Mueller Report Complete

Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, March 23rd, 2019 - 120 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Donald Trump, International, Politics, us politics - Tags: , ,

The US Justice department has confirmed that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has delivered his final report to Attorney General William Barr.

This brings to an end the two-year  inquiry, which led to criminal convictions for Trump’s campaign chairman, deputy chairman, personal attorney and two policy advisers.

Attorney General Barr will now have to decide how much of the report to share with Congress. The House voted unanimously in March on a resolution to open the report’s findings to the public, which shows solid support within both the Republican and Democrat parties to be transparent with the evidence prosecutors have uncovered.

Since Mueller’s appointment in May 2017, his team has focused on how Russian operatives sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. Tied to that is the question of whether anyone close to the Trump campaign cooperated with them.

The inquiry has already exposed a far-ranging Russian influence effort, no evidence has emerged so far that Trump or his close aides were directly or indirectly involved.

Barr is expected to quickly report to congress, possibly as early as Sunday, US time. If it is damning of Trump’s team, the next move may be further arrests and, potentially, impeachment.

Somewhere on a Florida golf course, a Presidential sphincter is twitching.

 

120 comments on “Mueller Report Complete ”

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  1. Cinny 1
    23 March 2019 at 10:56 am

    Somewhere on a Florida golf course, a Presidential sphincter is twitching.

    Poetic brilliance TRP 🙂

  2. Andre 2
    23 March 2019 at 11:03 am

    It’s just the end of the beginning act. There’s a whole lot more coming at Individual-1.

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-investigation-campaign-finance-charges_n_5c952574e4b01ebeef0eface

  3. Ad 3
    23 March 2019 at 11:51 am

    He’s too big to fail.

    The indictments are his executive renewal program, bringing a brand new team in for the election fight.

    The media profile he gets in this 6 months is the most powerful buy a campaign could wish for.

    Who can beat that?

    • Andre 3.1
      23 March 2019 at 12:16 pm

      “Too big to fail” isn’t quite the right description.

      Seems to me it’s more a case of a rat cunning skill he does possess is setting things up so that those with the power to bring him down get too closely bound up with him, then can’t bring him down because they’d go down with him.

      In the past, he’s done that to banks, gambling regulators, city councils…

      https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/03/22/trump-mueller-report-survive-226101

      Now it’s Repug senators who have the power to bring him down, but he’s successfully tied their fates to his. Just look at how he got Lindsey Graham’s craven capitulation.

      https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/21/politics/lindsey-graham-donald-trump-strong-support/index.html

      • cleangreen 3.1.1
        23 March 2019 at 1:02 pm

        Yes Andre,
        Looks like John key followed that same path too by corrupting all his henchmen/women like Collins, Bennett,, English, Bridges to name a few.

        • Naki man 3.1.1.1
          23 March 2019 at 4:35 pm

          Wipe your chin cleangreen you are dribbling again, do you have any evidence to back up your delusional drool.

      • Ad 3.1.2
        23 March 2019 at 9:39 pm

        In the context of bringing everyone of the senior Republicans down with him, “too big to fail” is perfectly apt. The fate of the Republican Senatorial majority is in his hands. They are – largely willingly – subcontractors to his main contract.

        The GFC is more interesting for who emerged afterwards well supported by the public and well subsidized by the state. Hence the use of the term “too big to fail”.

        Mueller’s report et al is the Republican GFC.

        Unless he’s indicted, Mueller’s report on balance does Trump’s chances more harm than good.

      • Sabine 3.1.3
        24 March 2019 at 10:57 am

        that is the issue with power, how far is one happy to debase oneself in order to keep it.

        or you might call it the ‘re-education of Mr. Lindsay Graham’ 🙂

        i for one, just really would like to see the photos. 🙂

        • Andre 3.1.3.1
          24 March 2019 at 11:02 am

          i for one, just really would like to see the photos

          Oh god no. Just fuck no.

          My appetite for pictures was spoiled by the mental image of him getting spanked with a rolled-up magazine that had his face on the cover.

  4. Brigid 4
    23 March 2019 at 12:23 pm

    https://twitter.com/pattymo/status/110909434836755660

    “Robert Mueller sweating in front of his laptop, staring at a Word doc containing only the words “The Mueller Report” and a blinking cursor”

    https://twitter.com/Donna12May/status/1109107363867324418

    “…and he was very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very guilty. The very, very, very, very end. Amen.”

  5. Rangimarie 5
    23 March 2019 at 12:49 pm

    Can you explain the “far-ranging Russian influence effort” that occurred in this conspiracy theory?

    I haven’t seem any and I’ve been following the whole ‘investigation’ rather closely.

    You’re like CNN et al. they look to see what they want to see.

    So while you say Trump is going to be fine, this also applies to Russian interference meme.

    https://youtu.be/rLEchPZm318

    • Macro 5.1
      23 March 2019 at 1:14 pm

      Can you explain the “far-ranging Russian influence effort, no evidence has emerged so far that Trump or his close aides were directly or indirectly involved.”

      I haven’t seem any and I’ve been following the whole ‘investigation’ rather closely

      a. Best you wait for the public release of the Report
      b. Doesn’t seem like you have been following it very closely at all if you say such stuff like that! You know that Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team indicted or got guilty pleas from 34 people and three companies during their investigation,
      That group is composed of six former Trump advisers, 26 Russian nationals, three Russian companies, one California man, and one London-based lawyer. Seven of these people (including five of the six former Trump advisers) have pleaded guilty.
      I suggest you read this summary of just what has come out of the Mueller investigation before spouting nonsense:
      https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/20/17031772/mueller-indictments-grand-jury

      • Rangimarie 5.1.1
        23 March 2019 at 1:22 pm

        Ah I have been following it closely thank you. Anything the investigation found was not about Russian interference but about illegalities those people had committed.
        I suggest instead of just reading the headlines, you go and read the actual reports.
        It might be illuminating. But yeah the walls haven’t closed in on BAD Russia or BAD Trump.

        • Macro 5.1.1.1
          23 March 2019 at 1:34 pm

          Good Grief!
          The Illegalities that the Russians had committed was specifically with regards their interference in the 2016 elections!

          • marty mars 5.1.1.1.1
            23 March 2019 at 2:06 pm

            Funny watching t.rump supporters all scuttle about – whataboutism is such a t.rump 101 from his playbook

            • BobandTurtle 5.1.1.1.1.1
              23 March 2019 at 2:24 pm

              Hilary Clinton and her mob have a lot more to worry about with her uranium one dealings with the Russians. When the investigation begins into this collusion, will you be so vocal? No, I didn’t think so. By the way, Trump has nothing to worry about as a result of the Mueller witch hunt. Your comrades will be sorely dissapointed. Amen to that!

              • Sam …
                23 March 2019 at 2:36 pm

                Trump reckoned he was going to drain the swamp and when he did, he found his new cabinet just sitting there and filled his cabinet with convicted Cold War era war criminals. Trump hasn’t just gone through A team and B team, Trump has gone straight past Z team to now he knows his ABCs next time won’t you sing with him. Didn’t relies the fat lady could be gender neutral.

              • Macro …
                23 March 2019 at 3:08 pm

                Bloody hell – that Repugnant inspired conspiracy theory has been debunked so many times – but just so you don’t wank yourself to death in anticipation of a Hillary Indictment – here is a simple chart of what actually happened without the Republican overlay with a full explanation of the actual deal. Note that the main donor to the Clinton Foundation who had been a shareholder of Uranium One, actually sold his shares 3 years prior to the sale. He made no profit from the sale to Russia.
                https://www.vox.com/2017/11/17/16658080/uranium-one-clinton-russia-chart
                If you can find any court of law other than a kangaroo court which could find fault with this deal please let us know. References to right wing propaganda sites are not accepted as evidence – no matter how much you might believe them.

                • Sam …
                  23 March 2019 at 3:38 pm

                  Trumps illegalities was manufactured by Killary herself to distract from her own illegalities and now her true believers have attitude.

                • BobandTurtle …
                  23 March 2019 at 5:46 pm

                  CNN two days ago -“Ukraine Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko’s probe is prompted by a Ukrainian parliamentarian’s release of a tape recording purporting to quote a top law enforcement official as saying his agency leaked the Manafort financial records to help Clinton’s campaign.”

                  • Macro …
                    23 March 2019 at 6:10 pm

                    LOL
                    Really!
                    Well Yes obviously we can believe a Ukrainian politician who was aided and abetted by his lying mate Manafort – who has told so many lies he rivals Trump. Birds of a feather flock together.
                    I think we can take that report with a very large grain of salt. It’s also funny that it should surprisingly come to light now – just after poor ol Paul has been cast into the big house.

              • marty mars …
                23 March 2019 at 3:45 pm

                Bob just finish your toileting before commenting next time eh you’re too messy and someone ALWAYS has to clean up after you.

                • BobandTurtle …
                  23 March 2019 at 5:41 pm

                  Typical attack the man not play the ball commentary from someone who has no resposne

                  • cleangreen …
                    23 March 2019 at 9:40 pm

                    Bob

                    The Hillary ‘attack dogs’ are wired up today with the rant as they are worked up?

                    Must be worried that the ‘Mueller Russia collusion investigation’ wound up with nothing for them to use eh?

                    Bah bah bah. – ‘youz guys of Hillary’ want a tissue?

                    • Macro …
                      24 March 2019 at 8:25 am

                      CG do you fall into the camp of “A pox on both their houses”? or are you secretly a Trumpkin in disguise? The thing is, you constantly on here rail against trucks and pollution – and I can understand that. But what I want to ask you is this:
                      Is it truly conceivable that had Clinton been President she would have carried out the wide scale warfare on the environment that is currently the case under Trump?
                      I won’t go into the innumerable instances of gutting the EPA, the withdrawal from Climate agreement, the destruction of National Parks for more oil, and so on; that goes on now, on a daily basis. You see – whether you realise it or not – that was the issue that uppermost in many peoples eyes when they voted in 2016. It was clear before 2016, and even more clearer now, that Trump is not only a fraudster of huge proportions, but also an environmental vandal without any regard, or understanding, of the damage he does.
                      Now you can tell me all about the fracking, etc that went on under Bill C and Obama, and all the rest. I know that. But would she have appointed Pruitt? Cut the funding of the EPA to such an extent that the EPA is now virtually useless, removed from all websites any reference to Climate Change, stopped research into global warming. Now that is a very long bow to draw if you believe that. And here is the thing. You and I will not live to see the world in 2050 but our children and g’kids god willing will. What sort of world are we handing on to them?

              • Sacha …
                23 March 2019 at 7:48 pm

                tinfoil, bobby

          • Rangimarie 5.1.1.1.2
            23 March 2019 at 3:04 pm

            The illegalities by those who were imprisoned etc were to do with fraud of 1 kind and another. The illegalities Russia committed were what? Puppy memes on FB after the election. A firm I St Petersberg soent a few thousand dollars on innocuous ads. Good grief do some reading and homework.

            • Macro 5.1.1.1.2.1
              23 March 2019 at 3:23 pm

              No! You really need to do some reading and homework.
              There were over 26 million, not just a few thousand who had their FB pages bombed with Fake News and memes against Clinton. We do not know the full extent because frankly FB, Google, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, et al cannot own up to controlling the spread of Hate and fake news on their platforms.
              Currently Aaron Banks is under police Investigation for his involvement with the Leave Campaign for Brexit where it is alleged he donated 10 million quid to that campaign – not all of it his own money. Indeed the US are also investigation him for laundering money into the US from Russia with similar nefarious intensions. The IRA continues to exist, and they are probing every where – including – I might add a website that I administer. The web site statistics regularly highlight a couple of visits a month from St Petersburg.

              • Adrian Thornton …
                23 March 2019 at 3:35 pm

                Man you really got that Russia hysteria bad there pal…

                How to Spot a Communist

                • Macro …
                  23 March 2019 at 4:13 pm

                  Not as bad as you have the “Anyone but Hillary” Phobia.

                  • Adrian Thornton …
                    23 March 2019 at 4:29 pm

                    Why have you changed the subject? I didn’t say anything about Hillary, I was just pointing out that you are really starting to sound like a CIA bot with a serious Putin Phobia.

                    And btw what is depressing is that so many good people on the Left turn out to be so fucking gullible, I always thought one of our biggest strengths was our critical thinking…turns out that ain’t so…shame.

                    • Macro …
                      23 March 2019 at 4:46 pm

                      You are referring to yourself here I take it.
                      And yes! I do have a profound dislike of Putin and his murderous ways. I also object to his consistent meddling in the affairs of other countries. Britain right now is in a state of abject chaos, and yes Russia had a hand in seeing that eventuate. I can understand that for Putin this is all good stuff. A divided Europe, and a divided West, is bread and butter to his desire to Increase the Power of Russia, and bring back the super power status of the old USSR. All done on the sly, and so very cheaply.

                    • mauī …
                      24 March 2019 at 3:49 pm

                      So not only did Russia hack the US election, they’ve hacked the UK election too? They’re responsible for the rise of Corbyn? or something lol. Macro, there is no evidence of this bullshit meddling. I mean 13 people in a troll factory in Russia cannot influence millions of Americans by putting up a few facebook ads lol. That is simply nuts.

                    • left_forward …
                      25 March 2019 at 7:49 am

                      Re: US: You have noticed the number who have pleaded guilty and others convicted in the courts haven’t you?
                      Proven beyond doubt little m.

              • marty mars …
                23 March 2019 at 3:47 pm

                + 1 yep Macro – so many non thinkers – they just can’t move the record from the scratch.

                • Macro …
                  23 March 2019 at 4:10 pm

                  Yeah! It really is depressing – and yet they think they are really the fountain of all understanding. Almost all they do is repeat propaganda from alt-right or RT, with no basis in fact or reality. Their limited world view is about as narrow as Trump’s. They profess to wanting to promote a left/socialist agenda, but in many cases they actually argue against such a possibility, by being so narrow and “pure”, that they cannot see the harm their constant ranting produce. Nor do they see that by continuing to rail in such a manner, they are actually promoting the work of the the hard right.

                • BobandTurtle …
                  23 March 2019 at 5:48 pm

                  Your echo chamber had been heard all the way to Russia!

                  • cleangreen …
                    23 March 2019 at 9:45 pm

                    Bob,

                    Sadly they have an unhealthy fear of Russia haven’t they.?

                    It is a hoax and trump was right.

              • Rangimarie …
                23 March 2019 at 5:20 pm

                Absolute rubbish. From Wikileaks;

                .@caitoz sums up: “Mock the Russiagaters.Mock them ruthlessly, and never, ever let them forget the horrible thing that they did. Never stop making fun of them and reminding them how stupid and crazy they acted during this humiliating period of US history.” https://t.co/rWTs9vHYPe

        • reason 5.1.1.2
          24 March 2019 at 11:08 pm

          The usa people were served up a choice between syphilis and rabies at their last election ….

          A Muslim Congresswoman …. Ilhan Omar, who points out who is the biggest buyers of influence in the usa elections gets herself attacked and labeled …. anti-semite .

          “This is a facile accusation. The Israel lobby, especially AIPAC, has long greased the wheels of American politics by bundling millions of dollars for campaign contributions and spending further millions on sending politicians and journalists on junkets to Israel, ”

          “The controversy blew up after Batya Ungar-Sargon, the opinion editor of the Forward, called out Omar for using an antisemitic “trope” and questioned who the Minnesota representative thinks is paying members of Congress “to be pro-Israel.” In response, Omar tweeted “AIPAC!,” ” https://jacobinmag.com/2019/02/ilhan-omar-israel-tweet-antisemitism-bds

          Ilhan Omar .. ” “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. And I want to ask, Why is it ok for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, of fossil fuel industries, or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobby … that is influencing policy?”” http://inthesetimes.com/article/21778/false-accusations-antisemitism-ilhan-omar-israel-palestine-democrats

          She is a Somali-born former refugee, a Black Muslim woman who wears her hijab in the halls of Congress. And for some in Congress, in the White House and in the media and in too much of the country, such a person does not belong in Congress.

          https://twitter.com/ilhan?lang=en

          Note the kiwiblog / whaleoil type hate speech leveled against her

          https://twitter.com/Ilhan/status/1108752751167762434

  6. cleangreen 6
    23 March 2019 at 12:52 pm

    Most important is what about Hillary’s 33. 0000 emails she destroyed while under orders to release that evidence to FBI?

    That’s another indictable offence also; – surely?

    Destroying the evidence!!!!

    I never trusted her as she was funded by elitist corporations to the hilt.

    Apparently Mueller’s report came with a statement that “no other indictments are needed.

    So they say that means ‘Trump’ is cleared of any involvement in Russian meddling.

    I guess that was to balance Hillary Clinton’s wanton destruction of federal evidence?

    • joe90 6.1
      23 March 2019 at 1:04 pm

      Apparently Mueller’s report came with a statement that “no other indictments are needed.

      Really?

      • Sam 6.1.1
        23 March 2019 at 1:19 pm

        There’s no confirmed criminal acts. That’s not a good look while committing acts of treason against the Presedent of the United States of America.

        In addition I would acknowledge Muller, look into his face and speak to him properly, find out what his entire backstory is and make him work for a salary so he can pay for his own existence if he had a legitimate reason for committing acts of treason.

      • Macro 6.1.2
        23 March 2019 at 1:21 pm

        Apparently so Joe. But that doesn’t mean that the affair is all done and dusted. I think it means that Mueller has gone about as far as he can go. There will be more in the Report I’m sure where there will be indications of malpractice but insufficient evidence to proceed further – whether these allegations will receive the light of day however remains problematic.
        Bear in mind that Mueller has also referred a raft of other criminal offences uncovered during the investigation onto other jurisdictions and that these are ongoing.

        • joe90 6.1.2.1
          23 March 2019 at 1:35 pm

          Not a sausage about whether or not no other indictments are needed, rather, after nearly 40 indictments issued the special counsel says the investigation will not be filing any further indictments.

          Meanwhile, 17 separate criminal investigations continue not to mention the ongoing but unreported work of several state AG’s.

          btw, if things were so fucking rosy the oaf would be telling the world.

          But crickets.

        • Adrian Thornton 6.1.2.2
          23 March 2019 at 4:39 pm

          aahhh, the old ‘always shifting the goals posts ‘ trick, who would have thought that some one as straight up and as honest as the former head of the FBI could be so full of shit…oh that.s right he lied the USA into an illegal war that cost hundred of thousands of lives…ffs open your eyes man.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTDO-kuOGTQ

          Former FBI agent and 9/11 whistleblower Colleen Rowley says former FBI head Robert Mueller, now appointed to investigate the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, participated in covering up the pre 9/11 role of the U.S. intelligence agencies and the Bush Administration, helped create the post 9/11 national security/surveillance state, and helped facilitate the pre-Iraq war propaganda machine

    • te reo putake 6.2
      23 March 2019 at 1:25 pm

      Mueller has apparently said that his team will not be pursuing further indictments. That doesn’t stop any other agency from doing so and there remains the possibility that the Mueller report will also open other avenues for prosecution.

      • Sam 6.2.1
        23 March 2019 at 1:32 pm

        CIA, FBI and DoJ are currently in active revolt against The President of The United States going against the wishes of 70 million voters. Subverting the democratic rule is supposed to be the realm of right wing voters. Don’t you tease National Party followers for not being able to get National across the line in 2017. The results are in for the US election in 2016. Trump won, there’s nothing any one can do to repair there tattered reputation just because Trump won.

        • joe90 6.2.1.1
          23 March 2019 at 1:36 pm

          But Qanon’s on the job.

          /

        • Macro 6.2.1.2
          23 March 2019 at 1:52 pm

          You realise Sam that there are 327+ million people who are citizens of the USA.
          There were over 140 million voters in 2016
          The 67 million who voted for Trump are not the majority.
          Since his assuming office he has “enjoyed” at most a 40% approval rating, and is the most disliked President of all time.
          He was granted the role of President because of an antiquated and hopelessly biased electoral college.
          There was circumstantial evidence that irregularities had occurred, in and before the election; and Trump’s behaviour following the election, and since, is such that investigations needed to be put in place. There have been a number of charges laid as a result of interference in the elective process. He is by no means out of the woods yet. There are a number of investigations continuing, and they will mostly likely result in indictments following his “Presidency”.

      • tc 6.2.2
        23 March 2019 at 2:12 pm

        Exactly, his brief was held to so reasons to reject the report can’t arise from that. He left other jurisdictions with the smoking guns and testimony, well played bob.

      • Win 6.2.3
        23 March 2019 at 3:06 pm

        2 years and millions of dollars a d what have you got? Let’s move the goalposts even further. Sigh.

        • Macro 6.2.3.1
          23 March 2019 at 9:47 pm

          The Investigation cost $27 million and recovered $48 Million in evaded taxes – so the investigation actually made money for the US tax payer.
          Just thought you would be pleased to know.

          • Rangimarie 6.2.3.1.1
            24 March 2019 at 5:23 am

            Hey do you think this lack of evidence re collusion and therefore Russian interference in the election, was found by Mueller to be the case, because Putin made him do it? Just a thought.

      • cleangreen 6.2.5
        24 March 2019 at 9:20 am

        trp

        What you should say is – ‘Mueller report will also open other avenues for prosecution’.- “such as another two year fishing expedition”?

        Wonder why they never did the same ‘fishing expedition’ for lying Hilllary Clinton’s destruction of all that federal Government property and her deliberate wanton destruction of the 33 000 emails on her files? What was on them that were so bad that she had them destroyed after being ordered her to give them to the FBI?

        Perhaps you should be as interested in knowing the whole truth?

        I am also interested in getting to the whole truth about all the players here as I am keenly inquisitive to find all the facts here.

        • left_forward 6.2.5.1
          25 March 2019 at 8:33 am

          … then why do you not focus on the fact of the number of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions as a result of your so called ‘fishing’ expedition? If it is merely fishing, why has it been so successful to date in bring corruption to justice?
          If this is soooo important to you, then why are you avoiding it?

  7. Adrian Thornton 7
    23 March 2019 at 12:58 pm

    “The inquiry has already exposed a far-ranging Russian influence effort, no evidence has emerged so far that Trump or his close aides were directly or indirectly involved.”

    Has it? I haven’t seen any evidence of that…please give a couple of links.

    Google CEO Admits Russians Only Spent $4,700 Dollars On The 2016 Election
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7RL-P7-QY

    Shifting goal post of course….
    “Seth Abramson has quickly made the point that Mueller’s work continues beyond the presentation of the report and that other agencies are separately engaged on ongoing investigations:”

    What a complete load of bullshit, fuck some people are gullible.

    • left_forward 7.1
      25 March 2019 at 8:43 am

      Manafort
      Flynn
      Papadopoulos
      Cohen

      and more…

      …all close aides / advisors – all convicted – three pleaded guilty.

      You seem to know how to google – look beyond Fox and Right wing ‘alternative facts’ sites.

      Here is a link to get you started.

  8. Siobhan 8
    23 March 2019 at 1:04 pm

    Those darned Ruskies..boy are they cunning..
    you have to wonder,
    given their amazingly undetectable ability to get their boy to win an election in a Democracy like America,
    against a political party and Candidate as Popular and Progressive as the Democrats/Hillary…
    why do they even need such draconian laws in their own country to keep Putin in power?
    Could they not just pop up some facebook bots and bribe a few property developers with a sweet heart Hotel deal?
    After all, that’s all it takes to steal an election.

    • BobandTurtle 8.1
      23 March 2019 at 2:29 pm

      Wow nice to see your emotion noting getting in the way of a witty balanced comment. By the way, where is YOUR evidence?

      • Rangimarie 8.1.1
        23 March 2019 at 3:07 pm

        I dont have any evidence of Russian interference because there isn’t any.

      • Siobhan 8.1.2
        23 March 2019 at 3:41 pm

        I admit..I don’t have any evidence of something that didn’t happen.

        But I can present the entire record of the Democrats, the DNC and Hillary Clinton as the reason she didn’t win.

        Unfortunately it’s so many links I could quite possibly break the interweb.

  9. Rangimarie 9
    23 March 2019 at 1:15 pm

    And here’s an another one;

    I’m not a Trump fan/apologist unless of course he keeps his election pledges and
    1.withdraws US troops from participation in ongoing wars
    2.continues to negotiate with North Korea (he has just withdrawn the latest sanctions on NK)
    3. Get rid of Guantanamo and
    stays the ‘f’ out of Venezuela
    withdraws financial support for Israel.

    Then I will definitely say he could be quite reasonable.
    And while we are speaking about election interference. This Time cover crows about how the US interfered in the Russian elections in 1996, leading to the rape of the country’s resources, wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, who then also had great political power which then
    resulted in abject poverty and high death rates amongst the Russian people.

    http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19960715,00.html

    • Adrian Thornton 9.1
      23 March 2019 at 1:48 pm

      Rangimarie +1

      If anyone is actually really interested (which for many here, I doubt) in what Russia is today and how it got there, here is a very good interview on the subject by the author of ‘Russia without Putin’ by Tony Wood

      Doug Henwood
      Behind the News – March 21, 2019
      Radio KPFA
      https://kpfa.org/episode/behind-the-news-march-21-2019/

      • Mike Smith 9.1.1
        23 March 2019 at 7:12 pm

        Thanks for that Adrian – interesting and informative

      • RedLogix 9.1.2
        23 March 2019 at 10:19 pm

        Same from me Adrian, I’m no Russia expert, but the narrative aligns very much with what I learned while I was there. Good information.

      • Rangimarie 9.1.3
        23 March 2019 at 11:31 pm

        Thanks Adrian. I agree with most of what was said apart from Yeltsein having to do all the heavy lifting, no mention of the disastrous failed free market experiment by the US That lead to abject poverty and high death rates in the 1990s, and the current state of Russia’s economy. I’ve followed Russian affairs very closely ever since I realised what I believed about Russia was wrong. Talk about cognitive dissonance. We even visited Russia last year. I know there are problems with the economy but it has been surprisingly resiliant despite the sanctions and the controlled drop in oil prices. I found a Reuter’s article that backed this up although in a disparaging way ie ‘but this won’t last long haha’ 1 from the Japanese Times and this https://www.awaragroup.com/blog/russian-economy-strong-and-stable/ which may be overly positive. But what Russia has going for it is that it’s resource rich, has huge reserves of gold and isn’t trillions of dollars in debt. Once again thanks for the article. There are a few commentators Prof Steven Cohen, Dr Paul Craig Roberts, Dr Ron Paul, Jimmy Dore (“a jag off comedian”), Glen Greenwald, Aaron Mate ( who writes for The Nation) etc etc, who are aware of how badly Russia is treated by the Western news media especially. But for those who still think Putin engineered Trump’s election – isn’t it a bit odd that Putin has so much power that he is now responsible for everything that goes wrong in the West? You are essentially saying he can control and manipulate us at will. Wow he’s almost god like. Methinks You give him too much credit.

    • RedLogix 9.2
      23 March 2019 at 10:13 pm

      I worked for a period in Russia in 2001 and saw that poverty first hand. I’ve mentioned it here from time to time; it was a trip that left a big impression on me. Poverty in a hot country is one thing, in a cold country it’s lethal.

      It left me with an appreciation of the Russian people and a deep sense that they are not our enemies. Rapprochement is long overdue.

      • Rangimarie 9.2.1
        23 March 2019 at 11:57 pm

        I totally agree with your comment. During the period 1992 to 2009, 7 million people died. Putin has done a lot to move Russia into the 21st century. Hopefully he will achieve his goals re the advancement of Russia.

        • RedLogix 9.2.1.1
          24 March 2019 at 12:12 am

          After coming off the night shift I took the trolley bus back to the centre of the city, and usually I walked from there about 20 min back to my apartment. It was a Saturday morning; and at the end of the main road there was a park, and for some reason that day I thought to explore it.

          As I entered the main path I could see about 100m away a circular monument, and after a moment I realised it was an Eternal Flame, a gas flame about 1m high flickering constantly from the centre of a memorial to the dead of two Great Wars.

          On getting closer I saw a movement, and just out of my sight at first I saw a bundle shift. I came closer, and saw something both very normal and … oh hell there is no word for it. There was a boy about 10 years old, clearly homeless and huddled as close as he could to this flame for sufficient warmth to survive the night. It was maybe -15degC, cold but nowhere near what it would be a month later.

          For a few moments our eyes met, it seemed to me I was looking at the son I never had. And all I could do was betray him.

          • Rangimarie 9.2.1.1.1
            24 March 2019 at 5:08 am

            That’s so sad. Although we were in Paris one night and were walking home from attending a concert and stopped to have a bite to eat. On the footpath in amongst the throngs of night club goers was a mother lying with her 2 little children. She wasn’t begging. I guess she thought it was a safe place to sleep in amongst the night club goers. That picture in my mind is still really difficult to escape from even now.

            On our visit to Russia last year, although we only went to Moscow and St Petersberg, we saw no beggars, homeless people as such. Although there were a few alcoholics hanging out in parks. Putin has completely changed (most of the country) from a cesspit to a thriving, modern day society. Have you seen his pressers, where people and the press are able to ask him anything? Amazing 3 hour marathons with no cue cards.

  10. cleangreen 10
    23 March 2019 at 10:14 pm

    The ‘Washington swamp’ tried to drown President Trump, but it didn’t happen.

    So we are saved from a nuclear war with Russia then- ‘phew’

    Again Trump stop another nuclear war after North Korea and now Russia, . We live another year.

    • Macro 10.1
      24 March 2019 at 4:32 pm

      Ahh Hemmm apropos the draining the swamp CG are you aware of the number of Trump appointments that have resigned, or been forced to resign because of corruption in the past two years?
      Here is a short list of the top tier appointments who have now left the Trump administration (all appointed by Trump btw) under a cloud.
      Top Trump Departures
      Yates
      Flynn
      Walsh
      Dubke
      Shaub
      McFarland
      Corralo
      Spicer
      Priebus
      Mooch
      Bannon
      Gorka
      Icahn
      Price
      Powell
      Manigault
      Dearborn
      McCabe
      Porter
      Raffel
      Hicks
      Cohn
      Tillerson
      McMaster
      Shulkin
      Anton
      Bossert
      Pruitt
      Short
      Haley
      Sessions
      Kelly
      Ayers
      Zinke
      Mattis
      Shine
      There are many, many more. The Defense Department (ie The Pentagon) has been without a permanent head for months! Indeed, there are many, departments and government administrations that have been “operating” without a head almost from the time of his inauguration. This is no way to run a business let alone a country.

      • Andre 10.1.1
        24 March 2019 at 4:41 pm

        Ya gotta admit, tho, it really is a minor relief Genghis Can’t is so fucking lazy, incompetent and obnoxious to work for that it actually does limit the damage he’s doing.

        BTW, Yates and McCabe weren’t really Trump appointees, they were Senate confirmed under Obama and just moved up as the natural line of succession when Trumpty Dumpy shitcanned their bosses.

        • Macro 10.1.1.1
          24 March 2019 at 4:50 pm

          Yeah that’s true in a way – the problem is tho that almost every one he appoints is some prick who thinks they are entitled to spend vast amounts of public money on themselves – like first class travel everywhere and luxury apartments for the mistress.
          Then there are those with enough sense to see that taking any job with Trump is a path to oblivion. So they wont touch it for love or money.
          It really is a chaotic mess founded upon lies and driven by fear. The only administration surpassing it for chaos at the moment is in London.

  11. Rangimarie 11
    24 March 2019 at 4:43 am

    Read this.
    We were right and they were wrong.
    https://twitter.com/ronpaulinstitut/status/1109444835335946240?s=21

  12. Rangimarie 12
    24 March 2019 at 5:36 am

    Jimmy Dore. He was right all along. Self described as a ‘jagg off comedian, working from his garage’. As progressive as they come. But probably not progressive enough for most of you on this site.

    https://youtu.be/HjPgO57AzjQ

    • joe90 12.1
      24 March 2019 at 7:09 pm

      Jimmy Dore believes Pizzagate is a thing and that the 2017 Las Vegas shooting was inside job, too.

  13. Andre 13
    24 March 2019 at 10:52 am

    Interesting. The tangerine twittertwat has gone quiet. S’pose the next few should be goodies tho: the bottled-up eruptions are usually the most spectacular.

    https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/03/does-mueller-have-trump-twitter-tongue-tied/

  14. Sabine 14
    24 March 2019 at 10:59 am

    yes, America, you voted for the shortfingered vulagarian. And yes, he is a criminal, sexist, racist, petty and sadist as many of us feared.

    And i don’t see him give up his position ever without a fight.

    • Rangimarie 14.1
      24 March 2019 at 11:17 am

      Why do you think they voted for him?

      And why should the powers try to get rid of him illegally?

      If he’s done wrong go down the legal path. Isn’t that what a democracy’s supposed to do? Dont try and shaft him on made up evidence.

      • McFlock 14.1.1
        24 March 2019 at 4:00 pm

        Who said illegally?
        The repugs will never impeach, but if the 25th amendment doesn’t get him, 2020 will.

        My personal bet is on NY state tax investigations.

        • Macro 14.1.1.1
          24 March 2019 at 4:14 pm

          Yeah that and Summer Zervos
          https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/26/17151766/trump-lawsuit-summer-zervos-apprentice
          and …..
          What about that $2 Billion lent to him over the years by Deutsche Bank when no American bank would touch him with a barge pole? And who underwrote that amount of cash?

        • Andre 14.1.1.2
          24 March 2019 at 4:24 pm

          Just a reminder: if wee Donny Tantrump doesn’t go quietly when big daddy Ponce tells him his playpen is moving from the Oval Office, it’s actually harder to remove him using the 25th than using impeachment.

          A contested removal using the 25th requires a 2/3 supermajority in both the House and the Senate plus half the Cabinet plus the veep, impeachment just requires a simple 50% +1 majority in the House and 2/3 in the Senate.

          I still reckon Ponce is regularly telling Diaper Don if he wants a pardon, he’ll have to resign early enough for Ponce to have a decent shot at fighting the 2020 election. That means resign this year. Resigning in the lame duck after they’ve both lost in November next year won’t cut it, there would be nothing in it for Ponce to pardon him then.

  15. te reo putake 15
    24 March 2019 at 11:51 am

    No new tweet from Trump in over 24 hours. Getting close to his longest ever twitter break. SAD!

  16. Andre 16
    24 March 2019 at 4:30 pm

    A wee bit off topic, but some thoughts on the Kellyalien and George show seem a bit more at home here then even Open Mike.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/22/opinions/george-kellyanne-conway-trump-carter/index.html

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