What sort of kompromat does Putin have on McConnell and Ryan,

[MineralMan]

I wonder? Both appear to be deliberately trying to derail any serious investigation of collaboration between Trump, his people, and the Russians. They stand up and lie boldly in public and simply block any movement toward a real investigation. That, frankly, is uncharacteristic for the leadership of the Republican Party.

For those two to be, apparently, embracing the Russian's efforts to manipulate the United States can only lead to the conclusion that they have been compromised by the Russians, as Trump clearly has. Why this is not being recognized by other Republicans or, if recognized by them, ignored is very puzzling indeed.

When, I wonder, will we get to the bottom of this? I'm beginning to believe it will not happen until someone leaks a massive amount of information to media people who will not be intimidated into concealing it.

If, and when, all of this finally breaks, we're going to be in for a scandal-fest that will surpass any other in history.

[atreides1]

1. Follow the money!!!

[MineralMan]

3. Normally, yes. However, in this case, I think

it's something else. I think the Russians have compromising info on those two, and probably others, and are using that to control them. What that information is I do not know. I can think of possibilities, though.

[mackdaddy]

15. Palmer report had a good "rumor/leak" level report on McConnell/Ryan and Russian $

Not giving this story rock solid credibility, but it would explain a lot on McConnell and Ryan's behavior in the Russian scandal.

If they were on tape discussion laundering Russian money through one of their Republican Super Pacs I think that they would be toast too.

http://www.palmerreport.com/politics/intel-community-chatter-paul-ryan-and-mitch-mcconnell-caught-red-handed-in-trump-russia-scandal/2333/

[panader0]

19. I think the money laundering/super pacs is the most likely.

[Eyeball_Kid]

25. Yes. Ryan reportedly has been recorded arranging for Russian money to go into

campaign coffers.

Therefore, Ryan can and probably IS being blackmailed, if the reports are true.

[shraby]

2. I've held since the beginning that McConnell is involved. He knew when he refused to

hold hearings to appoint Obama's supreme court nomination.
I'm thinking now even before that when Obama couldn't get his judge nominations hearings for appointment, leaving the court system woefully understaffed.

[MineralMan]

5. This all needs to be investigated.

For how many decades did we listen to Republicans calling Russia the "enemy?" And now....almost overnight...they have no objections at all to what the Russians are doing. Too strange.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. I expect they have stuff on McConnell (and Chao)

(financial). Not sure about Ryan, although it may be that he's being manipulated by a different set of masters (Kochs).

[MineralMan]

6. I doubt if financial dirt would be adequate to force

either of them to do the obvious things they are doing. I'm betting it's something far more damning than that.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. If it's illegal financial dirt

they would certainly be wanting to suppress that - again at least in McConnell's case -

https://www.thenation.com/article/mitch-mcconnells-freighted-ties-shadowy-shipping-company/

Ryan seems to be so ego-driven that I think his actions are self-generated.

[njhoneybadger]

7. Could it be related to the Heritage Foundation?

[MineralMan]

11. Nah. They've been openly following the Heritage Foundation line

for many years. That's expected, and couldn't be used against them, really.

[njhoneybadger]

21. If the Heritage Foundation is involved with Russia through the Mercers, ,devos ,ect.

It would be a great loss to the Republican party if the Heritage Foundation went down.I thought it was interesting that Demint left a few weeks ago.

[3_Limes]

8. It wasn't just the Dems who were hacked by Russia.

Pooty-poot has piles and piles of Repub emails in his bag of dirty tricks too. And we have no idea what may be in them...

[MineralMan]

13. Could be, but whatever it is, it would have to be

really, really scandalous.

[mopinko]

9. i think both would be easy marks for a honey trap.

for different reasons, but still, what powerful man doesnt fall for a little somethin on the side?

[MineralMan]

10. That's a possibility.

I wouldn't rule it out, but I think it would have to be more damning than just some hanky-panky with women for those two.

[mopinko]

22. dead woman or live boy.

or some kinky shit. i agree, plain vanilla fooling around unlikely.
tho, add a pile of dirty money to the plot, and ??

[MineralMan]

23. Yes. It would have to be something shockingly unacceptable.

Something that nobody could accept from anyone in a leadership position. Boy or girl. It wouldn't matter, really.

[mopinko]

28. i dunno. the party of no homos allowed

might wish to keep that in the closet.

[MineralMan]

29. I really think that a sexual scandal is unlikely to be

the hold the Russians have over those two. I could be wrong, though.

[BSdetect]

14. LOTS

[MineralMan]

16. Probably. And LOTS of really bad stuff, too.

Something's there, I have no doubt. What it is, exactly, I don't know, though.

[Txbluedog]

17. I think Pedophilia is a possibility

I just can't see an affair with another consenting adult (non-gender specific on purpose) could be worth colluding in treason for; it really has to be something so heinous and unforgivable that they would want it hidden at all costs

[MineralMan]

18. That would do it, certainly.

But, are either of those two likely to have been guilty of such a thing? I don't know anything about either of those two having any such proclivities. On the other hand, I can easily imagine the Russians making such a thing possible as a temptation.

[Txbluedog]

20. These days teenagers look and dress like adults...

Maybe they fell for a honey-trap they thought was of legal age....

[MineralMan]

24. No. It would have to be someone too young to pass

as old enough. I'm not sure that a sexual scandal is the thing, though. I think it might be something other than that.

[workinclasszero]

26. Its beginning to look like the whole leadership of the republican party

is on Putin's payroll.

[MineralMan]

27. That's probably not necessary, really.

Republicans follow the line. They just do. That's their strength in some ways, but is a huge weakness if the line is completely the wrong way to go. The second situation is the one in play right now.

[workinclasszero]

30. Well they are following Trump

right into hell as we speak.

It reminds me of the nazi war criminals on trial at Nuremberg who's defense was "I was only following orders."

You know?