From John Sipher and Steve Hall:
Did the Trump campaign collude with Russian agents trying to manipulate the course of the 2016 election? Some analysts have argued that the media has made too much of the collusion narrative; that Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with Kremlin-linked Russians last year was probably innocent (if ill-advised); or that Russian operatives probably meant for the meeting to be discovered because they were not trying to recruit Mr. Kushner and Mr. Trump as agents, but mainly trying to undermine the American political system.
We disagree with these arguments. We like to think of ourselves as fair-minded and knowledgeable, having between us many years of experience with the C.I.A. dealing with Russian intelligence services. It is our view not only that the Russian government was running some sort of intelligence operation involving the Trump campaign, but also that it is impossible to rule out the possibility of collusion between the two.
Yesterday: So the sanctions bill is signed. Well, Trump had no choice but to play nice with Congress on this one. Only an idiot would go out of his way to antagonize members of his own party, and the only group of people standing between him and a prison cell.
Today:
Menzo
4527
Let’s see if this slow uprising against Trump can gain some steam.
Timex
4528
They key is to praise the GOP guys when they do this.
You can castigate them after Trump is gone, but for now, punishing Trump should have no negative effects for them. You want them to do it and be rewarded for doing the right thing. You don’t want them to immediately suffer political fallout by rubbing their noses in the fact that they were idiots previously.
You can still do that later… but let them go past the point of no return on it first.
Pretty sure the relationship was worse for most of the second half of the last century, but whatevs.
Our representatives really are like animals, who crave security and praise and safety.
And more stuff about Mueller’s continuing investigation:
Cuban Missile Crisis anyone?
Interesting. I bet they are discussing getting rid of Trump.
Nesrie
4535
My first thought too, suddenly the GOP are a bunch of dogs we have to pat on the head for doing their job now? heh. What kind of treats do they accept, you know, outside of bribes which would be illegal.
KevinC
4536
The point being made was that there has to be a win in the political calculus for them. They’re not going to turn against Trump unless they think they can gain more than they’ll lose by sticking with him.
It’s politics, and people need to be peeled away from supporting Trump.
Nesrie
4537
I am not lowering my bar so the GOP can feel good about fucking over the country. They don’t really care what the Democrats think anyway. It’s their party members, and I’ve yet to see hard proof that group is changing at all.
I agree, unless he commits a crime they cannot ignore.
I think they may be wondering if they are near that tipping point where removing Trump actually benefits them.
It’s going to have to be a pretty severe crime. As you know, he can shoot someone in Times Square without repercussion.
I think the only crime Trump could commit that they couldn’t ignore would be costing them seats in Congress. But by the time that happens it will be too late.
Menzo
4541
Yeah, it’s all political calculus and theater. I personally think they are erring on the side of caution, and their cowardice will come back to bite them in the ass, but who knows? The memory of the electorship is short.
Personally, I have a hard time figuring out what is worst. This shit-show of a government unable to fully enact it’s policies (and some larger-than-usual-non-zero-chance of a nuclear apocalypse), or an at least semi-coherent Pence sitting in the big chair with a house and senate getting their crap together. Either option is just horrifying.
And, confession time, Trump as our president is so god-damned entertaining. I mean, it’s keeping me awake at night, it’s horrible in so many ways, but it’s just something new every fucking day. Bread and fucking circuses.
How soon before the next Trump tweetstorm?
I posted elsewhere that I was in DC for a couple days this week for work. It’s the first time I’d been there since Trump was elected. I, of course, went to the White House to take a selfie in front of the dumpster fire so I could post it on Facebook with a clever comment about Russia. I was anticipating like a dozen likes, it was gonna be great. When I got there, I saw hundreds of tourists doing the same thing. Asian and European tourists pointing and laughing at the White House. It made me sad, then I felt like a douche for going there to do the exact same thing.
RIP America.
