FusionGPS Scandal May Lead to Exposure of Pay-for-Publish Journalism Scandal

I've said before that I do not think FusionGPS needs to pay reporters to publish stories. I don't think reporters would want that stated explicitly. It would lead to their firing if exposed, and even if not exposed, it would erode their narcissistic conception of themselves. And their egos are very, very important to them.

FusionGPS has allowed it has paid reporters for "research" into topics Fusion itself has been paid to be interested in.

And that's how I think the pay-for-play scandal works. Not with an explicit agreement that the reporter must publish such-or-such story. But just paying them to "research" a person who Fusion has been paid to dig dirt on.

You don't have to demand that reporters publish whatever they turn up. They'll do that almost automatically, because reporters dig up relatively few bits of information that haven't been spoon-fed to them. So any information they do dig up will 99% be published -- as long as it's not so shaky that the pitiful editorial oversight that exists now shoots it down.

So I don't think people should expect an explicit pay-for-publish agreement. Rather, FusionGPS is paying bounties to reporters to dig dirt on its targets, and then relying on reporters' own desire to break stories to achieve the ultimate goal of getting that dirt published in newspapers and on network news broadcasts.

This would still be corruption, obviously. A reporter paid by a third party to become "interested" in some target Fusion itself is being paid to discredit is a reporter acting as a headhunter to collect a bounty.

But I don't think the dirty scheme is accomplished with an explicit publish-this-and-we'll-pay you agreement. (Certainly, if such an agreement is made, you'll never see a written record of it -- that's the sort of thing they'd save for a face-to-face whisper.)

Of course, FusionGPS can also just hand-deliver stories to friendly figures in the media too -- perhaps paid to be friendly -- and let the reporter do a minimum of fact-checking before submitting it to his editors as his own "research."

And then maybe FusionGPS can dummy up its expensing ledger to claim such actual pay-to-publish deals are merely for "research."

Either way, Lee Smith continues being the hardest workin' man on the FusionGPS beat, and discusses how "journalism" is done in the Age of Fusion.

It's a must-read, read-the-whole-thing piece. He names names. He also notes, importantly, that the "Fusion Four" are former WSJ reporters, and other WSJ reporters, who previously worked with the Fusion Four, now routinely transmit Fusion-friendly talking points, and are scattered throughout the media now (as reporters tend to change employers frequently).

Although you really should read the whole thing and decide for yourselves, here's a part of it:

Carol Lee of NBC News is another WSJ alum. At her new job she has worked on Russiagate stories with Ken Dilanian, a reporter Browder believes to be a regular and reliable purveyor of Fusion GPS-manufactured talking points. In September, for instance, Lee and Dilanian broke a story about the June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, which also included Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort.
The network of journalists who take dossiers from Fusion GPS is rich and deep.
Lee and Dilanian reported, "Two sources tell NBC News that Manafort's smartphone notes from the meeting included the words 'donations' in close proximity to the reference to the Republican National Committee." NBC News was eventually forced to walk back the story when it turned out the word on Manafort's phone was "donors," not "donations," a difference that nullified the thrust of the story, which was to suggest that Russia was funneling money directly to the Trump campaign.
But who fed Lee and Dilanian their story? It seems likely from the list of people at the meeting that their sources included Veselnitskaya herself and another Russian at the meeting, Rinat Akhmetshin--who both had partnered with Fusion GPS to try to undo the Magnitsky Act on behalf of pro-Putin elements. Indeed, Simpson met with Veselnitskaya before and after her meeting with Trump Jr.--a meeting Simpson says he didn’t know about until it was later reported.
The network of journalists who take dossiers from Fusion GPS is rich and deep, which is how the company manages to seed so many stories around the media and make its money. Others whose tenure at the Wall Street Journal intersected with those of Fusion GPS principals and who have filed numerous stories on the Trump-Russia narrative that originated with Fusion GPS's "Steele" dossier include, among others, Devlin Barrett and Tom Hamburger of the Washington Post, and Matthew Rosenberg of the New York Times.
Paid Mouthpieces for Unknown Interests
...
Much of the fourth estate, it seems, is a world of Renfields, grotesque courtiers gorging on scraps left at the master’s table: reporters who conceal the for-profit sources that pay them and coordinate campaigns of political warfare with the partisan operatives and intelligence officials they’\/re supposed to be reporting on; and editors who publish conspiracies drawn from a platform for a Russian-manufactured disinformation operation furnished by former colleagues advocating on behalf of a pro-Kremlin interests to undermine American law. Why have they pushed a narrative based on a dossier that they couldn’t verify? Because they couldn't abide the results of an American election.
For nearly a year most of the press--with the exception of Yahoo News and Mother Jones--held off from reporting on the dossier because they couldn’t discern how much, if any, of it was true. It was Barack Obama who put it back in play when, as CNN reported, his four intelligence chiefs briefed the newly elected Trump in early January 2017.
"One reason the nation’s intelligence chiefs took the extraordinary step of including the synopsis in the briefing documents was to make the President-elect aware that such allegations involving him are circulating among intelligence agencies," reported CNN.
No, the point was to provide a pretext for a press that before the election had refrained from publishing the dossier to now put it out in the open. With the briefing, Obama's intelligence chiefs had re-credentialed Fusion GPS's oppo research as a news story. Now it was legitimate. Then the feeding frenzy began.
Corrupt Institutions Can’t Stop Corruption
...
Our political institutions, including the press, are designed to check the power that any one group accrues as a consequence of its sociological dynamics, and make it difficult for them to advance their narrow interests, friendships, or whims at the expense of the public. The scandal that now threatens to put a stake through the heart of the media is that it may have been paid to publicize what it knows and has known for more than a year: The Great Kremlin Conspiracy Theory is a hoax.

Or, as a friend says, it was an information operation against the incoming government, launched not by a foreign enemy faction but an even more bitter domestic enemy faction.

Posted by: Ace at 04:47 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First?

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 04, 2017 04:46 PM (+Dllb)

2 It will kill it just like Journolist!

Posted by: Moron Robbie - carried over to a good chunk of the Russian population via Mongol rape at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (y8m+O)

3 How dare any doubt the moral standing of the media?

Posted by: Jim "Human Penis" Acosta at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (3BFzK)

4 >>>>With the briefing, Obama's intelligence chiefs had re-credentialed
Fusion GPS's oppo research as a news story. Now it was legitimate. Then
the feeding frenzy began.
.
.
.So it was an orchestrated hit job from the beginning and obama was hip deep in it.

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (+Dllb)

5 Only got thru the headline sa far, but you gotta be kidding, Ace.

May Lead to Exposure of Pay-for-Publish Journalism Scandal

Ha.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (so+oy)

6 "What is to be done?" -- Vlad Lenin

My suggestion has been for The God Emperor to revoke their press-credentials and to suggest that those loyal to him, also, refuse to recognise their status as journalists.

Because they're not. NYT openly campaigns against legislators, for instance.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (6FqZa)

7
At least Corinne Brown gets 5 years in prison. Maybe Hillary should be concerned. (In the sidebar)

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (mbhDw)

8 The media must be respected because we are fair and honest. Also we are always right.

Posted by: Paul Krugman, Academic, Expert, Economist, Leftist at December 04, 2017 04:49 PM (3BFzK)

9 Enemies foreign and domestic.

Posted by: Insomniac - Nobody in Particular at December 04, 2017 04:49 PM (NWiLs)

10 Fusion GPS writes my jokes.

Posted by: Amy Schumer at December 04, 2017 04:50 PM (3BFzK)

11 I gotta disagree with you on this a bit. Bill Browder, who was one of the first witnesses before the Senate Intel (or maybe Judiciary) was slimed by Fusion as part of the original Magnitsky Act. He stated that the articles coming out against him were explicitly paid for by Fusion.

There tactic then was to find marginal freelance type reporters who needed a break to get relevant again and give them the story and money. Money was needed because the stories were totally unsourced and put the reporter at risk.

They may not pay everyone but it does seem they pay some.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 04:50 PM (/tuJf)

12 I just got a new grill for my birfday (okay it is a birfday Christmas gift frigging December birthdays.) It is very nice! I need to char some mammal flesh.

Posted by: blaster at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (jHrzU)

13 I think this goes deeper than many believe. I am pretty sure that democrat donor money goes directly to members of the press. Pay for play, if they report stories beneficial to the DNC.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (7ZVPa)

14 I have evidence that Donald Trump has paid for news stories on countless occasions.

...By that I mean he paid the paperboy.

Posted by: Brian Ross at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (oVJmc)

15
Self Censored

Tis better to be thought crazy than it is to post something that gets you arrested.

Think what you will. Whatever you think, it will fall short.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse, Real Lee at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (KdDCu)

16 At least Corinne Brown gets 5 years in prison. Maybe Hillary should be concerned. (In the sidebar)

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (mbhDw)

----

Naaaaaaw *hic*

Kereen is BLACK.... and from the SOUTH. *hic*

I'M COVERED HERE.

*hic* *shoefly* *Sharrrrrrrrrrt* *thud*

*barrrrrf*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (8XRCm)

17
So it's nothing like giving millions to the Clinton Foundation and getting uranium in return.

Posted by: Move it on over at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (/zwDg)

18 I bet the unmasking stuff is tied to Fusion GPS too.

Posted by: TexasDan at December 04, 2017 04:52 PM (yL25O)

19 I'm getting some pretty nice fat envelopes.

You don't really think I thought the chocolate jesus would be a great preezy because of his pants crease?

Posted by: David Brooks at December 04, 2017 04:52 PM (3BFzK)

20 Drain the damn swamp

Build the damn Wall

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 04:53 PM (GsAUU)

21 I do chuckle at the idea there was ever an impartial press...

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at December 04, 2017 04:53 PM (MINbv)

22 Pay for print is probably easier money than selling ads. Remember classified ads? Gone the way of the buggy whip.

Posted by: Dang at December 04, 2017 04:53 PM (WO9PR)

23 Gotta tell you, I've become very cynical about any of amounting to anything.

We literally only have two people putting up a fight, Trump and Devin Nunes.

We ain't voting our way out of our predicament.

We tried that and look where we are.

Posted by: Kreplach at December 04, 2017 04:53 PM (olOmu)

24 I'm struggling for a succinct thing to call this .... how about

Fake News!

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 04, 2017 04:53 PM (cAXIk)

25 How does that "paid reporters for research" thing work? Serious question, every place I've worked you get caught moonlighting like that and you are out. I have no experience in journalism, but does anybody know - is this normal?

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at December 04, 2017 04:53 PM (kUmUV)

26 It's worth noting that most of the press corpse would do this kind of thing gratis.

Posted by: Mr. Peebles at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (oVJmc)

27 GO GATA!!!!

Posted by: Corrine Brown in Orange at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (GsAUU)

28 IRS form 4506T (Request for Tax Transcripts) would clear all of this up, unless they've been cheating on their taxes too, and man, President Trump would not like that.

Posted by: x at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (nFwvY)

29 i am not seeing flaming skulls for the supremes and travel ban

Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (QC/4S)

30
All you who 'mented above me:

I didn't see no "nood" from any of yous in the thread below.

Posted by: Soothsayer SLX Pro Series II Platinum Turbo at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (H2Gtd)

31 That money will come in handy for my 'suspension.'

Posted by: Brian Ross at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (oVJmc)

32 Bring out your press corpse.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (LjR2k)

33 >>So it was an orchestrated hit job from the beginning and obama was hip deep in it.

Check out Shailagh Murray. She is a former journalist who was also a senior communications aide to both Biden and then Obama from 2015 - 2017.

She is also married to Neil King who was a Wall Street Journal reporter before he went to work for, wait for it, Fusion GPS.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 04:55 PM (/tuJf)

34 #RestoreTrustInJournalism
#SignThe4506TNowAsshole

Posted by: x at December 04, 2017 04:55 PM (nFwvY)

35 but an even more bitter domestic enemy faction.

The number of spoiled past their lie by date jokes is within a tenth of the number of substitutable adjectives.

Posted by: DaveA at December 04, 2017 04:55 PM (FhXTo)

36 there should be, if may say so myself, this is HUGE

Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 04:55 PM (QC/4S)

37 every place I've worked you get caught moonlighting like that and you are out. I have no experience in journalism, but does anybody know - is this normal?

Posted by: moon_over_vermont

--

If you are a 1099 employee, they can't prevent it. If you are a real employee, it depends if you are doing things they approve of or not.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (7ZVPa)

38 O/T sorry

Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (QC/4S)

39 6 "What is to be done?" -- Vlad Lenin

My suggestion has been for The God Emperor to revoke their press-credentials and to suggest that those loyal to him, also, refuse to recognise their status as journalists.

Because they're not. NYT openly campaigns against legislators, for instance.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at December 04, 2017 04:48 PM (6FqZa)

--BTH, something to chew over if we can ever get a History Thread going:

Only recently in my reading did I learn that What Is To Be Done? was the title of a novel by a 19th century commie, Nikolai Chernyshevsky.

Posted by: Corrine Brown in Orange at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (GsAUU)

40 If this were my planet that Hawaiian judge would be impeached.

Posted by: Dang at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (WO9PR)

41 TL;DR - Is anyone going to jail?

Posted by: rickb223 at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (sqaXk)

42 It's a must-read, read-the-whole-thing piece. He names names. He also notes, importantly, that the "Fusion Four" are former WSJ reporters, and other WSJ reporters, who previously worked with the Fusion Four, now routinely transmit Fusion-friendly talking points, and are scattered throughout the media now (as reporters tend to change employers frequently).

------

Now.

THAT looks like..... oh what that's word..... Itll come to me..... oh...yeah....

... collusion.

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (8XRCm)

43 I was promised a hot Russian mail order bride if I voted for Trump....

Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (LiyEm)

44 Shit

/Go Gata sock

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (GsAUU)

45
talk about nasty sock.

Posted by: fixerupper at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (8XRCm)

46 The press is the best at deciding what you rubes should know of.

Posted by: Jim "Human Penis" Acosta at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (3BFzK)

47 Notice that the Dims have totally dropped this Fusion GPS shit now because it has come back to bite them on the ass.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (mpXpK)

48 Look who hit her head on the glass ceiling.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (LjR2k)

49 There is another facet to this (provided your take on how it works is valid)...and that's timing of the info dump. Fusion GPS and these journalists enlisted to dig up dirt no doubt would coordinate the release of the information/story. This is supported by obvious close relationships you see between some journalists and Fusion GPS employees...sometimes even sharing the byline.

This is propoganda...and it's weaponized for the greatest effect.

Posted by: Orson at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (hcAOz)

50 Long post by Steyn, but worth it:

https://www.steynonline.com/8292/a-land-of-mini-coups

Since January 20th, the party that lost the election has been, supposedly, out of power. But its appointees remain in charge - to the point where the President has to go to court to evict the in effect self-appointed head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - a lawless and unaccountable body so beyond the much vaunted "checks and balances" of the US Constitution that it can shake down its targets (banks) and transfer the proceeds to its ideological allies (anti-capitalist activist groups). The permanent bureaucracy's argument re the CFPB is that elections don't matter. Primitive countries have coups against the president; subtler systems have a thousand below-the-radar coups in every rinky-dink lbureau and agency.

As Peter Roff puts it in US News:

In case anyone still doubts it, the deep state is real.

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (GsAUU)

51 Write a fake document.
Shop it around.
Give it to John McStain.
Hand it over to Hillary and Obama Deep State Big Govt Agents
TADA
News!
To bad the story didn't have the russian whores pission on the Obamas, not just a bed they slept in.

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 04, 2017 04:57 PM (BtQd4)

52 Meanwhile is their lawn "gamesmanship" for the guy who didn't rake up all his leaves during yesterdays warm calm weather so that this mornings Chicagoland bluster put them on my nice clean just ran the mower outta gas lawn? WTFBBQ!@#$%^*(11ty!

Posted by: DaveA at December 04, 2017 04:58 PM (FhXTo)

53 I didn't see no "nood" from any of yous in the thread below.
Posted by: Soothsayer SLX Pro Series II Platinum Turbo at December 04, 2017 04:54 PM (H2Gtd)

-----

It's because we thought you were BSG......

Posted by: fixerupper at December 04, 2017 04:58 PM (8XRCm)

54 Yeah its been sort of obvious for a long time now that certain organizations could without trouble get press releases published in even the allegedly most lofty newspapers in the country. Getting your latest ALAR scare release or list of hate crime organizations printed in the New York Times means every news show will be talking about it as well.

And they barely even would edit the press release.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 04:59 PM (39g3+)

55 12
I just got a new grill for my birfday (okay it is a birfday Christmas
gift frigging December birthdays.) It is very nice! I need to char
some mammal flesh.

Posted by: blaster at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (jHrzU)

happy birthday blaster

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 04, 2017 04:59 PM (mpXpK)

56 If you are a 1099 employee, they can't prevent it. If you are a real employee, it depends if you are doing things they approve of or not.
Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (7ZVPa)

I could well be naive but I always figured reporters for major news organizations were employees, not independent contractors.

Posted by: moon_over_vermont at December 04, 2017 04:59 PM (kUmUV)

57 Wasn't there a story about embassy staffs that refuse to put up Trump's official portrait?

Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 05:00 PM (LiyEm)

58 I'm less than 10 miles from your house...

Posted by: BSG Stalker at December 04, 2017 05:00 PM (lTgSZ)

59 Hey Paine - I think these might also be the times that try men*s souls.

Posted by: Archer at December 04, 2017 05:00 PM (gbWkA)

60 Donald Trump has been in the news for over 40 years. If you had to pay people to do investigative research on him that says a lot more about your industry than it does him.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:01 PM (sX1BW)

61 Wasn't there a story about embassy staffs that refuse to put up Trump's official portrait?
Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 05:00 PM (LiyEm)

---

yes

One of the VA hospitals too

Posted by: fixerupper at December 04, 2017 05:01 PM (8XRCm)

62 47 Notice that the Dims have totally dropped this Fusion GPS shit now because it has come back to bite them on the ass.

Odd that..... They are all in on the Obstruction charge now having given up on Collusion

Posted by: It's me donna at December 04, 2017 05:02 PM (O2RFr)

63 I can do whatever I want...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

You can't stop me...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'm more powerful than the president...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Comey is my homey...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Strzok works for me...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Sessions is a moron...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

You'll never catch me...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Posted by: Malevolent Mueller at December 04, 2017 05:02 PM (03xNs)

64
There tactic then was to find marginal freelance type reporters who needed a break to get relevant again and give them the story and money. Money was needed because the stories were totally unsourced and put the reporter at risk.

They may not pay everyone but it does seem they pay some.
Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 04:50 PM (/tuJf)

Only have to pay some. How many "original" articles out there are little more than "This other news organization reports that..." You pay three reporters to put out a story and you get 60 articles about it.

Posted by: buzzion - guess my sign at December 04, 2017 05:02 PM (z/Ubi)

65 Does anyone have an address for Mr Ed's mom? Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Peter Strozk at December 04, 2017 05:04 PM (Jj+59)

66 Opossum breaks into liquor store ,gets drunk on bourbon...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0026930/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 05:04 PM (LiyEm)

67 "Much of the fourth estate...."

I started calling it the fourth ghetto about 4 or 5years ago; it didn't catch on. Of course, it was less obvious then.

Maybe the MSM Ghetto would be better. I see a need for journalism, and there are still good sources, so sometimes when I say MSM, or press, I feel bad b/c I'm lumping good & bad together.

Maybe I can use "ghetto" or "gutter" MSM to signal the distinction. B/c the legacy media has basically become gutter trash. But other media outlets are trying to fight the good fight.

Posted by: Gumdrop Gorilla and Professor Chaos at December 04, 2017 05:05 PM (phyXb)

68 "This other news organization reports that..." You pay three reporters to put out a story and you get 60 articles about it.
Posted by: buzzion - guess my sign

This just in, It's being reported that Trump! is a meany and a doody head.
We'll have more on this story as developments happen.

Now on to Jeanette with this weeks Happy Chef!

Posted by: Bruce at December 04, 2017 05:05 PM (8ikIW)

69 LMAO, Curb Your Enthusiasm is hilarious this week.

Fatwa: The Musical > Hamilton

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 05:05 PM (GsAUU)

70 I do wonder about this. I mean it seems like one of those "I've always thought so" things that inevitably gets confirmed but we have had so many of those lately the streak has to break eventually

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:06 PM (39g3+)

71 Oops this is the right link for 66

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/282453/

Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 05:06 PM (LiyEm)

72 >>>I'm less than 10 miles from your house...
Posted by: BSG Stalker at December 04, 2017 05:00 PM (lTgSZ)

Stop in, then.
Best to climb in a window. I am kind of picky about who comes in the door. And be courteous of my neighbors, so wear all black and do it at night.
Might be cold, too. Better wear a ski mask!!

C ya soon!

Posted by: Banana Splits Guy - Ho Ho Hoing to the Holidays at December 04, 2017 05:07 PM (/1jBG)

73 >>Only have to pay some. How many "original" articles out there are little more than "This other news organization reports that..." You pay three reporters to put out a story and you get 60 articles about it.

Exactly.

And if you dig up some old articles about Glenn Simpson and the founding of Fusion, he claims the biggest reason he left the WSJ to do this was because media everywhere was cutting back on the money they were spending on investigative resources so he saw a perfect fit, Fusion would be the outsourced organization for needed investigative information.

No way in hell that he was giving every story to media sources without being compensated for it at least some times and not just relying on donors like Hillary and the DNC to fund him.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:07 PM (/tuJf)

74 57 Wasn't there a story about embassy staffs that refuse to put up Trump's official portrait?
Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 05:00 PM (LiyEm)

I did a fair amount of business in DC. I have seen women's desk with 8x10's of King Hussein; with candles, beads (rosary?), little Mary and Jesus statues.

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 04, 2017 05:07 PM (BtQd4)

75 Only have to pay some. How many "original" articles out there are little more than "This other news organization reports that..." You pay three reporters to put out a story and you get 60 articles about it.

Rush hit it on the head a while back when he noticed that that was pretty much SOP for Progda.

And we also get, "critics have said," "_______ is controversial" and other assorted BS. Very little actual fact finding is going on. But then again, why would they be doing that when their goal is to depose PDT ASAP?

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at December 04, 2017 05:07 PM (tRaq7)

76 Oops this is the right link for 66

----

You're doing it wrong.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 04, 2017 05:07 PM (8XRCm)

77 I'd love to see the NYT and CNN caught in this trap. Especially that asshole Tapper

Posted by: CN at December 04, 2017 05:08 PM (5gaNQ)

78 Are there any fingerprints of that FBI guy on the Fusion GPS dossier?

Posted by: Old Blue at December 04, 2017 05:08 PM (gEvQ8)

79 72 I'll come down the chimney.

WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!

Leave cookies and milk, please.

Posted by: BSG Stalker at December 04, 2017 05:09 PM (kUotE)

80
Since members of the MFM all want to be the next Woodward and Bernstein you'd think someone would hop on this story, but I guess writing, Trump will be impeached any second now stories are taking up all of their time

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 04, 2017 05:09 PM (493sH)

81 12 I just got a new grill for my birfday (okay it is a birfday Christmas gift frigging December birthdays.) It is very nice! I need to char some mammal flesh.

Posted by: blaster at December 04, 2017 04:51 PM (jHrzU)

I saw a story somewhere today that partaking of charred mammal flesh is perpetuating the patriarchy! or some such crap. Happy Birfday!

Posted by: the Butcher at December 04, 2017 05:09 PM (DIosY)

82 How many stalkers do I have?
I need to know how many to set the table for.

Posted by: Banana Splits Guy - Ho Ho Hoing to the Holidays at December 04, 2017 05:10 PM (/1jBG)

83 23 Gotta tell you, I've become very cynical about any of amounting to anything.

We literally only have two people putting up a fight, Trump and Devin Nunes.

We ain't voting our way out of our predicament.

We tried that and look where we are.

Hahaha, JackStraw assured me personally that Trey (Anderson Cooper) Gowdy was OTJ. Hahahaha. Top. Men.

Posted by: Yor, the Hunter from the Future at December 04, 2017 05:10 PM (Jj+59)

84 Obviously the MSM is included in our glorious Administrative State consisting of members from both the Inner and Outer Party.

Lean Forward, Comrads!

Posted by: Monk at December 04, 2017 05:10 PM (g4lFK)

85 Happy 29th birthday, blaster!

Posted by: bluebell at December 04, 2017 05:11 PM (UoSKV)

86 Trey Gowdy converting to Mormonism.

Posted by: Yor, the Hunter from the Future at December 04, 2017 05:11 PM (Jj+59)

87 Since members of the MFM all want to be the next Woodward and Bernstein you'd think someone would hop on this story, but I guess writing, Trump will be impeached any second now stories are taking up all of their time

-------------

Ah see Woodward and Bernstein aren't remembered for holding the government accountable. They are remembered for bringing down a president, more specifically a Republican, even more specifically - Tricky Dick.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:11 PM (sX1BW)

88 Boxers of holding.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:11 PM (LjR2k)

89 Trey Gowdy converting to Mormonism.

-------

For the wives?

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:12 PM (sX1BW)

90 I do wonder about this. I mean it seems like one of those "I've always thought so" things that inevitably gets confirmed but we have had so many of those lately the streak has to break eventually
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
---------

The problem is that the swinish multitude do not know about these things, nor grasp the significance.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 04, 2017 05:12 PM (NL+DJ)

91 Posted by: Malevolent Mueller at December 04, 2017 05:02 PM (03xNs)

--You're not so malevolent as to bust the margins, at least.

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 05:12 PM (GsAUU)

92 Another way to hit CNN and NBC:

Jeff Zucker runs CNN, but was previously Matt Laeur's boss at NBC for many years.

They both started out on The Today Show in 1992, and their stars rose together. I wonder if Matt gave Zucker seconds.

Seriously, Zucker had to know all about Matt, and was an enabler.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 04, 2017 05:13 PM (cAXIk)

93 88 Boxers of holding.
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:11 PM (LjR2k)

Something something, joke about even with them on you're still about to become over-encumbered.

Posted by: buzzion - guess my sign at December 04, 2017 05:13 PM (z/Ubi)

94 JackStraw, you are like the Cliff Notes edition to what is really going on.

Thank you for keeping me and I assume other morons grounded, sane, and in the loop. Much appreciated!

Posted by: Monk at December 04, 2017 05:13 PM (g4lFK)

95 Read the text of the Supreme Court decision today, and was very pleasantly surprised. The injunction from the Hawaiian judge has been appealed to the 9th Circuit; the Trump admin bypassed the 9th and went straigt to the Supremes to block the injunction. The Supreme Court granted that, indicating that they think that is likely that it will stand up when it gets to them, and furthermore added that even if the 9th Circuit agrees with the Hawaiian judge, the injunction will not be reinstated unless the SCOTUS denies the request to give the case cert. Which, with this decision they have guaranteed they will do.

To put it in layman's terms, in the text of this decision today the SCOTUS told the 9th Circus "Go ahead and do whatever you want, because we've pre-emptively ruled that no matter what you do it don't mean shit."

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:13 PM (k1TUh)

96 To put it in layman's terms, in the text of this decision today the SCOTUS told the 9th Circus "Go ahead and do whatever you want, because we've pre-emptively ruled that no matter what you do it don't mean shit."
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:13 PM (k1TUh)

--We need to start impeaching judges.

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 05:14 PM (GsAUU)

97 56 If you are a 1099 employee, they can't prevent it. If you are a real employee, it depends if you are doing things they approve of or not.
Posted by: Vashta Nerada at December 04, 2017 04:56 PM (7ZVPa)

I could well be naive but I always figured reporters for major news organizations were employees, not independent contractors.
Posted by: moon_over_vermont at December 04, 2017 04:59 PM (kUmUV)

They use stringers a LOT.

Posted by: Insomniac - Nobody in Particular at December 04, 2017 05:14 PM (NWiLs)

98 We will need to legalize weed at this rate just to make enough rope for the future.

Posted by: Monk at December 04, 2017 05:15 PM (g4lFK)

99 Rope is made in China.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:16 PM (LjR2k)

100 Reminder: John McCain's fingerprints were literally on the "Russia dossier" folder he handed to Comey.

Posted by: Born Free at December 04, 2017 05:16 PM (kpllD)

101 8 The media must be respected because we are fair and honest. Also we are always right.

Posted by: Paul Krugman, Academic, Expert, Economist, Leftist at December 04, 2017 04:49 PM (3BFzK)

Nope.

Left.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:17 PM (7UW64)

102 can you say Incestuous?

Nice try... I knew you could...

Posted by: Some guy wearing a sweater... at December 04, 2017 05:17 PM (NgKpN)

103 >>Thank you for keeping me and I assume other morons grounded, sane, and in the loop. Much appreciated!

My pleasure. Watching this whole thing come apart is truly amazing.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:17 PM (/tuJf)

104 Awhile back now, but NYTimes announced they are going to take funding from outside organizations. I think WaPo is considering it.

NYT said it won't affect their reporting. Bwhahaha. Right.

So this stuff is gonna get worse, but be winked at and allowed. Unless it is always noted where they are receiving funds.

And that will be up to blogs & other sources until it is drilled into people's heads what sources are objective and not corrupted by outside money.

It's like how the BBC receives major government funding but says they are not impacted by that. What doody-head believes such nonsense? Of course it is. But hey, I didn't know it for the longest time, and most people don't. Somthey take the BBC as an objective news source. Ain't.

Posted by: Gumdrop Gorilla and Professor Chaos at December 04, 2017 05:17 PM (phyXb)

105 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!

Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (fqUgw)

106 And that will be up to blogs & other sources until it is drilled into people's heads what sources are objective and not corrupted by outside money.

------------

The answer is very few.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (sX1BW)

107 Just received an email at work that had the following sentence - Each manager will receive a brand new purple page for their Green Folder via inter office mail this week.

- Is it bad that I wanted to respond to the sender with - I saw the purple page open for the Green Folders at the Cow Palace in 1971?

Posted by: Archer at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (gbWkA)

108
66 Opossum breaks into liquor store ,gets drunk on bourbon...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0026930/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Posted by: steevy at December 04, 2017 05:04 PM (LiyEm)

That ewok looks positively.....snockered.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (7UW64)

109 105 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!
Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (fqUgw)

I fully expect something along these lines to actually happen.

Posted by: buzzion - guess my sign at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (z/Ubi)

110 107 Just received an email at work that had the following sentence - Each manager will receive a brand new purple page for their Green Folder via inter office mail this week.

- Is it bad that I wanted to respond to the sender with - I saw the purple page open for the Green Folders at the Cow Palace in 1971?
Posted by: Archer at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (gbWkA)

Yes. Because clearly they played the Cow Palace in 1973, not 1971.

Posted by: buzzion - guess my sign at December 04, 2017 05:20 PM (z/Ubi)

111 105 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!
Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM

How many divisions have ya got?

In the end, that's what it always comes down to.

btw, notice how nobody is even pretending that liberal wannabe is really the head of the CFB anymore? It was all a stunt, and they knew it was a stunt.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:20 PM (k1TUh)

112 >Thank you for keeping me and I assume other morons grounded, sane, and in the loop. Much appreciated!

My pleasure. Watching this whole thing come apart is truly amazing.
Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:17 PM (/tuJf)

Jack Straw did Cliff Notes? Where? *head swivels* I mentioned last thread I needed that b/c I couldn't keep track. I shall now go scroll the comments.

Posted by: Gumdrop Gorilla and Professor Chaos at December 04, 2017 05:20 PM (phyXb)

113 Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

Posted by: kallisto at December 04, 2017 05:20 PM (eFRS+)

114 Well, crap, I was on the wrong thread. I never do this but . . . Check Drudge. Supremes "allow" full travel ban! The winning, it's delish.

Posted by: Peaches at December 04, 2017 05:20 PM (14URa)

115 Each manager will receive a brand new purple page for their Green Folder via inter office mail this week.

Whose fasion sense is that?

Posted by: Green Goes With Salmon at December 04, 2017 05:20 PM (fuK7c)

116 For someone with a lot of time on their hands, a review of the reporting on the Planned Parenthood videos would be interesting.

If you remember a couple weeks after the videos hit, a very broad media campaign began claiming that a forensic review of the videos proved they were altered and that helped kill the whole story.

The company hired to manage the forensic review? Fusion GPS.

I'm willing to bet they did a lot more than just review the tapes, they fed this story to all friendly media organizations.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (/tuJf)

117 How many air craft carrier battle groups does the judge have?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (LjR2k)

118 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!

Bet they try it.

For real.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (39g3+)

119 ' Is it bad that I wanted to respond to the sender with - I saw the purple page open for the Green Folders at the Cow Palace in 1971?'

Yeh...that's bad.

Green Folders didn't play there till '72.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (EyPfd)

120 105 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!

Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (fqUgw)

You....will.....respect......mah......authoritah!

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (7UW64)

121 My feelings on non-partisan media is the same as non-partisan agencies. They do not and cannot exist. Sure there will be periods where they will be less partisan, and some people will be better than others, but in the end, they will become partisan instruments.

Personally, I think we are better off just admitting that than demanding a perfection that cannot exist.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (sX1BW)

122
Bet they try it.

For real.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (39g3+)
They aren't called the Ninth Circus for nothing. Assholes.

Posted by: Peaches at December 04, 2017 05:22 PM (14URa)

123 Spitballing here. There have been many leaks to MSM from Muller-friendly sources hanging a lot on Peter Strzok.

Is this an effort to call him an overzealous rogue agent, overcome with justifiable Trump hate, and deflect from a more systematic "effort"?

Just askin'

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 04, 2017 05:22 PM (cAXIk)

124 Watching this whole thing come apart is truly amazing.

Here we go:

https://youtu.be/kqVwHJPV-XE?t=199

Posted by: DaveA at December 04, 2017 05:22 PM (FhXTo)

125 '72...and '73.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (EyPfd)

126 Ready the muslipult.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (LjR2k)

127 Posted by: Paul Krugman, Former Enron Advisor, Academic, Expert, Economist, Leftist at December 04, 2017 04:49 PM (3BFzK)

FIFY

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (wYseH)

128 107 Just received an email at work that had the following sentence - Each manager will receive a brand new purple page for their Green Folder via inter office mail this week.

- Is it bad that I wanted to respond to the sender with - I saw the purple page open for the Green Folders at the Cow Palace in 1971?
Posted by: Archer at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (gbWkA)

No Padwan, it only shows that your training is complete...

Posted by: Obi Won Moron at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (NgKpN)

129 I'm willing to bet they did a lot more than just review the tapes, they fed this story to all friendly media organizations.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:21 PM (/tuJf)

I never saw a single thing stating what was altered, just that they were altered. And that was enough for folks to believe that PP wasn't marketing dead babies.

I also didn't believe a word of the smear.

Then they released the full tapes, and that's when some judge smacked the taper with some awful charges that are completely bogus.

Money flows, folks, and the mucky goo follows the money.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (7UW64)

130 'The company hired to manage the forensic review? Fusion GPS. "

4 Reellz?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (EyPfd)

131 120. Go and do what must be done.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Booking Agent, Aero Pinochet at December 04, 2017 05:23 PM (DeaPg)

132 You should wear more flare.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:24 PM (LjR2k)

133 "btw, notice how nobody is even pretending that liberal wannabe is really the head of the CFB anymore? It was all a stunt, and they knew it was a stunt."

If by "stunt" you mean "game of chicken". They'd have been thrilled if Trump did the GOPe thing and accepted their "interpretation" of the laws.

Posted by: Rob Crawford at December 04, 2017 05:24 PM (5DOfS)

134 In other "here's my shocked face" news:

Christiane Amanpour to replace Charlie Rose on PBS

Out: Big time lefty.

In: Bigger time lefty Anti-American globalist Trump Hater.

Posted by: WisRich at December 04, 2017 05:24 PM (G0vdT)

135 So I don't think people should expect an explicit pay-for-publish agreement. Rather, FusionGPS is paying bounties to reporters to dig dirt on its targets, and then relying on reporters' own desire to break stories to achieve the ultimate goal of getting that dirt published in newspapers and on network news broadcasts.

At best that was the cover story, or the plausible denial. They were paying reporters to report what they wanted. They knew it and the reporters knew it. I'm sure the publishers knew it.

The only people who didn't know it were the subscribers.

Now they do.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 04, 2017 05:25 PM (QQ+il)

136 Just spent around a half hour reading McCarthy on how President Trump can be caught in a obstructive case where no crime was ever committed to obstruct.
The People in 1773 should have tossed all the lawyers overboard with the tea

Posted by: Skip at December 04, 2017 05:26 PM (aC6Sd)

137 If by "stunt" you mean "game of chicken". They'd have been thrilled if Trump did the GOPe thing and accepted their "interpretation" of the laws.

Posted by: Rob Crawford at December 04, 2017 05:24 PM (5DOfS)

Yeah, Trumpy don't play dat.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:26 PM (7UW64)

138 The People in 1773 should have tossed all the lawyers overboard with the tea

Posted by: Skip at December 04, 2017 05:26 PM (aC6Sd)

It's still not too late.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:27 PM (7UW64)

139 The NFL can't take him down.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:27 PM (LjR2k)

140 I think Scotus is giving the 9th and 4th Circuits a last chance to finally do the right thing. Or get reversed 7 to 2, even more harshly.

One of the issues here is district courts issuing opinions with immediate nationwide application. It's a tricky legal issue, but if the Circuits won't fix it, I think SCOTUS will,

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 04, 2017 05:27 PM (cAXIk)

141 109 105 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!
Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (fqUgw)

I fully expect something along these lines to actually happen.
Posted by: buzzion - guess my sign at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (z/Ubi)

I was just thinking the same thing, with the judge citing the precedent of LALALALA I can't hear you!! I can't hear you!!

Posted by: Bilwis, Devourer of Low Glycemic Souls at December 04, 2017 05:28 PM (tMFgx)

142 Seriously if a judge thinks they can tell the president who has exclusive power over immigration policy, that he cannot excecute immigration policy because raysiss, why not think they can overrule the Supreme Court?

These guys have already demonstrated they have no real functional concept of how the constitution or federal government works, so why not try it?

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:28 PM (39g3+)

143 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!
Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (fqUgw)

I fully expect something along these lines to actually happen.
Posted by: buzzion

Talk about black robe on black robe inviting. Go long on popcorn futures.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 04, 2017 05:28 PM (sqaXk)

144 I hope the 9th circuit judges are twitching and frothing in rage right now.

Posted by: IC at December 04, 2017 05:28 PM (a0IVu)

145 I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with the President weighing in on a prosecution or investigation being conducted by one of his agencies, because they're not.

But for the lawyer to echo "it's not illegal if the President does it" is...unfortunate.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at December 04, 2017 05:28 PM (fuK7c)

146 "They aren't called the Ninth Circus for nothing. Assholes.
Posted by: Peaches at December 04, 2017 05:22 PM"

That was what I was posting about, what to me made this short ruling today by the SCOTUS so remarkable.

They have already neutralized anything the 9th Circus can do with this case. They'll let them hear it, and let them make a decision, but have stated plainly that nothing the 9th circus does with this case will take effect until the SCOTUS itself hears the case. In other words, the 9th is going to be wasting any time they put into this.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:28 PM (k1TUh)

147 I have just issued an injunction barring the SCOTUS from allowing the enforcement of Trump's travel ban!
Posted by: Hawaii judge at December 04, 2017 05:18 PM (fqUgw)

I fully expect something along these lines to actually happen.
Posted by: buzzion

Talk about black robe on black robe inviting. Go long on popcorn futures.

*infighting

Posted by: rickb223 at December 04, 2017 05:29 PM (sqaXk)

148 Wait until the Ninth Circus all crams into their little fire truck and drives to Washington.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:29 PM (LjR2k)

149 I mean we just had a judge tell the chief executive and commander in chief with 100 % total constitutional control over the US military that he cannot ban transsexuals from being part of the military.

What limits do these guys think they have on their powers? None, apparently. They overrule the universe. They are gods that stride the earth and all us ants beneath their notice.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (39g3+)

150 I cannot figure out how some Podunk black robe is allowed to determine the fate of any executive order.

If it ain't agin' the Constitution, then it ain't agin' the rules, and who asked ya, anyways?

Or some other such legal argument, I suppose.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (7UW64)

151 Clown nose on...

Posted by: The Ninth at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (EyPfd)

152 "But for the lawyer to echo "it's not illegal if the President does it" is...unfortunate."

But in the case of a theoretical process crime such as Obstruction, it is literally true. The parts of the Executive Branch do not operate independently of the President, he has the full legal authority to direct them, without exception. The President cannot be criminally charged with obstructing himself.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (k1TUh)

153 Here is the testimony of Bill Browder before the Senate Judiciary Committee which includes what Fusion did to him.

https://tinyurl.com/yagtadwh

And here is the testimony of Thor Halvorssen, a Venezuelan human rights activist and what Fusion did to him. It's pretty horrific.

https://tinyurl.com/ybzut5jf

And the Senate knows all this. Any Democrat who tried to defend Fusion is probably in on it.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (/tuJf)

154 Just spent around a half hour reading McCarthy on how President Trump can be caught in a obstructive case where no crime was ever committed to obstruct.
The People in 1773 should have tossed all the lawyers overboard with the tea

-------------

Trump's lawyers are basically right. A President cannot be guilty of obstruction of justice in the legal world. There may be a few instances where we can think of that being the chief executive would not amount to a defense, but in terms of what most people are talking about, the President can interfere any way he wants. He can order, direct, etc. Now doing that all may be an abuse of power deserving of impeachment, but it is not obstruction of justice. But that is the point, not to be precise, but to gin up a possible claim that could lead to an impeachable offense. To do that, you have to turn public opinion. This is difficult in today's environment, particularly if the accused fights back.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (sX1BW)

155 FFS, what is wrong with Mitt Romney...he is going off on another tirade against Roy Moore. Hey asshole, where is your condemnation against Franken, huh? Gah. Can't believe I thought this idiot would make a good president.

Posted by: IC at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (a0IVu)

156 Thanks Arizona for reelecting McShitstain

Posted by: logprof at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (GsAUU)

157 Is this an effort to call him an overzealous rogue agent, overcome with justifiable Trump hate, and deflect from a more systematic "effort"?

---

I'm sort of leaning this way, too. Definite fireable (charge-able?) offense, but the story will soon be how the poor poor innocent press, FBI, Congress, DNC, Russia, etc. was suckered into all of this by this one mastermind #NeverTrumper.

And we pinky-swear we'll totes do better reporting from now on.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - carried over to a good chunk of the Russian population via Mongol rape at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (y8m+O)

158 The number of judges Donny Two Scoops is getting through this shit ain't even going to get to SCOTUS in the future.

Shut it down.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (4ErVI)

159 If only there were some guiding document which all potential laws could be compared to.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (EyPfd)

160 But for the lawyer to echo "it's not illegal if the President does it" is...unfortunate.

The wording was a bit sloppy for a lawyer especially but I think his basic thrust was correct: the president can give his opinion on this without it being illegal. Because of his position as their bosses, he cannot be charged with interference, because its his job to do this kind of thing. Just badly worded.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (39g3+)

161 But in the case of a theoretical process crime such as Obstruction, it is literally true. The parts of the Executive Branch do not operate independently of the President, he has the full legal authority to direct them, without exception. The President cannot be criminally charged with obstructing himself.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (k1TUh)

The "deep state" notwithstanding, I find it abhorrent that a bunch of half-wits think they are more empowered to run the executive branch than the executive himself.

Civics, people. Teach it, preach it, or lose it.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (7UW64)

162 Wait until the Ninth Circus all crams into their little fire truck and drives to Washington.
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 04, 2017 05:29 PM (LjR2k)
------------

I'll go into town and take video and post it for you all if that happens.

Posted by: bluebell at December 04, 2017 05:33 PM (UoSKV)

163 134 In other "here's my shocked face" news:

Christiane Amanpour to replace Charlie Rose on PBS

Out: Big time lefty.

In: Bigger time lefty Anti-American globalist Trump Hater.
Posted by: WisRich at December 04, 2017 05:24 PM (G0vdT)

Omgawd. *facepalm* At least Rose stumbled upon objectivity at times. This chick is what WisRich said.

In fact, wasn't she the one that said they would no longer be reporting all news, but just the truth? Some muddle-puddle like that? I can't remember the exact words, but it was the new form of journalism after Trump elected. Hope her show tanks.

Posted by: Gumdrop Gorilla and Professor Chaos at December 04, 2017 05:33 PM (phyXb)

164 If it ain't agin' the Constitution, then it ain't agin' the rules, and who asked ya, anyways?

Or some other such legal argument, I suppose."

THIS issue is why it is so important to elect Trump, and to never let the Dems have the Senate.

THIS is why it is so important for Roy Moore to win.

The left has been trying to take over the Judiciary for 80 years, and they mostly have. Most of the Circuit Courts are now fully functioning enforcement wings of the Democrat Party.

Trump can neutralize them by continuing his appointments, and with a Supreme Court that will support him by Injunction when necessary.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 04, 2017 05:34 PM (k1TUh)

165 If only there were some guiding document which all potential laws could be compared to.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 04, 2017 05:32 PM (EyPfd)
----------

Maybe we could hire Fusion GPS to whip up a little something for us.

Posted by: bluebell at December 04, 2017 05:34 PM (UoSKV)

166
And if you dig up some old articles about Glenn Simpson and the
founding of Fusion, he claims the biggest reason he left the WSJ to do
this was because media everywhere was cutting back on the money they
were spending on investigative resources so he saw a perfect fit, Fusion
would be the outsourced organization for needed investigative
information.

Bullshit.

They're out there manufacturing stories and pushing Putin agenda items like repealing Magnitsky.

They're globalist/leftist hatchet-men.

A journalist wrapping himself in noble motivation is almost always bullshit.

Posted by: Brian Ross at December 04, 2017 05:34 PM (oVJmc)

167 But for the lawyer to echo "it's not illegal if the President does it" is...unfortunate.

The wording was a bit sloppy for a lawyer especially but I think his basic thrust was correct: the president can give his opinion on this without it being illegal. Because of his position as their bosses, he cannot be charged with interference, because its his job to do this kind of thing. Just badly worded.

-------------

In this case, I'd just go with it, because his supporters get it. Your never going to convince the others.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:34 PM (sX1BW)

168 FFS, what is wrong with Mitt Romney...he is going
off on another tirade against Roy Moore. Hey asshole, where is your
condemnation against Franken, huh? Gah. Can't believe I thought this
idiot would make a good president.

Posted by: IC at December 04, 2017 05:31 PM (a0IVu)

Romney is a progressive. Full stop. He doesn't care that the charges against Moore are false. He only cares that Moore is an icky social conservative the likes of which he cannot support or all his progressive friends will call him a doodyhead.

Posted by: redbanzai at December 04, 2017 05:35 PM (geAkB)

169 Romney is a progressive. Full stop. He doesn't care that the charges against Moore are false. He only cares that Moore is an icky social conservative the likes of which he cannot support or all his progressive friends will call him a doodyhead.

Posted by: redbanzai at December 04, 2017 05:35 PM (geAkB)

Actually, Romney is banking on becoming a god on Planet Kobol and taking a few hot wives with him.

Guys a nut.

Check for the undies.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 04, 2017 05:36 PM (7UW64)

170 And that's how I think the pay-for-play scandal works. Not with an explicit agreement that the reporter must publish such-or-such story. But just paying them to "research" a person who Fusion has been paid to dig dirt on.

++++

I think you are giving them too much credit. I think Fusion is not only giving them a topic to research, but also a roadmap to the research the reporters need to conduct. As in, interview Person X. Make sure to talk to them about the following topics. Here is a summary of what they are prepared to say, so make sure you get it from them.

The story has already been researched. But, since Fusion needs to launder the story through a "respectable" outlet, and since the reporters have "ethics", they are paid to re-research the stories to make them printable.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at December 04, 2017 05:36 PM (pvjTE)

171 I think it helps to have more clarity on what obstruction means. Dersohowitz spoke on this, this morning. It's not obstruction for Trump to act with his Presidential authority. Dershowitz believes in the unitary executive and would go so far as to say that Trump could order the Russiagate investigation stopped.

But bribery, suborning perjury, evidence tampering are right out.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 04, 2017 05:36 PM (cAXIk)

172 That's a lot to read - will this be on the test?

Posted by: Weasel at December 04, 2017 05:36 PM (Sfs6o)

173 These people are my enemies. They mean to kill me off. And by 'my' and 'me', I mean our and us.

Posted by: Eromero at December 04, 2017 05:36 PM (zLDYs)

174 Way home on radion they were explaining how when Barak was President Holder went after Arizona who tried to uphold Federal immigration thag the Feds were not doing.
Now Holder is telling California defying the Fed immigration laws is constitutional

Posted by: Skip at December 04, 2017 05:37 PM (aC6Sd)

175 Actually, Romney is banking on becoming a god on Planet Kobol and taking a few hot wives with him.

----------

Dream big.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:37 PM (sX1BW)

176 JackStraw it's very interesting and amazing to see this entire thing unfold, and I'm hopeful other dominos will fall as well.

I'm anxious and I assume others are about the consequences must be faced by everybody involved..... and the fact that everybody involved must be held accountable. How does this occur? Because it must.

Posted by: Monk at December 04, 2017 05:37 PM (g4lFK)

177 >>They're out there manufacturing stories and pushing Putin agenda items like repealing Magnitsky.

Of course they are. You missed the point.

Major media organizations have been cutting back on investigative resources for a long time. Everyone knows this.

What Simpson was saying is that he was going to create a group to fill the void and provide the content, their content. He never said he was going to start a leftwing hatchet shop for obvious reasons.

The point is he knew that he could build narratives that would be hard to dispute because very few others would actually be digging for the truth.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:38 PM (/tuJf)

178 The wording was a bit sloppy for a lawyer especially but I think his basic thrust was correct: the president can give his opinion on this without it being illegal.

Again, I have no issue with the substance.

But the guy basically quoted Richard Nixon. That's the part I think is dumb.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at December 04, 2017 05:38 PM (fuK7c)

179 I mean we just had a judge tell the chief executive and commander in chief with 100 % total constitutional control over the US military that he cannot ban transsexuals from being part of the military.

What limits do these guys think they have on their powers? None, apparently. They overrule the universe. They are gods that stride the earth and all us ants beneath their notice.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor

Only because we allow it.

As we have said, just ignore them.
How many divisions do they control?
But no. We allow them to run roughshod over us.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 04, 2017 05:39 PM (sqaXk)

180 I remember listening to NPR in the 1980s, their "All Things Considered" show. Every world event, they would have Christiane Amanpour on there to talk about how awful America is, how terrible the US military is, and how everyone is suffering in the given nation because of imperial American pernicity.

Now at the time I was kinda leftist. Ronald Reagan scared the crap out of me, I thought he was helping out fat cat rich friends with tax cuts etc.

But even I thought "man she sounds a lot like a Kremlin plant" at the time.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:40 PM (39g3+)

181 I think it helps to have more clarity on what obstruction means. Dersohowitz spoke on this, this morning. It's not obstruction for Trump to act with his Presidential authority. Dershowitz believes in the unitary executive and would go so far as to say that Trump could order the Russiagate investigation stopped.

But bribery, suborning perjury, evidence tampering are right out.

------------

Agreed. In this case, interfering is being used to create an obstruction case. That simply cannot exist with the Unitary Executive as Dersh. says. But those other things would be crimes, presumably under a charge other than obstruction. Though maybe tampering with evidence falls under obstruction too. But no on is suggesting that. They are suggesting interfering.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:40 PM (sX1BW)

182 Amanpour did take over hosting duties for "This Week". Everyone expected her to be great....but she bombed. Not sure if she was before or after Dick Gregory that she became the host.

She definitely hates Trump and loves globalism.

Posted by: Gumdrop Gorilla and Professor Chaos at December 04, 2017 05:41 PM (phyXb)

183 I read that both Bannon and PDT are campaigning against Mitt in Utah.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 04, 2017 05:42 PM (ZOlJK)

184 Wait until these wily democrats find out Fusion is a wholly owned subsidiary of ACME inc.

MEEP! MEEP!

Posted by: Bilwis, Devourer of Low Glycemic Souls at December 04, 2017 05:42 PM (tMFgx)

185 But the guy basically quoted Richard Nixon. That's the part I think is dumb.

------------

Maybe, maybe not.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:42 PM (sX1BW)

186 The concept of an independent research/investigative journalist organization is fascinating to me and seems like a valid concept for a business. I think a few of these doing a good job would be good for everyone.

But at the same time I see how easily such a thing could be completely corrupted with big piles of cash. And how easily it would turn into simply a leftist propaganda organ.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:42 PM (39g3+)

187 I think Fusion type organizations do more than pay journalists for research. I think they point, bluntly, to where the research should look, who they should contact.

The pointers will send them right to where Fusion has already prepared the talking points they want "found."

Posted by: geoffb at December 04, 2017 05:42 PM (zOpu5)

188 But even I thought "man she sounds a lot like a Kremlin plant" at the time.

==

just your basic leftie of that era

Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 05:42 PM (QC/4S)

189 Everyone expected her to be great.

-----------

I think you meant "few"

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:43 PM (sX1BW)

190 tcn in AK

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Posted by: bonhomme at December 04, 2017 05:43 PM (zGsgt)

191 It's fitting that it's journalist-founded Fusion that will bring down the MSM.

Posted by: Lizzy at December 04, 2017 05:43 PM (W+vEI)

192 I thought Christiana was the Iranian stooge

Posted by: Skip at December 04, 2017 05:44 PM (aC6Sd)

193 144: Like Herbert Lom in the original Pink Panther movie!

Posted by: kallisto at December 04, 2017 05:44 PM (eFRS+)

194 Christiane Amanpour to replace Charlie Rose on PBS

So what's it going to be called now "Palestinian Shill"?

Posted by: tu3031 at December 04, 2017 05:44 PM (O5Q3r)

195 The concept of an independent research/investigative journalist organization is fascinating to me and seems like a valid concept for a business. I think a few of these doing a good job would be good for everyone.

But at the same time I see how easily such a thing could be completely corrupted with big piles of cash. And how easily it would turn into simply a leftist propaganda organ.

------------

Capitalism.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:45 PM (sX1BW)

196 As we have said, just ignore them.
How many divisions do they control?
But no. We allow them to run roughshod over us.

Because the Republicans are.in.on.it.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 04, 2017 05:45 PM (QQ+il)

197 >>But at the same time I see how easily such a thing could be completely corrupted with big piles of cash. And how easily it would turn into simply a leftist propaganda organ.

If you haven't already read it, you should read the testimony of Thor Halvorssen I posted above. I watched him give his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee months ago and it was jaw dropping but the written testimony is still pretty amazing.

You will see exactly how they operate, some of the thugs they work for and with and the extraordinary steps they go to build stories not just narratives. Pretty fucking scary.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:45 PM (/tuJf)

198 The Left is hanging on Trump's firing Comey as being obstruction. They'll look awfully foolish when the full truth comes out about Comey's involvement in tanking the Hillary investigation, and setting up Trump with RussiaGate and PeePee Gate.

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 04, 2017 05:45 PM (cAXIk)

199 Amanpour to replace Charlie Rose?

Bizarre out of touch network decision.

Posted by: Barack Obama is a bad, bad man at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (ylUqT)

200 I was on some other site and commented that I thought this was gonna come out. That was about six weeks ago. Everyone then fell on me like a ton of bricks. "That's not how things work" or "Stupid much" were some of the kinder responses.

Posted by: STEVE HATFILL at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (4u7kU)

201
*retarded, shit-eating grin*

Posted by: John McCain, Compromised Brain at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (id1J9)

202
But even I thought "man she sounds a lot like a Kremlin plant" at the time.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
---------

Cue the poignant music.

I actually got into a shouting match with Kwame Holman (remember him) on an AOL site. Probably ~1990. He objected when I called him an NPR flack.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (NL+DJ)

203 Afternoon, Horde.

Fusion WSJ
Fusion NBC
Fusion NYT
Fusion ABC
Fusion CBS
Fusion CNN
Fusion MSNBC
Fusion CNBC
Fusion NPR
Fusion WaPo

All oppo research all the time now. R.I.P. journalism.

Posted by: Hands Solo at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (EzdLW)

204 >>She definitely hates Trump and loves globalism.

Amanpour is one of the worst. Will never forget her scolding HW Bush. Such arrogance. And then there's her 9-11ish burning towers that is her favrite possession...

Posted by: Lizzy at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (W+vEI)

205 Ya know, I constantly think about that comment Obama made about holding this Admninstration accountable. His and others duty, I guess. It was more of a threat, and I see it being carried out all the time. Which is why I find myself thinking hmmm, what is Obama doing today.

Maybe I can find his quote in that and post it. No other President ever took upon himself the accountability of the next President and govt. and of course, it is not what Obama meant. Our press should have rung alarm bells, but our gutter msm was too busy lapping up Obama's drippings.

Ever since the search engines changed algorithms, it is much harder to find past quotes, et al. If at all.

Posted by: Gumdrop Gorilla and Professor Chaos at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (phyXb)

206 SCOTUS on Monday allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on
travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries.

This is not a final ruling on the travel ban: Challenges to the
policy are winding through the federal courts, and the justices
themselves ultimately are expected to rule on its legality.

Posted by: undocumented illegal SMOD at December 04, 2017 05:47 PM (e8kgV)

207 So what's it going to be called now "Palestinian Shill"?
Posted by: tu3031 at December 04, 2017 05:44 PM (O5Q3r)

but it's ok, because fake British accent...

Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (QC/4S)

208 The Left is hanging on Trump's firing Comey as being obstruction.

-------------

It should scare the shit out of all of us that the FBI is not treated like State in which it is expected that a new leader of that agency will be selected when a new president comes in - particularly from a different party.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (sX1BW)

209 >>Christiane Amanpour to replace Charlie Rose on PBS

AHH!

Ze Goggles - Zey Do Nothing!

Posted by: garrett at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (4EXjG)

210 207 So what's it going to be called now "Palestinian Shill"?
Posted by: tu3031 at December 04, 2017 05:44 PM (O5Q3r)

but it's ok, because fake British accent...
Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (QC/4S)

And she owns her own Joo-husband as a beard too.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (mbhDw)

211 So what's it going to be called now "Palestinian Shill"?
Posted by: tu3031 at December 04, 2017 05:44 PM (O5Q3r)

but it's ok, because fake British accent...
Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (QC/4S)

And she owns her own Joo-husband as a beard too.
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 04, 2017 05:48 PM (mbhDw)

oh, right. what an idiot - the husband

Posted by: runner at December 04, 2017 05:49 PM (QC/4S)

212 Under the other news, President Trump just signed an executive order removing the "national monument" status from two areas Obama declared. I can clue you out west here we are not fond of the federal government taking ever more of our land every time a Democrat is president.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:49 PM (39g3+)

213 Full travel ban is now in effect.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Winning!

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at December 04, 2017 05:49 PM (nUkMr)

214 Under the other news, President Trump just signed an executive order removing the "national monument" status from two areas Obama declared. I can clue you out west here we are not fond of the federal government taking ever more of our land every time a Democrat is president.

------------

Can we please go back to Mount McKinley.

Posted by: SH at December 04, 2017 05:50 PM (sX1BW)

215 I never understood lefty focus on the Comey firing. Did not Obama donor Rod Rosenstein recommend it?

Posted by: Barack Obama is a bad, bad man at December 04, 2017 05:50 PM (ylUqT)

216 Present company of moron lawyers excepted - we should kill all the lawyers and settle all our disputes via trial by combat. May God protect the right!

Posted by: Archer at December 04, 2017 05:50 PM (gbWkA)

217 who cares who is on pbs? never watched, never will. they should just put satan on, and call it a day. as long as i'm paying for congressional sex, what's the difference? we are fucked.

Posted by: chavez the hugo at December 04, 2017 05:52 PM (KP5rU)

218 nood scotus

Posted by: IC at December 04, 2017 05:52 PM (a0IVu)

219 I can clue you out west here we are not fond of the federal government taking ever more of our land every time a Democrat is president.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:49 PM (39g3+)

This.

If Calexit happens, the USA gets to keep all areas of Calif. that are under federal control, right? Gonna make the new nation-state of Calif. look like swiss cheese on a map.

Posted by: Hands Solo at December 04, 2017 05:52 PM (EzdLW)

220 Integrity. Duty. Hard-nosed Journalism. But Mostly, Prostitutes and Golden Showers.

Posted by: Fritz at December 04, 2017 05:52 PM (RtQsb)

221 >>we should kill all the lawyers

and the Mathematicians!

With their irrational numbers and their pointy heads!

Posted by: garrett at December 04, 2017 05:52 PM (4EXjG)

222 Calls to mind the Humbert Wolfe verse:

You cannot hope to bribe or twist
thank God! the British journalist.
But seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.

(Often, if understandably, misattributed to Belloc.)

Posted by: George LeS at December 04, 2017 05:52 PM (+TcCF)

223 NOOD.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 04, 2017 05:53 PM (QQ+il)

224 Amanpour's favorite scent is Eau de Arafat

Posted by: Ben Had at December 04, 2017 05:53 PM (ZOlJK)

225 trail by combat, trail by combat...my polearm is a little rusty but I think I can make it work...

Posted by: runner, waiting for willow at December 04, 2017 05:53 PM (QC/4S)

226 James Bond taught me that the Bad Guys always have a big map with a bulls-eye on their target, and a Head Villain who lays out the whole scheme, and the scheme generally requires a timer.

I have seen nothing similar in this case, so I must conclude you are just being a conspiracy nut. Therefore, the press is totes on the up and up.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at December 04, 2017 05:53 PM (JyFLk)

227 "settle all our disputes via trial by combat. May God protect the right!"

If my little shit of a son Tommen had stayed with this, he'd still be alive.

Posted by: Queen Cersei at December 04, 2017 05:53 PM (cAXIk)

228 Can we please go back to Mount McKinley.

I'm ambivolent about that one. The area has long been called Denali, and while I liked the old name I don't mind the even older one begin used.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at December 04, 2017 05:54 PM (39g3+)

229 If either the Yahoo or Buzzfeed reporter is being paid, would that impact the defamation lawsuits filed against the respective "news" sites?

Posted by: Ever at December 04, 2017 05:56 PM (wQ1Qo)

230 >>I never understood lefty focus on the Comey firing. Did not Obama donor Rod Rosenstein recommend it?

Sort of. Rosenstein was asked to write his opinion of the Comey's actions after he knew Trump was going to fire Comey. It wasn't Rosenstein's idea to can Comey and his letter had nothing to do with Trump's actual decision.

What will be interesting when this whole thing unfolds is understanding when Trump knew what had really gone down with the election.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 04, 2017 05:56 PM (/tuJf)

231 But the guy basically quoted Richard Nixon. That's the part I think is dumb.

Hitler, Nixon.
Nixon, Hitler.

They're going to ride their tricycles in circles yelling anyways. This just gets fewer laps because they're tired from the early tire slippage. Of course due to Obamacare we'll still be paying for the replacement knees.

Posted by: DaveA at December 04, 2017 05:57 PM (FhXTo)

232 197- I heard him on Hannity. His story is shocking especially cause he is a liberal. but he got in the way of the NWO agenda so he had to pay.

Posted by: kallisto at December 04, 2017 05:58 PM (eFRS+)

233 224 Amanpour's favorite scent is Eau de Arafat
Posted by: Ben Had at December 04, 2017 05:53 PM (ZOlJK)

I think that's actually "Derriere d'Arafat".

Posted by: George LeS at December 04, 2017 05:58 PM (+TcCF)

234 Heh. Watching 'The Hill'. The Sgt. Major reminds me of one that I had. Meanest SOB I've ever known. It wasn't that he didn't take care of his men, actually, he was very good about it, but he expected stract troops, and no excuses. The last thing you wanted was to attract his attention.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 04, 2017 06:02 PM (NL+DJ)

235 Can we please go back to Mount McKinley.

I'm ambivolent about that one. The area has long been called Denali, and while I liked the old name I don't mind the even older one begin used.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
---------------

I just want to go back to calling ANWR, 'barren wilderness'.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 04, 2017 06:05 PM (NL+DJ)

236 I just want to go back to calling ANWR,productive 'barren wilderness'.

Posted by: DaveA at December 04, 2017 06:07 PM (FhXTo)

237 Grand Staircase Escalante was done by Clinton.

It locked up the worlds largest deposit of clean coal which helped Clinton's buddy Riady whose Chinese controlled firm had control of the world's second largest deposit.

Clinton and Gore had to do the ribbon cutting event in a neighboring state because Utah was really mad about the land-grab.

Posted by: geoffb at December 04, 2017 06:08 PM (zOpu5)

238 Meanwhile, many conservatives still think Russia is the bad guy ...in spite of Obama and Hillary's "re-set" button, Victoria Nuland's cookies, and the five billion dollars they spent getting thousands of people killed in Ukraine, all because their puppet Ukrainian president slipped his leash.

Posted by: The Hot Gates at December 04, 2017 06:11 PM (Na/F1)

239
If I understand it in short:

evil client to FGPS: We will pay you to dig up stories that Trump is a bad, bad man. Here's $2 million.

Fusion GPS: Here mr whore journalist, we will pay 100k to dig up Trump is a bad bad man stories. You may publish what you find.

Whore journalist: Cashes check. Publishes Trump is a bad bad man story.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 04, 2017 06:17 PM (r+sAi)

240 While I like Trey Gowdy, his interview with Brett Beier is illustrative of the problem with the Republicans in Congress. They are willing to let the very people who started this bullshit to finish it. This pretty much ensures that the special counsel investigation is a never ending process derailing the Presidents agenda. Disgusting!

Posted by: Concerned Peoples Front, Splitter Chapter at December 04, 2017 06:24 PM (2X7pN)

241 Doesn't this mean that Paul Singer -> Washington Free Beacon -> Fusion GPS -> WSJ Etc. So basically all the anti-Trump propaganda is being spread by Matthew Continetti. I always thought Continetti was a little weasel but this is worse than I imagined.

Posted by: bjstuggzzz at December 04, 2017 06:31 PM (e44Qj)

242 NSA Chief Rogers is probably the only honest guy in DC. He breifed Trump and what he told him probably gay PDT a heads up on the whole shebang.

1] GPS Fusion Collusion with the Russkies.

2] GPS Fusion Creation and shopping of the Peepee Dosier.

3] GPS Fusion set of meetings with Russians between Manafort and Donald Jr.

4] GPS Fusion Peepee Dossier as a justification to FISA to unmask US Citizen conversation

5] GPS Peepee Dossier used to smear Trump in the media.

6] Setting up perjury traps based upon illegally obtained communications by Mueller

7] The orchestration of the Special Prosecutor by Comey

And more

Posted by: Minuteman at December 04, 2017 06:33 PM (A3b6q)

243 ...Continetti was a little weasel...
------
*ahem*

Posted by: Weasel at December 04, 2017 06:34 PM (Sfs6o)

244 Plus, it's funny how the same players keep showing up between the Hillary e-mail, the Uranium Selloff and the Mueller Investigation:

Obama
Hillary
Cheryl Mills
Lynch
Susan Rice
Samantha Power
Clapper
Brennan
Mueller
Comey
Rosenstein
Yates
Strzok
The Podestas
The FISA Judge

And More

Take these names and look at their activities over the past five years and the Uranium One, Organizing for Action, Clinton Foundation, Fusion GPS and the Resist Movement can be seen as part of the same criminal racket.

This is what a Mafioso government looks like. Time for Sessions to brush up on the RICO statutes. Maybe the Jersey Fatboi will like to take this on as a Special Prsecutor since he will be unemployed soon.

Posted by: Minuteman at December 04, 2017 06:51 PM (A3b6q)

245 The question it seems to me is; are these people 'agents of influence' 'fellow travelers' or only 'useful idiots'? My innate bias argues for the last or even the second. Sadly though I'm thinking the first more and more.

Posted by: Nick Danger,Third Eye at December 04, 2017 07:45 PM (c1JKE)

246 I think that scandal in and of itself is just the tip of the iceberg. Fusion GPS and those like them are just outsourcing the dirty tricks departments that Campaigns can't after Watergate. Paying Fusion through the campaign lawyers = money laundering.

This is THE heart of campaign corruption. No surprise the Democrats who still rally around burning Nixon are behind it. Hell, they still use the same language to describe Trump.

Posted by: HR Haldeman at December 04, 2017 09:14 PM (Sqrkf)

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