Is this turning into the largest investigation in history? Its incredible.

[shockey80]

It seems like every day another possible crime is being reported. A new sleazy corrupt character shows up. Its unbelievable.

Trump, his campaign, his administration were like a giant magnet for corrupt people. Trump likes corrupt people, you can see it. Trump has to believe corrupt people are more loyal. Corrupt people flock towards Trump.

We know Mueller is investigating many crimes and many people. Most of the people he is investigating were already corrupt. He must be finding many crimes not related to the Russia investigation. He may have found crimes Trump committed in the past. Mueller cannot ignore those crimes. They will be investigated.

There are business people with corrupt pasts who have Trump on speed dial. Trump hires lawyers who are corrupt. They are committing crimes.

This investigation is world wide. Some Companies ,business leaders, banks, organizations,countries, lawyers, you name it, they are being investigated.

I have to admit this is insane and sometimes I get stressed out because I know there is a good chance this could end very badly for all of us. We just have to sit back and wait for the ending. Thats the worst part.

[MythosMaster]

1. we are witnessing world wide fascism

trying to tip the scales in the oligarchs favor.

[sharedvalues]

6. Money money money. All about money. Koches, Mercer, Murdoch, Russian oligarchs

America is unique because we've opened the doors to legalized political corruption. That must stop.

[dchill]

28. Ill-gotten gains. On steroids.

[poboy2]

13. True- and the stakes are the very future of Western democratic civilization.-nt

[mucifer]

2. Yup and we don't know if the ending will be good or bad.

[DV1]

5. Whether the ending is good or bad there will be lessons learned.

[mucifer]

9. If it's bad this might not be our country anymore.

[dhol82]

32. Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia.

[DV1]

43. I agree with you

But any third-party with proprietary designs knows it could easily turn into an arsenal festival. And then it might not be anybody's world.

[Hortensis]

58. Most of our national wealth is NOW controlled by a few, sure.

BUT 200 MILLION voters can re-arrange those arrangements and take most of it right back again. Their power is nothing compared to ours, and they know it.

Our grandparents did just that with The New Deal and bequeathed to our keeping what we allowed to be taken away.

Some might even think undoing our dreadful mistakes is our duty to our nation and all those who inherit what we leave.

COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF BEING "THE WORST GENERATION": 239 days.

[KPN]

65. Now you're talking.

[Hortensis]

66. Divided we fell, KPN. Just a little unity will fix that.

[Blue_true]

3. Republicans are going to scream bloody hell

if Mueller investigates Trump's past crimes. But they were giddy about Ken Starr investigating a non criminal failed land deal that happened well before Bill Clinton was elected President. Trump should pay for his crimes.

[Scarsdale]

34. The worst part

of this entire ordeal, is that the gop will not make any moves to correct this fiasco. They got themselves involved, with Russian money, and a president who will "sign anything we put in front of him" as McConnell said. History will prove them all guilty of selling the country for personal gain. They have no shame, none whatsoever.

[maddiemom]

61. McConnell is as deplorable as Trump, just more judicious.

Ryan is probably the most OVERRATED political figure in recent memory.

[sharedvalues]

4. It's the largest political scandal in American history.

Perhaps in world history.




As it goes along, let's not forget -- this scandal is all about MONEY. About putting money before principle. DJT was willing to do anything to get paid. The Russians exert power by throwing around billions they looted from the Russian people. And the reason congress is doing zero oversight is because GOP billionaires want to take advantage of their political donations to cut their taxes - and now this spring their plan is to destroy medicaid.

It's all about money, and how money corrupts. The Koches and their donor network opened up the door for Russian intervention by building a RW propaganda machine and by stacking SCOTUS with wingnut judges who gave them Cit U. We have to get big money out of politics, and we have to stop oligarchs - both Russian and American.

[RandomAccess]

7. I know. The breadth and depth are mind-boggling to me

It's definitely an international investigation, which ups the complexity and scope as well.

Some of the mind-maps I've seen showing points of contact are humongous. There are as many or more RUSSIANs involved as Americans, and there are plenty of Americans.

I would love this to clean everything up -- and out, but I fear that won't happen. We'd have to strip a good bit of Congress too. So I predict most if not all of them will escape unscathed, which depresses me.

OTOH, if we can get convictions against the worse evildoers -- Trump & his ugly family, top aides and so forth -- I guess I'll be reasonably happy. But I fear even getting a conviction against Trump, to be frank.

[shockey80]

8. If the democrats take control of one of the branches of congress this election, look out.

You will have the mueller investigation and the democrats will be become very busy with investigations. This is going to become something so big and something we will never forget.

[Woodycall]

10. Or, as I fear,

they will say investigations are "off the table" and "we need to move on".

[dhol82]

33. I really hope that we do not follow the Obama doctrine of not upsetting the apple cart

This goes back to not proceeding with war criminal charges against Bushco. The leadership just wanted to get everything back to ‘normal.’ As if.
Democrats need to push back and pursue criminal charges to the fullest extent of the law. If that, in the future, fucks with democrats, so be it. We can not continue with kumbaya.

[american_ideals]

48. HUGE HUGE mistake by Obama. Torturers should be in jail.

The FBI started keeping a torturers file, for God’s sake, because they expected war crimes trials.

It reflects extremely poorly on Obama that he never went after Bush and Yoo and the war criminals in that administration. They damaged America and American values . (Yup, check my username. The bush torture is perhaps the biggest issue that animates me politically. It was a sin and a travesty and Yoo and Feith should be in jail.)

[YOHABLO]

53. Bush, Cheney&Co. should all be in jail.

Should have gone for the jugular when they had the chance.

[Crash2Parties]

54. Wasn't just Obama - the famous "off the table" quote was Pelosi.

It was the Democratic Party leadership.

[Mopar151]

63. Was'nt the first time that that faction caved in

One of the many problems in the nasty interface between politics and bullying, is that we get to see how co-dependency works. It's the same reason, IMHO, that we've had NO meaningful election reform since 1999.

[american_ideals]

69. All of them, then. Torture was a stain on America and should be punished.

thanks for info.

[NewJeffCT]

40. I don't think that will happen this time

I think there will be plenty of investigations - just about every member of Trump's cabinet has big scandals already. However, if Mueller does recommend charges, I think they'll realize there is no other choice but to impeach.

[renegade000]

42. Not gonna happen this time...

This is an existential crisis, and I think everyone realizes that.

[american_ideals]

49. There better be trials, though. People need to face consequences.

No pardons. No “let’s move on”. Consequences for crimes and attacks on America.

[machoneman]

11. Well, WE may never forget but conservatives will quickly....

slide back into or start:

-hating all things they perceive as liberal
-distrusting the FBI, Justice and even our intelligence agencies, every one of them
-preaching that hell and damnation will befall the USA if liberals get their way on literally anything
-hating the SC if any policies they or the RW in generally oppose are legally enacted or upheld
-further mistrusting any media that differs from their worldview no matter how ridiculous it may be
-claiming any change to current gun laws is a deep state liberal conspiracy to take back all guns of all types

I could keep listing numerous other examples. Point is, even if we win the House, Senate and later the Presidency, these loons will NEVER stop their push nor will RW rags like Fox, Breitbart and their wealthy allies.

WE THE PEOPLE...need to rid our land of these nonsensical types through education and a push to eliminate lying websites, print and TV news sites and hate-mongering RW pundits by burying them with the truth, facts and logical arguments 24-7-365 for the next two, nay three, decades IF this trend towards insanity can be stopped.

[dhol82]

35. Agreed, however:

How do we do that?
Sinclair will soon have 70% of all American households in full propaganda mode.
I fear we are almost too late. It will take a hell of lot of marches to turn back the evil that has descended on our country.

[american_ideals]

47. Stop Sinclair. Its not too late.

And tell all your friends and family to stop watching Fox and listening to right wing hate radio

[tobefree]

57. That wont help,

We’ve been telling them that for 10 years now. In In one ear, out the other.

[american_ideals]

46. Exactly

[ToxMarz]

12. It may turn out to be a blessing this all came to a head with Trump at the helm

This is not a new problem, but if we had gotten an intelligent true believer in office we might be truly fucked. Trump is likely to expose and take them all down with him.

[RKP5637]

17. Excellent point!!! n/t

[poboy2]

20. The ONLY possible bright side.

If it were someone halfway competent, we would be crushed. That he is such a raging piece of shit asshole, exposed himself too.

[dhol82]

36. That is the only thing that gives me hope

Sad, isn’t it?

[ancianita]

14. Probably will be if it reaches into Congress. Here's the biggest so far. The trial took two years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Connection_Trial

the U.S. and Italy entered into new Treaties on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance that enabled law-enforcement authorities from both countries to actively cooperate and share information. Those treaties and the “Pizza” case became models that the U.S. has since used to attack organized crime and narcotics trafficking on a global basis.

[malthaussen]

15. I think it is probably the tip of the iceberg, even so.

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I think there are a number of threads of corruption that ramify both to State governments and the Federal government. Some people with more money than they know what to do with are pulling a multitude of strings, but they are protected by many layers of fall guys. It would take a much larger investigation to chase down all the ramifications.

-- Mal

[RKP5637]

22. It is rather disheartening to realize how crooked it is, and how far it extends. In fact, depressing.

We are lucky to have an individual like Mueller, and his team, digging into this. Now, the question is, what will the GOP congress do with the end result ... and how many the fool idiot in the WH will pardon. Hopefully, tRump will be taken down, although, Pence is no nice smelling rose.

[Nitram]

16. I believe it is the largest investigation in history, both in the scope of crimes committed and

the number of criminals involved.

[RKP5637]

18. It certainly seems that way, and especially internationally. What is more striking are the number of

damn fools in the US that still can't comprehend what is going on!

[Nitram]

21. And the damn traitors in Congress who won't do anything about it.

[RKP5637]

23. Yes, the GOP congress is as bad as the rest, almost all GOP TRAITORS! n/t

[Nitram]

24. Yes, thanks for reminding me to include "GOP" in that.

I'm sick and tired of people criticizing Congress without noting that it is the GOP majority that is refusing to carry out their sworn duties.

[RKP5637]

27. IMO the GOP has morphed into the crime party of the US. Given what is going on today, it's

clear the GOP does not give a damn about the country, the people, or the future of the US. They are in it purely for money, power, and ripping off the US and its population for what they can get. It's just stunning to me how many Americans cling to the GOP party, making me wonder, are they stupid, or in fact are they the same as the GOP leadership, and this is a rather frightening notion.

[Nitram]

38. Acknowledging that the GOP is in it only for the money, the power, and the influence would be

tantamount to admitting that they were wrong all along. Wrong about everything. And responsible for damage to the economy and to vulnerable citizens who are too old, too young, too foreign-lookinbg, too ethnic, or too poor to merit the benefits of a real US citizen in the eyes of the GOP.

[not fooled]

44. Especially if the investigation continues into

russian funding of the GOPeePee and NRA's involvement, no question biggest investigation.

[onethatcares]

19. it's also one of the scariest

because if wrongdoing is proven to go deep into the heart of the American government system there can be no trust in our laws or representatives.

Which would mean, "We're full of shit as a democracy or representative republic" which ever you prefer.

To think this has been boiling for years but is only reaching a head now scares the beejesusss outa me.

[RKP5637]

25. And given how far the tentacles reach. Some days I feel we are a democracy hanging by threads. n/t

[poboy2]

29. Scarier still, if Mueller is thwarted. THEN what? yeah...-nt

[triron]

41. Yeah Mueller may not be willing to go too far for fear of total breakdown of the republic.

[not fooled]

45. Indicated by

leaving mikey dense pence out of it, to all appearances so far.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

60. If Mueller DOESNT go as far as it takes him, the republic may totally break down. . . .

[poboy2]

64. Limited hangout will leave the roots intact. Its also possible and fatal as well, imo.

Mueller does this and it merely taps the brakes.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

68. Yup. That's my reasoning too. Everything USA is at stake. Existential crisis. . . . nt

[Kablooie]

26. I wonder what Mueller thinks of all this.

He knows all the details that we don't.
Is he as shocked as everyone else?

If your goal in life is to clean up corruption this is certainly the case for the ages.

I sure hope his health is good.

[onethatcares]

30. Imagine him lying in bed at night

after possibly learning the entire executive branch is a fraud and a farce. That it truly is on the level of Goodfellas and that 90% of the congress is in on it too.

[Locrian]

59. I wonder ....

what he thinks the US can "handle" in terms of the truth.

Say its as bad as we think - basically a plot to weaken and destroy the US gov using trump as a pawn. That almost the entire GOP is dirty. What does he do?

Will a significant percentage reject it outright?
Is there a strong enough leader (who, what?) to help mop up the mess? What about opposition?
What about economic forces? Does the market crash?
What happens with the russians and their psyops? They'll certainly spool up...

It's a historical, world changing, life changing, very dangerous time in history.

At best - if we had a functioning democracy, media, knowledgeable population etc - we'd be in for a world of hurt. Of course if we had THOSE things we likely wouldn't be in this mess.....

Hopefully - he doesn't start making deals with the devil to "fix it from the inside". If he does, I fear it'll lead to a future of guaranteed collapse, vs pulling off the band-aide all at once.

Either way - buckle up. It's going to be a hell of a scary ride.

[unblock]

31. The s&l scandal of the 80s led to over 30,000 criminal referrals and over 1,000 convictions.

http://billmoyers.com/2013/09/17/hundreds-of-wall-street-execs-went-to-prison-during-the-last-fraud-fueled-bank-crisis/

[dhol82]

37. That is actually comforting.

Nice to know the moneyed class can still get screwed the way they deserve.

[BobTheSubgenius]

39. While "end very badly" could well be the outcome,

I can't imagine that it could be 10% as bad as just letting things play out as they would have.

[Amaryllis]

50. Also the most international. Technology allows for corruption on a scale not possible before

the digital age.

[ladjf]

51. We need a thorough investigation more now than ever before. nt

[Doodley]

52. When people start dying from "accidents" and "suicides" you will know it is closing in.

[byronius]

55. Unsettling times for everyone but the cult.

And it's got to be leaking in. That pressure's too much.

They know, deep down inside, that they're to blame for this attempt to burn down the United States.

[True Blue American]

56. Just do not forget

The corruption of the USSC that opened the money gates wide open!

Let us never forget the Fish rots at the head, then goes all the way down.

[flibbitygiblets]

62. If $ Free Speech, and the 1% have all the $, then the poor have no free speech

Why is this not brought up more often?

[poboy2]

67. Because as the cliche goes, money talks, bullshit walks.

Complicity, bought off, oblivious to the water in which they swim?
(Sprinkle amounts of each to taste.)