Trump, Russia, And The 2020 Presidential Campaign (UPDATE ADDED)
[guest post by Dana]
Here we go – again:
Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him.
The day after the Feb. 13 briefing to lawmakers, Mr. Trump berated Joseph Maguire, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence, for allowing it to take place, people familiar with the exchange said. Mr. Trump cited the presence in the briefing of Representative Adam B. Schiff, the California Democrat who led the impeachment proceedings against him, as a particular irritant.
During the briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Trump’s allies challenged the conclusions, arguing that he has been tough on Russia and strengthened European security. Some intelligence officials viewed the briefing as a tactical error, saying that had the official who delivered the conclusion spoken less pointedly or left it out, they would have avoided angering the Republicans.
[…]
Mr. Trump has long accused the intelligence community’s assessment of Russia’s 2016 interference as the work of a “deep-state” conspiracy intent on undermining the validity of his election. Intelligence officials feel burned by their experience after the last election, where their work became subject of intense political debate and is now a focus of a Justice Department investigation.
Part of the president’s anger over the intelligence briefing stemmed from the administration’s reluctance to provide sensitive information to Mr. Schiff. He has been a leading critic of Mr. Trump since 2016, doggedly investigating Russian election interference and later leading the impeachment inquiry into the president’s dealings with Ukraine.
After asking about the briefing that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and other agencies gave to the House, Mr. Trump complained that Mr. Schiff would “weaponize” the intelligence about Russia’s support for him, according to a person familiar with the briefing. And he was angry that no one had told him sooner about the briefing, the person said.
None of this should be surprising. Remember this:
In the months before Kirstjen Nielsen was forced to resign, she tried to focus the White House on one of her highest priorities as homeland security secretary: preparing for new and different Russian forms of interference in the 2020 election.
President Trump’s chief of staff told her not to bring it up in front of the president.
Ms. Nielsen left the Department of Homeland Security early this month after a tumultuous 16-month tenure and tensions with the White House. Officials said she had become increasingly concerned about Russia’s continued activity in the United States during and after the 2018 midterm elections — ranging from its search for new techniques to divide Americans using social media, to experiments by hackers, to rerouting internet traffic and infiltrating power grids.
But in a meeting this year, Mick Mulvaney, the White House chief of staff, made it clear that Mr. Trump still equated any public discussion of malign Russian election activity with questions about the legitimacy of his victory. According to one senior administration official, Mr. Mulvaney said it “wasn’t a great subject and should be kept below his level.”
Ms. Nielsen grew so frustrated with White House reluctance to convene top-level officials to come up with a governmentwide strategy that she twice pulled together her own meetings of cabinet secretaries and agency heads. They included top Justice Department, F.B.I. and intelligence officials to chart a path forward, many of whom later periodically issued public warnings about indicators that Russia was both looking for new ways to interfere and experimenting with techniques in Ukraine and Europe.
One senior official described homeland security officials as adamant that the United States government needed to significantly step up its efforts to urge the American public and companies to block foreign influence campaigns. But the department was stymied by the White House’s refusal to discuss it, the official said.
Oh, and FYI:
I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, @RichardGrenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him. I would like to thank Joe Maguire….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2020
UPDATE: Jake Tapper posted this earlier today:
A national security official I know and trust pushes back on the way the briefing/ODNI story is being told, and others with firsthand knowledge agree with his assessment.
2/ “What’s been articulated in the news is that the intelligence community has concluded that the Russians are trying to help Trump again. But the intelligence doesn’t say that,” the official says…
3/ “The problem is Shelby” — Pierson, the elections threats executive in the intelligence community — “said they developed a preference for Trump. A more reasonable interpretation of the intelligence is not that they have a preference, it’s a step short of that….
4/ “It’s more that they understand the president is someone they can work with, he’s a dealmaker. But not that they prefer him over Sanders or Buttigieg or anyone else. So it may have been mischaracterized by Shelby” at the House Intel briefing last week…
5/ “And by the way,” the official says, “both Democrats and Republicans were challenging this at the briefing.” Then there’s the matter of the tense meeting between President Trump and erstwhile Acting Director of National Intelligence Admiral Maguire…
6/ “The President was upset that he had to hear about an intelligence conclusion from a Member of the House Republicans rather than from the intelligence community. So he was out of joint with Maguire on that process.”
7/ None of this disputes that Trump desires to replace those who have Intel expertise with partisan loyalists, or dismisses the larger issues and concerns about Russia and how the president seeks help from abroad. Just that there seems to be more to this particular story.
ALSO none of this disputes that the Russians (and others) are attempting to interfere in the US election again.
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (4fb37f) — 2/20/2020 @ 4:22 pmWonderful message to the national security community: speak up about Russia’s intervention in the election on Trump’s behalf and lose your job.
Dave (b969fa) — 2/20/2020 @ 4:49 pmIt’s good to know that he is continuing to hire only the best people.
John B Boddie (286277) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:02 pmSorry, we don’t believe in the Russia Bogeyman. What specifically did Russia do in 2016? Y’know who REALLY interfered in the US Election in 2016? MI6 – the British – with Steele and his Fake Dossier.
Anyway, thanks for talking about the Russians again. Maybe after everyone crying Russian Wolf 4 years someone still cares.
rcocean (1a839e) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:08 pmSenator Fienstein – member of the Gang of 8 Intelligence Committee, had a Chinese spy as her Driver for 5 years. That story sure sank like a stone didn’t it?
rcocean (1a839e) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:10 pmI think of this as Trump being stupid. If he thinks people think he got elected with Russian help, then he should act to stop Russian meddling, so he could point out he didn’t need their help to win an election.
Unless of course he thinks he does need Russian help.
Kishnevi (3ccbfa) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:11 pmRick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him. I would like to thank Joe Maguire….
Look out, Mr. Maguire. You’ve seen how the backs of people T-rump praises one day get magnetized to attract sharp knives and stupid, vicious tweets!
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:12 pmY’know who REALLY interfered in the US Election in 2016? MI6 – the British – with Steele and his Fake Dossier.
Two..or more…things can be true at once.
I never believed in Russian boogeymen. I’m smart enough to know there are old KGB types we’d be smart to watch for, and they are very real.
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:21 pmThere’s a 200-page report that documents the specifics of Putin’s intrusion efforts. You should read it.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:48 pmHelsinki.
This.
Is so bad.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:50 pmthe one with the hookers jumping on the bed and taking a leak?
mg (8cbc69) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:50 pmNo, the other one, the one signed off by AG Barr.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/20/2020 @ 5:54 pmThe President is so winning he gets the support of Russia? Is there anything he won’t win?
Make America Ordered Again (23f793) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:12 pmDo you have ANYTHING to substantiate that BS?
Is not how dezinformatsiya work, Comrade Ragspierre. How dezinformatsiya work is you keep repeat lie and you get others to repeat lie too.
nk (1d9030) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:14 pmThe President is so winning he gets the support of Russia? Is there anything he won’t win?
Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:26 pmLMAO
Oh my G-d, that’s a sad reply.
Make America Ordered Again (23f793) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:37 pm13.The President is so winning he gets the support of Russia? Is there anything he won’t win?
An Emmy.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:39 pmOh my G-d, that’s a sad reply.
I’m sure for you it’s downright tragic.
Thing is that all four leading Deemocrats beat Duh Donald in those two states.
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:51 pm13.The President is so winning he gets the support of Russia? Is there anything he won’t win?
A Hero of the Soviet Union medal. The award was abolished in 1991. It’s too bad, Trump would have had a good shot at it (Trotsky’s assassin got his after serving a 20-year sentence in a Mexican prison). Furthermore,
nk (1d9030) — 2/20/2020 @ 6:55 pmThe respect of decent people.
Dave (b1bec7) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:01 pmThe troll got trolled.
LMAO
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:05 pmWisky still holding out (maybe they pretend its Walker in Oval Office), and I think Bernies crazies in the midwest colleges in ’16 figured it out to his electoral detriment, so no hail Mary’s in IA and OH either.
urbanleftbehind (28d194) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:11 pmHe can still try for Hero of the Russian Federation.
Kishnevi (3ccbfa) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:14 pmWonderful message to the national security community: speak up about Russia’s intervention in the election on Trump’s behalf and lose your job.
Dave (b969fa) — 2/20/2020 @ 4:49 pm
Yep, they’re getting pink slips left and right. LOL
Chuck Schumer was right at least once in his life;
Munroe (dd6b64) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:14 pm“Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community — they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.”
Kyle Griffin
@kylegriffin1
Breaking via NYT: Intel officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said. That angered Trump, who complained Dems would use it against him.
__ _
Matt Stoller
@matthewstoller
·
First Putin installed @TomPerez as DNC Chair. Then he hired ACRONYM to build an app for the Iowa caucuses ominously named Shadow. Then he got Bloomberg to spend $400 million on ads. Then he made sure Democrats had no agenda…
__ _
m cole
harkin (b64479) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:24 pm@giantsfanmc4
·
Amazing he’s doing all of this to help a nominee who is destroying his gas industry, arming his enemies, killed 200 of his soldiers in Syria, placing sanctions, and crushing his ally in Iran, because he hopes a communist who wants to destroy our economy and military loses.
__
Lol still with this lunacy? Yeah ok because the Russians wouldn’t want a weakened American military and crippling of our energy sector like every democrat promises. You orange man bad loons will believe anything if it hurts the orange man won’t you?
Trump voters just out living their best lives, being fun, laughing at the miserable hate sweat you get anytime Trump is mentioned. Oh noooooo another RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA story!!! What ever shall I do about this as I rep out 225 for sets of 20?
Property rights (a9e727) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:29 pmOT by 99%, but Arizona lawmakers must have been reminded of its period as Confederate territory:
urbanleftbehind (28d194) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:32 pmhttp://news.yahoo.com/arizona-governor-gop-lawmakers-end-024602576.html
I guess it’s pretty critical Trump supporters pretend this Russian collusion thing really was proven false. Otherwise they are traitors. Really no other word fits for enabling Putin to thwart our nation’s most precious process by assisting in the extensive propaganda.
Dustin (0197f6) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:34 pmWhat ever shall I do about this as I rep out 225 for sets of 20?
Brush the crumbs from those 225 Cheetos off your keyboard as you’re stuffing them in your face 20 at a time?
nk (1d9030) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:35 pm@26. Trump voters just out living their best lives, being fun, laughing at the miserable hate sweat you get anytime Trump is mentioned. Oh noooooo another RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA story!!! What ever shall I do…
Do? Don’t you have a House to haunt?
“Yes, because I prefer Russia. It’s as corrupt as America, but there’s less bullsh!t.” – Barley Blair [Sean Connery] ‘The Russia House’ 1990
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/20/2020 @ 8:30 pmThen, by your “logic”, why isn’t Putin endorsing Bernie?
Paul Montagu (6aafc0) — 2/20/2020 @ 8:33 pmBrush the crumbs from those 225 Cheetos off your keyboard as you’re stuffing them in your face 20 at a time?
nk (1d9030) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:35 pm
Lol yeah cause everyone on the internet is a fat nerd. 1997 called, it wants it’s stereotype back.
Btw not even lying. Living life tanned, jacked, and stationed in Hawaii. I also run marathons, but hey if it helps your beta self esteem to think I’m fat then go ahead. Shrug
Pr0perty rights (cef076) — 2/20/2020 @ 9:09 pmSnorfle.
nk (1d9030) — 2/20/2020 @ 9:17 pmGood lord you’re an idiot.
We know you’re not in Hawaii, you’re the 500lb guy in the basement, and no matter how much your mommy loves you, she’s not building a basement for you, in Hawaii.
You’re in a root cellar in West Virginia. You’d love to leave, but the stairs broke a few months ago, and until mommy can save up the welfare checks (socialism), she can’t get anyone in to fix it. Whenever she asks uncle daddy to come over and help, he never manages to make it down for you.
Colonel Klink (Ret) (5cde89) — 2/20/2020 @ 9:24 pmYou two losers have nothing id want in your life let alone known the touch of a woman. You definitely ain’t known the glory of flying down MSR Tampa to Baghdad, blasting american bad @ss by Kid rock, sitting in the turrent scanning your 6 under bridges, fueled by freaking rip it’s, testosterone, and legendary levels of patriotism, 175 pounds of cocky awesome sauce. Keep Saying I’m a fat nerd tho. Won’t help either of you have lives I’d care about
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/20/2020 @ 9:45 pmNo, I just figure Mr Property is illustrating what can happen to an athlete who uses steroids.
Kishnevi (5acb5b) — 2/20/2020 @ 9:46 pmExcuse me, a video gamer who uses steroids.
Kishnevi (5acb5b) — 2/20/2020 @ 9:47 pmIt is a funny critter, whatever sort it might be.
nk (1d9030) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:10 pmWaaaaa I don’t like President Trump waaaaaa. My party didn’t pick the guy I wanted in the primaries waaaaaa! I’m taking my ball and I’m going home! I’m leaving!!!
^
That’s the level of “discourse” I see this website have. That and throwing out 3rd grade idiotic political insults like “trumpkin!, trumpaloo, trump cultists, and I can’t remember any of the others but there has been loads by the owner and commenters. None of them are funny. None of them.
President DT keeps winning tho, and you simple losers keep crying. Whatever, I’ll be over here handsome, employed, not thinking the world is ending every day cause I don’t like someone I never met. I have better things to do, such as plan my weekend hike at diamond head.
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:11 pmMaybe I’m just thinking the best rebuttal to anything you guys say is how happy I am with how things are going, the state of the economy, the fact Hillary isn’t president, and how none of the crazy crap that the democrats want will happen as long as President Donald Dragon Energy Trump is in office. It’s an amazing time to be alive and I’m deliriously happy every day. I wake up winning and I go to bed worn out from winning. I’ve never been more proud to be a freaking american than right now. President Donald Trump is the best man for the job and despite all the hatred and evil directed at him is doing his best to unite the nation. He is truly a great American patriot.
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:17 pmThe mainstream media have a far more pernicious effect on our politics than any distant trolls. You only have to live in a place like California to understand WHY it’s a one-party state.
And besides, the former KGB clique that runs Russia would prefer Bernie.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:24 pmI guess it’s pretty critical Democrats pretend this media collusion thing really was proven false. Otherwise they are traitors. Really no other word fits for enabling the Left to thwart our nation’s most precious process by assisting in the extensive propaganda.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:25 pmThe mainstream media have a far more pernicious effect on our politics than any distant trolls. You only have to live in a place like California to understand WHY it’s a one-party state.
And besides, the former KGB clique that runs Russia would prefer Bernie.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:24 pm
Russia would give its eye teeth to see any of their energy and “green new deal” plans pass. They’d have their energy dominance back….but hey what’s logic and common sense compared to any new shining hate trump object they can hump the leg of.
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:26 pm@35 Nothing you said makes sense in the context you are trying to put it in. And there is no common airplane flying out of both McDill and Hickam. Also, you damn well better not be flying under bridges.
Watch. Less. Topgun.
Nic (896fdf) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:38 pmAll kidding aside, the biggest problem the Democrats have in beating Trump is themselves. The fault is not in Russia, but in themselves.
It should be frightening to Democrats that they cannot come up with a candidate compelling enough to beat Donald Trump. Instead they try to blame their failings on Putin.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:42 pm@40. I’ve never been more proud to be a freaking american than right now.
You– and Caitlyn Jenner.
“Balls said the queen; if I had’em I’d be the king.”
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/20/2020 @ 11:07 pmProperty rights,
Have you considered that you might be more persuasive to readers if you were a tad less offensive?
norcal (a5428a) — 2/20/2020 @ 11:49 pmNothing you said makes sense in the context you are trying to put it in. And there is no common airplane flying out of both McDill and Hickam. Also, you damn well better not be flying under bridges.
Watch. Less. Topgun.
Nic (896fdf) — 2/20/2020 @ 10:38 pm
The hickham commissary is nice but the NEX owns it.
Hickam beach tho!
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/20/2020 @ 11:58 pmProperty rights,
Have you considered that you might be more persuasive to readers if you were a tad less offensive?
norcal (a5428a) — 2/20/2020 @ 11:49 pm
People on here can call me names, slurs, call me a troll…Pat does nothing. I insult one person I get “banned”? Why bother at that point.
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/20/2020 @ 11:59 pm@48 It’s a joint command. *shrug*
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 12:11 amI mean the NEX is better. I’m not 55 sorry I will use words you haven’t heard.
Owned in that context means I rather drive to the NEX. Ever eat the hawaiin bbq outside? Dope
Pr0perty rights (a62a2e) — 2/21/2020 @ 12:22 am@51 In my experience there isn’t much difference between commissaries run by any of the services. A grocery store is a grocery store. BXs though, those have differences. Most of the ones in the US are not great, but the one at Ramstein is really good. We were never at Hickam, so I’m afraid I haven’t had the Hawaiian bbq.
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 1:00 am@51 Er, you understand that the BX and the commissary aren’t the same facility, right? You wouldn’t go to the BX instead of the commissary? And that for the Airforce and the Navy, it’s usually just referred to as the BX? While it’s PX for the Army?
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 1:08 amWhoa! You’re accusing Patterico of bias?
A lawyer? A prosecutor? Of bias?
You’ve got some nerve, bud!
Make America Ordered Again (23f793) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:02 amO/T, but…
The Federalist, a publication for which I have had some regard for in the past, is running a story with a headline that has no support in the body of the piece.
John Bolton Admits Last-Minute Impeachment Leak Was A Publicity Stunt
Instapundit is dutifully aping the headline.
Regardless of how feel about Bolton, this is inexcusable.
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/21/2020 @ 4:09 amYou TDS losers still checking for Russians under your beds?
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 4:17 amPresident Trump is a Russian agent (Shhhh, he has secret meetings with his counterpart Tulusi Gabbard) That’s why he sabotaged a done deal with Germany building a pipeline across the EU so Germany could by natural gas from Russia.
Worst. Russian. Agent. Ever!
Iowan2 (1c4a14) — 2/21/2020 @ 4:31 amAn observation about the “banned-shes”…the trolls who have been infesting this site after earning a ban from our host…
Whatever else we may know about them, we know they are craven cowards. It has been made known to them by the owner is this space that they are not welcome here, and yet they foist their noisome crappy selves on these threads out of some pathological drive they have. There are places where views like theirs would be “normal”, and T-rump suckage welcome. They cannot go there because that would not provide them the sick kick that they seem to need.
So the pitiful cowards come here.
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/21/2020 @ 5:31 amToo many trolls on this one with nothing to add but discredited conspiracy theories, insults and lies.
Which is too bad. The extent to which the president should be able to tailor intelligence information for political gain is worth talking about. So it what Russia is actually doing. I haven’t heard that. Actions like the hacking the DNC are on a different level the pushing disinformation and it’s not clear from the reporting what’s involved there.
That said, Dana thank you for taking the time to post.
time123 (80b471) — 2/21/2020 @ 5:42 amFagspierre! Watch out!! Quick! Putin’s sneaking up behind you!!
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 5:48 amFor the sake of discussion, I think that we can stipulate that Duh Donald is not a Russian agent. The former KGB people are MUCH more selective!
So, here’s a simple “yes or no” question. After you answer it, feel free to elaborate.
“We know that the Russians have interfered in our elections; yes or no”.
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:06 amToo many trolls on this one with nothing to add but discredited conspiracy theories, insults and lies.
They do tend to deluge Russian posts.
But I suspect that Property Rights’ mainline is a lonely hearts scam on Grindr. The “inartfulness” of its posts is intentional. It’s only interested in stupid people who will send it the money it needs to hire a lawyer to collect the millions of dollars in its frozen bank account in Nigeria.
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:08 amIts target could be BorisB. You a lonely Log Cabin Republican, BorisB?
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:10 amBorisB, Property Rights claims to work out a lot? Do you like to hang around gymnasiums with muscular, sweaty men?
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:34 amAh, so Boris is a racist and homophobe. Good to know.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:43 amnk, have you ever posted anything that didn’t reference gay sex? One could almost conclude that you’re completely obssessed with it. Gee, what-oh-what could possibly be going on here? Maybe you can team up with David French and form a powerful new movement of closet-homo TDS sufferers.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:44 amYou’re scintillating today, Montagu. Nothing gets past you, huh?
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:46 amThank you, Boris. Occasionally, I lower the level of my remarks to the level of some of the low-level commenters. I also thank you for displaying your bigotry so openly. Makes it easier.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:53 amCongratulations on your successful attempt to break the world record for using the word “level” the most times in a single sentence.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 6:55 amBTW, nk, are you jealous? Do you wish you were a muscular man instead of a noodle-armed, chinless, fat-assed soybean with a pelican gullet?
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:02 amBorisB, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:03 amNo, but I heard that you got gang-raped in one.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:04 amBorisB, do you like to watch gladiator movies?
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:06 amNo, not interested. Find someone else to give your collection to.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:09 amWhat, nobody wants to deal with my question in 61?
Ragspierre (d9bec9) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:41 amBorisB, do you like to look at the pictures in bodybuilder magazines?
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:44 amSo, here’s a simple “yes or no” question. After you answer it, feel free to elaborate.
We know that the Russians have interfered in our elections; yes or no
The answer is yes.
The Russians have interfered with US elections since the inception of the Soviet Union.
The US also interferes with other countries elections.
I am not so gullible to either be swayed by their interference, or be aghast that our country does the same.
International politics is a full contact sport.
bendover2 (076acf) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:48 amInteresting that the greater concern to Trump isn’t that Russia is likely interfering again (and why would he be, given that they want him re-elected), but that a certain American representative was in the room. It’s not Russia that he considers the true enemy who threatens our national security, but rather it’s Adam Schiff, who doesn’t want him re-elected. That’s the real enemy in Trump’s eyes. That the President of the United States is more concerned and angry about a sitting member of Congress rather than our national security being threatened and breached should trouble everybody.
Dana (4fb37f) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:49 amBecause I’m otherwise bored waiting on coworker(s)…
“We know that the Russians have interfered in our elections; yes or no”.
Yes. Just like everyone “interferes” in everyone else’s election. Just like
Was Woodrow Wilson a populist? – Yes, of course
Is Donald Trump the establishment’s pick? – Are you kidding me, YES. Sheesh!
Can you see the lighthouse in the Bahamas, the one 100 miles away, from Ft. Lauderdale beach? – Yes, of course you can.
Is the sound of little children singing “Away in the Manger” at your church’s Christmas Eve service something simply unbearable? – Yes, obviously. Who needs children at Christmas?
I have a few others I could share but duty calls…
PTw (7dd22f) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:51 amDustin (0197f6) — 2/20/2020 @ 7:34 pm
I think we are mixing up two dfferent ideas: Russia trying to help Trump win (which it seriously, if mostly irrelevantly, and that even includes the leaks from the DNC, seem to have done from about June, 2016 to mid-October) and collusion with the Trump campaign in doing that. There’d be no reason for Putin to take any Americans into his confidence.
And part of Putin’s reason would be hoping he could penetrate the Trump campaign, and a future administration (he did succeed a little bit in changing U.S. policy toward Ukraine in 2019 for several months, albeit mostly, if not entirely, through unofficial channels – mostly Giuliani and his informants but there could have been another avenue to Trump)
Another reason was that Putin mistakenly thought Hillary Clinton was hostile to his government, because Victoria Nuland, whom he mistakenly believed was close to Hillary, had had a lot to do with deposing the Ukrainian ruler in February, 2014.
Sammy Finkelman (f2d620) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:54 amI agree completely, Dana. The globalist-in-chief has only 1) domestic enemies and 2) international business opportunities.
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:55 amI’ve updated the post with this report from Jake Tapper:
Dana (4fb37f) — 2/21/2020 @ 7:58 am“The problem is Shelby” — Pierson, the elections threats executive in the intelligence community — “said they developed a preference for Trump. A more reasonable interpretation of the intelligence is not that they have a preference, it’s a step short of that….
4/ “It’s more that they understand the president is someone they can work with, he’s a dealmaker. But not that they prefer him over Sanders or Buttigieg or anyone else. So it may have been mischaracterized by Shelby” at the House Intel briefing last week…
I recall an analysis back in the early 1980’s, and sorry so long ago I can’t recall the source, might have been something I heard second hand, that Carter had difficulty dealing with the Russians because the Russians didn’t take him seriously. They didn’t think Carter would be around long enough to make it worth their effort. They saw him as absurdly milquetoast for a country as powerful as ours and were certain he’d be gone before the ink was dry on any agreement. Of course at the time we didn’t know about Ted Kennedy’s treachery in regard to going to the Russians behind Reagan’s back though I wonder if the Russians took him even less seriously. Of course the (US) media in the day was all about how stupid Reagan was, and George Shultz as well, and how both of them got taken by the much more well prepared Russkies at Reykjavik.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:06 am@81. The globalist-in-chief has only 1) domestic enemies and 2) international business opportunities.
Reaganomics. 😉
DCSCA (797bc0) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:10 am76. Not nearly as much as you enjoy kiddie porn, nk.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:15 amThe hack of the DNC servers and release of the information via WikiLeaks was not a minor act of international relations.
time123 (36651d) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:19 amThe Tapper stuff is good context and makes some of this potentially justifiable. Too bad it’s hard to believe information that comes out of the white house.
time123 (36651d) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:21 amThe hack of the DNC servers and release of the information via WikiLeaks was not a minor act of international relations.
How is that ‘interfering in elections”? It’s not altering votes. It’s interfering in our government processes and I don’t like it, but the better question is why is DNC security so horribly weak? Do you think the Russians would pass on hacking the RNC servers or anyone else? Do you think we don’t do similar things even with our allies? Weren’t the Israelis and Brits and others caught spying on us? They’re our freakin’ allies. But they do it. Did you know that we had a secret plan to invade Canada between the World Wars? That the British had a strategy for dealing with us around that time as well? That’s far more disconcerting than gathering info. So yes, in the grand scheme of things it was a minor act of international relations.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:31 amRussian interference in the 2016 election was a highly sophisticated and well coordinated cyber attack on our electoral process. The intention was to influence the outcome, by sowing discord and division through disinformation. While the operatives were not able to intervene, that is actually alter vote tallies, they were able to hack into voter registration files in 37 states. This allowed them to tailor their propaganda to specific regions and target certain states. Think of it as a practice run. Russian attempts to interfere in the 2020 election will be even more sophisticated and coordinated, because the US has done little to secure the electoral process from cyber attack.
That Trump, his minions and butt gerbils, consistently deny any and all Russian influence only invites more. Other countries are paying attention as well. Iran, China, North Korea, Venezuela, et al, every totalitarian dictatorship is watching and learning how to influence elections in the US. It’s pretty simple to hack into voter registration files, for propaganda purposes. It’s just a small step from there to altering vote tallies. Then this democratic republic of the United States will not be able to control its destiny.
Why is Putin preferential to Trump? Because he knows he’s incompetent, inept and impotent. Why are all these adversaries preferential to Trump? Because they know he’s an idiot, who coddles dictators and alienates allies, thereby weakening the status of the US in the world. On the global stage, Trump is a bad actor, a joke; that’s why the enemies of the US want to see him re-elected.
What boggles the mind is, why would the American people want to see him re-elected? Not that the Democrats have anyone to offer that would be any better, but they don’t offer anyone that could be any worse. Except Sanders or Warren, of course.
Gawain's Ghost (b25cd1) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:35 amWhat boggles the mind is how a grown adult thinks calling people “butt gerbils” in any way helps even those who may agree with him to take him seriously.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:40 amI guess if you don’t care about the US any more than you do Israel/Brittan/Canada these points might seem good. I do care about my country and object when hostile foreign government interferes in our elections. I guess I’m a patriotic American. Not sure where you’re from or what country you’re loyal to.
time123 (80b471) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:41 amThis is true. The difference is the “sweeping and systematic” part that Putin spearheaded in 2016.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:42 am89. And isn’t it funny how the incompetent idiot made billions in real estate, had a top rating TV show for years, won the presidency of the US eighteen months after entering politics and has been running rings around you leftard losers for four years now. Gee, just imagine if he were smart.
Meanwhile, you’re a schmuck nobody ever heard of.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:46 amhighly sophisticated…This allowed them to tailor their propaganda to specific regions and target certain states.
You mean they used words and stuff? Did they have a monopoly on the words that those people heard? Our own “news” media does far more damage and propagates far more propaganda, propaganda that thanks to campaign finance “reforms” is very difficult to push back against. Heck, we’ve got a guy running for the D’s who has his own media empire pumping him up. Seems a “conservative” would be far more concerned about that much more real, weighted influence than whatever the Russians could buy. Of course one explanation might be that you like the propaganda the D’s push out. Nahhh. That’s silly.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:47 amOh look another hilarious boot licky Trump sycophant, banned, using a VPN, insulting people so much he clearly actually hates those who disagree with him. Drinking poison and hoping the other guy gets sick. That’s a Trump supporter.
Dustin (0197f6) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:48 amI guess if you don’t care about the US any more than you do Israel/Brittan/Canada these points might seem good.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:51 amHeh. Straw man. I didn’t say that I didn’t care. I in fact said I don’t like it, but the better question is why is DNC security so horribly weak. Also, see my reply to GG.
NOTE: Anyone making off-color comments and personal jabs at other commenters are going into moderation. Stick to the subject at hand, and stop trashing up the thread on my post.
Dana (4fb37f) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:53 amDustin, you twerp, you wouldn’t know a VPN if it crawled up your Buttigieg.
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:53 amBoris B.,
I just bolded my warning at #97 in case you missed it, as we cross-posted. Take notice of it now.
Dana (4fb37f) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:54 amOh look another hilarious boot licky Trump sycophant, banned, using a VPN, insulting people so much he clearly actually hates those who disagree with him. Drinking poison and hoping the other guy gets sick. That’s a Trump supporter.
Dustin (0197f6) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:48 am
Yeah lol, like you are being completely respectful? But your opinion and way of typing won’t be addressed yet others would be banned if they want “oh f you another trump hating douche blah blah”.
It’s laughable, it’s childish….and I’m done with it and just want to sht post at this point.
Pr0perty rights (cef076) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:56 amSorry, Dana.
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:56 amDana, I’m sure you’ll be warning nk any minute now…
ВorisВ (74b558) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:56 am“sweeping and systematic”
Mr Montagu, those are just nice descriptive words, signifying nothing.
bendover2 (076acf) — 2/21/2020 @ 8:57 amBoris B., I singled you out because I saw that we posted at the same time and thought that you, perhaps, had not seen my caution at #97. I wanted to make sure you saw it before you moved down the thread and missed it entirely. And if you note, my caution specifically addresses “anyone”…
Dana (4fb37f) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:01 amNOTE: Anyone making off-color comments and personal jabs at other commenters are going into moderation. Stick to the subject at hand, and stop trashing up the thread on my post.
Does this include saying people are deluded, dumba**s (or any other kind of a** for that matter), or calling them Trumpaloos or such? Asking for a friend. I mean not that I care (I mean my friend cares) what epithet someone throws my way but I do reserve my right (my friend’s right, that is) to hit back, whether such a right is respected here or not.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:03 amAlso that the intended and actual beneficiary of their interference aggressively and corruptly attempted to cover it up after taking office.
Dave (1bb933) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:03 amThe words are backed up by Volume I of that report. You know, the document where those words came from.
Dana, Boris himself said “I didn’t say I wasn’t a racist,” so I take that as a self-admission, not a personal attack.
BTW, Tapper also followed up with this:
It’s not a secret–and hasn’t been a secret for a while–that Trump is Putin’s boy for 2020.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:08 amRegarding “sweeping and systematic” by Putin, there’s even a thesis for the kind of operation Putin pulled: The Gerasimov Doctrine, written in 2013 and put into effect not long after.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:14 amI don’t believe you care. (Not trying to by insulting but you don’t seem to care) I think you recognize that you should, so you’ve come up with an excuse (the level of security the DNC had) to make it their fault that the Russians hacked them, and released the emails in a way targeted to negatively impact one candidate.
time123 (36651d) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:15 amThis is the obvious fact about Trump that his apologists refuse to admit: his flag-hugging “I love America” posture is always subordinate to his ego and self-interest and his demand for adulation. Whatever is not optimal for Donald Trump cannot, in his judgment, be good for America, or good in any way.
Radegunda (b24250) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:16 amNot trying to by insulting but you don’t seem to care
OK, I tried bold and somehow you missed it. Let’s try bold caps…I IN FACT SAID I DON’T LIKE IT, BUT THE BETTER QUESTION IS WHY IS DNC SECURITY SO HORRIBLY WEAK. Throwing it back your way, why are you not concerned that the DNC isn’t protecting its information. This isn’t an issue in regard to the RNC getting it. It’s about THE RUSSIANS getting it. If a D is elected, that information is far, far more dangerous in Russian hands than the RNC’s…or maybe I’m assuming something here. You are more concerned about the Russians actually having the information than it (presumably) being used to help Trump, right? Defend your own patriotism. For better or for worse, I support the ONE guy running for POTUS this year who is not embarrassed nor ashamed to at the very least state clearly that he loves this country, cares about its future, and openly states that socialism is a bad thing. Now you can argue he’s not sincere, etc. and that is a valid consideration. But when the other party is reasonably comfortable with Bernie F. Sanders, not to mention the other America hating candidates, nor that the ones opposed to Trump put “former” communists in charge of the FBI and CIA, the choice really should not be a hard one.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:29 amDana, I hope you will allow this:
If anybody here finds that their blocking script is not working with BorisB, it’s because he’s “masking” it by using the Cyrillic B instead of the Latin (intentionally or that’s the computer they gave him only he knows). You can copy and paste it from this comment (I used the Cyrillic B including this one) or find it yourselves here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrillic_alphabets#Common_letters
Sorry, should have told you earlier.
nk (1d9030) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:36 amPTW, First I want to stress that I’m not trying to attack you personally. I don’t have any bad opinions about you and I’m not writing this to try and make you angry. We disagree here and I’ll try to explain why.
I don’t believe that the DNC security methods were as you put it ‘horribly weak’. I don’t’ really have much opinion on it at all. I do know that the DNC uses crowdstrike, for IT security as does the RNC. If you have some sort of assessment of the DNC’s system from a tech standpoint I wouldn’t mind reading it. But I’m not talking about an opionion piece from an outlet that has a political axe to grind. Something like Wired, or Techdirt, or some other site that’s primarily focused on the technology aspect.
Even if their IT security was lacking, (and I don’t stipulate that) it doesn’t excuse the Russian military intelligence hacking into their system any more than the fact my house has a door wall off the deck means it’s ok for you to throw a rock through it and take my belongings. Saying that the real issue is their security makes it sound like you’re not too concerned with the crime.
I believe our people, our institutions, our companies should be protected by our government. This includes our political parties. The penalty for another county interfering in our politics should be harsh and it should be a shared goal across the political spectrum. The fact that Russia is (apparently) still fucking with us means that what we’ve done so far isn’t enough of a deterrent.
time123 (36651d) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:50 amI’m not writing this to try and make you angry. We disagree here and I’ll try to explain why.
Understand. But don’t go projecting anger when there’s plenty of that around here as it is. We don’t disagree so much except in where you consistently read past me and repeatedly question where I’m coming from when I think I’ve been rather clear. Not that I hang out here all that often but we’ve interacted a few times, mostly reasonably, I would hope I’d be somewhat understood in this regard. But whatevs….
the DNC security methods were as you put it ‘horribly weak’.
Perhaps I jump the gun to say horribly in so far as that specific server/set of servers is concerned, but given the lax attitude toward such things in regard to security that we already have seen from HRC on down, smoke/fire AFAIC. Either way, they were weak enough to get broken into.
it doesn’t excuse the Russian military intelligence hacking into their system
Did I say that it did? No. What I’m trying to communicate here is that we do not control outside parties and in a world where even our allies are constantly probing us and we are probing them, where we develop plans to invade them and they us, that’s simply the world. Always has been, always will be. Which is why I am very concerned that the DNC does not appear to be taking security seriously.
I believe our people, our institutions, our companies should be protected by our government.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:04 amYes, agree. But it was the party in power, the party mostly responsible for these things that failed to protect even its own party apparatuses from foreign interference. You know which party I mean, right? The one with the “Reset Button”? The one with the guy who said “Tell Vladamir after my election I have more flexibility”? There is a bear in the woods. For some people, the bear is easy to see. And they at least close and lock (because bears is smart!) doors.
Mick Mulvaney said he disagreed with Trump sometimes. (Semi off the record)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/us/politics/mulvaney-trump.html
Mulvaney actaully said corruption, but added that Trump had mentioned supposed Ukrainian interference in 2016 as part of that, but not Biden.
Sammy Finkelman (f2d620) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:14 am111. .PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:29 am
But that wouldn’t compare to the prospect of getting a Russian spy as National Security Adviser. Advantage to Russia: Trump
Sammy Finkelman (f2d620) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:17 amBut that wouldn’t compare to the prospect of getting a Russian spy as National Security Adviser. Advantage to Russia: Trump
True, but one has to buy into the Russia, Russia, Russia conspiracy theory and a much more unlikely version of it at that as well. Plus, my comment was only in the context of a D winning. Though in general, whatever the D’s may have on their servers regarding R’s is also quite dangerous in Russian hands if the R’s win. Adding that aspect, if I were Putin and I thought the D’s had good dirt on PDJT, I’d probably concentrate my resources at breaking into the D servers. Especially as there are significant elements in the D party that over time have been shown to be very, very friendly to Russia. Actually the more I think about it, the more likely it seems to me.
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:27 amPTw, We’re on the same page…lotts of trolling today so I wanted to make an effort. I agree that Obama didn’t do enough on this. But that doesn’t mean that Trumps off the hook now that it’s clearer what we’re dealing with.
time123 (36651d) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:34 amRemember Dana Rohrbacher and the Wikileaks pardon that a great number of people poopoo’d? Do Trump a solid and get a pardon
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:36 amlotts of trolling today so I wanted to make an effort
Thanks. Yes, trolls gotta troll the trolly trolls who troll the trolls by calling the trolls trolls but while denying that the other trolls ever, ever, ever trolled a troll. Works similarly for hypocrisy. Show me the man who says he’s not hypocrite…
PTw (894877) — 2/21/2020 @ 12:15 pmNo one finds it an odd coincidence that Schiff leaked the phony narrative that the DNI told his committee the Russians are still doing “IT” the day after the Dem debate, and world saw what a waste of space ALL the Dems running for President are awful?
We have been subjected to this ‘world as we know it is comming to the end because ORANGEMANBAD’!!!!
And why does the left celebrate Schiff leaking classified information? Seems to me Schiff, has in effect declassified, classified information. Since its out there, provide the transcript so the people can reach their own conclusions without the testimony being translated by the rabid, Trump hater Schiff.
Iowan2 (1c4a14) — 2/21/2020 @ 2:50 pm“Remember Dana Rohrbacher and the Wikileaks pardon that a great number of people poopoo’d? Do Trump a solid and get a pardon”
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 11:36 am
Wow. Last time a Michael Isikoff piece in Yahoo News caught anyone’s attention it was used as supporting evidence in a bogus surveillance warrant. So glad people were put in jail for that.
But, granting immunity via a pardon in exchange for being a prosecution witness (where the defendant is the media and the saps who buy every false anti-Trump narrative) is a standard technique reserved for all those unelected prosecutors. Rick Gates?
Munroe (dd6b64) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:02 pmSo… Sanders was briefed by US officials that Russia was trying to help his campaign:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html
1) is that any surprise?
whembly (c30c83) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:19 pm2) I get the sense that some powers-that-be (not Russia) is trying to knock Sanders down a bit…
3) See #1
@122 Seth Rich is dead. They weren’t going to prosecute him, so they didn’t need a prosecution witness against him. The media is not on trial so they don’t need prosecution a witness against it. Generally speaking, criminals don’t get a pardon for giving media interviews favorable to the President.
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:20 pmNic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:20 pm
Hate to break it to you Nic, but Assange already gave media interviews where he said Russia was not the source.
He’s not credible, but if he has proof that won’t matter.
But, knowing the truth about Trump Russia collusion ended up being such a total let down. Why risk getting sad face again.
Munroe (dd6b64) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:33 pmHow do you know Schiff was the leaker?
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:34 pmThat’s nice, but since the source was Dana Rohrbacher, what does Assange’s claims, one way or the other, have to do with it?
Colonel Klink (Ret) (5cde89) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:39 pm@125 Maybe ask Rohrbacher why he offered a pardon to a criminal for a favor, then, but it wasn’t as a prosecution witness, since there isn’t a prosecution. Quid pro quo again.
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:39 pmAgain with the evidence?…”some people say” is all the confirmation we need.
Colonel Klink (Ret) (5cde89) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:40 pmNic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:39 pm
Assuming Assange could offer proof, here is an opportunity to know the truth and you don’t want it, because the truth might help Trump whereas media speculation never does. Got it.
Also, read the piece. If you believe Rohrbacher, Trump had no involvement so there goes your QPQ.
Munroe (dd6b64) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:55 pm@129: #BelieveSchiff has been trending among true conservatives for awhile.
Munroe (dd6b64) — 2/21/2020 @ 3:59 pm@130 Do you actually read what people say, or just make assumptions and go with that? I don’t think that Assange should get a pardon for telling the truth. If he wants to plea-bargain, I’m fine with that, but the man is a criminal and shouldn’t get off scott-free. Why would Rohrbacher think he could offer a pardon if someone in the administration hadn’t told him he could? Trump talks to Kelly who talks to Rohrbacher.
Nic (896fdf) — 2/21/2020 @ 4:02 pmBernie says the right things; good for him:
Maybe some day the f@#king president will also acknowledge Russia’s well-documented efforts to interfere in the election on his behalf, and denounce them as Sanders did.
Dave (1bb933) — 2/21/2020 @ 4:21 pmKen Dilanian
@KenDilanianNBC
.
Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign
__ _
Logan Dobson
harkin (b64479) — 2/21/2020 @ 4:21 pm@LoganDobson
·
prepare for Bernie to win the nomination and all of a sudden Russian meddling to not be a big deal anymore
__ _
Bernie Sanders:
“Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend,” Sanders said. “He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia.”
“Let’s be clear,” Sanders added, “the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election.”
That’s how it’s done, Mr. President.
JRH (52aed3) — 2/21/2020 @ 5:18 pmHillary Clinton
@HillaryClinton
Putin’s Puppet is at it again, taking Russian help for himself.
He knows he can’t win without it. And we can’t let it happen.
__ _
Eli Lake
@EliLake
Do you have any private intelligence products that might help the FBI get to the bottom of this?
__ _
Acquitted Covfefe
@zoochum
·
I’m sure Sid Blumenthal is cooking something up for Grandma Death.
__ _
Aaron King
harkin (b64479) — 2/21/2020 @ 9:41 pm@AAKing27
·
Check the bathroom closet
_
Munroe, I’ll take your non-response as you making sh*t up that Schiff leaked.
Paul Montagu (ae8832) — 2/22/2020 @ 7:32 am