The Republican Minority leader in Congress has just made a statement, conflating the role of Hillary Clinton's campaign in the Steele dossier and Trump's announcement of acceptance of foreign aid in U.S. elections.
I'm sure that the Russian meme factories, that supply hundreds of Russian-made memes to my conservative friends, will pick up on the remarks which will, in turn, result in hundreds of memes echoing the allegations, which will eventually clog my email inbox. I beg you to spare me from the deluge. Here's why:
1. The Steel Dossier was first commissioned by a Republican opponent in their primary contest with Trump. It was under a contract with an American firm for opposition research. The Republican campaign, that commissioned the research paid for the research they did not receive it as a gift. I'm sure that the Republican campaign reported the expenditure. So far, no U.S. law was broken. After the Republican primaries, an American campaign, namely the Clinton campaign picked up the expenses for the research and likewise reported the expenses as required by law. Neither the Republican campaign nor the Democratic campaign violated any U.S. law.
2. The Steele Dossier was given to the F.B.I. not only by John McCain but by Steele, himself, a man who had worked closely with the F.B.I. as an Intelligence officer for the British Government.
3. None of the material within the Steele Dossier was hacked or obtained in violation of U.S. law.
There are no grounds whatsoever for conflating the Steele Dossier with the clandestine assistance given to Trump by the Russians, except for the purposes of fabricating a Russian-made meme
Wow! Such a plea sounds like you have conservative friends who collude with Russians! Tsk, tsk. What form of “conservatism” is this branch? Patriots? “1984” doublespeak.
ReplyDeleteTheir brains are in their pocketbook but other wise they can be good people.
ReplyDeleteIt’s because they’re good people that it’s disappointing. My pocketbook has not recuperated since the 2003 meltdown while https://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/eye-popping-analysis-shows-top-one-percent-gained-21-trillion-in-wealth-since-1989-while-bottom-half-lost-900-billion/?utm_source=push_notifications ... Give me healthcare or give me death! Climate change = tornado watches in Moorestown: never heard of such a thing! Etc., etc. Etc.
ReplyDeleteThey will become enlightened through their pocketbook, however I cannot tell you when. Depite cycle after cycle of getting hit by recessions during Republican administrations, they persist in drinking the Kool-Aid. I am, however, optimistic that one day they will be able to grasp the connection.
ReplyDelete