Russia Collusion Scandal (aka A Leftist fantasy)

[50PoundHead]

I'm pretty sure Pence was outside the loop as he claims. But the people that Flynn was working with inside the loop led Flynn to conclude he could lie to the FBI with impunity. That's my working theory. He was taking instructions from Kushner and probably Trump himself. And my reading of his interview with the FBI was that he felt protected enough that he was comfortable lying to them even while knowing they would figure out he was lying. It was a big so what to the FBI. I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me. That's my take. Extreme arrogance. But that arrogance was based upon something.

Do you think Trump promised pardons, hence the justification for being pliable with the truth?

[The Chosen One]

Agreed. At a level, I think Trump has the predator's knack for finding other people's weaknesses (I thought his debate performances were a masterful example of that) but little ability to recognize others' strengths. Because of that, he's vulnerable to those who are simply more crafty that he is.

So basically Mueller.

[50PoundHead]

So basically Mueller.

Basically, over half the people involved in politics.

Trump's success has been based on the effective use of the sledgehammer. He has no understanding of the scalpel.

[nsacpi]

Do you think Trump promised pardons, hence the justification for being pliable with the truth?

I don't think Flynn was specifically thinking pardons when he lied to the FBI. But he acted as if he had some confidence that someone(s) would make the problem go away.

[57Brave]

Comfortably Smug
‏ @ComfortablySmug
47m47 minutes ago
Replying to @NateSilver538

The thing is, if the trolls were effective,

you wouldn't know they were effective.

So they were effective.

But you can't know for sure.

Which is proof they were effective.

[nsacpi]

With the delay in Flynn's sentencing, we might see him called to testify to Congress before said sentencing. Would he take the fifth or take responsibility?

[Super]

With the delay in Flynn's sentencing, we might see him called to testify to Congress before said sentencing. Would he take the fifth or take responsibility?

could the judge use his pleading the 5th against him in sentencing?

[nsacpi]

could the judge use his pleading the 5th against him in sentencing?

that's what makes it so interesting...taking the fifth is not consistent with taking responsibility

[Super]

that's what makes it so interesting...taking the fifth is not consistent with taking responsibility

i’d imagine the judge in his case wouldn’t be a huge fan of that

[nsacpi]

I don't think Flynn was specifically thinking pardons when he lied to the FBI. But he acted as if he had some confidence that someone(s) would make the problem go away.

there is one possibility that I have alluded to but not explicitly laid out...which is that Flynn was following orders in everything he did, including lying to the FBI

[cajunrevenge]

Flynn and Comey are friends. Maybe thats the reason.

[nsacpi]

New Cohen in Prague story from McClatchy.

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/inv...219016820.html

They seem to be alone in having this information. No other media outlet has corroborated.

[57Brave]

McClatchy was out front on the bogus run up to Iraq War

[Julio3000]

New Cohen in Prague story from McClatchy.

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/inv...219016820.html

They seem to be alone in having this information. No other media outlet has corroborated.

I think they’ve played it pretty straight throughout. Reporting the information they’ve gleaned, sourcing it to the degree they’re able, and acknowledging that they’re not aware if it’s been verified by US law enforcement/intel. Their apparent continued confidence in the story and transparency about the nature of the information are somewhat convincing to me.

[Julio3000]

McClatchy was out front on the bogus run up to Iraq War

They aquitted themselves better than did the big papers.

[nsacpi]

I think they’ve played it pretty straight throughout. Reporting the information they’ve gleaned, sourcing it to the degree they’re able, and acknowledging that they’re not aware if it’s been verified by US law enforcement/intel. Their apparent continued confidence in the story and transparency about the nature of the information are somewhat convincing to me.

I am a bit perplexed as to why Cohen and Lanny Davis continue to put out denials. If he really wanted to make a fresh start, why not come clean. I can't imagine he has any interest in protecting Trump at this point. I can see him protecting his crooked in-laws, but not Trump.

[Julio3000]

Coming clean to prosecutors is different than coming clean to the public. I’d assume it’s not in the prosecutors’ interest to have them chatting about it; I’d imagine they’d rather have the public uncertainty.

IIRC the denials have gotten a little less specific over time. “I’ve never been in Prague” is hardly a categorical denial of the whole of the allegation. It’s certainly possible that this is a red herring or even misinformation, but it’s always struck me as a reasonable bet to be true.

[57Brave]

Some of this, it seems, came in the form of direct real estate purchases. Despite repeatedly denying any ties to the Kremlin, Trump has even admitted to one major deal with a Russian, Dmitry Rybolovlev, who is believed to be close to Putin. Rybolovlev bought a Palm Beach house from Trump for $100 million — $60 million more than what the president had initially paid for it, according to an ABC interview with Trump. This is a remarkably high profit for any such deal — but it is even more startling because it happened in 2008, when the American real estate market was cratering.

https://www.alternet.org/2018/12/the...ps-businesses/

To be blunt - when people that proclaim themselves constitutinal freedom advancers over look this for the centuries old what every grown up understands as obvious notion that people are sometimes, even often, hypocritical
This level of malfeasance is happening right out in plain sight - under their noses.

The "news" network that won the December sweeps was reporting this in late summer/fall 2016.
For anyone that considers themselves up to date
You know who you are

[Runnin]

Partial disclosure is not going to work with Mueller.

[nsacpi]

Giuliani: It is not a crime to knowingly receive stolen materials.

That ineffective assistance of counsel defense looks better every day.