Just this week alone, this happened:
A Russian fighter aircraft made an “unsafe close range intercept” with a U.S. Navy jet over the Black Sea on Wednesday. . . the Russian Su-27 came “extremely close” and spent 19 minutes intercepting the U.S. P-8A Poseidon. The P-8 was conducting “routine operations in international airspace.” Russian fighter makes ‘unsafe close range intercept’ with U.S. anti-submarine aircraft.
Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has declined to resume a cease-fire in Syria, choosing instead to prop up Russia’s long-time murderous puppet regime of President Bashar al-Assad than to allow sustained and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for besieged communities most in need. “Going into the Geneva talks on Friday there had been guarded optimism that an agreement was at hand.” The United States and Russia make no promises as Syrian ceasefire talks drag on. Russia’s access to the naval facility in Tartrus, Syria is more strategically important to Putin than ending th conflict in Syria and allowing humanitarian aid to flow.
U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies are investigating what they see as a broad covert Russian operation in the United States to sow public distrust in the upcoming presidential election and in U.S. political institutions. “A Russian influence operation in the United States “is something we’re looking very closely at,” said one senior intelligence official . . . Officials also are examining potential disruptions to the election process, and the FBI has alerted state and local officials to potential cyberthreats.” U.S. investigating potential covert Russian plan to disrupt November elections.
Despite al of this, Putin’s puppet Donald Trump appeared on a “commander-in-chief forum” on NBC News on Wednesday, and defended his bromance admiration for Vladimir Putin, “even suggesting that Putin is more worthy of his praise than President Obama.” Trump praises Putin at national security forum:
“Certainly, in that system, he’s been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader,” Trump said. “We have a divided country.”
The Republican presidential nominee said that an alliance with Russia would help defeat the Islamic State, and when asked to defend some of Putin’s aggressions on the world stage, he asked, “Do you want me to start naming some of the things Obama does at the same time?”
Trump also said he appreciated some of the kind words Putin has had for him. “Well, I think when he calls me brilliant, I think I’ll take the compliment, okay?”
Trump said he was not a fan of the Russian system of government — just Putin’s authoritarian strongman role model — but predicted continued good relations with Putin, saying: “I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Putin, and I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Russia.”
Trump denied that mutual admiration between him and the Russian leader would benefit Russia in its dealings with the United States. “It’s not going to get him anything,” Trump said. “I’m a negotiator.”
To make matters worse, we learn today that Donald Trump attacked U.S. foreign policy on Russian state-owned propaganda television. Trump attacks U.S. foreign policy, political press corps on state-owned Russian television network:
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized U.S. foreign policy and the American political press corps Thursday during an interview on RT America, a state-owned Russian television network.
In a wide-ranging interview that aired Thursday evening, Trump spoke with journalist Larry King — WTF Larry! — about the presidential race, American intervention in Iraq and the Middle East, and the potential intrusion by Russian hackers into Democratic Party databases. RT, which airs in several countries in English and Russian, is funded by the Russian government; though it characterizes itself as independent, the network has been regularly accused of pro-Kremlin bias.
The interview came as Trump faced sustained criticism for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he has regularly done on the campaign trail — to the discomfort of many members of his own party, who have distanced themselves from the comments.
Asked during the RT America interview what has surprised him most about the political process, Trump unloaded on the American press.
“Well, I think the dishonesty of the media. The media has been unbelievably dishonest,” Trump responded. “I mean they’ll take a statement that you make which is perfect and they’ll cut it up and chop it up and shorten it or lengthen it or do something with it.”
“And all of a sudden it doesn’t look as good as it did when you actually said it. But there’s tremendous dishonesty with the media. Not all of it, obviously, but tremendous dishonesty,” he said.
* * *
[Trump also] knocked foreign policy under Obama, Hillary Clinton, and former president George W. Bush.
“Hillary Clinton with her policies and Barack Obama — you know, look, we should have never gone into Iraq. Period. We should have never gone in. But once we went in, Larry, we shouldn’t have gotten out the way we got out. And the way they got out really caused ISIS, if you think about it. We got out in such a horrible, foolish fashion, instead of leaving some troops behind.”
When King asked Trump if he believed reports that Russian hackers may have targeted Democratic Party databases as part of an effort to influence the American presidential election, Trump said he did not believe that to be the case.
“I think it’s probably unlikely. I think maybe the Democrats are putting that out. Who knows? But I think that it’s pretty unlikely,” he said. “I hope that if they are doing something I hope that somebody’s going to be able to find out so they can end it, because that would not be appropriate.”
King also asked Trump about Putin’s assertion that the hack was a “public service,” even as he claimed the Russian government was not involved.
“I don’t have any opinion on it. I don’t know anything about it. I don’t know who hacked. I’m not sure. You tell me. Who hacked? Who did the hacking?” Trump said.
Trump’s critics have regularly insinuated that he is overly cozy with pro-Russian interests. Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, came under fire last month after he was named in a Ukrainian corruption investigation that tied him to a pro-Kremlin political party.
Before that, Trump was widely condemned in July when, in an off-handed remark, he called on the Russian government to intervene in the election by releasing thousands of Clinton’s private emails. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Trump said during a press conference at one of his South Florida resorts. He added later, “They probably have them. I’d like to have them released.”
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn — one of Trump’s closest advisers — received payment to deliver a speech at an RT party last year, where he sat next to Putin.
Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, who has sold his soul to the devil for the price of his principles, dignity and self-respect to be Trump’s running mate, did his best ass-kissing for the boss. Mike Pence says it’s ‘inarguable’ that Putin is a stronger leader than Obama: “I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country,” Pence said during an interview with CNN. So much Putin love!
Trump came under fire within minutes of the interview airing. Veteran GOP strategist John Weaver, a vocal anti-Trump Republican, expressed incredulity on social media. Trump attacks U.S. foreign policy, political press corps on state-owned Russian television network:
“Condemning the free, 1st amendment protected American media on Russian owned @RT_com is outrageous, even by the lowest of Trump standards,” Weaver said in one tweet.
“I’m just stunned at the insanity of the campaign staff to even consider, allow a @RT_com interview, given the Russian ties already,” Weaver wrote in another tweet.
Senator John McCain’s puppet boy, Little Lindsey Graham, also blasted Trump. Graham says Trump’s Putin stance ‘unnerves me to my core”:
“Other than destroying every instrument of democracy in his own country, having opposition people killed, dismembering neighbors through military force and being the benefactor of the butcher of Damascus, he’s a good guy,” quipped Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) of Putin.
Graham, a former presidential candidate, has often sparred with Trump and is one of his most vocal critics. “This calculation by Trump unnerves me to my core.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) also weighed in.
“You know, flattery can be used as a tool that sometimes bears very negative fruit,” said Corker. “One has to be careful about letting flattery affect one’s relationship with a person or a country.”
John McCain of Arizona and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, both vulnerable Republican senators facing tough re-election battles, had nothing to say. Republicans struggle to explain Trump’s fondness for ‘murderer and thug’ Putin. “You should ask Donald Trump about that,” Toomey said, while McCain simply stated his own opinion that Putin is “a murderer and a thug” but pointedly refused to discuss Trump.
Let’s be clear: at no time in the past 100 years since the communist revolution in Russia could an American politician, at any level of political office, survive praising the autocratic leader of Russia, on Russian state-owned propaganda media no less. This is an automatic disqualifying event.
Had any Democrat done this, Republicans would be accusing him or her of treason and demanding prosecution, and you know this to be true.
Republicans invented the Red Scare, and Red Baiting, and McCarthyism. Now we have a Republican candidate for president who is a puppet of Vladimir Putin, and Republicans are not demanding that Trump immediately withdraw and step down? What has happened to the Republican Party? Has the GOP been reduced to an acronym, IOKIYAR?
UPDATE: Michael Morell, former acting director and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2010 to 2013. and Mike Vickers, former undersecretary of defense for intelligence from 2011 to 2015, write an “Open Letter” to Donald Trump in the Washington Post. Both writers have served in Democratic and Republican administrations, and have endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. Morell and Vickers: An open letter to Donald Trump:
Mr. Trump, with all due respect to you as the presidential nominee of the Republican Party, you cannot credibly serve as commander in chief if you embrace Russian President Vladimir Putin.
* * *
At the Commander-in-Chief forum on Wednesday, you said that as long as Putin says nice things about you, you will say nice things about him. That is not a standard on which a candidate, or a president, should make policy decisions. That should not even enter your calculus. Your only question should be, “What is in the best interests of the United States?”
So, here is our challenge: Demand that Putin stop his aggressive behavior overseas. Demand that he stop his dictatorial moves at home. Tell him that you will live up to our NATO commitments and defend the Baltics, if need be. Tell him that you want to work with him on solving the problems in the world — but that he must behave in order to do so. That is what a true commander in chief would do.
There is nothing new about Russia trying to undermine the United States with propaganda and subterfuge. It has been going on since the late 1940s. The difference between then and now is that back then it was unsuccessful. People had a generally unified sense of what it was to be an American. Today, diversity rules and we have a multitude of concepts as to what it means to be an American. Despite the claim that “diversity is our strength”, it is actually a balkinization of our Nation that divides us and weakens us to outside influences.
You are correct, AzBM, when you state that if a democrat were talking like Trump is talking that democrat would be widely – and justifiedly – condemned by Republicans. Trump deserves to have his rear end handed to him for embracing Putin. It does, however, serve as an excellent example of just how far we have fallen as a Nation.
First off, how far have we fallen as a nation, Steve? Tell me exactly how far? I’m sick of so called Patriots trash talking my country.
Are you talking about the mess Bush left in the middle east?
Or are you talking about the economy that’s been getting better in spite of a racist and treasonous Tea Party led congress (and here in AZ) doing everything they can to destroy it?
Second, did you really blame diversity for the issues that we do have? Not the bankers or lying politicians, but diversity?
Russia has always tried to undermine the US, and vice versa, but we don’t usually have Presidential Candidates doing the undermining. Diversity isn’t helping Putin, the leader of your Republican Party is.
Putin owns Trump because US banks won’t load Trump money. This is the likely reason Cheeto Benito won’t release is tax returns.
The reason Trump’s fans like Putin is because they don’t like the black guy running the US.
If you think America has fallen so far, there’s the door.
”If you think America has fallen so far, there’s the door.”
That used to be the chant of the far right John Birchers, “America, love it or leave it”. Now the left is using it? And things haven’t changed drastically?
I didn’t say a word about the economy, or the Middle East, or bush…you dug those up from somewhere. My concern about the decline of America goes much deeper than the superficial things you seem concerned about. It is a malaise that has gripped us the pride that used to accompany the phrase, “I am an American”. Today people go out of their way to apologize for being an American. We lost something important along the way.
There was a time when great issues were argued from the various points of view, but when the decision was made, we united behind that decision and did great things. Today, we either argue ourselves into non-action, or when a decision is made people get caught up in self interest and personal concern and take the issue to the courts, take to the streets in protest, refuse to participate, riot, and do anything they can to derail the decision. What was our last great accomplishment? We could not build the Hoover Dam today. We could not do the Rural Electrification Program today. And we would never be willing to suffer the casualties of World War Two again, even if it meant our survival as a nation. We do not have the national will to sacrifice. If it isn’t easy and safe, we don’t want to do it.
Perhaps I have a better grasp of history than you do, but this is not unique. It is the common pattern for the decline of empires and societies throughout history. It is increasing wealth and progress followed by selfish interests and decline.
As far as diversity is concerned, how do you think it contributes to a national identity? “Diversity is our strength” is the mantra, but how is it our strength? Where in the world, or in history, has it been successful? We are fortunately a wealthy and powerful country that has not been put to any test of our “diversity strength”, but “diversity” driven nations who have faced challenges in the past have inevitably collapsed. It is nice we can afford it, but let’s not kid ourselves that it makes us somehow stronger.
” Putin owns Trump because US banks won’t load Trump money.” And “The reason Trump’s fans like Putin is because they don’t like the black guy running the US.”
Two very strong statements, Not Tom. You always ask me for proof, so let me reciprocate: Where is your proof?
” I’m sick of so called Patriots trash talking my country.”
First of all, it is not trashing it if the decline is observable. Secondly, I believe I earned the right to speak candidly about my Nation. I fought and bled for her, literally. Almost two years in Vietnam followed by eleven months in and out of the hospital and seven surgeries. Then Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm and years in the Middle East and North Africa. The Nation awarded me a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, four Bronze Stars and a slew of other medals, including foreign awards. It embarrasses me to cite this, but I want to make a point with you…I earned the right to make frank assessments of my Country. I never flinched from serving her, regardless of the personal cost. I did not reap the benefits of living here simply because I was born here and paid taxes. So when you call me a “so called Patriot”, please do so with a smile and a wink. I had enough of leftists trying to shame me for my patriotism when I returned home from Vietnam to the filthy hoards of screaming protesters waiting to greet me.
I know my history just fine.
You sound like Pat Buchanan from 30 years ago (and from yesterday).
You sound like William F. Buckley from 60 years ago.
If you go back 100 years you’ll find the same tired racist, anti-diversity garbage on the editorial page of most newspapers.
How has diversity helped America? Really? You know that Mexican’s built half of California and most of Arizona. You know they pick all your food?
I worked in the trades years ago with dozens of undocumented immigrants. Hard working, always early to work, and some of the nicest people you would ever meet. I’d get a beer after work with them and sometimes even attend their family events. I got to know lots of very nice folks.
I also worked with a lot of white guys who had some pretty scary criminal records and a lot of the time they’d just stop showing up for work. We’d hear later they got picked up for drugs or maybe beating up their wife/girlfriend. Fun stuff.
For the last few decades I’ve worked in tech. Going to work is like going to the United Nations. I get work with the smartest people from all over the planet. I work with amazing people across the US, India, China, the Philippines, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, you name it.
And guess what? You and I wouldn’t be having this discussion via computer if it wasn’t for diversity. Half the stuff inside your PC was invented by someone with brown skin and a name you can’t pronounce.
Hell, forget tech, medical research is going on worldwide.
On diversity, you’re flat out ignorant.
As far as your military record, thank you for your service. If I ran the world, you’d wouldn’t have a Purple Heart because I wouldn’t have sent you to any of those “wars”.
If I ran the world, you wouldn’t need veterans charities, because I would fund programs for vets, because that’s what patriots do.
And since I wouldn’t have sent you to those “wars”, we use the money we didn’t spend replacing bombs to pay for those veterans services, and since there’d be less wounded vets, we’d have plenty of funding.
But, Steve buddy, no amount of service makes racism okay. It’s immoral, irrational, and goes against the ideal of what we want America to be.
You and I are never going to see eye to eye, and you are not just about small and limited government, that’s pretty clear, so I’ll just take my ball and glove and go home.
Good luck to you.
Okay, Not Tom, I will admit you have given me a perspective on diversity that I had not considered and I must back off from my earlier comments. I was wrong about it in the way you describe it. Thank you for taking the time to correct me.
Perhaps you wouldn’t have sent me to all those wars, Not Tom, but this Country did. And it made no difference whether it was a Democrat or a Republican running things. Even Hillary had a hand in sending troops into harms way. I suspect we are not going to see much of a change in the immediate future, regardless of who sits in the White House.
As far as being a racist is concerned, you have obviously decided I am one and nothing I can say will change your mind, so I won’t try. If you knew me personally, you would the idea of me being a racist funny, but you don’t know me personally and you never will.
Anyway, have fun with your ball and glove!
“…how far we’ve fallen as a nation”. Yeah, thirty five years of conservative economic, foreign, justice, and social policies will do that to a democracy.
So you agree with me that we have been in decline?
Yes we have. Starting with Reagan, continuing under Bush I and greatly accelerating under Bush II. Obama and some in Congress (h/t Raul) have been doing their best to reverse that but Congressional Republicans and their Blue Dog/New Dem allies have been trying to block progress at every turn.
Are you aware that on Day One of Obama’s presidency Senate Majority Leader McConnell vowed to obstruct everything Obama wanted to accomplish? Or that the same McConnell along with our senior senator has pulled out all the stops in filling a vacant Supreme Court seat? That’s the kind of crap that leads to a decline.
If Drumpf gets in the White House and has a majority in the House and Senate then kiss American Democracy goodbye. Of course these people, being what they are, will never take responsibility and they’ll blame those they don’t like. But what do I know, I’m hysterical, right?
I had to smile when I read your response. It followed the predictable pattern: If there is a “D” after their name, they are a good guy. If there is an “R” after their name, they are a bad guy. No subtlety, no thought, just black and white. And when you do refer to the “blue dog/new Dem allies”, it never occurs to you that they might have good reasons for voting the way they do. In your world they could not have good reasons for doing so, they are simply traitors. It must be nice living in such a simple world.
And, yes, you are a tad hysterical when you write. The sky is falling in your world, (e.g. – “If Drumpf gets in the White House and has a majority in the House and Senate then kiss American Democracy goodbye.”) and that is fairly hysterical. ;o)
Don’t know where you got the idea that I inferred D = good guy and R = bad guy, there have been good Rs, unfortunately they’ve been fewer and farther between. As far as Blue Dogs and New Dems go, no one has called or treated them as traitors.
As far as my hysteria, do you really want a Supreme Court loaded with young Scalias, Alitos on Thomases? Sounds like you do. Nice conservative Republican bubble you live in there. Be a shame if reality came crashing into it.
But since you like to throw in personal insults all I can say is you embody the sayings that not all conservative are stupid but most stupid people are conservative; and that ideologies are things dreamed up by smart people for stupid people to follow.
Come on, Wileybud, I just read what you wroteand responded to it. Go back and read it again. Actually focus on what you wrote and not what you think you wrote and you will see where I got the “idea” from. What you wrote was black and white in tone…no subtlies, no shades of grey. And I only quoted you in your hysteria. If you don’t like that happening, be more precise in your writing. I have no idea what you are thinking when you write it.
I know exactly what I wrote Steve. It’s interesting that you respond by accusing me of hysteria instead of refuting the points I raised. Diversion and deflection, the conservative way. And on that pleasant note I say good day to you sir.
(sigh!) Respond to what?!?!? Hysterical, emotional outbursts that didn’t have anything of substance that could be responded to? The only appropriate response to nearly everything you wrote would be a nasally “Nah-unh!”. It was like reading your insult to conservatives…the only appropriate response would have been: “I’m rubber, you’re glue, what you say bounces off me and sticks to you!”
I’m sorry you don’t want to correspond with me any further. I consider it my loss. If I might suggest, though, you spend less time talking about the “horrors” that will occur if Republicans come into power and start explaining the good things that will happen if Democrats come into power. I think it will drop your hysteria down several decibels…
Your pointing the finger of hysteria is like a dog that refuses to quit gnawing on a stinky old bone. Give it up.
Good point about good things that true Democrats can offer. How about a strong Social Security that doesn’t have Wall Street’s fingers in it? One where the payroll tax cap is eliminated which would allow for an increase in benefits and fund the program for many more decades to come. Or stronger Medicare or single payer health care system? Or decently maintained infrastructure? Or consumer protection from Wall Street predators? Or a higher livable minimum wage? These are all things that Republicans and conservative Democrats have fought tooth and nail against.
You like to paint those who see where the conservative policies of the past 35 years are leading to as hysterical. While those on the right loudly proclaim the sky is falling over the slightest tax increase on those who can most afford it. Tell, me Steve, what positive things for the country have Republicans had to offer? Name legislation the Republicans in Congress have initiated, sponsored and passed that has benefited working people. Or anyone/entity besides the wealthy and big business.
Now THAT, Wileybud, was a good post, lacking any hysteria. I told you if you speak in positive terms about what you would like Democrats to do that you would be calm and upbeat in your messages. It is only when you post your fears of Republicans that you tend to get a little shaky.
You asked me to provide some legislation Republicans initiated, sponsored and passed that benefited working people. That is a hard question to answer because no legislation originating with Republicans gets past the Presidents veto. So the short answer is none. That is the part of legislative gridlock that democrats choose to ignore.
In any event, it was a good message…I hope to more of them.
Steve, the President does not pass legislation. Legislation is passed when it clears the House and the Senate and then goes to the President for signature who enacts it into law or vetoes it. Being passed by the House and Senate is what I meant. So once again, name legislation the Republicans in Congress have initiated, sponsored and passed that has benefited working people. Or anyone/entity besides the wealthy and big business. Go back a hundred years if you like.
“…name legislation the Republicans in Congress have initiated, sponsored and passed that has benefited working people.”
I was doing some research to respond to your challenge and then I realized I was wasting my time. Whatever I cited you would come back with a specious argument saying it hadn’t helped working people.
For instance, Republicans passed the Civil Rights Act over the vehement objections of Southern Democrats. Or, how about the original 1944 GI Bill? Written by the former Chairman of the Republican Party, it included all veterans over the objection of democrats, led by Roosevelt, who wanted to limit it to poor veterans alone. Republicans got it through the system for ALL veterans.
Now, go ahead and try to twist things around to suit your world view…
You forgot Richard Milhouse Nixon creating the EPA.
You’re next assignment is to write a 2000 word essay on Lee Atwater and Nixon’s famous Southern Strategy, and find out why things that happened in one party 60 years ago are not happening anymore.
I think you just confirmed my suspicion, along with being anti “diversity” (why do my dogs ears perk up when you say that), you’re a proud member of the Koch Patrol.
I know I said I was done dealing with you, because I hold a very low opinion of people who are against “diversity”, but dude, you really stepped in it this time.
Thank you for contacting me again, Not Tom. I have given a lot of thought to what you said in you message and I have come to the realization that I have been railing against diversity when diversity was not at all what bothered me. I used the wrong word to describe the thing that concerns me. What bothers me is multiculturalism, not diversity. They are two very different things. My Company hired a diverse staff from the day I founded it until today. I retired after my bout with cancer, but my Daughter took over the Company and HR continues to hire based on ability and nothing more. We have numerous H1B Visa employees on staff because we could not find enough qualified employees domestically and I was glad to find qualified people regardless of where they came or any other factors.
Anyway, I hope you will find it your heart to forgive me for the stupid comments I made about diversity. It was not at all what I meant. And to anyone else I offended by comments, I can only offer a humble apology for my stupid and thoughtless comments.
So where did you land on this whole Lee Attwater thing?
Was there a particular incident you had in mind, or were you asking about the totality of his activities over the years? If it is a particular incident, let me know. I will address your question in terms of the totality of his life as a Republican hatchet man.
In short, I think he was a ruthless, unscrupulous embarassment. I am disgusted that he was raised to high levels in the GOP and that he carried so much influence and power. His destruction of people’s reputations by innuendo was displicable. He was effective, but he was no good.
So everything is twisted to conform to my world view? Now there’s a cheap cop-out. You have a nice day Steve.
Yes it was. I apologize for that. You didn’t deserve that.
Apology accepted.
Thank you!
Unfreakin believable. How can anyone vote for this POS? He will put our national security, clout, and future at risk.
How can anyone vote for the POS? Well, he lies a lot. Lies that conservatives love to hear and believe in. A basic foundation of the Fox and other right wing media business models.
Seems the ultimate end goal of conservatism is a feudal state with a nobility composed of wealthy hard line conservatives and peonage for everyone else. The moves to privatize government functions along with low or next to nothing taxes on the wealthy are intended to result in shoveling as much public money into as few private pockets as possible.
And if the POS gets into the White House with Republican majorities on the House and Senate you can expect a lot of progress towards that goal.
It’s not raining, it’s the tears from the Founding Fathers weeping.
My God! You are one hysterical dude, aren’t you!
Not hysterical at all Steve. Just looking at the conservative policies inflicted on the country over the past 35 years and seeing where they’re leading. What else would you call a system where all the wealth is concentrated at the top and those entrenched at the top along with their heirs call the shots? Just like the feudal lords of old. Usually to the detriment of those below them on economic scale. Think of a predatory financial industry or a Wall Street who abhor any attempt to regulate their unethical practices. And their bought and paid for lickspittles in Congress who do their bidding. That sure isn’t Democracy! Or maybe it is Democracy to those who sit at the top.