Flynn in major trouble for speaking to Russia about sanctions

[boutons_deux]

NBC: Coats Told House Intel Committee Trump Is Obsessed With Russia Probe

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dan-coats-trump-obsessed-russia?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_c ampaign=Feed%3A%20tpm-news%20%28TPMNews%29

[boutons_deux]

Morning Joe hammers Trump: ‘Why does this man keep freaking out? This is how a guilty person acts’

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough blasted President Donald Trump for signaling that he might fire special counsel Robert Mueller from leading the investigation into his campaign ties to Russia.

Panelist Donnie Deutsch pointed out that Trump has picked a fight with almost every ins ution except one.

“You know what’s interesting?” Deutsch said.

“Donald Trump has picked a fight with every ins ution —

the intelligence community,

Congress,

the judicial community,

the media,

the Republican Party,

the Democratic Party.

Everybody except Russia he has picked a fight with. It’s fascinating.”

Scarborough agreed, and added

America’s Germany, British and NATO allies

to the list.

“He even picked a fight with China during the campaign,” Scarborough said.

“He’s picked a fight with every major player on the world stage, and domestically, except for Vladimir Putin and Russia.

I wonder why that is?”

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/morn...e+Raw+Story%29

It's so ing blatantly, screamingly OBVIOUS that Pootin has bought, compromised PVL so-called Pres Trash and his entourage.

[RandomGuy]

Trump is going to fire Mueller and the senate won't do .

I don't think so.

But then, predicting what Trump will, or won't do is sort of a mugs game. He never fails to do the stupidest possible, just when you think he can't be dumber.

The thing about a good theory though, it that it both explains facts, and you can make testable predictions.

Fact 1:
Russia attempted to hack our electoral process through a multi-pronged attack.

Fact 2:
Donald "look how big my inauguration crowd was" Trump has done nothing but deny this even happened. He has shown no willingness whatsoever to hold Russia to account for anything.

Fact 3:
Donald Trump has a pattern of criticizing anyone, and everyone at the drop of a hat. Allies, enemies, courts, free press, nothing has escaped his remarks and twitter feed, except for ONE/(two) thing(s), and that is Russia/Putin

Fact 4:
Russian efforts appeared designed to support Trump

Fact 5:
Trump directly called on Russia publicly to support his efforts to get elected.

Theory:
Donald Trump has been compromised in some way. Either he directly owes them money, or they have evidence of some kind of him breaking the law or doing something he does not want others to know about.

This theory explains those facts, and is fully consistent with observed reality.

Prediction:
Donald Trump will take no action personally, nor will he criticize Russia or Putin in any way in regards to the Russian attack on our elections. He may allow his underlings to do some minor, inconsequential stuff, and if forced to do anything by Congress will drag his feet, if not outright attempt to veto any sanctions.


The way to falsify the theory:
1) Trump criticizes Putin/Russia (good)
2) Trump orders/takes action that materially harms Russian interests (definitive)

Bull conspiracy theories fail very often because either: they cannot be falsified, or they directly conflict with observed reality. This theory can be falsified, and does not conflict with what we know as fact.

Donald Trump is unpredictable except for Russia.

He may be stupid enough to fire Mueller if Mueller starts asking questions that will expose how he has been compromised.

If he does so, he will be impeached. The Republican party will have almost no choice at that point. Congress will find their spine, because they want to be re-elected, and Trump will have gone too far for all but the most jaded hacks.

[boutons_deux]

Republican Governors Betrayed America By Refusing to Help Obama Protect the Election

Republican governors also refused to secure voting systems, with one Republican calling it an assault on "state's rights."

It wasn’t just Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who turned down the Obama administration’s request for help as Russia attacked the United States in its attempt to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election, a stunning exclusive in The Washington Post details.

Republican governors also refused to secure voting systems, with one Republican calling it an assault on “state’s rights.”

“Johnson, the homeland-security secretary, was responsible for finding out whether the government could quickly shore up the security of the nation’s archaic patchwork of voting systems.

He floated the idea of designating state mechanisms “critical infrastructure,” a label that would have en led states to receive priority in federal cybersecurity assistance, putting them on a par with U.S. defense contractors and financial networks,” an exclusive by The Washington Post’s security team tells us.“

On Aug. 15, Johnson arranged a conference call with dozens of state officials, hoping to enlist their support. He ran into a wall of resistance.

The reaction ‘ranged from neutral to negative,’

The Post describes the White House’s reaction as “stung”, saying they then

turned to Congress for help, where they were also turned down by Republicans.

Obama knew Republicans would claim he was politicizing it if he did more, which they did when he asked them to get help to lock down the voting systems.

this top secret intel was kept secret by the Obama administration as they asked for help from various Republicans

The question to ask now is why hasn’t Donald Trump shown any interest in using the system President Obama put into place to retaliate against the Russians, let alone shown any interest in the Russian attack on the U.S..

For that matter, why did Congressional Republicans and Governors enable the Russian attack and

why are they to this day refusing to even admit that this happened and is still happening.

Why won’t Republicans take action to protect their country?

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/06/23/republican-governors-refused-president-obama-protect-u-s-election.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=fee d&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Poli ticus+USA+%29

When the Repugs are so compromised by BigDonor, soimmunized against voters by BigDonor, so totally $elf-$erving political ...

The oligarchy has won, America is ed and un able.

[boutons_deux]

Trump Just Did His First Interview In A Month And It Was A Total Disaster

Trump returned from his interview absence for a puff piece with Republican propaganda vehicle, Fox and Friends. Even in the friendly environment, President Trump could not help confessing to a crime

Trump brags about influencing the testimony when he tweeted, “James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” on May 12.

The Fox interviewer calls it smart. Trump calls it “not very dumb.”

Lawyers call it witness intimidation.

the president accused Comey of lying in his testimony before Congress, now, he says he coerced him into telling the truth.

Trump’s web of lies has become so tangled

that he cannot even appear on his own self-appointed state media network

without contradicting his previous claims and implicating himself in a crime.

http://washingtonjournal.com/2017/06...otal-disaster/

[ducks]

wasserman is wrong she was in bed with clinton

[boutons_deux]

What happens if Trump’s White House invokes executive privilege?

Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama showed there is reason to be concerned about post-9/11 presidents testing the legal limits of their power.

The stakes are even higher now with Trump.

He has demonstrated authoritarian tendencies and contempt for the rule of law that goes beyond anything Bush or Obama did.

the key question to ask now is whether Trump will refuse to let any investigation continue.

If he does so successfully, Trump will effectively place himself beyond the reach of the law.

The various ongoing investigations are all, in theory, governed by legal rules.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s task is to speak to witnesses, review do ents, gather evidence and decide whether there is any basis for prosecution under federal law.

Congressional committees, meanwhile, hear from witnesses who testify under penalty of perjury if they lie under oath.

But such legal rules are not self-enforcing. When the rules are violated or flouted, someone has to act in order to give them force and meaning.

If the administration wants to invoke the privilege, it must do so expressly. In that case, the matter would be worked out either in negotiations between the executive and legislative branches or (less frequently) through review by the federal courts.

... claiming recorded conversations were protected by executive privilege, as defined by the president. The court rejected this view, observing that cons utional separation of powers depends on checks and balances that prevent any one branch from self-policing.

The court found, in this case, the need for checks on power outweighed the executive branch’s interest in keeping discussions confidential.

If the legislative branch is to enforce the rule of law, witnesses must be compelled to answer legitimate questions under oath.

when witnesses refuse to answer questions but fail to provide any sufficient legal reason for doing so, they are obstructing investigation – preventing Congress from carrying out its inquiry.

If other senators agreed, they could vote to cite the witness(es) for contempt, which could lead to criminal prosecution.

since Republicans are members of the same party as the president, none of this is likely – yet.

But if Trump administration officials continue to make investigation difficult, and if Trump escalates an already tense situation by continuing to question Mueller’s legitimacy or even by firing the special counsel, Republicans may face a crucial test on behalf of American cons utional democracy.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/what-happens-if-trumps-white-house-invokes-executive-privilege/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaig n=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29

Repugs are so compromised by the oligarchy that I'm pretty sure this catastrophe will come to deep Cons utional questions, and the the Repugs will answer wrongly.

Also, this oligarchy-compromised SCOTUS court could easily go 5-4 in favor of Trash's crimes.

[baseline bum]

I don't think so.

But then, predicting what Trump will, or won't do is sort of a mugs game. He never fails to do the stupidest possible, just when you think he can't be dumber.

...

He may be stupid enough to fire Mueller if Mueller starts asking questions that will expose how he has been compromised.

If he does so, he will be impeached. The Republican party will have almost no choice at that point. Congress will find their spine, because they want to be re-elected, and Trump will have gone too far for all but the most jaded hacks.

It wouldn't be stupid. Congress won't do a damn thing to him. GOP senators talk bad about him because it makes them look good in the press, but they all have his back when it matters. Like this garbage health care bill. The only GOP senators who seem opposed are the far right ones like Paul and Cruz who want to strip it down further. And that's what we'll get, just like what happened in the house.

[boutons_deux]

Secret CIA report from sources ‘deep’ in Kremlin detailed Putin’s direct order to elect Trump

A report compiled by the CIA and sent directly to former President Barack Obama detailed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s direct instructions to interfere in the 2016 election and help elect Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton,

In March of 2016, then-candidate

Trump implored Russia to “find the 30,000 emails that are missing” from Clinton’s private server.

did all y'all Trash fellators forget his Trashy gem?

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/secret-cia-report-from-sources-deep-in-kremlin-detailed-putins-direct-order-to-elect-trump-report/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaig n=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29

That sure tells me Trash was AWARE of Russia ing, or planning, to around in the election.

How would he have that in mind?

Pootin told him, to make sure Trash knew that he was expected to return the favor.

[clambake]

wasserman is wrong she was in bed with clinton

we know, ducks.

[DarrinS]

Poll: Voters weary of Russia probes

http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...-russia-probes

[Pavlov]

Poll: Voters weary of Russia probes

http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...-russia-probes

Darrin weary of shielding the semen.

[DarrinS]

Darrin weary of shielding the semen.

*zing*
*sock*

[Reck]

Poll: Voters weary of Russia probes

http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...-russia-probes

The poll uses a methodology that doesn't produce a traditional margin of error.

[Pavlov]

*zing*
*sock*

You not weary of shielding the semen?

[djohn2oo8]

Trump is going to fire Mueller and the senate won't do .

Mueller has planned for that contingency. Just like Comey planned for that same thing.

[djohn2oo8]

[djohn2oo8]

[Reck]

POS Obama more worried about his legacy than releasing critical information that would have perhaps prevented what we're in now.

[boutons_deux]

REVEALED: FBI investigating Manafort son-in-law for shady deals even his family called ‘a ponzi scheme’


http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/reve...e+Raw+Story%29

[boutons_deux]

Benghazi Crusader Just Refused To Investigate Trump-Russia

Trump loyalist Trey Gowdy recently replaced Jason Chaffetz as Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Eager to please his president, he’s already made his first public overture of obedience.

Chairman Gowdy has said his committee will not investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election or Trump’s possible obstruction of justice,

Gowdy’s transparent excuse is that he wants the committee to return to traditional purposes like overseeing the Census. He also defended his decision by saying that the Russia and obstruction investigations are the responsibility of special prosecutor Bob Mueller.

“No. 1: It’s in the jurisdiction of Bob Mueller. And secondarily, I would think Judiciary has jurisdiction over the Department of Justice and the FBI,” said Gowdy.

Conveniently, the Republicans have in the past expanded the breadth of the committee’s jurisdiction to investigate and attack Democrats.

They’ve held hearings with as neutral names as ““Operation Fast and Furious: Reckless Decisions, Tragic Outcomes,” a partisan investigation into Obama’s ATF’s “gunwalking” operation.

Gowdy was also the Head of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, one of the most recent examples of blatant partisan witch hunting.

http://washingtonjournal.com/2017/06...-trump-russia/

[Reck]

I actually agree with that. You dont need 3 separate investigations into the same thing. The senate which has by far produced the most bipartisan participation has gotten it just right thus far. The House investigation has always been a joke ever since Nunez played cuck jr.

Mueller is also looking into Obstruction of justice so there is at least a safety net with that.

[RandomGuy]

Poll: Voters weary of Russia probes

http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...-russia-probes

But then, predicting what Trump will, or won't do is sort of a mugs game. He never fails to do the stupidest possible, just when you think he can't be dumber.

The thing about a good theory though, it that it both explains facts, and you can make testable predictions.

Fact 1:
Russia attempted to hack our electoral process through a multi-pronged attack.

Fact 2:
Donald "look how big my inauguration crowd was" Trump has done nothing but deny this even happened. He has shown no willingness whatsoever to hold Russia to account for anything.

Fact 3:
Donald Trump has a pattern of criticizing anyone, and everyone at the drop of a hat. Allies, enemies, courts, free press, nothing has escaped his remarks and twitter feed, except for ONE/(two) thing(s), and that is Russia/Putin

Fact 4:
Russian efforts appeared designed to support Trump

Fact 5:
Trump directly called on Russia publicly to support his efforts to get elected.

Theory:
Donald Trump has been compromised in some way. Either he directly owes them money, or they have evidence of some kind of him breaking the law or doing something he does not want others to know about.

This theory explains those facts, and is fully consistent with observed reality.

Prediction:
Donald Trump will take no action personally, nor will he criticize Russia or Putin in any way in regards to the Russian attack on our elections. He may allow his underlings to do some minor, inconsequential stuff, and if forced to do anything by Congress will drag his feet, if not outright attempt to veto any sanctions.


The way to falsify the theory:
1) Trump criticizes Putin/Russia (good)
2) Trump orders/takes action that materially harms Russian interests (definitive)

Bull conspiracy theories fail very often because either: they cannot be falsified, or they directly conflict with observed reality. This theory can be falsified, and does not conflict with what we know as fact.

Donald Trump is unpredictable except for Russia.

He may be stupid enough to fire Mueller if Mueller starts asking questions that will expose how he has been compromised.

If he does so, he will be impeached. The Republican party will have almost no choice at that point. Congress will find their spine, because they want to be re-elected, and Trump will have gone too far for all but the most jaded hacks.

[boutons_deux]

CNN: Senate Is Investigating Russian Fund Tied To Trump Associates

The Senate Intelligence Committee is looking into a $10 billion Russian investment fund managed by a Kremlin-run bank tied to several Trump associates,

A congressional source told CNN that lawmakers are investigating the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is overseen by the state-run Vnesheconombank, whose CEO met with White House adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner in December.

Both the bank and fund have been under U.S. sanction since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Kushner’s December meeting is a focus for congressional and federal investigators looking into inappropriate contacts between Russian operatives and the Trump campaign,

as is a Jan. 16 meeting between the RDIF’s chief executive and Anthony Scaramucci (pictured at Davos in January), a Trump campaign adviser and member of the transition team’s executive committee.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/sena...0%28TPMNews%29

[boutons_deux]

Gowdy won't investigate Trash, but Repugs going after Lynch

Senators investigate whether Loretta Lynch tried to stifle Clinton email probe

Senate Judiciary Committee leaders said Friday they are seeking information about former attorney general Loretta Lynch's alleged efforts to stifle the FBI's investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while Clinton was secretary of State.

A spokesman for Lynch said the former attorney general "will cooperate fully with this inquiry and respond directly to the Senate Judiciary Committee."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...obe/103140596/

Repugs investigated the out Hillary's email for months and months, but Lynch obstructed them?

Benghazi!

Hillary murdered Vince Foster!

Whitewater!