Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

“woke” is the new caravan.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

One way or another, he’s a liar.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Republicans do not trust women.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Second rate reporter says what?

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

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

Trump should be leading, not lying.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

T R E 4 5 O N

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Russia, If You’re Listening Open Thread

Russia, If You’re Listening Open Thread

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George Stephanopoulos scored an interview with the Orange Plague, and ABC is teasing it.

Ask Turab Lookman about that.

Lookman has been indicted for lying about his contacts with China and accepting research grants from China. He has pleaded not guilty and could go to prison if he is found guilty.

If, um, Norway (Trump really likes those Nordic folks) offered Adam Silverman some sweet deal having to do with his military interactions and it wasn’t vetted by the proper governmental folks, Adam would be in bigtime trouble too. (Norway is a member of NATO, so it’s entirely possible for Adam to cooperate with some of their programs.) But, of course, it’s not Norway that invited the Trump folks to all those get-togethers.

So yeah, it’s an invitation, just as surely as that campaign speech in which Trump asked Russia to get him Hillary’s emails.

 

Reader Interactions

148Comments

  1. 1.

    Roger Moore

    So yeah, it’s an invitation, just as surely as that campaign speech in which Trump asked Russia to get him Hillary’s emails.

    Of course it’s also an admission he needs their help. He knows he doesn’t have a good chance in a fair election.

  4. 4.

    bobbo

    Nixon: “The plumbers, when they broke into the DNC, it’s called ‘oppo research,’ okay? Everybody does it, okay?”

  7. 7.

    Groucho48

    Should have a crawl at the bottom of the screen saying…”Foreign governments call now!!! Operators are standing by for your calls! If you call in the next twenty minutes, no tariffs for you!”

  8. 8.

    Van Buren

    Why do I have a feeling that if Norway offered Warren dirt on Trump he would cry foul?

  9. 9.

    Formerly disgruntled in Oregon

    Considering how many lies he spews on an hourly basis, it’s amazing how on “certain topics” Trump can’t help but blurt out the kind of truths that most liars would normally… well… lie about.

  10. 10.

    hilts

    Trump is a totalitarian butthead who has no moral or ethical compass. He gives new meaning to the word scum.

  11. 11.

    J R in WV

    I’m about decided that Trump thinks his danger is a conspiracy accusation, and that if everything is out in the open, on TV, there’s no danger of a successful conspiracy accusation.

    He misses the point that working with a hostile foreign power can be done in public, if you’re dumb enough to do that. I don’t know what he’s thinking, perhaps no longer capable of it at all, other than his knee-jerk belief that whatever he does is the best thing to do. Whether he’s thought it through or not…

    Can he think, now? What do you guys think? I’m thinking he’s done with that hard work!

    Swordfish baking with garlic and salsa, big salad, over fried potatoes. Bubbly CA white wine with.

  12. 12.

    Another Scott

    @bobbo: “Well, when the President does it, that means it is not illegal.” – R.M. Nixon.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  13. 13.

    Mike in NC

    Fat Bastard’s entire sorry life was built on nobody challenging his nonstop lying, cheating, and stealing. Just another mob boss from NYC.

  15. 15.

    Ohio Mom

    If you aren’t well educated in such matters, what Trump says probably sounds reasonable.

    A lot of people are thinking, Yeah, that book Gore got was *stolen,* everybody knows stealing is against the law. Of course you should call the cops.

    But it takes a little more thought to understand why “oppo research” provided by another government is also against the law. If this interview isn’t going to be bookended by someone carefully explaining this to the viewers…

  16. 16.

    Leto

    Tom Nichols@RadioFreeTom

    If any USG employee with a clearance declared “Why yes, I’d talk to a foreign agent and not talk to the FBI,” not only would that person be in violation of security requirements, but the people around that person would be required to report him or her as a security threat.

    7:26 PM · Jun 12, 2019

    And

    Tom Nichols@RadioFreeTom

    How does Chris Wray not resign now that the President has made clear that he would not inform him of further Russian interference? Or Haspel? Or Coats?

    7:57 PM · Jun 12, 2019

    Totally not time for an impeachment inquiry. How the other 150~ Dem House members haven’t fucking made up their mind on this matter… JFC.

  17. 17.

    JPL

    This might be tacky but it appears that he was in the tanning bed today. just sayin

    Selling out our country is not a game changer for the others.

  18. 18.

    Mandalay

    O/T, but the dam is cracking….

    Elizabeth Warren leaped ahead of Bernie Sanders into second place in a pair of Democratic presidential primary polls released Wednesday.

    Warren has overtaken Sanders nationally, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll, which puts the Massachusetts senator ahead of her Vermont counterpart 16 percent to 12 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden still leads all contenders with 26 percent support.

    Warren also polls ahead of Sanders in Nevada

    https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/12/elizabeth-warren-2020-election-polls-1362107

    One down, one to go. The hair sniffing blowhard is next.

  19. 19.

    Patricia Kayden

    Of course, Trump would take derogatory info from a foreign entity. It worked the last time. It’s not as if he suffered any consequences for his blatant misconduct.

  20. 20.

    SiubhanDuinne

    If, um, Norway

    It’s NORMAY. You’re a Front-Pager, Cheryl. Get it right, for dog’s sake!

  21. 21.

    Leto

    @Ohio Mom: Everyone they’ve had on MSNBC so far has been explained that this is against federal law. But it’s yet another example of the shitstain and his cronies breaking federal law and nothing happening. So /shrug.

  23. 23.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @JPL: A lot of that is pancake makeup. When he visited a church after golf a couple of weeks back, he had sweated it all off and looked like a different person – different skin texture, many more wrinkles.

  24. 24.

    NotMax

    @J R in WV

    Bubbly CA white wine with.

    Heh. At first read that as bubbly white wine meth.

    Have heard of twice baked potatoes, but over fried potatoes* is a new one.

    ;)

    *Obvious what was meant, just couldn’t resist a gentle jibe.

  26. 26.

    Millard Filmore

    @Another Scott:

    “Well, when the President does it, that means it is not illegal.” – R.M. Nixon [*]

    [*] Does not apply to Democratic presidents.

    Please to always include the asterisk.

  28. 28.

    SenyorDave

    This should be a campaign ad – right now. The Democrats should be trumpeting this every chance they get. On the Sunday shows they should bring this up every goddamn time. The POTUS is a traitor, and he is advertising it.

  31. 31.

    Leto

    @Cheryl Rofer: Every Rethuglican needs to be asked, “Did you accept foreign intelligence to help you win your race/seat?” Get it on the record.

  32. 32.

    Brachiator

    EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Trump tells @GStephanopoulos he wouldn’t necessarily alert the FBI if approached by foreign figures with information on his 2020 opponent: “It’s not an interference. They have information. I think I’d take it.”

    Didn’t Young Jared say something similar about not reporting a Russian approach?

    Trump is practically daring the Democrats to impeach him. He’s feeling very comfortable with himself.

    Also, while Democrats aren’t supposed to appear on Fox News, Trump can go anywhere he likes and also slap ABC around and call them fake news.

  34. 34.

    geg6

    Traitorous mother fucker needs to be treated as what he is. Jesus fucking Christ, when is enough enough?!?!?

  35. 35.

    mrmoshpotato

    Jesus Fucking Christ! Stephanopoulos will probably lick Dump’s ass or be “very concerned” (FU Susan Collins).

    He asked for Russia to hack his opponent’s email last time, and the fucking media went “Meh. That’s boring.” What’d he have to do? Yell out “Daddy Vladdy! Daddy Vladdy! Hack this bitch’s email, or I’m going to go down in history as a massive loser!”?

    If Hillary had asked the same, you would’ve seen the mushroom clouds of rage from Pluto!

  36. 36.

    Cheryl Rofer

  37. 37.

    SenyorDave

    Is this performance art? Is it possible that Trump’s parents trained him from an early age on how to behave outrageously, and his entire life is some sort of warped reality show?

  38. 38.

    Groucho48

    The thing is, I think a lot of folks thing “if I was running for something important and someone offered me critical info under the table, I’d sure take it. This isn’t tiddlywinks.” So, Dems also have to provide a simple explanation of why it’s a bad thing to get help from other governments.

  39. 39.

    mrmoshpotato

    @NotMax:

    Apparently applied with a trowel.

    No. Just faceplants into a tub of it. Color – Fat, Orange Fascist Trash

  40. 40.

    plato

    Open sesame treason. Abetted by traitorous party. Promoted by fifth columnist fourth estate. Coming soon to all over murkkka.

  41. 41.

    Roger Moore

    @Groucho48:
    I think it’s less that people think “yeah, I’d do that” and more people thinking “fuck the rules, my guy has to win”. They know it’s wrong and illegal, but they think the consequences of losing the election are so terrible that any steps to win are justified.

  42. 42.

    Ohio Mom

    @Leto: Good to hear. Maybe it will sink into a few heads.

    I went to the opthamogist this morning and spent half an hour in that little alcove where they send you while the drops take effect, and had to listen to my fellow patients spout Fox talking points.

    Not feeling particularly good about the average person’s grasp on reality as a result.

  43. 43.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Groucho48:

    Dems also have to provide a simple explanation of why it’s a bad thing

    “Because it’s illegal.” How much simpler do you want it?

  44. 44.

    Brachiator

    @Ohio Mom:

    If you aren’t well educated in such matters, what Trump says probably sounds reasonable.

    Trump supporters know this stuff is wrong. They don’t care.

  45. 45.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Roger Moore:

    I think it’s less that people think “yeah, I’d do that” and more people thinking “fuck the rules, my guy has to win”.

    Good take. It’s been like this for at least 40 years. The Republicans don’t want power to help people. They want power for the sake of power.

  47. 47.

    Cheryl Rofer

    Jason Leopold is tweeting out documents he obtained through the Freedom of Information Act about Trump’s contacts with the FBI. Apparently in 1981 he asked them if they thought organized crime was operating in Atlantic City, where he wanted to build a casino.

    ??????????

    Okay, folks, now lift yourselves up off the floor.

    More seriously, what was that about? Was he trying to find out if someone was ratting on him?

    It’s probably worth another post, but I think I’ll let someone else figure that one out.

  48. 48.

    Scotian

    Wow! This is as shocking for me to hear/read as finding out about my cancer was…wait, no, it is the opposite of that.

    The idea that any elected official in ANY nation that uses voting as the means to creating governments in whatever system of government involved would think foreign aid for oppo research is acceptable shows just how far detached they are from the core principles that undergird said system if government. This is supposed to be one of those things that is above any kind of partisanship, it goes to the heart of the idea of self governance.

    As someone that spent his life as an election worker, in my case a vote counter, who believes that civic responsibility requires such from citizens, the idea that ANY POTUS would say this is hard enough to take. The fact that the “better dead than red” party that always used to argue any foreign involvement was treason will shrug this off and worse defend it as they have all Trump’s clearly treasonous behaviour ( it may not be technical treason as dictated by law, but ethical/moral is beyond doubt, one just has to use one’s lying eyes for that proof) shows just how much the GOP needs to be destroyed and something at least loyal to AMERICAN beliefs representing conservativism replace it.

    I don’t know right now which is making me feel more sick to my stomach, my cancer or this….oh who am I kidding, this.

  49. 49.

    Ohio Mom

    @Brachiator: Some of the Trumpers know and don’t care (or are glad of anything that helps their side), but not those other people in the eye doctor’s office this morning. You’d have to start with basic explanations of the meanings of democracy and sovereignty and even then you might lose some of them.

  50. 50.

    Groucho48

    @Gin & Tonic:

    That wouldn’t work. People don’t care if it’s illegal. We need to frame it as only a beta needs help from others. Pelosi has been doing a good job at that framing. we need to broaden it.

  51. 51.

    dmsilev

    You’d think that Donald Trump, of all Presidents, would understand that nothing comes without a price.

    (yes, yes, I know.)

  53. 53.

    Leto

    @Patricia Kayden: I hope not but most of my hope has evaporated, or I had to shift it to my recovery so it’s lacking for everything else.

    @Ohio Mom: Our average citizen is basically a walking bag of hammers. I’m surprised most can tie their own shoes.

  54. 54.

    chris

    John Adams wrote Thomas Jefferson on December 6, 1787, about American elections, “You are apprehensive of foreign Interference, Intrigue, and Influence. So am I."— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) 12 June 2019

  55. 55.

    Roger Moore

    @Gin & Tonic:

    “Because it’s illegal.” How much simpler do you want it?

    There are plenty of people who don’t accept “because it’s illegal” as an argument. This is part of what you get from decades of trying to enforce stupid laws (e.g. the war on drugs); it brings the law into contempt and makes people more comfortable with violating it. People need to be shown why this kind of thing is wrong beyond it being illegal.

  56. 56.

    tokyokie

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    A lot of that is pancake makeup. When he visited a church after golf a couple of weeks back, he had sweated it all off and looked like a different person – different skin texture, many more wrinkles.

    You left out the gray skin tones of someone who is very, very sick.

  57. 57.

    J R in WV

    @NotMax:

    Have heard of twice baked potatoes, but over fried potatoes* is a new one.

    ;)

    You know, black and crunchy! Actually another typo, quick back to the kitchen when the beeper sounds off!

  58. 58.

    Another Scott

    @Cheryl Rofer: Rep. Don Beyer (VA-8):

    Rep. Don Beyer Verified account @RepDonBeyer

    Rep. Don Beyer Retweeted Rep. Don Beyer

    I don’t know how you spin as innocent such a brazen, calculated offer made on live television to cooperate in an election with a foreign government by accepting material help — a federal crime — and then to conceal it from the FBI… but Republicans in Congress are about show us.

    Rep. Don Beyer added, Rep. Don Beyer Verified account @RepDonBeyer

    Trump just blew way past “no collusion,” he’s broadcasting his willingness to receive help from a hostile foreign power in 2020.

    He’s glad his son didn’t call the FBI about Russian help and says he wouldn’t…

    5:53 PM – 12 Jun 2019

    Beyer is my Representative and he has no qualms calling out this stuff. Good, good.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  59. 59.

    Roger Moore

    @mrmoshpotato:

    The Republicans don’t want power to help people. They want power for the sake of power.

    The Republicans want power to help people; it’s the short list of people they want to help that’s the problem.

  60. 60.

    Ohio Mom

    @Scotian: I remember Oliver Sacks writing about his approaching death from cancer and saying that he felt he had done his part and that the world would be in the good hands of the next generation, with whom he was very impressed.

    But — I just looked it up — he died in the summer of 2015, before this monstrosity of a presidency.

    Still, I remain optimistic that eventually this country will right itself. Despite those nincompoops at the eye doctor’s.

  64. 64.

    Jay

    Faced with a bevy of precedents establishing that Trump has no legal case whatsoever, Trump’s lawyers appeal instead to a bizarre kind of solidarity between the sitting president and the members of the Supreme Court — protect my corruption, the lawyers write, and you’ll also shield corruption by the justices themselves.

    “Replace ‘President’ with ‘Justices,’” Trump’s lawyer’s write, “and the ruling below would, without question, authorize a congressional subpoena for the Justices’ accounting records — even for many years before they joined the Court.”

    https://thinkprogress.org/trump-supreme-court-corruption-subpoena-appeal-86a2618855c9/

  65. 65.

    Citizen Scientist

    Rachel is doing a pretty good segment on this right now, including a couple of clips from the GS interview where Donnie says that he basically would never go to the FBI or say ‘no’ to a foreign agent trying to interfere in our elections. One might say that he’s admitting to criminal intent here.

  66. 66.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Roger Moore:

    The Republicans want power to help people; it’s the short list of people they want to help that’s the problem.

    “To help those who can help themselves” as it was put in the Family Guy episode where Chris joins the Young Republicans.

  67. 67.

    tokyokie

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    His color was not good, but it might just be a contrast to the orange we’re accustomed to.

    Yes, it’s a dramatic contrast, but I’d contend that he has to layer on the Tang-based makeup to cover up just how unhealthy he looks.

  68. 68.

    Sab

    @Cheryl Rofer: Kaitlan Collins is 27 years old, from Alabama, and used to work for the Daily Caller (Tucker Carlson’s outfit.) My dog knows more than she does about DC. Yet CNN uses her as their WhiteHouse correspondant.Sheesh.

  69. 69.

    Duane

    Trumpov wouldn’t call the FBI. “Who does that,” he says. Well for example, people that aren’t crooks or traitors. Those statements have to be the final straw. Resign in digrace you bastard.

  72. 72.

    jl

    @Baud:
    ” Dear French Guiana,
    Call me.
    Baud! 2020! ”

    Hoowuddathunk. All this time I thought Rufus T. Firefly, strongman of Freedonia, was the sugar daddy.

  73. 73.

    jl

    Seems like Stephanopoulos had to work slightly harder than Lester Holt to get the confession on national TV.
    I guess that will be minor footnote in the history of news.

  74. 74.

    Chris T.

    @Van Buren: China. China is unhappy with Trump trade policies; China might offer “assistance” to secure a Democratic victory…

  76. 76.

    Scotian

    One of the core issues I have with the Report is the idea that the Trumpers were ignorant of the law(s) in question and that was a defence. I remember always hearing the notion that “ignorance of the law is no defence/excuse”, when exactly did that go away? This is one aspect of Mueller’s thinking I just have never gotten. If someone as straight arrow as him fails on this front, it is yet further proof you are no longer a nation of law, but raw GOP power uber alles.

    I also love that privilege, that white privilege, that claims that both incompetence and/or ignorance of the law is a basis to not charge what is a clear criminal act. Sickening.

  77. 77.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    @Sab: she’s not bad. Dump banned her from the WH for asking embarrassing questions.

  82. 82.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Sab: I flew over Alabama the other day, and I could feel my IQ dropping even at 30,000 feet. Or was it the Adam Sandler movie I was watching?

    j/k. I was reading The New Yorker, coastal elitist that I am.

  83. 83.

    Leto

    @Scotian: Here’s my take on that (they didn’t know): it doesn’t fucking matter. Paraphrasing what my NCOs always told me, “Ignorance of the regulations (law) is no excuse.” Just because someone didn’t know it was illegal to rob a bank doesn’t mean it’s not illegal. Just because I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to put my hands in my pockets (of my uniform) didn’t stop me from getting a Letter of Counseling.

    It doesn’t fucking matter. I guess I’m an outlier.

  85. 85.

    Plato

    Unlike the right, the left rarely valued their vote, now the price has become too steep.

  86. 86.

    J R in WV

    @Citizen Scientist:

    Rachel is doing a pretty good segment on this right now, including a couple of clips from the GS interview where Donnie says that he basically would never go to the FBI or say ‘no’ to a foreign agent trying to interfere in our elections. One might say that he’s admitting to criminal intent here

    Also pleading guilty to his actions in the 2016 election, in my book.

    What a great guy! Treason? Of course!! Why not, worked well that last time!!!!

  87. 87.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Leto: @Scotian: there are thousands and thousands of laws in this country, and no one can know more than a tiny percentage of them. If, however, you let people use ignorance as an excuse, then you have ceded the enforceability of all but the most obvious ones.

  90. 90.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Leto:

    Just because I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to put my hands in my pockets (of my uniform) didn’t stop me from getting a Letter of Counseling.

    I thought you were in the Air Force.

  92. 92.

    zhena gogolia

    Okay, I give up. The blog will not let me link to “People Will Say We’re in Love,” from the fantastic revival of Oklahoma on YouTube. I tried naked link and embedded link and it won’t work.

    Maybe OT is being strictly forbidden.

  93. 93.

    PsiFighter37

    @Sab: Rich white privilege is a helluva a drug. Now that I’m in my mid-30s, it is quite easy to understand why the ranks of corporations are filled with mediocrity: it’s because, at some point a generation or two back, Daddy was actually one of those ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps’ type of folks. For almost all white folks, that seems to translate into “When I’ve got mine, my kids won’t have to do dick, either because I fucked up and wasn’t there for them, or because they deserve it thanks to me.” There are so many of these types of folks – and frankly, not just limited to the Caucasian persuasion – out there nowadays.

  98. 98.

    Steve in the ATL

    @J R in WV:

    Swordfish baking with garlic and salsa, big salad, over fried potatoes. Bubbly CA white wine with.

    I’m drinking California wine (must be a day that ends in “y”!) and eating redfish that was no doubt caught earlier today in the Gulf of Mexico near the ExxonMobil refinery. Ah, Beaumont, I’ll miss you least of all!

  100. 100.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Leto:

    It is a terrible thing, but for the rest of my life, Norway will never not be Normay to me.

  102. 102.

    Steve in the ATL

    Credit to this Texas restaurant: sound system is currently playing “They Don’t Know” by the deceased person I have the biggest crush on, the effervescent Kirsty MacColl.

  105. 105.

    Leto

    @SiubhanDuinne: Normay, hamburders, covfefe, oranges…

    I have a Bush the lesser animatronic doll on my desk. Bought it back in, roughly, 2006. It has a base that has a button you press and it spouts some of his dumbest quotes. I don’t think there’s enough memory in the world to hold all the stupid quotes this buffoon spouts.

  106. 106.

    Steve in the ATL

    @NotMax: thanks to this, I can forgo my usual daily carcinogens!

    @Baud: not sure I can help you there, but if you need someone whacked in Surinam, call me. Am I joking? You hope so. But you know better.

  107. 107.

    Jay

    Right-wing publications launder an anti-journalist smear campaign
    By Jared Holt
    JUNE 12, 2019
    Rotten fruit | Photo: Adobe Stock
    LAST MONTH, A NUMBER OF MEDIA OUTLETS RAN STORIES touting claims from a study posted on Twitter that alleged nefarious connections between antifascist activists and national-level reporters who cover the far-right.

    On May 15, Eoin Lenihan, a far-right social media user presented what he said were excerpts from a data set that proved prominent reporters who cover extremist movements were “closely associated” with antifascist activists. He identified himself as an online extremism researcher, despite having no association with any previously known organization that researches extremism. In reality, Lenihan was already an established right-wing troll, now blanket banned for “violating rules against managing multiple Twitter accounts for abusive purposes.”

    Lenihan’s Twitter thread was met with enthusiasm on the right. His claims—among them that one writer is an “eco-extremist,” that a website that posts court documents is a “doxing site,” and that antifa is “often more violent” than right-wing fascist groups—were taken at face value by outlets including Breitbart, PJ Media, RedState, and Human Events, and RT.

    https://www.cjr.org/analysis/quillette-antifa-journalist-smear-campaign.php

    As a direct result of this right-wing troll's "study," a dozen journalists (myself included) ended up on a neo-Nazi kill list last week. https://t.co/nLjOZPyMeN— Kim Kelly (@GrimKim) June 12, 2019

  110. 110.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Omnes Omnibus: who walked. Hispanic privilege, apparently, in Mexico. If you watch the video (yes, we are that old) for “A New England”, she’s pregnant with the child she sacrificed herself to save that day.

    We don’t deserve her. She was too good for us. And I will cue up “Chip Shop” when I hit the gym in the morning.

  112. 112.

    JoyceH

    Okay, so it’s open season for foreign interference in our elections. Gotcha. What I find interesting is Trump’s assumption that any foreign interference is going to be on HIS side. When in fact, aside from a few blood-drenched autocrats, the ENTIRE rest of the world HATES him. Man, wouldn’t it be neat if EVERY rational democratic nation on earth began regurgitating into the public what their intel services have on the Trumps and the Kushners? They don’t have to offer it to the Democrats, just blast it out on the news.

  113. 113.

    SFAW

    @dmsilev:

    “What did Donald Trump have to give to or promise the Russians in exchange for that information?”

    Yep. Also:
    “Back when we had government officials who believed in the Rule of Law — ‘way back before 2016 — that kind of behavior was considered helping an adversary or even an enemy of the United States.”

  117. 117.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    @Steve in the ATL: The privilege of wealth is sadly universal. I always suspected the rich grocery guy was at the helm and the boathand took the fall. Which of course could be paid by fine. Sucks.

  118. 118.

    NotMax

    So, beginning to search for places to stuff my face that haven’t tried yet and are within reasonable driving distance of where will be for NY trip.

    Take a look and scroll all the way down this dinner menu to the side dishes. As an apparently out of touch old coot, there’s a word there (three times!) I certainly didn’t expect to see.

  119. 119.

    NotMax

    Linky fail. Fix.

    So, beginning to search for places to stuff my face that haven’t tried yet and are within reasonable driving distance of where will be for NY trip.

    Take a look and scroll all the way down this dinner menu to the side dishes. As an apparently out of touch old coot, there’s a word there (three times!) I certainly didn’t expect to see.

  121. 121.

    ThresherK

    Welp, at 4-0, and four minutes remaining, St. Louis looks good to take the Stanley Cup.

    After the Red Sox, then the Patriots, Boston fans are of good cheer for all their late success going to gnash their teeth about losing game 7 and drunk ones will probably fight each other before leaving the Garden (like the last game in Boston).

  131. 131.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Leto:

    I have a Bush the lesser animatronic doll on my desk. Bought it back in, roughly, 2006.

    Why have you hated yourself since 2006?

  132. 132.

    JoyceH

    @Jay: Yes, but the other nations ought to release whatever they know. Hey, Trump just said it was okay!

  135. 135.

    Adam L Silverman

    If Norway, or officials of any other foreign country, approached me with information, let alone to offer me something unsolicited of monetary value (I’m allowed to, for instance, apply for jobs with foreign governments and/or in foreign countries, but taking one would require me to relinquish my clearance unless it was a multinational assignment or under a US government contract), if I failed to report it to the appropriate personnel, then those I work with, should they find out about it, are required to report me as a potential counterintelligence threat.

    Two weeks ago I emailed four or five of my former students from USAWC who are Muslim and are or were senior officers in their country’s Armies. I emailed them to wish them an Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid) at the end of Ramadan. I emailed my security officer as soon as I sent the last email and provided him with a list of who I emailed and what was in the emails. I’m probably not actually required to do that, but given who one of these officers is in his country’s military, I decided it was prudent to do so. My security officer just prints the email out, time and date stamps it, and puts it in my file.

  136. 136.

    Jeffro

    So in one fell swoop, trumpov is
    – essentially admitting he/his campaign colluded back in 2016 (what happened to “NO COLLUSION!” – why did he deny it then and obstruct justice/fight the Mueller investigation every step of the way if collusion is perfectly ok?)
    – outright saying that as CINC of the US Armed Forces he’s open to assistance from a hostile foreign power if it keeps him in office/out of jail
    – telling the entire IC, and most especially the FBI, to eff off, now and forevermore

    The Democratic Party would be entirely within its rights to run ads with excerpts from this interview non-stop for the next 18 months that just showed him saying this with the words “TRAITOR TO HIS COUNTRY” scrolling across the top. That’s actually the least of what the GOP would do if it were the reverse.

  138. 138.

    normal liberal

    @NotMax:
    This chef has decided that certain vegetables are demonic. And from out here in the humble Midwest, may I just say, Holy God, the prices.

  139. 139.

    NotMax

    @normal liberal

    In a teensy bit of defense about the prices, although it is an upscale eatery it’s one of those ‘served family style’ places where the portions are absolutely humongous.

  140. 140.

    Jay

    @JoyceH:

    Just because a serial sexually abusive rapist narcissistic sociopathic criminal moron serial liar says it’s okay,

    Doesn’t make it okay.

  142. 142.

    J R in WV

    @Steve in the ATL:

    @J R in WV: who was the last Republican President to get elected without committing treason? Eisenhower maybe?

    Exactly, Ike… I remember my Dad with “I Like Ike” buttons. Long time passing! No one since then. All traitors, some literally by the constitutional definition.

  145. 145.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @ThresherK: I ran into one of those Boston “fans” in a lounge in Baltimore last night. Not satisfied with his Superb Owls & the Dread Sux. Said the Bruins’d be run out of town if they lost. The wuss demanded the barista hand him the remote so he could turn off the TV & not have to watch a team that wasn’t Boston’s hoist the Cup. (He managed it with IIRC 9.6 seconds left in regulation.)

    Dunno why the rest of the USA doesn’t despise Boston “sports fans” – who whined for years about their terrible luck, Curse of the Bambino & all that, demanded that the rest of the universe validate their pity party – & about 30 milliseconds after winning the Whirled Serious in 2004 turned into instant assholes. (BTW & FTR, Cheatriots fans are so fucking obnoxious because they’re Sawx fans in winter plumage.)

    Fuckem. With a rusty chainsaw.

  146. 146.

    TenguPhule

    @J R in WV:

    He misses the point that working with a hostile foreign power can be done in public, if you’re dumb enough to do that. I don’t know what he’s thinking

    He’s thinking the rule of law won’t hold him accountable.

    Sadly, he may be right about that.

  148. 148.

    BobT

    He seems to think that accepting information from foreign sources is no different than normal opposition research. There is a big difference. Foreign sources aren’t subject to US laws. The product from those sources may be from illegal hacking or other methods that are illegal in the US.

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