Russia Russia Russia

[15yds4gibberish]

Shutdown looming…Investigation continues even if that happens….

According to report, the Mueller investigation has subpoenaed Bannon, and is in talks with the VSG legal team about VSG interview parameters.  So far, as with any large unfolding investigation, there have been at least 100’s if not 1000’s of news reports, multiple confusing details, and stories which sometimes overwrite each other.  News departments are overwhelmed (often by intention with all the BS injected into the system) and we consumers of news are overwhelmed too.  It’s complicated and difficult to follow.

As 'Russia Russia Russia' continues to develop, here’s a draft outline which acts as a kind of template for fitting in new stories as they develop: 

General Outline of ‘Russia Russia Russia’

A. Russia’s coordinated use of cyberattacks to interfere in 2016 election

1. Hacking (e.g. DNC/Leaked e-mails, Electoral Boards)
2. Propaganda (e.g. Russian Outlets, Social Media)
3. Sidebar note: Foreign intelligence agencies were so concerned, they came knocking on our door.  We have major US intelligence agency concurrence that meddling happened.  So far, no congressional action taken to minimize election interference going forward...

B. Links between VSG associates and Russian officials and intermediaries.

1. At least 9 VSG associates that had contacts with Russian officials and either lied or initially ‘forgot’ that they had them.
2. At least 5 more VSG associates that either lied or initially ‘forgot’ knowing others had contacts.
3. Russians attempted to penetrate the VSG campaign with dirt on Clinton.
4. Senior VSG associates were receptive to receiving the Russian dirt on Clinton.
5. Sidebar Note: Should’ve gone to the FBI. 

C.  Strange praise for Putin and attempts to change policy preferences more favorable to Russia

1. Republican platform toward Russia changed during campaign
2. During the transition, there was at minimum a profound breach of norms, undermining the current administration response to a foreign adversary.
3. Multiple lies/forgetting about these policy changes afterward.  Trump continues to say Russia didn't interfere, undermining his own intelligence agencies. 
4. Sidebar note:  We know Russians approached the campaign.  We know the campaign was receptive to the approach.  We know policy toward Russia was changed shortly thereafter.  Do these dots connect – Or is it a happy coincidence of campaign ignorance and all boats rowing in the same direction? 
5. Sidebar note 2:  The other point of note is that foreign policy toward Russia has gotten tougher recently, but there is a case also to be made this is being driven by the Cabinet - As per usual, Trump's comments on this are incoherent, often creating inconsistencies -- The national security strategy and Trumps words about it are worlds apart..

D.  Whether the VSG interfered with investigations (aka Obstruction), including accusations of attempting to:

1. Impede investigations (e.g. Requests to end inquiries/Prevent Sessions recusal)
2. Engage in a cover up (e.g. Reasons for Jr.’s meeting with Russian lawyer, Reasons for firing Comey) 

E. Indictments and guilty pleas

1. 4 people indicted so far – Including the charge of Conspiracy Against the United States (before, during, and after the election – Trial tracking to May)
2. 2 guilty pleas so far – Both with indications of exchange for additional testimony
3. Sidebar Note 1: Increasing indications of Russian money laundering/compromising financial entanglements.
4. Sidebar Note 2: The more direct the intelligence agency warnings about Flynn were, the more serious the time to his termination becomes.

Probably more, but this is basically a way to keep it all straight as new stories emerge.  Personally, I think it looks pretty bad, with more coming out every day, but still difficult to make a confident prediction as to how this will all play out.  All indications are Mueller has a lot more information than we do, he plays it very close to the vest, but Mueller also has simultaneously a broad and a narrow scope.  So we'll see. 

Let the blog hysteria begin anew!

[HSFBfan]

3 minutes ago, 15yds4gibberish said:

Shutdown looming…Investigation continues even if that happens….

According to report, the Mueller investigation has subpoenaed Bannon, and is in talks with the VSG legal team about VSG interview parameters.  So far, as with any large unfolding investigation, there have been at least 100’s if not 1000’s of news reports, multiple confusing details, and stories which sometimes overwrite each other.  News departments are overwhelmed (often by intention with all the BS injected into the system) and we consumers of news are overwhelmed too.  It’s complicated and difficult to follow.

As 'Russia Russia Russia' continues to develop, here’s a draft outline which acts as a kind of template for fitting in new stories as they develop: 

General Outline of ‘Russia Russia Russia’

A. Russia’s coordinated use of cyberattacks to interfere in 2016 election

1. Hacking (e.g. DNC/Leaked e-mails, Electoral Boards)
2. Propaganda (e.g. Russian Outlets, Social Media)
3. Sidebar note: Foreign intelligence agencies were so concerned, they came knocking on our door.  We have major US intelligence agency concurrence that meddling happened.  So far, no congressional action taken to minimize election interference going forward...

B. Links between VSG associates and Russian officials and intermediaries.

1. At least 9 VSG associates that had contacts with Russian officials and either lied or initially ‘forgot’ that they had them.
2. At least 5 more VSG associates that either lied or initially ‘forgot’ knowing others had contacts.
3. Russians attempted to penetrate the VSG campaign with dirt on Clinton.
4. Senior VSG associates were receptive to receiving the Russian dirt on Clinton.
5. Sidebar Note: Should’ve gone to the FBI. 

C.  Strange praise for Putin and attempts to change policy preferences more favorable to Russia

1. Republican platform toward Russia changed during campaign
2. During the transition, there was at minimum a profound breach of norms, undermining the current administration response to a foreign adversary.
3. Multiple lies/forgetting about these policy changes afterward.  Trump continues to say Russia didn't interfere, undermining his own intelligence agencies. 
4. Sidebar note:  We know Russians approached the campaign.  We know the campaign was receptive to the approach.  We know policy toward Russia was changed shortly thereafter.  Do these dots connect – Or is it a happy coincidence of campaign ignorance and all boats rowing in the same direction? 
5. Sidebar note 2:  The other point of note is that foreign policy toward Russia has gotten tougher recently, but there is a case also to be made this is being driven by the Cabinet - As per usual, Trump's comments on this are incoherent, often creating inconsistencies -- The national security strategy and Trumps words about it are worlds apart..

D.  Whether the VSG interfered with investigations (aka Obstruction), including accusations of attempting to:

1. Impede investigations (e.g. Requests to end inquiries/Prevent Sessions recusal)
2. Engage in a cover up (e.g. Reasons for Jr.’s meeting with Russian lawyer, Reasons for firing Comey) 

E. Indictments and guilty pleas

1. 4 people indicted so far – Including the charge of Conspiracy Against the United States (before, during, and after the election – Trial tracking to May)
2. 2 guilty pleas so far – Both with indications of exchange for additional testimony
3. Sidebar Note 1: Increasing indications of Russian money laundering/compromising financial entanglements.
4. Sidebar Note 2: The more direct the intelligence agency warnings about Flynn were, the more serious the time to his termination becomes.

Probably more, but this is basically a way to keep it all straight as new stories emerge.  Personally, I think it looks pretty bad, with more coming out every day, but still difficult to make a confident prediction as to how this will all play out.  All indications are Mueller has a lot more information than we do, he plays it very close to the vest, but Mueller also has simultaneously a broad and a narrow scope.  So we'll see. 

Let the blog hysteria begin anew!

from what the republicans said last night about the documents that are worse than watergate will completely shut down Mueller and the whole investigation is a lie. Well shall see. Stay Tuned. 

http://www.oann.com/house-intel-committee-releases-memo-on-surveillance-abuses-to-colleagues/

[RedZone]

3 minutes ago, 15yds4gibberish said:

Shutdown looming…Investigation continues even if that happens….

According to report, the Mueller investigation has subpoenaed Bannon, and is in talks with the VSG legal team about VSG interview parameters.  So far, as with any large unfolding investigation, there have been at least 100’s if not 1000’s of news reports, multiple confusing details, and stories which sometimes overwrite each other.  News departments are overwhelmed (often by intention with all the BS injected into the system) and we consumers of news are overwhelmed too.  It’s complicated and difficult to follow.

As 'Russia Russia Russia' continues to develop, here’s a draft outline which acts as a kind of template for fitting in new stories as they develop: 

General Outline of ‘Russia Russia Russia’

A. Russia’s coordinated use of cyberattacks to interfere in 2016 election

1. Hacking (e.g. DNC/Leaked e-mails, Electoral Boards)
2. Propaganda (e.g. Russian Outlets, Social Media)
3. Sidebar note: Foreign intelligence agencies were so concerned, they came knocking on our door.  We have major US intelligence agency concurrence that meddling happened.  So far, no congressional action taken to minimize election interference going forward...

B. Links between VSG associates and Russian officials and intermediaries.

1. At least 9 VSG associates that had contacts with Russian officials and either lied or initially ‘forgot’ that they had them.
2. At least 5 more VSG associates that either lied or initially ‘forgot’ knowing others had contacts.
3. Russians attempted to penetrate the VSG campaign with dirt on Clinton.
4. Senior VSG associates were receptive to receiving the Russian dirt on Clinton.
5. Sidebar Note: Should’ve gone to the FBI. 

C.  Strange praise for Putin and attempts to change policy preferences more favorable to Russia

1. Republican platform toward Russia changed during campaign
2. During the transition, there was at minimum a profound breach of norms, undermining the current administration response to a foreign adversary.
3. Multiple lies/forgetting about these policy changes afterward.  Trump continues to say Russia didn't interfere, undermining his own intelligence agencies. 
4. Sidebar note:  We know Russians approached the campaign.  We know the campaign was receptive to the approach.  We know policy toward Russia was changed shortly thereafter.  Do these dots connect – Or is it a happy coincidence of campaign ignorance and all boats rowing in the same direction? 
5. Sidebar note 2:  The other point of note is that foreign policy toward Russia has gotten tougher recently, but there is a case also to be made this is being driven by the Cabinet - As per usual, Trump's comments on this are incoherent, often creating inconsistencies -- The national security strategy and Trumps words about it are worlds apart..

D.  Whether the VSG interfered with investigations (aka Obstruction), including accusations of attempting to:

1. Impede investigations (e.g. Requests to end inquiries/Prevent Sessions recusal)
2. Engage in a cover up (e.g. Reasons for Jr.’s meeting with Russian lawyer, Reasons for firing Comey) 

E. Indictments and guilty pleas

1. 4 people indicted so far – Including the charge of Conspiracy Against the United States (before, during, and after the election – Trial tracking to May)
2. 2 guilty pleas so far – Both with indications of exchange for additional testimony
3. Sidebar Note 1: Increasing indications of Russian money laundering/compromising financial entanglements.
4. Sidebar Note 2: The more direct the intelligence agency warnings about Flynn were, the more serious the time to his termination becomes.

Probably more, but this is basically a way to keep it all straight as new stories emerge.  Personally, I think it looks pretty bad, with more coming out every day, but still difficult to make a confident prediction as to how this will all play out.  All indications are Mueller has a lot more information than we do, he plays it very close to the vest, but Mueller also has simultaneously a broad and a narrow scope.  So we'll see. 

Let the blog hysteria begin anew!

Things are getting out of hand!

Then there is this. And, the 4 trump fans and mental drip here are worried about me. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/01/18/politics/kfile-carl-higbie-on-the-radio/index.html

 

[15yds4gibberish]

1 hour ago, HSFBfan said:

from what the republicans said last night about the documents that are worse than watergate will completely shut down Mueller and the whole investigation is a lie. Well shall see. Stay Tuned. 

http://www.oann.com/house-intel-committee-releases-memo-on-surveillance-abuses-to-colleagues/

Try to remember all the way back to about 3 weeks ago.  There were all these dark hints that the Fusion GPS testimony to the investigative committees was damning, with all these selective leaks about what was said...And now we have the testimony transcripts and let's just charitably say the initial rumors were misleading.

Also good to try and remember what happened the last time we saw Devin Nunes jumping out of an Uber in the dark of night to 'help' his pals....

But as you say we shall see. 

In the meantime let's enjoy the irony that the inquiry that Nunes never actually recused himself from was about Russian interference in the US political system.  

http://www.businessinsider.com/release-the-memo-campaign-russia-linked-twitter-accounts-2018-1

[HSFBfan]

Just now, 15yds4gibberish said:

Try to remember all the way back to about 3 weeks ago.  There were all these dark hints that the Fusion GPS testimony to the investigative committees was damning, with all these selective leaks about what was said...And now we have the testimony transcripts and let's just charitably say the initial rumors were misleading.

Also good to try and remember what happened the last time we saw Devin Nunes jumping out of an Uber in the dark of night to 'help' his pals....

But as you say we shall see. 

In the meantime let's enjoy the irony that the inquiry that Nunes never actually recused himself from was about Russian interference in the US political system.  

http://www.businessinsider.com/release-the-memo-campaign-russia-linked-twitter-accounts-2018-1

I said lets see.....#RELEASETHEMEMOS

[stanscript]

Here is a release of the full text of the Glenn Simpson (GPS Fusion) testimony.  Anyone thinking that Russian-Trump interference, collusion or conspiracy in the election is fake news needs to read this:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/house-panel-releases-transcript-of-interview-with-fusion-gps-co-founder-346342

[15yds4gibberish]

3 hours ago, HSFBfan said:

I said lets see.....#RELEASETHEMEMOS

We agree on something.  I'll even go you one further.  I  say release the memos and all the supporting documents right now!   Let's expose it to public scrutiny and see if it stands up.

For your consideration:

If Hannity's explosive claims are accurate, if as Steve King R-Iowa/HPSCI member says, this is 'worse than Watergate,'  Republicans have every incentive to get this into the public's hands ASAP.  I'd argue they have the duty to do so.  There really is nothing stopping this from happening right away.  Some ways this could happen include: 1) President VSG can de-classify anything he wants in 2 seconds, 2) Intelligence committees can de-classify any material in their possession with a vote, 3)  Nunes or anybody can read it into the record, 4) or, the old fashioned leak to the media.  

If, on the other hand, the claims are false or misleading, it's to Republican advantage to keep the document classified, the longer the better, so that Hannity can fill viewer heads with dark suspicions night after night, making explosive claims, undermining Mueller and the FBI in the process.

So be bold.  Try to withhold judgement until the document and the supporting evidence is actually released and subjected to scrutiny.

In the meantime, I highly recommend reading the Fusion GPS testimony in the link @stanscript provided above.  It's fascinating and reads like a spy novel (the house version is more zippy) -- And bonus, it's all sworn testimony.

[HSFBfan]

1 minute ago, 15yds4gibberish said:

We agree on something.  I'll even go you one further.  I  say release the memos and all the supporting documents right now!   Let's expose it to public scrutiny and see if it stands up.

For your consideration:

If Hannity's explosive claims are accurate, if as Steve King R-Iowa/HPSCI member says, this is 'worse than Watergate,'  Republicans have every incentive to get this into the public's hands ASAP.  I'd argue they have the duty to do so.  There really is nothing stopping this from happening right away.  Some ways this could happen include: 1) President VSG can de-classify anything he wants in 2 seconds, 2) Intelligence committees can de-classify any material in their possession with a vote, 3)  Nunes or anybody can read it into the record, 4) or, the old fashioned leak to the media.  

If, on the other hand, the claims are false or misleading, it's to Republican advantage to keep the document classified so that Hannity can fill viewer heads with dark suspicions night after night, making explosive claims, undermining Mueller and the FBI in the process.

So be bold.  Try to withhold judgement until the document and the supporting evidence is actually released and subjected to scrutiny.

In the meantime, I highly recommend reading the Fusion GPS testimony in the link @stanscript provided above.  It's fascinating and reads like a spy novel (the house version is more zippy) -- And bonus, it's all sworn testimony.

Glad we agree. From what the 2 republicans said last night is true they can release the documents rather quickly. Get the votes from the committee and get it to Trump to release. Like you said if this is the bombshell it's the duty to get it to the American people asap

[noonereal]

20 hours ago, 15yds4gibberish said:

We agree on something.  I'll even go you one further.  I  say release the memos and all the supporting documents right now!   Let's expose it to public scrutiny and see if it stands up.

For your consideration:

If Hannity's explosive claims are accurate, if as Steve King R-Iowa/HPSCI member says, this is 'worse than Watergate,'  Republicans have every incentive to get this into the public's hands ASAP.  I'd argue they have the duty to do so.  There really is nothing stopping this from happening right away.  Some ways this could happen include: 1) President VSG can de-classify anything he wants in 2 seconds, 2) Intelligence committees can de-classify any material in their possession with a vote, 3)  Nunes or anybody can read it into the record, 4) or, the old fashioned leak to the media.  

If, on the other hand, the claims are false or misleading, it's to Republican advantage to keep the document classified, the longer the better, so that Hannity can fill viewer heads with dark suspicions night after night, making explosive claims, undermining Mueller and the FBI in the process.

So be bold.  Try to withhold judgement until the document and the supporting evidence is actually released and subjected to scrutiny.

In the meantime, I highly recommend reading the Fusion GPS testimony in the link @stanscript provided above.  It's fascinating and reads like a spy novel (the house version is more zippy) -- And bonus, it's all sworn testimony.

excellent analysis