaders have been staying at his hotels, constituting a clear conflict of interest between Trump as president and Trump as businessman?
52
@Resident From the first day that Trump entered the White House, he has pandered to and made excuses for the Russians, even going so far as to say the FBI and CIA are wrong about the Russians interfering with our elections and that he believes Putin, instead. The Trump campaign might not have colluded with the Russians, but look at the big picture.
23
@Resident. the only thing we know is what Trumps handpicked AG says the report says
17