TRUMP - Some people think......... How do you feel?

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Luce NDs said:
Is an age of decline like nemesis? Or just an old woman laid back in a lounge saying: "I told you so"? What a hag ga deis ...
Click to expand...
As you know, the ancients spoke of hubris, pride preceding a fall. Nemesis is simply the consequence. We sow wind to reap whirlwind.

Red sky at night sailor's delight. Red sky at morning sailor take warning. Then there is the fella pointing folk to signs of the times. Ignored. Refused. Resisted. But not silenced in any and all having ears to hear.
 
The problem is not Trump - and not any other person. We are facing a situation that has popped up many times in world history. Some people build enormous power based on greed. Often, there sense is they were born rich or ennobled and, therefore, superior to others - with a right to make themselves even richer no matter what the effect on others. Capitalism has become an addition to these tendencies in the last several centuries.
All of these tendencies are anti-Christian. But the Christian churches have generally ignored this problem. Indeed, they have commonly been the chorus in this big game.
We now live in societies in which the very wealthy don't have to pay taxes - and most of them don't. That deprives the rest of us of services we need. But the wealthy are indifferent to that. We murder people by the millions so the wealthy can loot their countries. That was the British Empire and all the others including the American Empire.
And the beauty of it is the wealthy don't have to pay for these wars because they don't pay taxes. So we have to pay for them. And every Nov. 11, we wear poppies in remembrance of those who died - nicely forgetting all those values and principles we told them they were fighting for.
One of the roots of the problem is capitalism, itself. Its fundamental principle (though in theory more than in practice) is that competition is good. But that has led to a world economic system that is murderous, exploitive, and thoroughly unCnristian. And we have allowed capitalists to assume powers they never should have been permitted. They are the ones behind the mass murders in most of our wars. They are the ones behind the expansion of poverty to make the rich even richer.
Trump doesn't matter. Almost all the others are as crazy and as destructive as he is.
It is, I suspect, too much to hope for change in the U.S. What's likely is more and greater insanity and greed.
This is a massive evil. And the churches have usually preferred not to see it.
 
Graeme Decarie said:
The problem is not Trump - and not any other person. We are facing a situation that has popped up many times in world history. Some people build enormous power based on greed. Often, there sense is they were born rich or ennobled and, therefore, superior to others - with a right to make themselves even richer no matter what the effect on others. Capitalism has become an addition to these tendencies in the last several centuries.
All of these tendencies are anti-Christian. But the Christian churches have generally ignored this problem. Indeed, they have commonly been the chorus in this big game.
We now live in societies in which the very wealthy don't have to pay taxes - and most of them don't. That deprives the rest of us of services we need. But the wealthy are indifferent to that. We murder people by the millions so the wealthy can loot their countries. That was the British Empire and all the others including the American Empire.
And the beauty of it is the wealthy don't have to pay for these wars because they don't pay taxes. So we have to pay for them. And every Nov. 11, we wear poppies in remembrance of those who died - nicely forgetting all those values and principles we told them they were fighting for.
One of the roots of the problem is capitalism, itself. Its fundamental principle (though in theory more than in practice) is that competition is good. But that has led to a world economic system that is murderous, exploitive, and thoroughly unCnristian. And we have allowed capitalists to assume powers they never should have been permitted. They are the ones behind the mass murders in most of our wars. They are the ones behind the expansion of poverty to make the rich even richer.
Trump doesn't matter. Almost all the others are as crazy and as destructive as he is.
It is, I suspect, too much to hope for change in the U.S. What's likely is more and greater insanity and greed.
This is a massive evil. And the churches have usually preferred not to see it.
Click to expand...
Hi Graeme,

I concur.

George
 
GeoFee said:
As you know, the ancients spoke of hubris, pride preceding a fall. Nemesis is simply the consequence. We sow wind to reap whirlwind.

Red sky at night sailor's delight. Red sky at morning sailor take warning. Then there is the fella pointing folk to signs of the times. Ignored. Refused. Resisted. But not silenced in any and all having ears to hear.
Click to expand...


Could such things melt cold Ices?
 
Graeme Decarie said:
The problem is not Trump - and not any other person. We are facing a situation that has popped up many times in world history. Some people build enormous power based on greed. Often, there sense is they were born rich or ennobled and, therefore, superior to others - with a right to make themselves even richer no matter what the effect on others. Capitalism has become an addition to these tendencies in the last several centuries.
All of these tendencies are anti-Christian. But the Christian churches have generally ignored this problem. Indeed, they have commonly been the chorus in this big game.
We now live in societies in which the very wealthy don't have to pay taxes - and most of them don't. That deprives the rest of us of services we need. But the wealthy are indifferent to that. We murder people by the millions so the wealthy can loot their countries. That was the British Empire and all the others including the American Empire.
And the beauty of it is the wealthy don't have to pay for these wars because they don't pay taxes. So we have to pay for them. And every Nov. 11, we wear poppies in remembrance of those who died - nicely forgetting all those values and principles we told them they were fighting for.
One of the roots of the problem is capitalism, itself. Its fundamental principle (though in theory more than in practice) is that competition is good. But that has led to a world economic system that is murderous, exploitive, and thoroughly unCnristian. And we have allowed capitalists to assume powers they never should have been permitted. They are the ones behind the mass murders in most of our wars. They are the ones behind the expansion of poverty to make the rich even richer.
Trump doesn't matter. Almost all the others are as crazy and as destructive as he is.
It is, I suspect, too much to hope for change in the U.S. What's likely is more and greater insanity and greed.
This is a massive evil. And the churches have usually preferred not to see it.
Click to expand...

If one doesn't see what is common (koine, John's, information on easy to come by intercourse) knowledge ... could we call this the lost gnostic?

With heated bubbles of greed would this be easily chilled by the sol of water and this the sparks collapse as like hammer iron in black's myth 'n ... an we could be in ignorance of bliss ... what some call the heavenly state of mind of anti-gnostic ... or a'gnostic when rendered down as in decimation by a tenth?

Imperative if all you have is the smallest denomination of koine ... the category of woman that wasn't allowed physical property and only psychological attributes to think silently what she would about her Master ... thus the myths of staking things with the master ... sometimes his heart to the floor of good intent? Thus the matter of shafting and who really was the object and subject in the exchange!

This interchange still goes on although I was taught in church that intelligent intercourse was ridiculously evil ... and get still leaders phoqah up in Hebrew ... this is social gathering for expansion ... of those wee black icons drifting across the page ... mostly unconscious ...

Is a story-myth subtle battle against the superlative emotions?

You can't teach anything without a good tale attributed to wit .. why ancient tale is common and contemptible ... because of what was displaced ... in dissociable theory ... thus busts ... things falling from the top of capitals ... no names mentioned ...

Ye gods become augured or bored ... and thus that cave effect ...
 
"FWB" is that a whetted tale of beast, or just a myth with an edge ? Perhaps a bit Finis 'd ... but not complete as a lonely fissure ...

After that the con fusion ... over consequences ... about blended essences ... allows the line to carry on ... with wiggles ...
 
What exactly is a republican proof since they seem to drift in a pool of false Nous ... root word of noid, especially when there is no IDe to it ...
 
American policy has been world dominance since 1945. Trump is not different from his predecessors in that.
Nor did Trump invent American racism Nor is he the first president to turn his back on the needs of the general population. (Even obamacare was a pretty piddling and overpriced version of real health care.) Trump did not invent the idea that Americans are God's chosen people. That goes back to the nineteenth century.
Trump did not invent American aggression and mass murder to control (or destroy) others. That's at least as old as the pilgrim fathers. He did not invent the idea of arming and training terrorists to fight American wars. That began in the CIA in the 1970s.
Nor did he invent tax escapes for billionaires, or schools that segregated some children in underfinanced schools to give superior opportunity to the children of those who could afford to pay private school fees. Nor is Trump the one who has destroyed nations in Africa, the Middle East and South America. (The re-recreation of the middle east and Africa as a hell for all but billionaires owes more to Bush and Obama than to Trump.)
He's crude, vulgar, mentally disturbed. But he's not different from many, many years of other American presidents. (Nor is Hillary.) It's a nation that like many another imperial power is without morality of judgement. And the idea that America has ever been a nation of Christian values is absurd.
This is an empire as evil as any the world has seen. And that evil was created by both, major political parties.
Trump is a clown. But Morally he's very much in the tradition of American political leaders. Dumping him will change nothing.
But Canada will remain a 'friend' of the U.S. because Canadians lack the courage to do anything else. Besides, our business leaders and our two, major parties are very much like their U.S. counterparts.
 

Fascism grows well in apathetic ground. History makes this clear. But who has learned from history?

This from a Canadian band, probably late sixties or early seventies:

Monster by Steppenwolf

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster
​


​
 
Does virtue do a flip in reciprocation with reality in a black hole venting jets?

Did you know jets were once considered dark ... and thus these little black characters taking off under the trees ... with condor or candor?

Three daze later it settles in ... the nature of a fools world ... fired by powerful people ... thus intellect is subtle ... out there!

Funny thing is most motivated can't see it ...

Possibly due to the inside job ... behind the I'z?

Regression theory ...

Back up and listen ...
 
GeoFee said:
Fascism grows well in apathetic ground. History makes this clear. But who has learned from history?

This from a Canadian band, probably late sixties or early seventies:

Monster by Steppenwolf

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster
​


​
Click to expand...

Wasn't familiar with this Steppenwolf song so I looked it up on YouTube.
 
So much of the music I noticed along the way stressed that the times they were changing. There were big questions about justice and the answer blowing in the wind. Some watched all along the watchtower. Some saw paranoia in the streets. Into our hearts it would creep. Starting when we are always afraid the power is going to come and take us a way. We were admonished. Stop children! What's that sound? Everybody look what is going down.

Last lines to Melanie Safka who well expresses the lament of many in the land.

 
GeoFee said:
Fascism grows well in apathetic ground. History makes this clear. But who has learned from history?

This from a Canadian band, probably late sixties or early seventies:

Monster by Steppenwolf

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster
​


​
Click to expand...
What happened to all those 'kids' who were so enamoured with the music of those days? I think most (not all) of them became part of what those songs protested against. And those of us who listened to our parents' music thought there was no turning back from the progress made then...but we were wrong because we didn't notice they no longer really cared about preserving - they thought they were all done with that 'era' of change - until what was accomplished was slipping away - but they were, and they're still, calling the shots. And along comes Trump and some, even many, of those very same people voted for him - in a blind rush to have someone, anyone, different from the status quo.

I do have hope for the millennial generation. I think they're awake to what's going on and once this generation of bosses passes, they'll make something new happen in the world. They'll be able to, but not as of yet.

And I still disagree with Graeme. The new boss is much different from the old boss - but worse.
 
Last edited:
Timeline shamelessly stolen from Reddit user u/longweekends:

The big news is this:

Officials noticed an uptick in communication between Flynn and Kislyak shortly after Flynn's trip to Moscow in December 2015.

This is far earlier than all known communications between Russia and Trump team. It matches well with:

Flynn joining Team Trump by late Feb 2016 or earlier

DNC and Podesta hacks by GRU (Russian military intel) from Mar 10 - 22

Assembling of Trump Treason Team (Sessions, Page, Gordon) likely at a Mar 21 meeting.

Official hire of Manafort, March 28.

This strongly suggests Flynn was the original link between Russian intel and Trump campaign, and Flynn was the conduit for the plan to hack the DNC and use the contents against Clinton.

Full chronology

Please forgive abbreviations - saves characters:

T = Trump, Cn = Clinton, Co = Comey, O = Obama, F = Flynn, M = Manafort, S = Sessions, Pc = Pence, Pg = Page, Pd = Podesta, Pu = Putin, G2 = Guccifer 2.0 (front for GRU), WL = Wikileaks, Rus = Russia, Russians etc, Ukr = Ukraine, Ukrainians etc, Y = Yates, Kk = Kislyak, Ba = Bannon, Pr = Priebus, McG = McGahn, Ku = Kushner

Date Event

2015

6/16 T announces run.

“Summer” Cozy Bear (Rus SVG intel) breaches DNC

8/14 S advising T on immigration

8/21 S joint appearance with T

12/10 F attends RT gala in Moscow, paid $$ for this, meets Pu, Kk

12/18 Pu praises T at press conf, calls him "yarkiyy" ("brilliant", "colourful")

2016 ---------

"Shortly after Dec 15" Uptick in communications b/w F and Kk

2/2 Rus considers privatising Rosneft. Rus economy poor due to sanctions, low oil price

2/27 F advising T on foreign policy, incl Rus

3/1 Super Tues. Good results for Cn and T

3/10 Attempted (successful?) spearphishing on DNC (likely Fancy Bear = GRU, Rus military intel)

3/17 S, now T’s nat’l security adviser, says “no reason for the US and Rus to be at this loggerheads”

3/19 Successful spearphishing on Pd, likely by GRU

3/21 T tells WaPo Pg is advisor. In other reports, Pg is part of Nat Sec team led by S. T also criticises NATO. On same day, meets with S and other legislators, has news conf at unfinished DC hotel. Poss. date of crucial nat sec meeting (possibly S, Pg, JD Gordon) at DC hotel, later referred to by Gordon

3/22 Pg tells WaPo he has met with T campaign

3/22 Further successful spearphishing on DNC, prob by GRU

3/28 T names M as advisor (to manage delegates)

“Spring” FBI begins i’gation of M as outgrowth of crim i’gation, focus on why in “such close contact” with Rus and Ukr intel. No warrant on M yet

4/18 T reorganises campaign, putting M in charge

4/19 DCLeaks.com domain registered

4/27 T gives foreign policy speech re closer ties with Rus. T briefly meets / greets K. S present

5/4 T wins Indiana primary, becomes presumptive nominee

~5/4 First DNS lookups on T - Alfa Bank server

~5/25 GRU access to DNC ends. Latest part of DNC data later leaked by WL

6/3 WL creates torrent of DNC data

6/12 Assange announces WL will soon release data on C

6/14 News breaks of DNC hack incl “oppo research” on T (and targetting of T and C campaigns and some GOP PACs)

6/15 First release of DNC data by “G2” (US intel believes = GRU), being T oppo file

6/16 McCarthy to Ryan: “think Pu pays T”

6/19 WL tweets out “insurance” file of DNC / G2 data

~7/7 Pg travels to Rus, criticises US policy, meets Rus Dep PM. Pg later admits he met Rosneft exec - likely on this trip

“Late July” FBI counter-intel i’gation of T assocs and Rus begins, prompted by Pg’s trip.

~7/13 Pre-convention platform meeting: T staffers JD Gordon and Matt Miller soften language on US aid to Ukr (vs Rus). Gordon says due to T’s view, at March “nat sec meeting” at unfinished T hotel in DC, that didn’t want “WW3” over Ukr.

7/18 Repub Nat’l Convention begins.

~7/20 K meets S, Pg and Gordon at RNC. Artamenko also at RNC and meets T advisors (? at same meeting).

7/21 Repub convention ends.

10.30am, 7/22 First WL dump of DNC data.

7/25 Dem convention begins.

7/27 T says at press conf, “Rus, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” Last press conf of campaign.

7/28 Dem convention ends.

~Jul/Aug Around time of WL DNC release, US intercepts Rus discussing contact with T assocs. At same time, European allies tell US intel re “people close to T” meeting Rus in “Netherlands, Britain and other countries”. At about same time, US intercepts calls between T campaign staff, incl M, and other T assocs and Rus intelligence. At least 18 calls and emails b/w Apr and Nov 2016.

~8/2 News of Pg’s trip to Moscow breaks in HuffPo on 2 or 3 Aug, widely reported by 4 - 5 Aug. T campaign distances from Pg.

~8/4 Till 8/10, noticeable peak in activity on T / Alfa Bank server.

8/5 Morell, former CIA head, calls T “unwitting agent” of Rus.

~Early Aug Rus said to have “buyer’s remorse” on T after poor showing at RNC and in Khan scandal. T assoc meets Rus MP in Eastern Eur capital, monitored by Estonian intel.

“Late summer” FBI gets FISA warrant on Pg after he leaves campaign (ie it had “probable cause” Pg was agent of Rus).

8/14 Reports of “ledger” of multi-million $$ to M from Rus-aligned Ukrs. M first denies receiving. Some payments since conf'd.

8/19 M resigns.

8/19 M establishes shell corp. Soon after, it gets ~$13M loans from T-linked businesses.

? late Aug Western intel believes Pu met former Ukr Pres Yanukovych re whether any recs of M payments.

8/21 Stone tweets “Trust me, it will soon the Pd’s time in the barrel”.

9/5 O meets Pu at G20 summit, threatens “cyber war”.

9/7 T praises Pu during “Commander in Chief” forum, says he is better leader than O.

9/8 S meets Kk in his Senate office.

9/8 (time not clear) Kremlin spox Peskov: hope with completion of the election will have "good relations”

9/14 WL releases further DNC emails, newly received from G2 (ie GRU).

9/15 G2 / GRU releases DCCC data.

10/2 Stone tweets “Wednesday@HillaryC is done. #WL”

10/4 (Tues PM) G2 releases falsified “C Foundation” data.

10/7 (time not clear) US officially accuses Rus “senior-most officials” of hacking, disclosures (via WL etc) to interfere with election, and “scanning and probing” electoral systems.

11am, 10/7 Leak to WaPo of “pussy” tape.

4pm, 10/7 WaPo reports “pussy” tape.

4.30pm, 10/8 First dump of Pd emails.

10/31 O uses “red phone” to warn Pu not to interfere on Election Day.

11/8 Election day.

11/10 T, O meet at WH. O warns re hiring F.

11/10 Rus dep foreign minister admits contacts during campaign by Kk w/ American politicians and T supporters, incl “senators”.

11/11 T appoints F as vice-chairman of transition (Pc chairman)

11/16 T said to be considering F as Nat Sec Advisor.

11/18 T names F as Nat Sec Advisor.

Early Dec F and Ku meet Kk at T Tower.

~12/7 Sale of 19.5% of Rosneft to Glencore / Qatar / unknown.

12/8 Pg again visits Moscow.

12/9 CIA concludes Rus hacked DNC etc to help T, O orders review.

Later Dec Ku meets Gorkov, CEO of VEB Bank (at req of Kk).

Later Dec F, Ku, Ba meet with Zayed of UAE in meeting related to later Erik Prince meeting with Rus in Seychelles.

12/29 O administration announces further sanctions on Rus, incl expulsion of spies.

Later, 12/29 F, on holiday, speaks to Kk five times, discusses sanctions, says T will look favourably on no retaliation.

12/30 Pu says no retaliatory sanctions. T tweets "Great move on delay (by V. Pu) - I always knew he was very smart!"

2017

1/3 O administration signs off on rules allowing NSA to share raw SIGINT with other agencies without masking US names.

1/5 O briefed on Intel Community Ass’mt, plus synopsis of Steele Dossier. ICA concludes Rus hacked both DNC and RNC, released only DNC data, thru G2 and DCLeaks to WL and directly to public, conducted “influence campaign” (bots, trolls etc), accessed electoral thought not vote-tallying systems. Aim was to (1) damage US confidence in own democracy, (2) harm Cn and (3) assist T.

1/6 T briefed on ICA report, plus Steele Dossier synopsis.

Later, 1/6 Unclassified ICA report released.

~1/11 Erik Prince meets “close associate of Pu” in Seychelles (arranged by Zayed, F, Ku, Ba - above) to create back channel b/w US and Rus.

Before 1/20 Further efforts by O admin to widely share intel on T-Rus.

1/20 Inauguration

1/24 FBI i’views F. F lies that did not discuss sanctions with Kk in calls.

1/25 FBI sends Y “read-out” of F interview.

1/26 Acting A-G Y calls, then meets, McG, WH Counsel. Tells him that intel shows F’s story to be untrue and so he is “compromised” by Rus.

Later, 1/26 McG “immediately” briefs T, Ba, Pr.

AM, 1/27 McG meets Y, asks why it matters if one WH staffer lies to another. McG asks if can see underlying intel.

1/27 T signs “travel ban” (version 1).

PM, 1/27 T has dinner with Co, asks Co for “loyalty”.

“Late Jan” Cohen (T’s lawyer) meets Artamenko and Sater re “peace plan” for Ukr and lifting sanctions on Rus. Cohen agrees to take plan to F.

PM, 1/30 Y calls McG to say FBI agreed WH can see intel on F.

PM, 1/30 Y instructs DOJ staff not to defend T travel ban.

9.15pm, 1/30 Y fired.

~2/7 Cohen takes plan to F and “leaves it on desk” (“a week before F resigns”)

2/14 F resigns.

2/15 Pr asks FBI / intel figures to call media to “knock down” NYT story of contacts b/w T assocs / Rus spies. Co and McCabe refuse, Burr, Nunes and CIA dir Pompeo do so.

2/15 T meets with Co, asks him to end F i’gation.

“After F conversation” T calls Co, asks when FBI will say that T not under investigation.

3/9 T attempts to call US Att’y Bharara, who tells S’ assistant can’t return call.

3/10 T / S ask Bharara (and 46 other US Attorneys) to resign. He refuses.

3/11 Bharara fired.

5/8 T decides to fire Co, requests memos from S and Rosenstein.

5/9 T fires Co.

5/10 T meets Lavrov, Kk in Oval Office. Leaks highly classified intel.

5/17 Spec Prosecutor appointed.
 
Sigh. I'd love to be outraged about all this Russia stuff but I'm too busy being outraged that the US just signed deals to sell another $110 billion worth of military gear to one of the world's most oppressive regimes, a deal that would have gone ahead under Clinton, or even the much-loved Obama, just as easily. It is easy to focus one's ire on a figure like Trump but US foreign policy and their rather selective support for rights and democracy (they support them when the latter generates governments they like, otherwise they'll happily take autocratic monarchies and dictators) is a much bigger scandal and transcends any of their parties or leaders.
 
Oh, and just to make it clear that I'm not some smug, self-righteous Canadian, let's not forget that we are part of that whole thing via General Dynamics Land Systems in London which has a pre-existing deal with the Saudis that was approved by the Conservatives and that the Liberals did nothing to stop. To be honest, if the Cons hadn't signed, I'm about 99.9% certain that Trudeau would have signed off and even come to London to announce how many jobs the deal created.
 
I'm inclined to agree with @Graeme Decarie though I hope I'm a little less cynical. I remember when I took the Social Welfare history courses at university. We saw the patterns that involved rebellion, depressions, capitalism, etc. Whenever there was a depression of some kind, there would be a war followed by a period of prosperity. Of course Graeme would have better knowledge of this given his profession/vocation.

I think of the 60's and the changes that period seemed to bring. It looked like some of the forces of capitalism had been challenged and that oppression had given way a bit to allow the underdog to succeed. Of course, that hasn't actually happened. The 80's came with Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney giving neoliberalism more power. I think the forces of oppression are just dressed differently today.

I watched the Handmaid's Tale and see people like Franklin Graham trying to say Christians are oppressed. Is that scenario so far fetched?

My hopeful side hopes this is a transitional period that will bring less oppression, etc.

Perhaps I am as cynical as Graeme :whistle:

I'm sitting here in a campground listening to music, drinking good coffee and working on a crochet blanket. I'm going back to that. :p
 
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