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U.S. imposes sanctions on Russia over election hacking

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Trump tells us "we ought to get on with our lives."

Perhaps, you know, shop a little over at Ivanka's website. Play a little golf-- perhaps at a Trump course? So much more important than concerning our little heads over Russian interference in our election.

Will Trump be directing the FBI to continue working at finding the evidence it needs to prosecute? I'm guessing. not. So glad Obama made it clear how different his administration was from Trump's. What a nightmare we're in for.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

Trump cares so little about this issue either because he's in Putin's pocket or because it detracts from his glorious election win. Or both. In any case, Trump cares very little about the country he is to lead, and lots about himself. Uniquely unqualified to be POTUS.

Good on Obama.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

Awesome. This is something both Republicans and Democrats should agree on.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said.

What's concerning is the notion of 'all Americans' doesn't appear to be of importance to Trump. He was elected by a minority of Americans, a group he already seems to be discarding while he instead is focusing attention on his fellow .01%ers worldwide, including Russia.

Has the reality TV star soon to be pres-elect been more affected by House of Cards (the US version) or Game of Thrones?

0 ( +7 / -7 )

@PTownsend, SuperLib, plasticmonkey, CrazyJoe,

You guys just made my day. LOL. There is still no proof/evidence in the "13 page report" (not even mentioned in this Obama fake news) that Russian "hackers" were responsible. The MSM/Obama fake news wins over the crowd over with such ease it's scary.

Read the report yourself if you like, and it even comes with a disclaimer. Too funny. Most of the report is information to help you stop your computer from getting Phished.

DISCLAIMER: This report is provided “as is” for informational purposes only. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not provide any warranties of any kind regarding any information contained within. DHS does not endorse any commercial product or service referenced in this advisory or otherwise. This document is distributed as TLP:WHITE: Subject to standard copyright rules, TLP:WHITE information may be distributed without restriction. For more information on the Traffic Light Protocol, see https://www.us-cert.gov/tlp.

https://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/JAR_16-20296.pdf

The report also doesn't mention the GRU or the FSB.

The muppets are in control of the world.....for 21 more days.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

Obama is still miffed that his protege Hillary lost the election and has to blame the Russians.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Trump cares so little about this issue either because he's in Putin's pocket or because it detracts from his glorious election win. Or both.

Or none?

In any case, Trump cares very little about the country he is to lead, and lots about himself. Uniquely unqualified to be POTUS.

Trump didn't care about the country, nor does he care about the MidEast and we just saw that the other day and given his 8 year disastrous foreign policy handling.

Good on Obama.

Yeah, lol! If Trump would have initiated the sanctions, everyone on the left would jump on Trump for possibly in sighting WWIII, but Obama does it, now it's a good thing. I'll say it again. January 20th can't come soon enough, be so happy when this bozo is finally out, we've been punished and tormented enough with Barack and all of his shenanigans.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

The Lame Duck is laying his last mines. Very petty and very sensless move. Russians will reply in kind, they'll send packing 35 operatives of CIA Moscow station. May be Obama knows that, but he seems not much concerned with the damage to the US interests. All he is interested in is his petty schoolboy's revenge to a more successful rival. Trump will have to clean up much mess after Obama.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

Fizzbit: ...

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not provide any warranties of any kind regarding any information contained within.

Stopped reading here. It's like disclaimers in a climate change report. 'If, if, maybe, maybe, you'll find out the hard way 100 years from now when we're all dead and safe from critical examination.'

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

FizzBit is offering Russian talking points, most likely from this article: https://www.rt.com/usa/372195-report-russia-hacking-elections/. Seems to be a match.

For everyone else, the intent of the report was to describe the type of hacking that took place. It was not meant to share classified information about the US's intelligence gathering capabilities with the world. Russian sympathizers will probably hammer home this fake point, then tell us that the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, Obama, and Congress are all working together in a grand conspiracy while Putin and Trump are the plucky little investigators who exposed everyone.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The Lame Duck is laying his last mines. Very petty and very sensless move. Russians will reply in kind, they'll send packing 35 operatives of CIA Moscow station. May be Obama knows that, but he seems not much concerned with the damage to the US interests. All he is interested in is his petty schoolboy's revenge to a more successful rival. Trump will have to clean up much mess after Obama.

Pretty much. If Obama can make Trump's transition as difficult as possible, Obama will definitely seek out every opportunity to do so as his last stand. Obama is the embodiment and the epitome of what a narcissist really is.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Bass, Serrano, Trubo, you should be able to find a lot of good talking points here: https://www.rt.com. Bookmark it. Its your new best friend.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Trump will have to clean up much mess after Obama.

True, but this? Naaa. Trump will just call Putin and ask him to wait 21 days and Trump will reverse Obama's "Executive Order", IMO.

But where's the report/arrests from the KNOWN and PROVABLE Department of Homeland Security hacking into Georgia's Election computers? crickets......

And lastly, does it matter who "phished" this information? What matters IS the information. Hillary and the DNC stealing the nomination from Sanders. Again, where are the arrests?

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

@Sup

Tell Barry that, he and the entire left seem to intoxicated, obsessed and mesmerized with Putin to the level that's nauseating.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

SuperLib: Bass, Serrano, Trubo, you should be able to find a lot of good talking points here: https://www.rt.com. Bookmark it. Its your new best friend.

I noticed the same disclaimer FizzBit today, and the path I took to the report was through Google News to The Hill's article on the report, not via RT. Sometimes in a great while I visit RT but history says I haven't today.

Since we're passing links around, here's another article on The Hill at the moment, from side banner. It's awfully àpropos at the moment.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/national-party-news/312151-buck-up-why-its-actually-a-great-time-to-be-a-democrat

Grieving is over — Why it's actually a great time to be a Democrat - 12/29/16

For a few weeks now I have joined my fellow partisan Democrats, drinking when I was not crying. ... The awful memories of those stunned TV commentators snatching defeat from the jaws of a great early exit poll victory. The hard-earned accomplishments of the past 8 years now at risk due to and an unfit, unwelcome new president. Looking ahead to the damage inevitably inflicted by a unified Republican government on the environment, the social safety net and global leadership. ... Yet as a new year begins, I find myself past the 5th stage of grief and on to an unexpected new state of mind: optimism. ... Because looking beyond the ashes of 2016 ...

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Good on Republicans McCain and Graham for helping to push this through. Something tells me clear proof of Russia's involvement that can be shown to the public is going to appear eventually and Trump is going to look even more like an idiot (if that is possible!).

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I know I know. The Russians hacked us but it's all classified information that can't be released and I just have to believe you. Har har. Well, the US wrote the script and acted out on their own again for the nth times. The sad thing is people actually believe this stuff, the kind of stuff that only fool gullible people.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Good on Republicans McCain and Graham for helping to push this through.

You can't get more deeply into the Washington establishment swamp than with these two, so that they would be on board with this, I'm not surprised. I wish they would get over their emotional anger over Trump.

Something tells me clear proof of Russia's involvement that can be shown to the public is going to appear eventually and Trump is going to look even more like an idiot (if that is possible!).

The idiot in all of this is the outgoing (thank God) Barry and his inflated ego.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

They would never and should never release to the public classified information about how the US traces hackers. It gets reviewed by the Pres and some members of Congress so as to not compromise our capabilities. They in turn release their own atatemwnts and create policy.

People are free to want to see that, or to say they won't believe anything until they see it, but since no government has ever released that information then your talking point would have to be that no government, including the US, has ever hacked anyone.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Something tells me clear proof of Russia's involvement

What? Like a Crystal Ball? Or maybe Saruman's planter? I'm gonna take a wild guess here, but I don't think you were a Sander's supporter.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Trump will just call Putin and ask him to wait 21 days and Trump will reverse Obama's "Executive Order",

Yeah, that'll be fun to watch: Trump allowing Russia to reopen facilities known for spying and allowing the spies back in. Putin's actions and Obama's responses have been entirely normal; unilateral disarmament by Trump would not.

At some point, even conservatives will grow outraged by Trump. That point may come sooner than we think.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

edit....Saruman's Palantír

FizzBit is offering Russian talking points, most likely from this article: https://www.rt.com/usa/372195-report-russia-hacking-elections/. Seems to be a match.

Super Lib, I think you visit RT a lot more than me since I haven't been to their web site in over 5 months.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Funny, but I am thankful for the hacking. I am glad that Hillary's dirt was exposed. Had there been nothing dirty revealed in the emails, then the hacking would not have been a big deal, it would never have even been reported. And the hacking made clear that Hillary's maintaining her private email server (in what was supposed to be "the most transparent administration ever) could very well have been a major security risk.

Once again, this is making out the messenger to be worse than the messages, which is not the case. Hacking the emails was bad, but the information contained in the emails was worse. The people deserve to know what these emails contained, and as Hillary and her party would certainly never reveal such information to the people they are supposed to serve, Russia has done Americans quite a favor.

Obama is taking a last jab at Putin, who has never respected Obama, or taken him seriously as a world leader. For Obama, he is not making things any better with this action, and doing so is only going to make Putin that much closer to Trump.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

@sangetsu03 "who has never respected Obama, or taken him seriously as a world leader"

Hardly anyone in Russia has ever respected Obama or taken him seriously as a world leader. Russians considered him a funny clown.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

bass: You can't get more deeply into the Washington establishment swamp than with these two, so that they would be on board with this,

I was so hoping this issue would drive a wedge in the Republican party. Enter bass on cue. The establishment Republicans vs Trump and the Russians.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@fizzb I wonder if any of the lefties are feeling like frogs in a fry pan with the water boiling?

I'll wait until your political messiah has been in office for a while before asking how you rightwing Republican reactionaries feel about what Trump and your Republican Congress have done. Or perhaps haven't done.

I'm curious to see how many Trump cultists are still swimming behind his yachts after his first year.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Obama, you have three weeks left. Is this the best you can do? Why didn't you build the wall?

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Uh huh yeah. Why was nothing done until after Hillary lost? And what's the point of doing this as Obama is walking out the door. He is a big man all of a sudden in the last 3 weeks of 8 years in office. Putting sanctions still doesn't excuse Hillary losing or even prove Russia did it. See ya on the golf course Obama.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

ignoring a foreign power interfering in a sovereign nation's elections

What is it you lefties LOVE to say, something about post and truth?

If Obama also said aliens were involved would you believe that too with out any facts? So far, Mr (transparency) Obama has provided the citizens with none,

You might just want to pick a nice history book about the CIA "interfering in a sovereign nation's elections" this news years holiday.

Anyway, who's suffering? Certainly not the fat cats that funded her lathargic criminal campaign.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

How much more of Don Putin's meddling can the piddly Russian economy take?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

FBI has released photos and IDs of Russian hackers residing in US. If Trump is still denying about Russian involvement, he will become traitor of USA. Obama should ask whether Trump has known more than FBI. According Trump interview, he is downplaying Russian hacking scandal. Trump darling may be from Russa with Love.

If President elect Trump does not trust FBI or CIA, what is the points of employing intelligence officers. Trump may sell Alaska back to Putin with special discount. Trump may become first President who has betrayed people voted for him.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Yeah, that'll be fun to watch: Trump allowing Russia to reopen facilities known for spying and allowing the spies back in.

Can you back that statement up? Or is it another lame liberal Blah, Blah talking points we seem to hear every night on TV?

Putin's actions and Obama's responses have been entirely normal; unilateral disarmament by Trump would not.

Obama's response.....

LOL

At some point, even conservatives will grow outraged by Trump. That point may come sooner than we think.

It's ok, they never liked him to begin with, so whatever.....

How much more of Don Putin's meddling can the piddly Russian economy take?

You guys crack me up, Bush meddling in Iraq was bad, Obama meddling in Afghanistan is good, Obama making deals with thug Castro is ok, Trump talking to the Mexican president is bad, Obama making a ***** deal with Iran and get nothing in concessions is good, Trump trying to come to a middle ground with Russia is bad.

There is something sinister, mentally and desperately wrong with liberals, there seems to be NO cure for their terminal hypocrisy.

I was so hoping this issue would drive a wedge in the Republican party. Enter bass on cue. The establishment Republicans vs Trump and the Russians.

Don't get angry at me because Hillary lost and you have to deal with Trump (thank God) for the next 8 years. You know what they say about sticks and stones....

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Please tone down your rhetoric.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Russians considered him a funny clown."

That's good, because their economy has been shrinking for the past three years.They're in desperate need for something to laugh about to help them forget about their country's depressing situation.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

JeffLeeDEC. 30, 2016 - 06:19PM JST That's good, because their economy has been shrinking for the past three years.They're in desperate need for something to laugh about to help them forget about their country's depressing situation.

Yup, it's classic tinpot dictator stuff. First siphon off all the public funds into your own bank account, then whip up nationalistic fervor and start a war to take the people's mind of it. This used to be the domain of south American dictators like Galtieri or Hugo Chavez, but even Chavez's stolen billions pale in comparison to the Russian's don's theft from the Russian people....

2 ( +4 / -2 )

sangetsu03,

Funny, but I am thankful for the hacking. I am glad that Hillary's dirt was exposed.

Completely agree.

And if she hadn't had dirt to expose, she might have gotten in.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Only stupid hackers leave breadcrumbs. For a smart hacker, there would only be suspicions left over, no proof. Phishing happens all the time. I personally see about 20 phishing attempts a day. We struggle to train our people to avoid those attempts. It isn't the 10,000 things we each do correctly, it is the 1 time we aren't really thinking that we accept/press-the-button.

OTOH, don't really see how Russia can "hack an election." Voter registration isn't an online thing most places in the USA. It is automatic with something else, like vehicle registration or getting a library card or a mail-in separate card. Voting machines aren't "on-line" either. The management of these things is highly distributed - to the county level. There must be at least 20 different systems uses across all the states. There are over 3100 counties in the USA. "Hacking" would likely NOT happen in Nebraska or even up-state NY. Their target would be major cities, which probably vote democratic. Well - the democrats won in those locations, so any of the efforts simply didn't matter.

The electoral college system makes cities less important. The all-or-nothing way that most states assign their EC votes means minor tweaks to the voting doesn't often matter. It isn't a popular election at the national level. It is a mix of city-folk and country-folk, with country-folk votes counting more (due to the EC). These election of senators was designed to prevent "majority rule" and so was the EC. Why is that so hard to understand? Really. It is working.

Now, if they claim that information leaks altered the election outcome, that is much harder to prove. I'd made my mind up who I was NOT voting for back in May. Information that came out later was all noise, at least to me.

Seeing references to rt.com here. They are definitely biased, but so is most of the media. CNN is. Fox is. JT is. Just look at all the down voting here. The truth is somewhere in the middle. I'm assuming incompetence for any information govt leaks. Much more likely. OTOH, don't really care much when any political organization gets hacked. They aren't the govt.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said.

A bit late in coming. And too little. Hope more is to come.

“Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences.”

Especially this.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/russia-is-harassing-us-diplomats-all-over-europe/2016/06/26/968d1a5a-3bdf-11e6-84e8-1580c7db5275_story.html?utm_term=.1d52f830f191

http://www.wsj.com/articles/expulsions-come-amid-complaints-of-mistreatment-of-u-s-diplomats-in-russia-1483052981

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The Obama administration was aware back in September and October that outside forces (allegedly Russia) were trying to alter the general election. What was Obama's action? None. Why? Because he thought Mrs. Clinton was going to be swept into office, so why muddy the waters by acting tough with leader who's been beating him like a $10 mule for the past eight years.

Fast forward to today. The lame duck in chief is desperately trying to be relevant in the waning days of his presidency. Kicking out low level operatives and shuttering Russian VIP centers in NY and MD is lower than a toothless tiger move. How about imposing economic sanctions or giving the Russian ambassador the boot?

And Putin's response? He's invited the Trump administration (not Obama's) to the table to deal with ISIS in Syria.

In about three weeks, world leaders will be saying, "Obama who?" Jan. 20th cannot come soon enough. . . .

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

What was Obama's action? None. Why? Because he thought Mrs. Clinton was going to be swept into office, so why muddy the waters by acting tough with leader who's been beating him like a $10 mule for the past eight years.

That must be logic Texas style. We ordinary mortals can't parse it. So, Obama decided not to bring up something favorable to his party's candidate because it involved Putin, who has been a total a-hole for years. Makes sense in an Alex Jones kind of way.

The lame duck in chief

clever . . . Them's what's known as country witticisms. Along with meaningless faux ironic creations such as "alt-left".

And Putin's response? He's invited the Trump administration (not Obama's) to the table to deal with ISIS in Syria.

Yeah, cool. Because they're a couple of demagogues in love with themselves and in bed with each other.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia’s efforts to . . . . interfere with democratic governance. -- article

You mean like when Obama went to the UK and told the Brits how to vote on Brexit by threatening their economy with a "back of the queue" red line in the sand?

Or, when Obama tried unsuccessfully to influence the Israeli elections?

IF the Russians did hack the DNC, all they did was show U.S. voters the world what a terribly flawed person Mrs. Bill Clinton and her campaign truly was. After all, if there wasn't anything incriminating in those emails, it wouldn't have mattered, now would it?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Russians can see who is a real Boss in geopolitics

Oh yeah, sure. Afghanistan and Chechnya are the hallmarks of Russian geopolitical success. Al Qaeda was born from the stupidity of Soviet brutality in Afghanistan, just as ISIS resulted from Cheney's moronic invasion of Iraq.

BTW the weakening of ISIS has almost nothing to do with Russia.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

You mean like when Obama went to the UK and told the Brits how to vote on Brexit by threatening their economy with a "back of the queue" red line in the sand?

Yeah, you obviously never read his actual comments. There was no threat.

This is what you get when you don't read balanced news - you make post truth comments.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The proof is there. Trust the intelligence community. The WMD were there. Trust the intelligence community.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Glad that Putin decided NOT to eject US diplomats.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Trust the intelligence community. The WMD were there. Trust the intelligence community.

Yeah, about the phantom WMD in Iraq fiasco, that was much more about the Bush administration cherry-picking intelligence to fit the narrative they were peddling.

And now it looks like the Trump administration will believe what it wants to believe.

it's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of the facts of this situation."

How gracious of him to condescend to meet them. He's made pretty clear what he thinks so why would he bother getting updated on the facts?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"U.S. imposes sanctions on Russia over election hacking"

Oh my...

Obama Decides to Screw With Russia One Last Time Over Fake Hacking Scandal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixb_rfuMdKY

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

clever . . . Them's what's known as country witticisms. Along with meaningless faux ironic creations such as "alt-left".

The "Alt-left" is equally, if not more prevalent and more radical than the Alt-right, at least with these few extremists they let you know where they stand, but far, far left progressives are so far off the mark and n a mission( of what that is, who know...) to throw any monkey wrench in Trump's way, well, good luck with that.

You mean like when Obama went to the UK and told the Brits how to vote on Brexit by threatening their economy with a "back of the queue" red line in the sand?

What's amazing is when this guy meddles, it's considered great foreign policy, Trump does it, it's time to seek shelter. 20 more days until the madness of this Obama and his botched 8 years will be in the history books.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Obama completely ignored the hacking problem. It only became an issue once he realized that his legacy is about to go the way of the Edsel in President Trump's first 100 days in office.

If the Russians did hack the DNC to influence the elections (and I'm highly skeptical as to why they'd want Mr. Trump over Mrs. Clinton since she's been proven to be susceptible to bribes) then they did the American people a favor in the long run. . . .

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The latest development: Putin decided not to retaliate in kind, no US embassy personnel would be sent home. Furthermore, kids of US diplomats are invited to the New Year celebrations in the Kremlin. That shows even more the difference between a Statesman and a loser-in-chief who has only three weeks left to enjoy his arsenal of petty ditry tricks.

@plasticmonkey

Oh yeah, sure. Afghanistan and Chechnya are the hallmarks of Russian geopolitical success.

Your irony is misplaced, it demonstrates serious ignorance. Soviet war in Afghanistan was not worse then the US war there, and Soviets left there a good footprint - a lot of schools, hospitals and infrastructure facilities, many of them still working (if not bombed out by US strikes). What the US legacy in Afghanistan apart from huge heroin production which skyrocketed ouf of control? And Chechnya is very peaceful now, Chechens are among the strongest supporters of Russian statehood. And now compare it to the string of US "geopolitical success" in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Conspiracy theorists + Trump Republicans + the Russians = The new swamp?

Should be fun. :)

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Is the "hacking" of the democratic party and their misdeeds of more importance than credit card security or the freedom from ransomware? Seems like barack hussein obama, the premier proponent and practitioner of the Long Con, is blowing an equivalent of a smoke screen to cover up 8 years of incompetence.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Is the "hacking" of the democratic party and their misdeeds of more importance than credit card security or the freedom from ransomware? Seems like barack hussein obama, the premier proponent and practitioner of the Long Con, is blowing an equivalent of a smoke screen to cover up 8 years of incompetence.

Don't count him out yet. He's still has to scorch the Earth a bit more before he leaves office, just wait and see. Don't worry, if we can survive 8 years of this guy, 20 days will go by like it's nothing.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Last week, it was Israel. This week, it is Russia. Wonder which country outgoing President Obama will try to pick a fight with next week?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@plasticmonkey "Al Qaeda was born from the stupidity of Soviet brutality in Afghanistan, just as ISIS resulted from Cheney's moronic invasion of Iraq".

A clear example of western-style ignorance. Al Qaeda was born from CIA efforts to grow rebells in Afganistan. In particular, CIA had created Osama who later started his own game and turned weapon against his masters.

"BTW the weakening of ISIS has almost nothing to do with Russia."

The destruction of ISIS is a direct result of Russian military operations in Syria.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

For people who want more technical understanding of the php attacks: https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2016/12/russia-malware-ip-hack/ Wordfence is a company that makes protection software for WordPress sites in particular. They are PHP experts, because wordpress is written in PHP. They are reputable IT security people and their

Overall Conclusion The IP addresses that DHS provided may have been used for an attack by a state actor like Russia. But they don’t appear to provide any association with Russia. They are probably used by a wide range of other malicious actors, especially the 15% of IP addresses that are Tor exit nodes.

People that know malware know this is common. The report says that old versions of the malware were used and that a large percentage of the attacks are seen around the world against other wordpress sites. These were NOT targeted attacks. They were opportunity attacks only.

Unless there is more data directly linking Russia, what they've provided today is not a smoking gun. It isn't breadcrumbs. Whoever is feeding that Russia is behind this to President Obama is either incompetent or a liar or both.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

“There are 100 United States senators… I would say that 99% of us believe that the Russians did this, and we’re going to do something about it,” Graham said.

Yet there there is and has never been any proof of Russian involvement!

A belief is not a fact.

Whilst Obama was whining about past events ie the failure if Clinton to become POTUS, Putin was heading a Russian team in Japan exchanging documents that will possibly lead to the largest economic expansion for Japan in the 21st century!

The sooner this paragon of ineffectuality exits stage left, the better

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The "Alt-left" is equally, if not more prevalent and more radical than the Alt-right, at least with these few extremists they let you know where they stand, but far, far left progressives are so far off the mark and n a mission( of what that is, who know...) to throw any monkey wrench in Trump's way, well, good luck with that.

There is no such thing as the "alt-left". It's a term made up by trolls such as Texas who think it's clever to create false equivalencies. That you cannot define what alt-left is serves as proof.

Last week, it was Israel. This week, it is Russia.

You're a real American patriot, Texas. Standing up for apartheid policies and Russian hacking, while dissing international law and the concensus of US intelligence agencies.

Trump supporters love Putin for the same reason they love Trump. Both are demagogues.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yet there there is and has never been any proof of Russian involvement!

None of us know whether there has been proof or not. We are not privy to the intel that the CIA has, nor the data with which they have made their determinations. The most you can say is that they haven't shown us any proof. You cannot know whether or not they have any.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

"None of us know whether there has been proof or not."

...................................................................................................... True. It seems that we have need of a Nicene Creed for the 21st century. Wait patiently and all will be revealed. Who knows where I can purchase votive candles and other such essential supplies in Tokyo?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Strangerland "We are not privy to the intel that the CIA has, nor the data with which they have made their determinations."

Laughable.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Laughable.

What's laughable, that we aren't privy? That you are privy and we aren't (if so, why is that laughable)? That the idea that we aren't privy is laughable?

Your statement seems to want to ridicule, without actually being able to point out any way in which I was wrong.

That's pretty much always the sign of someone who just got it handed to them and realizing they have no good response, tries to come up with something, but fails.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

That's pretty much always the sign of someone who just got it handed to them and realizing they have no good response, tries to come up with something, but fails.

Then we shouldn't worry more from Obama, he's out of here!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/12/did-russia-tamper-with-the-2016-election-bitter-debate-likely-to-rage-on/

If I've learned anything since 2001, it is that the USGovt doesn't have proof, unless they show it. People in the IT security field know these methods. There isn't anything being hidden when private servers are being attacked. Even when govt servers are attacked, those attacks almost always happen over the public internet and traverse through public routers. THAT TRAFFIC is seen.

From the linked article,

"If ESET could do it, so can others," Carr wrote. "It is both foolish and baseless to claim, as CrowdStrike does, that X-Agent is used solely by the Russian government when the source code is there for anyone to find and use at will."

and

strong technical evidence is likely to be included in reports to Congress that later may be declassified. Still, it's hard to escape the conclusion that Thursday's Joint Analysis Report provides almost no new evidence to support the Obama Administration's claims Russia attempted to interfere with the US electoral process. Absent something more, the increasingly bitter debate may rage on indefinitely.

IT security is a complex thing. I have doubts that anyone next to zero computer network knowledge would understand this stuff. No, running a wifi router at your house doesn't help.

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We know that the Dems will lie and dissemble even after evidence is shown, witness the Benghazi and Hillary Email Server hearings and the response to wikileaks.

None of the people claiming sure knowledge have the technical ability to back it up or to answer contradictory questions. All of them have set themselves firmly at the anti-Trump pole, even McCain and Graham (both are prominent in today's news article at Bloomberg, "Trump’s Border Wall, Deportation Plans Face Pushback From GOP"). They (Obama, Hillary, etc.) have the proven capability to lie, they have the motive to lie, and they don't have the technical ability to say whether they are forwarding wrong information or not.

And if the feds are relying on information from the DNC, and not third-party taps of that information such as the NSA might possess, it's entirely possible that the DNC may have hired someone competent enough to fake intrusion logs. Apparently they were stupid enough to not hire people who could harden their systems originally, that doesn't mean they stayed stupid, especially after getting burned so many times. And we know from other incidents they sometimes operate better in coverup mode. Most of the press is in "Dems At All Costs" mode so the wonder is they're held to account at all.

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