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Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#189551: May 17th 2017 at 12:29:08 PM

I think we've reached the point where we can say Trump would definitely be impeached if the Democrats controlled congress right now, but it's too soon to say anything stronger than that- the majority of republicans stood with Nixon all the way through, and even if we assume in the dems are going to take back the house in 2018, it's not a given that this will be seen as as much of a big deal then as it does now.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#189552: May 17th 2017 at 12:32:03 PM

Even if he isn't impeached, and I doubt that he will be, these scandals are now derailing his entire agenda and tainting anyone close to him.

Things have changed since Comey was fired.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#189553: May 17th 2017 at 12:38:55 PM

I actually think having it pass the Republican-controlled House is not impossible, especially if the evidence becomes increasingly incontrovertible. You need about 24 Republicans to flip for a majority, right?

It's the two-thirds in the Senate that's going to be tough. We can currently only expect three GOP senators are likely to flip.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#189554: May 17th 2017 at 1:26:30 PM

TIME politics editor Ryan Teague Beckwith sums up Trump controversies in a Twitter rant

https://twitter.com/ryanbeckwith/status/864487834480148484


GOP blocks House vote on independent Russia-Trump investigation

http://amp.usatoday.com/story/101796632/


InfoWars’ Alex Jones apologizes, retracts statements as part of Chobani settlement

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article151086177.html

edited 17th May '17 1:31:35 PM by sgamer82

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#189555: May 17th 2017 at 1:47:51 PM

So people sem to be missing one important part of Putin's transcript offer.

How the fuck does Putin have a full transcript of a conversation that happened in the Oval Office? For a proper transcript you either need a scribe there in real time or for the conversation to have been recorded. You don't do that shit by memory, not if you want to do it properly.

So the question then becomes, did Putin just offer a transcript as a way of imply that he managed to record the conversation that Trump had with the Russians?

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#189556: May 17th 2017 at 1:51:01 PM

I have to wonder, regarding Trump and Israel. Why is it that when Obama turns on Israel, we praised him, and now we're bashing Trump for doing the exact same thing?

Let's be honest: Israel is an ally we really don't need.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#189557: May 17th 2017 at 1:52:40 PM

[up][up][up] Alex Jones Lawsuit: Idiot should've gotten much more of a punishment then simply having to apologize about his illegitimate claims against Chiboni. But at least the Coward had to publicly admit that he was lying through his teeth, not only about his Chiboni rape claims, but him not being a coward who would fight for his lies.

edited 17th May '17 1:53:01 PM by DingoWalley1

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#189558: May 17th 2017 at 1:54:50 PM

[up][up] How is recklessly getting an intelligence source killed and calling for an end to settlement building "the exact same thing?

edited 17th May '17 1:56:25 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#189559: May 17th 2017 at 2:15:01 PM

[up][up][up]Selling out an allied intelligence asset =/= suggesting that a trusted ally not throw Palestinians into gulags so that Israelis can build homes on their land.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#189560: May 17th 2017 at 2:16:36 PM

[up][up]The name is Chobani, dude. In any case, having to admit to wrongdoing in any sense must be galling for the man, Oh to have been a fly on the wall of that particular legal negotiation. As it's a settlement and not the punishment incurred through an actual trial case, there's likely some stuff in there that neither party can legally comment on. But hey, I'm glad he was called out on lies for once, and made to publicly apologize. That's one of the most important things, I think, in regards to this sort of lie monger.

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#189561: May 17th 2017 at 2:36:54 PM

Intelligence sharing with Israel almost certainly continued under Obama even while he was criticizing the government's actions. It's a matter of having common enemies. Working with them on those fronts is hardly a scandal.

Criticizing Israeli policy in public may irk them but it is not alliance-breaking. Spilling secret intel they shared with you is a major breach of trust.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#189562: May 17th 2017 at 3:03:40 PM

Fair enough. I just hear everyone talking about scratching the alliance with Israel, and that part of all of this is something I'd happily see happen. Just a shame to see it happen through bungling instead of through telling Netanyahu he's on his own.

TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#189563: May 17th 2017 at 3:10:16 PM

Breaking on CNN: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller special counsel in Russia investigation

edited 17th May '17 3:13:44 PM by TheAirman

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#189564: May 17th 2017 at 3:12:14 PM

[up] Yes! We've gotten a Special Prosecutor!

... I think...

edited 17th May '17 3:12:35 PM by DingoWalley1

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189565: May 17th 2017 at 3:12:37 PM

Nothing stops this train 🚂 🚂 🚂

New Survey coming this weekend!
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#189566: May 17th 2017 at 3:13:10 PM

Good news- It's a start

Bad news- He's not a Special Prosecutor

Good news- He's a man of integrity

Bad news- We all know what Trump does to men of integrity

Good news- It's still a start

Bad news- No frogurt

edited 17th May '17 3:13:44 PM by Hodor2

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#189567: May 17th 2017 at 3:13:41 PM

Throwing Israel to the wolves (read: the rest of the Middle East) is unlikely to improve anything. If completely abandoned by the US, Israel would have its back to the wall, surrounded as they are by hostile actors and in response the actions of the hardliner government would become increasingly defensive and likely worse.

I do agree with the sentiment that the hardliners would best be reined in but that doesn't mean we should leave them in the dust.

TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#189568: May 17th 2017 at 3:15:18 PM

Reposting because new page:

Breaking on CNN: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller special counsel in Russia investigation

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#189569: May 17th 2017 at 3:20:22 PM

Another, more serious bit of bad news. This is about the Russia election stuff. It's not really (or at least not necessarily) going to deal with anything like the recent Comey stuff or necessarily any wrongdoing by Trump and his cronies.

Also, the guy was apparently working as an attorney for a firm that represents Jared and Ivanka. While granted, I'm sure they represent tons of other clients as well, I'm going to tamp down my expectations.

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189570: May 17th 2017 at 3:22:08 PM

WaPo – House majority leader in 2016: 'I think Putin pays' Trump

KIEV —A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress — House Majority Leader Kevin Mc Carthy — made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trump could be the beneficiary of payments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” Mc Carthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016 exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring Mc Carthy’s assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.

Holy Fuck.

New Survey coming this weekend!
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#189571: May 17th 2017 at 3:23:06 PM

Just something to remember—an impeachment will not necessarily hurt the Republican's chances as much as we'd like because there will be people in the country who won't even know it's happening.

For instance, people who read the National Enquirer are being told this week that Trump is responsible for a brand new plan for world peace that is going to make the entire world get along. Apparently he and Jared Kushner brought all of America's greatest minds together to solve the problem.

And people who read The Globe are being enthralled with the latest news from Hillary Clinton's treason trial. President Trump has just rejected her pleas for clemency and is sending her to jail for life. This is after, mind you, dozens of issues beforehand chronicling all the rest of the trial, including Bill testifying against her in exchange for immunity.

I sell these tabloids to people every day. And the people who buy them absolutely believe what's in it and try to talk to me about it. So for a sizeable portion of Trump's fans? They're not even going to know an impeachment has happened unless The National Enquirer and The Globe tell them it has.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#189572: May 17th 2017 at 3:23:10 PM

House majority leader to colleagues in 2016: ‘I think Putin pays’ Trump

KIEV, Ukraine — A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress — House Majority Leader Kevin Mc Carthy — made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trump could be the beneficiary of payments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” Mc Carthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016 exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring Mc Carthy’s assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.

Some of the lawmakers laughed at Mc Carthy’s comment. Then Mc Carthy quickly added: “Swear to God.”

Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: “No leaks...This is how we know we’re a real family here.”

edited 17th May '17 3:26:55 PM by MadSkillz

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#189573: May 17th 2017 at 3:25:39 PM

Romstien is the guy the Donald admin tried to shift blame on for Comey's firing but the actual degree of his involvement is uncertain. Mueller at least doesn't throw up any immediate red flags; he's worked in some capacity under every President since Reagan. (His background is old-guard conservative slanted.)

I actually have no idea how much of all this is or isn't under Sessions' thumb.

@Ambar: I've noticed the tabloids cashing in on the current fake news trends too and it is certainly propaganda (the Enquirer owner is a friend of Trump, even) but even now I find it hard to swallow that there are people for whom those are their only source of "news". Most people know those are trash tabloids.

edited 17th May '17 3:32:24 PM by Elle

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#189574: May 17th 2017 at 3:29:51 PM

The Comey firing is part of the Russian investigation, since the allegation is that Trump fired him for not shutting the investigation down.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#189575: May 17th 2017 at 3:30:53 PM

Another, more serious bit of bad news. This is about the Russia election stuff. It's not really (or at least not necessarily) going to deal with anything like the recent Comey stuff or necessarily any wrongdoing by Trump and his cronies.

Also, the guy was apparently working as an attorney for a firm that represents Jared and Ivanka. While granted, I'm sure they represent tons of other clients as well, I'm going to tamp down my expectations.Another, more serious bit of bad news. This is about the Russia election stuff. It's not really (or at least not necessarily) going to deal with anything like the recent Comey stuff or necessarily any wrongdoing by Trump and his cronies. Also, the guy was apparently working as an attorney for a firm that represents Jared and Ivanka. While granted, I'm sure they represent tons of other clients as well, I'm going to tamp down my expectations.

DOJ statement is special counsel for Russia investigation and "related matters" - which can very well include everything to do with Comey. Mueller has also officially resigned from his position at the law firm to work this full time.

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They

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