How on earth could any sane person in the trump campaign allow this lunatic on the NSC? Their bar is set so low for qualifications… it really takes your breath away. The fact that the trump supporters are not outraged as as to Flynn’s ties to Russia illustrates how corrupt the republican party is now.
And that most republicans don’t care. It’s horrifying.
The same Republicans who, for 60 years, saw a Russian conspiracy behind everything, including fluoride in drinking water.
I think you’ve put your finger on the problem right there.
Those who aren’t deranged are profiting from the madness and lack of leadership.
John le Carré wouldn’t have thought about this story as a plot for one of his books. Flynn is just too damn incompetent to be the compromised former head of the DIA. I am not even sure Lee Child wouldn’t laugh at this as a plot for a Reacher novel. What a joke and Trump still supports this criminal.
Tangentially, a Facebook friend of my said it best just a few minutes ago.
Sally Yates is who Comey tries to portray himself as.
O Dear. Underlying conduct. Classified investigation underlying conduct. Classified investigation underlying conduct beyond the knowledge that National Security Advisor Flynn was compromised by Russians.
“Move on folks, nothing to see here.” from our R committee members is not going to fly this time.
The only Repub. who covered himself today was Sasse. Sasse knows that the shit is coming down.
Funny, I thought his underlying character (or the lack thereof) was the problem.
That’s exactly it. They are all either insane, corrupt or a combination of the two.
Peas in a pod and whatnot
If there was “truly a concern,” Spicer insisted in his daily briefing, the Obama administration should have suspended Flynn’s security clearance long ago.
Way to not call that out as bullshit TPM.
As I posted earlier this morning (h/t to mm201), here is one of the key grafs from retired military intelligence officer Jim Wright’s social media post:
A common response to this post, here and on Twitter, is: Yeah, but Obama “renewed” Flynn’s clearance in 2016!
No. Wrong.
After Trump won the election, Flynn became the incoming National Security Advisor. His clearance was already in JPAS. But he needed to do another background check (a NACI) because too much time had passed since his last periodic update (typically every 4 years, but for certain levels of access it can be more often).
Because he was the incoming National Security Advisor and because AT THAT TIME there was no reason not to grant him access, Flynn was given an INTERIM clearance so that he could do his job.
This is perfectly normal and a necessary part of the process for these kinds of situations. Without it, the government would grind to a stop. More: without an interim clearance, Flynn couldn’t have been briefed by the outgoing National Security Advisor – because when Susan Rice left office, her access was suspended because she had no longer a need to know, she was no longer a federal employee. There has to be some overlap. So, Flynn was given an interim clearance so he could be brought up to speed by Rice.
Flynn was granted interim clearance and access while he updated his security background check, which begins with him filling out an SF-86. Yes, this WAS done under the Obama Administration, but again at that point there was no reason not to.
So, Flynn has an interim clearance and he is now required to update his permanent clearance. And during that process, he failed to disclose foreign contacts.
THAT’S THE PROBLEM.
When that discrepancy came to light (by now, under the new administration), HIS ACCESS WAS REVOKED and his clearance suspended pending investigation.
At which point he was fired/resigned/what have you and now he NO LONGER HAS A NEED TO KNOW.
So, saying “Obama renewed Flynn’s clearance in 2016” is not only wrong, but demonstrates that the speaker has no idea of what he’s talking about.
What did Sasse say/do?
I am not sure Trump has an appreciation of the seriousness of Flynn’s crime. For Trump making a buck is more important that fulfilling your oath or being loyal to your nation.
He was on point about the Russians and the hacking. Pointed out that, if not addressed, the Russians could do the same thing to Republican candidates. He was the only Republican today who stayed on the subject of the Russians. Sasse didn’t say one wo4rd about “unmasking” or “leaking.”
Don’t get me wrong - he’s still a Teabagging Douche, but he stayed on topic today.
They really suck… don’t they?
I stand with Sally. Flynn’s underlying WAS the problem. If he lied as much as his boss he would still be in a job 
Or, perhaps, the speaker is counting on his audience not knowing what he is talking about.