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Hackers Have Targeted Both the Trump Organization And Democrat Election Data (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Two recent news stories give new prominence to politically-motivated data breaches. Friday the Wall Street Journal reported that last year Guccifer 2.0 sent 2.5 gigabytes of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee election data to a Republican operative in Florida, including their critical voter turnout projections. At the same time ABC News is reporting that the FBI is investigating "an attempted overseas cyberattack against the Trump Organization," adding that such an attack would make his network a high priority for government monitoring.

"In the course of its investigation," they add, "the FBI could get access to the Trump Organization's computer network, meaning FBI agents could possibly find records connected to other investigations." A senior FBI official (now retired) concedes to ABC that "There could be stuff in there that they [the Trump organization] do not want to become part of a separate criminal investigation."

It seems like everyone's talking about the privacy of their communications. Tonight the Washington Post writes that Trump's son-in-law/senior advisor Jared Kushner "discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump's transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports." And Friday Hillary Clinton was even quoted as saying, "I would have won had I not been subjected to the unprecedented attacks by Comey and the Russians..."

232 comments

  1. SIGH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DOUBLE SIGH

  2. So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So I was right that Donald Trump, Jared Kushners, and others are traitors who colluded with Russia's hack of our presidential campaign.

    Will any of you dumbfucks apologize, or are you just going to keep pretending you don't notice the obvious treason taking place in front of your eyes?

    I accept your apology, morons.

    1. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by someone1234 · · Score: 0

      I still believe Trump is just an unwilling puppet as opposed to being Putin's Cock Holster. Not sure about Jared and the rest.

      --
      Patents Drive Free Software as Hurricanes Drive Construction Industry
    2. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, there'll be a few knuckledragging techie "pragmatists", or those who play them, who insist this is the "librul media", more "Russian fake news", while pushing some bizarre Alex Jones nonsense about this being a "false flag."

    3. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unwilling, yes. That's why they're blackmailing him.

    4. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get the fuck in line, this has been at least two years coming. Why America couldn't spot an obvious sociopath with the mental faculties of a small child – or willingly chose them as president – will forever remain a mystery to me. I knew for sure on November 20th, 2015. What did it for you?

    5. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by dbIII · · Score: 1, Troll

      They were kind of acting like traitors whether Russia was involved or not. Wasn't there something about putting a wrecking ball through America?

    6. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get the fuck in line, this has been at least two years coming. Why America couldn't spot an obvious sociopath with the mental faculties of a small child – or willingly chose them as president – will forever remain a mystery to me.

      While yes, you are right. The majority willingly chose Hillary, but that is all in the past.

    7. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by rrohbeck · · Score: 0

      Lalala I can't hear you! MAGA! MAGA! MAGA!

      (/s in case that wasn't obvious)

    8. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ilguido · · Score: 4, Informative

      Will any of you dumbfucks apologize, or are you just going to keep pretending you don't notice the obvious treason taking place in front of your eyes?

      You should read carefully the article. It makes two very important points:
      1) "It is common for senior advisers of a newly elected president to be in contact with foreign leaders and officials."
      2) "Obama administration officials say members of the Trump transition team never approached them about arranging a secure communications channel with their Russian contacts, possibly because of concerns about leaks."
      In fact it is understandable the mistrust with American intelligence agencies right now, because, as Bloomberg put it, "the U.S. intelligence ship is too leaky to sail". Besides that, this Kushner-Flynn affair has ostensibly nothing to do with the alleged (and very unlikely IMO) Russian hack of the Democratic party, but it is related to the Syrian war, where American intelligence agencies have been playing dirty since the start and not in the interest of the American people (unless arming al-Qaeda is in the interest of the American people).

    9. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Donald Trump, Jared Kushners, and others are traitors

      Is firing squad still on the table? Nobody has said otherwise yet.

    10. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      This. Standard procedure when clicking any cnn/wapo/nyt "BREAKING NEWS BOMBSHELL TRUMP'S A TRAITOR ZOMG IMPEACH!!!" story is to immediately scroll to the very end of the article, find the inevitable "Everything that we just spent 50 paragraphs violently implying is high treason (because hate and paranoia get us way more clicks than straight news) is actually completely normal and legal and there's still zero evidence Trump's a Soviet sleeper agent" caveat, and then close the tab.

    11. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      In your mind I'm sure there was, and a lot worse besides.

    12. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's not remotely what any of this means. It's fun watching you get so worked up and excited over and over though. THIS time Trump is finally finished! His ceiling is 25%!^H^H^H^H^H^HThe delegates will switch to Rubio!^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HThe pussy tape finished him!^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HHillary has a dozen paths to 270!^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HThe recounts will overturn Michigan and Pennsylvania!^H^H^H^H^H^H^HThe electors will revolt!^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HRussian prostitutes!^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HKushner talked to a russian guy once (and doesn't like NSA snooping any more than the rest of us)!

      Impeachment is just around the corner; Maxine Waters and Rachel Maddow say so.

    13. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Tesen · · Score: 1

      Clapper: "Yes, wittingly."

      If he doesn't know what's going on around him and in his administration, then he shouldn't be running it. In that case it's the 25th. In any other case, it's 18 USC 1505. Take your pick: Trump is being impeached.

      Negligence and ignorance does not excuse him.

    14. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'll just leave this one for you to rage over:
      Court rebukes NSA for 5-year illegal surveillance of U.S. citizens

    15. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Except that nothing at all supports your claim, moron.
      Even the source that revealed this 'secret' Kushner channel admits that it was to be used for sharing information about Syria - exactly like the channels Obama set up to do the same thing.

    16. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Trump only cares about Trump. This makes him easily manipulated all you need to do is stole his ego and he'll be your best friend. He personally may not be knowingly involved in the russians but he guilty of a crime of omission by not taking into conserned about the people in his circle.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    17. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by gtall · · Score: 2

      Yeah, well el Presidente Tweetie's sprog mentioned in the 2000's that their Ma and Pa Kettle organization wasn't worried about money because they had plenty of Russian money. Putin owns el Presidente Tweetie's ass.

    18. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by gtall · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, but it is not common for senior advisors to be paid by Russia nor become an agent of Turkey. And why would they need a secret backdoor to Russia? One could argue their conspiracy theorist bullshit got the better of them. I would argue they would do anything to win and selling America out to Russia was okay, just as long as they won.

    19. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you. Intelligence still lives on /. ( But I do have to look harder to find it.)

    20. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is there a difference between being an unwilling puppet and Putin's Cock Holster? I'm not sure there is.

    21. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      1) "It is common for senior advisers of a newly elected president to be in contact with foreign leaders and officials."

      Is it common for senior advisers to go to the Russian embassy to use their equipment to contact those foreign leaders in secret?

      Remember, the "secret" part is that they were trying to keep it secret from Americans.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    22. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by someone1234 · · Score: 2

      When he realizes, he has been gamed, his wrath will be unspeakable. When he realizes he is a cock holster, he just opens his mouth wider. I'm betting on the former.

      --
      Patents Drive Free Software as Hurricanes Drive Construction Industry
    23. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why? That wasn't news, we already heard about it under Bush.

      You're like the parent who confronts his kid's drug use, and then they say they learned it from you.

      Who never had to teach grandpa to spy on Americans, let alone suck eggs.

      Look, you want to convince me you give a rat's ass about privacy, and aren't just grinding a partisan axe? Show some concern beyond the previous administration, the one that's out of office. Take a gander overseas, or in the boardrooms. Then maybe I'll think it is something other than an irate pretense that you'll drop as soon as somebody else is in office.

    24. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      I still believe Trump is just an unwilling puppet as opposed to being Putin's Cock Holster. Not sure about Jared and the rest.

      So we're already in Ronald Reagan/Iran-Contra mode? Just between us chachalacas, this treasonous activity is getting harder and harder to excuse without actually supporting it. The amazing thing is they apparently thought they could get away with it.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    25. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you really suggesting that it's OK for Obama to break laws because someone else did? Please don't reproduce.

    26. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Putin owns el Presidente Tweetie's ass.

      And it seems to be paying off for them big time so far.

      I'm starting to think that the golden shower video is going to show up any day. So much of what was denied has turned out to be true so far.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    27. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Define traitor here. Did they give up economic rights to anything? Acquiesce allied lands? Provide any type of service? For our number 1 geopolitical foe, wouldn't it make sense to have a backchannel line? Surely Kennedy didn't have that as a precedent or anything.

    28. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 0

      1) "It is common for senior advisers of a newly elected president to be in contact with foreign leaders and officials."

      Is it common for senior advisers to go to the Russian embassy to use their equipment to contact those foreign leaders in secret?

      Remember, the "secret" part is that they were trying to keep it secret from Americans.

      In no sane environment is this not high treason . Simply not. Not ever. In no sane environment would anyone who is not traitorous themselves stand up for for it.

      But in the end, sanity will prevail. Looking at a lot of social media, the "fake news" "absolutely no evidence" "president has the absolute right to hand out foreign intel" crowd is starting to be marginalized, if not pounced upon as "Ivan" or "Boris" Their influence is waning fast.

      We are tired of winning already.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    29. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you really suggesting that it's OK for Obama to break laws because someone else did?

      Nope. I'm suggesting that if somebody wants to convince me that they give a crap about intrusions on privacy, they need to make a concerted effort to demonstrate that it isn't merely a biased, partisan attack, to show that their purported animus is legitimate, rather than some screed which does not depend on principle.

      This was rather clearly stated, so you should have had some comprehension of it.

      But of course, by failing to understand that, but instead insinuating a rhetorical attack, you're not helping any case you might make for a legitimate grievance, but perhaps you might remedy that failing on your part with some more purposeful action.

      Please don't reproduce.

      Yeah, there's another reason to write a person off, they resort to pointless ad hominem attacks.

      You'll have to abandon that kind of thing as well.

      Otherwise, you're stuck digging your own sinkhole.

      It's the same problem the anti-abortion movement has. They, by and large, won't oppose the death penalty, from a moral or financial perspective, and when confronted on it, they tend to be especially aghast at the idea of exonerating people. To them, it's always "they got off on a technicality" rather than any possibility of actual and substantive innocence. That they can't manage any concern over the method, also tends to hurt their credibility.

      You have the same issue.

    30. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ilguido · · Score: 2

      Is it common for senior advisers to go to the Russian embassy to use their equipment to contact those foreign leaders in secret?

      Remember, the "secret" part is that they were trying to keep it secret from Americans.

      I'm sorry, but that's the point of such secret meetings. They're supposed to be kept secret, not public domain stuff that you (American or not) can read about on newspapers, wikileaks, internet blogs and the likes. When your officials cannot be trusted to keep their secrets, you can see these shady behaviours: senior advisers that prefer foreign communication equipment or a secretary of state that uses her personal email server, instead of the federal one. The goal is the same.

      Moreover, there is another obvious, but interesting point in the article: "Russia at times feeds false information into communication streams it suspects are monitored as a way of sowing misinformation and confusion among U.S. analysts". That works both ways. When there are so many leaks, as it has been the case lately, you may expect lot of misinformation from the source of the leaks (i.e. intelligence agencies).

    31. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by benjfowler · · Score: 1

      Right. Using communication operated by the Russian SVR. That isn't normal, that's TREASON.

      That kind of thing, in a time of war, would get you put up against a wall and shot.

      Don't be stupid. This is NOT "normal".

    32. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0

      I'm sorry, but that's the point of such secret meetings.

      You mean like Trump's secret foolproof plan to defeat ISIS in his first 30 days? That kind of secret?

      http://www.washingtonexaminer....

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    33. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Trump is being impeached.

      Impeachment is initiated by the House of Representatives, and decided by the Senate. Both of these are firmly in Republican control, and likely to stay that way through the 2018 election. Trump is still popular with the Republican base, and Republicans in Congress would gain nothing by going after him. He is not going to be impeached, at least for anything that has surfaced so far.

    34. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And why would they need a secret backdoor to Russia?

      Because Trump doesn't trust the official channels. The CIA has leaked damaging information about him, and it is clear that there are people in the "deep state" that don't like Trump and want to see him fail.

      I want to see him fail too. But engineering presidential failure is not the job of the CIA. Our intelligence agencies should not be partisan organizations.

    35. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by phantomfive · · Score: 2

      Yes, but it is not common for senior advisors to be paid by Russia nor become an agent of Turkey.

      There's a lot of corruption right now in the top levels of the military. Fat Leonard is one example. Flynn is more likely a symptom of that problem. Becoming an agent of Turkey seems like a problem (and I agree) but it's small compared to what else has been going on. This is the kind of thing that gets lost in the noise when people start spouting wild conspiracy theories and forget about the truth. I'll bet you didn't even hear about Fat Leonard.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    36. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ask Kennedy how that turned out for him. Get back to me when he lets you know.

    37. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

      They are sworn to defend the US from all enemies.

      Illegal leaks to the press are not a "duty" of the CIA.

    38. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ly4 · · Score: 1

      Kushner didn't disclose the meeting on his security clearance form.
      That's not normal. It's also illegal.

    39. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump is willing to promise anything to anybody to get what he wants. Trump university and Trump steaks should have given you a clue about his character but if not take a look at the people he has appointed after promising to drain the swamp. The guy is a con artist (not even a very good one) and a pathological liar.

    40. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Sperbels · · Score: 2

      Trump is still popular with the Republican base

      Most republicans are not actively denouncing and disavowing him yet, if that's what you consider popular support.

      Republicans in Congress would gain nothing by going after him.

      You means besides demonstrating they still have decency, character, and a backbone?

    41. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by ilguido · · Score: 0

      I can't get these emotional statements. Perhaps you could make a case for treason if Kushner tried to use Russian communication lines to talk to the British prime minister or the chairman of the Federal Reserve, but he allegedly tried to use Russian communication lines to talk to Russian leaders. Paradoxically it would be a problem if the Russians would leak the content of the talks to some uninvited third party (e.g. China, Iran,Turkey, wikileaks, the New York Times, an anonymous coward...), but right now it was the FBI that leaked it to the press.

    42. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      FiveThirtyEight had an article a few days ago suggesting that Trump support is even weakening with the Republican base.

      https://fivethirtyeight.com/fe...

      And before people start mouthing off about Silver, he was the one guy who was actually giving Trump a reasonable chance of winning (1 in 4, as I recall).

      This is Trump's real problem. If Republicans going into the mid-terms begin to fear for their own skin because Trump is sufficiently unpopular, they'll run, not walk from Trump. The same thing happened with Nixon, where while the Dems controlled the House and could have him impeached, it was still going to require Republican Senators to actually convict. When it became clear to Nixon that he was losing support among Republican Senators, he had little choice but to resign or face conviction.

      I think the Administration is already entering serious crisis mode. Fox is reporting Bannon is going to lead some sort of "A team" of lawyers and spin doctors to battle a possible impeachment. Trump needs to keep enough of the Republican base loyal to scare the GOP into backing off, and if Bannon can't pull that off, then I think Trump is toast. If someone as close to him as Kushner ends up having been compromised, and worse, compromising him, then there really is nowhere left to hide and no one left to blame.

      I just simply don't get it. People like Pence, Kushner and Sessions don't seem like idiots, so why in the name of fuck were they trying to pull these stunts? Was it to protect Trump? Did they think the three letter agencies don't keep on eye on everyone who is interacting with Russian officials or other important Russians? The level of arrogance overriding any kind of rationality is mind boggling. Trump I can understand, he's clearly an idiot, probably suffering dementia or some other cognitive decline. But these other guys, whatever you think of them, seem to be reasonably intelligent and thoughtful people.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    43. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      If the Republicans hadn't made it their cause célèbre to block every initiative the Obama Administration tried to roll out for six years, Obama might be seen in a lot better light. The Republicans did everything in their power to wreck his presidency.

      The irony, of course, is now they're basically being forced to do it to their own man. They're being a lot more polite about it, but no less obstructionist. It was truly astonishing to watch Ryan punt an unpassable health care bill up to the Senate, and declare victory merely because it was no longer the House's problem, with a pile of money stuck in it so maybe somehow McConnell can take the shit sandwich and make a shit casserole out of it.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    44. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 0, Troll

      Nope, but they're doing a good job of destroying his presidency, which will serve the national, indeed international good. It may piss Putin off, but that's fine, judging by the push back in the last few European elections, Brexit and Trump is likely to be the extent of the damage he has wreaked on the West. It's a pretty impressive accomplishment, but all it's really going to do is either force Trump to adopt an even stronger anti-Russian stance than Clinton would have, or see him removed from office.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    45. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 0

      The Republican base is shifting away from Trump. It may take a while yet, but with mid-terms next year, if Trump's support falls much further, Republican lawmakers will take what they have and remove him. In the end, if all he has left supporting him is the Alt-right crowd, that's a pretty puny support base.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    46. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      If Trump is removed, then I think it will be Nixon-style. Pence (or maybe Ryan, if Pence is any further implicated in all of this) will pardon him, and he'll sent off to semi-exile in Florida or New York. The reasons will be the same, to end the "national nightmare" and try to get the Government functioning properly again.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    47. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Baloroth · · Score: 2

      Right. Using communication operated by the Russian SVR. That isn't normal, that's TREASON.

      Did you know, during the cold war, the US president had a communication line that connected directly to his USSR counterpart? And do you know who ran half that service? That's right, the KGB. And do you know why it wasn't treason? Because talking to foreign operatives isn't treason, it's communication. I mean, FFS, I'm no fan of Trump, but these kinds of rabid accusations really just add fuel to the alt-right fire.

      Let me put it another way: using a Russian-run communication line is generally a bad thing because it allows the Russians to hear what you're saying. But if the point of that communication line is to talk to the Russians, well, they kinda obviously already know what you're saying, now don't they?

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    48. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Remember, the "secret" part is that they were trying to keep it secret from the Obama administration.

      Fixed that for you.

      Remember that Obama was caught spying on the Trump campaign, and the Obama deep state has been caught trying to subvert the democratic rule of law multiple times. For some reason these stories keep on getting buried and instead we keep hearing about RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA.

    49. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obama almost did. Flagrant abuse of both the 1st and 2nd amendment, not to mention his horrific immigration "policies". Hillary would have continued that garbage and completely ruined the nation. It might already be past a tipping point at which the nation will spiral into a total Bolshevik hell hole.

    50. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      You means besides demonstrating they still have decency, character, and a backbone?

      No. I mean getting re-elected, where all of those characteristics are at best irrelevant, and more likely an impediment.

    51. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is not the job of our secret intelligence agencies to undermine our own duly elected government.

      This is still supposed to be a democratic republic. Not some banana republic shit show.

      And no, just because you don't like him does not justify their illegal actions because "they are saving the world!".

      They are saving nothing and destroying the institution that at one time made our country great.

      The CIA, NSA, and good parts of the FBI should all be shit canned and replaced by people with respect for our constitution.

    52. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      destroying his presidency, which will serve the national, indeed international good.

      I don't think so. There are people in the CIA that hate Trump, but there are also people in the CIA that support him. Now that the precedent is set that is okay for individuals in the CIA to go rogue and leak intelligence to destroy democratically elected leaders, the knife will cut both ways.

    53. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is sad that you think the way the government was previously running is both normal and a good thing.

    54. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Quite.

      I'm almost 50. It will be a miracle if I see anything approaching a single-payer healthcare system in this country. I'd be better off moving to the Great White North.

      When Americans realize that healthcare and profit do not good bedfellows make, perhaps we can actually catch up with the rest of the civilized world.

    55. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Impeaching Trump would practically guarantee their success, even a removal for incompetence would help.

      They'd gain far more than they would lose, as it would be a show of character that benefitted them.

      But even McCain refused to run against GWB, so no hope for any of that.

    56. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1) "It is common for senior advisers of a newly elected president to be in contact with foreign leaders and officials."

      Is it common for senior advisers to go to the Russian embassy to use their equipment to contact those foreign leaders in secret?

      Remember, the "secret" part is that they were trying to keep it secret from Americans.

      In no sane environment is this not high treason . Simply not. Not ever. In no sane environment would anyone who is not traitorous themselves stand up for for it.

      But in the end, sanity will prevail. Looking at a lot of social media, the "fake news" "absolutely no evidence" "president has the absolute right to hand out foreign intel" crowd is starting to be marginalized, if not pounced upon as "Ivan" or "Boris" Their influence is waning fast.

      We are tired of winning already.

      Keeping communications with another country that is not an enemy of the USA secret from an authoritarian government that wants to snoop on everything you do and leak it to their allies is high treason now? I suppose you think that sites using https are also an evil Russian scheme to hurt the Democratic party?

    57. Re: So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Do you think this is better?

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    58. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Claiming that anyone who supports the president, nearly half of all voters, are treasonous while claiming to have the sane position?

      Lay off the recreational chemicals buddy.

    59. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck off communist. You and your scumbag buddies are hacking both sides AND spreading BS propaganda like your post.
      Again: FUCK OFF BORIS

    60. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      The president has a line, and you can also be damned sure there is records of its use and what was discussed, even if it's classified. This attempt at a secret back channel appears have to been made deliberately to keep its existence and what might be said away from any kind of oversight.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    61. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bannon is going to lead some sort of "A team"...

      Now I am picturing Bannon smoking a cigar and saying "I love it when a plan comes together"... Thanks for that image.

    62. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does it really matter if Trump is Putin's cock holster because he loves it or because two large Russian men are holding him while he services his master?

    63. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ChatHuant · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You means besides demonstrating they still have decency, character, and a backbone?

      Republican voters don't care about any of that. They care about "not giving in to the enemy". The thing to understand though, is that in the Republican worldview "the enemy" is not Russia. It is "the liberal agenda", in its various aspects: gay marriage, global warming, pollution, regulation. This was pumped into their brains by years and years of exposure to Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannitys and others ejusdem farinae. Selling America to Russia or Saudi Arabia is not betrayal, since Putin is seen as a natural ally against the "liberal agenda". Impeaching Trump however, would be betrayal of the Republican ideals.

    64. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ScentCone · · Score: 1, Informative

      Yes, but it is not common for senior advisors to be paid by Russia

      You mean like when the Clinton family (NOT their money laundering foundation) collected half a million dollars in cash from a Russian bank immediately following then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's ushering through of a huge uranium deal that greatly benefited Putin and his industry cronies? That sort of "paid" is what you're talking about, right? Because that's a matter of record, as opposed to the complete lack of any evidence of Trump being in any sort of analogous relationship. To the point where even senior Democrat legislators are on the record saying there's no evidence of such.

      But: "OMG secret communications!" ... just, like the article mentions, is common with every presidential transition team. Why might the Trump team want to start conducting early policy back-and-forth over secure channels? Because the Obama administration was using the NSA and FBI surveillance for political purposes. Just this week we see that the Obama administration received a scathing smack-down from the FISA court about the abuses of that system, including the FBI disclosing NSA-collected information (without any warrant) to third parties.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    65. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ScentCone · · Score: 1

      So what you're saying is that you have no idea what "high treason" actually means. Have you considered actually looking it up? It's actually written down in words you can probably understand! But I can understand why you would remain (or pretend to remain) deliberately ignorant of that, because it would take all the fun out of your phony outrage and obvious partisan hypocrisy.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    66. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know, I know. Reading is incredibly hard when you are blinded by stupidity, but.....

      #1. Someone attempting to hack you is not collusion

      Yeah, i don't even think I need a full list. AMAZING!

    67. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To think that someone was dumb enough to post this, and at least four people were dumb enough to mod it up.

    68. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      The Republican base is shifting away from Trump. It may take a while yet, but with mid-terms next year, if Trump's support falls much further, Republican lawmakers will take what they have and remove him. In the end, if all he has left supporting him is the Alt-right crowd, that's a pretty puny support base.

      There are a few highly placed lawmakers I would like to have answer the same questions that the Trump team will be answering soon. There were some known truths that they were willing to look the other way about that make me question exactly why they chose to look the other way.

      I'm willing to put up with shenanigans from time to time, but a hard and fast line when it comes to treason.

      And I do consider anyone still supporting that gang as likewise accepting of treason.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    69. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Claiming that anyone who supports the president, nearly half of all voters, are treasonous while claiming to have the sane position?

      Lay off the recreational chemicals buddy.

      I wonder how many of those voters still support him, Ivan? If they do support sharing codeword intel and using Russian intel for secret communications hidden fmor teh country thy live in, I'm happy to call them traitors. And Ivan - as easy as it is to hack electronic voting machines, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out there is more interesting news coming from that area.

      Ivan.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    70. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 0

      So what you're saying is that you have no idea what "high treason" actually means. Have you considered actually looking it up? It's actually written down in words you can probably understand! But I can understand why you would remain (or pretend to remain) deliberately ignorant of that, because it would take all the fun out of your phony outrage and obvious partisan hypocrisy.

      ttaboy Ivan. Or is it Boris. WE're getting pretty bored with y'all. Do they pay you with dollars or rubles?

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    71. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, the McCarthyism! You're making me feel all nostalgic an' shit. And the role reversal is so dramatic!

    72. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Forget it. Trump supporters are like religious fanatics. The Trump administration could come out on national TV and say, "Yes, we are colluding with Russia. Yes, we're traitors. Yes we did this to make ourselves and our corrupt friends even more rich while pissing on everyone else." and his supporters would LEAP to his defense bending and twisting more than a slinky in clothes drier to make him the victim of some vast conspiracy perpetrated by liberals.

      There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that will affect Trump supporters. They're a cult. And the sickening part is that the neo-fascist sociopaths who are an insult to the republican name are supporting him because the ends justify the means.

      I'd take 16 years of Bush over another 16 minutes of these traitorous fascist bastards. Real republicans, what happened? Where did you go? How did you let it come to this?

    73. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Nyder · · Score: 2

      This was some of the "fake news" that was spread around. Hillary was an a committee that oversaw the uranium deal, but had no power to approve or deny it.

      I got made at this first, then found out I and other was being played with the news story. It was fake news targeted at people who hated Hiliary. I fell for it, you fell for it. We got played.

      --
      Be seeing you...
    74. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Is it common for senior advisers to go to the Russian embassy to use their equipment to contact those foreign leaders in secret?

      When the then-current administration is working with "moderate" Islamic terrorists in the region and spying on you while playing it off as if you're mere bycatch and not "really" targeted because they just happen to target everybody all the time, it becomes a lot more defensible.

      You worry about people who allegedly exposed the DNC's dirty dealings. We worry about people who are indiscriminately murdering random people. When you talk about siding with America's enemies please keep that in mind.

      Meanwhile, nobody trusts the Washington Post any more, it's right up there with CNN with 'news' fabricated from anonymous sources. You guys seem to have forgotten that they were outed as the DNC's lapdogs when they did things like holding a clandestine fundraiser for them. But it's "just emails" so you don't know this stuff at all, do you?

    75. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ScentCone · · Score: 1

      ttaboy Ivan. Or is it Boris. WE're getting pretty bored with y'all. Do they pay you with dollars or rubles?

      I can always tell when people like you recognize I'm right about a basic fact, because the intellectually craven response specifically avoids ANY attempt to show I'm wrong on the matter (see: "High Treason," and pretty much any working definition you care to actually read, anywhere), and just goes instead for the lazy, juvenile ad hominem response of a cranky child. Thanks for demonstrating that I'm correct. Keep up the good work!

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    76. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by ScentCone · · Score: 1, Informative

      Nope, Bill DID collect the huge "speaking fee" and the deal DID go down on Hillary Clinton's watch as the nation's top diplomat. Without approval from the State Department, deals like that do NOT go down. She was running the State Department. And she and her husband collected the cash.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    77. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are right? As per yet another Washington Post hit piece citing yet more anonymous sources. Sources that have been repeatedly debunked again and again and again. Debunked by authoritative sources in and outside the Administration and the Government.

      Anyone who believes anything the WaPo publishes regarding the Trump administration or campaign is a fool. As is Hillary.

    78. Re:So I was right... how about an apology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But engineering presidential failure is not the job of the CIA.

      Or at least not the US president's failure.

  3. Regression by thegreatbob · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If we'd have done the right thing, and voted Regressive, we wouldn't be having these kinds of issues.
    http://thebestpageintheunivers...

    --
    There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
    1. Re:Regression by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Republicans supporting this FASCIST TRAITOR RETARD thank you for your attempt at a distracting moment.

    2. Re:Regression by Z80a · · Score: 2

      When the opposition is reduced to people that can only scream empty buzzwords, even someone like trump can win.

    3. Re:Regression by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      RACIST!

    4. Re:Regression by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      The Democrats werent "reduced" to that. They just willingly and knowingly did it, because they thought that they could.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    5. Re:Regression by dbIII · · Score: 1

      The Democrats werent "reduced" to that. They just willingly and knowingly did it, because they thought that they could.

      He's describing the other Republicans.
      When it was so bad that even tollbooth guy got into the primaries at all then it's pretty fucked up.
      Who would have voted Christie for President? Some of the others were almost as bad.

    6. Re:Regression by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      When the opposition is reduced to people that can only scream empty buzzwords, even someone like trump can win.

      Bigly.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    7. Re:Regression by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      He's describing the other Republicans.

      I dont know who he thinks that he is describing, and now I know who you think that he is describing.

      The fact remains that he is describing the DNC, not the RNC.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    8. Re:Regression by thegreatbob · · Score: 1

      Sorry you feel that screaming into the Internet is going to fix anything. The post is meant to highlight the pointlessness of such actions. At the same time, I don't entirely disagree with your sentiment, just your execution.

      --
      There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
    9. Re:Regression by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh look, another piece of shit using "regressive" while promoting ass-backwards thinking.

      Just grow up. Clinton was right to shit on losers for being losers.

    10. Re:Regression by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck off Boris. Your Propaganda IS NOT WELCOME

  4. Privacy for me, not for thee. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Privacy is a good thing for citizens, but for democratic governments, I believe it is a loophole for special interests to act. Unfortunately, nobody cares about the Democrats when they use their privacy to be nefarious. Only the privacy of the Republicans seems to offend people online.

  5. Did Kushner get his back channel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So did Kushner get the back channel he asked for? i.e. Does Trump have a Russian provided secure channel outside of US record keeping laws and beyond Congretional and Senate oversight?

    Because when Trump got hold of the unredacted pee memos, shortly afterwards two likely USA agents were arrested in Russia and charged with treason.

    How exactly did the Russians suddenly get the names of US agents in Russia?

    Well a secure backchannel from Trump to Putin, provided by the Russians would provide such a channel.

    Motive? Yep. Means? Yep. Opportunity? Yep.

    1. Re:Did Kushner get his back channel? by Rockoon · · Score: 0

      Trump had access to our list of spies before becoming president?

      According to the Democrats like the one I am replying to, yes.

      They think this because the Democrats have such a list, and would have used such a list if it benefited them. Unfortunately for them, Trump was a person that didnt have such a list, so we are left with the only fact: The Democrats have such a list and are scumbag enough to use it.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    2. Re:Did Kushner get his back channel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Presidential candidates are commonly given security briefings and access to some classified information during the campaign process.

      Unfortunately, as that information is classified, we don't generally get to know what kind of information they are given during such briefings until it gets leaked. Or there is some sort of investigation.

      So, there are all sorts of reasons for many of the things we've been hearing about in the media for the past couple of months to be legitimate. This doesn't change the fact that a) Trump is a complete douche, and b) the media is filled with glorified editorialists who constantly seek to rewrite history to their own advantage/misunderstanding, which doesn't help anyone.

    3. Re:Did Kushner get his back channel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pre-election briefings do not include sources or methods, so no, there is no way that Trump would have had access to a list of US spies.
      In fact, the standard Presidential Daily Brief doesn't include sources or methods - it just isn't relevant to the President to get that level of fine detail, except in rare cases. You can look at some of the declassified ones from the 70's to see the level of info included.

    4. Re:Did Kushner get his back channel? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      They think this because the Democrats have such a list, and would have used such a list if it benefited them. Unfortunately for them, Trump was a person that didnt have such a list, so we are left with the only fact: The Democrats have such a list and are scumbag enough to use it.

      Jezzuz Christ, Boris, You need to write your bullshit before the second bottle of vodka. Your bullshit only works if it makes sense on some level.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    5. Re:Did Kushner get his back channel? by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      Have you considered that maybe US intel was already incompetent? They ban pot smokers and believe in polygraph voodoo, to the exclusion of those that don't at least pretend that it has some credibility. But, they keep massive amounts of data, more than they can reasonably analyze, and because of all that data, they have to lower their hiring standards and increase their number of employees, meaning that more and more moles are going to have access to the mother lode.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  6. The only two words you need to read. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Could be."

    This is just more speculation trumped up as news by Journalists working with the NeverTrumpers who are desperately trying a coup against our country.

    As such, it should be ignored and mocked for the idiotic conspiracy theories that they are. If they had evidence, they wouldn't be saying how there "could be" "might be" "they have a hunch..." "People say" or "Anonymous sources claim to have had parts of a memo read to them by a friend..."

    Trump is the president for at least the next 4 and likely the next 8 years. His decisions will change the course of the country for the next 20-30 years. And no amount of unhinged conspiracy theories will change that.

    Don't like that? Blame the DNC. Hillary wasn't electable and everyone knew it except her Globalist friends.

  7. Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Clinton just called Stein and Johnson "the crazy third-party people".

    Every day she still cannot believe her loss. Even today, Trump is the best of the two despite that he sucks badly. After all, the democrats are now calling for racial segregation in some schools. So, it's better that the dims stay out of any office since their progress is just regression.

  8. Impeachment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...is coming. There is no question in anyone's mind. The wheels are already in motion. 18 USC 1505 is a big deal when you do it to the FBI and then rub it in their face. The question is npw to the GOP: how much more of your political capital are you willing to burn to prop up this elderly trust fund kid?

  9. Fake news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone explain to me exactly who did what to whom in the finest detail available, without using "hack", "hacker", or "hacking".

    You can't, can you?

    Because that would reveal that we don't know enough to say anything of substance, so we go running around pointing fingers without knowing what we're talking about. Good show, people.

  10. "I would have won"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The presidency is a job, not a prize. As long as the looters and scavengers are the ones remaining in the race, a lacklustre voter turnout is not all that surprising.

    1. Re: "I would have won"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And Russia still wins, unless nuclear war happens (and then everybody loses).

  11. Re:God bless Putin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see nothing wrong as Hillary is more of a threat to this country than Russia will ever be.

    Maybe if Hillary weren't so crooked there would have been nothing to hide. Stop blaming Russia for your flawed candidate and party and take some responsibility?

  12. Re: God bless Putin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm with you on Hillary on this one, but you do realize that she would have revealed her tax returns, just like all the presidents before... Those who don't automatically get extra suspicion thrown on then regardless who they are.

  13. A robbery victim. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Take your delusional nutjobbery and fuck off asshole.
    Nobody fucking cares about your lies.

    1. Re: A robbery victim. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "A robbery victim"

      Different AC here. If he was a robbery victim then why was nothing stolen? If he was a robbery victim then why was he shot from behind? Your assertion is incorrect.

    2. Re: A robbery victim. by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      It wasn't a hit. Get over it. DC is a dangerous goddamned place. The Rich story is fabrication and even Fox has walked away from it.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    3. Re: A robbery victim. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://archive.is/oypFz

  14. Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The problem with all this is Trump just is not working for the Russians or a Russian agenda in fact he does not work like that a blind man can see that!
    To be honest this whole Russia story is going to fall apart and be shown to be another load of crap. To be honest the media has gone crazy in their attempt to prove and discredit Trump in all sorts of ways, so much so that I cannot watch any of it. In fact when Trump bombed Syria the Russian connection was a dead duck, he would not have done that if he was aligned with Russia. It would be nice to not have any Russian stories for about 1 year to make up for all this crap.
    Trump is showing himself to be the first actually pro-American leader in many years and so if that is what Russia wanted then they got it but they are just meddling in all sorts of stuff because they are a mess. Trump has done nothing to help the Russians and nor will he.
    When all the whining and complaining is finished the budget is the first time anyone has actually faced up to the main financial problem in the US which is overspending. (Lots of people will say but I wanted some more money boo hoo.)

    1. Re:Old discredited news by Rockoon · · Score: 0, Troll

      To be honest this whole Russia story is going to fall apart and be shown to be another load of crap.

      What do you mean "is going to fall apart" ?

      It already fell apart a long time ago now The media and Democrats know it too. What they cant do is stop talking about it, because if they did someone might really start talking about why the Democrats really just got wiped out.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    2. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah yes, the party that got more votes is being wiped out. The party that gained seats, and would have more, if not for the documented illegal gerrymandering by the GOP. The party that knows having a Russian stooge in office is a bad thing, no wonder you want to wipe them out.

      Not to mention a free press, a secular state, and a sense of justice.

      All of these things are an impediment to the corrupt, petty tyrants that you endorse.

      Which is why you really love Russia now, and don't want this investigation to have traction. You fear it will expose you, don't you?

    3. Re:Old discredited news by BeanThere · · Score: 0

      Trump is showing himself to be the first actually pro-American leader in many years

      This is why all the 'opinion pieces' urging impeachment say it must happen 'fast' - because they know if they wait longer, the anti-Trump hysteria whipped up by the media will die down as people realize Trump is basically OK after all, and everyone starts realizing that no, the Russians didn't 'hack the election' or any such nonsense.

    4. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What's with all the Russophobia?

      Do the Russians blow up little girls at concerts? Or perhaps they call for the murder of gays/lesbians?
      Do they advocate stoning women who don't wear tents in public? Did their Prophet call for enslavement, rape, and murder of the Christians/Jews?

      I get it, you probably have the Russians precisely because they fight the radical Islamic terrorists. How fucking sick.

    5. Re:Old discredited news by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      Because they put forward a politically unappealing candidate with a giant walk-in closet full of skeletons and in America, the value of your vote is proportional to the amount of unoccupied land around you. Now let's get back to discussing one of the many issues that could lead to Trump's (eventually almost certain) impeachment.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    6. Re:Old discredited news by gtall · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Pro-American? So, he goes to Saudi Arabia and bends over for them. This is the same Saudi Arabia which funds the most virulent forms of militant Islam aimed at taking down the West. Then that twat goes to Europe and offends NATO claiming that the treaty saying the U.S. would defend NATO countries didn't mean what it says it means.

      Pro-American means taking from the poor and giving to the rich through yet more tax giveaways. It means fucking the U.S. raw environmentally. It means ceding the Pacific basin to China. It means cutting the State Dept. so that it cannot wield U.S. soft power. It means giving the Christian nutjobs their very own political political party. It means taking the concept of America to the rest of the world and dragging it into the mud where that asshole feels comfortable.

      Some pro-American leader.

    7. Re: Old discredited news by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Do the Russians blow up little girls at concerts

      No, they send girls who perform at concerts to prison in Siberia instead.

      Or perhaps they call for the murder of gays/lesbians?

      Yes, especially in the vassal state of Chechnya.

    8. Re:Old discredited news by dbIII · · Score: 1

      It's clearly either dishonest or insane to claim that baby Bush, Obama, Clinton, Bush and Reagan were not pro-American leaders.
      It may play well to the peanut gallery of fellow travellers but it just looks utterly nuts to everyone else - especially if you compare them to Trump who has spent his entire life trying to screw people over and is the most selfish President the USA has had. He's pro-Trump, he's not on anyone else's side.

    9. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What's with all the Russophobia?

      Common sense?

      Do the Russians blow up little girls at concerts?

      I certainly don't doubt that Putin would do so. The most you can say is that he won't see it as to his advantage.

      Or perhaps they call for the murder of gays/lesbians?

      They actually murder them

      Do they advocate stoning women who don't wear tents in public?

      No, they advocate throwing their enemies in the gulag.

      And no, they aren't exactly good on attire, no.

      Did their Prophet call for enslavement, rape, and murder of the Christians/Jews?

      Russians aren't big on religious tolerance either, no.

      I get it, you probably have the Russians precisely because they fight the radical Islamic terrorists. How fucking sick.

      Oh so, they fight the Radical Islamic terrorists, so nothing they do can be wrong, is that it?

      Maybe it's just like WW2, when Stalin and Hitler were BOTH MURDEROUS TYRANNICAL DESPOTS.

      And since the Islamic terrorists don't have a tenth of Hitler's war machine, I see no reason to buddy up to Putin.

      I will not give him a favorable reference in the House of Commons, the House of Representatives, or in the House of Saud.

    10. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do the Russians blow up little girls at concerts

      No, they send girls who perform at concerts to prison in Siberia instead.

      Pussy Riot girls? I actually agree that this is excessive and they should have been able to get away with their vandalism; I just wish they had the balls to do the same a Mosque while they were at it... Oh I see, you might actually get your throat cut if you did that to an Islamist structure...

      Or perhaps they call for the murder of gays/lesbians?

      Yes, especially in the vassal state of Chechnya.

      The same Chechnya that has 98% Muslim population, and received Clinton money/weapons support during their fight with the Russians in the 90s? I am glad you see my point.

    11. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I still don't get it. Why would the left endorse the medieval terrorist scum that directly opposes their declared values, but object so strongly to Putin?

      I mean, they do know about Muslim "view" on gays/transgenders, women's rights, religious freedom, political/social freedom, right to life, freedom of speech, sexual freedom, right? Are the liberals dumb?

    12. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And since the Islamic terrorists don't have a tenth of Hitler's war machine, I see no reason to buddy up to Putin.

      How many Americans did Putin murder? How many did the Islamists?

      You, friend, are a Useful Infidel. In gratitude, they will probably kill you last.

    13. Re:Old discredited news by benjfowler · · Score: 1

      What colours is the sky on your planet?

      Trump and his entourage is going to get cut to pieces. He is dead meat.

      When we are done with Trump Inc, we're coming after the Putin regime.

      I'd stop digging that hole if I were you.

    14. Re: Old discredited news by benjfowler · · Score: 0

      Putinbot ahoy.

      For the record, folks, the Russians are *not* our friends. They started this war, we will finish it.

    15. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I still don't get it. Why would the left endorse the medieval terrorist scum that directly opposes their declared values, but object so strongly to Putin?

      I mean, they do know about Muslim "view" on gays/transgenders, women's rights, religious freedom, political/social freedom, right to life, freedom of speech, sexual freedom, right? Are the liberals dumb?

      Ah, it's quite obvious you don't get it. You're just coming with an empty, pointless, rhetorical rejoinder about "endorsing medieval terrorist scum" to attack the left.

      The problem is, nope, we're not dumb enough to listen to you. It's kinda transparent. You should make an effort to grasp how ineffective that method is, it's been tried for decades, centuries even. The names may change, and the players, but it just doesn't work.

      Now if you want to ask why is Putin more of a threat than some Islamic terrorists, I'll point to the one who commands something in the way of an effective war machine, in an industrial state, and who commits regular acts of oppression that far exceed the random, ineffectual, and chaotic methods of the average terrorist that accomplish no particular strategic objective, and only pose a risk as they might incline some of the more fearful among us to acts of self-destructive character.

      But you'll have to look into your own self for that one. You'll probably prefer sticking to railing about them "libruls" and acting as if you even give a rat's ass about gays/transgenders, women's rights, religious freedom, political/social freedom, right to life, freedom of speech, sexual freedom...all sorts of things you'd take away in a heartbeat if it served your own interests.

      And since the Islamic terrorists don't have a tenth of Hitler's war machine, I see no reason to buddy up to Putin.

      How many Americans did Putin murder? How many did the Islamists?

      Does that matter to you? Putin will still remain the greater threat. Far more capable of harm.

      You, friend, are a Useful Infidel. In gratitude, they will probably kill you last.

      You, friend, are a useful idiot. In gratitude, they will put you in the gulag to die, just like all the rest.

    16. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It all depends on who they get their money and power from. There also seems to be some strange realignment with people on the right looking up to putin and people on the left endorsing the suppression of free speech.

    17. Re:Old discredited news by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Actually som Dems the hate the idea of Trump being lined early because the longer he's there the worse the GOP looks.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    18. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, there seems to be a large difference in perspective.
      Looking at Russia, all I see is a country that has lost 20% of its territory and 50% of its people in the last 30 years. I see a third-rate military power, shrinking, aging population, rapidly deteriorating nuclear defenses, an economy the size of Texas, with a corrupt, inefficient crony capitalist system run by a dwarf. If we stretch the facts and forget about NATO and Trump, then yes, Putin might be a threat to a few weak/tiny neighbors (Ukraine and Estonia?), but frankly, who gives a fuck about those? They left 30 years ago, he can have them back for all I care.

      You, on the other hand see Russia as an immediate, existential threat, worth starting a nuclear war over... Seems strange to me.

      Now, regarding Islam, I see a vicious, toxic psychological virus that currently infects about a billion people, spreading exponentially. "Our uterus is the weapon of Jihad," said some Islamist asshole in the 90s (google it if you care to find out which one). There's an automatic death sentence given to anyone who dares to leave Islam.

      Fundamentally, this pathogenic "religion" is incompatible with our Western modern-day society... Yet the "enlightened" liberals seem to have no antibodies against it.
      What do you think of Islam? A small benevolent accident of history that will die off on its own?

    19. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, there seems to be a large difference in perspective.

      Oh, it's not merely a difference in perspective, there's a degree of distortion. Like a funhouse mirror.

      Looking at Russia, all I see is a country that has lost 20% of its territory and 50% of its people in the last 30 years. I see a third-rate military power, shrinking, aging population, rapidly deteriorating nuclear defenses, an economy the size of Texas, with a corrupt, inefficient crony capitalist system run by a dwarf.

      Looking at Russia, I see a country that is run by a murderous tyrant (whose height doesn't matter), and that is far more likely to be a problem than a bunch of guys whose best efforts was hijacking some planes, and whose current practices are broadcasting executions on Youtube and getting disaffected idiots to build bombs.

      Islam? They couldn't do anything that Dylan Roof or Timothy McVeigh didn't manage.

      Russia? They actually have an industrial base, technological resources, and some semblance of discipline.

      That they're a system of corruption is making it more dangerous, not less.

      All your claims of collapse? Compound the worries.

      If we stretch the facts and forget about NATO and Trump, then yes, Putin might be a threat to a few weak/tiny neighbors (Ukraine and Estonia?), but frankly, who gives a fuck about those? They left 30 years ago, he can have them back for all I care.

      Your indifference is already established, you need not compound the issue by adding to it. You don't care, I get it. You need not keep trying to make me believe you further.

      You, on the other hand see Russia as an immediate, existential threat, worth starting a nuclear war over... Seems strange to me.

      Seems like distortion to me. Who is talking about starting a Nuclear War...other than you, for your strawman jousting?

      Though I do suspect there are some people who would like to bring back the posturing over warheads again, they may not be the ones you believe they would be.

      Now, regarding Islam, I see a vicious, toxic psychological virus that currently infects about a billion people, spreading exponentially.

      Exponentially, eh? From what zero? Because last I checked, there were a billion members in 1990, so you're not making a convincing case there. And for a billion people infected by a virus, it sure doesn't seem capable of much virulence to me, especially since most of the casualties of their afflictions in the last year were internecine.

      Sad, but true. The worst fighting is within the same house.

      "Our uterus is the weapon of Jihad," said some Islamist asshole in the 90s (google it if you care to find out which one).

      Actually, that reminds me of the Quiverfull movement. And other assorted white nationalists.

      It's a notion that's hardly unique, or uncommon, but I don't think it's really sustainable.

      There's an automatic death sentence given to anyone who dares to leave Islam.

      Not really, no. Plenty of people have quit, and lived! Allah apparently doesn't feel terribly bothered. I mean sure, they're going to die, but we're all going to die.

      Try to spare me the hyperbole, if you want to say something, do it without the excess.

      Fundamentally, this pathogenic "religion" is incompatible with our Western modern-day society...

      So you say. So far you've not offered any substance to your argument, preferring instead to make up complaints about liberals. It's less persuasive than you might imagine.

      Yet the "enlightened" liberals seem to have no antibodies against

    20. Re: Old discredited news by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Is killing political rivals with Polonium to "send a message" not excessive enough for you?
      Also Putin rode to power on a wave of anti-US sentiment and he's still stirring that pot. You may not consider him your enemy but he certainly considers you one, or at least he tells his press such things.

    21. Re: Old discredited news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Looking at Russia, I see a country that is run by a murderous tyrant

      Yes, Russia, and about 50% of all the other countries. Why are you picking on Russia instead of say Iran, or bloody China? If you think Russia is the number 1 thread, you are crazier than Obama.

      Exponentially, eh? From what zero? Because last I checked, there were a billion members in 1990, so you're not making a convincing case there.

      Don't be obtuse. In 1990, 1 billion people were Muslims; in 2016, about 2 billion are (vs ~3.5 billion Christians). Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_population_growth

      Seems like distortion to me. Who is talking about starting a Nuclear War...

      Libtards are calling for war (yes, including Hillary). All the talk about shooting down Russian planes in Syria, sinking their ships to "send a message," or sending "Russian coffins back to teach Putin a lesson." Crazy talk. If you don't see how this leads to war... You seem like a reasonable guy: wake up!

      Islam? They couldn't do anything that Dylan Roof or Timothy McVeigh didn't manage.

      Non-stop terror attacks every week? Exponential growth in population? Massive colonization of Europe/US?

      Your indifference is already established, you need not compound the issue by adding to it...

      Look what happened the last time we had a "caring" president in charge (Obama the Peacemaker). Syria and Lybia are now a warzone, 300 million people affected or directly displaced. Flood of rapefugees in the West.
      Yes, I care about my country first. The others get what's left over.

      You want to denounce the Wahabbists of Saudi Arabia?

      Fucking right. I have loudly denounced Ronald Ray-gun's and BJ Clinton's cozying up to the terrorists (sorry, "freedom fighters"), not just Obama's direct support of the fuckers.

      Jeremy Joseph Christian

      Crazy and/or evil people should be locked up and treated accordingly. I hope we are in agreement on that.

    22. Re:Old discredited news by sdinfoserv · · Score: 1

      2 different law enforcement officials from 2 different parties (Dem & GOP) plus the special prosecutor have publicly stated the Ruskies HAVE effected the election.
      sorry, but you need to stop drinking the FauxNoise cool aid.

  15. Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Russia is no friend to Trump and his administration. They only care about exploiting the Trump administration to achieve their goals. Governor Romney was right in 2012 when he said Russia was the biggest geopolitical threat to the United States. The left was wrong to laugh at him, but the right is even dumber to ignore Romney's warning now that evidence shows he was right.

    The problem is that the right seems to have taken a favorable view of Russia now. Perhaps it's because the right wing "Christians" love that Putin has cracked down on homosexuality in Russia. I kid you not, I've heard Christians praise Putin for this. Russia was all too happy to look the other way as gays were rounded up and tortured in Chechnya. All too many Christians objected to Trump during the primaries and were all too happy to fall in line and vote for him once he got the nomination, all because the Republican party platform claims to be pro-life. Never mind, of course, all the other evils that Trump supports, and the fact that the Republicans will never ban abortion because it would take away the one reason people vote for them. If there is a God, a lot of Christians will be burning in hell for what they've supported in the name of Jesus.

    Putin cannot be trusted. He is no friend to democracy and free society, nor will he ever be. Putin is an evil man, but the right wingers seem to have developed a love for him. They're too stupid to realize that, despite helping to get Trump elected, that love is not mutual and Putin is only interested in exploiting far right political leaders for his own benefit.

    1. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Few people in the Republican Party like Putin. Few conservatives do as well. So your post is mostly just made up crap you read on the internet.

      Fortunately, Hillary Clinton was not elected. She is an awful person, worse than any right winger I've ever seen. She combines the worst of the neocon right and the hippie left. Righties always want to go to war and so does Hillary. Lefties don't know a thing about economics and neither does Hillary.

      But clearly 25% of the adult population likes her, which says a lot about why we need more selective breeding programs.

    2. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Governor Romney was right in 2012 when he said Russia was the biggest geopolitical threat to the United States. The left was wrong to laugh at him

      The laughter was because he was stating the incredibly obvious not because he was wrong. What other choice was there? China, who want to sell us so much and don't want to kill the golden goose?

    3. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you think that abortions are murder (and late term abortions indeed are murder, but too many people don't make a distinction between late-term and early-term), then it's logical to oppose that as your top priority. Pretty much everyone opposes killing of newborns.

    4. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The laughter was because he was stating the incredibly obvious not because he was wrong.

      Nah, in this case, they really were mocking him for being wrong (or more accurately, because they were partisans looking to mock). There are many examples still around. Here is one example. The NYT editorial page wrote, "His comments display either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics." That's a clear statement that they thought he was wrong (or maybe their article is just craven politics).

      What other choice was there?

      The NYT article gave examples of the "real" threats: "Al Qaeda and its imitators, Iran, North Korea, economic stresses."

      I'll go on record saying I don't think Russia is a threat, and they could become a strong ally if we had a president with any diplomacy skill (Bush Sr did well in that regard. Clinton was decent).

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    5. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, in this case, they really were mocking him for being wrong (or more accurately, because they were partisans looking to mock).

      Nah, it's because Mitt Romney was that tone deaf and inarticulate about it. He DID sound like he was stuck in the 1980s, trying to beat the war drum. He was generally bad all around, though the most unforgivable thing for me was his lies about the size of the US military. You know why? It's not because you can't have that discussion. It's because you can't have that discussion with a guy who talks about comparing numbers that are MEANINGLESS. The US Navy after WW1? I'll take a single US carrier group against it, with the only provisio is that I'd need to arm the ships for the fight. Normally, they just don't carry enough shipkiller weapons. It would be pointless, after all.

      Ok, Ok, I grant they may need to configure the FF a bit, but I doubt that'll be a problem.

      There are many examples still around. Here is one example [nytimes.com]. The NYT editorial page wrote, "His comments display either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics." That's a clear statement that they thought he was wrong (or maybe their article is just craven politics).

      Selective quoting is not convincing.

      Here's what you failed to quote:

      Russia is an unsavory player. In December, Vladimir Putin’s party tried to steal a parliamentary election; this month, he faced fraud charges from international observers after his own re-election as president. He has cracked down on critics and restricted democracy. His support for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria is unconscionable.

      But Russia can’t be wished away or denounced away. It has to be challenged and the relationship managed with vigilance and skepticism. The administration was right to express concerns about the stolen parliamentary election — drawing verbal attacks on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton — and to try to publicly shame the Kremlin on Syria. Mr. Obama also needs to more firmly support democracy in Russia and remind Mr. Putin that many obstacles to cooperation are of his own making.

      Leaving that out...kinda puts you in a bind.

      The NYT article gave examples of the "real" threats: "Al Qaeda and its imitators, Iran, North Korea, economic stresses."

      All things that Trump complained about. Vigorously. You can't say HE never learned a thing.

      You're not winning points with your craven politics with me though.

      I'll go on record saying I don't think Russia is a threat, and they could become a strong ally if we had a president with any diplomacy skill (Bush Sr did well in that regard. Clinton was decent).

      Let the record show that you think a tyrannical despot would make a strong ally, and that you think Bush Sr. had any diplomatic skill. You know, the guy who failed to get Reagan to work with Gorbachev, leading to the Russian coup, who let Saddam Hussein get into a war with Kuwait, who had to invade Panama to get our own tyrant out of power, and that you don't realize they would be a threat, ally or not.

      But at least you didn't say GOOD ally. Strong is more open to interpretation, so you can be half-right on that. They might be strong by one meaning of the term, but not others.

      Clinton, BTW, was not even half decent. He couldn't sustain peacekeeping operations in Somalia, Bosnia, or even Rwanda.

      And he let the Iraq situation fester. I'll be honest, I can't think of any international accomplishments on his part.

      The guy was personable enough to get elected twice, but once was thanks to Ross Perot, the other was by being more charismatic than Bob Dole.

      Even aside from his personal issues, he just didn't do that much.

    6. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think putin is mostly on the authoritarian facist side of politics that some republicans subscribe to. There is no communist Russia to militate against anymore so they cant really complain about collectivism. Then you have news outlets like RT that point out corruption that US media would like to cover up that actually make the Russians look reasonable and a "beacon of truth" when really they just arent invested in that particular corrupt action.

    7. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Let the record show that you think a tyrannical despot would make a strong ally, and that you think Bush Sr. had any diplomatic skill.

      The easiest way to see Bush Sr's skill in diplomacy is to compare him to his son.
      After Kuwait, Bush Sr after a lot of work managed to get every country in the middle east to work on the same side as Israel in the Middle East.
      After 9/11, nearly every government in the world was on the side of the US. Bush Jr managed to turn them against the US in just a single month.

      There was a lot that could have gone wrong in the aftermath of the soviet union, but all the worst problems were avoided. We can look at El Salvador since you brought up central America: Bush had a huge success ending the war there. And I can't say it was necessarily Bush, but his team did well.

      The leaches that were still around in the foreign policy establishment by the time Bush Jr became president were pathetic, though. Rumsfeld was a garbage human. Powell was solid.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    8. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let the record show that you think a tyrannical despot would make a strong ally, and that you think Bush Sr. had any diplomatic skill.

      The easiest way to see Bush Sr's skill in diplomacy is to compare him to his son.

      That's like saying he's not as wet as the Pacific Ocean, or as dry as the Atacama. Frankly, that he raised such an incompetent son, and let him engage in further folly, speaks poorly of his parenting skills.

      Sometimes I wonder if Jeb would have done a better job, but he hadn't yet had the fortuitous death of Lawton Chiles so he lost the chance he might have had, especially once his brother absolutely murdered it. I do suspect he regrets fixing the Florida election for his brother.

      After Kuwait, Bush Sr after a lot of work managed to get every country in the middle east to work on the same side as Israel in the Middle East.

      After Kuwait, Bush Sr told the Army to march home, and declare victory, and everybody pretended to be friends, while the dictator was still in power, and nothing really changed, let alone improved.

      After 9/11, nearly every government in the world was on the side of the US. Bush Jr managed to turn them against the US in just a single month.

      I admit, Operation "Infinite Justice" was was in that time frame, and it was spectacularly offensive and incredibly stupid. But still, he managed to get past that gaffe, and give us 12 more years of occupation, and trillions down the drain! (I think I saw something on the order of six trillion being due on it...)

      Everybody got alienated over a long, tedious, process, that was so bad, when George W. Bush was out of office, his replacement got a Nobel Peace Prize just so the Norwegians could tweak their noses at him.

      But it was lengthy, a long illness, like cancer, not a sudden catastrophic flu. More's the pity.

      There was a lot that could have gone wrong in the aftermath of the soviet union, but all the worst problems were avoided.

      No, not all of them. Like I said, there was an entirely unnecessary coup. Not to mention all the lost radioactive material. And Chemicals. And biologicals. And to be honest, even the conventional arms have been a problem.

      What's worse, is that they're back to a Stalin-level dictator, and it took barely a generation to accomplish.

      I'm sorry, but I can't credit someone for avoiding a nuclear war just because that would have been a worse outcome.

      We can look at El Salvador since you brought up central America: Bush had a huge success ending the war there. And I can't say it was necessarily Bush, but his team did well.

      You mean the years of civil war, murder, and oppression, that was basically ignored under Reagan as they made convenient allies, and not the worst example only because Oliver North is associated with funneled arms to the Contras, not the Junta?

      Hmm. Well, at least you didn't bring up Grenada as an example of military accomplishment.

      The leaches that were still around in the foreign policy establishment by the time Bush Jr became president were pathetic, though. Rumsfeld was a garbage human. Powell was solid.

      Powell is like the guy who looks good, and talks tough, but ends up not quite managing to follow through. At best, I can pity him for becoming GWB's patsy. He wasn't solid. He was hollow. I had hopes for him, but he never quite delivered.

      Rumsfeld, was an example of GWB's father's friends getting his hooks in, and their advice was as good as it was during the Nixon-era. Namely, bad.

      And the only credit I can give Rice, is that she didn't have to immediately quit when her payments from foreign sources were revealed.

    9. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      You're looking for polemic.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    10. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're looking for polemic.

      No, the word I'm looking for is rather different, I thought it might be "birddogging" or "coondogging" but they're not quite right. It's a word for when someone employs or points to a person as a way to discredit some position while ignoring the merits of it. It's not false flag, but it's close. Thank you for trying though.

      Now do you have anything to say towards the contents of my post? Or are you going to bow out of the conversation?

      It's fine either way.

    11. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Your post is really long and scattered. Not focused. :/
      We agree on a lot of things. That Bush Jr was awful. That dictators in general are bad. That said:

      Putin is not a Stalin-level dictator, not even close. I don't even think you believe it. Putin builds crappy churches, Stalin built crappy subways.

      I was talking about the diplomacy around Desert Storm, but you changed the subject to whether the strategy of leaving at the end was good or not. It's a totally different topic. But seriously, do you think that Bush Sr should have occupied Iraq?

      Also it's pretty clear you don't know anything about the end of the war in El Salvador lol. That's ok, most people don't, but it's hard to imagine a worse end. If the FMLN had won outright, it would have been disastrous for the country.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    12. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by dbIII · · Score: 1
      Fair enough, but there very plenty of other reasons to laugh at Romney other than that.

      I'll go on record saying I don't think Russia is a threat

      It appears that thinking wasn't involved before stating that :( You've got to toe the party line I suppose and show that you are a good party member by denying reality.

    13. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your post is really long and scattered. Not focused. :/

      Indeed, it was a interspersed conversation, a common style on the Internet. Some don't follow it, preferring other methods, but I practice it myself, as I feel it leads to a fuller engagement, as I find it enables more responsive replies and avoids the problems that can come from cutting material.

      Some people, I am aware, like things a different way, but I find they tend to lack when they cut things without even expressing say, a sentiment of agreement or comity, which causes its own share of problems. Some of them even get offended when that's pointed out to them. They don't like the consequences of their behavior.

      Of course, I know I can ramble, but I don't mind, that is a choice I know I'm making. I can live without embracing the Twitter style. It has consequences, but I can live with them.

      We agree on a lot of things. That Bush Jr was awful. That dictators in general are bad.

      Not exactly, I would say in specific, they are bad, while in general, they are problematic, but not necessarily bad (ok, so the exceptional Cincinnatus is perhaps rare, I will still note their existence) and perhaps it would be appropriate to list the particulars if you wish to discuss Bushes. Bush the 2nd was awful in a lot of ways, but you might find somebody objecting if you merely said that. I actually had that conversation come up recently, though it involved Comcast, as it were.

      And it is on those specifics, which we might find some very important differences. That would be a potentially useful conversation, I think.

      Putin is not a Stalin-level dictator, not even close. I don't even think you believe it. Putin builds crappy churches, Stalin built crappy subways.

      Oh, I wouldn't care half so much if it was crappy churches and subways, bad construction is an issue, but it isn't the problem. It's their other manner of behavior, the oppression, the murder, the exploitation, the aggression that matters.

      Your chosen examples, actually perplex me. It's odd. I might consider changing my words to Stalin-kind, but I really do find your phrasing to be odd.

      Of course, I would say that Stalin did try to build places of worship. Just not religious ones. He wanted another dogma, because it was the style of the time. They merely called their temples by another name.

      I was talking about the diplomacy around Desert Storm, but you changed the subject to whether the strategy of leaving at the end was good or not. It's a totally different topic. But seriously, do you think that Bush Sr should have occupied Iraq?

      Actually, it's the same subject, because I noted that whatever you say about the diplomacy, the eventual outcome was really the same dictator was still in power, and we got 10 more years of posturing, and then we ended up with an occupation anyway, the Mid-East in turmoil, and no gains.

      So no, I won't be commending Bush the First for his Short Victorious War. That actually level of alliance you talk about? By choosing to to argue, I say that actually is the damning part, as if he had the world united, by your argument, and what did he do? Piss it away.

      Of course, it would be plausible to argue that he didn't really have that level of unification or agreement, and it was only superficial, but I felt no desire to do so. I prefer establishing his failed conclusion first.

      If you want to find somebody to argue that with you, I wish you luck, but I won't be wasting time with that.

      Also it's pretty clear you don't know anything about the end of the war in El Salvador lol. That's ok, most people don't, but it's hard to imagine a worse end. If the FMLN had won outright, it would have been disastrous for the country.

      Oh, I thought we were discussing Bush, and what he did, not what somebody else did, or could have done. Did you

    14. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      I belong to neither party. Last election I voted green.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    15. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Because the group of murderous thugs that I noted that 80s Bush was quite content to support, was also disastrous, a bloody reign of terror for the country. So blood one way, you speculate, but blood is what Bush delivered. To me, it seems clear that you want to ignore that, when it is exposing the blood-tainted hands of the US, and no matter how you cut it, I can't blame it all on Senile Old Reagan

      Um, what exactly do you think he should have done? I'm an FMLN supporter, I have the t-shirt from a rally. But even I recognize that it would have been worse if they'd won the war.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    16. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Nice try.
      The "Russians are our friends now" is a fucking huge indicator in flashing neon light of a Trump apologist.

    17. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um, what exactly do you think he should have done.

      Confess to his crimes, resign in disgrace, serve a lengthy prison term.

      He still could manage the first, but I'm not sure leaving whatever charity boards he is on would fufill the second, and time most likely precludes the latter.

      I'm an FMLN supporter, I have the t-shirt from a rally. But even I recognize that it would have been worse if they'd won the war.

      Yes, Bush and his ilk certainly would have managed to do something worse if that had happened.

      But their hands are stained with blood (not dirt, but blood) quite enough, so no, I won't be commending him for letting a war end after a decade of oppression, brutality and savagery.

    18. Re:Only complete idiots are surprised by this by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      ok, you have no reasonable answer lol

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  16. TREASON! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While the republithug gangsters are a legitimate military target, sabotaging the Progressive Movement is a crime against humanity. It's time to outlaw hacking and lock down the internet. #iamwithher

  17. never bitch... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You bitch would have never won at all. So you wanna stay in your own little fantasy world miss killary.

  18. Not anonymous sources by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not anonymous sources.

    The FBI confirmed the Russian hack of Floridas election data back in last year. They also said Republicans had been hacked, but the data was not released.

    http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-james-comey-russian-hacking-russia-election-2016-republicans-541276

    Roger Stones coordination with Guccifer was defended by Stone himself on various Russia Today news programs, e.g. :
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjMUyPwe38E

    The initial leak about Jared smuggling the Russian Ambassador into Trump tower, then the head of Russias VEB bank was from anonymous sources, but the meeting was confirmed by Sean Spicer of the Whitehouse.

    Sergey Gorkov's of the Putin linked spy bank VEB, (under sanctions after being caught running a Russian spy ring in its New York branch), said the meeting was a property business loan and totally normal, Jared via Sean Spicer claimed it was to open a dialog to Putin and totally normal.

    i.e. the meeting was confirmed by Jared and VEB and both accounts did not match up.
    http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/27/politics/kushner-meeting-russian-banker-tied-to-putin/index.html

    1. Re: Not anonymous sources by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CNN. 93% negative coverage of the president according to a recent Harvard (that bastion of conservative thought) study. So sure, I believe them. /s

    2. Re: Not anonymous sources by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      because hahvahd is such a bastion of truth.

  19. LOL Hillary is ineligible by birth by Crashmarik · · Score: 1

    You actually have to have been born, summoned from the Netherhells doesn't count.

  20. Cover-up for the murder of a whistle blower by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guccifer 2.0 was created by the DNC to cover up the murder of a whistle blower. Donna Brazile was put in charge of the DNC to run the cover up. She also controlled D.C. so that the murder investigation could be stopped. By presenting the leak as a hack, Obama could unmask the Trump campaign and leak their private communications by disseminating national security information to political appointees.

    See this for details about the "Guccifer 2.0" "hack":
    https://archive.is/oypFz

  21. Is Russia the right focus? by Soft · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've read an interesting opinion piece by a Russian opponent: http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/03/06/trump-russia-conspiracy-trap/.

    Basically, the messages are: first, yes, Russia has meddled in, and there are links between them and Trump. But it's nothing new, Russia's always tried to destabilize Western democracies and undermine their credibility, including by supporting political crackpots there. This time the crackpots won the election.

    Second, the media frenzy about this is being played up because it's seemingly the only scandal that riles people enough that the Republican majority in Congress might have to take notice, instead of looking the other way as they did with all the other documented lies. So Trump opponents are playing this specific card.

    But, third, there's probably nothing concrete enough there to warrant a successful impeachment. And this is beginning to border on speculation and conspiracy-theory thinking, in other words using some of Trump's foul tactics against him in the unlikely hope of getting rid of him. Bad precedent.

    So, fourth, not only it won't work, it's drowning out more urgent and serious issues: dismantling healthcare, crippling budget cuts everywhere but in the military, hurting government agencies. If more attention was focused on them instead, sure, it would be even less likely to cause Trump's demise, but it would mitigate the damage, as it did for the Muslim travel ban.

    1. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by Freischutz · · Score: 1

      So, fourth, not only it won't work, it's drowning out more urgent and serious issues: dismantling healthcare, crippling budget cuts everywhere but in the military, hurting government agencies. If more attention was focused on them instead, sure, it would be even less likely to cause Trump's demise, but it would mitigate the damage, as it did for the Muslim travel ban.

      That's probably the most serious point. The thing is that the people voted for all of this and they are going to get it. It's a bit like that recent and shocking discovery by a large portion of the Republican voting citizenry that: ((the ACA = ObamaCare) ^ (I'm on ACA)) -> Repealing Obamacare affects me!!! The Republicans look set to go to town with wrecking not just the ACA but Medicare, Medcaid and a number of other benefits the Republican voting citizenry enjoys either directly or indirectly because, for example, their ageing parents are on ACA, Medicare or Medicaid and will be suffering, destitute or both when these programs are repealed and replaced with health 'insurance' that's just for healthy people and where you get kicked into a defunded high risk pool if you have a pre-exiting condition or the instant you get sick. It is it's OK to vote for Republicans because you both are Christian, pro-life, pro-religion or pro-gun, after all, Americans live in a (nominally at least) representative democracy. But if you forget to check whether those same Republicans you are voting for because they are Christian, pro-life, pro-religion or pro-gun are also pro-you it's your own damn fault when the Republicans take things away from you that matter to you and are critical to the existence of you and your family so that they can give rich people a monstrous tax cut. Over the next two years the Republicans are going to wreck a social security system that took decades to build and that seems to be the price that must be paid for millions of Americans to learn the simple basic lesson,when voting for a politician, before you check whether he/she is Christian, pro-life, pro-religion or pro-gun or pro anything else you care about, first of all check whether he/she is pro-you.

    2. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      So, fourth, not only it won't work, it's drowning out more urgent and serious issues: dismantling healthcare

      Obama already did a great job dismantling healthcare in the US and setting it on a path to self-destruction. Trump and the GOP don't look like they are going to fix it, but they can't make it much worse.

      crippling budget cuts everywhere but in the military, hurting government agencies

      Hard as that may for you to believe, that's what Trump and Republicans are elected for. Unfortunately, they are not doing their job: their budget cuts are cosmetic at this point, and they will get trimmed back further as Republicans don't want to give up their own pork spending. And many would like to see several departments and agencies eliminated entirely.

    3. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US has meddled in too: in europa, in Ukraine, in Sirya, in Libia, in Russia, in Turkey ... so, what's the point?

    4. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      The Republicans look set to go to town with wrecking not just the ACA but Medicare, Medcaid and a number of other benefits the Republican voting citizenry enjoys either directly or indirectly because, for example, their ageing parents are on ACA, Medicare or Medicaid and will be suffering, destitute or both when these programs are repealed and replaced with health 'insurance' that's just for healthy people and where you get kicked into a defunded high risk pool if you have a pre-exiting condition or the instant you get sick

      You're fabricating political positions that don't exist. Republicans aren't going to touch Medicare because it would be political suicide. We're stuck with Medicare for the time being; if anything is going to happen to it, it's going to be phased out over a period of many decades.

      The "you get kicked into a defunded high risk pool when you get sick" system is the shitty system that progressives created in the US with employment-linked healthcare. The ACA did little to fix that problem. Under an actual private insurance system, insurers are bound by long-term contracts that cover you even if you lose your job.

      Furthermore, the large single-payer healthcare system that the US has (Medicare/Medicaid) is far too expensive; if you want to keep it alive and have, say, a British-style healthcare system, you need British-style cost controls and nationalization of healthcare providers. It's the medical and pharma lobbies (big Democratic donors) that are preventing that from happening and are saddling us with a public healthcare system that is crony capitalism on a grand scale, and that is simply not sustainable. Democrats have even opposed means testing for Medicare benefits.

      The healthcare system in the US was unsustainable and corrupt before the ACA, and it is still unsustainable and corrupt after the ACA, arguably even more so. There are ways of fixing it. For example, any of the European systems would be better. But they simply aren't on the table, in large part because Democrats refuse to even consider them.

    5. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by thrich81 · · Score: 1

      "It's the medical and pharma lobbies (big Democratic donors)" -- somewhat misleading, Phama companies are big donors to both sides but Republicans generally received more than the Dems. From the Center for Responsive Politics (https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?Ind=H4300), "Pharmaceutical companies, which develop both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, have been among the biggest political spenders for years. They've traditionally supported Republican candidates, as they have received 64 percent of industry contributions on average since the 1990 election cycle."

    6. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obama already did a great job dismantling healthcare in the US and setting it on a path to self-destruction. Trump and the GOP don't look like they are going to fix it, but they can't make it much worse.

      This is starting to piss me off - it's starting to look like they won't do anything at all because they're too afraid of political ramifications.

      Grow a spine. Rip the bandaid off. When your house is burning down, you don't wait for new blueprints before you put the fire out. Repeal Obamacare NOW, worry about how to replace it afterwards.

    7. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by quantaman · · Score: 1

      I've read an interesting opinion piece by a Russian opponent:
      http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/03/06/trump-russia-conspiracy-trap/.

      Basically, the messages are: first, yes, Russia has meddled in, and there are links between them and Trump. But it's nothing new, Russia's always tried to destabilize Western democracies and undermine their credibility, including by supporting political crackpots there. This time the crackpots won the election.

      There are a few differences this time:
      1) Russia seems to have had significant influence with several people in the crackpot's administration, and that influence seems to have been translated into proposed policy.

      2) Several members of the crackpot's campaign were having unusual communications with the Russians, and may have been colluding in Russian interference.

      3) Russia may have significant leverage over the main crackpot himself.

      None of these may be true, but there's more than enough evidence to warrant investigation.

      Second, the media frenzy about this is being played up because it's seemingly the only scandal that riles people enough that the Republican majority in Congress might have to take notice, instead of looking the other way as they did with all the other documented lies. So Trump opponents are playing this specific card.

      Russia having direct influence in the White House is a pretty damn big deal. I don't think the media is going overboard with its focus.

      But, third, there's probably nothing concrete enough there to warrant a successful impeachment. And this is beginning to border on speculation and conspiracy-theory thinking, in other words using some of Trump's foul tactics against him in the unlikely hope of getting rid of him. Bad precedent.

      As I said, there's a lot of real evidence in play. And being a lying incompetent President isn't an impeachable offence, conspiring with Russia is.

      So, fourth, not only it won't work, it's drowning out more urgent and serious issues: dismantling healthcare, crippling budget cuts everywhere but in the military, hurting government agencies. If more attention was focused on them instead, sure, it would be even less likely to cause Trump's demise, but it would mitigate the damage, as it did for the Muslim travel ban.

      This is a very valid point, the focus on Trump's scandals allow the rest of his administration (and the GOP legislators) to get away with some astoundingly outrageous things. I'm honestly not sure what their plan is in some cases, I mean WTF are they thinking with health care? Have they even considered what would happen if their bill became law?

      --
      I stole this Sig
    8. Re:Is Russia the right focus? by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      The reason why you think that this is "misleading" is because you don't understand how Democrats corrupt markets and think in a simplistic "good for greedy corporations" and "bad for greedy corporations" dichotomy. If Democrats were generically anti-business, they would get no contributions from business.

      But what Democrats are actually doing is interfere in markets in order to favor businesses that donate to them and hurt businesses that don't. That's why you see this split in donations between the Republican and the Democratic party: Democrats receive donations from businesses they sell power to, and everybody else goes to the Republicans.

  22. Hillary Cliton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    HRC would have won the election if she weren't HRC. Truth.

    1. Re:Hillary Cliton by cahuenga · · Score: 1

      "I would have won had I not been subjected to the unprecedented attacks by Comey and the Russians..."

      It's always the last straw that breaks the camel's back. Somehow, all the other straws don't matter.

  23. Re: God bless Putin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What is the point of releasing her personal tax returns when her foundation has all of the sketchy stuff?

  24. Re: God bless Putin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As a politician, she knew that was coming and of course all would have been fine. So what.

  25. 26th January is after 20th January by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump was inaugurated 20th January, he asked for the unredacted memo almost immediately, the spies were arrested on the 26th January.

    One is FSB, one is ex FSB, and they fit the profile of two spies in the pee memo that confirmed/leaked the Putin plan the previous year.

  26. 4th amendment what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I claim your computer was hacked by the Ruskies. Therefore I need you to turn over all of your personal data and communications so I can comb through it to confirm my allegation. Of course, the watchers who will be reviewing your files are trustworthy citizens, with no political biases, and will certainly never leak any information they find during the course of this investigation. If you don't, then you are obstructing a hacking investigation or you must be hiding something. We are just here to help.

  27. get real by ooloorie · · Score: 2

    "In the course of its investigation," they add, "the FBI could get access to the Trump Organization's computer network, meaning FBI agents could possibly find records connected to other investigations." A senior FBI official (now retired) concedes to ABC that "There could be stuff in there that they [the Trump organization] do not want to become part of a separate criminal investigation."

    The idea that there is this secret stash of documents that is finally going to reveal Trump's secret identity as Dr. Evil and is going to doom his presidency is wishful thinking. Trump's computers and people around Trump were under surveillance for months under the Obama administration, and Trump has many people in his administration, among Republicans, and in his organization who hate him; if there had been anything substantive, it would have come out by now, either in leaks or in official investigations.

    1. Re:get real by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Trump's secret identity as Dr. Evil

      It's not exactly secret what Trump is which is why the situation is so ridiculous and potentially tragic. Just one of many connections - his former top advisor was very publicly running a fucking PR campaign for Russian rebels in Ukraine FFS and getting paid directly (not under the counter) by Russian spooks. He was fucking proud of doing promotional work for the shits who shot down a Malaysian airliner with US citizens aboard. Then there's the Russian bank loans to Trump - all perfectly legal but not a good look for a US President to be so far in debt to Russian banks.

      f there had been anything substantive, it would have come out by now, either in leaks or in official investigations.

      A lot has come out, just not details. Even Watergate took a few years, as did Iran-contra. The CIA Church commission stuff took years as well.

    2. Re:get real by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      It's not exactly secret what Trump is which is why the situation is so ridiculous and potentially tragic. Just one of many connections

      "Connections" are not illegal. Furthermore, since it "is not exactly a secret", voters took it into account when voting for Trump.

      A lot has come out, just not details. Even Watergate took a few years, as did Iran-contra. The CIA Church commission stuff took years as well.

      Yeah, Russia may have hired trolls to attack Hillary on social media, and maybe had a hand in leaking Hillary's E-mails. Anything else? How does that translate into a Watergate-like affair?

    3. Re:get real by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Don't play dumb. Watergate was the example of how long it takes for an investigation and not some suggestion that Trump asked people to break into a hotel room.
      I really don't get why you are still cheering for the Manchurian Canditate when he's really got it in for immigrants and is going to get "tough" on gays at some point to get the hard right of the Republicans to do some things for him.

    4. Re:get real by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Don't play dumb.

      That's not an answer to the question of what illegal things Trump is supposed to have done. Having "connections" with foreign governments is not illegal, and neither is having the support of foreign governments. If it were, both Obama and Hillary would be in prison. So far, I have not heard anybody articulate anything actually illegal that Trump is supposed to have done.

      I really don't get why you are still cheering for [Trump]

      Actually, I have never been "cheering" for Trump and I didn't vote for him. However, the more I observe progressives and Democrats post-election, the more relieved I am that Hillary lost.

      when he's really got it in for immigrants and is going to get "tough" on gays at some point to get the hard right of the Republicans to do some things for him.

      Well, your concern trolling is noted for what it's worth.

    5. Re:get real by dbIII · · Score: 1

      That's not an answer to the question of what illegal things Trump is supposed to have done

      Indeed - instead it's directly addressing the question that you actually asked instead of a new one that you didn't ask.
      I'm utterly baffled by you "alt-right" people. It's as if you grew up in a box and somehow missed seeing more than a tiny slice of life. Trump is not going to be grateful for your cheerleading and will turn on you the second he can get some advantage out of it.

    6. Re:get real by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Trump is not going to be grateful for your cheerleading and will turn on you the second he can get some advantage out of it.

      Which part of Actually, I have never been "cheering" for Trump and I didn't vote for him. However, the more I observe progressives and Democrats post-election, the more relieved I am that Hillary lost. did you not understand?

      I'm utterly baffled by you "alt-right" people.

      But I'm not baffled by you at all: you're the typical Alinsky/Goebbels/Soviet-style totalitarian propagandist, with your misrepresentations, lies, and statist ideology.

    7. Re:get real by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Actually, I have never been "cheering" for Trump

      Keep on telling yourself that, but dozens upon dozens of your posts indicate stridently that you were cheering for him all the way (and still seem to be doing so from time to time for some incredibly strange reason).

    8. Re:get real by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Keep on telling yourself that,

      I'm telling you, you just persist in misrepresenting me.

      Of course, your conduct comes out of the propagandistic playbook of totalitarians and statists: you're despicable.

    9. Re:get real by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Ah yes - I remember your rather odd "statist" insult from much earlier - thanks for reminding me that you are an anarchist that has been cheering Trump on because you hope he will destroy government in the USA.
      You really should try doing some growing up before you end up learning from experience that you will be utterly fucked if you get the stupid shit you are asking for.

    10. Re:get real by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You really should try doing some growing up before you end up learning from experience that you will be utterly fucked if you get the stupid shit you are asking for.

      You need to take your own advice, because in addition to being rude and bigoted, you're also clearly profoundly ignorant.

    11. Re:get real by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Oh really? Examples please.
      What's wrong with liking the idea of having a country instead of anarchy anyway? "Statist" has got to be one of the strangest insults I have heard in a very long term and it reflects extremely poorly on the person that employs it.

      Why should I let a very loud Trump cheerleader pretend that they never were?

  28. The arrests were 6 days after inauguration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The arrests were 6 days after he became President, so this is a misdirection. Trump had access to the memo, he had asked for the unredacted memo almost as soon as he took office.

    Also, most damning of all is the Russian inadvertant confirmation of the reason for their arrest:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/world/europe/russia-hacking-us-election.html?_r=0

    "Russian media reports link the charges to the disclosure of the Russian role in attacking state election boards, including the scanning of voter rolls in Arizona and Illinois..."

    Now here's the odd thing, Russia media is trying to pin hacking of US elections systems THAT RUSSIA DENIES WAS RUSSIAN, on the people it arrested. Which pretty much confirms the false nature of the claim.

    "But one current and one former United States official, speaking about the classified recruitments on condition of anonymity, confirmed that human sources in Russia did play a crucial role in proving who was responsible for the hacking."

    They fit the profile of Russians who leaked Putin's election attack on America to the CIA, and that is consistent with the New York Times security source's claim.

    If Jared asked for a secure hidden channel to Putin, then he would have received it. That channel could have been used to hand that information over.

    It explains a lot.

  29. Dunning-Kruger Poster Child by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How could our POTUS have thought that firing Comey (well-liked in the FBI) would not create an unofficial underground covert rebellion by spook agencies trying to smear him? (In the bigger picture, a rather scary threat to democracy, and the rule of law, despite the easy target...)

    Our POTUS's love for Russia was no doubt born as a business deal - Exxon-Mobil wanted the Obama Crimea sanctions blocking Exxon-Mobil from their lucrative Russian OIl deal lifted. (Need I point to our Secretary of State, Tillison?) Only extreme Dunning-Kruger could have thought that they could ride the tiger (bear) without ending up inside.

  30. Guccifer 2.0 is Warren Flood, Democrat IT guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  31. That's certainly the spin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's certainly the spin they're putting on it, *but* this Russian provided secure channel was not disclosed to Congress, was not within the Whitehouse record keeping system, and thus outside of Congretional oversight.

    You don't get Presidents working with foreign powers to bypass their own checks and balances, such a thing is NOT routine. It's NOT normal.

    "In addition to their discussion about setting up the communications channel, Kushner, Flynn and Kislyak also talked about arranging a meeting between a representative of Trump and a “Russian contact” in a third country whose name was not identified, according to the anonymous letter. "

    Kislyak is considered a Russian spy. Is it normal and routine to set up meetings with Russian spies outside of the USA? No? Yes?

    " but it is related to the Syrian war,"
    That's your spin, there's no mention of Syria in the WP article, and no reason why Trump's transition teams Syria discussions would be special and outside of Senate and Congress oversight.

    Jared likely received a smartphone or similar device provided by the Russians with encryption software on it. This is not normal. It's not normal for team Trump to want to bypass the NSA, or to trust Putin more than the NSA. Well there is one reason why they'd want a more secure line.

    1. Re: That's certainly the spin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You think the russians would hand a US official one of their secured devices so we can take it apart at the NSA and get access to their networks? Geez, give them some credit.

    2. Re:That's certainly the spin by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      It's not only not normal, to my mind it looks a lot like treason.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    3. Re: That's certainly the spin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course they did, if they would hand it to bob the spy, they would hand it to Jared the spy.

      If the loss of ONE device would be a disaster than its clearly not a secure communications encrypted systems. The keys would be specific to Trump, not granting full access to everything.

      Your comment makes no sense. How could they communicate with any of their agents if a single rogue or careless agent would provide access to all their comms to all their agents??

  32. New low for slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Kushner story had nothing to do with technology so, in a new low, slashdot's leftist editors have taken to writing up a tech story (hacking) with no relation to the story and tacked on the story they actually wanted to get out.

    STILL waiting for Slashdot to run any ONE story about Hillary Clinton's email servers - which was very much a tech issue
    Or how, in Benghazi, Obama and Hillary falsely claimed it was a youtube video that caused the attack and jailed a youtube video maker... for making a video.

    1. Re:New low for slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure that there have been some stories about Hillary's Email server on slashdot. Definitely disturbing that Hillary's first instinct in Benghazi was to attack free speech. I'm personally glad that she isn't president. Are you whining about the possibly worse Trump campaign being once again in the news?

  33. WaPo, CIA conflict of interest rag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sure, I'll apologize, once WaPo produces proof of any of its Trump claims, and that proof survives a senate intelligence inquiry.

    WaPo is essentially a hobby for Jeff Bezos. His CIA contract netted him three times the purchase price of WaPo, and WaPo's revenue is a roundoff error in his Amazon empire. It doesn't have to compete with other news organizations by doing first-class investigation and telling the truth. He can easily afford to use it as a political tool, and he does.

    WaPo's reputation comes from its past, before Jeff Bezos owned it. People need to re-evaluate it.

    1. Re:WaPo, CIA conflict of interest rag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      as opposed to your annonymous coward claim to the contrary, somehow that makes your claim legit. hmmm lets see, you or wapo, you or wapo, you or wapo...real hard decision there. ok i followed your advice and re-evaluated your claim. negative ghostrider, negative.

  34. You mean Pro Russian by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    O’Reilly said: “He’s a killer, though. Putin’s a killer.” “There are a lot of killers,” Trump replied. “We’ve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country’s so innocent?”

    He's not exactly subtle in his loyalty.

    But hey, keep plugging away there, Trump above Party above Country.

  35. guccifer 2.0 is a fraud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guccifer 2.0 isn't even a hacker. G2 is a DNC operative, or maybe a Clinton campaign operative, whose purpose is to delegitimize Trump's win over Clinton, even if that means war with Russia. The documents he shared were unimportant and not the least bit damaging, and his interpretation of them was comically backwards, and nobody but the alt press and Trump fans were fooled, to much amusement everywhere else.

    Guccifer 2.0: Game Over

  36. Putinbots abound by benjfowler · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Everyone -- note that this article is being spammed hard by "Anonymous Cowards" sprouting pro-Putin and pro-Trump talking points.

    Adjust your skepticism accordingly. They're rattled -- there's been a strong uptick in Putinbot activity in the last few days, which makes me wonder if pro-Western forces are getting closer to the truth on Kremlingate.

    In the absence of Slashdot waking up to themselves and getting rid of "Anonymous Coward", you'll have to wade through a lot of Putinbot spam in the meantime.

    1. Re:Putinbots abound by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh bullshit - I post AC because jackbooted thugs like yourself would stalk my account and destroy my karma to silence me.

      In reality you HATE anyone who has a different opinion of yourself and it's far more telling how frightened you are that you have to resort to "DON'T LISTEN TO THEM THEY LIES" messaging.

    2. Re:Putinbots abound by anyaristow · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The following anonymous coward putinbot posts are mine. I don't normally bother signing in to slashdot because it isn't worth the trouble:

      WaPo, CIA conflict of interest rag
      Guccifer 2.0 is a fraud
      TL;DR

      I'm a Democrat, not a Republican or a Trump fan or a putin bot. I resist propaganda because propaganda is more dangerous than Trump. I resist propaganda because it is a symptom of a system that is so stacked against ordinary citizens that it may be too late to ever wrest control of our government back from the oligarchs, deep state and military industrial complex.

      But since you mention bots, I'll mention paid trolls (not claiming you are one): Correct the Record, ShareBlue. Paid trolls working for Hillary, according to sources I think you'll agree aren't Putin-friendly:

      How a super PAC plans to coordinate directly with Hillary Clinton’s campaign
      David Brock's Army of "Nerd Virgins" Has Hillary's Back
      Clinton SuperPac Admits to Paying Internet Trolls
      The making of a Hillary Clinton echo chamber

    3. Re:Putinbots abound by benjfowler · · Score: 0

      You're projecting.

      Post thoughtful thoughts and arguments, and you shouldn't get voted down by the majority of fair-minded people.

      Post enemy propaganda OTOH...

    4. Re:Putinbots abound by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah that's a load of bullshit. This entire Russian witch hunt IS enemy propaganda.

    5. Re:Putinbots abound by benjfowler · · Score: 1

      Putinbots pissing on our legs, then telling us it's raining.

    6. Re:Putinbots abound by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It only takes one partisan person to put you at -1 and then very, very few people will see the comment.

      Perhaps try posting as AC yourself on an even playing field and see how much more difficult it is.

      Unless you value your perception of reality more than scientific testing of your views.

      Post enemy propaganda OTOH

      Are you serious or trolling? There is no enemy. There are different political parties with different values trying to maximize returns. That's it.

      Do you really think wapo, motherjones, and dailykos do not post propaganda? Just look at their editorial board. Look at who owns them. Look at what they are doing politically. They have years of evidence that they are willing to ignore facts and push fiction for political ends, all because they think there is an objective "enemy" too instead of thinking of themselves as humans with subjective values. Or you can think of it this way, perhaps you do not have contact with academia, but those sites are considered not news and invalid for citation. They are treated as untrustworhty rags just as much as fox news, incapable with science, academia, and the quest for knowledge.

    7. Re:Putinbots abound by benjfowler · · Score: 1

      This is not a question of domestic partisanship. Evidence of covert, underhanded Russian influence and interference in Western countries, especially in the last few years, is everywhere to be seen.

      I'm sure our Russian "partners" would _love_ to destroy all notion of objective truth and turn everything into a partisan pissing match where there IS no absolute truth (only political priorities). Unhappily for them, the West has rightly seen it for what it is: broad-spectrum political and information war against all advanced and free countries, designed to poison the well for all political thought -- and the Cold War anti-disinformation playbook is being dusted off. Enemy political and information attacks won't work, and in the long run, it will end very badly for them.

    8. Re:Putinbots abound by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Social sign-on is cancer (look how many Putinbots used Twitter/Facebook to slide news and promote propaganda with fake accounts), but no or low barrier to entry is cancer as well.

      Internet needs to be more balkanized, and admins/developers need to grow some hair on their balls, learn some basic crypto, and protect their users/communities accordingly, because Russia and other bad actors will use the great spirit of the free Internet and globalist ideals to take down exactly those things.

    9. Re:Putinbots abound by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Glad to see this posted. It's been getting a bit heavy-handed on Slashdot lately. I guess seeing them in the wild all over Twitter, Facebook, reddit has inoculated me ... they're plain as day and the talking points are transparent.

      Although it's naive to assume Russian active measures will stop once the Americans impeach their traitor, it'll be nice to have a little less outright vatnik bullshit and "b-b-b-but Hillary" clogging up even techie watering holes.

    10. Re:Putinbots abound by Xenographic · · Score: 2

      > Everyone -- note that this article is being spammed hard by "Anonymous Cowards"

      You should trust ACs exactly as much as everyone else here, which is to say, not at all. Judge the reasoning on its merits and its factual basis (if any), and not on the name attached to it.

      Also, please reserve the same skepticism for all the news citing anonymous sources. Top Obama administration advisors have told me that many of the claims are made up whole cloth to support a point or tell a story.

    11. Re:Putinbots abound by dwillden · · Score: 2

      So we are to mistrust AC's yet give credence to the Anonymous sources the WaPo, CNN and NYT all love to cite non-stop in their flailing and failing anti-trump campaign?

      There are many valid reasons to post AC. And disregarding AC posts just because they are AC is foolish.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
  37. TL;DR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guccifer 2.0 isn't even a hacker. His leaked documents are unimportant stuff and his summary of them is comically wrong. G2 exists to create doubt about the email leaks and to discredit wikileaks.

  38. Don't be naive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actual collision with Russia may be non existent or impossible to prove. It's possible that Russians are simply playing the Trump group for suckers. Certainly, I would expect Putin to be able to see that Trump is an easily manipulated idiot, even if Trump voters can't.

    But Trump is sleazy and stupid, which makes him dangerous. His many opponents will work any promising angle, and it s clear that this Russia is w good angle. If not because of past misconduct, then because it is getting under his skin and that may motivate him to commit new misconduct to fight back.

    From the Russian perspective there may indeed be nothing new to see here. But from the American perspective there is definitely a case worth pursuing.

  39. Don't be a retard. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Republicans hired Guccifer 2.0

  40. So, Secure Comms To Foreign Leader... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..Exactly which specific US Code, Act, or Law does the POTUS having a secure communications channel with the leader of another nation violate? Wasn't there a secure 'hotline' during the Cold War?

    Yeah, it violates no law or act.

    More DNC/OFA/Soros bullshit fake news.

  41. Whatever by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    >> "And Friday Hillary Clinton was even quoted as saying, "I would have won had I not been subjected to the unprecedented attacks by Comey and the Russians..."

    Yeah keep telling yourself that Hillary. I mean your own obvious corruption had absolutely nothing to do with it right?

  42. unprecedented by bussdriver · · Score: 1

    Unprecedented straws are the ones that matter more than the usual ones. So now it's just more things to have to deal with... except Comey broke the law, that "straw" wasn't supposed to be possible and the law was created to prevent it. The Russian stuff is a new issue that needs to be protected against but will never be stopped... hopefully it makes people finally realize computer voting machines are asinine.

    1. Re:unprecedented by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Russia has been trying to influence the US elections since the 1920s. Did you seriously think that that propaganda never existed before?

  43. Not so fast, Dumbfuck AC... by davesays · · Score: 1

    Maybe a little history lesson would be helpful for the simpletons like you. Irrespective of party, every administration and pretty much every country has back-channel communications with their enemies. About every decade or so WWIII is temporarily averted by them. Judge them by how they are used, not their existence. Two that come to mind are Carter during the Iran situation and the Kennedys during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I am sure the history buffs here can name many more instances, so I leave it to Slashdot.

  44. You were wrong - apologize to all of us by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    So I was right that Donald Trump, Jared Kushners, and others are traitors who colluded with Russia's hack of our presidential campaign.

    Nope. The story had nothing to do with that, and even top level Democrats admit Trump had nothing to do with Russia hacking the DNC.

    Important to remember that the "hack" of the campaign was simply to reveal emails that Democrats, and especially Hillary, did not want the public to see. That's not a hack - that's a leak. Just like the ones Trump is going through right now. If you thought the leaks exposing Hillary were so bad, where are your complaints about leaks targeting Trump? They are equivalent. Yet I'm sure you have cheered them on even as they unravel the fabric of U.S. intelligence services.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  45. Hillary for prison 2017 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lock her up. Leaks from her server lead to the deaths of all the embedded agents in China is only the most recent revelation. She needs to be put behind bars.

  46. So Seth Rich's killer has another complaint? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    She can shout it all she wants from behind bars where she belongs. The pro-Trump vote will not be satisfied or go away until she is locked up. Get over it.

  47. Hillary said? by kenh · · Score: 1

    And Friday Hillary Clinton was even quoted as saying, "I would have won had I not been subjected to the unprecedented attacks by Comey and the Russians..."

    What, exactly, does her OPINION prove?

    --
    Ken
  48. An anonymous reader writes: by DirkDaring · · Score: 1

    That's the most fitting part of this entire news post.