The Trump/Russia connection thread

[Jean]

Thinking the same thing my self ReRun. Funny how anything Trump does is investigated and never pleases the Dems. Ad it never will. It would be nice to go back to the time when Obama was elected and the things his wife did, such as the miserable school lunches and his "lack of a birth certificate" and on and on. How quickly we forget, you Democrats. Certainly Hillary Clinton's family is as crooked as it can be, but still, some wanted Mommy to be "the Boss". Sorry, but you lost. Get over it.

[Rerun]

Comey listed the crimes Hillary did, but then did not charge her because there was no "intent".  I bet the people that are in jail for doing the same thing or less are beyond pissed.  I hope the new Director puts her in jail.  Lock her up!

If Comey ends up dead they will blame Trump when it will be the Clintons' trail of bodies.

[Simon Dog]

Comey listed the crimes Hillary did, but then did not charge her because there was no "intent".  I bet the people that are in jail for doing the same thing or less are beyond pissed.  I hope the new Director puts her in jail.  Lock her up!

If Comey ends up dead they will blame Trump when it will be the Clintons' trail of bodies.

The operative term is Arkanacide.

The best description I heard was "like OK firing judge Ito in the middle of the trial".

[iolaire]

Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets with Tillerson and Trump.
http://boingboing.net/2017/05/10/russia-foreign-minister-sergey.html
Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency cameras were let in to Lavrov/Trump meeting today. U.S press was kept out. The Russian press was allowed in.

and
QUESTION: Does the Comey firing cast a shadow of your talks, gentlemen?

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Was he fired?

QUESTION: Yes.

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: You are kidding. You are kidding.

[iolaire]

I really have no idea what any statement on Hillary has to do with the question why did some many of Trumps people have illegal meetings with Russian folks?  This thread is taking about the Russian connections to Trump. 

Maybe we need another thread where you can talk about Hillary's perceived crimes so we can stay on topic here?

[iolaire]

Is this why Comey was fired?  What are they trying to cover up?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/comey-russia-investigation-fbi.html?_r=0
Days before he was fired, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in resources for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election, according to three congressional officials who were briefed on his request.
...
The timing of Mr. Comey’s request is not clear-cut evidence that his firing was related to the Russia investigation. But it is certain to fuel bipartisan criticism that President Trump appeared to be meddling in an investigation that had the potential to damage his presidency.

[MooseMom]

Nope, this has nothing to do with Hillary Clinton.  This has everything to do with Russia.

Remember, Jeff Sessions recused himself from anything and everything having to do with an investigation on Trump's campaign's ties with Russia.  So, since he recommended that Trump fire Comey, he can't SAY or refer to the Russian investigation in any way, and THAT is why the AG, the asst. AG and Trump are muttering on about Clinton.

Seriously, if Trump and/or the DOJ had any real argument with Comey because of his handling of the email investigation, why did Trump praise Comey during the campaign, kiss him on his first day in office, or at the very least, not fire him immediately?

In summary, I agree with iolaire.  Some folks here are letting themselves be distracted from the most dangerous and blatant attempt by a foreign government to destroy our democracy, our freedom and the ideals of the Constitution.  But no....Hillary Clinton's email server is the culprit.   

[MooseMom]

But it is certain to fuel bipartisan criticism that President Trump appeared to be meddling in an investigation that had the potential to damage his presidency.

And there you have it.  This will cripple the entire Administration for its duration.  This is madness.

I voted for Hillary Clinton, but I was afraid that if she did become president, her critics would dog her for her entire 4 years in office.  I was almost certain that Congress would do nothing for four years but hold one investigation after another, and nothing would get done.

But what is happening now is far worse than anything I had imagined would happen during Trump's administration.  Trump has fired just about everyone that was working on the Russian investigation.  I can scarcely believe what is going on.

[Simon Dog]

This will cripple the entire Administration for its duration.

It will make no difference.

No Republican senator/congressmen will vote against trump because of this, and the Democrats will continue to be against him.

All that will happen is that Democrats will scream "you should turn on your man" while Republicans reply with "doesn't matter".

[MooseMom]

No Republican senator/congressmen will vote against trump because of this, and the Democrats will continue to be against him.

All that will happen is that Democrats will scream "you should turn on your man" while Republicans reply with "doesn't matter".

I don't know if that will be true in the end.  I don't see Trump as a Republican.  He is apart.  That's why so many people voted for him; he is not "establishment".  Voters have taken a chance with him, and I think everyone will come to see that he has no interest in governing, rather, his interest is only in himself.  You don't have to be either R or D to see this.  If Congresspeople of either party want what is best for the integrity of American democracy, they won't just shrug and say it "doesn't matter".

[nursey66]

I wish we the people could take up a vote to Fire Trump !

[Michael Murphy]

Let's face it the militant wing of the Republican Party succeeded in having a bigly traitor elected Presidunce.  The Clintons have absolutely no involvement in this farce.  Trump wants to stick his head up his butt and hope this blows over.  It is only a matter of time till we have a reply oNixon leaving the White House.

[MooseMom]

EEEEEK!  Every time I turn around, there's more BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

We're not only looking at possible collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russians (did you all see Trump allowing the Russian foreign minister and Ambassador into the Oval Office yesterday?  Lavrov was laughing at us!), but we also have to consider impeding the course of justice charges at some point.

If only Trump had released his tax returns.

If only Trump has listened to Obama's warnings about Flynn which, we now see, were given in good faith.

My fear is this; we have a Republican led Congress who have decided they've made a deal with the Devil.  They will protect Trump from investigation and impeachment, and in return Trump will sign any garbage legislation they put in front of him.

How much time and money was spent investigating Hillary Clinton's emails?  How many days went by when there was not some GOP led questioning on TV?  But when Comey asks for more money to spend on the Russia investigation, he was FIRED! 

And now it is at the point where it doesn't matter if, in the end, there is no there, there.  There was no there, there, with the emails nor with Benghazi.  But the electorate saw the images and heard the rhetoric over and over and over and over for years.  As a result, I don't think she could have been an effective President had she been elected by a majority of voters.  (Oh, wait...)

We are seeing the same thing playing out now.  This Presidency has been destroyed. 

And we may well see a President Pence and a First Mother.  That's not the brightest alternative now, is it!

The idea of Sean Spicer hiding behind the bushes so as not to have to answer the media's questions is a priceless Melissa McCarthy moment.

[Rerun]

I wish we the people could take up a vote to Fire Trump !

You would LOSE again!  Would that help you accept "the peoples vote"??

I worked for the Government for 20 years and I can tell you no Director EVER did any of the work.  The Minions do....
Nothing will change in the FBI except the "Figure Head".  This "investigation" has been going on for how many months now and they have no evidence.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

they have no evidence

You're wrong about that. There is a ton of evidence.  But it's very complicated and international and they wanted to present an open and shut case.  This takes time.  Dealing with a bunch of crooks takes time.  The corruption in this administration is pervasive and deep.

And, BTW, only a tiny fraction of "the peoples' vote actually put this jerk in office(and his "stellar" crew).

[Michael Murphy]

There is enough evidence to put Flynn in prison.  The law is clear no retired general officer may receive payments from foreign governments without permission from the DOD.  Flynn never reported the money so he could not have permission.  Flynn can be recalled to active service, court martialed, and sent to Leavenworth.  Now Flynn has been trying to get a immunity deal to avoid this.  Every time Trump hears a question about Flynn he seems to go nuts.  The reaction is so extreme it appears Flynn has information damaging to Trump.the evidence I'd circumstantial but it's clear enough to any one but a trump lover that he is guilty.   This is beginning to look like water gate redo.

[Rerun]

There was plenty of evidence to put someone else in jail but it didn't happen.

I'm not allowed to say her name in this post.

[iolaire]

Conservative Republican Justin Amash Signs Onto Bill For An Independent Russia Investigation
The Freedom Caucus member is only the second Republican to join Democrats on the bill, which would create an independent, nonpartisan commission to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/lissandravilla/conservative-republican-justin-amash-signs-onto-bill-for-an?utm_term=.po1WpmlaeN#.ru5RzVXoa3

and
The legislation Amash has signed on to was introduced by Democratic Reps. Eric Swalwell and Elijah Cummings in December. It was reintroduced in the House and introduced in the Senate at the start of the new Congress in January. But it has stalled without significant Republican support.
...
Although Amash’s signature lends some GOP credence to the the bill, it is still a long way from passage.


So as a reminder for well over half a year numerous Trump officials have seemed to have had illegal relationships with Russian parties (to the point where these people were possibly picked up on wire taps of Russian spies).  Additionally the global intelligence community believes that Russia directly tried to influence the outcome of our presidential election, and some Trump team members knew negative information would be released prior to it being released.  A non guilt person would accept nonpartisan probes.  So the question is why is the main Republican leadership worried of forming a commission?

[Rerun]

Well, I'm thinking you will be very disappointed.

[iolaire]

Well, I'm thinking you will be very disappointed.

That's a legitimate hope based on outcomes of recent history of commissions and investigations.  It would be a good outcome. But the preponderance of what gets leaked sure makes it look like something is up.

[Michael Murphy]

Rerun it took several years to get Nixon but got him they did.  This investigation has been underway less than 6 months.that is if you include the time republicans have been stalling.  But the honest republicans are not lining up to block this investigation so there is hope for this congress if not now in 2018 if the democrats take the house.  My prediction is Trump impeached before 2019.

[PrimeTimer]

Thirteen reasons why the Russian probe should be expanded:

1. Russian interference in the 2012 Election.

2. Russian penetration of New York Democratic Party machine.

3. Thomas Pickering and Russian and Iranian interests.

4. John Podesta and $35 million from a Russian industrial espionage firm.

5. Tony Podesta lobbied for criminal Russian bank.

6. Podesta Group lobbied for same pro-Kremlin Ukrainians as Manafort.

7. Uranium One: Sale of 20% of US Uranium Production to Russia.

8. David and Simon Reuben.

9. Viktor Pinchuk.

10. Hunter Biden and the pro-Kremlin Ukrainian oligarch.

11. Hillary Clinton ‘Reset’ Partner Medvedev, now a focal point of Russian corruption.

12. Skolkovo industrial espionage and missile development.

13. Crowdstrike: Source of the narrative on Russian hacking for Trump.

[Simon Dog]

One can be confident that those demanding an investigation of the Trump/Russia connection have no interest in seeing the Clinton foundation/Russian Uraniun one connection investigated.  This is all partisan posturing - on both sides.

Thirteen reasons why the Russian probe should be expanded:

1. Russian interference in the 2012 Election.

2. Russian penetration of New York Democratic Party machine.

3. Thomas Pickering and Russian and Iranian interests.

4. John Podesta and $35 million from a Russian industrial espionage firm.

5. Tony Podesta lobbied for criminal Russian bank.

6. Podesta Group lobbied for same pro-Kremlin Ukrainians as Manafort.

7. Uranium One: Sale of 20% of US Uranium Production to Russia.

8. David and Simon Reuben.

9. Viktor Pinchuk.

10. Hunter Biden and the pro-Kremlin Ukrainian oligarch.

11. Hillary Clinton ‘Reset’ Partner Medvedev, now a focal point of Russian corruption.

12. Skolkovo industrial espionage and missile development.

13. Crowdstrike: Source of the narrative on Russian hacking for Trump.

[Michael Murphy]

The Clinton Russian Uranium connection is bogus.
1 the process started under Bush not Obama.
2. The chairman of the committee voting on the issue was the treasury cabinet secretary not the Secretary of State,
3 when Clinton became a member of the committee she delegated a under secretary to attend and vote not her
4 the real vote took place prior to her tenure.
5 this is another example of facts being bent to tarnish Clintons reputation injustly.

[iolaire]

The Clinton Russian Uranium connection is bogus.
1 the process started under Bush not Obama.
2. The chairman of the committee voting on the issue was the treasury cabinet secretary not the Secretary of State,
3 when Clinton became a member of the committee she delegated a under secretary to attend and vote not her
4 the real vote took place prior to her tenure.
5 this is another example of facts being bent to tarnish Clintons reputation injustly.

Just another example of how Hillary is evil if it relates to Russia, but the Russians meeting with people on Trump's campaign is a non issue to some.  You never see them care one iota that Trump's team lies to congress, violates laws by acting as foreign agents well on the Trump team, etc...  Its very clear from Trumps ratings that people do care.