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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPutin spiked Romney nomination to SOS. (More evidence Trump's his puppet)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/12/christopher-steele-the-man-behind-the-trump-dossierOne subject that Steele is believed to have discussed with Muellers investigators is a memo that he wrote in late November, 2016, after his contract with Fusion had ended.
This memo, which did not surface publicly with the others, is shorter than the rest, and is based on one source, described as a senior Russian official.
The official said that he was merely relaying talk circulating in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but what hed heard was astonishing: people were saying that the Kremlin had intervened to block Trumps initial choice for Secretary of State, Mitt Romney. (During Romneys run for the White House in 2012, he was notably hawkish on Russia, calling it the single greatest threat to the U.S.)
The memo said that the Kremlin, through unspecified channels, had asked Trump to appoint someone who would be prepared to lift Ukraine-related sanctions, and who would coöperate on security issues of interest to Russia, such as the conflict in Syria.
If what the source heard was true, then a foreign power was exercising pivotal influence over U.S. foreign policyand an incoming President.
Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)he could act as Secretary of Russian Sanction Dropping/Oil Getting.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,994 posts)Exxon-Mobil has been doing a lot of work with Russia to get their oil extracted and to market
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Because President Obama banned drilling for oil there and in parts of the Atlantic in 2016. Trump has tried to reverse the ban but environmental groups have sued him. Hopefully Trumps attempted reversal will be found to be unconstitutional.
Just follow the oil when it comes to Tillerson and Putin.
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,435 posts)...Oh I dont know...say "Putin personally awarded Tillerson with Russia's Order of Friendship medal in 2013" the highest honor to be given to an outsider!
Then there is this
....In 2011, Exxon signed another deal with Rosneft for a lucrative $3.2 billion oil deal that would give Exxon permission to develop offshore oil fields in the Russian Arctic [insider 2013]
And this
....concern over Tillerson's nomination because of potential conflicts of interest. One of the first issues on Tillerson's agenda, for example, may be weighing whether to lift sanctions on Russia. Tillerson currently holds $151 million in Exxon stock, and the value of that stock would increase if sanctions were lifted. [Insider 2013]
All very curious, very curious indeed. Yet, since tillerson failed to lift santions on Russia, he has lost favor wth his buddy Putin, and accordng to John Haltiwanger, reporter for Newsweek in an article dated Sept 7 2017, "Putin now regrets giving tillerson the friendship award" Absolutely f#!@#!ig amazing..if this weren't some serious international shite .... this would be f@!#&$ hilarious! Ps. I really dont believe best buddy spat--seems like a farce, seems tillerson could be an agent for Russia, could be I've been reading one to many espionage novels. But, really
is going on???
FakeNoose
(32,633 posts)... it doesn't explain why ol' Rex T. came out of retirement just to work for the "fucking moron."
What does Putin have on him to make him agree to work in the Trump administration?
This should really be looked at in depth, and quickly!
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,435 posts)...of possible criminality is exposed. .... paz!
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Four more years of this, and Russia will be deeply embedded in our govt and running even more of it, owning the WH, the House, and even part of the Judiciary. Then we will be Russia, in effect. No longer America.
Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)State Dept. Was Granted $120 Million to Fight Russian Meddling. It Has Spent $0.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/world/europe/state-department-russia-global-engagement-center.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur
As Russias virtual war against the United States continues unabated with the midterm elections approaching, the State Department has yet to spend any of the $120 million it has been allocated since late 2016 to counter foreign efforts to meddle in elections or sow distrust in democracy.
As a result, not one of the 23 analysts working in the departments Global Engagement Center which has been tasked with countering Moscows disinformation campaign speaks Russian, and a department hiring freeze has hindered efforts to recruit the computer experts needed to track the Russian efforts.
The delay is just one symptom of the largely passive response to the Russian interference by President Trump, who has made little if any public effort to rally the nation to confront Moscow and defend democratic institutions. More broadly, the funding lag reflects a deep lack of confidence by Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson in his departments ability to execute its historically wide-ranging mission and spend its money wisely.
Mr. Tillerson has voiced skepticism that the United States is even capable of doing anything to counter the Russian threat.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,994 posts)Botany
(70,490 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I can't believe I am witnessing this happening. How easy it was, for the Russians and the Trump mob to do this. What's that saying? All that is necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,994 posts)Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)I'm a Precinct Committee Chairman and am actively working on it.
Botany
(70,490 posts)____________
*
http://www.newsweek.com/mike-pence-was-handpicked-paul-manafort-696412
Russia is way deep into the Republican party.
Before Trump formally announced Pence as his vice presidential candidate, it was Manafort who made sure it happened, The New York Times reported last year.
Trump had hesitated to settle on Pence, who was governor of Indiana. Trump was fielding last-ditch appeals from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and publicly said he had not made a final, final decision until advisers like Manafort reminded him of the importance of uniting the GOP around conservative Christian values.
CBS News reported that Pence was Manafort's "first choice" and that Manafort even lied about mechanical problems on Trump's plane to make the soon-to-be GOP nominee stay an extra day in Indiana to get to know Pence. In a phone call, Manafort assured Trump that Pence was the right choice and made a case that won over the real estate tycoon.
Manafort would later downplay his behind-the-scenes choice, telling the Times that Trump never seriously doubted Pence.
Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,584 posts)Pence and his family have Russian financial ties. THAT is why he was picked. The fact that he is a religious nut and actually thinks God speaks directly to him (not through him) is proof that he ca not take over it the other moron is out of the picture. Mueller must have this info. Read these DU posts for the details about Pence and Russia.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029773455
https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10029892213
poboy2
(2,078 posts)Farmer-Rick
(10,154 posts)klook
(12,154 posts)Lots lots more in this piece -- great reporting on Steele/Orbis's work and the various Russian sleazebags who just happened to have offices or apartments in Trump Tower.
NoMoreRepugs
(9,412 posts)the Rethug party and all their voters are an enormous sleeper cell planted here years ago.
EricMaundry
(1,619 posts)Pretty damn shocking.
chuckstevens
(1,201 posts)Russia is controlling the US Government and many Americans don't give a shit!
poboy2
(2,078 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)from Teabaggers/deplorables that have even stated "Thank you Russia for giving us President Trump" or similar. They know and they're happy about it. Morons!
FakeNoose
(32,633 posts)The Teabaggers haven't put it together yet. They won't until Faux News does it for them, which will be ... NEVER!
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)Betrayal up the wazoo.
* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)I cannot believe the effect this is having on me. I am having a LOT of trouble processing it. A lot of trouble dealing with it.
At this moment, our whole nation and its future hangs on Mueller & Co. -- and the possible election of Democrats in November. Emphasis on possible because if anyone thinks Putin will let things go back to normal without an ENORMOUS fight, they're flat wrong.
OMG OMG OMG
First Speaker
(4,858 posts)...and our "Constitution" is so much toilet paper. Especially if the election itself was rigged-with actual vote tampering--as I am more and more convinced it was. A military coup would have been no more of an attack on our country's basic institutions, than this "administration" is...
Firestorm49
(4,032 posts)We are in serious trouble - much more than we are led to believe.
Skittles
(153,150 posts)it has been obvious from the start that Russia is blackmailing Trump
PatrickforO
(14,570 posts)I'm going to be calling my US Senators tomorrow about this, that's for sure.
BECAUSE TREASON IS NOT OK.
Blue Owl
(50,349 posts)Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)He would have quit by now. Lol!
duforsure
(11,885 posts)putin probably had most of them appointed, especially ross, flynn, tillerson, choa, and others. They probably targeted those they had enough on to further control area's within our government with.