It’s easy to get overwhelmed because there is a truckload of it every single day.
My optimism got launched on 1/21 and it has not faltered because I believe in the American people. I had that belief all but explode on November 9, but Americans showed me that we are still worth believing in. We have not lain down and accepted this for one second - people of all kinds are fighting this administration with everything they can think of and it has been working.
We backed them off of repeal and replace and we can do it again. And again and again and again until we are rid of them.
Was at the camera focal point of full-bore media might as it existed in the early 70s.
Ms. Rice is a sidebar story in a digital maelstrom pushed by persons of interest in the larger scandal, arriving late in the cover-up phase and with Trump’s usual, half-witted lack of subtlety. Miss Marple with Alzheimer’s could figure this one out in a blink, media might take longer, a day or so to process blog commentary.
I guess I’m thinking mostly of the devastating Farhenholdt(sp?) series of articles, which in retrospect fell on a lot of deaf ears. My point is, I’ve become highly skeptical of our for-profit MSM and their ability to deal in objectve reality.
“Did you seek the names of people involved, to unmask the names of people involved in the Trump transition,"
Can someone can seek the names of people when the names of people are masked?
I thought by definition the masking meant the real names were NOT available for search.
If this is saying that one can request "all the surveillance that contains ", that would seem to undermine the whole purpose of masking in the first place. I would have expected the unmask requests to be per surveillance transcripts.
We figure it out - the media figures it out – but the GOP base exists in a different world, strategically targeted with propaganda through right wing media outlets. The majority of republicans still don’t believe there was any Russian interference in the election. I’ve tried to talk with some Trump true believers – they refuse to consider any facts that contradict their faith in him.
Or intentionally deafened ears. Trump might be an ape but he has that alpha ape control down pat.
Just now listening to Congressman Schiff hinting at new info he can’t mention, I’m guessing our Trump Committee henchperson isn’t bound by such scruples so as to facilitate WH planning and/or distracting tweets.
This is absolutely true it’s the problem we have and it started with Rush Limbaugh.
I don’t know what the answer to it is either. I have hopes that once this administration really blows up some of those people will stop ignoring reality. I think some will. Not all. But I remember how low Nixon went at the end of his disgrace.
Fahrenthold, Eichenwald, Corn… their pieces about Trump’s money, business and Russia should have dominated the narrative and instantly killed Trump’s not only campaign but also his entire public life as well.
Instead the best hit job against him turned out to be the Access Hollywood tape (not saying it wasn’t important, but it pales in comparison with his dealings with the dark world and a hostile foreign nation). And else they kept talking about Hillary’s emails.
So, my point – I see what you are saying and what keeps frustrating you…
At least Nixon knew how to run a government. And for the better part of 2 years Nixon thought he could lie and distract. But the pieces of his criminal coverup kept falling into place and the truth inevitably came out. He had a near limitless supply of toadies and defenders who saw a future in his administration. Trump will not have that luxury, he is lazy, disinterested, and a poor leader.
Yeah - Trump will find in the end that “there ain’t no window to slip out of, lights off nobody home.” He’s run over everyone who has gotten anywhere near him and it will all come back to help take him down because you can’t alienate the whole world and expect to have allies when you are in the shit.
The question I have is just why is it that when you investigate Russian oligarchs, mobsters, spies, and miscellaneous Russian hoodlums, they always seem to be talking to Trump folks?
A follow up question: Out of all the people to choose from, why did Trump pick so many people with ties to Russia for his campaign and/or government?
Indeed. . My opinion about this “double standard” is that the members of the press at some level know that the GOP is comprised of a whole lot of jerks. When they act like jerks, it’s no surprise, just jerks being jerks. Dem’s on the other hand are supposed to be conciliatory and civil, the adults in the room, and when they act otherwise, it’s news of note. Note the media freakouts at Tom Perez’ “GOP doesn’t give a shit” speech or the upcoming Gorsuch filibuster.
I sent those articles to both Trump + Stein supporters without adding any commentary, and the replies back were shocking. Not only did they not read them, they labelled the sources lies. I was told I didn’t respect them and so they could not talk to me anymore. Its was like a cult. I didn’t understand at the time that they’d been targeted by Russian trolls and subjected to brainwashing. I haven’t had any contact since with these people.
I’m disappointed she didn’t add that President Trump had every legal right and opportunity to vet his many appointees for their multiple embarrassing, and potentially illegal foreign entanglements. If he wanted to be assisted and represented by thoughtful, sensible, conservative civil servants who were free of embarrassing and potentially illegal foreign entanglements, he should have asked. President Obama retained and employed many such people.
Thanks. I’m basically a curmudgeon and I’m amazed Mrs. Von Holst puts up with me. I’m still spitting nails after what was done to Hillary. I’ll get over it…probably when my ashes are scattered, but maybe sooner.
Ok, so I’ve deleted my frustrated comment (along the lines of this was entirely foreseeable) and will focus on what will happen next and what Schiff and Ds ought to do.
First, Schiff has no option but to accept that:
Nunes will turn House IC into an investigation of Rice. ‘Susan Rice’ and ‘unmasking’ will function as the ‘Clinton’ and ‘Benghazi’ of the foreseeable future.
He’s been outmaneuvered, and Nunes and Trump have succeeded in framing the House investigation in Trump’s favor.
Nunes will now be backed to the hilt by the GOP and House IC will never fully investigate Trump and in fact will henceforth be a whitewashing operation.
There is now a real risk that the Senate IC investigation will focus on Rice.
Most importantly, that the GOP, including the President, no longer considers itself bound by the rule of law (including laws on leaking, conduct of House Committees). This has long been apparent but the Dems have been reluctant to mention it, for some reason.
That being the case, Schiff should pursue the following objectives: first, to disable the IC; second, and most importantly, to act in a way that corresponds to the democratic reality, ie, that we face a democratic emergency and that the whole system of House oversight has broken down because of GOP bad faith and lawlessness. If House cannot function, we actually HAVE a state of emergency. Make that the talking point, not Rice.
Finally, do not underestimate Schiff/Trump. They are idiots, but are malign and cunning and powerful.
This morning I re-read Jane Mayer’s New Yorker article about the evil Mercers. Probably why I am so overwhelmed this morning. They are developing sophisticated algorithms to target voters with specifically tailored propaganda. Once people get plugged into this stuff, its like a drug that feeds every latent bias and hatred they have.
It’s basic, ancient human hard-wiring…Dems are the oldest son, charged with the burdens of the crown, heavy penance for each closely watched sin.
Repukes, the wayward, half-forgotten middle or 2nd son, sins forever forgiven for the lost alleged favor of firstness.
We’ve lost the urgency of survival that demands exactness as we push outward and in that comfort we’ve become lost in the politics of a long over-used nest.
