Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Not all heroes wear capes.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

The lights are all blinking red.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Books are my comfort food!

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

All hail the time of the bunny!

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

This really is a full service blog.

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

“But what about the lurkers?”

You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Russiagate Open Thread: Trump & His Fellow Repubs to the Finland Station

Russiagate Open Thread: Trump & His Fellow Repubs to the Finland Station

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I suppose it could be a kompromat issue for these six, too, but IMO it’s more likely they’ve just decided Putin is the one with the power and they’re irresistably drawn to power…

… “Russia has decided to meddle in other countries’ elections, including ours. Russia has invaded Ukraine, taken Crimea, it’s prolonging the war in Syria. And I’d prefer to be a friend of Russia and that’s one of the things we’re going to talk about. I would like to respectfully ask the Russians to stay in their own lane,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., one of the senators who will be on the trip.

“It’s useful for the Russians to know that we are of the belief, evidence is clear, that they intruded in our elections and it will be something I hope that members of Congress convey,” added Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, also noting that senators had planned their trip before the Trump/Putin summit, to be held in Helsinki on July 16, was announced.

The meeting was organized by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who told ABC Thursday that they are hoping to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, but that the meetings were not yet confirmed. Other attendees include Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., John Hoeven, R-N.D. and John Thune, R-S.D…

Reader Interactions

50Comments

  2. 2.

    Jerzy Russian

    That Trump tweet is pretty strange, even for him. He says Russia swears they did not meddle in our elections. Then, he asks why “Hillary/Russia” is not being investigated. But then Russia says they are innocent. An agency, who he says is “disgraced” should investigate (I guess we can trust the FBI when they investigate Hillary?).

    Norman, coordinate!

  3. 3.

    Lapassionara

    I am in Europe and have been for several days, touring DDay sites. I am just so deeply sad that the lives lost in those battles will have been sacrificed in vain if our future elections are stolen.

  4. 4.

    piratedan

    @Lapassionara: all because some white people felt that their “rights” to openly despise people with a different melanin content or who worship a different sky buddy(s) were “under attack”. If looked at from a distance, how its both incredibly petty and incredibly sad. Science has given us so much and moved us so far forward, even our hate has to be instantly gratified.

    All of that was worth throwing away 250 years of self government, to be bought off like a toddler needing a pacifier.

  6. 6.

    Mary G

    Trump’s even going to a country right next to Russia instead of insisting on meeting in the middle, like London.

    That Richard Shelby quite is brazen. Does Putin own the entire Republican Party now?

  11. 11.

    Jager

    How long before trump has that little bit of spittle on the corner of his mouth like Robert Novak? Every time I saw Novack I always imagined him scurrying off the TV set on all fours.

  12. 12.

    NotMax

    @Lapassionara

    A canard which refuses to die. While there have not been a lot of studies, those that have been conducted agree that if third party voters* in non-primary elections instead had only the choice of the two major parties and still did vote, their split would be nearly even between D and R.

    *Does not include those who voted third party unintentionally due to faulty ballot design or cases when a major party candidate is also listed on the ballot under a third party.

  15. 15.

    Jager

    I sent a note to my MAGA hat wearing farmer cousin, urging him to get the Department of Agriculture and the Farm Bureau to get cracking on a booklet titled “America’s 100 favorite Soy Bean Recipes” so he’ll have somebody to sell his fucking beans to now that the Chinese aren’t buying.

  16. 16.

    Comrade Nimrod Humperdink

    @Jager: Curse the filthy, tricksy Wilsones! We hates them! Trust Turdblossom we do, yes! And from the poop, we’s gets the scoop, so juicy sweet!

  22. 22.

    m.j.

    I’m still wondering why this is happening in the first place. My best guess is Trump needs to check with the boss as to whether or not his credit is still good.

  23. 23.

    Calouste

    @m.j.: It’s the second class of the shitgibbon’s course in dictatorship. First one was in Singapore about establishing a dictatorial dynasty by noted expert Kim Jong Un. This one is about achieving positive election results by Prof. Dr. Putin.

  24. 24.

    Calouste

    On a positive note, the EU has reached a deal amongst themselves on immigration. It is not clear from newsreports what they agreed on, but at least they agreed to agree on something.

  25. 25.

    SectionH

    @Mary G: I have my little fantasy that neither of those “fearless leaders” comes out of the meeting alive. Sigh, when I fantasize, I go big. And admit the fantasy…

    Most of the Finns I know – and they’re younger than me – damn well remember being invaded by Russia.Or know their own history.

  27. 27.

    Patricia Kayden

    Richard Shelby’s comment clearly excuses Russian interference in our elections. What exactly are these Republicans going over to meet with Russian officials for?
    If we keep in mind that Russians hacked the RNC as well as the DNC, the purpose of the trip is pretty obvious.
    Republicans are the Party of Traitors, pure and simple.

  28. 28.

    tobie

    @Patricia Kayden: Well, Shelby’s statement completely contradicts the stated reason for the Republican mission to the mother country: namely, that they were going to tell Putin to stay out of US elections. They are all so corrupt. They sold the country down the river to ensure their hold on power. I hate every one of them.

  29. 29.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    Bolton must be negotiation which Russian hookers will pee on Drumpf

  32. 32.

    opiejeanne

    @m.j.: That makes me feel so hopeless; I despair. I’m having trouble falling asleep tonight because of all of this horrible week.

  33. 33.

    Mai naem mobile

    Maybe I am seeing stuff that I want to see but I watched quite a but of the Rosenstein and Wray at the House Judiciary Hearing today and Rosenstein seemed pretty loosey goosey and not stressed out. The clips of Peter Strosk leaving the Capitol yesterday after his private hearing showed him smiling. It just makes me wonder if they know something we don’t . Like something something Mueller.

  34. 34.

    SFAW

    @m.j.:

    Don’t forget about Duterte. Trump has openly wished for the power to kill people.

    Don’t worry! If Shitgibbon starts having his political enemies killed, Paul Ryan and the rest of the honorable Republicans will hold him to account!

    I swear, I crack myself up sometimes.

  36. 36.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    @(((CassandraLeo))): Yes treasonous, all of them. As for the media, as Trump has them frog marched to the guillotines they be muttering “but somewhere, some random Democrat was uncivil because they refused to serve Jeff Sessions a meal, so BOTH SIDES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

  37. 37.

    Zinsky

    They must have photos of Richard Shelby with an underage boy or something. How else does a Senator who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee dismissively excuse the meddling by a foreign government in an American presidential election?? This is beyond bizarre and is dancing right on the red line of treason!

  39. 39.

    SFAW

    @NotMax:

    their split would be nearly even between D and R.

    You know, I remember “getting into it” a few years ago, at some other blog, don’t recall which, with some Naderite who claimed that some study PROVED! PROVED I TELL YOU!!!! that Nader had no effect on the Florida tally in 2000, etc. He helpfully provided a link to the study on which he based his claim.

    The only problem was: the study did not show what he claimed it did. In other words: more Naderite bullshit.

    I’m guessing that the studies to which you are referring are not quite conclusive.

    [To be clear: I’m not equating you with the Naderite moron referred to. I’ve read plenty of your comments over the years, etc.]

  40. 40.

    lethargytartare

    @NotMax:

    their split would be nearly even between D and R.

    nearly is doing an awful lot of work in there

  41. 41.

    Thoughtful David

    @Zinsky:
    It’s easier than that. Because they know Russia owns Trump but have done nothing about it, Russia owns them too. All the Russians have to do is leak that the Republicans knew it, and they’ll be shown to be traitors. The Russians now own them all, Because they’ve done nothing to stop them.

  42. 42.

    Rob in CT

    @SFAW:
    @lethargytartare:

    Here’s the thing. I have no trouble believing that 3rd party voters, who generally speaking have no fucking idea what they’re doing (I say this from experience – I voted 3rd party in my first two elections!), would split roughly 50/50 if forced to pick a party (I’d actually guess it would be like 33% D, 33% R, 33% meh, nevermind).

    That’s under “normal” conditions. In 2016, an Authoritarian, Know-Nothing Conman was on the ballot. The worst Presidential candidate in our history. That’s not normal. So to be all “boff sidz” is just egregiously awful.

  43. 43.

    Yarrow

    @Mary G:

    Does Putin own the entire Republican Party now?

    YES! As I’ve been saying for the last year and a half. They’re all traitors. All of them.
    @Zinsky:

    They must have photos of Richard Shelby with an underage boy or something. How else does a Senator who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee dismissively excuse the meddling by a foreign government in an American presidential election?? This is beyond bizarre and is dancing right on the red line of treason!

    It’s not on the red line of treason; IT IS TREASON. These people are traitors to the United States.

    @Mai naem mobile:

    The clips of Peter Strosk leaving the Capitol yesterday after his private hearing showed him smiling. It just makes me wonder if they know something we don’t . Like something something Mueller.

    Have the same impression. The next six to eight weeks are going to be insane. Buckle up.

  44. 44.

    Neldob

    Do we need a Democratic Roger Stone? I’m beginning to feel like I need to be arrested. Writing letters and marching doesn’t seem enough.

  45. 45.

    Miss Bianca

    “Respectfully ask Russia not to interfere in our elections”.

    *Respectfully*

    “Oh pretty please? Sir? Supreme Leader Putin? If you don’t mind?”

    I have fucking HAD IT with these people. Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

    Mercy, it’s the Revolution and I’m in my bath robe (thank you, Nicole Hollander). But no matter. Got to get out there and fight the good fight.

  46. 46.

    Captain C

    @Thoughtful David: Plus, at least some of them have blackmail-able kinks which their new Russian friends will be happy to indulge, complete with souvenir video and audio.

  47. 47.

    Shalimar

    Reminder that the person Shelby beat to become a senator may have had a lot of flaws, but at least he was a war hero whose patriotism was unquestioned.

  48. 48.

    Matt McIrvin

    @SFAW: I think it depends strongly on whether your counterfactual includes Gary Johnson voters or just Jill Stein’s. Just saw someone arguing we shouldn’t blame Stein because Gary Johnson took even more away from Trump.

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