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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.Trump knew for weeks that aide was misleading over Russia: White House
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Simon Foston
WolfpackFEB. 15, 2017 - 09:47AM JST
No? Why not? I fail to see the insignificance of the incoming NSA, i.e. a private citizen, illegally discussing policy with foreign diplomats, and his boss the President knowing about it weeks ago. Perhaps it would be a big deal if it were the new NSA of a Clinton administration?
CrazyJoe
Imagine if there is direct evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.....impeachable offense....likely treason. Chaffetz, Oh Chaffetz. Here boy. Anyone seen Chaffetz?
Laguna
Serrano, you posted that Flynn wouldn't resign moments before he resigned. One might hope for a thorough investigation so that we can go where the facts lead. Even you must admit that the story thus far does not add up.
SuperLib
Republicans yawning at their NSA breaking the law and promising the Russians a free pass on sanctions?
Reagan is officially a Democrat. After he's done rolling over in his grave.
PTownsend
I imagine Trump's backers will claim that closer ties with Putin are needed to 'prevent going to war with Russia' and/or 'to jointly fight terrorism'.
The likelihood of war with Russia was pushed and sold in part by the Nashi bots (read past issues of Russia Today and JT) claiming Hillary wanted a no fly zone which would lead to war. This was then echoed by US rightists opposing Clinton. Is Russia's economy strong enough to go to war with the US, the most powerful military the world has ever seen? I don't think so.
The joint fight against terrorism is part of another negative agenda. Trump (and Putin) are riling up the masses to fight against something using the demagogue's tactic of identifying enemies and keeping fear alive. That terrorism has to be fought is indisputable. The US needs allies in the fight, but can it really trust Russia?
Why is Trump so pro-Putin? Why has he appointed so many pro-Putin people to key positions in his administration? What are Trump's connections with Russia and Russian oligarchs? Why won't he release his business information?
Why did Trump keep Flynn around knowing he'd lied? Can anything Trump says be believed by anyone except his true believing followers?
dcog9065
It makes sense Trump would dawdle, he had to wait for his masters in the Kremlin to give him permission to ask for Flynn's resignation. You can be Trump is being blackmailed hard
SenseNotSoCommon
Honour among thieves.
Pukey2
Bass:
Just how many 'chances' does your team get?
Wasn't Flynn the one who was campaigning on behalf of 'He who must be obeyed', saying that if he'd committed one tenth of what Clinton had done (in reference to her private email server), then he'd be thrown in jail?
Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!
SuperLib
So that's 3 Trump stooges out because of inappropriate ties to Russia. Plus we have Trump praising Putin and his response to the hacking has been to sit on his rear. Trump fans have put up with a lot of bending over to support Trump so far. I say we bend them over just a little bit more.
Dre Hund
Out Like Flynn.
Simon Foston
SuperLibFEB. 15, 2017 - 10:18AM JST
When the alternative is admitting that they feel a bit stupid after talking like Trump's the Second Coming, I think just about anything is excusable. It certainly makes me glad that I don't go in for saying how great politicians are when they win elections. It's better to have low expectations and keep quiet, rather than end up looking and feeling a bit like a dopey tit.
But here's the funny thing - Trump has broken his curious silence on this matter to tweet that he's angry about leaks!**
His toadies and apologists will no doubt echo his condemnation like a pack of grovelling sycophants, never mind that they didn't bat an eyelid about the number Wikileaks did on Hillary Clinton, or the fact that David Petraeus is apparently being considered for the NSA job, having been caught leaking secrets to his biographer/bit on the side...
NCIS Reruns
You Trump apologists better rein in your goofy remarks, because the tide is quickly turning and before this mess is over the tweeter in chief is going to be tarred, feathered and ridden out of DC on a rail.
Simon Foston
Clearly they didn't know about the 1799 Logan Act banning private citizens from conducting foreign diplomacy then, or didn't think it was that important.
Laguna
NBC reports that Pence was not informed of Flynn's duplicity for a full 15 days after Trump, which is rather unbelievable considering Pence's purported position. Or maybe they're just saying that to cover up Pence knowingly repeating Flynn's lie in the hope that the transcripts would never be leaked. Which do you think is more likely?
LFRAgain
Excellent questions, each and every one. The American public has every right and entitlement to knowing right now.
This horse puckey being spread that Mike Pence was an unwitting dupe in all of this is hogwash. He absolutely was in on this, as was his boss. The discussion with Russia about easing sanctions was as about a clear-cut example of quid pro quo as anyone could ask for, and you can be sure Flynn didn't approach the Russians to discuss sanctions on his own altruistic initiative. He was sent.
This ridiculous narrative that he was "misled" is part of a concerted effort to keep Pence relatively "clean" in anticipation of the so-called president's inevitable removal from office, either through the 25th Amendment or impeachment. The GOP has to first create then nurture an illusion that Pence is untainted by the scandal, lunacy, treason, and stupidity swirling around the so-called president. This is that effort in action. Period.
SuperLib
Does anyone know how long it took Trump to tell Pence that he had been duped? If he said something weeks ago then Pence kept his mouth shut about what amounted to his own misleading statements. If Trump didn't say anything to Pence then he kept it in his pocket for later use.
Strangerland
Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!
TorafusuTorasan
The media serves a hugely valuable educational purpose. For example, the way Pence found out that Flynn was lying was by seeing it in the Washington Post a week ago per ABC news. On behalf of the vice president, let me thank the media for keeping him in the loop. I'm sure he deeply appreciates the Wapo's help in uncovering Flynn's duplicity.
gokai_wo_maneku
He lied to Pence but Trump says nothing even though he knew. I'd expect Pence to resign. Trump is not showing him any respect.
SuperLib
Let's hope Flynn doesn't speak for all Republicans. Certainly he doesn't speak for them on Russia. All of the Democrats and some establishment GOP members should be excluded. It's the Trump fans who support his submissive position to Putin. Obama and Reagan wouldn't be doing this.
Simon Foston
SerranoFEB. 15, 2017 - 11:40AM JST
How come Flynn held onto his job for so long after Trump learned of this, then? How come when Trump was asked about all this last week he said he knew nothing about it? And what does that make him - a liar or a moron?
I see it's not just liberals and the loony left who are chasing this one:
A very good question.
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 15, 2017 - 12:03PM JST
And...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/14/chaffetz-investigating-security-protocols-at-trumps-mar-lago-resort.html
Jason Chaffetz is also a Republican, is he not?
Strangerland
Yes, he was stupid for doing it in a manner that got him caught. But it was flat out illegal, which is more than just stupid.
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
Dude, you quoted both of them on here not even a week ago. So, what's wrong with them now? https://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/trump-tweets-see-you-in-court-after-appeals-court-refuses-to-reinstate-travel-ban#comment_2353302
SimondB
When Trump was told that Flynn had lied I'm guessing his thought process was: He lied? So do I all the time. No big deal. So what's the problem here?
It was only when he realized that it could make himself look bad that he acted.
paulinusa
More like liars. A culture of lying led by someone at the top who sets the example.
Stookibill
So General Flynn is highly critical of Clinton in the run up to the election for her email situation. He calls for her imprisonment as he feels she is a risk to national security. He hates the Obama administration for forcing him out of his job at the DIA so he does something, while not unprecedented for a retired general, is rare: he comes out in total support for a political candidate. Perhaps he felt that the only way he could get America "back on track" was by supporting Trump and therefore expanding the military and military intelligence.
And then he gets caught out on a monitored line saying to Sergei "Hey, if you play nice, we'll have better footing for talks when we take over. Obama's on the way out, let him have his last tantrum" etc, etc.
It's clear that Trump is no friend to the military. Rep. Gates, the former secretary of defense, called him, "beyond repair". My reading on this is that Flynn has started to question your Dear Leader's sanity so he had to go.
PTownsend
I've yet to read this anywhere else. Could you provide a link showing where I can learn more, please.
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
So, let's get this straight: Trump knew about this for weeks and didn't do a thing. Why?
Is this why?
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/14/politics/donald-trump-aides-russians-campaign/index.html?adkey=bn
LFRAgain
So, now that we know actual transcripts confirm that Flynn did speak with Russian Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak about sanctions, I'd like to know precisely what was said. What assurances, if any, did Flynn make on behalf of his soon-to-be boss to Russia? It's my right as an American to know if the people who have made their way into the current White House actively worked to undermine the United States before they ever arrived.
The Logan Act:
This is important. Depending on the content of the conversation Flynn had with Kislyak, he may well have broken the law in a way that hasn't been seen since it came into being in 1798.
MrBum
Article: Trump sat on information about deceit for weeks.
Trump fans: Trump has zero tolerance for deceit!
Even Kellyanne Conway's having trouble with this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy_mF7-FkeQ
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 15, 2017 - 03:44PM JST
So it's not just liberals and the loony left who are out to get Trump, is it? And am I mistaken somehow, but if Trump isn't able to get all those establishment Republicans on board like he promised he could, isn't he kind of screwed when it comes to getting any sort of agenda through Congress? At the very least doesn't it make him look like he can't deliver on his promises?
You don't want to talk about what the most important thing is. If confronted with anything at all awkward you're clearly just going to regurgitate whatever you are comfortable with.
Simon Foston
StookibillFEB. 15, 2017 - 12:38PM JST
No, I don't think he was actively trying to sell out his country so I wouldn't bandy the word "traitor" about. "Criminal" fits the bill a bit better.
Simon Foston
StookibillFEB. 15, 2017 - 12:57PM JST
I wouldn't call him a criminal if he'd waited. But he didn't wait so it's all academic.
As I said, I wouldn't call him a traitor or accuse him of selling out his country. I'm really more interested in what Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did or didn't do about it. Up until a few days ago this was his line...
"Zero tolerance for deceit," eh?
plasticmonkey
Will Flynn be the next Oliver North to the right? An American "patriot" and "hero" who circumvented the law to "defend" the country that he "loves" so dearly? Who took the fall for his "unknowing" president? I'm sure there's a job waiting for Flynn over at Fox.
aedfed
Misleading people is a firing offence in the Trump White House? They're going to run out of people in no time.
Thunderbird2
So when are they going to drain the swamp of these bottom feeders? For all the blustering and posturing of the Drumpf it looks like it's his own team that are the problem. Oh, and now Alt Facts Kelly Anne is next... like a conveyor belt of liars and idiots.
And people thought Hilary was bad.
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 15, 2017 - 05:44PM JST
All right, then. Trump knew about this for weeks before the story broke but was pretending as recently as a few days ago that he didn't. Anything to say about that? Nancy Pelosi does:
Dismiss that if you like - it's Nancy Pelosi so I'm sure you will - but Republicans are starting to ask the same questions, e.g. "And I want to know," (Sen. Lindsey) Graham said, "did Gen. Flynn do this by himself or was he directed by somebody to do it?" .
My guess, though, is that all you're going to manage to say is that Flynn did the honourable thing by resigning and not a whole lot else.
ClippetyClop
I'd step around them, because I'm not an imbecile. Trump is, and he's gonna be a banana peel magnet until he drains himself out of his swamp.
SuperLib
Trump's bigger problem is the leaks coming out of his administration. Can't wait to see what's next.
SuperLib
Bass, we all know Trump was out of line attacking a business for their decision to stop carrying a poorly selling clothing line. Even you agree. Stop bending over.
SenseNotSoCommon
Wow, someone in our midst was privy to the meeting. How cool is that?
SenseNotSoCommon
...which brings us back to the dangers of conjecture:
We have no way of knowing. Thank you and have a nice day.
nishikat
She was never arrested. And Trump broke his promise about that. Just like with the wall (mexico won't pay)
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 15, 2017 - 06:28PM JST
Just as I expected.
plasticmonkey
= I don't have to rationally weigh the evidence before me. Democrats and liberals are bad. And anyone who criticizes Trump is bad. And if you point this out to me, then crooked-hillary-emails-socialist-obama-tyrant-benghaaaaaazi!-fakenews-your-daddy-is-weaker-than-my-daddy-roflol
Simon Foston
SuperLibFEB. 15, 2017 - 10:18PM JST
Leaks. Tsk tsk. Disgraceful. We should condemn them really. But it's kind of hard to when I think back to what happened to the Clinton campaign and the DNC. It's also hard not to laugh when Trump starts whining about how bad leaks are when he's the victim.
SenseNotSoCommon
Trumps latest twits:
Forget Comey's red herring reopening of the Hilary email investigation 10 days before polling day.
Trump tweeted about a store dropping Ivanka during a briefing. Doesn't give a flying fox about intel.
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 15, 2017 - 11:59PM JST
That's not even a coherent answer.
No, he's doing damage because that kind of protection, as well intentioned as it may be, is the last thing that either of them need.
SenseNotSoCommon
Thank you, that's kind.
A virtual meeting as opposed to face-to-face: enough for an established relationship. Where can we read the transcript, then?
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 15, 2017 - 09:50PM JST
What, do you actually think I was talking about what's going to happen to Flynn?
Seriously?
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
Or the federalist or the national review.. In the past you too have quoted CNN. So, if its good enough for you, its good enough for me.
And in case you've missed it: https://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/ny-times-says-trump-campaign-team-had-repeated-contact-with-russian-intelligence
So, its not just CNN reporting.
Simon Foston
If it made any sense I might.
bass4funk
I believe that, just as Obama backers believed the same about the Iran deal, however, if there were others that conspired with Russia over sanctions, they should be dismissed as well or at the very least heavily disciplined.
The likelihood of war with Russia was pushed and sold in part by the Nashi bots (read past issues of Russia Today and JT) claiming Hillary wanted a no fly zone which would lead to war. This was then echoed by US rightists opposing Clinton.
What a load of crap.
Who knows, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't go to war. We are talking about Putin, remember.
Why not at least, why not try? Obama trusted Iran and Cuba, so at least he should try.
Why was Obama so pro-Iran? What is wrong with Trump wanting to normalize relations with Russia? When Putin went into Crimea and the right tried warn Obama and the left, they did absolutely nothing and now all of a sudden the left are so concerned? Give me a break!
If any connections at all.
I wonder if you felt the same about Harry Reid.....
Moderator: Obama is not relevant to this discussion.
Jimizo
I'm just wondering why the Trump supporters aren't calling for more transparency from Trump which would help clear up the questions over Russia.
That would really shut the whining snowflakes up.
Moderator: The word "snowflakes" is not acceptable on political threads.
Serrano
Laguna: "Serrano, you posted that Flynn wouldn't resign moments before he resigned."
I did? Maybe you're confusing Flynn with Pence on my 9:26am post?
Even with not everything going completely smooth as silk, this new administration is sooooooo much better than the one we'd have if Crooked Hillary had become president.
Strangerland
The twit has twatted.
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 16, 2017 - 03:03AM JST
I would ask you to explain how exactly your comment is a lucid and coherent response to mine, but I suspect the answer would just be more random, off-topic gibberish. So shall I make this very, very simple? You seem to be having some trouble.
"Did you really think I was talking about what was going to happen to Michael Flynn?"
a. Yes, I thought you were talking about Michael Flynn. b. No, I realised you were actually talking about something else but was deliberately trying to steer away from that subject.
Just choose (a) or (b). That's not too difficult for you, is it?
SuperLibFEB. 16, 2017 - 03:15AM JST
I don't know if that's possible.
lostrune2
Flynn lied to his boss; his boss vouched for him and thus was made to look bad on live TV.
If you did that to your boss, what do you think would happen to you?
Anybody else still think Flynn should be staying?
SenseNotSoCommon
People have been separating the wheat from the chaff for millennia. This isn't new.
A bit early in the poker game for that, don't you think?
A hat trick of ad hominems. Hope the cigar's Cuban!
Asakaze
Hypocrisy of the Flynn scandal:
https://theintercept.com/2017/02/14/the-leakers-who-exposed-gen-flynns-lie-committed-serious-and-wholly-justified-felonies/
Serrano
"Republican Senator Lindsey Graham"
He and McCain are part of the swamp that needs to be drained.
Kellyanne Conway interview and much more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQHf0AamrRw
bass4funk
You don't think so? I disagree, sorry.
How is he doing damage? He wasn't promoting Ivanka's clothing line, he thought that Nordstrom's was unfair and taking a political stance and that is their right, as it is Trump's right to speak out on the treatment of his daughter.
Stookibill
Look, we can all throw our hands up and cry "Flynn is a traitor!" but even a shallow analysis of this story will show that this is not the case.
Firstly, he was stupid. An intelligence officer of the US military should have known better than to discuss some back-channel business on a monitored line. Maybe he just got caught up in an impromptu negotiation. We'll never know unless the transcripts are released.
Secondly, what he discussed as a private citizen is the type of deal that gets made all the time in politics. Obama's administration had left a big steaming turd of political incident in the in-tray of the incoming President. Trump's strong suit is sexually assaulting women, not dealing with intricate and delicate international politics, so he get's his aide to take care of it.
Thirdly, there's a power play here. There always is when somebody close to the top "resigns". Everyone has dirt on everyone else at that level, and if I had to bet, I'd say that Flynn was stabbed in the back.
The question is, who was holding the knife?
Stookibill
@Simon Foston & Strangerland. Possibly. Would his actions have still been criminal if he'd waited a couple of weeks and done the same thing under the mantle of being the national security adviser to the President? Also, we're not talking about selling state secrets here either, are we? Just the usual diplomatic tomfoolery.
Stookibill
We can't. All we have to go on is the leaked information. Although I imagine if Flynn had been offering those naughty Russians an all expense paid trip to Vegas and a couple submarines we'd all be reading slightly different headlines today, wouldn't we SenseNotSoC'mon?
bass4funk
The way the left keep screaming and flipping out, I would have thought the worst possible outcome.
Most likely coming from the State Dept. most of them were carry overs from the Obama admin. Personally, I would replace all of them and take it from there. Cut the head off the snake and that would be the best place to start.
Nothing wrong with that. president aside, he's a father and as a father myself, I'm extremely sensitive and protective over my kids, especially my daughter. He has every right to feel the way he does, those are HIS personal feelings and I'm not going to fault him for that. He's doing what a father should do and that is speak out and protect his child.
Stookibill
@Simon Foston
No it isn't. It's actually up the judiciary to decide. According to the information we have now the only law that Flynn could have broken hasn't ever been used to successfully prosecute anyone and it's been on the books for 200 years.
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/14/515279336/what-is-the-logan-act-and-why-does-it-matter
Also - and this has just occurred to me. Who went back over the books to bring this law out of the woodwork? Was it the Democrats or the Republicans? Ultimately they may want to put Flynn under oath which would leave open to all sorts of questions.
@nocommonsense
It wasn't a meeting. It was a phone conversation. With a transcript.
bass4funk
Of course, what else do you want? What Flynn did was wrong, but if you think, he's going to sit inside a prison cell, good luck to the prosecutor that would be willing to take the case and make a laughing stock of themselves.
Not all
If it's based on pure emotion which drives the left usually, then it's more like deeply misguided.
Serrano
NCIS Reruns: "You Trump apologists better rein in your goofy remarks"
Oh, now we're not only deplorable and irredemable but goofy too! Ha ha ha ha
Oh my...
Targeting of Flynn 'should be alarming to everyone'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFDNoXInYo
Oh my!
The DC swamp is rising to take down Trump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmCouKJ7BYQ
zengohan
Iran insiders leaked this supposedly info that no one for some has given proof of. flynn was politically assassinated Before anyone even got into the whitehouse he had a target on his back all because trump want to overturn the iran deal which is a good idea but iran insiders will stop at nothing to keep it. Keep it up liberals your going to get us all killed because your brainwashed.
Serrano
Laguna: "Serrano, you posted that Flynn wouldn't resign moments before he resigned."
Um, no I didn't.
Trump has zero tolerance for deceit.
bass4funk
One of the establishment Republicans, yes, sir!
Actually, it's NOT that important, what THE most important thing is, does the president have ANY confidence in Gen. Flynn and the answer is, he apparently does not and therefore the responsible for him to do was to step down and that is what he has done.
Not that relevant.
Quoting CNN? Why not quote Alex Jones? Good lord.....
Alex Einz
omg ..the big bad Russia.... get over it already.. you would all be lucky to have Putin as ur president, and soon you will, so just chill and brush up that Russian.
bass4funk
What's you mentioned Pelosi, I decided to move on to the next question.
Especially coming from her, I'm so ashamed that this woman comes from my home State.
Graham, another Trump skeptic, critic, former presidential candidate rival. Come on, it's so obvious. Ok, so you have the looniest of Democrats and a Washington establishment career politician, what else do you have?
Pretty much. It's over, time to move on.
bass4funk
Pence is not going anywhere, don't worry.
bass4funk
I quote Rachel Maddow sometimes, doesn't mean, I agree with her politics.
No, but mostly the left, no doubt about it.
To a point, but if the Establishment Republicans want to hold onto power and get things done, it would be in their best interest to work with Trump, unless they want to be a marginalized party like the Democrats.
If I throw banana peels in front of you, what do you think would happen?
Anything, any place and anytime.
What? Good lord, that was kinda funny in a way. ROFL
Serrano
gokai... Pence isn't going to resign.
Oh my...
Mike Pence Forces Michael Flynn to Resign over Russia Calls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV5N0Ziy954
Serrano
"Out Like Flynn"
Don't give up your day job, Dre Hund, lol.
Here's a good report:
Where does the administration head after the Flynn fallout?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFLz4Xd_b9A
bass4funk
More establishment Republicans, anything else?
Yes, they were left, always have been, but they weren't off the charts, but since the election they make msnbc look like a center outlet.
Before they were ok, now.......
Don't come at me with the NYT, in that case, I might as well stick with CNN, it's like saying, if I have to make a choice, saw off my arm or drink poison, good lord!
bass4funk
Graham never liked Trump from the beginning. Ok, so that's one GOP establishment that's chasing him. And?
Wolfpack
Yawn.... No big deal. On to the next hysterical anti-Trump news story.
bass4funk
As many chances as any other administration, at least for the next 4-8 years.
He's out, right? He got what he deserved.
Seriously? Even if that were to happen, it doesn't come close to what Hillary did, not even a sad 3rd place. I liked and always admired Gen. Flynn, but he had to go.