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Russia Says it Was in Touch With Trump Campaign During Election (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the stranger-things dept.

An anonymous reader shares a CNBC report: The Russian government was in touch with members of President-elect Donald Trump's campaign staff during the U.S. election campaign, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency on Thursday. "There were contacts," Interfax cited Ryabkov as saying. He did not give details. When asked whether these contacts would now intensify after Trump's election victory, Ryabkov said: "These working moments and follow-up on this or that matter will depend on the situation and the questions which face us. But we will of course continue this work after the elections." Defeated Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton accused Trump of being a "puppet" of President Vladimir Putin during the campaign, and U.S. officials said Russia had hacked into Democratic party emails, something Moscow denied. Trump has said he might meet Putin before his inauguration, but Putin's spokesman has said there are currently no plans for such a meeting.

26 of 469 comments (clear)

  1. surprise surprise by dehachel12 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    who did not see that coming ?

    1. Re:surprise surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If there was something malicious going on, do you think they would really be out advertising it? Idiot.

      Of course Russia is going to want to reach out to the likely president-elect of the United States of America in order to start a working relationship.

    2. Re:surprise surprise by jafiwam · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yet they didn't reach out to any of the other candidates, or in any of the other previous elections?

      Does "hacking their email" count as reaching out? ;)

      Considering the path Clinton was likely to set us upon, I wholeheartedly disagree that the Russians talking with Trump is a bad thing.

      Russia is a nuclear-armed big army nuke-sub having high technology former nigh-superpower that has accepted that they aren't going to be able to wipe us out (we WON the Cold War, remember?). It's good to be their friends, it's good to be talking to them.

  2. Before you act like this is so nefarious... by CajunArson · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just look at what China did with Clinton:

    http://www.scmp.com/news/china...

    But it's only "evil" when Trump is involved in something.

    Oh, and dealing with other countries diplomatically instead of militarily is now equivalent to Nazism or something all of the sudden. Which is why everybody thought Obama was a Nazi when he was elected... right?

    --
    AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    1. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Diplomatic sources in Beijing and Washington have confirmed that Beijing, aware of the high stakes for bilateral ties, has been following the election campaign closely and trying to maintain regular contact with both candidates, Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump, through their campaign teams and other channels.

      Your point? Open relations with one of America's biggest trading partners is a lot different from secret contacts with an antagonistic power. Denying it through his campaign makes it look even worse.

      Between conspiracy with the country's adversaries and tapping the DNC, Trump seems to be doing his best to emulate Nixon. We'll see if it comes to the same end.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    2. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by Feral+Nerd · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Oh, and dealing with other countries diplomatically instead of militarily is now equivalent to Nazism or something all of the sudden. Which is why everybody thought Obama was a Nazi when he was elected... right?

      I don't really want to get into your Democrat=wrong-think, Republican=right-think pissing contest. What I will say is that presidential candidates dealing diplomatically to Russia/China depends entirely on what was being said and promised. Say what you will about Hillary she is not an impulsive person and for all her faults I do not believe she'd make rash promises to anybody, especially if they affect the USA's extensive network of allies. Trump, on the other hand, is completely inexperienced in foreign policy dealings, he is an individual that is so impulsive he apparently cannot even be trusted with a Twitter account. So when it becomes known that he's been having talks with Vladimir Putin behind the backs of all of the USA's allies it gets people wondering what he promised the Russians without consulting them? ... unilateral lifting of sanctions? recognition of their annexation of the Crimea and the Eastern Ukraine in exchange for cooperation on ending the Syrian mess? A pledge not to defend the Baltic republics? Something even dumber than that, like dismantling NATO? Or did he simply have a friendly dinner with one of Putin's creatures over some New York deep dish pizza and discuss Golf? Point being that people are a lot less nervous about Hillary 'giving away the home-world' as it were than they are over Trump dong the same because after he promised to do the modern equivalent of pining a yellow star on every Muslim in the USA people basically think he's capable of anything.

    3. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I read your article. And TFA. And watched the video. Not saying you're a liar, but [citation needed].

      And being anti-war means taking whatever steps are necessary to prevent war, including standing up to expansionists. Appeasing Hitler didn't stop World War II, and tearing down NATO while Russia is annexing Europe's borders won't pacify Putin.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  3. Trump elected by no-shows by OffTheLip · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is what happens when close to 50% of eligible voters don't bother to go to the polls.

    1. Re:Trump elected by no-shows by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No, he really didn't get out the vote; Trump's vote count was in line with the losers of the last few elections. His strategy in the primary and the general was to drag the whole thing down so far into the mud that most people were too disillusioned to vote. Low turnout favors the 'fear/anger/hate' candidate.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  4. A leader who defuses the situation? by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is what happens when close to 50% of eligible voters don't bother to go to the polls.

    We get a leader who tries to calm and reassure a potential dangerous adversary?

    This partisanship is blinding you to reality. Clinton and Obama were steadily ratcheting up the fear and blame on Russia. They were building moral cover to justify a prolonged campaign of sanctions and possibly war.

    It got so bad that Julian Assange publicly stated that Russia was *not* the source of the Podesta E-mails. He *never* gives out information about his sources, that he would do this indicates that he felt there was some danger.

    This was all happening over the past two months, and you can't remember it?

    Contacting Russia and saying "relax, if I get elected we can work out our problems through diplomacy" is a good thing.

    1. Re:A leader who defuses the situation? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On the contrary, Russia's actions have proven they are INCREDIBLY rational. They waited until the US (the only power that could legitimately threaten them) was distracted before taking a small step (Crimea). After seeing how that shook out (US did nothing but wag a finger), they moved to the next step. Same result. You might not agree (nor do I) with their goals, but the way they are moving forward is incredibly rational, well-planned, and measured.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    2. Re:A leader who defuses the situation? by fyngyrz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Annexing neighbors and posturing militarily has to have some sort of a reaction other than "let's talk it out".

      No, it really doesn't. It's none of our business. We have no right to interfere with the actions of other countries. And that's what it is: interference. You want to have a sovereign country? Fine. Make sure you can defend it or otherwise exert effective leverage sufficient to maintain your sovereignty. Otherwise, someone is going to take it from you or otherwise ruin your day -- and we -- the US -- definitely shouldn't have to be the one to guarantee your borders. That's your job.

      This whole "US is the world's policeman" business is insane. And the claim that we actually have significant national interests in 99% of these venues isn't much better.

      Our job is making sure no one annexes us. Other countries can posture all they want. We can squash them like bugs if they try anything. And we should. Other than that, there's an awful lot of stuff we need to be paying attention to within our borders that we are not.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  5. Re:Not a puppet. by Maritz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    To roughly half of american voters, that is an absolute zinger of a comeback.

    --
    I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
  6. Re: Congrats idiots by Rei · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't like Goldman Sachs? Then by all means don't this second go and google who's the leading contender for Trump's treasury secretary.

    What, did you actually convince yourself that the billionaire who literally plates everything around him in gold was a "man of the people"? If so:

    ***Check out these awesome magic beans!!!!!***

    --
    It's times like this I wish I had a friend named 'The Professor'.
  7. Whoa by fyngyrz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The truth that nearly half (currently 47%) of the population of the United States are deep down a mix, of racist, sexist, hate-filled scumbags and uneducated morons too ignorant to see Trump for what he is.

    47% if the voters. not 47% of the population.

    127 million people voted.
    The US population is estimated at 324,227,000 in 2016

    47% of the voters is 59.6 million people.
    47% of the population of the US is 152.3 million people. That's more people than voted in total!

    So really, the election told us that 18% of the people next to us in the checkout line are likely to be Trump voters. Some of them aren't even of voting age, so you know they didn't participate in the dumbing down of the presidency (even past the Bush years... it's astonishing, really. The tyranny of the Gaussian come home to roost. Democracy at work: any two idiots outvote a genius. In an environment where geniuses are rare.)

    Just saying. :)

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    1. Re:Whoa by wyHunter · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And yet the folks committing violent acts and mayhem in American cities are leftists. I haven't seen the KKK, the Neo Nazis, or the Skinheads doing this for the last 8 years whilst Obama has been President. Perhaps the real problem is... the left!

    2. Re:Whoa by bfpierce · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's poor uneducated people on both the left and right, and ignoring the violence by members of the KKK (and their ilk) over the recent years is kind of insane. In my area most people are conservative trump supporters, so most crime is done by, *gasp* conservative trump supporters.

      It's been reported on, maybe you just put on the blinders.

      The fact that this is 'insightful' is also kind of insane.

    3. Re:Whoa by Gr8Apes · · Score: 3, Insightful

      OK, point taken. What's really shocking is that a minority voted in a demagogue. We can only hope the checks and balances in the Constitution work in the people's favor over the next 4 years, and hope like hell we get a candidate that's actually someone we can vote for next time vs the crap choices over at least the last 5 elections.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    4. Re: Whoa by Gr8Apes · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You do realize all those powers et al were given to a Republican president (W) by a Republican Congress under what's probably one of the worst laws passed by any Congress.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
  8. Re:Congrats idiots by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Hey now, don't sell Hillary short! She also sold out to the Russians for $100 million, so she's already proven she's for sale to the Russians AND to Goldman Sachs!

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  9. Re:Don't read political spin, it makes you stupid. by Kohath · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Bernie would have met with them twice as much. Or he wouldn't have met with them at all -- whichever one is the good one.

  10. Re:Congrats idiots by ooloorie · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Congrats idiots in the Democratic party. Trump's election is your fault: you put up a corrupt, dishonest, incompetent loser as a presidential candidate. Don't complain that voters turned away in disgust.

  11. Re:Congrats idiots by Salgak1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The truth that nearly half (currently 47%) of the population of the United States are deep down a mix, of racist, sexist, hate-filled scumbags and uneducated morons too ignorant to see Trump for what he is.

    Do you KNOW anyone who voted for Trump ? Have you talked to any of them ? Chances are, they're a lot like me. Yes, I voted for Trump. I had the choice between a double-decker shit sandwich, and a regular shit sandwich. I chose less shit.

    But either way, I knew I was getting a shit sandwich. . .

  12. Re:Congrats idiots by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    > But either way, I knew I was getting a shit sandwich. . .

    Everyone did. Canada offers its condolences.

    FYI we have five parties with members in the house and an independent. Over the last 25 years I've voted for 4 of them. Having a *real* selection results in a whole less nose-holding when you go to the poles.

    Which makes the whole Gary Johnson debacle a nice scoop of shit on top of that sandwich. Ugh, my condolences, again.

  13. Re: Congrats idiots by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Trump is a businessman, unlike you, unaccomplished nothingness chewing on a piece of joint

    Trump's steps to business success:

    1. Be born really rich.
    2. ???
    3. Profit

  14. Re:Congrats idiots by globaljustin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ^mod parent up

    this is true...Trump's campaign manager Paul Manafort had to quit because of ties with Russian Mobsters: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/19/...

    Idiots are to blame for Trump's victory...all kinds of idiots across the political spectrum contributed along the way, starting with idiot Democrats who voted for Hillary over Bernie....up to the idiot Republicans for being Republican...and of course let's not forget the idiot journalists of the MSM

    Idiots are to blame

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett