monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

...At that news conference in Helsinki, the world was confronted with an extraordinary stew of narcissism, appeasement, moral surrender and the chronic dishonesty that Republicans have been willing to tolerate for so long. But now the stakes are higher.

In just a few days, President Trump undermined the global world order, weakened our alliances, cast doubt on our commitments to NATO, sided with Vladimir Putin over our own intelligence agencies and suggested that the Russians be allowed to interrogate a former ambassador to their country. Despite the attempted walkbacks, clarifications and various obfuscations about dropped contractions, the damage is real. And now Mr. Trump wants Mr. Putin to come to Washington.

The danger should be obvious. That’s why mere expressions of outrage simply are no longer adequate.

News Analysis: Hamas and Israel Are in a Perilous Cycle. Is War a Miscalculation Away?

"Trump winning an election" is neither an attack on democracy nor treason.

There is also nothing treasonous about demanding that NATO deadbeats pull their own weight.

Maria Butina, the Russian woman charged in federal court last week with acting as an unregistered agent of her government, received financial support from Konstantin Nikolaev, a Russian billionaire with investments in U.S. energy and technology companies, according to a person familiar with testimony she gave Senate investigators.

Butina told the Senate Intelligence Committee in April that Nikolaev provided funding for a gun rights group she represented, according to the person. A spokesman for Nikolaev confirmed that he was in contact with her as she was launching the pro-gun rights group in Russia between 2012 and 2014. He declined to confirm whether Nikolaev gave her financial support.

Nikolaev’s fortune has been built largely through port and railroad investments in Russia. He also sits on the board of American Ethane, a Houston ethane company that was showcased by President Trump at an event in China last year, and is an investor in a Silicon Valley start-up.

Nikolaev has never met Trump, according to his spokesman.

However, Nikolaev’s son Andrey, who is studying in the United States, volunteered in the 2016 campaign in support of Trump’s candidacy, according a person familiar with his activities. Konstantin Nikolaev was spotted at the Trump International Hotel in Washington during Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, according to two people familiar with his presence.

This is going to happen



Those European intel agencies are telling us something we ought to be able to say we already knew. And, whatever particular narratives they push, right wing media will magnify Russian black propaganda. There is a natural affinity and allegiance in these two crowds. But an entity such as Fox will be targeting it's base, already converts. The Russian activities will augment other GOP messaging strategies (Warren = Pocohantas = liar = stealing American Indian heritage) and push them via social media into the mainstream media (which is losing its position as data source for citizens).

We'll see all of this broadly, including here. It will be a reprise of "Clinton corruption", of Sanders with a halo and Hillary (whoever becomes the Dem candidate) as a screeching shrew or as a snooty, elitist empty suit (who was not a hero in war but actually a coward).

So, understand that folks on this site who behave precisely as I'm saying, are either dupes (most likely) or in on the game.

Sure it's not "Republican"?

Does "Republican" end with a d? Were you paying attention in grade school?

If done with the aid and cooperation of a hostile foreign power which has a ton of nukes pointed at our cities it's definitely an illegal attack on democracy and possibly espionage.

Say, do you have the figures for how much our NATO allies pay US companies for the military hardware they purchase from us? The Brits and French also make some weapons systems, but they mostly pay us. They sure as hell don't get it from Russia or China.

The FBI believed Donald Trump's foreign policy aide Carter Page had "been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government" during the 2016 election campaign, according to newly released documents.

Mr Page's relationships with Russian intelligence officials are highlighted in court applications which led to him being put under surveillance.

He has denied the accusations.

Mr Trump has now said it looked like his campaign was illegally spied on.

The surveillance applications were granted and renewed by several different judges sitting in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The FBI released the previously secret document on Saturday night., following Freedom of Information requests by several US outlets.

It contains 412 pages of heavily redacted material which includes the surveillance applications, their later renewals, as well as warrants surrounding the investigation into Mr Page.

"The FBI believes that Page has been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government," the October 2016 application to the court states.

According to the documents, "the FBI believes that the Russian government's efforts are being co-ordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with" Mr Trump's presidential campaign.

but are just here to divide the left are WORKIG FOR TRUMP.

We won't forget, joint.