Trump III - the daily log

[Chris Kern]

If they believed he did something wrong, the justice department would not have released the FISA warrant they used to surveil him. The release would prejudice their case against him in court.

President Trump declassified the information in those redacted FISA warrants at the request of the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives intelligence committee, Devin Nunes, who had prepared a memo claiming the surveillance of Carter Page was improper and wanted to make it public.  The Justice Department and the intelligence agencies reportedly argued against the declassification, but Trump proceeded anyway.  The actual warrants that were the source of the Nunes memo were released by the government pursuant to a statutory Freedom of Information Act request because the information contained in them (in their redacted form) had already been declassified by the president.

[Farmer]

Alan, do you actually enjoy arguing with these guys? It's hopeless. Their minds are made up and nothing... nothing is gonna change them.

PKB.

[Alan Klein]

President Trump declassified the information in those redacted FISA warrants at the request of the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives intelligence committee, Devin Nunes, who had prepared a memo claiming the surveillance of Carter Page was improper and wanted to make it public.  The Justice Department and the intelligence agencies reportedly argued against the declassification, but Trump proceeded anyway.  The actual warrants that were the source of the Nunes memo were released by the government pursuant to a statutory Freedom of Information Act request because the information contained in them (in their redacted form) had already been declassified by the president.

Chris.  All of that is smoke.  Page was not indicted because he didn't do anything wrong.  In addition, there's no way an outsider could investigate the circumstances to see if the the evidence for the fisa warrant was real because most of the warrant that was released is redacted.  The fact is the Trump campaign was surveilled because of the warrant against Page with no subsequent indictment along with using a phoney dossier created and paid for by Trump's adversary Hillary Clinton.  The whole thing smells. 

[Farmer]

So investigations shouldn't proceed unless there's a 100% chance of indictment?  Do you grasp the concept of investigation?

[Alan Klein]

So investigations shouldn't proceed unless there's a 100% chance of indictment?  Do you grasp the concept of investigation?

I certainly do.  But not during a presidential campaign.  Look at what happened with Clinton's email server and Comey of the FBI.  The optics are awful.  She also had a legitimate complaint against the government although she did violate government secrecy rules.  Trump hasn't done anything wrong.


The whole surveillance has the appearance of a political party, the Democrats,  and the former administration conspiring to defeat a challenger in support of an ally (Clinton).   It's similar to Hillary conspiring with the DNC to marginalize her competitor Sanders.  It fits Trumps narrative how Washington DC is an incestuous swamp. 

[JoeKitchen]

Yes, and they are also almost 100% libertarian on all social issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and some other stuff that goes against the current make up of the Republican party.  They are also more sympathetic to open immigration.

Well maybe (fingers crossed) this will force the Republican Party to part ways with the Religious Conservatives.  I'm being serious here; I think the union of the Rep with the Christians was the worse political mistake ever. 

[Farmer]

Investigations shouldn't stop due to political campaigning, particularly in the US where campaigning is happening so often and for so long.  If a court authorises it, then that's the process working.  If the court got it wrong, deal with the court in the prescribed manner.

[Chris Kern]

Page was not indicted because he didn't do anything wrong.

Counterintelligence investigations in the United States are different than criminal investigations.  The warrants issued by the FISA court allow the government to monitor the activities of U.S. residents (technically, "U.S. persons") who are alleged to be engaged in espionage on behalf of a foreign power.  Unlike traditional search warrants, which can be granted by any judge, they do not require the government to show probable cause that the search will produce evidence of a crime or to specifically identify the information the government is seeking.  As such, they are not part of the law enforcement process that typically is intended to result in criminal charges.

That's the reason for the special protections.  Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 1978 to impose procedural restrictions on the government's ability to conduct surveillance of "U.S. persons" suspected of foreign espionage in response to perceived incursions on civil liberties by American intelligence agencies.  The FISA statute and court are controversial—most of the criticism has originated from left-wing activists and libertarians, by the way—but they shouldn't be confused with the criminal justice process.

[Alan Klein]

Counterintelligence investigations in the United States are different than criminal investigations.  The warrants issued by the FISA court allow the government to monitor the activities of U.S. residents (technically, "U.S. persons") who are alleged to be engaged in espionage on behalf of a foreign power.  Unlike traditional search warrants, which can be granted by any judge, they do not require the government to show probable cause that the search will produce evidence of a crime or to specifically identify the information the government is seeking.  As such, they are not part of the law enforcement process that typically is intended to result in criminal charges.

That's the reason for the special protections.  Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 1978 to impose procedural restrictions on the government's ability to conduct surveillance of "U.S. persons" suspected of foreign espionage in response to perceived incursions on civil liberties by American intelligence agencies.  The FISA statute and court are controversial—most of the criticism has originated from left-wing activists and libertarians, by the way—but they shouldn't be confused with the criminal justice process.

Chris, you're sending up more smoke.    This was in the middle of a presidential election.  A Democrat administration was investigating the campaign of the Republican challenger.  A phoney dossier prepared by the Democrat party was used in some of the FISA warrants.  The power of the state was interfering in the middle of an election to create trouble for one of the candidates.  Its reeks of politics you see in third world countries.  The whole thing smells. 


If the press was doing honest investigations instead of being in the bag for Hillary,  all of this would have been exposed instead of hidden.  When the democrats lost the election, they used the power of the state and the phoney investigations as an excuse to create the Special Counsel to keep it going.  When collusion didn't seem to be working anymore, the Democrats supported by the liberal media pressed obstruction of justice.  When that stopped having any power, they switched to "treason",  If they get Congressional power in November they can all vote for impeachment using the phony charge "he's a traitor".  It's sickening to see such an obscene struggle for power in America in the 7 decades I've been here.  The ballot box was the way we settled disagreements over policy.  Now we're stooping to use the power of the state to decide elections.

[Robert Roaldi]

Well maybe (fingers crossed) this will force the Republican Party to part ways with the Religious Conservatives.  I'm being serious here; I think the union of the Rep with the Christians was the worse political mistake ever.

Amen to that.

(I'm not being facetious, I agree with you, but thought that was a cute way to put it.)

[enduser]

It's very obvious that the statement/wish/legend that "any boy can become president" (Adlai Stevenson - 1952) isn't a wise expression of presidential selection.
In Australia the governmental head is the Prime Minister. He's chosen from the members of parliament (Lower House) who as a group are the largest to not lose a vote of no confidence.
We had a Prime Minister who was dismissed from the job by the select group (The Cabinet) within the winning party .  This guy was on-the-nose in many small ways which became intolerable. No one saw him as bad as Trump.
Because Trump is doing so much damage to the U.S. it's mystifying to an outsider why he's still there, in a democracy. 
If the objective is to get someone useful into the job, the way it's done now isn't working.

[Alan Klein]

oops-hit the wrong key.  Will be reposted when completed.

[Alan Klein]

It's very obvious that the statement/wish/legend that "any boy can become president" (Adlai Stevenson - 1952) isn't a wise expression of presidential selection.
In Australia the governmental head is the Prime Minister. He's chosen from the members of parliament (Lower House) who as a group are the largest to not lose a vote of no confidence.
We had a Prime Minister who was dismissed from the job by the select group (The Cabinet) within the winning party .  This guy was on-the-nose in many small ways which became intolerable. No one saw him as bad as Trump.
Because Trump is doing so much damage to the U.S. it's mystifying to an outsider why he's still there, in a democracy. 
If the objective is to get someone useful into the job, the way it's done now isn't working.

The founders of America were terrified of power at the top of government. At the time, the American colonies were ruled by Britain's King George III.  Parliamentary systems concentrate that power as the prime minister and his ministers are from the same party.  The American government was set up to divide power first by giving very little to the national government now in Washington DC.  Most of the power was distributed to the individual sovereign states. 

What was left in the national government was divided by co-equal branches.  The executive branch (the president) and the legislative branch (Congress).  Congress, not the president, has the power to fund the government, go to war, and legislate national laws.  The founders wanted a weak president not another King George III.  The kept the election of the president separate from the election of Senators and Congressman for that reason.  The founders would love to see the obstruction in Congress.  The less they would do, the better the founders would approve.  They wanted the people to be as free from government as possible.   


Second, Trump isn't doing "damage" to the US.  Your concern he's not "useful" is pretty insulting to me.  That's your opinion as an Australian and from reading the anti Trump liberal press.  He's still there in any case because our constitution stipulates his term in office is 4 years.  He can be re-elected for one additional term only.  He stays the president unless he dies, resigns, or is impeached and convicted of a high crime and misdemeanor by Congress.  The latter has never happened.

Third, the constitutional requirement for president is he or she must be 35 years of age and a natural born American.  Frankly, Trump is refreshing.  It's been tiring having people from the political class only.  They all do the same things and protect the same political classes.   We needed fresh blood, a tough businessman who plays tough and protects our country.   Foreigners aren't use to that in an American president.  They like feckless presidents like Obama who kissed everyone's a$$.   It's hard to get away with stuff with Trump.  He punches back hard.

[LesPalenik]

Poor planning at the top, but great news for carnivors.
However, profits, prices are threatened for suppliers as record amounts of red meat and poultry fill U.S. warehouses. Trump’s trade war has driven up tariffs on U.S. meat in major foreign markets including Mexico, China, and Canada. China imposed a 25% tariff on American pork in April, and raised it to a staggering 62% this month.
One hog farming operation in Carlyle, Ill. said that it was cancelling $30 million worth of domestic investment, and considering setting up new operations in Eastern Europe or South America to avoid trade uncertainty.

Meat is piling up in U.S. cold-storage warehouses, fueled by a surge in supplies and trade disputes that are eroding demand.
Federal data, coming as early as Monday, are expected to show a record level of beef, pork, poultry and turkey being stockpiled in U.S. facilities, rising above 2.5 billion pounds.

http://fortune.com/2018/07/22/meat-stockpiles-tariffs-trade-war/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/meat-piles-up-as-production-grows-and-exports-slow-1532268000   paid link

[Schewe]

How quickly you forget that you and all those other people laughed at Trump when he said his campaign was being spied on. So now it turns out to be true and it was you guys that were wrong.   So Carter Page was surveilled and they found nothing against him that he did anything wrong.

Well, you have the Trump talking points down pat...too bad what you are saying is factually incorrect.

Carter Page first came to the attention in 2013 (way beyond Trump's candidacy) because know Russian agents, catch on tape were talking about him:

"An idiot," said a Russian agent caught on tape in a 2013 FBI investigation of a spy ring.

So, ya see, the FBI didn't NEED to rely on the "Dossier" to get the FISA warrant in Sept 2016. They got the FISA warrant because of the connections and activities between Cart and Russians outlined here:

U.S. intel officials probe ties between Trump adviser and Kremlin

U.S. intelligence officials are seeking to determine whether an American businessman identified by Donald Trump as one of his foreign policy advisers has opened up private communications with senior Russian officials — including talks about the possible lifting of economic sanctions if the Republican nominee becomes president, according to multiple sources who have been briefed on the issue.

The activities of Trump adviser Carter Page, who has extensive business interests in Russia, have been discussed with senior members of Congress during recent briefings about suspected efforts by Moscow to influence the presidential election, the sources said. After one of those briefings, Senate minority leader Harry Reid wrote FBI Director James Comey, citing reports of meetings between a Trump adviser (a reference to Page) and “high ranking sanctioned individuals” in Moscow over the summer as evidence of “significant and disturbing ties” between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin that needed to be investigated by the bureau.

Some of those briefed were “taken aback” when they learned about Page’s contacts in Moscow, viewing them as a possible back channel to the Russians that could undercut U.S. foreign policy, said a congressional source familiar with the briefings but who asked for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. The source added that U.S. officials in the briefings indicated that intelligence reports about the adviser’s talks with senior Russian officials close to President Vladimir Putin were being “actively monitored and investigated.”

So, if you are equating surveillance and eavesdropping of Page as without reason, wrong, there were plenty of reasons to do so...

Quite honestly, Trump screwed the pooch because during his campaign, because Trump refused to add any advisor who may have ever said anything bad about Trump–pretty much everybody in the GOP with foreign policy experience. Which left Trump scrapping the bottom of the barrel advisers.

Trump, based on the Fox talking points outlined by Hannity and the other extended members of the White House press officer, has been whipped into a frizzy by Devin Nunes who was very creative creating lies out of thin air for various memos.

And you've swallowed their lies hook, line and sinker.

[Schewe]

Page was not indicted because he didn't do anything wrong.

We don't know that...all we know is as of this time, he's not been indicted...as far as I know, no Americans have been indicted for conspiracy (collusion ain't a crime) except that one low level guy doing the phony identities in California...Richard Pinedo and he's reached a plea deal and is working with the investigation...

Read: Robert Mueller also reached a plea deal with a California man in Russia probe

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s office announced Friday it had reached a plea deal with a California man who committed identity fraud as part of the ongoing Russia probe. The deal was announced the same day as the blockbuster indictments of a dozen Russian nationals and three Russia-affiliated groups alleging interference with the 2016 presidential election.

The charges against Richard Pinedo of Santa Paula, California, state that he sold bank account numbers created using the stolen identities of US citizens to people or entities outside of the United States. The Russian groups indicted by Mueller used social media posts, online ads, and rallies in the US to create propaganda efforts “primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump,” according to Mueller’s other indictment released Friday. Pinedo’s charges appear related to that activity.

As part of his plea deal, Pinedo has agreed to cooperate with Mueller’s investigation.

In fact if you listened to Rod Rosenstein's two press conferences announcing the two series of indictments for Russian sabotage against the 2016 elections he very VERY carefully did NOT say there were no Americans that may be indicted in the future, he said at that time, the indictments did not allege illegal involvement by Americans.

And may I point out that after the last series of indictments against Russian intelligence agents for hacking the DNC, it's very clear that the Russian attacks on our elections amounted to espionage pure and simple and those agents were actively working to sabotage the election...

Pretty sure the rest of the world knows this...only Trump clings to the fact it might have been others...no Donny, it was the Russians...and Putin even admitted he wanted Trump to win–he came out and said that. And ya know what? he sure looked pretty smug, didn't he?

So, let's quite this "meddling" horsecrap and "interference" horseshyte and call it what it was...an act of espionage for the purposes of sabotage!

[Schewe]

[deleted by moderator]

When Russia closes in, there's always the NFL players to go after!

President Donald Trump tweets about NFL national anthem debate that is 'alive and well again'

President Donald Trump is once again inserting himself into the culture war over protests by NFL athletes during the national anthem.

Trump tweeted Friday that he "can't believe" the debate has reignited after the Associated Press reported on the Miami Dolphins formally telling players they could be punished for protesting on the field. The NFL and NFL Players Association said in a joint statement Thursday night that they were halting enforcement of all anthem rules while they work out a solution.

Trump took to Twitter to critique the policy, call for action from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and suggest his own penalties.

And then this happened on Fri...

Trump legal team waived attorney-client privilege on Cohen recording

President Trump's legal team waived attorney-client privilege on the recording longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen made, a source with knowledge confirms to CBS News. Cohen secretly recorded a conversation he had with Mr. Trump shortly before the 2016 presidential election in which they discussed a possible payment to Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who alleges she had an affair with Mr. Trump in 2006.

The recording was seized in the FBI raids on Cohen's home and office in April, as a part of the federal investigation into Cohen's business dealings.

Wait, what? Trump's attorneys thought this was a good idea? Did they bother to mention it to The Donald?



Wow, last week to 10 days were Trump's worst don't ya think? Pissing of NATO calling the EU a "FOE" and Great Britain, Meeting Putin and throwing the US Intel under the bus, Would Wouldn't, Cohen recording The Donald...

We just witnessed the 10 most disastrous days of Trump's presidency

The White House has been engulfed in crisis after crisis over the last week and a half, all of which were self-inflicted.

President Trump sparked controversy at every turn, including during his trip to the NATO summit, his UK visit, his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the bizarre press conference that followed, and his comments and statements here in the US.

The last week and a half "sits at or near the top of a string of foreign policy blunders for this administration," said one Russia expert.

"Trump proved he is not a global leader," said another.

But hey, maybe next week might be better...yeah, right are you on drugs? Hey, maybe the Manafort trial won't be so bad...

Risks pile up for Trump as Manafort heads to trial

The first trial prosecuted by special counsel Robert Mueller will offer the clearest public view yet of what his investigators have on President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, with a catalogue of evidence and testimony undercutting the president’s repeated claims that the Russia investigation is a “witch hunt.”

Yeah, maybe next week won't be great huh?

[Schewe]

RuhRoh...



So, is Donny pissed off at Iran, North Korea (for dragging their heels) the mainstream media or Mueller and the 13 angry Democrats? Maybe it's Cohen for recording him or Giuliani for releasing the tape to the FBI even though it was deemed protected...

The Tweet sounds somewhat derivative...

'Fire and fury'

While at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump said: "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States."

"They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," he said, with his arms crossed as he addressed reporters.

[jeremyrh]

Well, you have the Trump talking points down pat...too bad what you are saying is factually incorrect.

Andrei Kleinovich ?

[Alan Goldhammer]

Well maybe (fingers crossed) this will force the Republican Party to part ways with the Religious Conservatives.  I'm being serious here; I think the union of the Rep with the Christians was the worse political mistake ever.

On this we can certainly agree.  As an atheist I enjoy the protection of the first amendment and am always worried when the US is referred to as a 'Christian' nation.