If you’ve been giving political news programs a miss lately (understandable!), perhaps you didn’t see Rachel Maddow’s summary on Friday of the latest developments in the case of crackpot NatSec Adviser Flynn and Russian interference in the U.S. election. IMO, it’s worth the 12-minute investment:
According to CNN, on Friday, Trump claimed to be “unaware of reports that…Flynn may have spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador before the inauguration.” That beggars belief, given that Trump’s primary approach to presidentin’ consists of angrily live-tweeting coverage of his administration.
Of the Flynn matter, Trump said he’d “look into that,” which isn’t reassuring. But Nancy Pelosi and congressional Democrats are treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Via The Hill:
“The President and his National Security Advisor have given the Russians the impression that whatever they do, they are not to worry, because the Trump White House will not stand against their aggression,” Pelosi said in a statement on Saturday.
“General Flynn should be suspended and have his intelligence clearance revoked until the facts are known about his secret contacts with the Russians,” she said.
Pelosi also called on the FBI to further investigation Trump’s relationship with the Kremlin, and urged Congress to launch an “outside commission” to examine the ties.
“President Trump’s kowtowing to Vladimir Putin is endangering our national security and emboldening a dangerous tyrant,” Pelosi said. “What do the Russians have on President Trump that he would flirt with lifting sanctions and weakening NATO?”
[snip]“This action would be deeply troubling under any circumstances, but considering Russia’s effort to tip the election toward President Trump, the General’s actions are disqualifying,” Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
“If he did so, and then he and other Administration officials misled the American people, his conduct would be all the more pernicious, and he should no longer serve in this Administration or any other,” House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said.
It’s not just Flynn: Priebus, Pence and Spicer also trotted forth to repeat the lie that sanctions weren’t discussed prior to the inauguration, as Maddow’s segment makes clear. And evidence is emerging that Flynn — the crackpot who was a close Trump adviser throughout the campaign — was collaborating with the Russians before the election, when the Russians were trying to put Trump in the Oval Office.
Does anyone think Trump wasn’t aware of Flynn’s activities? I suppose it’s possible. But that’s disqualifying in its own right. Imma call my congresscritters and ask them to support an independent commission to look into this matter.
As Maddow says, this is a well-sourced story. Trump may not grasp the seriousness of it beyond the threat to his ego. But as more comes out, the craven shits in the Republican Party Before Country Party may begin to comprehend the risk to their own political careers.
Gutless rodents like Ryan and McConnell would auction off their own mothers for a tax cut for the 1%. But if they think Trump is going down, they’ll desert him like the rats they are — they never liked the bastard anyway. Here’s hoping the dam crumbles and sweeps the whole sorry bunch away.
Optional soundtrack for post: