Reasons for optimism

MOSCOW — Russian government officials had contacts with members of Donald Trump’s campaign team, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday, in a report that could reopen scrutiny over the Kremlin’s role in the president-elect’s bitter race against Hillary Clinton.

Facing questions about his ties to Moscow because of his statements in favor of Russian President Vladi­mir Putin, Trump repeatedly denied having any contact with the Russian government.

But Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in an interview with the state-run Interfax news agency, said that "there were contacts" with the Trump team.

"Obviously, we know most of the people from his entourage,” Rybakov said. “Those people have always been in the limelight in the United States and have occupied high-ranking positions. I cannot say that all of them but quite a few have been staying in touch with Russian representatives.”

"We have just begun to consider ways of building dialogue with the future Donald Trump administration and channels we will be using for those purposes," Ryabkov said.

Obama administration officials have blamed Russian hackers, possibly with high-level intelligence links, for infiltrating the email account of Clinton’s campaign chief, John Podesta. The emails were then disclosed by Wikileaks in an effort that Clinton supports claim was intended to damage her White House bid.

The two Party system is broken. The primaries almost worked this year to dismantle the parties. Trump is not a Republican and Sanders almost outdid the Democrat elites. Depending on how the next four years go, well, who knows....maybe the antiquated two Party system will soon die.

I hope we can establish a good working relationship with Russia, especially regarding the Syrian issue. There's no longer a reason to automatically fear Russia now that the regime fanning fear has been put out to pasture.

There may be holdover spying issues on both sides, but I like the idea of putting Cold War baggage away.

I've always imagined new presidents with similar high hopes for improved relations with Russia being approached during the first days of their presidencies by some representative of the storied Industrial Military Complex-- the Shadow Government-- and being told in no uncertain terms that we will maintain current tensions with China and Russia. There's great money in war.

I know Bernie would've fought pressures to fall in line with antiquated Cold War policies fueled by big money kickbacks that await new presidents. I'm not sure about Trump. Was definitely sure about Clinton.

I do hope Trump can develop a positive relationship with Russia.

1. Trump was the most moderate of all the Republican candidates running for president. So as impossible as it may sound, it could have been worse.

Right Joe. We got rid of those rotten Clinton's. We also got rid of a middle of the road supreme court and replaced it with a ultra consertave republican court that legislates from the bench, Remember the corporations are people with the right to vote court legislation? We will be stuck with this shut for the next 20 years. Good job all you people who voted for the tRump Putin collation,