Even the most cynical observer of McConnell — a cynical man to his bones — would have been shocked at his raw partisanship. Presented with an attack on the sanctity of his own country’s democracy by a hostile foreign power, his overriding concern was party over country. Obama’s fear of seeming partisan held him back from making a unilateral statement without partisan cover. No such fear restrained McConnell. This imbalance in will to power extended to the security agencies. The CIA could have leaked its conclusion before November, but held off. The FBI should have held off on leaking its October surprise, but plunged ahead.
Perhaps the most amazing revelation in the Post’s report is, “Some of the Republicans in the briefing also seemed opposed to the idea of going public with such explosive allegations in the final stages of an election.” Almost immediately afterward, Republicans in Congress trumpeted explosive (but ultimately empty) allegations from a different agency. Of the many causes of the election outcome, one was simply that Trump’s supporters in government were willing to put the system at risk in order to win, and Clinton’s supporters were not."
87 comments:
Considering how power mad Hillary is, it's ironic Chait speaks of the Republicans' will to power.
There was an episode of Mad Men where Betty buys a great big Victorian (or maybe Edwardian) fainting sofa and insists on giving it pride of place in the house. The interior decorator is aghast. I think Henry's reaction was not completely positive.
A cry for help? An incursion of domestic hegemony? An unfortunate sense of aesthetics? Something else? Some of the above? All the above? Does anybody really know what time it is?
Right beneath your post is an advert for "webroot security" stating "do you live in one of the most hacked states" and showing a US map. Of course the states which voted for Trump are depicted as "most hacked." California and NY come out smelling like roses: "No hacking there, no siree -- nothing but good old fashioned bipartisan politics in those one party states.
All innuendo. WHERE'S THE BEEF?!
Well, they do need an excuse...
If Bush 1 had not listened to the CIA we would not have gone into Iraq and Saddam would be killing the Iranians. There would not have been any Al Qaeda or maybe even a ISIS that came about because of our intervention in the Middle East to protect the Saudi's and their oil riches.
If Kennedy had not listened to the CIA there would not have been a Bay of Pigs or maybe even a Vietnam.
If Truman had listened to the CIA there would never have been an Israel.
If Jimmy Carter had not listened to the CIA about Iran Shah or his sons would be running that shithole and they wouldn't have nukes.
So tell me again why we should listen to the CIA as if it was the voice of God. Better yet a politicized CIA that cooked the books to reflect Obama's pro Muslim world view. You do realize that Flynn and Kelly and Mad Dog were forced out because they were not slanting the data to reflect the liberal point of view.
It's time for something completely different.
A healthy skepticism of the data pushed by the CIA is just about the best thing you can do. We need to get away from the views of the duopoly that has dominated the discussion for the past fifty years.
It is bizzaro world when the Democrats are against the Russians and demand that we listen to the CIA as if it were Gospel. WTF! When did that happen?
It is just dirty politics aided and abetted by the scumbag main stream media. Fuck them where it hurts.
Troop is a voice of restraint and reason. Almost a Rand Paul, but better.
The grasping at flimsy straws sure is flimsy and this is all so wearisome.
That's why I'll replace the dreadful fairytale with a real one more amusing.
A group of friends and I went hiking just west of Boulder to a spot by rivulet that is known to be somewhat fun. The downward sloping trail narrows to rather steep well-worn path with no foothold to speak of. Climbing back out is quite a trick. It amount to basically a dirt wall with no protruding rocks to grab onto. Honestly now it would be quite impossible to climb back out. I found myself grabbing at tiny tuffs of high desert weeds barely enough to hold onto with with my fingertips and hardly anything at all to trust one's weight to. I described this situation to friends who intended to check out the place by saying, "What I needed at the critical moment was a sturdy little bonsai tree to magically pop into reality at the precise spot with deep roots growing into the slope that could be used as a handle to lift myself." This created a visual image I found appropriate to describe the predicament we all found ourselves, each person climbing out making the situation more slick and worse, but the people I was speaking to found the description hilarious. They laughed so hard that my description was ruined and they decided on the spot they must see for themselves this outrageously impossible challenge, they were convinced I was delivering amusing hyperbole. So instead of dissuading them from going, there's nothing unique happening anyway, I ended up convincing them to go there and see for themselves.
That's what Democrats, Washington post, Politico, remind me off. Any self-dillusional amusement, any wild story, any bizarre description, any handhold to get them off from facing their real life abject predicament. It must be something else because the plain truth cannot satisfy. This is their bonsai tree that magically appears at just the right spot on their steep slipping trail that provides no natural foothold nor handhold.
I guess the democrats will need to stop being two-faced money-whores in their e-mails to each other.
This whole Russian conspiracy hacking thing is just fodder for the Stephanopoulos' of the world.
Trump needs to focus on on the big deals: Killing Obamacare, immigration, jobs/economy. He does that and he wins (and so do we).
"It must be clear that Donald Trump is not a loyal American and we should prepare for the next four years accordingly."
- Evan McMullin, yesterday.
I've been told so many times that Trump is a dangerous, jingoistic nationalist that I'm shocked to learn they were talking about a different nation.
But seriously, that's an absurd and dishonest statement by McMullin. I await the denunciations by his fellow nevers.
Evan McMuffin is a loser that very few people voted for. Who cares what he says.
He is Evi. Listen to what his actual qoute with Chris Wallace was this Sunday:
"I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it. I don't know why, and I think it's just -- you know, they talked about all sorts of things. Every week, it's another excuse.
We had a massive landslide victory, as you know, in the Electoral College. I guess the final numbers are now at 306. She's down to a very low number.
No, I don't believe that at all.
Well, if you look at the story and you take a look at what they said, there's great confusion. Nobody really knows.
And hacking is very interesting. Once they hack, if you don't catch them in the act, you're not going to catch them. They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place. I mean, they have no idea."
That seems very reasonable. Nobody knows with any certainty. This is a political play. This is a political play from within the CIA. They do this all the time. That is what happens in Washington. We can expect the same from the FBI. We need to drain the swamp. Anyone and I mean anyone who was appointed by Obama needs to be fired. Now. Not later. Their loyalty is to the Democratic Party. Not to the United States of America.
Chip -
A group of friends and I went hiking just west of Boulder to a spot by rivulet that is known to be somewhat fun. The downward sloping trail narrows to rather steep well-worn path with no foothold to speak of.
I'm trying to imagine where you were. Was this recent?
Not McClintock?
As I have said before Mr. McMuffin needs to be smashed. Destroyed. Along with McCain and Lady Graham. They are the problem. They are going to attack Trump on every thing he does. They give cover to the scumbag media who say "Even Republicans are attacking Trump." They are members of the duopoly. The chief fucking muskrats in the fucking swamp.
Where Trump is really falling short is that he is not putting his loyalists in position to destroy these scum buckets. Rudi or Corey or even Newt would squash them like a bug. That's what needs to happen if he expects to win. He has to make an example of them.
What I would do is call in Ted Cruz and let him loose on Graham and McCain and McMuffin. Tell him up front "Teddy you are in line for the Supreme Court opening. But first a little mambo. You take out Graham and McCain and McMuffin from your perch as the One True Ted and I will make sure you get you baksheesh if you know what I mean."
Thats how you play hardball New York Style. Of course stiffing your loyalists like Rudi and Newt sort of lessens your leverage. If you fuck over your peeps how can someone like Steady Teddy trust you. Just sayn'
Castro liked to smash the opposition.
So did Andrew Jackson. George Patton. US Grant. Teddy Roosevelt. Ike. Harry Truman.
What's your point?
When a former covert CIA agent and avowed enemy of the President-elect calls him a traitor and states ominously that we should "plan accordingly," I'd say that the Secret Service should care what he says. I'd say that his supporters should care what he says and be called to account. I'd say that anyone who wants Trump to succeed should care what he says because it's always better to know and understand your enemies than to ignore them.
If you point is that Trump should abandon his promises and do what McCain and Graham and McMuffin want him to do then you are just as wrong as when you said Trump could never win. That he was Hillary's cat's paw.
That doesn't work for me.
I think you put your finger on it baby. "I'd say that anyone who wants Trump to succeed..."
Thats the whole ballgame right there. McCain, McMuffin, Lady Graham, the whole mainstream media, William Kristol, Karl Rove, Dana Perino, Megyn Kelly and all the rest are invested in Trump failing. So every good thing he does is not good. Saving 1,000 jobs is not enough he had to save every one. Black is white and up is down with this crowd. Understand where they are coming from. Discount it and don't listen for a second. Just as Trump is doing to a politicized CIA.
If you don't correct NY bullshitting propagandists, they get emboldened. 306 electoral votes is NOT A LANDSLIDE. I actually taught history although a retard could tell you a landslide is much more than 306 electoral votes. In our lifetimes some examples of actual landslides are:
1964 LBJ 486
1972 Nixon 520
1980 Reagan 489
1984 Reagan 525
You want to know where to get a good sandwich[In New York only] or what size bra you need, the Irishman is your guy. He actually knows what a landslide is. He is just a propagandist and not to be believed on historical or political topics. This is an intimate blog. We all know each other and there is a great amount of trust. There are plenty of blogs where trolls spew bullshit. This should not be one of them.
Deborah, You've been making some great posts. It's good to have you back.
The peeper.....the Egg McMuffin of this blog.
Heh.
Although you should get his wife's book. She is a wonderful and very talented writer. I intend to buy her latest novel as soon as it is issued in kindle formant. I encourage all of Lem's Lemmings to do the same through Lem's portal.
Lem loves it when you stimulate his portal. That's the only action he gets these days.
I'm not certain, but his choice for labor secretary looks like the white flag on "dreamers" AKA - illegals getting mass amnesty.
Go Lady Graham.
Another round of Rancor Steam, on the house!
Forgive me if I don't put much faith in you physic powers there buttercup.
Maybe Hillary told him to appoint him because she is really the President because Trump only ran to give the Presidency to Hillary.
Allegedly.
So far his cabinets picks have been good. Not Labor. I hope I'm wrong.
The response to this is simple. Democrats need to put on their tinfoil hats lest the Russians start hacking their brains.
Thank you sir, sincerely, from myself and my bride. Amazon put the wrong book # on the book causing the delay. They tell her it should be available on Kindle, of course via Lem's portal, early this week, for only $2.99.
Well as I say I really encourage everyone to buy a copy. It is a well written and very engrossing detective series. I would also encourage everyone to write a positive review on Amazon to help pump up sales.
The best part of the series.....the husband of the heroine dies in an terrible senseless accident....wishful thinking....you make the call.
Just sayn'
That's EXACTLY what Inga said.
Russians leak RNC strategy.
The left needed a collective blame rod bitching point.
Murdock
Koch Brothers
GWB
now it's "The Russians"
Hey great minds think a like.
"So far his cabinets picks have been good. Not Labor. I hope I'm wrong."
You are.
April, The irony of liberals turning into Tail Gunner Joe McCarthy is precious.
Chick, I get ads related to searches, e.g., if I look at a blouse at the Penney's website, it follows me around the web.
Chick, never mind...it just flipped from a skateboard ad to a random JC Penney ad.
Trump’s pick for Labor secretary is perhaps the worst person imaginable for that role: Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of fast-food chains Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and others. He is one of the nation’s most outspoken business voices for Gang of Eight-style immigration policies. He didn’t just sign an open letter once as a favor to a friend; he’s been a high-profile champion of amnesty and huge increases in immigration and guestworkers. This op-ed in Politico, timed to coincide with the launch of the Gang of Eight effort in 2013, could have been written by Jeb Bush. Here he is at AEI in 2013 making the case for importing more low-skilled workers. Here he joins with the Bloomberg-Murdoch Billionaires for Open Borders outfit and Grover Norquist in an effort to “push 2016 presidential candidates and congressional Republican leaders to support immigration reform this year.” There’s plenty more.
How to renew the American dream
By Andrew Puzder
Then again, fast food joints offer low wage jobs that Americans no longer want. I'm not for a forced hike in the minimum wage. no. The market will work that out. Local "Good Times" has a large hire sign that starts at 10.50/hr well above the minimum wage.
but I digress.
Dreamers.... nothing but a dreamer...
nd - it is precious! I'm enjoying watching them melt down.
Meth loves it when I multi-post
WASHINGTON DC – Today, Republican donors Spencer Zwick, Mike Fernandez, and Andrew Puzder joined Grover Norquist to call for action on immigration reform.
who? Andrew Puzder? No way.
"Fixing our broken immigration system is the right thing to do,” said Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, and Romney for President Economic Advisor. “America should be a destination for hard-working immigrants from all over the world. Our economy will benefit from that. It is time for Republicans in Congress to be leaders on this issue, secure our borders and implement conservative, free-market solutions for our immigration system."
--Andrew Puzder
Read Puzder's statement that I linked. Trump has brought him into the fold, given him his assignment and he has accepted it.
Mark K says>>>>
"Sessions could be one of the best Attorneys General we’ve ever had, Price and DeVos are solid conservative picks, and there’s every reason to think his Supreme Court nomination will be sound. But for the most important job that involves protecting American workers, Trump has opted for someone who thinks there are jobs Americans won’t do. Andrew “Gang of Eight” Puzder would have been a better fit for the Jeb Bush administration, though even Jeb might have blushed at the idea of appointing him."
ouch.
#Never Puzder
Sorry Rabel. No sale on this one.
We need to clamp down on legal and illegal immigration. Puzder is a slap in the face to Trump supporters who believed Trump on that particular campaign promise.
I don't feel slapped in the least. Read the statement then call Pudzer a liar if you like, but you can't ignore the statement.
"I will fiercely defend the American worker..." blah blah blah
Sounds like bullshit, after you read what he wrote in 2013.
Did you read the op-ed by Puzder that I linked?
Here's Puzder in 2013 in his OWN WORDS.
"Immigrants remind us of our potential as a free people. Throughout American history, this nation’s great experiment in individual liberty and free enterprise has attracted people committed to building a better future for themselves and their families. Immigrants are by nature risk takers, entrepreneurs who often have the work ethic, drive, energy, creativity and passion necessary to succeed.
At CKE Restaurants, we lawfully employ thousands of immigrants, who are excellent managers, productive employees and important customers. Regardless of their country of origin, all of our employees work as a team to help generate $1.3 billion in annual revenue."
of course you do buddy.
Again Rabel - On this most importation issue - No sale.
Trump went full Jeb. Never go full Jeb.
A healthy and honest criticism of Trump and his picks is a good thing. It fights Cherry Blossom throne sniffing.
# Never Puzder.
Besides... who eats at Hardees? The only Hardees I know of in Colorado... I think it closed based on the fact that it was disgusting and no one ever went in there.
Mmmm. Lardees. Gives me a lard-on just thinking about it.
Lardees - guest worker program will make America great again. One lard-on at a time.
April, Hardee's and Carl's JR are 2 loser fast food chains. Hardee's had a pretty big presence in Wisconsin 20 years ago. Now, there are few.
You know if I was going to ask a Trump supporter if they feel slapped in the face.......April is the first person I would ask.
Well right after Lena Dunham.
Good to know that Trump's promises on Immigration can withstand the toilet flush. Trump is so amazing, his most loyal fans don't care!
His most loyal fans don't buy your bullshit and never will.
You have no credibility in criticizing Trump or his appointments.
Bad faith. Don't bevel me - read Putzer himself.
oh that's right - blind faith. Cheetoh Jesus.
On election night- everyone thought Trump was toast. Even Trump at his low-key non-party head-quarters. Camp Hillary had the grand glass ceiling hall tricked out for her big win. I'm pretty sure you thought Hillary would win. Does that make you a heretic?
Lets not forget that Hillary would stab Trump in the back at any moment but that didn't stop Trump from abandoning his promise to go after her with a criminal case.
Chump essentially pardoned her - for all that sweet "healing" and sh*t.
This isn't about me - it's about Putzer. A Gang of 8-er.
Perfect name - Putz.
You have just as much credibility as McCain and Lady Lindsey Graham.
Let me give you an unsolicited piece of advice. You can't nit pick and denounce everything that Trump does. That's what the Main stream media is for. This hamburger guy is a business executive who will do as he is told. We have to wait to see what Trump has to say and what he tells him to do. I know you want Trump to fail to justify your irrational animus to the God Emperor. Sad.
Yes I can.
Silly man.
I want Trump to keep his campaign promises. As a blind faith Trump-is-god-er, you should too.
I've praised Trump on most of his picks. Putzer is terrible.
You don't have clean hands. You have no standing to say what Trump fans have to say about this pick. You can confidently opine about what McCain and Graham and Egg McMuffin and David French think. But as far as me and Ed and Rabel goes you do not have a clue.
Blind faith. At least you own it.
April, I have no respect for people who can't adjust. I used to fly a lot, and still fly some. Pilots have a unique cadence and vernacular when speaking w/ air traffic controllers. The smart and respectful pilots speak normally when speaking to the passengers in the cabin. The dumb, disrespectful, pilots speak to the passengers like their speaking to air traffic controllers. They either can't or don't adjust. Landslide York can't make the adjustment. He thinks he's on some free for all blog where lying, spinning, bullshitting is the norm. This is a small blog where people from those jungles come for a respite. Landslide York needs to find some other venue where he can be the big shot and play his propaganda games, and adjust to this blog where we don't expect the air traffic control cadence and language.
"they're" speaking not "their" on line 3.
Life is a series of adjustments. Successful people don't fight those needed adjustments. They make the adjustments and lead happy, productive lives.
The restaurant industry would implode if immigration laws were enforced. And, I mean from shitty Hardee's to the highest end restaurants. The restaurant industry would be the most adversely affected sector by strict enforcement of immigration laws. Picking this guy was a not so subtle signal from Trump to the vital restaurant industry that he has their back and won't be sending their employees back to Mexico.
FTR, I like Hardees. They make good burgers, and though I rarely go there, just this past Friday I had my usual mushroom swiss burger. Mmmmm.
Nick, not just restaurants, but hotels and other like industries would suffer. It's more important to work on legal entry and illegal hiring and deporting the criminals. This is one bell that is not going to ring backward.
Adjustments, indeed. I'm trying to adjust to the idea that nothing was worse than gang of 8 amnesty, little Marco, and Jeb! - but this guy Putzner, who is all of that, is suddenly considered A-OK.
Once again the peeper has to tell people what blog to go to and how they should speak. He specializes in trying to drive people away from blogs. It is his mo. I get that he doesn't want me to express my opinion because everything I say means he has to take the opposite side. Somehow he thinks that anyone cares what he thinks and how he psychoanalyzes commenters.
The only adjustment that has not been made is by the never trumpers and the main stream media and tha anti-trump trolls. Sad.
deborah, We would certainly lose at least 70% of the hotel/motel housekeepers in this country if all illegals were deported. And, to each their own vis a vis burgers. I will eat Hardee's breakfast biscuit sandwiches. They bill their biscuits as "made from scratch." They are good. I'm a sucker for good biscuits. Growing up in the ethnic northeast, biscuits were not very popular. When I moved to the Midwest I fell in love w/ them. When I traveled south I experienced the best biscuits this country has to offer.
deborah and April, It is refreshing to have a substantive, INTELLECTUALLY HONEST, discussion on topics w/ you two women, and most everyone here.
In the fullness of time we will see if Trump will keep his word on immigration. If he doesn't I will be the first to savage him. He isn't President yet. Let's see what happens in the first hundred days insread of listening to April and the peepers spin.
There will always be differences of opinions. But "We are all entitled to our own opinions, not our own facts."
LOL! Landslide Trooper crying about spin. On the same thread! You got busted ass eyes. Just let it go. I agree, we'll see what happens. But, if you can't see the significance of him picking a fast food guy then you're blind. Trump is, as you often say, a practical man. Well, anyone w/ an IQ of 80 knows he can't and won't be deporting all illegals. Did you actually believe that?? His picking this Hardee's guy was symbolism and practical. Now, I don't have a problem w/ some practicality on illegals. I want the focus on criminal illegals and sanctuary cities. I would actually like to see a separate prison system for illegals. Instead of deporting the ones that keep coming over, incarcerate them in different levels of prisons strictly for illegals. If you have to sit in prison, you'll think twice before illegally entering 3,4, 20 times.
As Rabel pointed out the hamburger guys views have changed to conform more to Trumps stated policy. That's the fact you ignore. Instead you and April want to rely on the "spin" of the mainstream media who like April do not have Trumps interest at heart.
Everybody changes their views. Trump did.Ronald Reagan did. He was a liberal democrat at one time.
The appointments of Jeff Sessions and John Kelly tell you where Trump is on immigration. Sessions is in charge of enforcement and I have total faith that he will not waver.
Those are facts. Period.
The Hamburger Guy says he will ensure flipping burger jobs will "be offered to Americans first." I'll take him at his word. And then when all the 4th and 5th generation inner city black folk w/ no work ethic don't take those jobs, the hardworking illegals will. I actually hope that is what happens. The MSM will bury that story but alternative media won't.
Trump knows you can't deport all illegals. Anyone w/ half a brain has known that. So, when he doesn't deport all illegals, I won't hold it against him for not doing the FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE. I will not give an inch on incarcerating and deporting all criminal illegals. Besides the separate prison system for illegals, run by private prison companies, I would support an executive order of NO bail for any illegal, even if it's a misdemeanor.
I think we can agree that we have to see what Trump comes up with. Jeff Sessions and General Kelly are very good signs. Hamburger guy and maybe Captain Underoos not so much. So we have to wait and see.
As John McMullen once said about one of your favorite people "There is nothing as limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner." Well there is nothing so limited as being an employee of Donald Trump. He has limitless energy and attention to detail. If the Hamburger guy strays off the reservation he will be squashed like a bug. Trump hires talented people and lets them do the job....under supervision....and if it doesn't work out he fires them.
Let's wait and see. I know it seems like he is already President but he hasn't been sworn in yet.
Nick, a big no-go on a private prison system. I say get an ambassador to Mexico that will twist their arm to start taking better care of their people, and renegotiate Nafta. They have beau coup natural resources. I can still find an old article about this, I think, but the everyday Mexican was screwed over by Nafta, while American businesses gained.
A private, separated prison system sounds like a nightmare boondoggle and would be primed for graft.
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