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Author Topic: The Russiagate conspiracy theory  (Read 1120596 times)

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #950 on: July 28, 2017, 11:25:34 PM »
Again....watch Mattis over the next several months.  The only ethical adult in the room.  Kelly promotion may create more opportunity for head butting in the conference room between Kelly/Trump and Mattis.
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Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #951 on: July 30, 2017, 12:27:18 AM »
Sniff......sniff.......sniff....... I smell news coming fairly soon.  ::)
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AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #952 on: July 30, 2017, 08:50:36 PM »
Could Pence be quietly lining up Cabinet Member votes in order to invoke the 25th Amendment (following Trumps attacks on Sessions over Russiagate)? If so then Maxine Waters may be correct that Pence is currently planning his inauguration, see : "Waters: Pence is Planning his Inauguration".

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/344504-waters-pence-is-planning-his-inauguration
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AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #953 on: July 31, 2017, 04:39:11 AM »
The linked article discusses the evidence that the White House orchestrated events around Devin Nunes' leak:

Title: “White House accused of having direct role in Devin Nunes' leak”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/white-house-accused-having-direct-role-devin-nunes-leak

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Zeug Gezeugt

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #954 on: July 31, 2017, 09:52:46 AM »
Mmmmm Russiagate....Sniff......sniff.......sniff....... I smell a dead horse!

Anyone want to keep flogging it?

Jim Pettit

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #955 on: July 31, 2017, 01:11:49 PM »
Mmmmm Russiagate....Sniff......sniff.......sniff....... I smell a dead horse!

Anyone want to keep flogging it?

Putin's mouthpieces are getting a little worried, aren't they? Trump is no patriot, but unfortunately for Vlad (and for Trump), there are still enough patriots in DC that Putin's Grand Plan to a) get Trump elected, then b) profit seems to have hit a roadblock. Sanctions are not being lifted; Russian "diplomats" are being sent home; Putin's not going to get his hundreds of billions; the Motherland will rightly continue to suffer for his unfathomable lust for power and/or gold. Meanwhile, Mueller's built himself a formidable investigative team that is by all accounts amassing piles of evidence on the treasonous activities of Trump and his cohorts. The only real question is when will Putin finally know Trump can be of no further use to him and cut his losses?

I think that's going to be interesting.

AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #956 on: July 31, 2017, 07:26:13 PM »
Once Trump gets to be a wartime president (by starting a hot war with Iran), it will be harder to remove him from office, so hopefully Pence can get eight cabinet members (Tillerson, Mattis, Sessions, etc) to invoke the 25th Amendment.

This October, Trump Will Try to Start a War with Iran

http://www.alternet.org/right-wing/vijay-prashad-trump-setting-dangerous-confrontation-iran

Extract: "Something extraordinary has happened in Washington. President Donald Trump has made it clear, in no uncertain terms and with no effort to disguise his duplicity, that he will claim that Tehran is cheating on the nuclear deal by October—the facts be damned. In short, the fix is in. Trump will refuse to accept that Iran is in compliance and thereby set the stage for a military confrontation. His advisors have even been kind enough to explain how they will go about this. Rarely has a sinister plan to destroy an arms control agreement and pave the way for war been so openly telegraphed.

The unmasking of Trump’s plans to sabotage the nuclear deal began two weeks ago when he reluctantly had to certify that Iran indeed was in compliance. Both the US intelligence as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency had confirmed Tehran’s fair play. But Trump threw a tantrum in the Oval Office and berated his national security team for not having found a way to claim Iran was cheating. According to Foreign Policy, the adults in the room—Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster—eventually calmed Trump down but only on the condition that they double down on finding a way for the president to blow up the deal by October."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

crandles

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #957 on: August 01, 2017, 12:40:01 AM »
Anthony Scaramucci sacked as Trump media chief
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40782299

Quote
Perhaps it is the first sign of order being established, even if the brevity of Mr Scaramucci's tenure - he wasn't officially set to begin until 15 August - will be a short-term embarrassment for the president.
Then again, it could be that the pace of change is quickening as the Trump administration approaches the centre of the vortex. Only time will tell.


AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #958 on: August 01, 2017, 02:59:15 AM »
Trump could be in trouble (w.r.t. cover-up activities) for dictating misleading statements for Don Jr to make regarding the 2016 meeting with the Russian lawyer:

Title: “Trump dictated son’s misleading statement on meeting with Russian lawyer”

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-dictated-son%E2%80%99s-misleading-statement-on-meeting-with-russian-lawyer/ar-AApdk8c?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

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AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #959 on: August 01, 2017, 03:50:47 AM »
While polls vary, this is the lowest rating that Trump has ever received on the Rasmussen poll:

Title: “Trump's approval rating just dropped to a new low in his favorite poll”

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trumps-approval-rating-just-dropped-to-a-new-low-in-his-favorite-poll/ar-AApaSmv?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

Extract: “President Donald Trump's approval rating just dipped to a new low in the latest Rasmussen poll, the survey that is often most favorable to Trump.

Rasmussen found Monday that just 39% of likely US voters approve of the job Trump is doing, while 61% disapprove of the president.

It was the first time Trump dipped below 40% in the Rasmussen presidential tracking poll.”
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #960 on: August 01, 2017, 04:10:49 AM »
"The truth will never hurt as much as the exposure of a lie."

Apparently.....Donnie has never learned this.....and he is really going to be hurting as the drip, drip, drip of lies continues to come out in the coming months.

I think there are only two people in the world ever thought that Donnie was telling the truth about him not knowing anything about Donald Jr's explanation of the meeting with the Russian attorney (one is from Canada and one is from Australia...and both might be paid in Rubles).😳

Thieves, cheats, and liars like Donnie and his klan always think they are smarter than everyone else....and rarely are.

So.....who's next to go?  Tillerson?  Anyone want Sarah FC Huckabee's job?  How about her boss' job?  Oh....that's right...she doesn't have a boss yet.  When she does get a boss...it will be her third in less than a month.

Maybe her FC father would want the job? Maybe Sean would want it.  Why lie on FOX about Donnie when he could lie about him in person?  I sure hope Sean doesn't get caught up in the obstruction of justice charges.....THAT would really break my heart.😰
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #961 on: August 01, 2017, 04:31:07 AM »
RE:  Donnie

Confuscious say:  "If you want someone to hang themself, make sure you give them enough rope."

Comey, Mueller, and others have made sure that will happen...
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #962 on: August 01, 2017, 05:15:38 AM »
RE:  Scaramucci

I guess we'll find out how badly the Chinese company wanted to buy SkyBridge Capital.  Now that Tony is gone.....if I'm the Chinese company thinking of buying SkyBridge....I am going to lower the offer now that Tony is no longer in the White House. 

I'm sure his soon to be ex wife is likely bummed.👎🏻
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #963 on: August 01, 2017, 12:36:05 PM »
Jeff Flake....junior senator from Arizona...is just one of what will be a growing chorus of Republicans peeling away from Donnie.  Jeff Flake was a "Never Trumper".... but over time more and more Republicans will find it politically expedient to hit "eject."

FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #964 on: August 01, 2017, 12:56:33 PM »
Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro.....karma is a bitch....and so is the FBI.🙀
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #965 on: August 01, 2017, 07:31:39 PM »
FOX News = Obstruction of justice

Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?😳

Knock....knock...:  "Hello.  Sean Hannity?  We're with the FBI.  We have a few questions for you."🕵🏻

FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #966 on: August 02, 2017, 04:06:56 AM »
Many people treat news like entertainment, if so Mueller's quiet competence is likely slowly building to a big reveal:
 
Title: “Exclusive: Former Justice Department official joins Mueller team”

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/exclusive-former-justice-department-official-joins-mueller-team/ar-AApgQGl?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

Extract: “Greg Andres started on Tuesday, becoming the 16th lawyer on the team, said Josh Stueve, a spokesman for the special counsel.

Most recently a white-collar criminal defense lawyer with New York law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, Andres, 50, served at the Justice Department from 2010 to 2012. He was deputy assistant attorney general in the criminal division, where he oversaw the fraud unit and managed the program that targeted illegal foreign bribery.”
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Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #967 on: August 02, 2017, 12:39:23 PM »
Months ago....when I was describing "the process" that would continue to play out...I said that the press would eventually start calling out lies.   Obviously we have passed that point weeks ago.  But I also said that sometime AFTER that point....journalists in the daily White House press corps press briefing would eventually use the L word.  THAT has NOT happened yet...but we're moving closer...and I expect us to get there sometime within the next few months.  Sarah FC Huckabee is now putting on her best KellyAnne Conway act....and eventually they will call her out to her face in the briefing room.  If KellyAnne is moved over to the Communicatios Director position....maybe it will happen to KellyAnne herself. 

The other thing that HAS transpired is the pushback against Donnie over the past week or two:  Lisa Murkowski, Boy Scouts, police, Jeff Flake, Coast Guard chief, DEA chief, etc.  When more people discover that the King wears no clothes....and is morally naked.... expect more and more pushback.



« Last Edit: August 02, 2017, 12:48:50 PM by Buddy »
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #968 on: August 02, 2017, 03:07:00 PM »
Looks like Donnie was caught working with FOX on at least one news story before it was aired by FOX.  I know....shocking.😜  Next thing you know...we will hear that Donnie was working with Sean Hannity on coordinating stories between Sean and Donnie.  And we all know that would NEVER happen.

Donnie is spending more time drafting announcements for Donnie Jr. and editing stories for FOX News...than he is on policy issues.

Hey Sean....do you have the address of the FBI office near you?  The boys there want to speak with you.  😳😳😳

FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #969 on: August 02, 2017, 07:17:41 PM »
1.  Gallup poll is now tied with its widest margin between approval and disapproval:  60% disapproval....36% approval.  It's a grind.....and it will slowly grind lower as Donnie continues to be Donnie.   The 30ish level is bearing down on him like a semi on an icy street.....no way to stop it.😳

2.  Donnie sure doesn't seem too excited about putting sanctions on his boss (Vladimir) and Russia.  I wonder why that is?😏

3.  What do you get when you combine Donnie with Vladimir?  You get a really short dude with small hands and no balls.🤗  Donnie hasn't fired ANYONE IN PERSON.  Strap on a pair Donnie....
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #970 on: August 02, 2017, 08:35:25 PM »
The lawsuit against FOX News for their alleged creation of fake news to draw attention away from RussiaGate is interesting for a few reasons:

1.  If the lawsuit survives some procedural attacks by the FOX defense team, and the lawsuit does indeed go to trial.....it will open up Trump and FOX to the discovery phase.  All calls into and out of AF1.....there is a record of.

2.  Trump has lied his ass off from day one on almost every issue.  I doubt this will be any different.

3.  Was Donnie involved in trying to obstruct justice by involving himself in a  false news narrative?

4.  FOX News is flying a little close to the sun...and looks like it is poised to get burned.
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AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #971 on: August 02, 2017, 10:47:54 PM »
Per the Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, in order to get rid of Mueller, all Trump has to do is to ask Sessions to resign and then he could make someone like Rick Perry the acting attorney general and then ask that person (say Perry) to fire Mueller:

Title: ""How Rick Perry could fire Robert Mueller"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/27/how-rick-perry-could-fire-robert-mueller/?utm_term=.4b9cdb5b68c3

Extract: "4. The Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. This was the heart of what Butler discussed with us.
“The Vacancies Act says that — notwithstanding any kind of other rule, like the regular DOJ succession statute — that the president, and only the president, can appoint an acting head of the Department of Justice to that position as long as that person has been confirmed by the Senate,” Butler explained. “So if there’s another person who works in the federal government whose job requires presidential appointment and then confirmation by the Senate, then that person is entitled to be put in, in this case, as the acting attorney general.”

So, in other words, if Sessions were to resign, President Trump could appoint, say, Rick Perry, the secretary of energy, to be the acting attorney general? “The answer is yes,” Butler said, since Perry has already been appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate."
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
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Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #972 on: August 02, 2017, 11:09:45 PM »
We're getting closer.  The White House press corps asked Sarah Huckabee "under any circumstances is it ok to lie from behind the podium."

In other words......that was a warning shot from the press corps.....telling Sarah FC Huckabee to quit lying or they are going to call her and Donnie out.

The next step will be to call them liars to their (Sarah Huckabee's) face.  And it will get a LOT rougher in coming weeks and months.

FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #973 on: August 03, 2017, 02:50:41 AM »
Remember when I talked about the difference between power and authority?  Authority is what you can do based on your title and position.  Power....on the other hand....is earned and ultimately given to you by those who work WITH and/or for you, regardless of your position.

What we're continuing to witness with Donnie....is someone who doesn't have much power left....and is even having some of his authority cut back (Russia sanctions don't allow Donnie to remove them without approval from Congress).

It's fascinating to watch in real time.

Amazingly.....Donnie trotted out his lead flame thrower, Stephen Miller.  Having Stephen Miller trying to help your popularity is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.  Well done Donnie...

I love Miller....every bit as much as I like Coulter, Limbaugh, and Hannity.  With friends like that....Donnie doesn't need enemy's.🙈
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #974 on: August 03, 2017, 05:43:53 PM »
The chaotic churning at the WH continues, this time to purge allies of Michael Flynn:

Title: "White House Purging Michael Flynn Allies From National Security Council"

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/us/politics/white-house-michael-flynn-allies-national-security-council.html

Extract: "The White House has engaged in a slow-motion purge of hard-line officials at the National Security Council in recent weeks, angering conservatives who complain that the foreign policy establishment is reasserting itself over a president who had promised a new course."
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pileus

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #975 on: August 03, 2017, 10:04:24 PM »
Significant news:  A grand jury has been empaneled, demonstrating the depth and seriousness of the Russia investigation.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller Impanels Washington Grand Jury in Russia Probe

https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsel-mueller-impanels-washington-grand-jury-in-russia-probe-1501788287

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, a sign that his inquiry is growing in intensity and entering a new phase, according to people familiar with the matter.
-----
Grand juries are powerful investigative tools that allow prosecutors to subpoena documents, put witnesses under oath and seek indictments, if there is evidence of a crime. Legal experts said that the decision by Mr. Mueller to impanel a grand jury suggests he believes he will need to subpoena records and take testimony from witnesses.
----
“This is yet a further sign that there is a long-term, large-scale series of prosecutions being contemplated and being pursued by the special counsel,” said Stephen I. Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas. “If there was already a grand jury in Alexandria looking at Flynn, there would be no need to reinvent the wheel for the same guy. This suggests that the investigation is bigger and wider than Flynn, perhaps substantially so.”

Thomas Zeno, a federal prosecutor for 29 years before becoming a lawyer at the Squire Patton Boggs law firm, said the grand jury is “confirmation that this is a very vigorous investigation going on.”

“This doesn’t mean he is going to bring charges,” Mr. Zeno cautioned. “But it shows he is very serious. He wouldn’t do this if it were winding down.”

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #976 on: August 03, 2017, 10:18:27 PM »
Sniff....sniff....sniff...🐅

Tick.....tick.....tick...⏰
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pileus

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #977 on: August 03, 2017, 10:41:07 PM »
Trump and team are in deep trouble.  Would not be shocked to see Trump attempt to fire AG Sessions and/or Mueller.

One year into the FBI's Russia investigation, Mueller is on the Trump money trail

Sources: Investigation has widened to include possible financial crimes, including some unrelated to 2016 election

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/03/politics/mueller-investigation-russia-trump-one-year-financial-ties/index.html?sr=twCNN080317mueller-investigation-russia-trump-one-year-financial-ties0412PMStory

wili

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #978 on: August 03, 2017, 10:55:14 PM »
Thanks for that update, pil.

Can Trump fire a whole grand jury?? Surely they must have some kind of independence, right?
"A force de chercher de bonnes raisons, on en trouve; on les dit; et après on y tient, non pas tant parce qu'elles sont bonnes que pour ne pas se démentir." Choderlos de Laclos "You struggle to come up with some valid reasons, then cling to them, not because they're good, but just to not back down."

pileus

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #979 on: August 03, 2017, 11:36:35 PM »
Thanks for that update, pil.

Can Trump fire a whole grand jury?? Surely they must have some kind of independence, right?

The grand jury is separate from the court, but since Mueller empaneled the GJ if he is successfully fired by Trump/DOJ I assume it would be dissolved since the investigation per se is shut down.  Congress, including Republicans, have put forth still unpassed measures to protect Mueller from Trump.

Trump's "red line" with Mueller was his personal/family/organizational financial dealings, and Mueller has clearly crossed over that line.  This is where Trump likely has the most exposure, and given his observed behavior he will likely lash out against Mueller.

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #980 on: August 03, 2017, 11:41:48 PM »
It looks like the Grand Jury will (among other things) be reviewing some of  Trump's financial irregularities:

Title: “Mueller Plunges Across Trump's Red Line”

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/mueller-grand-jury/535875/

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AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #981 on: August 04, 2017, 12:17:41 AM »
It looks like the first subpoenas go to investigate the Donald Trump, Jr. meeting:

Title: “Grand jury subpoenas issued in relation to Russian lawyer, Trump Jr. meeting - sources”

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/grand-jury-subpoenas-issued-in-relation-to-russian-lawyer-trump-jr-meeting-sources/ar-AApnlMA?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

Extract: “Grand jury subpoenas have been issued in connection with a June 2016 meeting that included President Donald Trump's son, his son-in-law and a Russian lawyer, two sources told Reuters on Thursday, in a sign that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is gathering pace.”
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
― Leon C. Megginson

SteveMDFP

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #982 on: August 04, 2017, 12:54:03 AM »


The grand jury is separate from the court, but since Mueller empaneled the GJ if he is successfully fired by Trump/DOJ I assume it would be dissolved since the investigation per se is shut down. 

I don't think that's true.  The grand jury system is largely a legal abomination.  It typically serves as a way for a prosecutor to clear or indict an individual at will, without having to take personal responsibility for that outcome.

It's commonly said that a prosecutor can get a jury to "indict a ham sandwich." The opposite outcome can typically also be assured.

However, in principle, the grand jury is its own boss, and has very broad discretion about how to proceed.  In theory, the prosecutor follows the grand jury's instructions.  In practice, the members are usually relatively clueless ordinary citizens who follow the prosecutor's lead.

If Mueller were fired, another prosecutor would have to take over.  I'm pretty sure nobody has the authority to cancel a grand jury, once empaneled. 

I don't think Mueller would take this step unless he intended the outcome to be indictments.  Obvious charges would be conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws, obstruction of justice, and RICO charges. 

I think Trump may have only two ways out:  either get Mueller replaced with someone who will guide the grand jury away from issuing indictments, or issue pardons for anyone who might be targeted, including himself.

He's outraged enough senators already so that either course of action would likely lead to impeachment.  His best strategy to save himself might be to issue pardons right away, before his level of support in the Senate drops lower.

As I think Buddy has pointed out, Trump seems to be decompensating as pressure mounts.  I suspect he may get suspended by Cabinet vote prior to impeachment proceedings.  Whether that happens before he tries to issue pardons is anyone's guess.

Buddy

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #983 on: August 04, 2017, 02:46:43 PM »
Looking down the road a bit....assuming that Donnie and Mikey are given the boot....it would be interesting to see if there will be a boomerang effect on little Vladimir.  Will the US make a move to very publicly try and expose the Russian kleptocrats....and how they have scammed their way to billions of dollars?  Will the US eventually use counter measures using cyber space to more actively go after little Vladi.....and publicly for the US and its ally's to do so?

Has little Vladi overplayed his hand.....or will he/they be emboldened after there success in finding so many willing crooks....not only just the whole Trump organization.....but from members in Congress, to continue or increase their efforts in trying to buy off other Congressional members?

If I'm little Vladi....I'm feeling pretty good....and maybe even surprised how far along we got.  Maybe a little dissapointed that sanctions were not ultimately removed....but did he really think that would happen?  We're his expectations that Donald Little Hands would be able to do whatever Vladi wanted him to do.....and override Congress?

Six months ago I said that IF we were to get through this shenanigans in one piece and get rid of Donnie....that there would be changes made to tighten up things to make something like this more difficult.  For instance, there needs to be changes made to the use of pardons, so that a president can't utilize the promise of pardons to allow his staff to do anything they want.  Making sure that all Congressional members + president/VP and cabinet members have to publicly show 10 years of tax returns BEFORE the primary (for cabinet members before the Senate inquiry process) is another easy thing to provide more transparency.

Interesting times.....soak it in...  We're still not out of the woods....but at least a few folks on the Republican side look like they haven't been bought off by Vladi, and are trying to make sure the investigation is done thoroughly.

A lot questions remain.....



FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Martin Gisser

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #984 on: August 04, 2017, 03:19:39 PM »
I sincerely hope that Seth Rich didn't leak the DNC mails to Wikileaks, because if he did and it gets known, things will get very, very messy.
His shooting is the only messy detail in the picture. If it had something to do with the leaks, we would be in spy novel land. But it seems maximum unlikely to me, given the shape of the whole mess:

There is nothing whatsoever known about who shot him. It is the only isolated piece in the puzzle. He died in an area known for robbery and violence. He was reported as being very patriotic, plus the leaks turned out an almost total nothingburger. Maybe he was blackmailed, but about that we would plausiblo almost certainly have heard already (given all the other leaks and stuff dug out meanwhile).  I would find it more plausible "the Russians" shot him to lay out a red herring (but then they should have layed out some additional track).

No news since last year.

Therefore it is a waste of time and neurons to speculate any further about this puzzle piece. (Except you work for Fox News etc.)
... and/or Trump!)
http://player.theplatform.com/p/7wvmTC/MSNBCEmbeddedOffSite?guid=n_maddow_dbutler_170802
ROTFLMAO :)

P.S.
so this weirdo super detective (antithesis to dossier guy) who I thought had brewed this Faux News soup, he is now suing them?
« Last Edit: August 04, 2017, 03:33:54 PM by Martin Gisser »

AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #985 on: August 04, 2017, 06:14:05 PM »
As the MSM is constrained from writing their stories on Russiagate (and associated cover-up operations) to recognize that Donald Trump an extreme narcissist (99% confidence level); it would be nice if some AI guru could develop/provide a hyperlink to be embedded in all MSM articles on Russiagate where the AI would re-write the article to acknowledge the subtext of all of Team Trump's narcissistic double talk in terms that the general public could appreciate the level of duplicity that Team Trump is most likely engaged in.
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sidd

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #986 on: August 04, 2017, 07:50:50 PM »
Hersh claims that Seth Rich was the DNC leaker. And that the FBI knows it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/wikileaks/status/892510925244203008

sidd

Martin Gisser

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #987 on: August 04, 2017, 09:38:04 PM »
Hersh claims that Seth Rich was the DNC leaker. And that the FBI knows it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/wikileaks/status/892510925244203008

sidd
This stuff is currently spread wide by the wingnut-Russian propaganda cooperative (which includes wikileaks!).

Quote
In an interview this week, Hersh sounds unconvinced.

"I hear gossip," Hersh tells NPR on Monday. "[Butowsky] took two and two and made 45 out of it."
http://www.npr.org/2017/08/01/540783715/lawsuit-alleges-fox-news-and-trump-supporter-created-fake-news-story

TerryM

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #988 on: August 04, 2017, 10:35:27 PM »
Hersh claims that Seth Rich was the DNC leaker. And that the FBI knows it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/wikileaks/status/892510925244203008

sidd


Quite the read!


Is it possible that Seth could not only have been at least one of the sources of the DNC leak, but to also have been the victim of a blotched attempted robbery?
One of the tweets said that Seth met with one of the Awan brothers on the night of his murder. Is there anything to back this up? I assume they would have known each other from work, so nothing nefarious needs to be made of it if true.


The fact that Seymour Hersh is interested lends some gravitas to the subject.
Terry

Martin Gisser

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #989 on: August 04, 2017, 11:15:05 PM »
The fact that Seymour Hersh is interested lends some gravitas to the subject.
Terry
He was.
Why not heed what he said last?
"I hear gossip," Hersh tells NPR on Monday. "[Butowsky] took two and two and made 45 out of it."

--- The gravitas is lent by Wikileaks colluding with Fox News etc. to inject this fake news distraction into the deluded virtual chatter of Trumpistan.

sidd

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #990 on: August 04, 2017, 11:36:13 PM »
I have heard Hersh speak before, the audio sounds exactly like him.

Just to be sure, i listened to it again. Hersh makes the following allegations

1) FBI has found correspondence between Rich and wikileaks
2) In these, Rich asked for money and first sent samples of the emails before sharing the corpus via dropbox
3) Russian involvement in the leaks was faked by Brennan and Rogers

sidd
« Last Edit: August 04, 2017, 11:55:31 PM by sidd »

AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #991 on: August 05, 2017, 12:52:48 AM »
As many/most of the leaks have been about Russiagate, this is a very tricky way for Sessions to ignore his recusal so that he can intimidate investigative reporters:

Title: "Sessions Says Trump Administration Has Tripled Number of Leak Probes"

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/sessions-says-trump-administration-has-tripled-number-leak-probes-n789581

Extract: "Sessions also disclosed that the Trump administration is reviewing policies around how it subpoenas news media records. Former Attorney General Eric Holder adopted the guidelines after the Justice Department in 2013 secretly seized the phone records of The Associated Press, provoking deep concerns about press freedom.

The Obama Justice Department agreed in 2015 that it would not do that again except in cases of national security emergency, and that it would give media organizations a change to fight any records demand in court.

"We respect the role that the press plays ... but it is not unlimited," Sessions said.

No mention was made of prosecuting journalists for publishing classified information, a notion that was floated and abandoned during the George W. Bush administration."
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AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #992 on: August 05, 2017, 03:23:41 AM »
Per the linked NYT article, for the first time, Mueller has requested the WH for documents related to Michael Flynn:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mueller-seeks-white-house-documents-on-flynn/ar-AApruwl?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp
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Zeug Gezeugt

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #993 on: August 05, 2017, 10:35:56 AM »
The only real question is when will Putin finally know Trump can be of no further use to him and cut his losses?

Hi Jim,

as regards real questions, there's still no actual evidence of Russian electoral interference and therefore of Trump's collusion with that alleged interference. There's not even any actual outline of what 'Russian interference' might have entailed beyond possibly releasing the DNC emails that now according to Hersh came from Seth Rich, as Assange seemed to indicate many months ago. Even then, the emails merely told the truth about the DNC and Clinton campaign in their own words!

The Grand Jury however will probably be interesting in terms of the financial and political dirt it uncovers that could lead to a forced resignation but as far as I can see Russiagate itself is a very dead if still flogged horse. It's now all about crushing Trump any which way possible, which is where we started, basically a DC elite coup against a democratically elected outsider president.

The new anti-Russian sanctions laws are quite astounding too, basically forcing Trump to sign away his presidency's foreign policy authority and hand it to congress. It remains to be seen whether the Germans and thus the EU go along with them or whether these mad sanctions will become the historic fulcrum for a new multipolar alignment of eurasian powers as the US global financial and military hegemony continues to crumble.

As an antidote to this thread's rather histrionic Russophobia here's the latest from Jim Kunstler who is another of my favourite yankee writers: Russiatosis
« Last Edit: August 05, 2017, 11:05:52 AM by Zeug Gezeugt »

Archimid

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #994 on: August 05, 2017, 12:20:52 PM »
Quote
The only real question is when will Putin finally know Trump can be of no further use to him and cut his losses?


In that I disagree with Jim. Even if Congress forced Trump to sign the sanctions, there is a lot that Trump can and is doing for Putin and other fossil fuel allies all over the world.

For example, Syria. Most likely under Trump orders, the US have switched sides in Syria, against Arab springers in favor of al Assad. By doing that Trump is helping Putin and al Assad. There is also climate change.  Trump is blinding the US government as much as he can about climate change. That favors Putin oil and warm Russia ambitions.

Also Trump is mopping the floor with abstracts concepts like Ethics and Honor. That most definitely will open plenty of opportunities for Putin and his oligarchy.
I am an energy reservoir seemingly intent on lowering entropy for self preservation.

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #995 on: August 05, 2017, 01:48:52 PM »


The grand jury is separate from the court, but since Mueller empaneled the GJ if he is successfully fired by Trump/DOJ I assume it would be dissolved since the investigation per se is shut down. 

I don't think that's true.  The grand jury system is largely a legal abomination.  It typically serves as a way for a prosecutor to clear or indict an individual at will, without having to take personal responsibility for that outcome.

It's commonly said that a prosecutor can get a jury to "indict a ham sandwich." The opposite outcome can typically also be assured.

However, in principle, the grand jury is its own boss, and has very broad discretion about how to proceed.  In theory, the prosecutor follows the grand jury's instructions.  In practice, the members are usually relatively clueless ordinary citizens who follow the prosecutor's lead.

If Mueller were fired, another prosecutor would have to take over.  I'm pretty sure nobody has the authority to cancel a grand jury, once empaneled. 

I don't think Mueller would take this step unless he intended the outcome to be indictments.  Obvious charges would be conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws, obstruction of justice, and RICO charges. 

I think Trump may have only two ways out:  either get Mueller replaced with someone who will guide the grand jury away from issuing indictments, or issue pardons for anyone who might be targeted, including himself.

He's outraged enough senators already so that either course of action would likely lead to impeachment.  His best strategy to save himself might be to issue pardons right away, before his level of support in the Senate drops lower.

As I think Buddy has pointed out, Trump seems to be decompensating as pressure mounts.  I suspect he may get suspended by Cabinet vote prior to impeachment proceedings.  Whether that happens before he tries to issue pardons is anyone's guess.

Some context on the mechanics of a Grand Jury, and confirmation that while Trump cannot "fire" Mueller's, whoever replaced him in the event of termination could do so.  Trump has never been accused of being a grand strategist, but if he takes the steps to fire Mueller he would likely do so with getting rid of the Grand Jury as well.

Here's How A Grand Jury Works
If President Trump were to oust special counsel Robert Mueller, it wouldn't automatically disband any grand jury that Mueller and his team had convened.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/zoetillman/heres-how-a-grand-jury-works

If Mueller were ousted, the grand jury would remain in place.

The grand jury remains impaneled either until its term expires or the prosecutor disbands it. With Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused from the Russia investigation, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is the only official with the power to fire Mueller under current federal regulations. It would be up to whoever assumes responsibility for the Russia investigation to decide what happens to the grand jury.

To return an indictment, the grand jury has to find that the government presented sufficient evidence of probable cause to bring the case to a trial. That's a different standard than that of a trial jury, which has to decide if a person is guilty of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jim Pettit

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #996 on: August 05, 2017, 01:52:46 PM »
Hersh is yet another of those superannuated journalists so desperate to reclaim a piece of their earlier relevance decades ago that he has happily jettisoned his credibility for a handful of headlines.

Sad!

For reasons known only to him, Hersh hates Obama, as he hates the Clintons (and as he hated the Kennedys before them). So of course he has glommed on to every insane and baseless and deranged alt-right and alt-left conspiracy theory that paints the Obamas or the Clintons in a bad light. And that really is too bad. He did some amazing work back in the late 1960s after the My Lai massacre. But it's been a professional downhill ride for him since, and he doesn't appear to have handled that decline very well.

Meh...

Martin Gisser

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #997 on: August 05, 2017, 03:09:12 PM »
I have heard Hersh speak before, the audio sounds exactly like him.

Just to be sure, i listened to it again. Hersh makes the following allegations

1) FBI has found correspondence between Rich and wikileaks
2) In these, Rich asked for money and first sent samples of the emails before sharing the corpus via dropbox
3) Russian involvement in the leaks was faked by Brennan and Rogers

sidd
and these allegations turned out baseless. Hersh is rehashing the Faux News story. What is the context of the tape? (No, I won't dig after it. This is a distraction from digging after the real stuff (albeit a very paradigmatic one, incl. appeal to paranoid ideation, and hordes of internet trolls and their fish and tweeting sock puppets...)).

« Last Edit: August 05, 2017, 03:20:27 PM by Martin Gisser »

Martin Gisser

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #998 on: August 05, 2017, 03:25:47 PM »
Hmmm, back to topic. Methinks Putin has achieved one victory in this i-war: He conquered Wikileaks.
And this Hersh tape thing (injected via Wikileaks, not Hersh himself) is consistent with my thinks.

AbruptSLR

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Re: Russiagate
« Reply #999 on: August 05, 2017, 03:55:54 PM »
If President Trump were to oust special counsel Robert Mueller, it wouldn't automatically disband any grand jury that Mueller and his team had convened.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/zoetillman/heres-how-a-grand-jury-works

If Mueller were ousted, the grand jury would remain in place.

Mueller currently has a grand jury in both Virginia and Washington D.C. that we know about, and who know how many he will have impaneled by the end of his investigation:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-using-grand-juries-va-d-c-trump-russia-probe-n789646
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