Thursday, December 14, 2017

The Washington Post dives deep to explore Donald Trump's overwhelming desire to be Vladimir Putin's buddy and his skepticism concerning American intelligence.

The following is courtesy of WaPo.

Trump angrily resisted having to admit that the Russians hacked the DNC:

But as aides persisted, Trump became agitated. He railed that the intelligence couldn’t be trusted and scoffed at the suggestion that his candidacy had been propelled by forces other than his own strategy, message and charisma.

Told that members of his incoming Cabinet had already publicly backed the intelligence report on Russia, Trump shot back, “So what?” Admitting that the Kremlin had hacked Democratic Party emails, he said, was a “trap.” 

As Trump addressed journalists on Jan. 11 in the lobby of Trump Tower, he came as close as he ever would to grudging acceptance. “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia,” he said, adding that “we also get hacked by other countries and other people.” 

As hedged as those words were, Trump regretted them almost immediately. “It’s not me,” he said to aides afterward. “It wasn’t right.”

This has left America essentially defenseless against further Russian cyber attacks:  

Nearly a year into his presidency, Trump continues to reject the evidence that Russia waged an assault on a pillar of American democracy and supported his run for the White House. 

The result is without obvious parallel in U.S. history, a situation in which the personal insecurities of the president — and his refusal to accept what even many in his administration regard as objective reality — have impaired the government’s response to a national security threat. The repercussions radiate across the government. 

Rather than search for ways to deter Kremlin attacks or safeguard U.S. elections, Trump has waged his own campaign to discredit the case that Russia poses any threat and he has resisted or attempted to roll back efforts to hold Moscow to account.

In fact rather than look for ways to protect America and punish Russia for their interference, the Trump Administration has worked to  roll back some of the sanctions put in place by the Obama Administration and to resist the implementation of newer ones.

Trump also seems almost desperate to form an alliance with Putin and the Kremlin:  

Trump’s stance on the election is part of a broader entanglement with Moscow that has defined the first year of his presidency. He continues to pursue an elusive bond with Putin, which he sees as critical to dealing with North Korea, Iran and other issues. “Having Russia in a friendly posture,” he said last month, “is an asset to the world and an asset to our country.” 

His position has alienated close American allies and often undercut members of his Cabinet — all against the backdrop of a criminal probe into possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Overall the Kremlin is pleased with the results of their interference:   

Moscow has not achieved some its most narrow and immediate goals. The annexation of Crimea from Ukraine has not been recognized. Sanctions imposed for Russian intervention in Ukraine remain in place. Additional penalties have been mandated by Congress. And a wave of diplomatic retaliation has cost Russia access to additional diplomatic facilities, including its San Francisco consulate. 

But overall, U.S. officials said, the Kremlin believes it got a staggering return on an operation that by some estimates cost less than $500,000 to execute and was organized around two main objectives — destabilizing U.S. democracy and preventing Hillary Clinton, who is despised by Putin, from reaching the White House. 

The bottom line for Putin, said one U.S. official briefed on the stream of post-election intelligence, is that the operation was “more than worth the effort.”

“Putin has to believe this was the most successful intelligence operation in the history of Russian or Soviet intelligence,” said Andrew Weiss, a former adviser on Russia in the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations who is now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “It has driven the American political system into a crisis that will last years.”

Well gee, isn't that great?

When it came time to sign the new Russian sanctions bill that the Congress overwhelmingly approved, Trump almost could not bring himself to do it:

In the final days before passage, Trump watched MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program and stewed as hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski declared that the bill would be a slap in the face to the president. “He was raging,” one adviser said. 

“He was raging mad.” 

After final passage, Trump was “apoplectic,” the adviser recalled. It took four days for aides to persuade him to sign the bill, arguing that if he vetoed it and Congress overturned that veto, his standing would be permanently weakened. 

“Hey, here are the votes,” aides told the president, according to a second Trump adviser. “If you veto it, they’ll override you and then you’re f---ed and you look like you’re weak.” 

Trump signed but made his displeasure known. His signing statement asserted that the measure included “clearly unconstitutional provisions.” Trump had routinely made a show of bill signings, but in this case no media was allowed to attend.

After the sanctions bill passed into law the Russian Prime Minister taunted Trump on Facebook, and called him "impotent," which of course only further angered Trump.

There is a lot more to the article, and I urge you to read it.

Once you finish I am sure you will agree with me that we desperately need to find a way to remove this asshole from office as soon as possible.

27 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:09 AM

    Hey this is simple. Putin and drumpf are desparate. They are broke. No moolah. Their only chance is drumpf lifting sanctions. Drump owes pooty and pooty needs money to rig the Russian election and kill his enemies. Turn the screws another turn. Keep the heat on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:40 PM

      Putin broke?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:33 PM

      Putin is a Rich little man~ Ru$$ia is nearly Broke-N.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3:51 PM

      'That'd put Putin within striking distance of Bill Gates, who according to Bloomberg is the world's richest man with an estimated net worth of $84 billion. One less credible critic says Putin's real worth could be as high as $200 BILLION.
      Jan 23, 2017'

      Holding$^

      Delete
    4. Anonymous6:20 PM

      One forgets the internet is forever. The Robin of the Hood Hacks will find it.
      They will expose it. Oops.;)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous4:28 AM

      Putin made his money by stealing state owned businesses.
      Trump made his money by scamming investors.
      Both are criminals

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11:16 AM

    Pooty is a liar like trump. Both must be removed and charged today.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:19 AM

    Donald Drumpt has his morons crank calling for money. Today it is the Faternal Order of Police harassing and asking for money. ITS A SCAM and clearly the rogue pathetic stumps that stood on stage lying for trump. Turn them in to the Attorney General of your state.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous11:21 AM

    As to your last paragraph, IM. Any suggestions on how we can get him eliminated forever from the office he holds. Too many Republican in the U.S. Congress support him and they are the only ones that can actually impeach the ass!

    Murkowski, of Alaska, for example, is step in step w/Trump and needs to lose her office when she runs again. The woman lies like so many of her mates. I detest her and Trump! Both are harming our country!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12:07 PM

    "The Washington Post dives deep to explore Donald Trump's overwhelming desire to be Vladimir Putin's buddy"


    Could it be Trump likes his dick better than what he can get here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:21 PM

      Are you assuming Melanoma has a dick?

      Delete
  6. Anonymous12:19 PM

    Trump is putting himself ahead of national security.
    Seems like that should be sufficient grounds for impeachment.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12:39 PM

    OT?
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-arms/in-first-u-s-presents-its-evidence-of-iran-weaponry-from-yemen-idUSKBN1E82J6

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:41 PM

    It really is simple.Business deals require the right government officials to approve them.Trump has been trying to do build in Russia for a couple of decades,with no headway.He's done things to endear himself to them already,fawning over many.Most likely money laundering through real estate deals and his casinos,other things as well.But he is always the bridesmaid,never the bride.He was just positive that being president would be his ticket to ride.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:43 PM

    700 CLUB...
    https://thinkprogress.org/epa-employees-leaving-under-pruitt-11b36a220062/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous12:45 PM

    To Spite Obama, Pro-Trump Media Lobbies FCC to Slow Down Their Sites

    Does this mean IM will be slower than a sloth? Will we have to pay google to see it?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous2:47 PM

    Pretty sure The President likes this Putin guy because he got him elected to the Presidency. That is a big IOU to repay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:07 PM

      News was saying the had a phone conference. SNL next.

      Delete
  12. https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/anti-trumpism-is-anti-progressivism-in-disguise-9e688e6152e9

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous3:16 PM

    How much do people need to see before they admit we have a TRAITOR, and his money sucking family in the WH.
    He has been dismantling our institutions with his Merry Men, piece by piece over the last 11 months.
    The republican congress, and many "Americans" have not only stood by and watched, they have cheered them on; they are either dumb as rocks or Traitors themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous3:23 PM

    Our president is certainly a TRAITOR, if nothing else, but don't believe your lying eyes:


    https://www.google.com/search?q=firefox+for+android+phone++very+slow&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.4acd6ea1b056

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous3:29 PM

    Cancel Christmas "canceled all Christmas celebrations this year, saying that President Donald Trump had taken the joy out of the holiday."

    https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/nazareth-cancels-christmas-because-of-donald-trump/

    Je$u$ WePt
    https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/trumps-approval-rating-plummets-in-iowa-heres-why-that-matters/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous3:42 PM

    Trump asked about selling Russian diplomatic compounds and keeping the money: report

    ...Trump also reportedly “marveled” at the two compounds—one located in Centreville, Maryland, and the other in Upper Brookville, New York—and wondered aloud about their value.

    “Should we sell this off and keep the money?” Trump asked, potentially quipping with his famous eye for real estate.

    The Maryland compound is nestled on 45 acres and contains 33 rooms, 13 fireplaces and a wine cellar large enough to hold 3,000 bottles, according to ABC News. The Russians purchased the property for $1.2 million in 1972.

    Initially, the Trump administration considered in May giving the compounds back to Russia. But that only fueled speculation that Trump was taking a softer approach to Russia because President Vladimir Putin’s nation may have compromising information on Trump and/or his businesses.

    The FBI briefed Trump on the compounds and stated denying the centers to the Russians would fit well into his campaign mantra of "America first." And Trump was evidently “convinced," according to officials who spoke to the Post.

    To date, the compounds have not been returned to Russia over fears they would continue to use them for spying efforts.

    https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/trump-asked-about-selling-russian-diplomatic-compounds-and-keeping-the-money-report/

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous3:46 PM

    FUCK FOX
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/12/14/trump-called-rupert-murdoch-panic-selling-fox-news.html

    "rump is sitting around worrying about whether or not Sean Hannity is still going to be on at 9 PM to sing his praises.

    Trump is using the presidency to undermine and meddle in the media in very dangerous ways."

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/11/08/deranged-trump-presidency-force-att-time-warner-dump-cnn.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous3:49 PM

    If they want trump to sign anything just tell baby bumpkins that Obama would/would not sign.
    Bet those little fingers would grab the pen faster than he has grabbed any woman.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous5:37 PM

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/12/14/donald-trump-jr-blames-obama-fathers-fcc-chair-destroying-internet.html

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous6:07 PM

    We need Trump to be impeached.

    ReplyDelete

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