Special counsel is on the hot seat now. Its put up or shut up time.

3/12/2018 9:34:05 PM

Yep. Pretty much the only shot at finding out if anything happened and taking corrective action if so.

Completely amazes me how badly the House has abdicated its responsibility.

3/12/2018 11:02:37 PM

Gotta admire Nunes. Imagine being a farmer from Fresno and thinking you know more about how to interpret raw intel than career agents in multiple intelligence communities. Also, kudos to him for not only exonerating Trump and Russia but blaming Obama and Clinton for everything.

Guy is a loyal Trump solider.

3/13/2018 7:46:14 AM

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/13/politics/roger-stone-wikileaks-contact/index.html

3/13/2018 9:33:01 AM

I'm still not sure how to read the House Intelligence Committee wrapping up its investigation. The investigation itself is as worthless as its chairman, but it does provide the fig leaf of "we're doing something." It's also a vehicle for influencing the Russian interference narrative and defending Trump, and the committee's investigative powers should give it at least some insight into what Mueller is doing. I'm not sure why they're giving that up.

Random thoughts you never asked for, with A Tanzarian:

The 'win' of declaring the investigation over, no collusion here will be blown up the next time anything happens.

There's no upside to keeping the investigation going with Nunes in charge. The base doesn't need him to remind them it's all a witch hunt--they have Trump for that. Nunes' stunts aren't going to win new converts and could cost some marginal believers.

Willful ignorance and plausible deniability. Maybe the "we're doing something" fig leaf is being replaced with a "can't do anything if we don't know what's going on" fig leaf.

I wonder how Republicans are feeling internally about midterms? Republicans are setting up to bemoan partisan politics if/when Democrats reopen a closed investigation.

Maybe Mueller is getting close to Nunes.

Can't defend the indefensible.

3/14/2018 1:40:42 AM

good background on sater:
How A Player In The Trump-Russia Scandal Led A Double Life As An American Spy
https://www.buzzfeed.com/anthonycormier/felix-sater-trump-russia-undercover-us-spy?utm_term=.cgkoQaYw3D#.uov69zaNX5

3/14/2018 9:19:20 AM

^^It's all about the mid terms.

The GOP, with the exception of people as insane as Nunes, knows something is up and there will be more criminal charges, possibly against Trump himself. They also know impeachment is a fairly strong possibility.

Leaving the investigation open serves to keep it in the news. It also allows Democrats to continuously leak anything that arises from it.

All of this further increases the chances of Democrats in the midterms.

They know Mueller will ultimately get to the truth so they feel they have no reason to continue.

It is a complete shuttering of their constitutional responsibility to us. Every single one of them should be fired for it.

They are so terrified of liberalism that they are willing to go all in on someone like Trump to keep that from happening. It is despicable. This all really started when McConnell and Ryan became majority leaders. Primarily McConnell.

Their fear is almost entirely irrational. The extent of their fear essentially has them fighting to the death, so to speak. It's what any organism that feels it's on its last leg does when facing an existential threat (real or perceived).

It's also a perpetuating behavior that serves to actually bring about the demise more quickly than would happen with a moderate stance.

For the first time in my life, my emotions tell me to vote against any and all Republicans simply because of this reprehensible behavior. That's an example of how their fight is making it worse for them in the longterm.

It is going to takes lot of strength on my part to not do that.

[Edited on March 14, 2018 at 11:20 AM. Reason : a]

[Edited on March 14, 2018 at 11:20 AM. Reason : a]

3/14/2018 11:08:54 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-43415271

I’m glad the US was a part of this but it’s utterly baffling that Trump hasn’t condemned this yet or even really mentioned it. He talks about Islamist and immigrant attacks all the time well before any facts are out.

3/15/2018 9:18:55 AM

It's not baffling if he is legit compromised by Russia or involved in financial crimes with them.

Nearly every decision he has made, literally, hurts us from a strategic standpoint as it relates to Russia.

If his handler Putin calls and tells him it's okay, you'll see him condemn this.

3/15/2018 9:45:42 AM

sane progressives headline

Quote :

"Trump issues Russia sanctions on lie of 2016 election interference in a week of stunning bipartisan legislative betrayals"

lol i havent kept up this week

3/15/2018 1:14:11 PM

Maybe Trump doesn't want to rush to conclusions before some investigation is done. This poisoning happened less than 10 miles from the Porton Down British chemical weapons laboratory, so there's a slight chance that this was spy shit gone horribly wrong involving a nerve agent of British origin.

In late 2001 the US media was assuring us that Iraq was attacking the US with Anthrax letters, despite all the later evidence indicating the spores came from Fort Detrick. I'd rather us get our facts straight before kicking off WWIII.

3/15/2018 1:45:41 PM

Lol.

3/15/2018 1:47:44 PM

Maybe Stormy Daniels was really just Trump's penpal and after he rebuffed her desperate advances, she decided to settle the score by besmirching his name with tabloid accusations.

3/15/2018 1:49:50 PM

holy shit

3/15/2018 2:11:53 PM

^?

3/15/2018 2:27:28 PM

the post that two other people above me responded to

3/15/2018 2:28:48 PM

Quote :

"In late 2001 the US media was assuring us that Iraq was attacking the US with Anthrax letters, "

Did this really happen? Maybe I'm misremember, and I know there was speculation that it could be Iraq, but I don't recall the media "assuring us" that it was Iraq.

3/15/2018 2:51:51 PM

Here's an example of how the press reported it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/14/terrorism.afghanistan6

The context was quite different too. Not to mention there is a decades long history of Russia doing this specifically in the UK.

ABC did have a bad report on it, at least once. I'm sure if all you watched and read was Fox News at the time that's all they talked about, too.

Good read on it: https://www.wired.com/2011/03/did-the-anthrax-attacks-kickstart-the-iraq-war/

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 3:30 PM. Reason : a]

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 3:32 PM. Reason : a]

3/15/2018 3:25:29 PM

^^Yeah, I remember quite well: That did not happen.

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 3:26 PM. Reason : ^]

3/15/2018 3:26:14 PM

...and evidently my memory isn't perfect, but then again, I wouldn't describe the tone of that article as "assuring" us Iraq is responsible.

3/15/2018 3:29:54 PM

And one more thing I find very infuriating:

Many on the right are suggesting we shouldn't place too much trust in our intelligence services--After all, they fucked up with respect to Iraq and WMD, didn't they?

...On the other hand, it was many of those same bastards on the right that CAUSED that intelligence fuck up, in the first place:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Special_Plans

My Response to them: Yeah, assholes, we shouldn't have listened to you then and we damn sure should not listen to you now.

3/15/2018 3:34:24 PM

From everything I've read, and it's likely I'm missing key information, the intelligence agencies did NOT fuck up on Iraq.

They repeatedly said there was no Iraq connection to 9/11 and there were no weapons. It was political pressure from Bush and most egregiously Cheney hounding senior CIA officials to provide any single piece of intelligence that mentioned a possible Iraq connection, even if there are 20 pieces saying there wasn't for each one that did.

Intel informs decision makers. Intel agencies do not make decisions. If the leaders ignore them or are convinced they are out to get them and are stupid then that is on them, not the IC.

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 3:48 PM. Reason : a]

3/15/2018 3:47:24 PM

Here is a good timeline:

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/leadup-iraq-war-timeline/

Basically, George Tenet was at odds with most of the intelligence community and twisted reports to support the war.

3/15/2018 4:20:24 PM

Good job getting everyone off topic, eleusis!

3/15/2018 4:34:45 PM

Back on topic: https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/15/politics/robert-mueller-donald-trump-organization-russia/index.html

3/15/2018 5:30:06 PM

ABC was fully invested in the fake news against Iraq in 2001. Mueller was getting pressed hard by the White House for the FBI to find a link between the Anthrax attacks and Iraq.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92270&page=1

3/15/2018 5:30:47 PM

So when you say

Quote :

"In late 2001 the US media was assuring us that Iraq was attacking the US with Anthrax letters"

You really meant to say

Quote :

"In late 2001 ABC was assuring us that Iraq was attacking the US with Anthrax letters"

3/15/2018 6:24:46 PM

^^So lemme get this straight: A Republican White House was trying to abuse the intelligence agencies back then. Now, a Republican White House is trying to use that history as evidence that we shouldn't trust intelligence agencies.

Well OK then. LOL

3/15/2018 6:52:14 PM

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/15/politics/robert-mueller-donald-trump-organization-russia/index.html

Mueller probably got as much as he could before going after anything Trump related, so this probably means the investigation is in the home stretch

3/15/2018 8:01:04 PM

Mueller wants to see what Trump leaves out of the subpoena? (Assuming mueller already has all the goods). I hope.

3/15/2018 8:14:08 PM

^^^^nope, I had it right. Multiple news agencies were reporting inaccuracies that pointed squarely at Iraq. I specifically mentioned ABC because they are a huge news source and don't fall into the "Fox News" sneer someone made earlier.

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 8:16 PM. Reason : ^^^^]

3/15/2018 8:14:31 PM

your original post specifically said the us media was spreading hysteria on anthrax.

now you've walked it back to "well abc did that" and "numerous other (unnamed) press organizations were spreading all kinds of unspecified iraq connections." And it took me and one or two other people calling you out to begin with to even get you to do this.

i think this is the last time i ever respond to any of your posts anywhere on this forum. you literally can't think correctly.

^^^i certainly hope so, it's exhausting at this point. to me the subpoena implies he has reason to believe their voluntary document turnover previously left stuff out that he learned about through subsequent interviews.

but if that's the case what's to say they don't leave them out again. so i honestly have no clue.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions/u-s-sanctions-russians-for-meddling-but-not-putins-oligarchs-idUSKCN1GR23B

Quote :

"The United States slapped sanctions on Russian individuals and entities for U.S. election meddling and cyber attacks but put off targeting oligarchs and government officials close to President Vladimir Putin, prompting lawmakers in both parties to say President Donald Trump needs to do much more."

I'm not sure how much more obvious he can make it. And if it's not true, I have no clue how much dumber he could possibly be.

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 8:38 PM. Reason : a]

3/15/2018 8:31:01 PM

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/15/house-intelligence-republicans-russia-probe-465805

This is just great hahaha. Cracked up big time at this part:

Quote :

""There are standards that CIA analysts, and other intelligence analysts, hold themselves to," Conaway said. "Ninety-eight percent of the tradecraft was just fine, but we believe that on this one narrow piece of the [agencies' findings], the standards were not upheld.”"

Tradecraft is for assets and case officers in the field, not analysts in Virginia. God these people are morons.

And look at his walkback:

Quote :

"Conaway has emphasized since Monday that the committee has made no determination about whether the intelligence community was right or wrong in its assessment, only that the underlying evidence failed to back up its conclusion. Conaway has also made clear he believes Russia did attempt to hurt Clinton's chances — and he says it's a judgment call whether that means they also wanted Trump to win."

Good LORD what a moron. "We made no determination that the community was right or wrong, it's just that even though 98% of their tradecraft was correct, none of it backs up the conclusion that we have not determined is right or wrong."

"They definitely wanted the Patriots to lose. But we can't determine if that means they wanted the Eagles to win."

MOOOOOORONS.

[Edited on March 15, 2018 at 10:11 PM. Reason : a]

3/15/2018 9:55:02 PM

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=987590074724695&id=276157035868006

please watch

[Edited on March 16, 2018 at 9:51 PM. Reason : k]

3/16/2018 9:49:39 PM

Three things:

1) I haven't watched the NBC interview yet but if they actually left this out then fuck them. But I want to confirm this first since this is a social media link so for all I know they didn't cut any of it and this is some idiot lying about it.

2) Putin is lying about not being involved in the meddling. But he's supposed to so I can't fault him for that. We lie about it when we do it too, and for good reason.

3) Geopolitics my friends. It'll stop when we either evolve or invent mind reading devices. Until then, we do what we can to ensure our own survival. it's the uncertainty that prevents us from solving these problems peacefully.

The Ukraine comment cracked me up. Why did we support the revolution? Because Russia was trying to keep Ukraine from joining NATO/EU.

[Edited on March 16, 2018 at 10:37 PM. Reason : a]

3/16/2018 10:33:32 PM

Oh look, Cambridge Analytica is being suspended from Facebook:
https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/03/suspending-cambridge-analytica/
For collecting info on users when they weren’t supposed to.


I wonder if they shared that info with anyone?

3/17/2018 8:32:44 AM

Here we go guys. No pushback for firing Comey, GOP support for firing McCabe and now his personal attorney speaking on Trump’s behalf saying Rosenstein should shut Mueller down.

We are heading towards a crisis..

3/17/2018 10:05:31 AM

^https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/17/politics/john-dowd-mueller-russia-investigation/index.html

Quote :

""I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe's boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt dossier," Dowd told CNN in a statement, reacting to the news of former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe's firing. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, is overseeing the Russia investigation after Sessions recused himself from the probe last year. Dowd told CNN he was speaking on his own behalf, although he had earlier told the Daily Beast, which first reported the statement, that he was speaking on behalf of the President. Dowd's comment wasn't authorized by the President, a person close to the Trump told CNN."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/read-former-fbi-deputy-director-andrew-mccabe-s-full-statement-n857511

McCabe's statement. This bothers me. Why would the OIG recommend his firing if what McCabe is saying is true.


[Edited on March 17, 2018 at 11:09 AM. Reason : a]

3/17/2018 11:08:17 AM

http://www.businessinsider.com/felix-sater-confirms-trump-pursued-deal-with-sanctioned-russian-bank-2018-3

3/17/2018 12:34:42 PM

The AP is reporting that McCabe kept personal memos regarding Trump.

3/17/2018 2:29:57 PM

CNN also reporting this now:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/17/politics/mccabe-memos-trump/index.html

3/17/2018 2:30:34 PM

Quote :

" a source with knowledge of the matter "

here we go again

3/17/2018 3:06:38 PM

Get over it, it's how reporting works. And most of the time it turns out to be true. The vast majority of the time, in fact.

3/17/2018 3:40:26 PM

but the problem isn't that the media is reporting it but that the source has leaked information that wasn't supposed to be leaked. I want to know whats in the memos. They could have memos that say nothing important. They could have memos with bombshells. All these leaks do is stir public opinion and let everyones imagination run wild. That is what most of this russia investigation has been based on.

3/17/2018 3:54:53 PM

Things like this are being leaked to respond to Trump's and the GOP's bullshit. It would not happen if they weren't facing an assault like this.

It's literally the exact same reason "Deep Throat" was leaking during the Watergate scandal. It's designed as a response to prevent people in a higher power from covering up and killing an investigation. It's necessary.

It is unfortunate which I can agree 100% with you on.



[Edited on March 17, 2018 at 5:29 PM. Reason : a]

3/17/2018 5:29:01 PM

I guess Donnie doesn’t like the questions Mueller sent over...

3/18/2018 9:41:48 AM

Meltdown this morning

3/18/2018 10:02:18 AM

This seems significant.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378970-trump-linked-data-firm-met-with-russian-executives

3/18/2018 11:12:25 AM

^
I honestly don’t think that is significant unless they can show CA was ordered to do so by the campaign.

The media, and Cambridge Analytica, is overselling how significant CA was, they were not a sophisticated group, their work was nowhere near Obama’s data science team.

If you think about it, they lost the election by 3M votes and only won the key districts by <1%.

It was more comeys letter that swung the election to trump, not clever tactics by CA.

3/18/2018 11:38:00 AM

Doesn't really matter whether they were good or succeeded or not. What matters is whether they attempted to work with a foreign intelligence agency to do their work or provided their information to that agency. So in that respect, your other point is absolutely correct - what probably matters as it relates to Trump is whether anyone in his campaign asked/told them to do so.

If not, the individuals themselves would still be liable if they behaved in that manner, even if Trump's campaign hadn't ordered them to.

[Edited on March 18, 2018 at 12:23 PM. Reason : a]

3/18/2018 12:22:47 PM