We still don’t have the actual Mueller report, just William Barr’s summary (or not a summary) four-page letter. But even Barr’s letter acknowledges that, whether or not Trump himself was knowingly involved, the Russians interfered in the 2020 presidential campaign to influence it in favor of Trump’s election, which would help their twin goals of:
a) stopping Hillary, who had spoken out against Russian tyranny and the illegitimacy of their “elections”
and
b) installing their own chaos candidate to destabilize and undermine the government of their strongest adversary, and one on whom they had compromising evidence of wrongdoing
So even Barr acknowledges that Trump is being used as a Russian asset.
The only question now, whether or not there is evidence that rises to “beyond a reasonable doubt,” is whether Trump is a useful idiot knowingly or unknowingly.
The Trump Campaign was not the first Republican campaign to collude with a totalitarian regime to influence an election. Throughout the 1930’s there was collaboration between the German Nazis and the America First movement, closely aligned with the Republican Party.
As historian Klaus Fischer points out in his book Hitler & America, Hitler had a shrewd grasp of American politics. The Führer nurtured Germany’s ties to the America First crowd – led by the Nazi sympathizer Charles Lindbergh. He hosted a meeting with Herbert Hoover in Berlin. Hoover, an engineer by training, marveled at the Nazi’s massive infrastructure projects. Hitler’s goal all along was to keep America neutral for as long as possible – until at least he had finished his project on the European continent. This strategy was largely successful until Kristallnacht in November 1938. Even after Kristallnacht there were plenty of Americans who thought the threat against the Jews was exaggerated, or even that the Jews had brought it on themselves (see The American Papers That Praised Hitler).
Conservative pundit Michael Gerson: "Trump supporters are doing a victory dance over the fact that he isn’t a Russian agent, just a Russian stooge. And Trump’s supporters are spiking the ball following an investigation that did not clear the president of obstruction charges. So it is still a legal judgment call whether or not the president is a crook.Trump may not know much, but he knows lawsuits and legal proceedings. In this instance, he did not claim, “My staff has the highest ethical standards!” That would have been laughable. He did not say, “My first choice for national security adviser wasn’t a national security threat!” Because he was. Trump claimed, in essence, that he did not directly conspire with Russia to win an election. Then he cleared an ankle-high bar. … Barr’s summary of the Mueller report is the most favorable interpretation Trump is likely to get. The report itself may be a catalog of horrible judgment, unethical behavior and noncriminal corruption. It may put Trump Inc. in a very bad light. If and when it comes out in full. In the meantime, the Trump administration is defendant, judge and jury. The full report, however, may require revised judgments from some of Trump’s critics as well. Perhaps the president is not a foreign agent or a criminal mastermind. Perhaps he is a weak leader who surrounds himself with clowns and criminals. Perhaps his lack of character attracts and enables other corrupt men. Perhaps he is more pathetic than dictatorial, more fool than knave. Perhaps behind the compulsive, simplistic, narcissistic exterior there is a compulsive, simplistic, narcissistic interior. Perhaps he has moved beyond good and evil, enforcing only one code: loyalty to his person. Integrity and competence be damned.All this may not be criminal. But it mocks our country in a different way."
This week Mitch McConnell is going to further destroy the Senate. He’s going nuclear, meaning he’s forcing a rules change with a simple majority vote: to dramatically reduce the debate time between when the Senate moves a nominee forward for consideration and when the nomination gets a final vote, from 30 hours to as few as two for most nominees to federal district courts and sub-Cabinet-level executive branch positions. Democrats have used those rules to try to stem the onslaught of appallingly unqualified and should-be-disqualified deplorables into government and the judiciary.
So, what are we going to DO so there is never another person like the resident in a position of authority in the federal government? The insults certainly don’t seem to be having a positive effect.
Vladimir Lenin coined the term “Useful Idiots”, those people who were not considered an ideal communist, or an over-zealous one, or even a counter-revolutionary. They could be used for a while to attain certain immediate goals, after which, they would be discarded, or liquidated. I believe the term is still part of the Russian lexicon. (Gee, I wonder who heads the list?)
DD Wiz Premium Member about 5 years ago
We still don’t have the actual Mueller report, just William Barr’s summary (or not a summary) four-page letter. But even Barr’s letter acknowledges that, whether or not Trump himself was knowingly involved, the Russians interfered in the 2020 presidential campaign to influence it in favor of Trump’s election, which would help their twin goals of:
a) stopping Hillary, who had spoken out against Russian tyranny and the illegitimacy of their “elections”
and
b) installing their own chaos candidate to destabilize and undermine the government of their strongest adversary, and one on whom they had compromising evidence of wrongdoing
So even Barr acknowledges that Trump is being used as a Russian asset.
The only question now, whether or not there is evidence that rises to “beyond a reasonable doubt,” is whether Trump is a useful idiot knowingly or unknowingly.
Wittingly or half-wittingly.
But exoneration? Not so much.
Charlie Tuba about 5 years ago
Does the dial on right have a brain dead setting?
Masterskrain Premium Member about 5 years ago
Ain’t THIS the truth!
The TM about 5 years ago
Putin must be referring to Trump’s “mouth dial”: non-stop rotation on any issue!
William Bednar Premium Member about 5 years ago
I’m sure that Vlad has a “Kim-0-Meter” as well.
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
The Republicans installed Putin’s machine.
And they have made no provisions to stop Russian hacking of the 2020 election.
What do you expect from a party that takes Russian money?
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
This is what the Republicans ‘friends’ do in their spare time.
Russia Ordered a Killing That Made No Sense. Then the Assassin Started Talking.The New York Times
1 day ago
China mulls to buy Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter jet
Economic Times4 hours ago
3 bodies found in plane crash that killed Russian tycoon
NBC Montana2 hours ago
Russia airline co-owner dies in plane crash
Al Jazeera3 hours ago
Trump, Putin and a Possible ‘Red-Line Moment’ in Venezuela
The New York Times4 hours ago
Russia’s Military Mission Creep Advances to a New Front: Africa
The New York Times4 hours ago
Treaty’s end would give U.S., Russia impetus to make more nukes: study
Reuters9 hours ago
US response to Russian troops in Venezuela could include sanctions …
Global News – 3 days ago
Analysts: Russia Using Disinformation to Try to Disrupt Ukraine Election
VOA NewsYouTube – 3 days ago
Is the US losing its competitive edge against Russia and China?
Fox News – 4 hours ago
Inside the fight against Russia’s fake news empire
TED.com – Jun 7, 2018
montessoriteacher about 5 years ago
To vlad, Trump is indeed a useful idiot.
mourdac Premium Member about 5 years ago
All 3 dials would work for Vlad.
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
The Trump Campaign was not the first Republican campaign to collude with a totalitarian regime to influence an election. Throughout the 1930’s there was collaboration between the German Nazis and the America First movement, closely aligned with the Republican Party.
As historian Klaus Fischer points out in his book Hitler & America, Hitler had a shrewd grasp of American politics. The Führer nurtured Germany’s ties to the America First crowd – led by the Nazi sympathizer Charles Lindbergh. He hosted a meeting with Herbert Hoover in Berlin. Hoover, an engineer by training, marveled at the Nazi’s massive infrastructure projects. Hitler’s goal all along was to keep America neutral for as long as possible – until at least he had finished his project on the European continent. This strategy was largely successful until Kristallnacht in November 1938. Even after Kristallnacht there were plenty of Americans who thought the threat against the Jews was exaggerated, or even that the Jews had brought it on themselves (see The American Papers That Praised Hitler).
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/29/1846170/-GOP-Collusion-with-the-Nazis-in-the-1940-Election?utm_campaign=spotlight
Godfreydaniel about 5 years ago
Conservative pundit Michael Gerson: "Trump supporters are doing a victory dance over the fact that he isn’t a Russian agent, just a Russian stooge. And Trump’s supporters are spiking the ball following an investigation that did not clear the president of obstruction charges. So it is still a legal judgment call whether or not the president is a crook.Trump may not know much, but he knows lawsuits and legal proceedings. In this instance, he did not claim, “My staff has the highest ethical standards!” That would have been laughable. He did not say, “My first choice for national security adviser wasn’t a national security threat!” Because he was. Trump claimed, in essence, that he did not directly conspire with Russia to win an election. Then he cleared an ankle-high bar. … Barr’s summary of the Mueller report is the most favorable interpretation Trump is likely to get. The report itself may be a catalog of horrible judgment, unethical behavior and noncriminal corruption. It may put Trump Inc. in a very bad light. If and when it comes out in full. In the meantime, the Trump administration is defendant, judge and jury. The full report, however, may require revised judgments from some of Trump’s critics as well. Perhaps the president is not a foreign agent or a criminal mastermind. Perhaps he is a weak leader who surrounds himself with clowns and criminals. Perhaps his lack of character attracts and enables other corrupt men. Perhaps he is more pathetic than dictatorial, more fool than knave. Perhaps behind the compulsive, simplistic, narcissistic exterior there is a compulsive, simplistic, narcissistic interior. Perhaps he has moved beyond good and evil, enforcing only one code: loyalty to his person. Integrity and competence be damned.All this may not be criminal. But it mocks our country in a different way."
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
This week Mitch McConnell is going to further destroy the Senate. He’s going nuclear, meaning he’s forcing a rules change with a simple majority vote: to dramatically reduce the debate time between when the Senate moves a nominee forward for consideration and when the nomination gets a final vote, from 30 hours to as few as two for most nominees to federal district courts and sub-Cabinet-level executive branch positions. Democrats have used those rules to try to stem the onslaught of appallingly unqualified and should-be-disqualified deplorables into government and the judiciary.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/4/1/1846832/-McConnell-prepares-to-detonate-another-nuclear-bomb-in-the-Senate-for-Trump?utm_campaign=recent
SHIVA about 5 years ago
You KNOW there’s going to be manipulation behind the scenes BEFORE we get to see the Report, at the behest of the White House!!!
Kip W about 5 years ago
“It goes to eleven.”
superposition about 5 years ago
So, what are we going to DO so there is never another person like the resident in a position of authority in the federal government? The insults certainly don’t seem to be having a positive effect.
moosemin about 5 years ago
Vladimir Lenin coined the term “Useful Idiots”, those people who were not considered an ideal communist, or an over-zealous one, or even a counter-revolutionary. They could be used for a while to attain certain immediate goals, after which, they would be discarded, or liquidated. I believe the term is still part of the Russian lexicon. (Gee, I wonder who heads the list?)
Tonto & Redd Panda about 5 years ago
Has any one wondered why don jr looks nothing like his “dad”? Look close, no similarities at all. That’s odd.