LL&P

Not just multiple pieces, as you say. It also looks like he was a gift that kept on giving.

I know, right!? I laugh out loud each time I see his newest television interview where he just keeps on "giving." He now insists that the FBI is incorrect to refer to him as a "Kremlin adviser," even though it was Page himself who repeatedly described himself using that term in both verbal as well as written correspondence. Funny that. :)

Around 5 pages of "probably cause" were presented to the judge (most of the redacted info) in the first application.

By the 3rd renewal, that had grown to over 50 pages. He was publicly out of the Trump orbit by the times of those renewals, though.

Operative words there being "publicly out of the Trump orbit." Papadopoulos and Page sure became "coffee boys" in swift order, and Benedict Donald thinks we're all gullible enough to believe that Manafort too was hired for a "few days" because of his expertise in brewing a mean cup of joe.

Thanks for the links too. Truly appreciated. Keep them coming. :)

That should read: His Orangeness. Those 'O's are slippery critters.

Your [102] is spot on, and I read that as "His Rageness" and laughed out loud... because it fits all too well considering the recent "spewage" emanating forth from the twitter of the Orange Blowhole.

At what point do the minions clue in? :)

The "brainstorming" meeting complete with toys and Happy Meals sounds about right, though that particular term may be giving those swamp rats a little too much credit for having some brains at all. Strategy is clearly not their strong suit, and lord forbid they crack a book and learn from history.

I see you know our US political issues as well as I would wager you know your own. Kudos to you because this entire comment is a masterpiece, JTC. Please keep them coming. :)

Falling back on some unreal conspiracy is what children do when they are caught in an unsupportable position.

If only the minions weren't so gullible and easily conned. :)

And conspired to prevent him from being elected by using their positions to lie and cheat..

Your ignorance is showing, and you've obviously overdosed on the right-wing nut job conspiracy Kool-Aid. So Trump today admits to Russian meddling, and the whiplash continues. How do the minions keep up with the bullshit that spews forth from the Orange Blowhole?

Personally, the deserve to be shot.. ~ Michale

It's quite instructive that Comrade Michale opines that the national security adviser and multiple former directors/deputies of our United States intelligence agencies deserve to be shot. Michale is emblematic of the gullibility and putrid stench that has bubbled up in the GOP since the onset of their worship at the alter of the cult of personality of Trump. What is left of the former GOP contains:

(1) Those who are leaving in droves and/or not running for reelection,

(2) Those who are obviously educated and privy to classified information yet have no spine, and

(3) those suffering from Kool-Aid overdose.

The GOP along with their minions have become the party of "useful idiots" and debase themselves in service to Trump in service to Putin and Russia. #Sad #Pathetic

Thank you ever so much for that insight into your thought processes (or lack thereof), Comrade Michale, and with that nugget of yours wherein you state you believe that American citizens should be shot, I believe we can forever lay to rest your fake outrage and whining about "common decency."

Oh, snap!

Michale's near-sole argument is his incessant and ignorant false equivalency that "all things are equal" and/or "exactly the same," and you're just going to confuse him with facts. However, please continue schooling him, though I would wager you know he's helpless regardless. :)

Manafort is a hard guy, and besides, if he turned and went too deep, he'd be giving himself a life which, for a long time, would boil down to protective solitary or getting shived.

Manafort won't flip until the day he becomes more afraid of what the United States is going to do to him than he is regarding what he believes his "friends" the Russians have planned... hence the incessant attempts at stalling and postponing the inevitable.

Still, it is breathtaking the amount of criminal cases that are settled literally on the steps of courthouses all across America. ;)

He's going to go away, spy or not. He conspired to defraud the United States of 7 or more figures.

Yes, sir. Mueller has much more in store for Mr. Manafort too.

Nobody can do that and not see the inside of a prison.

Exactly right. Rick Gates has chosen wisely and is an incredible addition to Mueller's "Snitch Hunt" choir. I'm anxious to hear him singing a cappella for quite a long time under oath if Manafort inevitably chooses poorly and subsequently goes down in flames of his own making.

Can anybody help me with my decision in November.

I can either vote for the Democratic incumbent who has been doing a great job for my constituency, or I can vote for his Republican opponent.

Our "thoughts and prayers" go out to citizens of CA-11. God help you poor souls; however, I suspect the voters therein will beat Him to it. ;)

"Maria Butina is now in the United States. Writes to me that D. Trump (member of NRA) is ready for cooperation with Russia."

Wouldn't it be funny if Trump and the leadership of the NRA were all put away for treason?

I suspect that in the future, Congress will amend the legal definition of "treason" and United States Code to include cyberwarfare so that "bad actors" can thusly be charged under the relevant statutes. Until then, I suspect "conspiracy to defraud the United States," "espionage," "aiding and abetting" fill in the blanks, et cetera will do nicely.

Torshin's twitter account is a treasure trove of information, and the meeting in Moscow by NRA reps with Putin's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin (18 months after he was sanctioned by the United States in 2014 for the invasion of Crimea/Ukraine along with Paul Manafort's client Viktor Yanukovych and others) isn't exactly a good look for the NRA and gives new meaning to that term "colluding in plain sight" we are now hearing bandied about these days.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-trump-ally-met-with-putins-deputy-in-moscow

Questions:

(1) What does it say about the judgment and/or competency of Benedict Donald that he would hire Paul Manafort to lead his campaign considering his history of money laundering et cetera and association with multiple US sanctioned persons as well as other various assorted adversaries of the United States?

(2) Got your popcorn ready? With or without butter? ;)

Not just multiple pieces, as you say. It also looks like he was a gift that kept on giving.

Around 5 pages of "probably cause" were presented to the judge (most of the redacted info) in the first application.

By the 3rd renewal, that had grown to over 50 pages. He was publicly out of the Trump orbit by the times of those renewals, though.

Lol...Indeed, what would be the point? Smug vindication? Nah.

See, this is what I don't get about US politics...when did it become normal to be called on a bogus statement and then offer up your inability to defend your stance by muttering something about other people's inability to digest the response? How is this debate format healthy, one can't fling nonsense around like confetti in the hope that people will just shrug and concede to the bullshit. No no no...

"Ya'all have proven beyond ANY doubt that you will not accept ANY facts that disrupt your snowflake safe space existence...

If ya'all had an even SMIDGEN of credibility in accepting facts it might be different.

But ya'all have proven beyond ANY doubt that you simply ignore all facts you disagree with..

So, my providing those facts would be pointless.."

You could always try, it wouldn't hurt...I'm not insensitive, I can offer an extension, eternity plus five minutes? No pressure.

It's all fun and games, until someone loses a truth.

LL&P

So glad you enjoyed Bo Burnham’s video! The guy did his first Comedy Central special a few months after he graduated high school!

I'm taking your advice and watching it in its entirety and will certainly report back. Perhaps it would improve my lame attempts at comedy that fly right over Elizabeth Miller's head while she trolls my comments to other posters and explains to me what I meant, even though she obviously has no idea what she's talking about and should seriously allow herself to stop doing it.

Garfunkel and Oates also have a great song inspired by Pat Robertson’s proclamation that marriage equality would lead to people having sex with ducks.

Oh, no... another comment of yours wherein I cannot unsee that. ;) *laughs* I will definitely now have to watch the Pat Robertson inspired song. I suspect Mr. Robertson holds this belief because he witnessed the "coupling" of Donald and Scrooge McDuck… Donald Trump that is, and yes, I'm taking steps to improve my attempts at comedy. ;)

All that praying to Taweret finally paid off.

HYP&O

Liz M [55]

Sorry lady, I never ask "am I right?" I conclude with just plain "right", implying "agreed?". Not the same thing!

I just want you to know, Stucki, that I posted my [107] above before I read your [57] (also above). You are exactly right about this, obviously, as anyone who paid attention to your posts as well as the posts of others would naturally know, am I right? ;)

Additionally, I would like to congratulate you on your perfect sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation in this post. I liked it so much, I had to quote it in its entirety. It is heretofore my favorite post of yours. Please endeavor to outdo it in your future posts.

I'm just "funning" you, Stucki, and I don't take the time to tease just anybody, right? :)

By the way, isn't Carter Page a piece of work?

Multiple pieces. *laughs*

Actually, that's wrong. And, I would suggest that taking on CRS's use of the concluding "am I right?" phrase does not add to one's credibility around here. Seriously.

Actually, that's not wrong, and anyone with two brain cells to rub together and any sort of memory whatsoever knows without question that CRS doesn't actually use the term "am I right." However, he is very fond of using the term "right?" to end his queries, which you would obviously know if you paid more attention during your forays and sad attempts at trolling certain posters in your self-appointed duties as "board police and nagging nanny." Seriously.

I was merely implying that Russ wouldn't have to 'ask Britain about Novichok' because, like many of us here, he follows current events. Your comment implied the opposite.

No, ma'am... in point of fact, my meaning was exactly the opposite since I was speaking with Russ the way I would a colleague with his obvious extensive knowledge. Russ and I have had a conversation or two about his obvious expertise in his field, and I was speaking with him in complete agreement about the transmission of poisons on paper. I would wager quite a number of Benjamins that Russ is well aware that there is no one foolish enough to self-contaminate with Novichok (even if they perchance had a container of it lying around the Fox News studio *laughs*) in order to "neutralize" Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin... even a tool such as Chris Wallace.

"Ask Britain" is a comedy television game show (now cancelled, darn it) and a play on words and an attempt at humour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Ask_Me_Ask_Britain

Seriously.

See what I did there in my blockquote, Liz? I spelled "humor" wrong just for you. Nobody tell Stucki; he is hypersensitive about stuff like that. :D

Perhaps if you weren't too busy trolling the posts of certain posters to people like Russ and/or anyone else NOT named Elizabeth Miller and flailing in your attempts to inform said poster what they meant in their very own posts to another poster to whom they were commenting, while also simultaneously explaining what that other poster meant in his post, you'd be making a much better use of that "limited time" you're incessantly claiming you have.

In short: It's rather obvious that only somebody with serious trolling issues of certain posters would presume to explain to a poster what that commenter meant by their very own comment, but you can't seem to allow yourself to stop doing it.

Not surprisingly.

Have a happy... :D

What would be the point?

Ya'all have proven beyond ANY doubt that you will not accept ANY facts that disrupt your snowflake safe space existence...

If ya'all had an even SMIDGEN of credibility in accepting facts it might be different.

But ya'all have proven beyond ANY doubt that you simply ignore all facts you disagree with..

So, my providing those facts would be pointless..

Oh no, there are plenty of Democrats who epitomize the Democrat Party...

But Hodgkison is the best example of today's Democrat Party..

In fact they all did the opposite: stayed quiet about a counter-intelligence investigation involving Trump so as not to affect the election, even as Comey was doing serious damage to the Clinton campaign by holding dramatic press conferences about the nothing scandal that Republicans were pushing.

It's actually the statements that these men have made since Trump's election that has His rangeness in a snit. Turns out, most of them have no security clearances to revoke. Score one for the God of irony.

Ran out of equivalent boogey men, eh? Interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k4pMTsa1Kw

Sasha Cohen.

Don't worry, Sunshine...there's no time limit, my hope is, the more you dig about the internet for a lifeline in this matter, the more likely you might encounter actual fact. Spoiler alert! make sure you're wearing your tinfoil MAGA hat, you don't want to catch a nasty case of truth.

LL&P

How refreshingly democratic of you. Nothing beats a quick-march to the firing squad for expressing an opinion contrary to that of the administration. Maybe you should launch an online campaign to enact an American distillation of Nacht und Neblung? It's the next logical step for a tyrant.

LL&P

Sorry, once again reality and truth gives you a swerve so you can maintain some unsupportable narrative.

This persecution complex Trump trots out to manage his flock is becoming tiresome..."And conspired to prevent him from being elected by using their positions to lie and cheat.." The down-trodden self-proclaimed billionaire wades upstream against a current of widespread disdain and loathing?

That's a pathetic retort.

I can see the West-Wing brainstorming session that conjured up that lame-duck stance..."ok people, settle down...the Happy Meals will be here any time now, and yes Sarah...we got you the girls toy this time. Now...what's our withering comeback for all these niggle-some queries into Dear Leader's latest diktat? hmm, anyone? No? ok, let's check the list...we haven't used conspiracy in this news cycle...my plastic Wreck-it Ralph toy and ketchup sachet says we can blow it past them again. Thank god for FOX, for without them this would actually feel like a paid job...Kellyanne, we need the microwave back in the lunchroom by tomorrow, otherwise it'll come out of your pay...ooh, ooh, Rotten Ronnie's is here, dibs on the coke with the least ice."

Falling back on some unreal conspiracy is what children do when they are caught in an unsupportable position.

LL&P

You DO realize how utterly stoopid you sound..

Of COURSE he's "profiting"...

Duh...

Moron..

And conspired to prevent him from being elected by using their positions to lie and cheat..

Personally, the deserve to be shot..

But I'll be happy with having them disgraced by having their clearances revoked..

Clearly they can't be trusted with them..

"It's about damn time!!

Pull Clinton's while yer at it...

There is absolutely NO REASON for those scumbags to have clearences(sic)..."

No...none whatsoever. We all know the world, its governments and its tactics reset every time a new CIA or FBI director is appointed. Why on earth would an incoming head of a vital US intelligence department want some insight into how to go about his business without learning by mistake?

Lol...seems reality is a cagey two-tailed cat, for some.

The truth of the matter is simple enough, even Michale might stumble across it, Trump is flying a kite to see how the establishment reacts to his preposterous utterances. Huckleberry-Sanders provided the FOX sound-bite in her not-so-daily briefing...They are being considered for this punishment because they profit from it...Now that's comedic waterboarding at its gitmo-ist, this administration has the brass-neck to accuse others of using their rank/position for self-aggrandizement. Ivanka Trump has half a dozen patents recognized in china in the midst of a tariff war? her Chabad husband secures a half billion dollar loan to bail him out of yet another failed business? Trump charges the US taxpayer millions to house his bloated retinue in his hotels whenever he gets the chance? Jim Clapper makes a few thousand bucks to be heard as an expert on CNN and all of a sudden he's profiting?

Bullshit.

These former heads of critical govt. departments have only one thing in common, they have criticized Trump for his incompetence. I don't recall Obama stripping Flynn of his security clearance, even though he knew Flynn was a shill for the Ruskies...Obama gave Trump full warning in private to dispose of the general asap.

LL&P

That might have been applicable when Russia was the USSR...

No longer..

urther, where do we base our aircraft to protect our interests everywhere from the Middle East trade routes to the Fram Strait? Where do we port our Landing Helicopter Docs so
the Marines can get downtown into their own culture when nothing needs their presence? What happens to our intelligence cooperation?

There will be growing pains, to be sure..

But the EU needs the US a **LOT** more than the US needs the EU..

The real issues, strategic, tactical, and economic, go a hell of a lot deeper than They are going to have to pull their own weight ... or face Russia alone. To the extent that really is Trump's current belief, I believe that's seriously net negative.

See above..

Trump's idea is an EQUAL partnership..

I see nothing wrong with that..

To hope that What is happening now has all happened before and ... this too shall pass and the world will continue to spin... is not net positive either. The last time the US went isolationist, lots of millions of people died, Europe and Russia were wrecked, and Russia grabbed a bunch of countries and wouldn't give them back for thirty years after they'd drained them dry.

And yet, it gave us the world we live in today..

I don't see the negative??

I'm not saying that's going to happen again; all I'm saying is that if the US pulls back from Europe, unintended bad things can follow from unmanageable chains of consequences.

OR..

Or the EU might begin to stand up for itself and thereby reduce the commitment the US has to put into the EU..

A net positive..

"We can't discard a possibility just because we don't happen to like it.."
-Martin Sheen, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

:D

Europe has gotten a free ride largely because the United States has insisted upon it, just as it has regarding Japan. The US has to deal with China, and with Russia. We don't need to triangulate from a strong or independent Europe. A dependent Europe has been a choice by the US, not the result of dysfunction by lefties because they love Paris.

Under Trump's transactional isolationism, he announces that the United States may at any time pull its strategic perimeter not just away from Russia's borders, but back into the waters of the Atlantic. However, the US will commit to protecting American LNG all the way to the North Sea.

This may be augmented with random on-the-fly disruptions to a mutually critical spaghetti bowl of of economic and strategic strands, many of which cannot or should not be disrupted.

Further, where do we base our aircraft to protect our interests everywhere from the Middle East trade routes to the Fram Strait? Where do we port our Landing Helicopter Docs so
the Marines can get downtown into their own culture when nothing needs their presence? What happens to our intelligence cooperation?

The real issues, strategic, tactical, and economic, go a hell of a lot deeper than They are going to have to pull their own weight ... or face Russia alone. To the extent that really is Trump's current belief, I believe that's seriously net negative.

To hope that What is happening now has all happened before and ... this too shall pass and the world will continue to spin... is not net positive either. The last time the US went isolationist, lots of millions of people died, Europe and Russia were wrecked, and Russia grabbed a bunch of countries and wouldn't give them back for thirty years after they'd drained them dry.

I'm not saying that's going to happen again; all I'm saying is that if the US pulls back from Europe, unintended bad things can follow from unmanageable chains of consequences.

Yea??

Then James Hodgkison shows exactly what the Democrat Party has become..

Funny how that works, eh?? :D

Scared to?

You should be. It shows exactly what the Republican Party has become.

Follow the link. You will be convinced I put up the web site myself, but then you will check him out and realize that he is, in fact, an open Nazi.

http://johnfitzgeraldforcongress.com/

And you are considering voting for a Republican??

What a bullshitter you are.. :D

It's about damn time!!

Pull Clinton's while yer at it..

There is absolutely NO REASON for those scumbags to have clearences...

Ya never get tired of lying, eh Neil.. :D

Did you follow the link? Do a google search on him yourself and you will see:

1. He is on the ballot
2. He is the Republican
3. The link I put up is his official website

Not to be. All of them are financial people. After all, this is a financial crimes indictment. Duh.

The trial is delayed now to a week from today. That gives the prosecutor-team fans the same Collins-Murkowski hope about a deal being done. Maybe, but I doubt it. Manafort is a hard guy, and besides, if he turned and went too deep, he'd be giving himself a life which, for a long time, would boil down to protective solitary or getting shived.

He's going to go away, spy or not. He conspired to defraud the United States of 7 or more figures. Nobody can do that and not see the inside of a prison.

https://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/lb180720cd20180720074805.jpg

Quit doing stoopid shit..

Ya never get tired of lying, eh Neil.. :D

Most likely..

Of course, those who suffer from HHPTDS will scoff, just like those who bitterly hated Nixon would have scoffed..

The problem is emotionalism.. No one here can get past their rabid hatred and look at things objectively..

Up to now, at least in my view, it's way net negative, with real if fixable damage to the Atlantic relationships and fraught trade brinkmanship.

A perfect case in point..

There isn't much damage to our Atlantic relationships, other than the fact that those on the other side of the Atlantic have come to understand that their free ride is over.. They are going to have to pull their own weight or face Russia alone without US support or backing..

How is that NOT a good thing??

Past is prologue.. What is happening now has all happened before and, despite the claims of the doomsayers, hysterical or not, this too shall pass and the world will continue to spin...

https://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/mle180721c20180720093926.jpg

Simple....

I can either vote for the Democratic incumbent who has been doing a great job for my constituency, or I can vote for his Republican opponent.

This is not a joke. The following link takes you to the home page of the Republican running for congress in my district:

http://johnfitzgeraldforcongress.com/

Yep...

Is the same thing going to be true of President Trump? Regardless of who he is or what's he done or is still trying to do, will we someday cite his visionary acts of American foreign policy?

Up to now, at least in my view, it's way net negative, with real if fixable damage to the Atlantic relationships and fraught trade brinkmanship. But the word isn't in yet on Korea, to say nothing of Middle East writ large.

I couldn't help but see many of ya'all in that commentary.. :D

Heh

"It's funny because it's true"
-Homer Simpson

What ever you have to tell yerself to make it thru your sad and pathetic life... :D

Don't worry, JTC.. You'll have your fellow bumbling morons come to your assistance soon.. :D

:D

https://twitter.com/torshin_ru/status/698742761160368128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Translation (you can get it using Twitter's translate option as well):

"Maria Butina is now in the United States. Writes to me that D. Trump (member of NRA) is ready for cooperation with Russia."

Wouldn't it be funny if Trump and the leadership of the NRA were all put away for treason?

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." A Lincoln utterance perhaps. Or the Switzer, "It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it" Or the biblical, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." Funny, I couldn't find your ham-fisted version of this timeless saying.

Also, Hay is for horses.

LL&P

I'm not sure that post came out the way it probably sounded in your head. Have a nice evening anyway.:D

That about sums up the day for me. Thank you Neil and Kick for your nice words about my 'comedic waterboarding' quip.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.. :D

And what exactly does all that hysterical wishful thinking have to do with comment #65???

[65] Michale wrote:
Russia Mania Is the Birtherism of the Left
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/07/22/russia_mania_is_the_birtherism_of_the_left_137587.html

And yet.. Here we are...

Yunno, if ya weren't such a moron, you would actually QUOTE the comments yer responding to.. That way, we would only THINK you are a moron, rather than having confirmation you are a moron.. :D

Duh........

LL&P

To get a complete overview of cryptography, Ada Lovelace is a great starting point. Daughter of Lord Byron, she became fascinated by the template stamp cards used in looms, she figured out that the same process could be used to compute numbers (binary.) Most of her acclaim was posthumous, women simply didn't engage in the sciences at the dawn of the Victorian age. ADA computer programming language, (the system of using the compiler to find errors in favor of runtime errors)was named after her.

LL&P

Yep, yep, yep......

Simply another FACT that proves what I have been saying for over a decade here in Weigantia..

There is really no difference between the Left and the Right...

A fact ya'all prove every single day..

"Hay!!! The Right is all about name-calling!! Let's start name-calling too!!!"

Hay!! The Right had their hysterical witch hunt that had nebulous 'facts' and a whole bunch of hysteria!! We should have one too!!!"

If I could go back in time to 2006 and tell you people how you are acting in 2018, ya'all's 2006 counterparts would have called me daft..

And yet.. Here we are...

“The American public must have full confidence that the integrity of any decisions handed down by the Supreme Court on these matters will not be tainted by any impropriety or the appearance of impropriety from the President’s selection of you.”

Could a Democrat POSSIBLY be any more moronic and ignorant??

I doubt it..

Much like the Russian alleged "collusion"... Odumbo knew all about the Russian "attacks" on our election but apparently such "attacks" were not a big deal because Odumbo put POLITICS and winning the election above such grave "attacks"...

For the record, there are FACTS that well document that Odumbo knew about Russian "attacks on the election, but chose to do nothing because of politics. There are also FACTS that prove Odumbo colluded with Putin by asking for "space" to win the election, after which Odumbo could be... er.. "flexible" for Putin..

"Eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww"
-Ernst P Worrell

I have NO IDEA how Neil came up with with the claim that Odumbo knew about about the Russian spy but chose to do nothing..

And, as an aside to our resident linguist and grammar guru...

Chose vs Choose... Which on is the 'ew' sound (as in 'chew') and which one has the 'oh' sound (as in 'toe')

It drives me crazy!! OK, OK, technically that would be more of a short walk... :^D

But!! But!! But!!!

Canada has "SENSIBLE" gun laws!!! There CAN'T be any mass shootings in Canada!!!!

WTF!!!?????

:^/

You know full well that counter-intellegence is advanced by not not picking up spies as soon as they're made.

I also know full well that it is the epitome of hypocrisy to blame the current POTUS for an incident that the PREVIOUS POTUS was allegedly (Neil has provided NO FACTS to support his claim that Odumbo DID know about the spy but chose to do nothing) aware of and allowed to operate..

Much like the Russian alleged "collusion"... Odumbo knew all about the Russian "attacks" on our election but apparently such "attacks" were not a big deal because Odumbo put POLITICS and winning the election above such grave "attacks"...

Further, if I was trying to defend President Trump's alleged "collusion", then you would have a case of "whataboutism"..

But I am not.. I am simply pointing out the appalling lack of credibility of those who are attacking President Trump for alleged "collusion" but gave Odumbo a pass for his "collusion" in the same alleged incident..

America does not manufacture wars (any longer).

Treasonous Trump is trying to create a war with Iran - we all know why - he thinks that the American public will rally behind a war President.

This is wrong. Don't let Treasonous Trump do this.

Thank you. Fabulous reading.

Are there any books on the history of cryptology you recommend?

My son is looking to do his masters in the mathematics of cryptology. I've got an advanced degree that required advanced math into the last year - it was 1/3 of your total score. I couldn't follow anything my son was trying to explain to me about the math of cryptology - and he was trying to explain the basics. I thought I was smart because I read the 1979 RSA paper and understood the basic math behind it, but that isn't even part of Cryptology 101 these days it seems.

So glad you enjoyed Bo Burnham’s video! The guy did his first Comedy Central special a few months after he graduated high school!

Garfunkel and Oates also have a great song inspired by Pat Robertson’s proclamation that marriage equality would lead to people having sex with ducks.

Sorry lady, I never ask "am I right?" I conclude with just plain "right", implying "agreed?". Not the same thing!

Reading history, as a hobby or as a part of one's job, is a good thing. These days, absent it, we might end up thinking that both domestic politics and conflict among states are parts of one big scriptable reality tv show.

Actually, that's wrong. And, I would suggest that taking on CRS's use of the concluding "am I right?" phrase does not add to one's credibility around here. Seriously.

I was merely implying that Russ wouldn't have to 'ask Britain about Novichok' because, like many of us here, he follows current events. Your comment implied the opposite.

Not surprisingly.

History is another one of my hobbies.

LL&P

I doubt it will ever be made public which side dropped him into the Trump campaign. The candidate gave him high praise when announcing his Foreign policy team, but whichever side pulled it off, it clearly worked out better for the FBI.

I was enjoying some easy reading the other day, I was looking into what constitutes a crime in the US in the context of 'collusion' with a foreign power. Seems collusion is a crime under US law when a foreign entity is involved. Certain criteria have to be met...

Firstly, the information gleaned directly, or through a third party, has to be deemed to have monetary value. In this case, Wikileaks was paid for the emails they hacked from the DNC, by whom is irrelevant insomuch as the info then had monetary value. The US intelligence community has positively identified the Russians as being the entity who paid Wikileaks.

And secondly, the person or group that benefits from the foreign intel has to 'knowingly' enter into the relationship despite the fact that the sourced material is provided by a third party. In this case, the Trump campaign knew beyond a doubt the Russians had engaged Wikileaks to hack the DNC, why else would Trump famously declare..." Russia, if you're listening, can you find the 30'000 or so missing emails" if Trump didn't already know the details of the relationship between Russia and Wikileaks?

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/11/110.20

It's painfully clear that the Trump campaign contravened the above law, Trump confessed to it prior to the election.

I never tire of this clip...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b71f2eYdTc

Trump mentions China as a possible hacker of emails, but is completely focused on Russia and her ability to produce the emails. Which of course she did, and in doing so, sealed the agreement between the interested parties.
QED

LL&P

That was incredibly important throughout the War. The V-2 rockets didn't impact the official centers of London because their targeting relied on spies to adjust target coordinates. Rommel relied on spy reports in part to conclude the Allied invasion would come at Calais. It may, or may not, have allowed British intel to have learned of, from German messages to its agents, and alert the US to, the impending surprise attack by Japan.

Even if that were documented, Washington didn't receive any reports to that effect. The US official position was, is, and forever will be that the Navy crypto office finally broke the Japanese code between early December 1941 and June 1942, when decoded intercepts allowed the US Navy during the Battle of Midway to locate and sink the aircraft carriers from which the Pearl Harbor attack had been launched. The US had no advance warning from any source, and thank God it happened when all the US carriers and heavy cruisers were out of port.

To wile away a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon, if interested, just search the words "Masterman double cross"; among the book reviews one can find better narratives, and articles on applications of their methods.

The implication of both XX and compromise of Japanese communications is that when an intelligence service is way better at espionage than the enemy gives them credit for, that enemy usually ends getting badly f**ked.

Or none of you might be right and Putin is avoiding coming into contact with a microtransmitter, which could be hidden in a 'period' on the page, get under a fingernail, and broadcast his every word and movement until his next manicure.

Aren't you clever? *grins and laughs*

A microscopic transmitter hidden in a period? Which period would that be, Balthy? A period located toward the end of a page? Or maybe one at the end of each page because how could you be certain it would otherwise attach itself to Putin's fingernail? Manicure? Perhaps he'd scratch his nether regions and flush it down with his refuse. :)

He might also have worried about being served with a subpoena to the world court.

By Chris Wallace? Nah.

This could cause one of those aforementioned laughing fits, something he doesn't seem inclined to do often, except at rare times, like after being told, "He fell for it!"

I like the way you think, Balthy, and I too am "borrowing" your most excellent term "comedic waterboarding." Keep them coming, please. :)

You know full well that counter-intellegence is advanced by not not picking up spies as soon as they're made. Peter Strzok was in charge when the FBI rolled up the cells which inspired The Americans in 2010, iirc. But it was years before, when the couple applied for the visas to attend the JFK school at Harvard that they were first noticed. That was probably because in running the names against Canadian records, they noticed both of them had died as children.

We only let him go so long // Out of kindness, I suppose. "Pancho and Lefty", Townes Van Zandt

A very public example of this common practice is German-American sleeper agent Jack Barsky also known in his mother country as Albrecht Dittrich.

He might also have worried about being served with a subpoena to the world court. This could cause one of those aforementioned laughing fits, something he doesn't seem inclined to do often, except at rare times, like after being told, "He fell for it!"

In future, it would be advisable not to presume we aren't following current events. :)

Said the commenter who took it upon herself to explain to another poster what yet another poster meant when he used the word "poison." Are you quite sure Russ was referring to Novichok when he used the word "poison" because if you are, you show an incredible lack of knowledge regarding what types of "poison" would best be transmitted on paper, and I guess you believe Chris Wallace has a container of that lying around the Fox News studio, am I right? Wallace was touching the paper too, Elizabeth, and although I agree he's shown signs of ignorance... as have we all... I do not believe he'd be foolish enough to use Novichok as his agent of choice under such circumstances since he was touching it the same papers; however, there are poisons that could be easily utilized in such a manner that a person touching said paper could transmit it to another and themselves avoid self-contamination.

Like I've said many times, Elizabeth, I don't comment to please you or anyone else; however it is notable that it is generally Elizabeth Miller who is whining about posters using acronyms and terms she doesn't understand and admonishing them not to do so because it's above her knowledge. Did you forget you whine regularly about people posting terms you don't understand and your admonishments regarding same?

You're showing signs of having memory issues, Liz. Might want to have that checked. :)

"whose side are you on - Russia or the U.S.A.?"

is to point out some imagined crime President Obama committed.

It is a simple question Michale.

Good one - I'm definitely stealing that! Thanks in advance.

There's a whole lot of defensive desperation going into that remark. Or complete ignorance. Maybe a bit of both.

I won't even bother trying to counter this absurd substandard counter-argument, save that "Your side was colluding too!" is a pretty weak position from which to begin this particular argument. Perhaps you're hoping to incapacitate us by making statements that would cause us to fall to our knees laughing, holding our sides, gasping for breath. Comedic waterboarding, of a sort.

I hope not. I nearly cracked a rib the last time that my brother got me laughing that hard.

In future, it would be advisable not to presume we aren't following current events. :)

Do you think that we don't know what those words mean, Kick? Heh.

Not everything is about you, Elizabeth; let that sink in, please and allow yourself to get over your obvious obsession with the policing of terms used by others and your apparent delusional belief that commenters are posting for your approval and/or should be posting to suit your knowledge of facts. In short: Get over yourself. :)

Thank you for the links from our previous discussion. That kid is wise beyond his years, and I cannot unhear that "loophole" song and now henceforth have an entirely different outlook on something that previously did not exist. *grin*

Yes, that is precisely what Russ was talking about, Kick. We don't have to ask anyone. Heh.

Rewatched Chris Wallace’s interview of Putin today. It struck me as kind of funny when Wallace offered Putin a copy of Mueller’s indictment of the twelve Russian agents, Putin kind of froze and refused to take the documents. Then he had Wallace set it on a table next to him instead.

I know, right!? The look on Putin's face... prime examples of "consciousness of guilt" and "expectation of reciprocity" on full display.

All I could think was, “That’s a man who knows firsthand that poison can be placed on ANYTHING that you touch!”

Yes, sir... as well as Novichok -- "newcomer" -- the newest class of nerve agents. Ask Britain.

Do you think that we don't know what those words mean, Kick? Heh.

...hing.

:D

Ahhhh..

So, Odumbo was SOOO awesome, he knew all about her, but did not...

So, once again, Odumbo knew ALL about the Russians working to subvert the US, but did nothing because...??? He had a golf game??

Is THAT your story??? :D

Only a traitor would side with Russia over our intelligence agencies. Michale, whose side are you on - Russia or the U.S.A.?

Apparently, Odumbo was on Russia's side.. Now we learn he KNEW about ANOTHER Russian Op and did nothing..

Yeah, interesting isn't it - the last week wasn't a good one for Russian Intelligence - they are getting some sharp lessons in the quality of U.S. counter intelligence.

Only a traitor would side with Russia over our intelligence agencies. Michale, whose side are you on - Russia or the U.S.A.?

They only picked her up when she looked like she was trying to leave the country. I assume keeping an eye on her and seeing who the traitors in the NRA and Treasonous Trump's administration are made her our "useful idiot".

Hey, if Putin can use Treasonous Trump, we can use Maria Butina. Fairs fair.

This doesn't work in her best interests, though; her swap might have to be delayed until someone is caught that the west values as much as Russia seems to value her.

And yet, Obama is blameless...

Why is that???

The NRA is NOT a government organization..

Obama's administration (ostensibly) was... Why didn't they catch her??

Incompetence?? Or maybe, like Odumbo not doing anything about Russian hacking or like Odumbo, begging Putin for "space" and then Odumbo could be "flexible", it's Democrats who were colluding with Russians..

She is a spy.. But when she was talking to Odumbo and his minions, no one says boo... I guess a Russian spy talking to Democrats is perfectly acceptable, eh??

That among his entourage was a now-identified Russian spy being introduced to a senior US banking official, long-time Washington insider, and highly-placed globalist (read his bio) over three years ago does speak to how deep were the Russians' plans for this particular spy.

No doubt this story goes much deeper, it'll probably explain old Ollie North being asked to do another encore of his best roll of patsy as the newly appointed head of the NRA, it has certainly explained why the NRA no longer has to give detailed records of its contributors under a new, very quietly passed law of the GOP's making.

Funny how you hysterical Lefties are so.. well.. hysterical when a Russian tries to build relationships with the NRA...

Exclusive: Accused Russian agent Butina met with U.S. Treasury, Fed officials

The meetings were documented in a Center for the National Interest report seen by Reuters that outlined its Russia-related activities from 2013 to 2015. The report described the meetings as helping bring together “leading figures from the financial institutions of the United States and Russia.”
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-russia-butina-exclusive/exclusive-accused-russian-agent-butina-met-with-u-s-treasury-fed-officials-idUKKBN1KC0DE

Of course, ya'all don't care one whit when that SAME EXACT Russian tries to build relationships with Odumbo officials..

Blatant rampant hypocrisy.. It's a wonder the Left can remain coherent.. Oh, that's right. They can't... :^/

Cue indignant whinings and mewlings of "Well!! That's different!!!".... in 3... 2.... 1...

with that in mind, i'm going to quote leviticus 19, verses 33-34:

And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong. The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

to honor the solemn occasion, my wife and I are donating to help bring together families that our government has unjustly separated. we invite anyone else who feels like it to do the same.

https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/families-together-fund

All I could think was, “That’s a man who knows firsthand that poison can be placed on ANYTHING that you touch!”

Still points to a pattern of behavior of Trump consistently putting Russian interests ahead of and before American interests, something an American President should never be doing.

Yes, but please also factor in that it's primarily an exercise and/or pattern of behavior wherein Trump consistently puts Trump's interests ahead of everything else, including Russia's interest, and can/will turn on a dime and keep turning depending on what crowd he is speaking with and what day it is. Trump treats each day as if it's one unit wherein he will say what it takes to "win" that day. Tomorrow begins entirely anew wherein it is another day he must "win." He says whatever he believes he needs to say to "win" regardless of its validity... lather, rinse, repeat... daily.

The overriding issue above all else is: Trump's "consciousness of guilt." He knows what he's done and that the kompromat -- compromising material -- exists in the sistema... the system. The way the sistema operates isn't necessarily one video held by one man in Russia FKA the USSR. The sistema operates whereby everyone you've ever done business with over decades knows what you've done and can rat you out at any time and make your life a living Hell.

So Trump lives with the consciousness of guilt of every unsavory sexual and/or criminal act he has performed while in Russia and while in the United States working with Russians. Whether it was done 30 years ago or 30 days ago matters not; the people he's done business with are all part of the "blackmail state" that is how business is done in Russia... the sistema.

Remember when Obama put sanctions on the Russians and Flynn had a few phone calls with Ambassador Kislyak and let him know not to retaliate that it would be smoothed over by the Trump administration? Remember when Sally Yates informed Don McGhan that Flynn was "compromised" because he spoke with the Russian Ambassador and then lied about doing so, which fact they could use to control Flynn? So Flynn was known to be "compromised" for those phone calls which could be used to Russia's advantage.

Now multiply Flynn's type compromise by decades of acts by Trump where he is therefore "compromised" because he lives daily with the knowledge of decades of behavior and acts and his consciousness of guilt. Trump is going to always look out for Trump first and foremost, which means he is a compromised President of the United States who has no choice but to dance at the end of Putin's strings in order to look out for Trump... decades of kompromat. Trump is literally Putin's bitch... but not just Putin; there are any number of persons Trump has done business with in sistema who could harm Trump in multiple ways.

Kompromat 101