2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumPaul Manaforts Association with Foreign Powers especially Russia...Troubling
Paul Manafort has worked for a pro-Russian Ukrainian Candidate and pursued business deals in the old Soviet Union and now works for Donald Trump... last week at the Republican National Convention language was removed from the Republican Platform critical of Putin and his Ukrainian position; to make sure the new Republican platform wont call for giving weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian and rebel forces...
Donald J. Trump said it was a great honor to be complimented by Russias Vladimir Putin. Whats significant is what the New York businessman has done to earn this praise. He pursued deals in the old Soviet Union and Russia and, as a presidential candidate, has hired little-known experts like Carter Page, an adviser to Russian gas company Gazprom.
Another curious Trump hire is Republican insider Paul Manafort, a fixer who has a history of doing business in the former Soviet Union. After taking a job as Trumps delegate hunter, Manafort swiftly accused Trumps main opponent, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), of using Gestapo-like tactics in the presidential race.
But its Manafort who has something to explain and answer for. He did consulting work in Ukraine for the pro-Russian candidate, Victor Yanukovych. Manafort was called Ukraines Fixer when the country was under the yoke of Moscow, the Russians were desperate to remain in control, and the people of Ukraine were crying out for freedom and ties to the West.
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/trump-hires-fixer-with-soviet-connections/
Paul Manafort has a history of working for strong men.
Over a 40-year career as a lobbyist and political consultant, Manafort and his firms have advised, in no particular order, a business group tied to Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator of the Philippines; Viktor Yanukovych, the ousted Ukrainian president and ally of Vladimir Putin; and Lynden Pindling, the former Bahamian prime minister who was accused of ties to drug traffickers.
Now, he works for Donald Trump.
Manafort accepted $900,000 yearly to lobby for Ferdinand Marcos. He was also involved in lobbying for Siad Barre of Somalia, and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaïre. His firm also lobbied on behalf of the governments of the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya (between $660-750,000 yearly 1991 and 1993), and Nigeria ($1 million in 1991). These activities led Manafort's firm to be listed amongst the top five lobbying firms receiving money from human-rights abusing regimes in the report "The Torturer's Lobby."[3]
Manafort wrote the campaign strategy for Edouard Balladur in the 1994 elections, and admitted to having been paid under the table[10] (at least $200,000). The money was transferred to him through his friend, Lebanese arms-dealer Abdul Rahman al-Assir, from middle-men fees paid for arranging the sale of three French Agosta class submarines to Pakistan, in a scandal known as the Karachi Affair.[11]
Manafort received $700,000 from the Kashmiri American Council between 1990 and 1994, supposedly to promote the plight of the Kashmiri people. However, an FBI investigation revealed the money was actually from Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence agency as part of a "false flag" operation to divert attention from terrorism. A former Pakistani ISI official claimed Manafort was aware of the nature of the operation.[12] While producing a documentary as part of the deal, Manafort interviewed several Indian officials while pretending to be a CNN reporter.[13]
In the late 1980s, Manafort was criticized for using his connections at HUD to ensure funding for a $43 million rehabilitation of dilapidated housing in Seabrook, N.J.[14] Manafort's firm received a $326,000 fee for its work in getting HUD approval of the grant largely through personal influence with Deborah Gore Dean, an executive assistant to former HUD Secretary Samuel R. Pierce, Jr.[15]
Why Russia Is Rejoicing Over Trump
Dropping threatening language from the GOP platform is just the sort of bonus Moscow expects from its man Donald.
Excited by Donald Trumps pledge to promote easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia, the Kremlin establishment earlier this month invited Trump adviser Carter Page to speak before graduating students of the New Economic School. Page did not disappoint. In his remarks, Page condemned current American policy for its often-hypocritical focus on democratization, inequality, corruption and regime change. When a Russian student asked Page whether he really believed that American society was liberal and democratic, Trumps adviser grinned and delivered a line that might have come from Vladimir Putin himself. I surround the word liberal with quotes, he said. I tend to agree with you that its not always as liberal as it may seem, he said. Im with you.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/07/2016-trump-putin-russia-gop-platform-214074#ixzz4FLYvzrAT
Trump has praised Putin, and vice-versa. Whats more, one of his top advisers on national security matters, retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), has been embarrassed by revelations that he went to Moscow to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Russian propaganda channel Russia Today (RT) and sat next to Putin at a gala dinner. Flynn was being considered as Trumps vice-presidential nominee.
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/trumps-blind-spot-on-russia/
Trump campaign guts GOPs anti-Russia stance on Ukraine
The Trump campaign worked behind the scenes last week to make sure the new Republican platform wont call for giving weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian and rebel forces, contradicting the view of almost all Republican foreign policy leaders in Washington.
Throughout the campaign, Trump has been dismissive of calls for supporting the Ukraine government as it fights an ongoing Russian-led intervention. Trumps campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, worked as a lobbyist for the Russian-backed former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych for more than a decade.
Still, Republican delegates at last weeks national security committee platform meeting in Cleveland were surprised when the Trump campaign orchestrated a set of events to make sure that the GOP would not pledge to give Ukraine the weapons it has been asking for from the United States.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trump-campaign-guts-gops-anti-russia-stance-on-ukraine/2016/07/18/98adb3b0-4cf3-11e6-a7d8-13d06b37f256_story.html?postshare=9961468859608386&tid=ss_tw#comments
According to a report form The Washington Post, the Donald Trump campaign intervened during the drafting of the Republican platform to try to remove an anti-Russia and anti-Vladimir Putin amendment.
During last weeks national security committee platform meeting, committee member Diana Denman introduced an amendment in support of Ukrainian opposition to Putins invasion of Crimea and backing military aid to the country. Today, the post-Cold War ideal of a Europe whole and free is being severely tested by Russias ongoing military aggression in Ukraine, the amendment read. The Ukrainian people deserve our admiration and support in their struggle.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-campaign-intervened-to-weaken-anti-putin-stance-in-gop-platform/
Candidate's fondness for Russia raises concerns about U.S. interests
Long before Donald Trump clinched the Republican presidential nomination, he had a singular admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putins brand of leadership.
As the casino magnate got closer to sweeping the GOP primaries, he began to surround himself with advisers such as campaign manager Paul Manafort, a former lobbyist whose clients included Russian oligarchs and the deposed Ukrainian president who fled to Russia, and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who once appeared at a dinner banquet with Putin.
The latest signal that Trump doesnt intend to challenge Russian aggression came 24 hours before he was to officially accept the Republican nomination in Cleveland, when he told The New York Times that he doesnt believe the United States should necessarily intervene to protect NATO members such as the Baltic states, which fear a Ukrainian-style Russian incursion.
- See more at: http://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/trump-camp-playing-russian-roulette-embracing-putin#sthash.wayfmyS3.dpuf
rjsquirrel
(4,762 posts)oasis
(49,389 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)aide to current close member of Putin's circle. That's...amazing. Maybe his next job will be for some Russian mob billionaire. I'm pretty sure his career here is in trouble.
oasis
(49,389 posts)more attention from our national press.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I think NY Times. I get the latter and often google the Post. Did I see them? I don't know, but they were reported and didn't catch fire. Maybe we all still thought he wouldn't be the nominee?
oasis
(49,389 posts)involvement in American politics. She seemed to have a lot of information at her fingertips about Manafort's past connections with the Putin government. Erin also mentioned something about a Trump representative pushing for better relations with Russia in regards to oil.
Manafort went into his usual smug, stonewalling deflection routine but Erin kept pursuing.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)in the Trump camp have ties to people with ties to Putin, not just Manafort.
Did Trump's "children" fight to keep him from heading down the road to a scrutiny that's liable to hurt them all very badly, I wonder? Do they lie awake nights worrying? Or were they as clueless as whoever actually plagiarized Michelle's speech?
oasis
(49,389 posts)will avenge herself by taking a behind the scenes roll in getting to the core of the blockbuster Trump/Putin scandal.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and was just chair of the DNC, and I'm guessing her communications with the people addressing foreign espionage and ops in the U.S. are probably limited. But we have no idea what help she may have been already by providing information regarding the leaks, etc. Otoh,...
I haven't liked everything I've read about her, but in spite of the legitimate issues and the villification her voting record is mostly solidly liberal, but probably more to the point she is willing to take leadership, a negative to some farther left.
As criticism has peaked, contributors have poured more than $2 million into Canova's campaign for Florida's 23rd Congressional District. They're mounting a spite-fueled war to oust Wasserman Schultz from office in a primary August 30. Sanders staffers, too, have migrated to South Florida to help. Not long ago, the Vermont senator encouraged supporters to send Canova money and even endorsed him on national television. Canova must now take the mantle.
One former Sanders staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, put things bluntly: "It's the proxy campaign."
Clearing the field as possible of people who might otherwise get in the way in 2018.
oasis
(49,389 posts)friends into action like outrage over an injustice. Debbie will continue to carry out her official duties while she leaves it to others to work on Project Putin/Trump.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)long time, and, regardless of some mistakes that must exasperate them, it would be nice if friends were outraged at the way she's being targeted for political gain. There's nothing like a viciously righteous mob trying to destroy the victim they've been pointed at to make me know, no matter what else is involved, that I don't want to be on that side.
And, of course, she'll go on with all her duties. Take another half of them away and she'd still be far busier than most.
oasis
(49,389 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)she, Obama, and Biden praising DWS. These are good friends to have.
Theres simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbiewhich is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaigns 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states.
President Obama and Vice President Biden also released glowing statements about Wasserman Schultz following her resignation, neither of which mentioned the DNC emails. The first sentence of both of these statements talk about how Wasserman Schultz has had my back. An odd choice of words, given the reason for her resignation.
(Sanders has a point about meeting the stated principle of impartiality, but nuts to the idea that the party doors aren't already wide open, as his own candidacy is proof of. They are. But we're not laying back and spreading our legs too.)
oasis
(49,389 posts)Trump/Putin angle in favor of scolding the DNC for their part in the affair.
"Some Democrats are trying to put the blame on the Russians for this" she said.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Their public figures had better get on the right side of history and the national interest fast.
I imagine Bernie will, though. He'll try to get as much out of this as possible, of course, but he's way too big to do the Nina thing.
oasis
(49,389 posts)no longer in the Dem inner circle, but her political instincts should tell her the Trump/Putin story is too important to have any Democrat in the spotlight, dismissing it out of hand at this early stage.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)this ball a bit farther down the field before retreating. That's what I was thinking about Bernie himself being too big to do it himself.
Bobcat
(246 posts)According to Josh Marshall, Trump business ventures are being financed by Russian oligarchs close to Putin.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump-putin-yes-it-s-really-a-thing
nolabear
(41,986 posts)PatSeg
(47,501 posts)finance his ventures anymore. He had to go to Russia to get a loan! He is such a great businessman.
Haveadream
(1,630 posts)Great research heresAthingdotcom! The corruption and connections to Russian mob influence is profound. It is no surprise the POB in the Republican party want to distance themselves fromTrump. There is so much important information, each of these articles needs its own thread!
RonniePudding
(889 posts)Or is it Putin/Trump 2016?
Sing it from the rooftops, folks.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)That was started by the late rw nutjob Reed Irvine. IF you dig around on that site I am sure you would fine lots of nasty stuff about the Clintons and Obama as well..
oasis
(49,389 posts)be something to it.
2banon
(7,321 posts)I just don't see how it couldn't.
David__77
(23,421 posts)I want the president-to-be to seek cooperative relations with Russia and other countries. I would also not want the president-to-be to call the Saudi king a dictator.