Lazy Saturday Reads
Posted: December 10, 2016 Filed under: Barack Obama, Foreign Affairs, morning reads, Republican politics, U.S. Politics | Tags: Central Intelligence Agency, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin 93 Comments
Good Morning!!
So now we know for certain what many of us have believed for months: Russia interfered in the 2016 election in order to put Donald #tRump in the White House. Not only that, we know that Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and other GOP leaders knew this and argued against release that information to the American public. We now know that Mitch McConnell told President Obama that if the administration. And perhaps just as troubling, we know that President Obama chose not to release the information even after James Comey put his own finger on the scale in order to elect #tRump.
The Washington Post: Secret CIA assessment says Russia was trying to help Trump win White House.
The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency, rather than just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system, according to officials briefed on the matter.
Intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, according to U.S. officials. Those officials described the individuals as actors known to the intelligence community and part of a wider Russian operation to boost Trump and hurt Clinton’s chances.
“It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia’s goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected,” said a senior U.S. official briefed on an intelligence presentation made to U.S. senators. “That’s the consensus view.”
This was made very clear to the President Obama and to Congressional leaders well before the election. And James Comey knew all about it too.
The Obama administration has been debating for months how to respond to the alleged Russian intrusions, with White House officials concerned about escalating tensions with Moscow and being accused of trying to boost Clinton’s campaign.
In September, during a secret briefing for congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voiced doubts about the veracity of the intelligence, according to officials present.
The response of the #tRump transition team was a series of blatant lies.
The Trump transition team dismissed the findings in a short statement issued Friday evening. “These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It’s now time to move on and ‘Make America Great Again,’ ” the statement read.
Here is what #tRump told Time Magazine in their “person of the year” interview:
I don’t believe they interfered. That became a laughing point, not a talking point, a laughing point. Any time I do something, they say ‘oh, Russia interfered.’
Why not get along with Russia? And they can help us fight ISIS, which is both costly in lives and costly in money. And they’re effective and smart.
It could be Russia. And it could be China. And it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey.
I believe that it could have been Russia and it could have been any one of many other people. Sources or even individuals.
As we all know, #tRump is not even taking his daily intelligence briefings, and his transition team has not even been in contact with the intelligence officials who need to help them get up to speed on how these government functions work. It seems pretty clear that #tRump plans to get his security briefings from Vladimir Putin.
Where are the Democrats? This is a constitutional crisis. It is hundreds of times more serious than Watergate, and yet our so-called “leaders” are ho-humming and getting ready for their long winter vacations. We need immediate public investigations not only of the Russian interference but also of FBI Director James Comey. And Mitch McConnell needs to be forced to answer some tough questions STAT.
The New York Times reported this morning that Russia also hacked the RNC but held onto the data, probably for future use. They’ll be able to blackmail Republicans to prevent serious investigations.
American intelligence agencies have concluded with “high confidence” that Russia acted covertly in the latter stages of the presidential campaign to harm Hillary Clinton’s chances and promote Donald J. Trump, according to senior administration officials.
They based that conclusion, in part, on another finding — which they say was also reached with high confidence — that the Russians hacked the Republican National Committee’s computer systems in addition to their attacks on Democratic organizations, but did not release whatever information they gleaned from the Republican networks.
In the months before the election, it was largely documents from Democratic Party systems that were leaked to the public. Intelligence agencies have concluded that the Russians gave the Democrats’ documents to WikiLeaks.
Republicans have a different explanation for why no documents from their networks were ever released. Over the past several months, officials from the Republican committee have consistently said that their networks were not compromised, asserting that only the accounts of individual Republicans were attacked. On Friday, a senior committee official said he had no comment.
But that’s not what the intelligence community says.
It is possible that in hacking into the Republican committee, Russian agents were simply hedging their bets. The attack took place in the spring, the senior officials said, about the same time that a group of hackers believed to be linked to the G.R.U., Russia’s military intelligence agency, stole the emails of senior officials of the Democratic National Committee. Intelligence agencies believe that the Republican committee hack was carried out by the same Russians who penetrated the Democratic committee and other Democratic groups.
The finding about the Republican committee is expected to be included in a detailed report of “lessons learned” that Mr. Obama has ordered intelligence agencies to assemble before he leaves office on Jan. 20. That report is intended, in part, to create a comprehensive history of the Russian effort to influence the election, and to solidify the intelligence findings before Mr. Trump is sworn in.
Too little, too late. Perhaps if some Republicans discover some patriotic feelings in their hearts, we will get investigations. Meanwhile the Electoral Colleges votes on December 19.
AP Big Story: Obama orders review of election-season hacking.
President Barack Obama has ordered intelligence officials to conduct a broad review of election-season cyberattacks, including the email hacks that rattled the presidential campaign and raised fresh concerns about Russia’s meddling in U.S. elections, the White House said Friday.
The review, led by intelligence agencies, will be a “deep dive” into a possible pattern of increased “malicious cyber activity” timed to the campaign season, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. The review will look at the tactics, targets, key actors and the U.S. government’s response to the recent email hacks, as well as incidents reported in past elections, he said.
The president ordered up the report earlier this week and asked that it be completed before he leaves office next month, Schultz said.
“The president wanted this done under his watch because he takes it very seriously,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our elections.”
Just not seriously enough to do it before the election.
Aaron Blake at The Fix on the situation Republicans are in now:
The report highlights and exacerbates the increasingly fraught situation in which congressional Republicans find themselves with regard to Russia and Trump. By acknowledging and digging into the increasing evidence that Russia helped — or at least attempted to help — tip the scales in Trump’s favor, they risk raising questions about whether Trump would have won without Russian intervention.
Trump, after all, won by a margin of about 80,000 votes cast across three states, winning each of the decisive states by less than one percentage point. So even a slight influence could have plausibly made the difference, though we’ll never be able to prove it one way or another.
While saying that Russia clearly tried to help Trump doesn’t inherently call into question the legitimacy of Trump’s win —earlier Friday, the White House made sure to emphasize that it’s not making that case — it’s not hard to connect the dots. And Trump and his party know it. The Post’s report cited Republicans who expressed skepticism about the available evidence when presented with it in September, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
In addition, any GOP effort to dig into the matter risks antagonizing the president-elect, who has said flatly that he doesn’t believe Russia interfered with the election, despite receiving intelligence briefings to the contrary. And he’s proved more than willing to go after fellow Republicans who run afoul of him.
On the other hand, if Republicans play down the issue, they risk giving a pass to an antagonistic foreign power that significant majorities of Americans and members of Congress do not trust and which, if the evidence is accurate, wields significant power to wage successful cyberwarfare with the United States.
one hero in all this is Harry Reid, who wrote an explosive letter to James Comey in October. From the WaPo:
Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid on Sunday accused FBI Director James B. Comey of breaking federal law in disclosing possible new evidence in the Hillary Clinton email investigation.
Reid (D-Nev.) said in a letter sent to Comey that his disclosure to Congress, made 11 days before the election, might have violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits partisan politicking by government employees.
“Your actions in recent months have demonstrated a disturbing double standard for the treatment of sensitive information, with what appears to be a clear intent to aid one political party over another,” Reid wrote. “I am writing to inform you that my office has determined that these actions may violate the Hatch Act, which bars FBI officials from using their official authority to influence an election. Through your partisan actions, you may have broken the law.”
Reid did a telephone interview with Joy Reid this morning, and if you didn’t hear it, please check it out. Reid’s entire show this morning was “must watch TV.”
Please post your thoughts and links in the comment thread and enjoy your weekend. We don’t have much longer before our government is turned over to an authoritarian puppet of Russia.
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
And there’s this from Harry Reid’s spokesman:
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“It has become clear that you possess explosive information about close ties and coordination between Donald Trump, his top advisers, and the Russian government — a foreign interest openly hostile to the United States, which Trump praises at every opportunity,” Mr. Reid wrote. “The public has a right to know this information.”
Harry Reid knew the truth and said everything that he could to get the real story out.
I think there’s little doubt that tRump is working in coordination with the Russians and if there is proof of this WE need to know. The Electoral college needs to do it’s job and stop this coronation before Russia becomes the right hand of POTUS. I’m aware that the GOP House will just pick another republican, but at this point whoever they pick is better than tRump.
WTF? Putin must have something on the owners and editors.
TPM: Key House GOPer Introduces Bill With Major Cuts To Social Security
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/republican-bill-social-security-cuts
To make a long story short, goodbye Social Security.
It won’t be that easy.
I hope not. The #tRumpChumps keep rationalizing away how they (and we) will get screwed.
I want to believe it won’t be that easy, but we have 24 seats up in 2018 and all they have to do is win enough seats to kill the filibuster. Assuming they don’t nuke the filibuster before then.
There will be massive pushbacks from many organizations. If Republicans cut SS/Medicare, their domination of Congress will be over.
As Mouse said below, this is like one of those potboiler political espionage thrillers, except it is so horrifyingly real. And in those stories, there is usually a hero to save us at the last minute. But our hero, Hillary, was left out to dry by Obama, having to sit there and get mocked for trying to warn people how Russia was trying to game the election and (she didn’t say this, but it was always there) take over the country. Reid is indeed sort of a hero, but he is out of office. We have a media which is beyond despicable now, as they do not even seem to care at all. At least with Watergate, the media helped break and tell the story. Now most of them act as if it is a distraction from their eager rush to adulate Trump. So who is there to save the country?
It doesn’t really do us any good, but I am so glad that Obama is now facing at least some criticism. What he failed to do was appalliing, and indeed a dereliction of duty. How can this be countenanced, even by those legions of people who wanted to see him as heroic figure, who put him in office rather than Hillary, because “he spoke to them, he inspired them.” I don’t expect Obama to be a medieval hero, but he is after all the only person who can credibly inform the people of threats to our democracy. And he did not. He let the Republicans convince him to do nothing. Now we have Trump as President, appointing Russian sympathizers and agents to almost every position, and soulless corporate billionaires and climate change deniers to the rest. The literally insane Ryan has no concern about any of it, including the Russians, he is just thrilled to be able to start destroying people’s lives. Three million more people voted for Hillary, and they and their families are disenfranchised. And the only person who had the responsibility and power to stop this,was President Obama. And his character flaws, obscured by his decency and good humor, manifested themselves at that crucial time. It is indeed worse than Watergate, far worse. It is as if we capitulated to Japan the day atter Pearl Harbor, and the media told everyone that this was the best course, to enjoy the pomp of Hirohito’s ceremonies. It in some way has compromised everything this country has ever stood for. My favorite TV show is “Turn” all about Intelligence helping to win the victory in the Revolutionary war. And it is the kind of show that makes one feel proud for all the brave people who helped found this democracy. And now when I watch it, or any such show about our history, I feel sadness.
To be pragmatic, Obama has now acted much too late. Safe harbor day for counting votes is December 13. He couldn’t even have acted right after the election, he had to be forced into acting by Senate Demorats. Electoral College voting day is December 19. There is now no time to recount votes. Obama apparently wanted Hillary to concede quickly, and not to contest the votes. What is wrong with him? Does he not see what Trump will do? Is it just about protecting his own image? Once Trump is elected, how does anyone legally prevent his inauguration? The media will not help us, they don’t care that we are a satellite of Russia, and that Moscow will tell us what to do at every turn. Everything we thought might protect us from a takeover of democracy has either failed us, or been shown to have been part of the takeover. The only small hope we have is for an absolute groundswell of anger and non-acceptance from the populace. What that might do I do not know. Maybe nothing. We need some heroes, and fast. Hillary told everyone, and she was derogated by the media for complaining or partisanship. We would have been so much better off had she been elected in 2008. Maybe we would have been better off if McCain had beaten Obama because she would have won thereafter. It is like a chess game; every slight mistake at the beginning wil haunt you at the end. Hillary told us about the vast right wing conspiracy, and got mocked for it. Obama pretended it didn’t exist; and managed to protect his own image while the country was lost. The Republicans ultimately showed that being taken over by Russia was preferable to losing political power. They are traitors all. In a different day, they would all be executed by some heroic figure. Obama was the well-meaniing but fearful and paralyzed person who essentially let the Republicans and their cohorts like Comey give the country away. And the media is the entity which acts like a perverselly distorted Greek chorus which does not tell the truth, but acts as propagandists for the traitors.
I can only say, William, that your comment is one of the best I have ever read. I’ve read it twice already and will read it a few more times to fully absorb all of it.
Thank you.
I agree.
Ditto
Ditto, am copying for my files. This is America, not Russia!
“To be pragmatic, Obama has now acted much too late.”
The info being released now is basically a CYA move. The reason I had trouble voting for Obama to begin with is that I never believed he was ready to be POTUS and it’s obvious now that he might have been intellectually ready, but he wasn’t ready for the conflict and he wasn’t ready emotionally. I see Obama as having a conflict avoidance issue. He allowed the GOP to frighten him into corners on many occasions, especially in his first 2 years when he had a total mandate. He wanted bipartisan legislation even when it was obvious the GOP wouldn’t vote with him, not even if he was trying to push through legislation that cured Cancer. I think he was too timid about his race and the difficulties he faced because of his race. I think Hillary avoided the same discussions associated with gender. I’m not sure WHY Democrats are afraid of rocking the boat but if it’s not obvious by now that the party is mostly a bunch of fraidy cats, it never will be.
There’s no doubt that Obama accomplished things during his 8 years that he deserves a lot of credit for, but what he didn’t do was keep his face front and center during the debates of the past 8 years. He rarely spoke directly to the American people defending the ACA or the actions he was taking in regard to ISIS, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Russia and Libya. He was an invisible President during most of his 2nd term and that worked against Hillary’s argument that she would keep the programs and accomplishments of his administration moving forward. Hell, most American’s had no idea what Obama accomplished except killing Bin Laden and Obamacare, which most were convinced was a “bad thing”. When Obama did show his face in public he did it with quick, impromptu news conferences that rarely took questions. IMHO Obama’s last 4 years hurt Hillary more than helped her. I also believe her campaign relied to heavily on the Obama coalition which WHO THE HELL KNOWS if that is really a thing. It sounds good, but let’s face it, Obama barely won the nomination in 2008 and didn’t particularly perform well against Romney. I think the “coalition” was mostly mythological. The argument about whether it was “transferable” or not was just so much clap-trap, what wasn’t transferable was GENDER and that’s the primary reason Hillary lost. I’ve looked at the exit polling and it’s obvious that white men who could vote for a black man just couldn’t vote for a woman of any color. This election was lost on two fronts, the Battle for Gender Equality, (which even a lot of women refuse to acknowledge) and race backlash. No woman will lead this nation anytime soon and no black person will either.
Both you and William hit the mark with your observations.
I’m glad you’re here, William. Your comments are excellent, especially this one. Thank you.
I think Putin’s motivation is less about Russian domination than it is about Oligarchic domination. And that’s his intersect with Trump. Look at Trump’s cabinet picks: the Oligarchs are coming… the Oligarchs are coming!
Putin wants the sanctions lifted and NATO neutered. Those are his motivations.
Agreed, but for whose benefit?
Russia’s! He is a nationalist and wants his empire back.
For example, Estonia has been at the forefront of communications development. They complained that they were being targeted by Russia years ago. Their location and development is crucial to both NATO and Russia. None of the North Sea states want to go back to being satelites. On the other hand, the North Sea is still a desired access point for Russia. Its going to be critical to be up to date on social geography. There could be radical changes that are the precurser to a new order and wars. Online, I like to look at the CIA’s atlas. They keep it pretty up to date. Reading about populations, manufacturing, agriculture stats, exports and imports, and mining is really informative, in turns of value to advisarial nations. It isn’t always about oil. For example, think what goes into cell phones and our new tech age. We only have one mine that I know of, in the US that produces yttrium. We also need platinum, coltan..we have some available to us but much of the world is trying to get it elsewhere, like as you know, the Congo. There is a lot of mining wealth in the near east; many of the “Stans” as well as Syria.
Yep. This is extremely alarming for the Baltic states who want to stay free of Russian overlords.
Yep, he can go from being a 70 Billionaire to 190 Billionaire, and so can Trump, and Rex Tillerson. The 500 billionaire’s club.
Yep.
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So Obama had this intelligence in a report “months ago” from the CIA. He waffled for months. Then he finally takes action! Does he finally and decisively use his Presidential powers to protect our democracy? To bring influence-peddlers to justice? To charge Comey with violating the Hatch Act? No. He orders a friggin’ report. A report on what happened because he waffled over findings from another report for months.
The first Black President leaves a legacy of dithering.
Very good questions.
I have to say after reading and looking over all the articles, etc. It really hit me that so many dancers here, have asked “very good questions.” More so than anyone, including the media.
We always knew we couldn’t trust the republicans, and knew we could Hillary Clinton, and we looked to Pres. Obama to intervene when we needed him, and other democrats. Ah-h-h, they let us all down. I kept thinking today, why haven’t the republicans been speaking out against Putin……….for some time they have put down Pres. Obama and played Putin up like he is as American as Apple Pie. He’s nothing but a cabbage roll, but they have high opinions of Putin, something to do with so called masculinity, and all that gun oil.
So the voters swallowed it, hook, line and sinker, and so did our President, and this having something to do with mental health issues, particularly with men. And the message from them is that a woman “isn’t going to win”, because they really do have an impact on other men to follow the same patterns that they have used forever against women.
Low down Trump…..he, and his cabinet will have to deal with those who believe in climate change, I just don’t think he can get control of that. I also don’t think he will get control of cyber security, and our grid system.
He’s cozying up to Russia, but the bigger picture is China, and Iran.
Again thank you for helping me get a grip, because I slipped away when our Hillary Clinton was screwed over.
Yeah. This might be his legacy. I’d be worried if I were him.
Everytime I read the WAPO article I’m just flabbergasted. I just got back from voting for Foster Campbell in The Louisiana US Senate runoff but I doubt he’ll win. The old firehouse was nearly empty and the church ladies and I were solemn. I said I’m old and tired and we’re going to have to refight battles from the 60s and 70s. I think we have to get the Voting Rights Act back. All these voter suppression laws in swing states are killing us. The Senate Republicans are all complicit in Treason. They knew all this and only Lady Lindsey waved the flag. McConnell’s ass should be in jail.
I had hopes for Louisiana………Let me be surprised…………..and yes McConnell needs to see inside of cell.
Krugman is right about the path will be long.
That’s why I’m (metaphorically) keeping my powder dry for now and why I refuse to blame President Obama or trash his actions, or lack thereof. I have more faith in him than I’m reading here today, with all due respect to some who are saying different. I do respect you all, as I believe you will me.
As I see it this is a long, complex, and deep game, with no easy fix or immediate gratification. I made a practice of watching/listening to almost all of President Obama’s speeches over the last year and half. I can’t agree he’s been invisible. His message (and his administrations) has been the most congruent and consistent of any President in my lifetime. He has faced unprecedented obstruction and blocking by his political opponents and stunning apathy and complacency from his allies, who ultimately, have failed to have his back. To all our great detriment.
I’m infuriated. I’m tired. I was hoping I could finally “exhale”. I’m facing the reality of a long fight ahead, and that I’ll have to gear up for it. I’m profoundly upset about what this means for our children and youth, they’ve been betrayed! I’m knowing in a deeper way just how cruelly entrenched racism is in this country. My sense of who I can count on as an ally has been upended. How I will choose allies and who I will align with going forward has been forever changed. Because of my circumstances as a lesbian who is also a spouse, mother, grandmother I have to take some immediate legal steps (expensive and time consuming) to protect my family before years end. That’s where my focus is today.
I am, proudly and unapologetically, 100% Obama coalition, which is also the Hillary coalition, Goddess bless her. We are the hopeful future, we are progress towards “our more perfect union”, and we are not going back! Though we may be knocked down, we get back up and always, always keep going. We ARE real. If you don’t see us yet … expect us, get used to us, come and join us. No one, not Obama, not Hillary herself, ever promised us it was gonna be easy or free from setbacks.
I do respect you, and you are very articulate in your support. Yes, Obama has faced sustained obstruction. And we not bullies here who will resort to name-calling because we don’t have any cogent response to your points. I do differ with you as to opinions of his actions. For me it’s more what he hasn’t done, rather than what he has done.
I will indulge in name-calling of #tRump’s dupes, though.
Rex Tillerson–who supposedly is Trump’s choice as Secretary of State–is featured here. http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2014/03/20/will-exxons-bromance-with-the-kremlin-help-keep-putin-in-check/#4a71a8b143dd
https://twitter.com/ProgressOfAKind/status/807658214644973572
My bet is that Alaska is in Putin’s sight – retake Seward’s Folly like he did Ukraine.
Here’s the Tweet from Tangerine Man that Glenn referred to.
It’s always about the OIL. Bush took us into Iraq over oil and now tRump will take us into an unholy coalition with Russia over oil. And don’t think for a second that he will not go into Iraq and take the oil fields if he thinks there’s money in it for him and his cronies. He said as much during his rallies.
He also said he’d blow the Iraq Oil resevers to keep ISIS from getting them. Either way, Iraq is sitting squarely on a significant portion of the globes PROVEN oil reserves and those who control where it goes, whether that is up in smoke or to Exxon, rules the world. Especially with the climate change deniers appointed by tRump who will reverse all restrictions and regulations currently on the fossil fuel industry.
He also said he’d blow the Iraq Oil resevers to keep ISIS from getting them
I read this so differently from the way you meant it.
Well just get your mind out of the gutter and back onto politics. 🙂
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1088&bih=442&q=trump+blowing+putin&oq=trump+blowing+putin&gs_l=img.3..0.4937.10958.0.11213.19.9.0.10.10.0.139.704.3j4.7.0….0…1ac.1.64.img..2.17.746.hTMuOqBzwRI#imgrc=OffWV6mxpnDhYM%3A
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russian-interference-could-give-courts-legal-authority_us_584be136e4b0151082221b9c?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003
Interesting …
I can only hope the Electors will be so intelligent. So, everyone in R states, call, call, call!
Hold onto your hat folks because from where I sit what I see is a COUP facilitated by the Russians. They corrupted our election and when tRump is sworn in they will by proxy hold advisory positions and cabinet positions that will enable them to directly undermine our Democracy.
I posted this Tweet on FB a few hours ago. This most definitely was a coup and we have a bunch of traitors in our midst who went along with it.
I’m also a bit worried by all of the military tRump surrounds himself with. While Mad dog seems to have a stable reputation, in spite of the fact his name is “mad dog”, Flynn is a certified nut, who has spent considerable time with Russian oligarchs. And his appointment of General John Kelly for the Dept of Homeland Security is really troubling to me. Why would you put a career military man over Homeland Security? It makes no sense.
I tried last week to find the video of Flynn making the statement prior to the Election that “they were not in this for 4 years or for 40 year but for 400 years.” They’re looking for a 4th Reich.
If I can locate it, I will post it – it is chilling. Very chilling.
“Regardless of who the next president is, Flynn added, Trump’s decision “is about this country going forward and this is about strong, resilient, willingness and determination and resolve, resolve, resolve, as Americans to make sure that we continue to be the world leader.”
“Not just for the next four years but for the next 400 years. We have to understand what is happening in the world,”
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-vp-pick-michael-flynn-225595
Thanks, Mouse – that man is on my Eastern European lineage curse list! 🙂
Yes, 4th Reich.
Hillary’s lead is up to 2.83 million.
Of course she won – same sickening and sinking feeling from 2008, but now, the stakes are so much higher what with Tiny Hands and Russia initiating the coup.
LOL, Mouse!
I’ll be 67 on Monday and I never thought I would hate anyone more than Nixon. Until Reagan came along. And then Shrub. But, Tiny Hands wins (tiny) hands down as the recipient of my more rabid disgust and hatred.
I’m with you. I think “teenie weenie hands” is the most disgusting of the bunch. He’s definitely the most dangerous. And Happy Early Birthday to you! I hope you have a great one.
Digby
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2016/12/russian-snow-job.html?m=1
“I think Putin’s motivation is less about Russian domination than it is about Oligarchic domination. And that’s his intersect with Trump. Look at Trump’s cabinet picks: the Oligarchs are coming… the Oligarchs are coming!”
I posted this in response to William’s excellent comment, but I think it bears repeating. Putin doesn’t act on behalf of the Russian people, he acts on behalf of himself and all the other Oligarchs, regardless of country of origin. Trump does not act on behalf of the American people, he acts on behalf of himself and all the other Oligarchs, regardless of country of origin!
Sweet baby Jesus in a King cake!
Mercy.
They have no sense of decency left, it would seem.
Very clever poem – I copied and saved it.
Insightful political advice:
http://inthesetimes.com/article/19711/tom-geoghegan-4-things-we-can-do-about-the-electoral-college-and-our-unjust
Here is some soul food from Broadway Care’s Gypsy of the Year 2016 competition. Lion King cast was runner up, Hamilton cast the winner. I have been having the Langston Hughes poem going through my head since Nov. 9th. Maybe I can learn to recite it all. Poetry consoles me.
https://twitter.com/JamesFallows/status/807633987019698176
No hope here:
http://elections.thelensnola.org/2016/congressional-general/
Sigh
Achk! Very disappointing.
1. Call for the US intelligence agencies to provide an immediate briefing on all of its findings.
2. Contact the sitting president for an immediate meeting to discuss implications and whether Russia in cyberwar w/ us.
3. Call State Department experts on Russia and other Western countries being hacked for briefings, contacts overseas.
4. Call foreign leaders, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, which say Russia is doing same things there.
5. Assuage American citizens concerns he has been coopted by a foreign power by appointing hardliners on Russia to cabinet.
6. Make announcements allegations of Russian cyberwar will be taken very seriously and appropriate countermeasure taken.
7. Contact Russians, in coordination with current White House, to inform them they have gained no advantage by his election.
How Donald Trump has handled the news:
1. Has refused to participate in daily intelligence briefings.
2. Has insulted our intelligence agencies publicly, insisting they dont know what theyre talking about.
3. Packed his cabinet/advisors with people close to/tied to Russian government.
4. Refused to contact state department for further briefings. Or any briefings.
5. Failed to contact White House to discuss.
6. Failed to contact Western leaders who have publicly stated their countries are also under attack
7. Issued statement showing that, any time he gets intel he doesn’t like, will say “Iraq intel!” to dismiss it.
#tRump said this morning “Why should I sit on briefings and hear the same thing everyday for the next 8 years”……………..Ashol is lucky to last 8 months, much less 8 years.
He also said, “it wasn’t the CIA that issued hacking report, it was the Democrats”………..another fucking LIE, and nobody is listening.
Add to that bit of news: Trump: I am so fucking smart, I don’t need briefings!
I am so concerned we don’t see the outrage to this. What has happened to this country? Are we really going to lay down and ignore this stuff? Not enough Dem leaders showing concern – even fear Rep.
Yep.
I haven’t seen Beata around lately.
Is anybody, here, in touch with her?
Glad you asked, I notice that yesterday.
I hope she peeks in, Fannie, and sees that we’re asking about her.
Wonderful performance.
Somehow I don’t think this is being done to reward these employees for their understanding of science.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/09/trump-transition-team-for-energy-department-seeks-names-of-employees-involved-in-climate-meetings/?postshare=9851481303303580&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.b97b411ee44b
Remember that recent article on Google’s suggested search results for “Islam” and “Jews”?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/11/google-frames-shapes-and-distorts-how-we-see-world
Only 18% of this country is reading newspapers. Everybody is hitting the internet for news, and most of it screwed up, yet they believe it.
I know I have found myself having to check info that I thought was real. I like getting up early with my coffee, and newspaper, and little fire going to start my day.
Interesting — will need to look at this:
1.) Electoral College meets Dec. 19. If Electors ignore #StateOfEmergency we’re in, & Trump gets elected, we can stop him Jan. 6 in Congress
2.) If any objections to Electoral College vote are made, they must be submitted in writing, signed by at least 1 House member & 1 Senator
3.) If objections are presented, House & Senate withdraw to their chambers to consider their merits under procedures set out in federal law.
4) Our Founding Fathers really, really wanted to protect the American Experiment from demagogues & foreign influence. We can stop both Jan 6
5) We must stand united against Trump & Putin’s corruption: Electors must vote their conscience: the country is behind you #HamiltonElectors
6) If Electors fail to uphold Constitution & elect a demagogue under foreign influence,1 House/1 Senate member must sign objection for Jan 6
7.) Information on the Jan. 6 Congressional opportunity to stop Trump is available here: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/key-dates.html …
8.) Do not expect impeachment to protect us from Trump & Putin kleptocracies. We must fight now, later will be harder, if even possible.
9) We need leaders in Congress & media. We need @LindseyGrahamSC @NancyPelosi, @MMFlint @glennbeck, moral courage.This is #StateofEmergency
So the narrative has Hillary’s win of the popular vote by nearly 3 million as a “problem.” Misogyny much?