tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post323996187742682995..comments2024-02-14T11:00:03.180-05:00Comments on Tom McLaughlin: Pardon Edward SnowdenTom McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-26376390328630606522018-02-12T19:25:48.377-05:002018-02-12T19:25:48.377-05:00I can see now why Tom usually avoids trying to def...I can see now why Tom usually avoids trying to defend his columns with some "I'm busy trying to write my book" nonsense, because when he does give it a try, like in this case, he falls so flat.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-10301914824532514502018-02-12T09:30:34.628-05:002018-02-12T09:30:34.628-05:00It looks as though Trump has also given up trying ...It looks as though Trump has also given up trying to defend himself fairly and/or rationally, now forced to pretend he can't release the democrat's memo for the very same reasons he ignored to release the Republican's! <br /><br />Fun also seeing him add on to the cretinous people he defends (Aw, poor Porter is sad now) Wife beaters now joins child rapists, murderous despots, and sexual assaulters. Any words of empathy or comfort to the victims of domestic violence? Nope. Sick fat bastard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-14522896938469945242018-02-11T16:51:40.488-05:002018-02-11T16:51:40.488-05:00I think Tom has finally surrendered to facts, comm...I think Tom has finally surrendered to facts, common sense and decency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-94334565700892722018-02-10T21:05:30.018-05:002018-02-10T21:05:30.018-05:00There were a couple of great letters to the Boston...There were a couple of great letters to the Boston Globe on this subject. They speak better than me, so I would copy and paste the whole thing, but I have just the real "paper", and I'm too lazy to retype it all. One was from a school principal who had a great take on "taking sides". He talked of having a discussion with a family going through a bitter divorce, and the father accusing the principal of taking the side of the mother, and how he thought schools shouldn't take sides. The response was "That's false. We always take sides - we are on the side of the child." Republicans are trying desperately to claim Mueller is taking the side of "Anti-Trumpers", because they fear what he many find, or already knows. Mueller IS taking a side. The side of the Constitution and the rule of law, as he should. If that seems "unfair" to anybody that has something to hide about Russia, or the ones already swept up in the investigation (Flynn, Manafort,etc), then they can cry and whine in vain.<br /><br /><br />The other letter brings up the "outright refusal, obscured by the smokescreen of the Nunes memo, to enforce sanctions against Russia that were almost unanimously passed by Congress (98-2 in the Senate, 419-3 in the House). it ends in saying : "Whether or not Trump has betrayed his own countrymen in dealings with Russia, failure to enforce the sanctions passed by Congress (and that he himself signed) is a dereliction of duty.<br /><br />Imagine the furor and over the top anger there would have been from the far right had Obama ignored sanctions on some Muslim country! No one can doubt that. So, once again, this should not be a partisan issue. This is a protect our country issue.<br /><br />Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-34761209770109014662018-02-10T15:29:59.466-05:002018-02-10T15:29:59.466-05:00If Strzok came out now, after the investigation ha...If Strzok came out now, after the investigation has already uncovered what it has, and said he still thinks is gut feeling was right, then it would be worth your mentioning. But now he wouldn't, and couldn't, make that statement because some "there" has already happened - many lies about secret meetings and of course the charges and indictments. And Mueller hasn't even interviewed Trump yet. I wonder if you were one of the people defending Nixon a year into the Watergate investigation. Or was that back in your liberal days, before you lost your heart, soul senses?Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-2483272505674449902018-02-10T14:35:50.823-05:002018-02-10T14:35:50.823-05:00When you have to try and make a big deal out of th...When you have to try and make a big deal out of this guy making a comment PRIOR to joining the investigation, then it seems you are on weak ground. What stock should be given to a "gut sense" of one man before investigating?<br /><br />You can "So what?" the dossiers verified information if you want. But I don't see why you wouldn't care about Page holding secret meetings in Moscow with Igor Sechin, a Putin ally who is the head of Rosneft, and vehemently lying about the meeting. I don't see why you wouldn't care that a hostile nation would use cyber attacks to spread misinformation campaigns during our election. These things, despite your denials, ARE verified. And you still haven't explained why it matters who compiled the dossier. You haven't explained why you think whether it is true or not is not what is really important. <br /><br />If it makes you feel better to pretend that this is all just some "ruse", then go ahead. But what it seems to most of the world is that it is a much needed check into Russia's involvement. Yes, Trump won. Maybe because of Russia's meddling or because of the FBI's releases just prior to the election, we will never know. So yes, we are all dealing with it now, unfortunately. Now you need to deal with the fact that part of dealing with it is a legitimate, well run investigation, and prepare yourself for what may come, good or bad, without excuses and conspiracy theories. Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-75541200373010649382018-02-10T10:24:35.858-05:002018-02-10T10:24:35.858-05:00You're trying to have it both ways with Strzok...You're trying to have it both ways with Strzok's texts. His original texts critical of Trump were proof to Republicans the investigation was a partisan conspiracy, but now his texts critical of the investigation are also proof of a partisan conspiracy. It makes you look like you're grasping at anything to make your case. <br /><br />But my larger point, is you’re running out of institutions to believe in. You can’t trust the media. You can’t trust academia. You can’t trust science. Now you can’t trust the department of justice and the FBI. I posted this, with some revisions, a few months back. This link shows the party composition of every Congress going back to 1855 through 2017. https://www.infoplease.com/history-and-government/us-government/composition-congress-political-party-1855-2017 From the 97th congress through the current 115th congress – excluding Independents – we elected 943 Democratic Senators, 943 Republican Senators, 4364 Democratic Representatives and 3993 Republican Representatives. When you also factor in current Republican control of state legislatures and Governorships, the trend clearly favors Republicans. Given the party composition of government over the last four decades, do you really think these ubiquitous institutions are populated with millions upon millions of political vigilantes conspiring within their ranks to hamstring Republicans and advance Democrats, or is it possible the conservative opinion media found a profitable and winning narrative in the victimhood card that everyone is conspiring against Republicans. The numbers just don't support the paranoia that all the the levers of power and influence are flipped against Republicans.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343163377040116742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-65713812983026890912018-02-10T10:17:24.405-05:002018-02-10T10:17:24.405-05:00Depends on who you believe, of course.
Doj/FBI cor...Depends on who you believe, of course.<br />Doj/FBI corruption roads lead to one destination. <br />http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2018/02/09/tom-del-beccaro-corrupt-doj-fbi-roads-lead-obama/<br />SOMEBODY'S speaking with forked tongue!<br />http://granitegrok.com/blog/2018/02/obamas-snaking-trail-treason-scandal<br />CaptDMOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-6525176991631103142018-02-09T17:28:51.132-05:002018-02-09T17:28:51.132-05:00I already told you about the wrong Michael Cohen. ...I already told you about the wrong Michael Cohen. Trump's' attorney Cohen was at USC with his son on the date in question.<br /><br />As for what you say is verified, so what? Page was in the petroleum business. Trump is doing business all over the world. The rest of the dossier is second and third-hand information that cannot be verified or disproven. It's garbage, which is why no media outlet would touch it until Buzzfeed published it, saying it was unverified. It still is.<br /><br />And it wasn't "some dude." it was the FBI's lead investigator.<br /><br />And it matters who paid for it. Democrats tried to hide that using a law firm who then used a straw. The FBI itself offered to pay for it. Director Comey said it's all unverified. Give up on the collusion stuff. Mueller has.<br /><br />The FBI was duped. It's all a ruse to get Trump out of office and it's not going to work. He won. Deal with it.Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-43209368315343036332018-02-09T16:15:08.319-05:002018-02-09T16:15:08.319-05:00Holy smokes, this is frustrating. i already DID t...Holy smokes, this is frustrating. i already DID tell you what. Let me cut and paste my own comment you should have already read:<br /><br />Verified: Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page met with representatives of Russian state-owned oil giant Rosneft.<br /><br />Verified: The Kremlin targeted educated youth and swing state voters during its cyber attacks in the 2016 campaign. <br /><br />Verified: Trump maintains ties to rich businessmen from Azerbaijan.<br /><br />Now you tell me what has been disproved. You tried once and I pointed out that it wasn't proof.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-13870475634247640812018-02-09T13:22:56.958-05:002018-02-09T13:22:56.958-05:00"Much has been proven to be fact"? Pleas..."Much has been proven to be fact"? Please tell me what.<br /><br />I'm with O'Neill on the parade.Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-12483461655740718132018-02-09T11:43:06.770-05:002018-02-09T11:43:06.770-05:00 Aw, that unpatriotic, treasonous Navy Seal! Just... Aw, that unpatriotic, treasonous Navy Seal! Just let the big toddler have his shiny, ego-stroking parade so he can feel like a real dictator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-74070691502527183442018-02-09T11:32:40.432-05:002018-02-09T11:32:40.432-05:00The "corrupt FBI and DOJ"? If the Muell...The "corrupt FBI and DOJ"? If the Mueller investigation does uncover some, then fine, I would be glad it's caught if it exists. If not, such talk is just Trump-like excuse making. I read the dossier. Your "collusion" talk is smoke-blowing, excuse making hogwash. Again, who cares who paid for it? What everyone should care about is if it is true or not. Period. Much has been proven to be fact, the rest we are not sure about, but so far odds would indicate most of it probably is. I guess you can base your whole hunch about nothing being there on some random dude's comment (even though, as I pointed out, there has been a lot of "there" already proven and charged/indicted, so just cut the "nothing" BS)<br /><br />But it sounds like overall we are in agreement. Let the investigation take it's course and see all that is discovered. Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-27269886992048281182018-02-09T11:17:28.067-05:002018-02-09T11:17:28.067-05:00Let the Mueller investigation continue as long as ...Let the Mueller investigation continue as long as it goes where the facts lead, like to the Clinton Crime Family Foundation, a corrupt FBI and DOJ, to President Obama, Hillary Clinton, as well as whoever in the Trump campaign/administration may have been involved, but as Strzok said before he was removed: "There's no there there."<br /><br />The dossier is almost entirely demonstrative of Democrat collusion with Russia and you'd know that if you read it. They paid for it.Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-43157747980845966332018-02-09T10:52:18.602-05:002018-02-09T10:52:18.602-05:00The former Navy SEAL who fired the shot that kille...The former Navy SEAL who fired the shot that killed Osama bin Laden is blasting President Donald Trump's desire for a military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.<br /><br />"A military parade is third world bullsh--. We prepare. We deter. We fight. Stop this conversation," Robert O'Neill tweeted Thursday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-13746882158795105692018-02-08T21:28:00.642-05:002018-02-08T21:28:00.642-05:00From here on out there can be no "outrage&quo...From here on out there can be no "outrage" against a prolonged investigation from Trump defenders. At least until Trump is questioned by Mueller. Because we all know that is the only thing that will draw this thing near to a close. But the good news is that Trump might ignore the desperate pleas from his lawyers and advisees, who realize that Trump cannot not lie. There is no doubt that in a real interview, face to face, man to man, Trump couldn't control his pathological lying and perjuring himself if he was under oath. Will he try and squirrel out of being under oath, despite his promises? Who knows, whatever he thinks will get the highest TV ratings/whatever best strokes his ego. The state of the country is further removed from his mind. <br /><br />At this point The Donald has got me! This is going to be some interesting, real high ratings television coming up!! The true King of Reality Television!! It's got me more interested than the Game of Thrones finale.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-51138477824622754122018-02-08T18:54:20.505-05:002018-02-08T18:54:20.505-05:00Brian said "Trump is sounding more and more l...Brian said "Trump is sounding more and more like Kim Jon-un, Putin, and the rest of the dictators he wishes he were like."<br /><br />And now he wants a North Korea/little dictator country like military parade! Does he want them to train in high-stepping or goose-stepping too? Don't you just know that Trump so wishes he was a real dictator instead of just pretending to be one in this ultimate reality TV show of his.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-61010524809373228752018-02-08T16:22:11.381-05:002018-02-08T16:22:11.381-05:00As I outlined in an earlier post, The Obama admini...As I outlined in an earlier post, The Obama administration did not sit idle while Russia interfered in the election, as Trump makes it seem. (And as Trump himself is doing). The administration publicly named the Russian government as the culprit, confronted Putin in person, and worked to secure the country’s election infrastructure — all while the intelligence agencies investigated the issue. <br /><br />Claiming Obama acted simply to set up the Trump/Russia connections seems awful silly. What should he have done then, ignore it all? Of course not. Take even stronger actions? Would that have make the Trump/Russian connections go away. I'm not sure where you are coming from with this.<br /><br />What Trump is (not)doing is actually worse than nothing. He is ignoring mandatory sanctions, which is Constitutionally troubling. How are you ok with that?<br /><br />Anybody trying to claim there is "no there there" after the many, many lies about secret meetings with Russians from Trump's circle that have been revealed, along with the criminal charges and indictments that have already come, is just trying to blow smoke.<br /><br />Let the investigation continue no matter how Trump tries to obstruct and fire people, and we will find out what else is really there. Again, there is no way you would be trying to make the same defenses if it looked like Obama or Clinton were the ones in hot water. This should have nothing to do with partisan politics.<br /><br />Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-28879820323855127292018-02-08T14:17:35.730-05:002018-02-08T14:17:35.730-05:00Obama knew about Russian meddling for nearly a yea...Obama knew about Russian meddling for nearly a year but did nothing. When Trump won the election, however, he pretended to have a hissy fit over it -- but not until the transition when he was a lame duck. Obama did the things Peter described above only to set up the Trump/Russia collusion narrative which has dominated Trump's first year.<br /><br />Now, however, it's all blowing up. As wayward FBI agent Peter Strzok put it: "There's no there there." His girlfriend, FBI atty Lisa Page, said POTUS wants to know everything after Obama denied he ever asked anything about what DOJ or FBI were investigating.Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-46253095962555481532018-02-08T13:06:07.941-05:002018-02-08T13:06:07.941-05:00Our fit, 239 pound Liar-in-Chief?Our fit, 239 pound Liar-in-Chief?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-49353092436988969282018-02-08T10:57:23.331-05:002018-02-08T10:57:23.331-05:00How could Tom have been so naive to think that Oba...How could Tom have been so naive to think that Obama "did nothing"? Because he heard it on Fox? Because the Liar-in-Chief said it? He claims to listen to various news outlets, but listening and dismissing facts that don't fit what he wants to believe is a waste of time.<br /><br />And he has to understand that "opposition funded" is a meaningless red herring. I am not sure if Tom is one of the many gobbling up these red herrings, or worse yet, one of the hucksters throwing them out.<br /><br />He seems to have tried the lame argument that the tampering in our election is really no big deal because it has happened before. So has murder, should we just ignore it from now on because "it happens all the time"?<br /><br />Anyway, he seems to have given up his weak position.Anonymousenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-30869029064550964092018-02-08T07:34:48.496-05:002018-02-08T07:34:48.496-05:00Yes, I realize I accidentally said Mueller release...Yes, I realize I accidentally said Mueller released the letter than hurt Hillary, but the point remains the same with Coomey. There is no evidence of political bias in the FBI's investigation.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-30629747007924664812018-02-07T16:30:05.896-05:002018-02-07T16:30:05.896-05:00The courts have upheld the 25 million dollars Trum...The courts have upheld the 25 million dollars Trump must pay for being a dishonest scumbag who duped people into paying tuition to his Trump "University". Now he has moved on to duping over 40% of the population. Fool me once....Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-14727947747883644072018-02-07T15:46:35.546-05:002018-02-07T15:46:35.546-05:00I'm not sure what you mean about the "wro...I'm not sure what you mean about the "wrong" Cohen. The facts were that "Italy" was stamped in the "right" Cohen's passport at the "right" time.<br /><br />You say "Obama was informed of it and did nothing". The Obama administration learned in summer 2016 that election-related hacks could be traced back to the Russian government. Soon after, at the September G20 Summit in China, Obama personally confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin and told him to back off. Then-CIA Director John Brennan gave a similar warning to his Russian counterpart, Federal Security Bureau Director Alexander Bortnikov, during an August phone call. On Oct. 7, the Obama administration publicly identified Russia for the first time as being behind election-related hacks, issuing a joint statement from Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence.<br /><br />The Obama administration took its most significant actions against Russia after Nov. 8. In late December, Obama ordered 35 Russian diplomats and suspected intelligence agents to leave the United States, and he also imposed narrow sanctions on some Russian individuals and organizations.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Trump has ignored mandatory sanctions against Russia, and has cleared them in his mind of wrong-doing because Putin smiled at him and said he didn't do it. Who exactly is the one doing nothing? <br /><br />I'm sure that Mueller is investigating all angles, including Hillary. Keep in mind that it was Mueller who most likely cost Clinton the election with his last minute release of information. If they find her guilty it is perfectly fine by me though. I'm not a big fan. So let's just let Mueller do his job remembering that Nixon said in his one year state of the union that the investigation against him had gone on too long. <br /><br />Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045130020607684069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-43247244047249604532018-02-07T13:52:37.574-05:002018-02-07T13:52:37.574-05:00Anonymouse: Maybe he could have entered through It...Anonymouse: Maybe he could have entered through Italy which was stamped on his passport. However, Christopher Steele, or the Russians who were feeding him information, or both, had the wrong Michael Cohen. It wasn't the attorney working for Trump.<br /><br />Peter: Yes, Russians interfere with our elections and always have. Obama was informed of it and did nothing. Neither have other presidents that we know of. The United States has interfered with elections in foreign countries since early in the 20th century. Most recently, President Obama spent at least $60,000 of our tax money trying to prevent the reelection of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel.<br /><br />Let Meuller investigate Russian interference in our elections, but his charge, via Rosenstein, is to investigate Trump collusion with Russia against Hillary. He has some leeway to follow tangents as well. If he follows wherever the facts lead, he would have to include Russian collusion with the Hillary Clinton campaign against Trump. Russia/Clinton collusion is what comprises almost the entirety of the Steele dossier. I've read it. Have you?<br />Tom McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.com