One more point, SB:
Whether Trump had knowledge or not…when you combine a person with extensive International Holdings…whom had a Empire that was on the edge of total collapse…the odds of taking “dirty” money and of being involved in money laundering increases expotentially.
This is most likely why Mueller has hired people with expertise in these specific areas.
The Russian collusion accusations are what I’m speaking of. I wasn’t speaking of you personally. That was the royal “you.”
IF this dossier was created by or at the behest of the Democrats and IF they are pushing to destroy a sitting president by falsifying documents, then I’m sorry but that is a coup attempt by the Democratic Party. Do I think that is what happened? I don’t know. I do know that it’s becoming increasingly clear that the dossier is fake and that the co-founder of the firm that commissioned it will reportedly plead the 5th in response to a subpoena. Who hired his company? Then again, Trump could be in collusion with the Russians. Hell if I know, but the former seems as least as likely as the latter.
I certainly could be, T AND SB…
I guess the point is that as divided as we already are; with Trump having a strong, unwavering base of support…we will only become more divided.
I say this because it is doubtful that Mueller’s report will change anybodies impression of Trump…but only cause people…whether they be Pro- or Anti-Trump… to become more entrenched in how they already feel about him.
As I said before, speculation and innuendo are all there is at this point. We need facts.
Mueller and his staff are also looking less and less independent though. I’m not seeing much up there on the high road.
Fair enough.
We’ll see, I guess.
Another thought: The dossier is collapsing which means the focus on Trump should be shifting to who was behind the dossier. That was THE evidence. But, unlike Trump Jr. who did release his emails (and quickly) and who will reportedly testify albeit privately (maybe he’s just too stupid to understand? I’m having problems with that given his money buys good counsel), Mr. Simpson is pleading the 5th. Given that Mr. Simpson’s firm was reportedly engaged by a HRC confidant, this isn’t exactly looking good for HRC. But again, that’s today. Who the hell knows where this will end up.
Where are you getting that the Steele Dossier is “collapsing”? A lot of it has been confirmed already.
???
Are you viewing the Dossier as the only true “evidence” against Trump?
Why should everything that came out after the Dossier be discounted?
(I’m trying to see your point on this one, SB…)
Do you have evidence of that? I posted articles.
Yes I am. I don’t rely on innuendo. Talking to Russians isn’t enough. Nothing has come out that is sufficient to show a crime was committed by him. And sorry, but we aren’t a banana republic. We can’t charge someone on innuendo and strong dislike. If we could he would have already been charged. As I said, I don’t know and more may come out but given whats happened with the dossier I’m just as suspicious of a set up as I am about the Trump collision allegations.
Probably my favorite quotes thus far. From Preet Bharara (and I’m sorry, but that’s not how criminal law works):
"“I think there’s absolutely evidence to begin a case (against Trump). I think it’s very important for all sorts of armchair speculators in the law to be clear that no one knows right now whether there is a provable case of obstruction,” Bharara told ABC News.
“It’s also true I think from based on what I see as a third party and out of government that there’s no basis to say there’s no obstruction,” he said in his first television interview after being fired by Trump."
This is a good example of the quality of legal analysis and reporting that’s causing many to convince themselves there’s enough evidence to charge or impeach. The Nixon reference is great because because in that case there were tapes. It’s a lot of words that comes down to what looks like wishful thinking. Comey's Testimony Points to Trump's Collusion With Russia
An overview: There Remains No Evidence Of Trump-Russia Collusion
Ken Star viewpoint: Ken Starr: No obstruction case against Trump from available evidence | CNN Politics
The JR revelations need more: Donald Trump Jr. and Russia: What the Law Says - The New York Times
“If something is found.”
Willing to believe that Trump was in a conspiracy with the Russians, but misses that the leaks thus far have actually put careers in jeopardy (if the leakers are caught). But hey, these people don’t put their careers in jeopardy for politics.
When you all are done let me know. This is right up there with the “Clinton suicides.” Crazy on the left of me crazy on the right of me. I don’t blindly believe when it comes to politics.
I’ll reiterate what I have held all along…
There will be no criminal and/or impeachable offense on Trump.
What others think will come out of the Mueller investigation I will leave for them to believe…and I agree…“Birtherism”, “Clinton Suicides” (and murders); “Obama Using British Intelligence to Bug Trump Towers”; and the ever growing “Dark Government” all come from the same mindset…and I don’t buy any of it.
While I think that a lot of this will in fact come to be “a lot about nothing”…it is still my firm belief that Trumps worst enemy will never be anyone or anything external…it will be that person he admiringly looks at in the mirror.
Trump will ultimately be, and currently is, his own worst enemy.
Then we agree on most of this. Or at least seem to agree that we need evidence and need to be cautious.
I do want to discuss my concern that both parties, Trump included, are playing into Putin’s game by not backing up and working together to counteract Russian cyber activities. I’ll need to come back to this, possibly tomorrow when I have more time, but I do think the most likely scenario is that both sides (three if we recognize establishment republicans aren’t aligned with Trump) are being played.
Please understand that I’m frustrated by the Democrats and press primarily because of Obana’s apology tour, the juvenile reset button, and the Obama/Putin hot mike incident. Basically, “you guys made the same damned mistake of thinking you could work with Putin and now you woke up?” (Another royal you) That is not to say that Trump isn’t wrong about Putin, it’s to say that he’s a powerful enemy and he needs to be taken far more seriously than simply being used as a tool of party politics.
Random thoughts
Russia is (and has been) a geo-political rival vying for influence for decades, and any disruption they can throw on the US is how the game works. Espionage, bribing, fake stories, proxy wars, arming / abetting nutty regimes, opposing US in world organizations.
Putin is a crafty, well seasoned psychopath. However he masks this as a charming and subdued servant of a leader. Due to their top down society, l would not put anything past him, as having desired or greenlighted ambushing HRC & taking advantage of most US politicians that have enough likability to run for President. Not a deliberate action targeting Trump, but it just feel into his hands and he pounced on the opportunities.
My take on Dershowitz snippet - a huge legal team assembled to look into Trump will find skeletons because they are trained to do so & to win. But it is dangerous ground to conduct fishing trips (@sunnbeaches105 words). Mueller himself would seem to be hostile to Trump(imo), but so was new communication director Trump put in, so,
Personal opinion DNC (and perhaps with complicity of hostile career GOP rinos) will do ANYTHING to take down Trump.
And they are wasting their time and effort.
Only Trump will take down Trump.
There doesn’t have to be any proof of Trump colluding with Russia. The man can’t put a complete sentence together, he has never been in politics before and he tweets like a 16 year old girl. And lets not forget he beat their sitting queen of mean Hillary whom they handed the nomination to (by screwing poor Bernie) So NATURALLY he has colluded with Russia.
Also, when the democrats have such stalwarts as Maxine Waters leading the Trump/Russian collusion nonsense what is there to question? She closely epitomizes how far off the deep end the democrats have slid over the past several years.
And for those who are not familiar with good old Maxine this is for you:
:40 is my favorite…you have to see this to actually believe anyone is this stupid.
Dems are definitely off the deep end but the opposition isn’t any better. Just look at the leader of the Republican Party. Difficult to get more off the deep end than Trump. Not to mention he is opposite of what Republicans have prided themselves on and it makes you wonder what they actually want or stand for.
What Republicans stand for in 2017 is anyone’s guess. They elected a guy who has tons of positions that they would have gone nuts if it was a Democrat.
One thing and one thing only: saying crass and mean things about the Left on Twitter. That’s literally it.
I can get on board with that. On a ton of issues he is the exact opposite from what Republicans have preached the last 30 years. But he gets his supporters to chant lock her up so that’s good enough right? He says Pochantas so who cares if the sitting President tweets about Celebrity Apprentice, or talk show hosts plastic surgery?