We are experiencing something that we have never seen before.

[kentuck]

There is no roadmap to follow.

The GOP has become, wittingly or unwittingly, an agent for the Russian government. FOX News is the propaganda arm of the same treasonous and dastardly conspirators.

There is no precedence to follow. We are making our own trails with this investigation.

We cannot paint GOP voters as traitors. They are nothing more than sheep that have been led to slaughter. They were simply brainwashed by FOX News and other propagandists.

We cannot permit ourselves to become fearful or paranoid. We must continue to uncover this story until our democracy is transparent. We have no other choice.

[malaise]

1. Power by any means

They are ReTHUGS

[calimary]

60. Welcome to DU, SaveToSay!

Yes indeed we HAVE to
A) keep the pressure on
B) grow the momentum that started with the Women's March
and
C) MAKE DAMN SURE WE ALL VOTE IN THE MIDTERMS - NEXT YEAR! (And of course, vote D.)

[Cosmocat]

2. November 2017 & 2018

Will say A LOT about this country.

[kentuck]

4. We can't wait that long.

Unfortunately.

[ewagner]

24. True...and...

The investigation needs to be pursued vigorously. We need to keep "nipping at their heels" to keep them off balance and maybe (just maybe) keep them from causing more damage by keeping them busy.

AND...

our next best chance to turn the tide in Congress is 2018...and we need to start working on that NOW!!!

[lagomorph777]

40. We have to kick them when they're down. HARD.

Shrink the GOP small enough to drown them in a bathtub.

[The Wizard]

43. When the enemy is down

put your heel on its neck and rotate.

[lagomorph777]

44. I haven't had SEAL training so I'll defer to your recommendations on technique.

[Buckeyeblue]

3. What is the attraction to Russia

I agree that something is up. My question is this: what is the attraction? Russia is a mess. It has oil but it's hard to get to. Other than that, it really has no other resources of interests. That's always been its problem. Nothing to offer. If I'm wrong about this please let me know.

[kentuck]

6. It is about Trump's lifeline - Putin and the Russian bankers.

That have been laundering money thru the Deutsche Bank, which is the only bank that would lend to Donald Trump for his business dealings. The new Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, was the VP of the bank in Cyprus that approved the loans for Trump.

Trump knows that Vladimir Putin could pull the strings on this Russia money laundering operation in Cyprus and that is why Trump will never say an unkind word about Putin until he is free of the debt.

[Buckeyeblue]

7. Agree that Trump financing is shady

But what does the rest of the Repugs that aligned with 45 have to gain. I get most things are about money. Is this just a case of a bunch of people that have had their hand in the cookie jar trying to cover it up?

[progressoid]

10. I think a lot of the Repubs are afraid to piss of the Trump voters.

And they don't want to make this a big deal. It will consume Washington and they won't be able to get their draconian laws passed.

[not fooled]

15. The Congressional puke leaders are using dump to facilitate passage of legislation they want (badly)

As for the Russia entanglement, my understanding is that the oligarchs/gangsters lent dump lots of money when no one else would. In return for that and for helping to throw the election to him, they want the sanctions Obama and others imposed on Russia and the Ukraine for the invasion of Crimea lifted, so that they can sell their oil on the world market. Tillerson, Ross, etc. were installed to help facilitate the movement of oil and money.

There is also evidence that the proceeds from the recent privatization of part of Rosneft, the Russian national oil co.--a huge sum--might sooner or later make its way into dump's hands.

Broadly speaking, having their puppet in the White House also will facilitate further territorial aggression by Russia and the weakening of western-style democracies, to be replaced by more authoritarian regimes which Putin prefers.

Any Russia experts please feel free to correct me.

[Texin]

38. Exactly.

They're using the orange shitgibbon for as long as he's useful to them and then they'll throw him to the wolves. He's providing useful cover for their draconian economic and social plans. Until - and if - they are able to nail down everything they want to, from gutting healthcare, to slashing public education, Social Security and Medicare, and ensuring that only the gerrymandered white, male voters will be able to exercise his vote, their work won't be considered "done".

I expect that Bannon is sitting around the West Wing plotting a false flag operation to be executed as immediately as practicable. Look for it and recognize it for what it is when it happens. That'll be this administration's 9-11 and will guarantee a lock on the WH for the next eight years.

[LiberalLovinLug]

69. You are spot on

[Blue_Roses]

52. Well said

and thanks! You clarified what I have been wondering--how this whole thing adds up. There are so many details and players, it's easy to get lost.

[Sherman A1]

8. He is up to his backside in something

What you describe is a very likely scenario, but there may be much more.

[kentuck]

9. I'm sure.

The Russian that bought Trump's palace in Florida for $95 million dollars also banks at the same bank in Cyprus.

[bettyellen]

47. And the Cyprus bank hired the man disgraced in the Deutsch Bank scandal....

So it looks like everyone at Cyrus Bank is plenty shady.

[The Wizard]

45. And Putin has the 18 minute

piss video.

[Enoki33]

49. I think it was Nancy Pelosi that said Trump now seems

to be debt free. If that is indeed so, then the money trail becomes even more important as from all reports Trump does not have the level of liquidity that could pay $500M to his biggest creditor.

[FakeNoose]

50. Trump's casinos - also laundered Russian money

I'm sure the Feds are already onto this, because there have been lots of leaks in the press already. Trump's casino in NJ (maybe elsewhere too) for a long time accepted money from shady Russian "mafia" types and paid them back as winnings from the casino games. So that's exchanging dirty money for clean, and it allowed the Russians access to the American economy. Once they had clean money they could buy US property, stocks & bonds, etc. There are plenty of other deals involving the gas & oil companies doing business in Russia, but I'm not sure if those involve Trump directly. Mostly it's Trump's billionaire buddies that are implicated.

[uponit7771]

18. There is tons of money in very few hands

[hatrack]

19. For the GOP establishment, it's moneymoneymoneymoneymoney (of course) . . .

For the knuckle-draggers who voted for President Shitstain, it's that:

1. They have authoritarian leadership, which his voters crave;
2. They're white (unlike the Kenyan Usurper);
3. They kill lotsa Terra-Ists (along with their own people, but you can't make a souffle without breaking a few eggs, y'know).

[Bettie]

20. The attraction to Russia is simple

the rich in Russia are doing fine, no one cares about the rest of the people.

That is their vision for this country, a small wealthy class and a vast "worker" class to be exploited at their whim.

That is the dream of bottom feeders like Ryan and McConnell. I suspect that when people die they get little thrill of near-orgasmic pleasure.

[MaeScott]

22. Also how Russia uses white nationalism and religion

... to undermine and destabilize countries.

[Raster]

34. Ding! Winnah!

White nationalism and Religion...The Russian Orthodox Church is so deep in bed with Putin*, they're swappin' ecclesiastical spit!

These days when the KGB/FSB "detains" an anti-Putin person, they don't know whether to take him to Lubyanka or St. Basil's.

[kentuck]

35. Trump did embrace the KKK during the campaign.

That may have been a factor in the larger strategy?

[dchill]

62. He rejected NO ONE'S support.

And it worked. Apparently, it's still working, to a lesser degree.

[NewJeffCT]

23. OIL - follow the money

Aren't the oil fields in northern Russia worth upwards of $500 billion? A lot of them are racing to get a piece of that pie.

[ewagner]

25. $$$$$$$$$

That's all it's about $$$$$$

[kentuck]

28. Follow the money.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[lagomorph777]

41. also gold and diamonds.

and according to Putin, the best hookers in the world.

[King_Klonopin]

66. I think we need to start thinking in terms of organized-crime which is GLOBAL in reach.

These are not National Governments anymore. Russia is now governed by
"oligarchs" -- which is a nice euphemism for gangsters -- and Putin is the
Capo d' Tutti.

The GOP, which now controls all branches of our government, has been a party of
global organized crime since Reagan was president. They have two goals: seize
power by any means (lie, cheat, steal, enlist the help of a foreign enemy, etc.) and
use that power to "redistribute" the wealth of the world from the civilian suckers by
underhanded means. Government sanctioned theft, which is genius in its scale. The
two crime families now want to rule the world and divide the spoils.

Putin and Trump are the heads of these crime families -- think in terms of the mafia,
The Godfather, and The Sopranos.

Trump is the perfect "useful idiot" for the Russian boss who plays Trump like a Steinway
piano. Trump and the American oligarchs get a piece of the oil action in Russia, and Trump
has his debt forgiven IF he lifts sanctions and plays ball with Russia (i.e. cow tows).
Of course, this is treasonous to the interests of our country, but these are gangsters who
don't give a shit about anyone's interest except their own. AND, if Trump doesn't play along,
then what will be the consequence ? Who holds the strings ?

Trump is too conceited, stupid and narcissistic to see that he is Fredo Corleone and Putin
is Hyman Roth in this analogy. All he cares about is "There's something in it for ME!"
Doing the right thing for America or Russia is not even on their agendas.

The presidential candidate of the Republican party, along with a cast of many (Flynn,
Manafort, Tillerson, Sessions, et al), has probably colluded with a foreign leader -- one
who has murdered and imprisoned his political opponents (i.e "put out contracts&quot --
in order to steal the election of 2016. The voters have become so apathetic, jaded, and
blinded by party loyalty and hatred for the other party that they may allow this travesty
to go unpunished. It is appalling and traitorous for the GOP to obstruct justice on this matter.

[Buckeyeblue]

70. Interesting take

I don't disagree with you. What you say makes sense in that it is hard to define what Russia is now. They used to be the communist monster but now they are what? Crime family seems to be the best definition. I wonder if that is the natural progression from the communist state? I think 45 is in way over his head. Which might be what ultimately saves the country.

[kentuck]

71. You are right!

These are criminal enterprises.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

5. no road map but hopefully a moral compass. nt

[boston bean]

11. When those voters in the face of it still consider democrats the enemy they are a problem.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Yep - kentuck totally made excuses for them

I didn't vote for him BB - and I PAID attention in July, August, September, November - I didn't vote for him.

Those voters made an ACTIVE CHOICE. They made it - they should be shunned.

[lillypaddle]

12. This story is terrifying

Our country has been infiltrated with Russian spies - including the President of the US. And even more terrifying is how easy it was for them to do.

Thank god for having systems in place. Now we must excise this cancer post haste.

[lindysalsagal]

13. This is not new: the senate knows: It took fRump's bungling to expose it to us.

The senate is not innocent. They follow the money, period.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. There's gonna be a real tea party

and the committees of correspondence are here on the internet.

[Submariner]

16. Rapist-in-Chief is so-called president

and is Putin's bitch. Demand Special Prosecutor.

[Hortensis]

17. Self-brainwashed!

As Lincoln supposedly said, "Some can be fooled all the time."

A young me thought he meant through ignorance or genuine stupidity, but no. They can always be fooled because they insist on being told what they want to hear. This is precisely why they are so dangerous.

[Nitram]

21. If the GOP continues to stonewall investigations we certainly can paint them as traitors!

Until we get rid of Sessions and start an independent investigation, we will never find out the truth.

[lapfog_1]

26. We cannot paint GOP voters as traitors.

at the end of ww2 we made the local citizens near the concentration camps come out and bury the bodies of the murdered victims and witness the condition of the camp survivors.

Everyday Germans... that allowed Hitler to come to power.

[kentuck]

27. Here is a link that will help explain a lot:

Take the time to read it when you get a chance.

https://www.dcreport.org/wilbur-ross-comes-to-d-c-with-a-long-and-profitable-history-of-russian-connections/?preview_id=944

[2naSalit]

61. Not there anymore...

error 404.

[kentuck]

72. Sorry. It was still up when I posted.

It was full of info.

[2naSalit]

73. Hmm.

Oh well.

[FSogol]

29. True dat: "continue to uncover this story until our democracy is transparent."

[JustAnotherGen]

30. We - or you?

We cannot paint GOP voters as traitors. They are nothing more than sheep that have been led to slaughter. They were simply brainwashed by FOX News and other propagandists.

You just gave them their 'we didn't know' Out Clause.

I'm not going to do that. They made a conscious and proactive choice to Vote for Trump when he blatantly praised Putin prior to the election. They were not brain washed.

Stop that.

They KNEW.

We - well me? I'm not with 'them'. I won't be bullied by any allies into the left to 'go along to get along' like the Left did with the Iraq war.

I did not vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004.
I knew there were no WMDS
I went with my parents to the March against the War in Iraq.
I did not vote for Trump.

This is the problem of the people who voted for him.

[kentuck]

32. I was speaking from the proverbial "we"...

Just my opinion.

But you can handle it any way you wish. This is a huge story and it needs no promotion. It stands on its own.

I just happen to think we should not be dividing the country anymore than it already is at this very critical time.

[FakeNoose]

53. We didn't vote for Trump ...

... but this is OUR problem too. It's all of ours because we're the ones dealing with it.

Elections have consequences, as POTUS44 would like to remind us.

[NastyRiffraff]

57. Everything in me wants to say the same thing

about the idiots who voted for a bigot and a blowhard. I've said it myself.

But...

This is an emergency. We need all hands on deck, as many as will work with us. Yes, some Dump voters are unreachable. All of them, as you say, made a conscious choice. Some of them now (belatedly) regret that choice. It's very easy to tell them to go to hell because they made a horrible mistake and put the whole country at risk. And I'll be happy to tell those who STILL defend the indefensible to take a fast trip to the very hot place.

[workinclasszero]

36. Republicans have sold out American freedom and democracy

They conspired with a foreign dictator for political power.

This country is in crisis and we are a hairsbreadth away from a fascist dictatorship.

Full stop, no BS. If a few Republicans don't step up and start investigating these traitors this country may well be doomed and we will never have another free election not compromised by the Kremlin.

[Sunlei]

37. yes, Republican party colluded with a foreign government & backed a criminal for president.

[byronius]

39. Well spoken.

[Hamlette]

42. we have never seen this but there is something to follow, the law.

there are several potential legal violations here. Nixon's misdeeds were unprecedented. And it was the GOP that convinced him to resign. Took a couple of years but the system worked on what was arguably a smaller crime.

Remember Bill Clinton's quote: "There is nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America".

[dae]

46. Oh they are willing!

[hunter]

48. Putin is the greatest gangster in human history. Trump and the Republicans were no match for him.

Putin knows their dirtiest secrets and they've got nothing on him.

[King_Klonopin]

67. I agree 100% ; see my post #66 nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

51. We cannot paint GOP voters as traitors....

But we can paint them as stupid, racist, anti-science, incapable of long-term thinking, comfortable with illogic, asshairs.

[Va Lefty]

54. and blatant disregard of the Constitution when it does not advance their agenda

[cilla4progress]

55. Putin makes sure Russia's economy is

Doing well enough to stifle his opposition in Russia.

You don't need money if all your debt is forgiven.

What would the tax returns tell us?

[KittyWampus]

56. The white supremacists sure as hell knew what was happening. Some helped hack Democrats.

[ancianita]

58. It took two years for the Watergate investigation to reveal a picture that caused Nixon to resign.

That is one precedent. No, you can't nail me because there's no complete one-to-one correspondence of events, but the larger picture is opening up in such a way that a case is being made.

Many of the GOP were unwitting back in Nixon's day, as well. But they learned a lot from that time.

[JI7]

63. His voters are Racists and would Vote for a Bigot like Putin over Clinton and most Dems

[iluvtennis]

65. yep, profiling ppl by their names and what they look like. Wonder of they would detain a white guy.

[dchill]

64. The GOP and Fox News...

make RT look like amateurs.

[shireen]

68. GOP voters who voted for that jerk ...

i dont think they know they're in the slaughterhouse.