Midterms are in Putin's crosshairs, ex-spy chief says

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Not content with installing Donald Trump in the White House in 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin is now revising his sophisticated meddling operation in order to outflank U.S. security agencies and tip the scales in the upcoming congressional midterm races, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told POLITICO on Wednesday.

Clapper made that assertion as part of a wide-ranging interview timed with the release of his memoirs about his 50-plus years in the U.S. intelligence community, “Facts and Fears: Hard Truths From a Life in Intelligence,” which he wrote with Trey Brown.

Clapper, 77, says he thinks the Kremlin, led personally by Putin, is already engaged in an ongoing and active influence effort that is even more elaborate than the one he believes was used during the 2016 campaign to swing the election. That’s based on his years of government service at the highest echelons of the security apparatus, he said in the interview, as well as information he has learned since leaving office Jan. 20, 2017, the day Trump was sworn in as president.

“I have no doubt that they are doing that now, and I think they’re going to do it in ways that are more subtle and harder to detect,” Clapper said of the Russian meddling effort. “I’m sure they went to school to critique what they did in the presidential election in 2016. I think they will find more ways to be subtle, and be a lot less noisy than they were the last time.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/23/midterms-putin-russia-meddling-606330

[blue-wave]

1. We let our guard down in 2016

Hopefully our intelligence agencies are on top of it this time. One thing that will surely cure a lot of election meddling is sending a number of the culprits to the slammer. And the Americans who are guilty, charges and convictions of treason.

[BlueWI]

2. This book is on my list to read.

Stay informed, spread the word, and organize!!

[dalton99a]

3. Kick

[BigmanPigman]

4. Nothing has changed between Nov 2016 and now.

The Russians are still up to their dirty tricks, social media is still spreading lies, the media is still going after ratings, the Kochs, Mercers and the other $$$$ pals are "donating" to campaigns, and the fans/cult are still drinking the kool aid. We have to get the vote out and donate in small sums to Dems in local elections and volunteer if possible. RESIST!

[not fooled]

5. And they sure aren't gonna

support dems. Draw your own conclusions.

By the way, I hate it when putin's extensive and major actions are referred to by the trivial-sounding term "meddling." Call it what it is--interference or outright attempted subversion of our electoral process. Not that the kook brothers and rotting sack of flesh shelly weren't doing the same thing, too.

[Initech]

6. The one we really need to worry about is my state.

After all we're the home of Putin's favorite congressmen - Rorhabacher and Nunes. The GOP has been trying to flip California for years, and with Putin's help they might get their wish.

[C Moon]

8. Yep. We have a gubernatorial election this year.

I'm still thinking we're going to start seeing very convincing altered videos soon. Even Obama warned us about them.
We may begin seeing them real soon. And in the early stages (before anyone knows what hit them), these will rock the world.

[GusBob]

7. He has proven to be way ahead of the curve

He caught us flat footed last time and won a huge battle in the war against western democracy.

For awhile I thought he would rest on his laurels and enjoy the riches and power. But it appears to me now he has got us on the ropes and could put us down for the count. Trumps authoritarianism will never match Putins. But his mistakes with Iran, NK and China, along with the complete decimation of experienced personal in the State Dept have proven to be beneficial to Russia. He may have to protect his asset and could establish the US as his de facto colony for the next decade.

I think the next battlefield will be over the wealth and natural resources in Africa. With his shithole country comments Trump has helped them there.

Trump has also weakened our relationship with all our allies

Time to face facts: China and Russia will be the only 2 world superpowers thanks to Trump

[C Moon]

9. And watching Guliania in the past few weeks...

I think the attack is going to be feeding lies to the media, to bury the real issues.

[SergeStorms]

10. The misinformation and deflection....

is already showing up in the poll numbers. They show that Americans are losing interest in the Russia investigation. Or is it that the Russians are convincing Americans that they're losing interest?

If there isn't a solid 'Blue Wave' this November, we'll know for sure. We could certainly use some blockbuster news from Mueller and his team of investigators. And Trump's obstruction must be stopped, although I don't see Trump letting up no matter what comes out of the Mueller investigation. He doesn't care if the entire government collapses, just as long as he can save himself from any criminal prosecution. Trump is - without a single doubt - the most self-centered person on the face of the earth. There isn't a quark's worth of integrity in Trump's entire body.

[C Moon]

12. +1

[BamaRefugee]

11. They've had 2 more years to perfect hacking our voting machines

Do you really think they’re going to waste time on social media now, which will be under intense scrutiny, when they can adjust the vote counts themselves?