Today (03-20-17) the House Select Committee on Intelligence conducted it first hearing concerning Russian interference in the U.S. 2016 presidential election. FBI Director, James Comey, confirmed the FBI is conducting on ongoing investigation into Trump's Russia ties. After listening to the hearing today, it is going to be very interesting to see how this investigation turns out. The investigation continues.

You will remember that FBI Director Comey cleared Secretary Clinton and issued no warrants, subpoenas or indictments against Secretary Clinton after the FBI investigated her emails.

See:
https://www.nytimes.com/2...trump.html

If you are interested in watching this first hearing on Russian interference, you can view it at the link provided below. The hearing begins 11 minutes into the video. Another hearing is scheduled for next week.

Here is a an article that offers an analysis and six big takeaways from the House Select Committee on Intelligence Hearing today. It is important to remember that this is an ongoing investigation by the FBI. Director Comey could not state today how long the investigation would take.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/...ailsignout

Geez, give it a rest, Mary Catherine! This website actually used to be enjoyable before you decided to turn it into your own personal Trump-bashing website. I don't like Trump either but DANG. Seems like you don't have anything better to do.

Having lived through the FBI investigation into the break-in of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel back in 1972, the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee's computers in 2016, and Trump's connection to Russia seem oddly similar. Our democracy was in jeopardy back in the Nixon era, and this matter is of great concern to our national security experts -- enough to warrant a hearing by the U.S. House Select Committee on Intelligence and an FBI investigation into our current president's ties to Russia. One of the points mentioned at today's hearing is that Trump is not critical of our adversary Putin, yet Trump is critical of many, many other things. That concerns me and it should concern you.

Sorry, but I don't call an FBI investigation Trump bashing. Oh, and by the way, this message has been posted in the National/World News & Issues Forum. Many people are interested in this matter. If you are not interested, you don't have to read it.

There seems to be a problem connecting to the video of the hearing I posted earlier.

Try this link:

Shu is right Trump bashing and environmental rhetoric. As far as the proceedings today, the headline is BS, it makes it sound like there are ties. They are investigating "if there are any ties" and there has been no indication that there are or were any. Previous Obama admin security people say there was never any indication of such a thing, but I guess you don't hear that because it's not something that you want to hear.

Dear Factoid Mary:

Shu is spot-on. You are making us all "Mellon-coly".

-Chuck Grasslly stated today that Comey told him the FBI isn't even investigating Trump. You're being sucked into a non-issue.

- Voters vote based on their VALUES, NOT facts. Thus, everything you are doing is a waste of fukcing time, yours and everyone else's.(If you'd read the book I suggested you'd know this by now).

- Until progressives understand the point above and start connecting with peoples VALUES, they will continue to LOSE.

-Making this site less enjoyable for others is hurting the progressive cause.

I get you don't like Trump. I don't either. But he is the President and we are stuck with him for the foreseeable future.

PLEASE, cease and desist!

[Edited by Richard Bonine, Jr. (3/20/2017 10:29:34 PM)]

Maybe the answer is for the webmaster to add another category box below the sites on the front page. All the political bashing can be posted there. Let the idiots duke it out and let more intelligent gentle people converse on the forum.

I agree with Sage and everyone else on this matter. I really enjoy reading this site but on the front page while looking to the left column it is always cluttered with hate posts from Mary. It is really getting old.

For Mary, Amorette, and the rest of the progressive malcontents out there, I would just like to say one thing-HILLARY LOST!! Give it a break for cripes sake.

I agree with Mary. This is an investigation into possible treason. I think you all will agree this is serious. Russia interfering in our election is a huge issue if the Trump folks colluded with them it is treason. Mary keep it up.

No one is holding a gun to anyone's head forcing them to read Mary Catherine's threads.

Since so many of you Fox News-watching hayseeds seem to be a bit slow, let me make it easy for you.

If a thread has the word "Trump" in it, there is a 99% chance that Mary Catherine started it. So don't click on it.

I for one applaud Mary Catherine's dogged determination to educate the masses. The fact that we live in a time where the President of the United States of America is free to lie to the country because his minions has been brainwashed by Fox News is troubling yet fascinating to me.

That is exactly right! This is an investigation into possible treason and as U.S. citizens, both Democrat and Republican, we should be concerned. Very concerned! And, if you don't understand that, I feel sorry for you. In the meantime, I will continue posting as I follow the investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Judicial Watch is a conservative, non-partisan watchdog group composed of lawyers. Even they are concerned about Trump’s ties to Russia. In case anyone has forgotten, Russia is not our friend. They currently have nuclear missiles pointed in our direction. So, the fact that President Trump does not criticize Putin and has ties to Russia is of concern to a great many citizens here in the United States, both Democrat and Republican. Also, the fact that it appears that Putin had a clear favorite in the U.S. presidential election should make people ask why? Why did Putin favor Trump?

Read what Judicial Watch wrote about Putin:
http://www.judicialwatch....s-poisons/

President Trump and President Putin have something in common -- both do not like journalists. However, journalists are being killed in Putin’s Russia.

“Over the past decade the Russian authorities have been repeatedly urged by Western governments and international media bodies to do more to investigate the deaths of journalists. The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders frequently criticized Russia for what it described as a failure to investigate these murders. The organization further claimed that many of the murdered journalists had been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Between March 2000 and July 2007, Reporters Without Borders claimed 21 journalists were murdered in Russia because of their work.”

Read more at:
https://en.wikipedia.org..._in_Russia

This is a story about a Russian activist who recently poisoned for the second time in 2 years. He survived again – but barely.

http://www.usatoday.com/s.../97437612/

So, why does Trump never criticize Putin? He criticizes almost everyone else?

Gunnar Emilsson wrote:

No one is holding a gun to anyone's head forcing them to read Mary Catherine's threads.

Since so many of you Fox News-watching hayseeds seem to be a bit slow, let me make it easy for you.

If a thread has the word "Trump" in it, there is a 99% chance that Mary Catherine started it. So don't click on it.

I for one applaud Mary Catherine's dogged determination to educate the masses. The fact that we live in a time where the President of the United States of America is free to lie to the country because his minions has been brainwashed by Fox News is troubling yet fascinating to me.

B U L L S H I T! PEOPLE DON'T VOTE BASED ON FACTS!!!! THEY VOTE BASED ON VALUES. FACTOID MARY ISN'T HELPING OR EDUCATING THE MASSES. SHE IS ACTUALLY HURTING PROGRESSIVE CAUSES WITH HER RE-POSTING OF ALL MANNER OF TRUMP-BASED DRIVEL. SHE REFUSES TO TAKE THE TIME TO FRAME ISSUES TO PRESENT A PROGRESSIVE POINT OF VIEW! NONE OF IT PROCREATEING MATTERS. HER POSTING IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WASTE OF CLOUD-SPACE! FRANKLY, I RESENT HER FOR HER FACTOID POSTING.

AND IT ALSO PISSES ME OFF THAT MR. EMILSSON SPENT 18 MONTHS SUPPORTING TRUMP AND EGGING PEOPLE ON THIS SITE TO VOTE FOR THE STUPID BASTARD IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND NOW HE IS SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE; ONE THAT FITS WHATEVER HIS GAG OF THE DAY IS. ITS BULLPOOP

(THE PROCREATEING WEBMASTER NEEDS TO GET RID OF THE DAMN LANGUAGE FILTER. IF I TYPED "B U L L S H I T" I SURE AS SHOOT'N DIDN'T MEAN "BULLPOOP". GET OVER YOURSELF YOU PRETENTIOUS FOOL).

WHAT THE FBI IS INVESTIGATING IS WHETHER THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. SHOULD THEY FIND ANYTHING, (THEY WON'T) IT'S A LIBERAL WET DREAM TO THINK THIS WILL SOMEHOW BE TRUMPS UNDOING. IT WON'T! THEY WILL HAVE TO PROVE TRUMP KNEW AND WAS INVOLVED. THAT WON'T HAPPEN. THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANY FUKCING TREASON CHARGES. IT'S A WILD GOOSE CHASE TO DISTRACT YOU FROM OTHER FORMS OF PRIVATIZATION AND THEFT OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND MAKE OUR FOR-PROFIT MEDIA EVEN RICHER.

AND YES, DAVID, I KNOW MY CAPLOCKS IS ON AND THAT IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING. I AM SHOUTING. THIS SITE NEEDS SOME GESTALT THERAPY! DEAL WITH IT!

LATER

[Edited by Richard Bonine, Jr. (3/21/2017 1:05:48 PM)]

I'm with Mary. Totally. If you don't like her posts, don't read them. There may be no quid pro quo going on BUT IT SURE AS HELL LOOKS LIKE IT! Tillerson is about to skip a NATO forum so he can go pick up another "Friendship Medal" from Putin.

At the very very least, Trump should release his tax records. All of them.

I think it's funny. People are complaining about bring up the Russian charge's, against Trump's team. But, they don't mention the ridiculous wire tap accusation, that Trump made. Trump supporters have not realized that they poop in their own nest!!! I know many that have health insurance, because of the ACA (working 33 hours, that will lose their benefits) and they voted for well you guess it LMAO!

I'm just curious where the intelligent discourse is on these issues. It's insane how much an FBI investigation into a sitting president's campaign is being downplayed when just a few months ago Hillary being investigated was a nuclear bomb to American politics. I get that conservative Trump people are comfortable being hypocrites, but do y'all not see how blatent it's become? It's actually sad. 

First of all, to the person who said it was just an investigation and they don't have anything- they clearly have enough to investigate. Hillary was under investigation too, ya know. And guess what? They didn't find anything criminal but they did find that she was negligent.. Is there anyway for Trump supporters to look at this critically and in a non-partisan way? Trump's campaign already has sooo many sketchy ties to the Kremlin (Tillerson, Manafort, god the list is too big)

Second, this is to the person who said Hillary lost and to get over it. Shockingly, we can be critical of a President without being bitter about a loss. I have stated to others many times that I would prefer Pence, Cruz, Rand Paul, literally any other conservative you can probably name. Because while I disagree with nearly every.single.stance on issues, they are at least intelligent individuals that won't get us blown the procreate to outer space with a god damn tweet. 

You can admit our sitting president is a liar. He is. He is a liar and if Hillary or Obama or any other dem lied THAT much and THAT brazenly in office, you all would have taken your proud displays of the second amendment and took over the White House. But you and I both know that isn't the case. I'm not saying dems are pillars of Goddamn truth, but never has any politician or sitting president been so actively dishonest, and that goes for both sides of the aisle. It's a new level. 

Be integritous people, think critically, push for a better conservative president. As poopty as that is for my personal views, we need a mentally stable person in the White House

[Edited by Smiley (3/22/2017 7:47:55 AM)]

[Edited by Smiley (3/22/2017 7:49:08 AM)]

First of all, let me be clear. I did not like either candidate in this recent election. I made my choice of what I thought to be the lesser of two evils. I read a lot, studied their pasts and weighed the differences. I did not just watch the news. Since the election, many lies have been told and many issues exaggerated. The problem I see at this point is that the current president is very unstable and can not take criticism from any side. Please do not just listen to FOX, CNN or any of the other news outlets. Please listen to all sides, read all news and form an opinion. Do not follow party lines blindly. I hope our representatives in Washington will also do the same as I have asked.

Well, folks, for those of you following this story, the plot just thickened today.

It has been reported in U.S. News and World Reports that:

"Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman for Donald Trump's successful 2016 presidential run, is under new scrutiny for his activities while working for a Russian-backed ex-president of Ukraine, as Trump faces renewed questions about ties between his campaign and the Kremlin." . . .

"In August, when Manafort was the chairman of then-GOP nominee Trump's campaign, Ukrainian anti-corruption officials revealed the discovery of a so-called "black ledger" that included Manafort as the recipient of 22 payments totalling $12.7 million in under-the-table cash payments between 2007 and 2012."

Read more at:
https://www.usnews.com/ne...ne-in-2009

"Every day now, it seems, we are learning more about ties between Donald Trump and Russia," said Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House minority whip, reiterating Democrats' calls for the investigations into Trump's alleged Russia connections to be handled independently from Congress. "The new information today about Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign manager, only thickens the 'big, gray cloud' hanging over the Trump Administration, as Republican House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes described it on Monday. It is a cloud spawned from Russia's efforts to undermine our democracy and made darker and more foreboding by some Republicans' attempts to minimize or distract from this deeply concerning affair."

Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern suggested Manafort had violated federal law in failing to register as a foreign agent with the Department of Justice.

"That would be a felony," he tweeted. "Every day the mountain of Trump/Russia ties gets bigger."

Read more at:
https://www.usnews.com/ne...connection

Read even more at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

The truth is we still don't know what Nixon knew or when he knew it. The teflon properties of Agent Orange are much more sophisticated than tricky dicky. Getting anything to stick to Trump isn't going to happen. There are many other issues more worthy of our time and attention than this story. This story does nothing to help progressives win in 2018. We need to keep our eye on the ball.

"There's a Smell of Treason in the Air" by Nicholas Kristof in today's New York Times (03/23/17) is worth reading.

It starts off:

"The greatest political scandal in American history was not Aaron Burr’s shooting of Alexander Hamilton, and perhaps wasn’t even Watergate. Rather it may have been Richard Nixon’s secret efforts in 1968 to sabotage a U.S. diplomatic effort to end the Vietnam War.

Nixon’s initiative, long rumored but confirmed only a few months ago, was meant to improve his election chances that year. After Nixon won, the war dragged on and cost thousands of additional American and Vietnamese lives; it’s hard to see his behavior as anything but treason.

Now the F.B.I. confirms that we have had an investigation underway for eight months into whether another presidential campaign colluded with a foreign power so as to win an election. To me, that, too, would amount to treason."

Read more at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2...e-air.html

I think the purpose of the FBI investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election is to find out what exactly happened, who knew what when, who and what was involved, and try to prevent it from happening again in future U.S. elections. That is why I believe the FBI investigation is necessary. It seems to me, history is repeating itself.

Here's today's (03-23-17) bad news coming from Kiev, Ukraine -- a murder of a former Russian lawmaker who liked life under President Putin to Nazi Germany. I think I understand why Trump never criticizes Putin!

"Bloomberg) -- A former Russian lawmaker who fled Moscow for Ukraine and likened life under President Vladimir Putin to Nazi Germany was shot dead in Kiev.

Denis Voronenkov, 45, was killed Thursday at 11:40 a.m. near the Premier Palace hotel in the center of Ukraine’s capital, local police said. His bodyguard, who was injured in the shooting, wounded the assailant and both are under guard in the hospital, police said. Ukraine blamed the killing on Russia, linking it to testimony by Voronenkov against Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-backed Ukrainian leader who was ousted three years ago in street protests."

Read more at:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/...ailsignout

There was another attempted murder this week. This one happened in Moscow, Russia. This one is even more interesting because it involves a Russian lawyer involved in a case, USA v. Prevezon, which was being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney, Preet Bharara, who Trump fired last week. The case was on the verge of going to trial in New York City just before Trump fired the prosecutor, U.S. attorney Preet Bharara.

“The reason that [the Prevezon case] is so important,” Browder told BuzzFeed News, “is this is the first major case going to trial involving money laundering from the crimes that led to the death of Sergei Magnitsky.”

The lawyer is Nikolai Gorokhov. His spokesman, William Browder — who was an alleged victim in the money-laundering scheme — says he was “thrown from the fourth floor of his apartment building.” Russian media, often controlled by the state, says he “fell while he and workers were trying to lift a Jacuzzi into his apartment.”

Read more details at:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/....ajjYpjwqo

One of the Trump campaign associates under scrutiny as part of the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election is Roger Stone, who was a principal with the lobbying firm, Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly. (Manafort as in Paul Manafort who was Trump's former campaign manager and is also under FBI investigation.)

For those of us who remember the dirty tricks of the various Nixon campaigns, it should come as no surprise to learn that Roger Stone was one of Nixon’s dirty tricksters. Stone even has a tattoo of Nixon between his shoulder blades. During the Nixon administration, Stone worked in the Office of Economic Opportunity. After Nixon resigned, he worked for Bob Dole but was fired after columnist, Jack Anderson, identified Stone as a dirty trickster. In his Wikipedia page, Roger Stone brags about his first dirty trick which happened when he was a first grade elementary school student. During the Nixon campaign Stone was quoted as saying “ By night, I’m trafficking in the black arts. “ In 2007, author Matt Labash described Stone as a “lord of mischief” and the “boastful black prince of Republican sleaze.”

I think even the ghost of Richard Nixon would be appalled by Roger Stone’s role in the Trump campaign which is being investigated by the FBI. Why? Because Richard Nixon at least understood that Russia was our enemy/adversary. I’m thinking that even Nixon would not like Russian interference in a U.S. presidential election. But Tricky Dick never ceased to amaze and shock, so who really knows.

Read more at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

https://en.wikipedia.org/...oger_Stone

I would like to dedicate this song, "The Future" by the late Leonard Cohen in memory of the Russian lawmaker who was killed this week in Ukraine after he compared Putin to Hitler; and, also to the Russian lawyer who is in the hospital after being thrown from the fourth floor of a building in Moscow. Wake up, America!

I would like to dedicate this song, "Democracy" (written by the late Leonard Cohen and sung by Judy Collins) to all those courageous people living in repressive regimes around the world who are working hard to achieve democratic governments and human rights. Many are being killed (and not just in Russia!) I also dedicate this song to all the courageous journalists, politicians, lawyers, government officials, human rights workers, and all the other U.S. citizens who are working hard trying to maintain our democracy and a democratic form of government in the United States.

And, finally, I'd like to dedicate this song to Vladimir Putin!

I bet one of these girls, is nick named "rainbow snacth". She probably named herself, and is a wishful thinker.

I met a Russian at the courthouse the other day, lets boycott courthouses.

A couple of years ago, "Frontline" did an investigative report about Putin's rise to power in Russia. It's a cautionary tale.

Putin is at it again! This time it's the upcoming French presidential election. His favored candidate this time is the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen. Putin met with her in Moscow yesterday. Wake up, France! Wake up, America!

Read more at:

http://www.usatoday.com/s.../99617564/

https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

trump just OK'ed new sanctions on 9 Russian companies banning sales of their weapons to Syria. Don't sound like he is in Russia's corner to me.

This is Brics Vs Nato.

You can not have two competing currencies at large while trying to move from a petro based currency system to a resource based economy, especially when the resources are not in your hands. sorry libs, you wont get your NWO until after WW3.

Here are a few articles about the Trump/Putin/Russia relationship readers might find informative and interesting.

https://www.washingtonpos...8c52a91537

https://www.washingtonpos...6d796bacd1

I can't find an article about Trump imposing sanctions on Russia. Please post a link, if so. However, I did find an article that Trump did relax sanctions on Russia back in February.

http://www.cbsnews.com/ne...der-obama/

Additionally, you may have heard (or not) that there were anti-corruption protests in 90 Russian cities this weekend. Given the brutality of Putin's authoritarian regime, I think the people who protested were incredibly courageous because they know potentially their lives are on the line. There were many arrests -- including the arrest of Putin's chief critic, Aleksei Navalny, who was arrested on Sunday.

https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

Finally, the U.S. House Select Committee on Intelligence hearing previously scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled. As you may know, last week the Republican head of that Committee, Devon Nunes (R-CA), visited Trump at the White House and informed him of the Committee's investigation. It is highly irregular and unusual for a lawmaker who is conducting an investigation to inform the subject of an investigation on the nature of the investigation. Stay tuned!

Before he was arrested yesterday (03/26/17) in an anti-corruption protest, Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, last week was doused with a green liquid in Barnaul, Russia by an unknown assailant. At first he thought it was acid because it burned. Things must be incredibly bad in Russia right now if so many people are willing to risk personal injury or death to protest the corruption there. I admire these people. I truly hope and pray Alexei Navalny is not being tortured while being detained in a Russian jail or prison. It seems that 1,000 people were arrested in Moscow although the Russian government said it was 500 people arrested.

Read more at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2...pe=article

The U.S. Department of States has "strongly condemned" the detention of hundreds of anti-corruption protesters throughout Russia, including the opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.

It will be interesting to see if President Trump himself will issue a statement strongly protesting corruption in Putin's government and/or the arrest of hundreds of protestors, many of whom appear no older than 14 or 15. So far, Trump has not criticized Putin for anything.

This article has many photos of the arrests.

http://www.telegraph.co.u...overnment/

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

I would like to dedicate this song to all the brave, fearless, unarmed Russian people (freedom fighters, many of whom were teenagers) who took to the streets in 99 Russian cities to protest corruption in Russia this weekend -- and, most especially I dedicate this song to those who were arrested and are suffering in Russian jails and prison right now. Please remember them in your prayers.

It turns out that Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner, privately met in December with the chief executive of a Russian bank being targeted by U.S. sanctions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2...ussia.html

On Monday, a Moscow court handed a 15-day jail term to the protest organizer, Alexei Navalny. Wake up, America!

Read more at:

http://www.theglobeandmai...e34432232/

We know this past weekend thousands of Russian citizens took to the streets in as many as 90 cities and conducted anti-corruption demonstrations and many Russian citizens were arrested.

The leader of the anti-corruption demonstrations is Alexei Navalny, who was attacked last week with a chemical that initially burned and then turned his face and hands green. He was also arrested this past weekend and given a sentence of 15 days.

One of the things the Russian people are protesting is it is widely believed Russian officials have been stealing in various ways from the Russian people. To make their case, Alexi Navalny and his friends sent drones equipped with cameras to film the various estates (“dachas”) of former Russian president (and Putin ally), Dmitry Medvedev. Russian citizens wonder exactly how Mr. Medvedev became rich enough to own so many estates, including one villa in Italy with grape vineyards.

Here is what is written on Wikipedia about the matter:

“In September 2016 Alexei Navalny posted on his blog information about Dmitry Medvedev's "dacha" - rebuilt 18th - 19th-century Milovka Estate[ru] in Plyos on Volga River. In March 2017 Navalny and the Anti-corruption Foundation published Don't call him Dimon, investigation on other properties and residences used by Medvedev and his family, including a 100-hectare (250-acre) domaine with vineyards and 17th-century villa in Tuscany, Italy. This was followed with mass protests all over Russia occurring on March 26, 2017."

Apparently, many Russian people are suffering economically and they believe Messrs. Medvedev and Mr. Putin are corrupt. So, they hit streets and demonstrated against corruption while risking arrest, and perhaps even their lives. There is no First Amendment right in Russia!

Here are images I found on Youtube.com about Mededev’s various estates. How does a guy who has been a government official for most of his career amass this kind of wealth? Many Russians were holding yellow rubber ducks during their protest marches. Why? Apparently, Mr. Medvedev has an expensive house for his ducks. According to the Washington Post “The yellow duck is the symbol of official corruption. The toy refers to a lavish duck house at an estate allegedly owned by Russia’s prime minister. Holding one up during the protest was enough to get you arrested at Sunday’s rally in Moscow.”

Read more at:

https://www.washingtonpos...b#comments

https://en.wikipedia.org/...y_Medvedev

Here is the video that is believed to be the video of one (or more??) of Mr. Medved’s estates. It doesn't show the estate in Italy.

Well, it looks like Trump's BIG BROTHER will be watching us all after Trump signs this measure.

The House of Representatives voted today (03-28-17) to overturn broadband privacy rules established five months ago by the Federal Communications Commission.

After the 215-205 vote, a measure repealing the rules passed by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") on October 27, 2016 will go to President Trump, who is expected to approve and sign the the measure. Back in October, the FCC, then chaired by Democrat Tom Wheeler, passed those rules to require Internet Service Providers to ask customers' permission to collect, use and sell personal information.

Read more at:

http://www.usatoday.com/s.../99744078/

Here's a spine-chilling article from today's (03-28-17) USA TODAY entitled, "Trump's Business Network Reached Alleged Russian Mobsters" written by Oren Dorell.

"To expand his real estate developments over the years, Donald Trump, his company and partners repeatedly turned to wealthy Russians and oligarchs from former Soviet republics — several allegedly connected to organized crime, according to a USA TODAY review of court cases, government and legal documents and an interview with a former federal prosecutor.

The president and his companies have been linked to at least 10 wealthy former Soviet businessmen with alleged ties to criminal organizations or money laundering. . . . .

Dealings with Russian oligarchs concern law enforcement because many of those super-wealthy people are generally suspected of corrupt practices as a result of interconnected relationships among Russia's business elite, government security services and criminal gangs, according to former U.S. prosecutor Ken McCallion, as well as Steven Hall, a former CIA chief of Russian operations.

“Anybody who is an oligarch or is in any position of power in Russia got it because (President) Vladimir Putin or somebody in power saw some reason to give that person that job,” Hall said in an interview. “All the organized crime figures I’ve ever heard of (in Russia) all have deep connections and are tied in with people in government.”

Read more at:
http://www.usatoday.com/s.../98321252/

And, of course, today (03-28-17) Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives blocked efforts by Democrats to obtain Trump's taxes. What is Trump hiding? Why don't the Republicans want to see Trump's tax returns? Could it be that Trump owes Russian banks money? I have heard it speculated that Trump could not get loans from American banks because of his six (6) bankruptcies so he turned to Russian bankers for loans. Some of the Russian protesters arrested last weekend believe there is a connection.

Read more at:

http://www.nydailynews.co...-1.3012141

https://www.washingtonpos...108483017f

I decided not to post Stephen Colbert's very funny explanation about what is going on with the investigation and Congressman Nunes because it has a graphic which may offend some who view my posts on this forum. Seth Meyers' explanation is pretty good and may be less offensive. My intention is not to offend but only to share a laugh. Laughing is better than crying! So far!

Google/Images has updated its photos of last weekend's anti-corruption and anti-Putin demonstrations in Russia. There are many photos of women protesting without wearing shirts. These are compelling images in as much as they portray a population who seems pretty desperate. How does that old saying go, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." I'm going to post some more of the more dramatic and compelling photos. You may want to see more yourself at Google/Images. I have noted that so far this week President Trump has not spoken out against Putin! I'm thinking we may not hear much about Putin's corrupt regime from President Trump! However, I'd love to be wrong about my assessment!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Wake Up, America!

Okay. So it is Thursday, March 30, 2017. Here’s what is going on. The House Select Committee on Intelligence investigation is considered tainted and compromised given Chairman Nunes (R-CA, and former Trump Transition Team member) visit to the White House last week. It has been suggested that Chairman Nunes did not act either too intelligently or ethically in visiting the White House.

So, today the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is holding its first hearing on Russian Interference in the U.S. presidential election. Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice-Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) have agreed to work together to get to the truth of this matter.

If you want to watch today’s hearing live, here is the link:

While the U.S. House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence are conducting their investigations into Russian interference in our democracy many investigative reporters are trying to get to the truth of the matter.

The link I am posting here is a 6,500 word article written by reporters in New York who have been investigating Trump and his business dealings in New York for years. This shocking article was written by reporters, Jonathan Z. Larsen who is the former editor of The Village Voice, whose reporting team included the late Wayne Barrett and Robert I. Friedman. These people and the paper produced many of the important early investigative reports on Donald Trump and on the mob. Larsen is now a senior editor and board member of WhoWhatWhy.org. Russ Baker, a former investigative reporter for The Village Voice, is Editor-in Chief of WhoWhatWhy.org. C. Collins is a WhoWhatWhy reporter.

Two of their reporter colleagues are no longer alive. Robert I. Friedman, wrote a book, “Red Mafiya” about Russian organized crime in New York. Robert I. Friedman drew the ire of one particular Russian mafia boss – the boss of bosses, Sermion Mogilevich who put a $100,000 price on Friedman’s head after one of his fearless reports about Mogilevich. The FBI suggested Friedman stop reporting on the topic. So, what happened to Robert I. Friedman? Well, he died in 2002, at the age of 51, of a rare blood disease he was said to have contracted on a trip to India. Do you believe that? Remember many investigative journalists have been met untimely deaths in Russia. Check out the list at Wikipedia.

Wayne Barrett died in January, 2017 of lung cancer at age 71. He had written a 1991 biography about Trump called, “Trump: The Greatest Show on Earth: The Deals, the Downfall, the Reinvention” which was republished last year. I’m going to assume Barrett may have been a smoker and his death from lung cancer at age 71 was not untimely.

One important thing to remember: “The Russian mob should also not be confused with a mere crime syndicate. It is an organization comprised of state actors, oligarchs, and specific groups of individuals working collectively with the authority of the Russian government – a “mafia state.” At times, it is difficult to tell where the mob ends and the government begins.”

The thousands of people who demonstrated and risked arrest last weekend in Russia know what it is like to live under a corrupt regime. Many of the signs they held were signs trying to warn the U.S. about the Putin/Trump connection. I share their concern. Wake Up, America!

Here ‘s the link: Warning! It's long but worth reading. I read it twice!

http://whowhatwhy.org/201...mp-russia/

Here is another worrisome development in Russia interference into our democracy.

Remember Putin’s goal is to restore Russia to the glory of the former Soviet Union era. So, Putin’s regime’s strategy is to weaken key democracies around the world, either politically or economically. Putin’s goal is to disrupt the geo-political social order in place since World War II, and create as much political and economic chaos as possible. I would describe some key democracies as Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States, among others.

A guy named Nigel Farage was one of the primary movers and promoters in the Brexit campaign last summer in Great Britain. After Britons voted to exit the European Union, many have come to regret that vote. And, the British pound has been devalued. So, Britain is suffering adverse economic consequences. More will come. And, now, there is talk of Scotland perhaps having another vote to break away from Great Britain. That does not portend great things ahead for England.

So, guess what? Surprise! Surprise!

Turns out Nigel Farage (like Donald Trump) is a fan of Putin. And, Putin may have been supporting his Brexit activities.

Putin has also been supportive of Marine LePen who is the far right candidate running for President of France. And, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is up for re-election in September 2017. Angela Merkel was attacked and injured by a dog in 1995, and is probably wary of dogs, at best. So what did Putin do when he met with Angela Merkel in Sochi, Russia in 2007? Naturally, Putin brought his big, black Labrador dog with him to the meeting with Merkel who was photographed looking quite uncomfortable. And, of course, Putin was photographed smirking. And, of course, Putin claims he didn’t mean it. Putin has repeatedly used dogs to intimidate Chancellor Merkel. That’s just one example of the kind of man Putin is!

http://www.cnn.com/2016/0...cared-dog/

http://foreignpolicy.com/...te-merkel/

But now for the real story here:

The San Diego Union Tribune reported yesterday (03-29-17) that Nigel Farage is now a promoter of a Calexit Plan. Reminder: California is the world’s sixth largest economy.

“Farage and fellow Brexiteer Arron Banks (together they’re known as ‘the bad boys of ‘Brexit’) just returned from a trip to California during which they reportedly raised $1 million for a campaign to set up a “Calexit” style referendum in the state for 2018.” . . . “It would be portrayed as the Hollywood elites versus the people, breaking up the bad government.”

http://www.sandiegounion...story.html

Read more at:
https://www.theguardian.c...a-scrutiny
http://www.telegraph.co.u...in-EU.html

Wake Up, America! Our democracy is under attack! United We Stand, Divided We Fall!

Aides Wrestle Drill From Trump’s Hands As He Tries To Remove Obama Listening Device From Skull


http://www.theonion.com/l.../entry/237

Breaking news! It wasn't just the Democrats targeted by the Russians during last year's presidential campaign. The Washington Post is reporting that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) may have been targets of damaging Russian social-media campaigns; Senator Rubio as recently as yesterday!

"Rubio said later Thursday that his campaign staff had been 'targeted' twice 'from an unknown location in Russia,' once in July 2016 and again at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday. Both attempts were unsuccessful, he added, without providing further details."

https://www.washingtonpos...8294a5b146

Wake Up, America! Please listen carefully to the experts who testified at today's Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing. This is a severe problem for both Democrats and Republicans. Our democracy is under attack! Russia is sowing discord in our country and other democracies. United We Stand, Divided We Fall!

Here's another photo from last weekend's anti-corruption protests in Russia. Pray for those people who were arrested. And, Wake Up, America!

Well, today is March 31, 2017, and politically for the Trump Administration, one could say that, "March came in like a lamb and is leaving like a lion!"

The big, breaking news today is that former National Security Adviser to President Trump, Lt. General Mike Flynn (Ret.) is offering to testify about what he knows about Russian interference in the U.S. election, IF he is offered immunity from prosecution for his testimony.

WOW! Asking for immunity in exchange for testimony is usually only requested if one knows he/she may be prosecuted for what they “know.” It will be important for the prosecutors/investigators to know the answers to the questions they ask General Flynn in order to tell whether or not he is lying. I’m thinking the FBI and NSA probably know the answers to some of the questions already.

Maybe they also will ask Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn about what was discussed when he met the head of Austria’s anti-immigrant Freedom Party, which was founded after World War II by former Nazis. Their leader, Heiniz-Christian Strache, claimed in his Facebook post that he has met with Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn. In his Facebook post about the meeting with Lt. General Flynn, Mr. Strache also announced signing a “cooperation pact” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Read more about that meeting at:

https://mobile.nytimes.co...ge_article

http://www.huffingtonpost...ebb78af7c2

I can’t begin to tell you how much this reminds me of Nixon’s Watergate cover-up and how it unraveled. History does seem to be repeating itself. Only, actually, this is much worse because it involves a foreign adversary and perhaps, treason. It reminds me of the George Santayana saying, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Read more at:

https://www.washingtonpo...e2c5b94373

Oh yes, and as usual, WAKE UP, AMERICA!

Because it is spring, I'd like to dedicate this song to the singing birds of all species, and to those people still imprisoned in Russia after last weekend's anti-corruption protest marches. May you all be free soon!

Well, everybody it's Saturday, April 1, 2017, April Fools' Day! What I am about to post is no joke. It really happened and, again, I repeat, it's no April Fools' joke! It really did happen. Today! This morning! However, it really did make me laugh!

This morning around 9 a.m. EDT, our President Trump was at it again Tweeting away. Now he's after (as he has nicknamed him) "sleepy eyed" NBC reporter, Chuck Todd, for focusing too much time on the Russia investigation and (you may have guessed it) not enough time on the Obama wiretap. I do admit Chuck Todd is looking tired these days because news is breaking on the Trump/Russia story with the same intensity and speed of water coming out of fire hoses at a 10-alarm fire. It's hard for investigative journalists to keep up. However, for President Trump to suggest that journalist, Chuck Todd focus more attention on Obama is the equivalent of Tricky Dick Nixon asking Bod Woodward and Carl Bernstein to stop their investigative reporting of the Watergate burglary and focus on something else. Sorry, Mr. President, I think, the journalists are going to keep investigating the Russia influence on our presidential election and, by the way, so is the FBI. But, nice try! And, thanks, too, for the laugh. After all it is April Fools' Day. And, today many of us think you are the biggest fool of all! By the way, I hear that there may be more anti-corruption demonstrations in Russia this weekend. Many, many people there do not like your friend, Mr. Putin and are willing to get arrested in the name of free speech (which, by the way, they do not have in Russia)! Stay tuned!

Read more at:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/...ailsignout

P.S. WAKE UP, AMERICA!

This next post is a real, WAKE UP, AMERICA eye opener.

It’s still Saturday, April 1, 2017 and, unfortunately, this story is no joke. Really! It’s true! But this story, unlike the one I posted earlier today, didn’t make me laugh! Actually, this story about Putin wanting Alaska back is troubling given that Putin wanted Crimea back, and back in 2014, Putin (or, more accurately, his armed troops) took Crimea back into the Russian fold after they invaded.

History: Ukraine was part of the old Soviet Union but after the break-up of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, Ukraine again became a separate country. We all know what Putin’s troops did in Ukraine back in 2014 – but here’s a reminder from Wikipedia:

“Using the Russian naval base at Sevastopol as cover, Putin directed Russian troops and intelligence agents to disarm Ukrainian forces and take control of Crimea.[159][160][161][162] After the troops entered Crimea,[163] a controversial referendum was held on 16 March 2014 and the official result was that 97 percent wished to join with Russia.[164] On 18 March 2014, Russia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Crimea signed a treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol in the Russian Federation. The UN general assembly responded by passing resolution 68/262 that the referendum was invalid and supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine.[165]”

Separately, in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, armed men declaring themselves as local militia seized government buildings, police and special police stations in several cities and held unrecognised status referendums.[166] The insurgency was led by Russian emissaries Igor Girkin[167] and Alexander Borodai[168] as well as militants from Russia, such as Arseny Pavlov.[169]

Talks in Geneva between the EU, Russia, Ukraine and USA yielded a Joint Diplomatic Statement referred to as the 2014 Geneva Pact[170] in which the parties requested that all unlawful militias lay down their arms and vacate seized government buildings, and also establish a political dialogue that could lead to more autonomy for Ukraine's regions. When Petro Poroshenko won the presidential election held on 25 May 2014, he vowed to continue the military operations by the Ukrainian government forces to end the armed insurgency.[171] More than 9,000 people have been killed in the military campaign.[172]”

That quote is from Wikipedia; see citation below.

Well, why should that concern the United States, you ask. I’ll tell you why! Now Trump’s friend Putin is apparently having second thoughts about Russia selling Alaska to the United States back in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold. And, “last year Russian TV released a documentary entitled, “When Will Alaska Become Ours?” – arguing that, because Russia received only a meager portion of the promised $7.2 million for Alaska, the deal must be declared null and void.”

Remember how Sarah Palin boasted about her foreign policy expertise with Russia by saying in an interview with Charles Gibson that, “They’re our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”

Well, Sarah Palin told the geographical truth about how close Alaska is to Russia. And, we all have to hope Trump’s friend, Putin, doesn’t decide to make another land grab like he did in Crimea. And, remember that Trump has said that "Putin "is doing a great job" and has pledged to "get along very well with" him. Rather than Putin being behind the cyberattacks disrupting the US election, Trump has suggested the culprit may be "some guy in his home in New Jersey."

Now, the Putin/Alaska story is another reason we should think that perhaps the Cold War is back up and running.

Read more at:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/...cows-rule/

http://observer.com/2016/...aska-back/

https://www.nytimes.com/2...e-150.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/...Federation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine

http://www.snopes.com/pol...russia.asp

http://www.cnn.com/2016/1...-treisman/

And, as usual, WAKE UP, AMERICA!

Many of us believe that Putin Trump'd our democracy and, hopefully, soon the FBI will be able to prove it.

Monday, April 3, 2017. There were more anti-corruption demonstrations this weekend in Russia and authorities made more arrests. Amnesty International is reporting that journalists covering the demonstrations have also been arrested.

"Amnesty called on authorities to release those still in detention on Friday, saying that their captivity was in violation of “the freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to free speech.”

"Those detained complained that police had deprived them of water, food and sleep and had delayed drawing up reports about their alleged offenses for up to six hours after their arrest."

"Amnesty called on authorities to release those still in detention on Friday, saying that their captivity was in violation of “the freedom of peaceful assembly and the right to free speech.”

http://www.newsweek.com/a...est-577362

http://www.un.org/en/univ...an-rights/

CNN is reporting:

". . . despite the detentions and efforts by the government to prevent unrest, the movement, which largely reflects the disillusion of the younger generation fed up with endemic corruption, inequality and lack of accountability and opportunities, doesn't seem to lose momentum.

"Sergey Pravov, a young geologist who was among those arrested last week, said young people are 'tired of the impunity of officials and their children and relatives who can get away with anything.'

'They are tired of living below the poverty line while people they pay to rule wisely are swimming in gold,' Pravov said."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/0...ss-russia/

Still, Monday, April 3, 2017

And, sadly, there was a subway bombing on a subway train in St. Petersburg. Many people dead and injured. No one has taken responsibility yet. "Mr. Putin was in St. Petersburg for a meeting with the president of Belarus, Alexander G. Lukashenko, a traditional ally who has recently feuded with the Kremlin, and to give a speech at the All-Russia People’s Front, a political group started by the president."

https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

This article about Russian hackers and a cyber attack at the Department of State back in 2014, was written by Ellen Nakashima and published in the Washington Post, 04-03-17.

"Over a 24-hour period, top U.S. cyber defenders engaged in a pitched battle with Russian hackers who had breached the unclassified State Department computer system and displayed an unprecedented level of aggression that experts warn is likely to be turned against the private sector."

https://www.washingtonpos...c5c4010c0b

Wake Up, America!

As of April 6, 2017, Devin Nunes (R-CA), Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, has recused himself from the Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Rep. Nunes now faces allegations that he improperly disclosed classified information -- which by the way is a felony. I'm thinking Mr. Nunes may be obtaining legal counsel at this point.

https://www.washingtonpos...2e706d55c8

I don't know if this is the U.S. Code that applies but it may be. If so, the penalty appears to be stiff.

https://www.law.cornell.e...ext/18/798

https://www.law.cornell.e...xt/18/1924

For those of us who lived through the Cold War with Russia, this is an interesting article recently published in The New Yorker about the new or Second Cold War with Russia. It's long, interesting, informative and explains in depth how we got to this point. It explains Putin's rise to power since the break-up of the old Soviet Union and the geopolitics involved. I highly recommend it, especially if you are a life-long student of history.

http://www.newyorker.com/...w-cold-war

It's April 12, 2017 and there is breaking news about the FBI having obtained a FISA Court warrant last year to monitor the activities of Carter Page, who Trump described (on the record) as one of his foreign policy advisers.

Incidentally, FISA, as explained by Google, stands for "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 ('FISA' Pub.L. 95–511, 92 Stat. 1783, 50 U.S.C. ch. 36) is a United States federal law which prescribes procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of 'foreign intelligence information' between 'foreign powers' and 'agents of foreign powers' ..."

Here are several articles which explain Carter Page and the FBI's monitoring of his activities with Russia in more detail:

https://www.washingtonpos...video.html

http://foreignpolicy.com/...-an-idiot/

https://www.buzzfeed.com/....tfBEr5l23

https://en.wikipedia.org/...llance_Act

No worries. Mr.Tillerson is on it today

The man from snowy plains wrote:

No worries. Mr.Tillerson is on it today

Yep. Now Trump is speculating that Russia may have known in advance that Syria was going to use chemical weapons.

The pendulum has swung full circle.

"For the second consecutive night, Russia flew two long-range bombers off the coast of Alaska on Tuesday, this time coming within 36 miles of the mainland while flying north of the Aleutian Islands, two U.S. officials told Fox News."

Read more at:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/...ailsignout

Read more at:

http://www.reuters.com/ar...SKBN17L2N3

"Trump Adviser’s Visit to Moscow Got the F.B.I.’s Attention," New York Times, April 19, 2017

Read more at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

More fake news,

"Fake news," the man from snowy plains states above. Or, is it the awful truth? The FBI investigation continues, as does the Senate investigation and the House investigation.

The New York Times is considered a newspaper of record in the United States. The other newspapers of record in the United States are the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

What is a newspaper of record?

According to Wikipedia: "A newspaper of record is a major newspaper that has a large circulation and whose editorial and news-gathering functions are considered professional and typically authoritative."

Read more at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/..._of_record

By the way, the term "fake news" is an oxymoron!

Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was attacked again this week (April 28, 2017) with a green chemical which he said looks funny but hurts like hell. It got into his eyes and he sought treatment at a hospital for a chemical burn.

Opposition group, "Open Russia" scheduled more anti-corruption protests across Russia for Saturday, April 29, 2017, and from early reports it appears that thousands in Russia are risking arrest, and showing up to protest Putin's corrupt regime. Things must be pretty bad in Russia if little old ladies, like the one shown below, are willing to get arrested. I wonder what her sign says? Wake Up, America!

http://www.bbc.com/news/w...e-39735867

https://www.nytimes.com/2....html?_r=0

Here the police are detaining a journalist.

Anybody read Russian?