This is bigger than any of us ever imagined.

[kentuck]

It is espionage.

At the very highest levels and much deeper into the Republican Party than we may have imagined.

We will all be surprised.

Just my opinion.

[JNelson6563]

1. I suspect you're right.

Our system will be tested as never before. I think our foundation will withstand the quake.

[kentuck]

4. I am more confident now than I was a month ago.

But, we do not have a majority in the Senate. We are forced to work with those few Republicans that are willing to guard our Constitution.

[Chasstev365]

19. And that is how it must be framed!

[Snotcicles]

81. A lot of GOP family members did get prestigious jobs. nt

[SusanaMontana41]

108. Look at the Whitefish utility company vis a vis Zinke vis a vis Puerto Rico.

I lived 10 minutes south of Whitefish for five years. Beautiful place. Upscale town. But it IS a town, not even a city.

How do you spell kickbacks? Z I N K E.

They're all corrupt.

[malaise]

2. it is huge but I will not be surprised because of this

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/house-majority-leader-to-colleagues-in-2016-i-think-putin-pays-trump/2017/05/17/515f6f8a-3aff-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html?utm_term=.1a9c662a53d5
<snip>
A month before Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, one of his closest allies in Congress — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy — made a politically explosive assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders: that Trump could be the beneficiary of payments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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

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

[woodsprite]

7. Yeah, that audio needs to start making the rounds again, methinks!

Maybe more people will understand it and start to care about Russia's infiltration.

[malaise]

10. +1,000

[FM123]

32. You are so right! Now that we know what we know about the Russians, it paints a clearer pic.

[woodsprite]

75. Here are some links to that might help...

Couldn't find the actual tape. I could swear I heard the actual audio at one time when the story first broke.

From the Washington Post:

The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/national/read-the-transcript-of-the-conversation-among-gop-leaders-obtained-by-the-post/2209/

From Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC):

The David Pakman Show:

[malaise]

114. Your post needs to be an OP

Great links

[lagomorph777]

77. Like many of Turd's campaign statements, it will sound very different now.

The context is so much clearer.

[MLAA]

80. No doubt it has made the rounds with Mueller and his team of prosecutors!

[rufus dog]

65. Concur

This info was available over a year ago. Along with tRump removing the plank for the Repub Platform.

Now currently I think it is much bigger than I thought at the end of last year. I look at the actions of Senators and Reps and tend to filter it using the Russian slant. Scary angle, when you do that you end up questioning motivations and cast a much wider net. I also look back at former reps and sens and come up many others who could have been under Russian influence.

Finally, I think some people on the "left" are going to get caught up in this. It will be heavily weighted towards the repubs but there may be some of the Jill Stien types from the left who may have been on Putin's payroll.

[malaise]

69. Excellent post

The other thing is that Ryan and his folks denied this until they were told there was audio - then it was a joke.

[SusanaMontana41]

109. BINGO! Republicans in Congress have their fingers in the Russian pie

with few exceptions (Flake, McCain and Corker, and we're not 100 percent about them).

[malaise]

112. I don't trust one of them

Not one

[SusanaMontana41]

139. That makes two of us. They're all trash. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

123. Did they ever find out who was behind the tape?

If Ryan knew they were being recorded, it would explain his immediate shutdown of further discussion. He sure as hell did not do it from any moral standing.

[malaise]

130. Wish I knew - I do have my own suspicion

[Skittles]

127. Trump trashes everyone, but publicly kisses Putin ass

Putin is short and bald - a perfect target for Trump. How hard is it to realize SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT.

[malaise]

129. It's amazing - all now he has not once criticized anything Russian

that's teh other smoking gun.

[Skittles]

133. IT IS SO FREAKING OBVIOUS

and what is with repukes calling Dems COMMIES when they are A-OK with Russia helping to install that shit stain into the White House?

[Vinca]

3. I agree and what we've seen is a grain of sand on a beach.

How did Manafort manage to acquire so many passports and what was he doing that he needed so many? Notice there's crickets from Flynn. He's probably second deepest in the doodoo. Wonder if he's singing or plans to go down with the S. S. Titanic . . . I mean Trump. This is serious, serious stuff that makes Watergate look like a prank.

[malaise]

6. Economic citizenship is big business

Passports aren't that hard to acquire

[Vinca]

12. If they're legit U.S. passports, how would it happen? He must have multiple social security numbers.

Or can he get a passport from the countries he funnels money for? I guess I don't have a criminal mind . . . maybe that's why I'll never have a million bucks to spend on rugs.

[kentuck]

13. I believe I read that he had over a million dollars in clothes?

I wonder if he has a mink coat?

[Vinca]

16. He does look like a mink coat kind of guy. LOL.

[volstork]

54. Man Fur.

[lillypaddle]

74. You took this right out of my thoughts

Exactly!

[volstork]

88. For any situation you can dream up,

there is a corresponding Seinfeld episode!

"This is my date, Dr. Zaus."

[lillypaddle]

90. LOL

So true!

[malaise]

14. Not US passports

He probably has one from the Ukraine and somewhere else. I'd love to know if one is Russian

[kentuck]

15. I heard that one of the countries was Ecuador?

Somewhere?

[malaise]

17. Distinctly possible

I know territories in the Caribbean that give citizenship to investors. I think it is dangerous because some of the money is beyond suspect.

[lagomorph777]

78. Kushner peddles citizenship to Chinese investors.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/05/08/trump-in-laws-promote-thorny-visa-for-sale-program-in-china.html

[malaise]

79. Yep -I remember that

so maybe we're wrong about the US passport as well. Everything is for sale

[Irish_Dem]

22. He is beginning to sound like some sort of secret agent.

So is he CIA or KGB?

[kentuck]

24. A double agent?

Which side does he favor?

Is he a double agent for the USA or for the Kremlin?

[Irish_Dem]

29. Of course, that's it, secret squirrel for both sides. He played them both.

He really worked for just himself.

[DFW]

23. A second US passport is difficult to acquire

Decades ago, some US citizens were able to obtain a second passport if they could convince the State Department they needed to travel on business to both Israel and Arab countries, some of which would not admit you if you had an Israeli entry stamp in your passport. I don't know if that is still the case.

Other than that, I know Ireland will give you nationality and a passport if you can prove one Irish grandparent. o friend of ours actually did it. Another acquaintance of ours got a Luxembourg passport when she proved that a grandparent had been a Luxembourg citizen living in Luxembourg after January 1, 1900. Probably for a minor sum and a cheap residence, countries like Costa Rica can be persuaded to grant dual citizenship as well.

I don't know Manafort's personal history, but if he was born in the USA to two American citizen parents, he probably doesn't have two American Passports--at least not ones issued by our government. I'm sure Vladimir's Print Emporium in St. Petersburg (and not the one in Florida) can produce a convincing document if so commanded, and his IT division can produce (or steal) a valid Social Security number, and place it in our system.

[metalbot]

30. No, it's actually very easy

1. Get passport
2. "Lose" passport
3. Get new passport

You now have two US passports with valid microchips in them, either of which would likely be accepted in most countries. You'd need to use the correct one to re-enter the US, but if your passport were ever seized, you'd have a backup that would get you out of the country.

[CincyDem]

41. Maybe some but certainly not "most" countries.

Chip and Pin cards are a relatively new thing in the US - both in credit cards and passports. For Europe, Eastrn and most of Asia, the technology is older than the iPhone (2007). I think Latin America adopted it about 7-8 years ago. Even the Middle East got on board before the US.

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

Looks like it's in use in 82 countries. Safe assumption that if the home country passport uses the technology then local immigration can read the chip. In most countries, I'm not sure your plan would work.

But - always easy enough for someone with Manaforts apparent connection to have a local immigration officer look the other way and "forget" to read his passport. Bribery is always better than luck.

[PJMcK]

42. Not quite sure

If both passports have the microchips you referenced, wouldn't that individual be "flagged" in the State Department's computers? If the individual tried to use the second passport, wouldn't the individual be on a watch list?

In the last year, I've made three trips overseas and each time my passport was scanned and I was asked enough questions by the security agents for them to get an idea if I was traveling legitimately.

[DFW]

43. That depends on the software, I guess

Here in the EU if your ID is canceled, the first time you try to scan it, it will be rejected EU-wide. Getting a new passport as a replacement for a lost or stolen one is easy, granted, but the moment you are caught trying to use the one reported lost or stolen, it comes down pretty hard on the one trying to use it--it the States, that is.

It's the other way around in Germany. We had been trying to catch a gang of organized thieves from Croatia for about a year, and we finally cornered their leader in Hannover. This was before Croatia had joined the EU. We asked for the guy's ID, and he said he spoke no German. Frisking him, we found a German passport saying he was Herr Becker, born in Essen, Germany. So, Herr Becker, born in Essen and traveling with a German passport spoke no German? A quick look at "his" passport showed what was going on. The photo had been replaced with a fuzzy photo of this guy, and there was a Croatian entry stamp, but no exit stamp. I.E. the real Herr Becker had been relieved of his passport while traveling in Croatia. When he realized he was going nowhere, the Croatian's German improved markedly (being caught made him a fast learner, or something). We then called the local Hannover cops. When they showed up, I gave them the names of squad leaders of the Munich cops and the Berlin cops who were looking for him, and the locals carted the guy off. He was brought before a judge a day or two later, and the judge said, well the only proof here is a "minor passport violation" and set him free. Just let him walk.

Get caught entering or leaving the USA on a fake passport, and I promise you, there is no such thing as a "minor passport violation."

[malaise]

70. Do you know the sort of identity details in most passports these days?

Not likely

[CincyDem]

34. Don't know if it is/is not multiple countries but it is legal have multiple US Passports

There's a post somewhere here on DU quoting State Dept regs re: multiple passwords.

In a nutshell, if you travel a lot for business you might need multiple passports since some destination countries require you to send them your passport to get a visa stamp and that could take weeks. So...spare passport.

Apparently you can also have multiple passports if you travel to countries that don't "get along" and you don't want conflicting stamps in your passport. That was always the excuse for having a different country passport but it sounds like...if you can make a case...it's possible with two US passports.

https://www.outsideonline.com/1979201/can-i-really-have-two-us-passports

Not a State Department link but effectively, the same content.

[lostnfound]

132. Three US passports, different namEs. In the past decade applications for ten different passports

[CincyDem]

134. Whoa - hadn't heard that news.

I checked the State Department regs on that...definitely not approved.

Should have realized that Mueller would only highlighted illegal findings as the basis for his flight risk agreements. Makes perfect sense now.

Thanks for the info.

[malaise]

99. I just heard them say he has three US passports_(on CNN)

Damn!

[AngryAmish]

35. I have two and I do not travel internationally much

It is nice to have a bolt hole if things turn out the way it looks they will.

Also do not keep all your money in US institutions. Keep a rainy day fund overseas in a nice quiet European country.

[DFW]

49. There are not too many "nice quiet European" countries left.

Switzerland won't even let you open an account any more as a US citizen unless you prove a full-time Swiss residence, and can document it. Most, if not all, western European countries have mutual reporting agreements with the USA. If you want to park funds quietly somewhere in Europe, you best bet is someplace in the Baltics, like Latvia or Estonia. I've never been to either, but I know people who have actually moved there for that reason. I met a Canadian who moved to Estonia because they have no VAT on his business, and no restrictions at all on movements of money in any form. He seemed to like it, anyway. I can't see moving to Estonia for any reason unless my wife were to leave me, and some stunningly beautiful Estonian woman would ask me to come live with her.

At any rate, even if you want to move your funds overseas, if it's cash, you have to fill out a Treasury form if you are physically taking more than $10,000 with you. And if you wire funds somewhere, there is always a record of that, too, and reporting requirements are all still in place, anyway. So, I keep all my assets in the States except for immediate needs and looming German tax bills. Confiscation has a centuries-long tradition in Europe, and here in Germany, there was a particularly drastic episode of "Enteignung (de-ownership)" going on less than a century ago. The "the-state-is-always-right/the-individual-is-always-wrong" attitude is still very pervasive here, so I am wary of leaving anything around here. Of course, if Trump's insane budget-busting fantasies ever come close to getting enacted into law, I'll have to reconsider the whole situation.

[AngryAmish]

85. I don't do it for tax reasons. The IRS is informed of everything.

[Tracer]

71. Well, they may not be hard to be acquired by a crook, but

last year, I applied for a new passport --- thinking (without checking) that mine had expired.

I was told by the passport office that it wasn't expired, and they would not be issuing me a new one.

[malaise]

72. That's a US passport - not that easy

but if you have enough money there are passports you can buy along with citizenship. SAD

[kentuck]

9. Indeed.

It is so painful to watch so many Americans disregard that truth.

[RKP5637]

55. Not only disregard it, but tacitly support it, for example, the GOP! n/t

[Maggiemayhem]

38. Speaking of Flynn, what about Jill Stein?

Why the hell was she hanging with Putin and Flynn? The only thing green about her is cash.

[Ukapau]

44. Absolutely bigger than Watergate, especially given the

collision of the Republican leaders and the right-wing media in covering up these crimes.

[volstork]

53. Watergate may REALLY turn out to be

a "third-rate burglary" in comparison to this. We can only hope it blows the GOP wide open. Finally...

[GeoWilliam750]

5. The Plot to Hack America

by Malcolm Nance

[mikeysnot]

45. Yes

and it came out BEFORE the election. Our media created this shit stain presidency....

[L. Coyote]

8. Only just started, so much is classified activity.

Link to tweet

Missing, Trump's behind the scenes reaction:

Trump Reacts to Mueller's Indictments --- the Hitler video --- LOL ---
https://www.captiongenerator.com/751912/Trump-Reacts-to-Muellers-Indictments
Description: MAGA. My Assistants Getting Arrested. ....

[get the red out]

11. I hope we get to know all of it

I don't think this administration will survive it, but I worry a lot about Trump resigning due to Alzheimer's, any number of his underlings going to jail, then we the people get a "nothing more to see here folks, move along".

[ananda]

18. Well ...

Many of us here will not be surprised.

We've been talking about this since before the election.

[GoCubsGo]

94. And, we've been paying attention to people like Malcolm Nance.

Pretty much everything he has been saying, in the media and in his book, have come to pass.

[lagomorph777]

100. Nance is right up there with Mueller in the 3D chess league.

Nance predicts, Mueller enacts.

[Irish_Dem]

20. I knew it was quite bad, deep and widespread. What surprised me is that someone is going

after the crimes. Usually the GOP gets away with everything.

[kentuck]

21. I suppose espionage may be a bridge too far?

That honorable men cannot cross?

[Irish_Dem]

26. Given all their other crimes, why is this one being pursued? Good question.

The Russian theft of our election was the crime of the century. I guess the GOP figured they were going to have to do something about it.

Or maybe the GOP is tired of Trump's insanity and want him weakened. I guess we will see how this unfolds, if Trump is the only one targeted or if the other major players, Pence, Ryan, McConnell, et al get hit as well.

[kentuck]

31. I don't think the GOP is responsible for pursuing this investigation.

But there are a few good people within the GOP that are willing to put Country over Party.

[Irish_Dem]

33. I am more cynical about Washington politics. The powers that be could have shut this down.

But they are letting it go forward. The daggers are out for Trump.
And the GOP is trying to save its own skin.

[kentuck]

40. These 4 or 5 Republicans are the ruling coalition...

Because they have the Democratic Party behind them. Without them, the Democratic Party would have only 48 votes. Republicans are in a similar boat without this coalition. This very small coalition is holding all the cards.

[janx]

119. They don't necessarily have the Democratic Party behind them, but

they do have some Democrats behind them. All of these people, together with our intelligence agencies, are going to determine what happens.

It was only a matter of time before our divided country (courtesy of duplicitous politicians and greedy media) was taken advantage of by our adversaries.

[Irish_Dem]

135. Putin's crime of the century was like taking candy from a baby.

A civil war started decades ago by the GOP for money and power. They also like a unsecured voting system because they can rig elections. A perfect set up for someone like Putin.

[Irish_Dem]

136. We shall see how far they let this go. I think the insiders know the score.

We have to wait and see what they do about all of it.

[kentuck]

137. They are the only ones restraining Trump right now...

In my opinion.

[Irish_Dem]

138. How do you mean? What do you think they are doing? nt

[Skittles]

125. after they started a war based on lies and were never held accountable

they figured they could do anything

[DownriverDem]

25. Let's hope

it brings down pence too. repubs are using the line that Manafort's activities are pre trump campaign. Direct folks to George Papadopoulos. He took a plea and has been talking for months. No wonder trump is scared.

[elias7]

27. No surprise here; this is what Louise Mensch and Claude Taylor have been saying for the past year

[spixxen]

28. The GOP proliferation into churches in the 70s was one of the first efforts by them to....

ingratiate themselves with the herd of sheep known as the 'All American Christian.'

The Cold War was real but at some point the GOP and Russia saw the benefits of a partnership and might have even been hatched with the Bay of Pigs as their first attack at democracy.

This is all about the South avenging their dead pappies and bros from the Civil War.

Longgggggggggggg game, indeed.

[Botany]

36. Mueller is up against the largest crime syndicate in the history of the world

And many of the republicans are in it up to their eyeballs. Election rigging is
just part of their playbook. In 2015 the A.G. for KY was running for governor
and he was 5 or 6 points up going into the election but he lost by 8 or 9
points .... a 13 point swing with no reason outside of some b.s. story that
the people of KY were upset how Kim (anti gay nut job county clerk) Davis
was treated.

And BTW how did McConnell know that he would have somebody else to
pick for Supreme Court after the election?

[Initech]

37. I stand by my suspicion that the whole party was in on it.

Everyone from top to bottom in this party is guilty of allowing this collusion to happen. I swear once Mitch McConnell knew about the election rigging from the beginning, it was all over. It was a systematic, concentrated effort to take down Hillary Clinton.

[relayerbob]

46. Since I've believed they were all fully complicit the whole time

I will be less surprised, but nevertheless completely disgusted and appalled

[NRaleighLiberal]

47. Not at all surprised - I suspected from about 9 PM election night crimes were committed

and hoped it was just a matter of time until it all blew up on him.

the time is NOW.

(then again, I suspect I may be one of the more cynical DUers!)

[Mr. Ected]

48. My concern is that Mueller will feel the need to

Balance the enormity of the offenses against the effect convictions may have on the American people. In other words, 60 million people have been conned into believing that all of this is a partisan ruse. Republicans in Congress have done little to contradict this propaganda. My sole fear is that Mueller will hold some of his playable cards in order to preserve the Republican party as we know it. I strongly believe that the GOP itself is deeply compromised and has Russian money flowing through its veins. To publicize this-to prosecute this-would shake the foundation upon which millions derive their sense of belonging to the USA.

I want every rat thrown overboard. If that means destroying a political party due to its treasonous behavior, so be it. I sure hope Mueller feels the same way.

[kentuck]

50. Excellent point!

I think he does have to think about the impact it will have on a large proportion of the American public. It could destroy the Republican Party.

In Vietnam there was a saying, that they had "to destroy the village in order to save it..".

It now appears that Mueller has taken the first step. And once the first step is taken, there is no turning back. There is no getting off the boat.

[janx]

105. It isn't going to be easy. I've thought about the same possibility.

But I think Mueller is smart and won't hold back.

[democratisphere]

51. Agreed. Many are involved.

[Nitram]

52. You're right. I never imagined a Republican candidate for president would

collude with Russia to win an election and gain untold wealth. The worst part is that the whole party leadership refuses to take steps to deal with it. They are all complicit.

[RKP5637]

58. It's startling! The GOP used to be the ones screaming about the red invasion and finding a

communist under every rock. Now, many seem to embrace collusion with Russia. And, we have some in the US that seem in love with nazism and white supremacists.

[kentuck]

57. I did say, "In my opinion"...

[kentuck]

61. Yeah, it was a rather long post...

[Enoki33]

73. Good summation. Important to note Putins plan to cultivate dotard

slowly evolved to become the lynchpin of his geopolitical ambitions when he realized his characterization was way above initial expectations. Dotard was apparently willing to betray his country for personal profit as his businesses faced the very real possibility of bankruptcy. That is called treason. As a country we now have to rid ourselves of that scourge. Nothing is more important for democracy.

[questionseverything]

91. no one actually looks to seeif results are accurate

http://bradblog.com/?p=12338

We try, today, to help clarify what the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security and the corporate media did not, when it came to DHS' erroneous allegation in late September that the "Russian government" attempted to hack voter registration systems in 21 states and that "no votes were manipulated or changed" in the 2016 election. (For example, as we noted at the time, days later, DHS admitted they were wrong about Wisconsin, and California's Democratic Sec. of State said further investigation revealed that claims "turned out to be bad information from DHS." As to whther any votes were changed in 2016, the DHS admitted over the Summer that they don't know, because they never actually checked!)

[gibraltar72]

59. By Jove

I think you've got it.

[UCmeNdc]

63. I think you are correct.

What happened at the GOP convention? It seems a deal with the GOP higher ups may have been struck.

[workinclasszero]

64. I agree

What we know now is just the tip of the iceberg.

Trump and his den of traitors are goin down like the Titanic.

Mueller has all the cards in his hand already I do believe. Trump and his crime family will look good in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs!

[Greybnk48]

66. I think you're right Kentuck.

I think, when revealed, this will not only shock the nation, but will shock the world!

[Iggo]

67. I'm surprised that it's not too far off from what I imagined. (n/t)

[PubliusEnigma]

68. RICO! SUAVE

[lagomorph777]

76. Agreed. Ryan, Dustbin Nunes, et al are acting extremely guilty.

They wouldn't be working so hard to cover up the crimes if they weren't terrified for their personal legal liability.

[bathroommonkey76]

82. Louise Mensch and Claude Taylor have been saying this for months.

[byronius]

83. Russia identified and exploited our greatest weakness -- conservatism.

As a philosophy, it's directly opposed to the founding principles of the nation. Always has been.

Similar to a Dachau guard that believes he's a devout Christian. Cognitive Dissonance Extremis.

[workinclasszero]

101. You nailed that one

[sofa king]

84. Not me. I've been screaming about this for 15 months.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2284133

[Javaman]

86. I have been saying all along this is systemic among repukes.

none of this surprises me.

what does surprise me is how long it finally took to reveal it.

[RandomAccess]

87. I don't think I'll be surprised at all

I've been following it very closely -- including some of those sources found on Twitter so damned and despised here among the elite.

What I'm surprised about thus far is how many people -- including journalists and reporters who should know better by virtue of their own cynical natures and the available facts -- still expect otherwise. Still give him some benefit of the doubt on the subject of Russian collusion and entanglements. My God, the man does little more than throw out "consciousness of guilt" actions on the subject. That, and fail to criticize Putin, of course.

Yes, I definitely consider it treason and have from the beginning -- since back around the time of the "Russia, if you're listening..." speech. I keep looking for the smoking gun of actual Trump-Russia collusion, not just Trump Campaign-Russia collusion. I do hear, however, that a charge of treason requires we be at war. We are, of course, but it's a digital war and undeclared. So. There's that.

I'm just hoping the folks at the FBI have the guts to really come out with it all. Unfortunately, it appears to me that if they got everyone, there'd be not much of our government left, given the fact that the Republicans in Congress have been so complicit, and the RNC is on the hook for money-laundering and so forth and so on.

[GallopingGhost]

89. Some months ago,

a DU'er (can't remember who it was) posted that her friend or neighbor had told her that when this thing blew, it was going to be bigger than anyone could imagine.

I think we're soon going to find out that was correct.

[L. Coyote]

92. More tweets from Mensch and Taylor in the OP please.

Not fair to quote them and not name your sources.

[VOX]

93. The U.S. was attacked and seized by willing instruments of the Russian government...

By way of deploying intelligence and working with a confederation of U.S. individuals and interests, many (or most) of whom were WILLING accomplices in this act of warfare.

It really is no less than that. What’s the “cleanest” way to defeat an enemy today? Nukes? What’s the point in making the globe radioactive, when you can just topple a country by gaining control of its government?

Russia has demonstrated time and again that its clear goal is to take down western liberal democracies from within. Apparently this idea appeals to some nationalistic, xenophobic Americans, and those who would benefit monetarily from a totalitarian state. It must be stopped. All of it.

[Bradical79]

95. What's bigger?

I mean how much bigger does it get when you have POTUS, generals, and congress people working with (or turning a blind eye to) a hostile foreign nation to take power?

[kentuck]

96. I think there will be facts come out that no one here has thought about...

Although many have believed in a deep conspiracy from the very beginning. They will be surprised when they hear the evidence yet to come.

[Raster]

103. I believe a loose consortium of millionaire/billionaires are also involved....

....DeVoss, Prince, Mercer, Koch... to name just a few. I believe their goals are to bring about a "modern" yet feudal, libertarian state with theocratic and fascist overtones, and to eliminate worker's rights and individual freedoms as necessary to realize their schemes.

I think the traitors in Congress don't necessarily believe they are aiding and abetting Russia, per se... they rationalize that they are working for their AmeriKan masters... it makes the treason just a tad more palatable.

[pansypoo53219]

97. Fux gnewz has been pimping putin to their minions for years. socialism is BAD, but i guess

commies are ok now.

[lunatica]

98. I'm beginning to think that now also

The few things I heard were brought against manafort sounds like treason.

[brewens]

102. Anyone notice that when RWNJ's talk about Hillary and Russians they are still "commies"?

Not "commies" when republicans deal with them though. No problem with Trump having his cloths made by commies either for that matter.

[SergeStorms]

104. I hope you're correct, Kentuck.

But I've seen these slimy Republican bastards slither off into the sunset too many times to be sure about this. Only time - and Mueller - will tell.

[kentuck]

107. It became a whole new ballgame with the first indictment and guilty plea.

There is no turning back.

Mueller got off the boat. He has no choice but to take it all the way.

However, he has to be aware that 60 million people voted for Trump and he will have to time it perfectly to keep from tearing the nation apart.

In my opinion, he will finish his investigation after the 2018 election, IF the Democrats take back the House. If they do not, he will not finish the investigation until after the 2020 presidential election. He has to be very careful with the timing of his decisions.

[SergeStorms]

124. How many votes....

do you think Trump would get right now, if a presidential election were being held this November? My guess..........45 million. He's lost most of his Independent support, all of his anti-Hillary "Democrat" support, and even some Republican support (the ones with greater than 2 functioning brain cells). That would be a total of about 17 million votes. It may even be much greater, but I'm known for conservative (and that's all I'm conservative about!) bets.

I'd be interested in hearing your opinion.

[SusanaMontana41]

106. Espionage is EXACTLY what this is.

Hang them all.

[2naSalit]

110. I won't be surprised...

only dismayed at how long it takes to rid us of this cancer. I knew this was as big as it appears to be, many of us who could smell the stench on this crock of poo administration will be able to say we told you so.

[stuffmatters]

111. If "red baiting" is anti democracy,remember Roy Cohn as Trump mentor, Fred Koch $ from Stalin/Hitle

What's really becoming undeniable in these Republican Russia revelations is that their anti Democractic and antidemocracy (no coinicidence they refuse to say "Democratic" Party) strategies, privatization of the commons and totalitarian rule for the oligarchs,
by state propaganda tv, suppression of dissent, .even voting... hatred of "the other" and disempowering women

,ALL have been long held ideals of both the Republican Party and the Kremlin. I do not see any daylight between Putin's ideology & government and the Koch Bros.current Republican Party agenda for America.

The questions are not if but how long and how deep the relationship and dark slushing of the Republican Party by the Russians. And by Republican Party I mean all the PACS, Bullshit Think Tanks, and obscenely bankrolled and powerful lobbies like ALEC, the NRA
and the "Christian"Right. Has anyone every deeply explored where they get their outsized money?

I've never forgotten that Fred Koch's early business was with both Hitler & Stalin. Papa Koch back to the USA & helped found and fund the John Birch Society...all the while being a fanatical "anti communist" And we know Republicans invented the "false flag" strategy, still using it every chance they get. Roy Cohn was Joe McCarthy's lawyer, the most famous Red Baiting hysteric. Gotta remember how Red Scare was conveniently weaponized ag our Democracy through propaganda against Democrats, unions, intellectuals, racial and religious minorities etc.

Seems important history regarding today's Republican Party,its zealot Funders and their President Trump.

[malaise]

115. Have you noticed the numbers who have read this

Looks like folks are scared shitless. - 11,074 DAMN!

[janx]

116. As well they should be. n/t

[paulkienitz]

117. as a prominent role model for my generation once said, "I can imagine an awful lot."

[Skittles]

118. they stole the Supreme Court seat because they knew Hillary would never be president

oh yes they did

[spanone]

120. K&R...

[concreteblue]

121. I won't be surprised.

Republicans have proven over and over and over again that there is no bottom in the barrel of Lies, hypocrisy, treason and hate they live in.
I hope Louise Meunsch's reporting of RICO charges against the whole of the Republican party are true.

[dflprincess]

122. I just fear the worst of it will get covered up

"for the good of the country". Which generally means, to protect those in power.

[Hekate]

126. Trojan Horse

[sarcasmo]

128. Kick

[Raster]

131. Kick for bigger than imagined!!!