Over the weekend Sen. Mark Warner, the top democrat on the Senate Intelligence community, said (as so many already have) that there is no smoking gun in the Trump-Russia investigation:
WASHINGTON – The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee says “there’s no smoking gun” in the Russian collusion investigation and Hillary Clinton leaped to conclusions when she said Americans “guided” the Kremlin ‘s meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
“There’s a lot of smoke,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We have no smoking gun at this point. But there is a lot of smoke.”
Warner also didn’t back up Clinton’s assertion Wednesday that Americans helped the Russians in how best to weaponize information to hurt her during the presidential election. Warner said there’s no “foolproof” evidence yet that Russian paid Internet trolls to target the fake news to certain states and demographics.
“I’m not where Secretary Clinton is in terms of jumping to a conclusion,” Warner said. “But this is one of the many questions that we need to investigate.”
There’s a lot of smoke. Uh huh. That smoke is coming from the burning asses of democrats who can’t find any crimes committed by Trump. Has anyone anywhere seen a single example of “Russian hacking”? With their incessant carping, democrats have 59% of their addle-minded constituents believing that Russia actually changed the Presidential vote tallies.
The feckless Maxine Waters insists on impeaching Trump without a shred of evidence of wrongdoing. The equally vapid Rep. Al Green is also bent on impeachment without any evidence of wrongdoing.
It’s been obvious to anyone with half a brain that Russia was not out to help Trump as much as it was to hinder hillary clinton for her interference in Russia’s elections. democrats have been furiously trying to smother that fact. It was this morning, though, that democrat Senator Joe Manchin (WV) spilled the beans on how democrats view the investigation and how it will be conducted.
In an interview on CBS This Morning Manchin responded to a question from Charlie Rose saying
“Help us prove your innocence”
It’s at 4:37 of the video here.
“Help us prove your innocence.”
Astonishing. Absolutely mind boggling. Manchin might want to re-acquaint himself with the US Constitution. The legal system does not work that way.
The prosecution must, in most cases prove that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. … Under the Justinian Codes and English common law, the accused is presumed innocent in criminal proceedings, and in civil proceedings (like breach of contract) both sides must issue proof.
One does not prove one is innocent, but as Manchin demonstrates, this is the standard democrats are going to employ on Trump. Trump will need to prove he’s innocent rather than them prove he’s done anything wrong.
It’s all is a ruse. It is means of crippling Donald Trump’s Presidency. Has anyone seen a single concrete example of Russian “hacking”? Collusion?
One?
Bueller?
If Trump speaks to a foreign leader, the transcript is leaked. If Trump meets with anyone, it’s leaked. If Trump passes gas, it’s leaked. These are felonies being committed- pretty close to treason. So I stand by something I wrote back in March. if there was anything to the Trump-Russian thing, it would have been leaked by the obama holdovers who are in the White House looking to damage Trump.
There is nothing there. So expect this quixotic vendetta to continue for the entire Trump Presidency.
UPDATE
I could not let this idiocy pass
Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said in a speech Saturday that President Donald Trump is a “hoax perpetrated on the Americans by the Russians.”
The comment from Raskin came while he spoke at the March for Truth in Washington D.C. Marches were held throughout the country Saturday as protesters called for Congress to establish an independent commission to look into alleged ties between Russia and President Trump.
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.
It took France less than a month to conclude there was no hacking or collusion in their recent presidential election. Apparently the French are far more competent than our federal government is when it comes to this type of stuff. Scary, scary thought.
@another vet: Or, there was no crybaby denying the actual cause of the loss and, instead, want to wreak havoc and disruption on the government out of infantile spite.
From dictionary.com:
That they haven’t found it doesn’t mean there is none. If indisputable proof was present to begin with, there would never be any need for criminal investigations.
Generally speaking, when there’s a lot of smoke, it’s entirely logical to look for a fire.
“Where there’s smoke,there’s usually a smoke making machine”
~John F. Kennedy~
@Greg: Like Benghazi eh Greggie??
Stretching out innuendo as close to forever seems to be the Dems’ goal.
And why?
To put a cloud, even an imaginary one, over Pres Trump’s head.
Otherwise why not accept the offers of so many* who are included in this innuendo when they volunteer to testify.
Why are they not permitted in front of Dems?
*Manafort, Stone, Kushner, Page.
@Bill: Hillary is not a crybaby. Article 44, Section 19 of the Constitution clearly states that she was to be anointed POTUS. It reads: “Whoever is in front in the D+12 polls three months prior to the election, shall be anointed President.” Her and the loony left have every right to be in meltdown mode demanding impeachment and in staging their little banana republic coup. The rest of us need to wake up and smell the coffee and bow down to them like the good little subjects they want us to be.
@Common Sense, #5:
No, not like Benghazi.
Republicans had 7 (or was it 8?) full Benghazi investigations, as I recall, refusing to accept their own findings of a lack of wrongdoing in every instance. Except the last, of course, when they didn’t even bother to summarize any conclusions or findings.
It’s also worth noting that the current investigations are taking place in a House and Senate that are both controlled by republicans. This isn’t a conspiracy of democrats to discredit a president who belongs to the opposing party.
It’s isn’t only democrats who suspect there may be something seriously wrong with the Trump administration’s attitude toward and interactions with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Nor is it democrats who have been responsible for an endless series of leaks. You appear to have elected a Leaker in Chief, who isn’t in control of his own organization.
Putin mocked the hysterical accusations. They must be bored, he said. As in the USA doesn’t concern themselves with more important concerns!
Say it isn’t so, Vlad! (Well, he has, on several occasions.)
June 5, 2017: NSA report indicates Russian cyberattack against U.S. voting software vendor last August
CNN has reported that the identity of the person who leaked this Top Secret report is known. That person has acknowledged responsibility and has been arrested. Apparently someone decided it was worth going to jail to make certain the information came to the attention of the American people.
Hey, we shouldn’t be surprised. It had already been reported before the election that the Russians had targeted nearly half of the state voter registration systems in the country, and had successfully infiltrated at least 4.
This isn’t going away. People who know things aren’t going to allow it to be covered up.
@Greg: Yep and hilldabeast won the election because she got more illegal votes!! Oh wait a tick, thats now how our country elects a President. Thanks goodness for that!!
Given earlier information that at least 20 state voter registration systems were targeted by the Russians, the document that was just leaked obviously refers to only a small part of a vastly larger effort.
This is the article from Intercept regarding the document, and this is a link to the leaked document itself.
Note that the document wasn’t scheduled for declassification until May 5, 2042. It’s a small detail that we never would have known a thing about. How much about Russian election interference do you think is being hidden from the public? Do you think what they’ve done, and may now be doing, isn’t a threat to the nation?
@Greg:Did the one classified document leaked say where this infiltration happen and does that state require voter ID? Or how they would affect paper back up for recounts? I remember a news story about the Obama admins hacking by the DHS into some ballot places
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/9/georgia-election-officials-accuses-dhs-hacking-sta/ QUOTE
Indeed, Mr. Kemp was appointed by the nonpartisan National Association of Secretaries of State earlier this year to serve as an adviser for a DHS working group tasked with helping states manage cyber risks to their election and voting systems prior to the Nov. 8 election.
Say it isnt so Greg the Obama admin failed AGAIN!
Why must these leakers make the previous administration look like such LOSERS
Of course there’s a lot of smoke: it is being blown by all the demoncRats.
@kitt, #13:
In this particular case the targeted company was VR Systems, of Florida. Their EViD products were used in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, New York and Virginia.
Virginia and Indiana both have strict photo-ID requirements, while Florida requests photo-ID, but allows the casting of a signed provisional ballot without it. California, New York, North Carolina, and Illinois have no ID requirements.
The reports I’ve seen claim the information gathered was used by the Russian to manipulate public opinion via false news dispersed through targeted mass emails and bogus social media posts. I haven’t heard any allegations of direct voting machine manipulation.
@Greg:
So spam folders were slammed OMG!
People on Twitter and Facebook botted, where are the posts, as many conservative users were shadow banned or out right suspended.
Its another nothing burger this has not even a thread leading back to a Trump Campaign member. But I am nearly convinced by my crystal ball, Madcow will invent one in a Zombie rant.
I will give your source Kudos on verifying the document was real.
Seems to me Trump is guilty as hell of some kind of crime, or the democratic party is walking into an enormous trap. Without consideration to how intelligent President Trump is or if hes a megalomaniac I been considering how this episode will end. Many media outlets have been playing this story up for months. The democratic party is heavily vested into there being evidence of a crime. It has to be impeachment or this will end badly for the democrats. It is either or. In reality, there are some very intelligent people in Washington on both parties. Many of those senators and house members are smart enough to be considered genius or superior intelligent. Thar being said Trump is guilty as hell, or the Democrats are going to get destroyed in the midterm election. If there is no evidence, then many media outlets will look like fools, many of these 24 news networks been chasing the hell out of this rabbit. The Democrats got most of what they wanted when the FBI decided to appoint a special prosecutor. The left has been raging for months and they have totally given the FBI their blessing. They basically have demanded an investigation that will likely turn it’s focus on Secretary Clinton. The investigation could also look into the Obama administration. And the republicans didn’t want the special prosecutor but the Democrats have called for this for months. All at the same time with every attack of terrorist in Europe, looking more and more a party that wouldn’t be competent enough to protect the American people. President Trump is no idiot. The campaign of President Trump is a story of a bright enough man and others that screwed their selves time and time again, one in front of the other, by under estimating this winner. The democrates are doomed I think
@Greg:
Interesting how quickly the FBI nailed this Bernie supporter, no?
@Greg: So This so called NSA “analysis” is purely hypothetical. Look at the graphic on the last page of the released NSA document and it says in the legend: “Yellow Line = Analyst Judgement”
The graphic with no verifiable evidence claims that the hackers (operators) were: “Probably within Russian GRU”
The rest of the document is filled with more hypothetical language that would be considered worthless by any competent cyber-security professional. The following is copied word for word from the document:
“…likely used data obtained from the operation to…”
“…potentially used to…”
“…presumably to…”
“…presumably with the purpose of…”
“…appeared to be designed to…”
“…probably trying to obtain…”
“It is unknown whether the aforementioned spear-fishing deployment successfully compromised all the intended victims, and what potential data from the victim could be exfiltrated.”
“…it was likely that…”
“It[s] possible that…”
“This likely indicates…”
“…was not confirmed.”
“…it was likely that…”
“It is unknown whether…”
“…an unknown payload…”
“…probably running…”
“The unknown payload very likely installs…”
“…it is unknown if there was…”
“…it was likely intended for…”
“…sent what appeared to be…”
“It appeared the threat actors intent was…”
“…presumably with the purpose of…”
IF you had a bead on a hack, and were able to determine the source (without question), THEN you would have an EXACT date and EXACT time.
**This report doesn’t – because it’s all BS.
Another Deep State falsified report.
Here’s the language from the ‘Intel’ report: “The NSA assessed that … the spear-fishing operation was likely launched on either October 31 or November 1.” LIKELY?? What??
..AND a quote from the Intercept, who broke the story: “…the document … does not show the underlying ‘raw’ intelligence on which the analysis is based.” NO Fooling, because there is NO ‘raw intelligence.’
Now I know you will dismiss all of this, my questions are as follows.
So Greg where in any of your linked articles does it indicated Trump had anything to do with this?
Where in the articles does it indicate the preference was for Trump?
Where in your articles does it indicate Trump did anything illegal?
HRC still got more votes so just how successful were these efforts?
How about your concern for these.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-14/georgia-confirms-homeland-security-attempted-hack-election-database-10-separate-time
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3173032/cybercrime-hacking/indiana-joins-idaho-in-claiming-dhs-tried-to-hack-their-election-systems.html
This won’t end well for you. You’ve got nothing.
@Mully: There we go bursting his imaginary bubble, Surely this will lead to impeachment or sumthin, so much fake stuff thrown at us we have learned to pick it to pieces in minutes. M Winters is going to jail for some top secret fluff piece put together by NSA agents sent to find something that doesnt exist.
Winters to prison for a nothing burger, Huma Free with thousands of documents in the laptop of a Weiner. Just not fair!
@Greg: “Russia, Russia, Russia!”
The demac-RATS lead by Mad Madame Maxine(waters)and Nasty Nancy(Pelosi)determened to impeach trump their losing their minds they never had
@Mully, #19:
The leaked report is only a summary of conclusions. It’s based on evidence examined by analysts that hasn’t been made public. Most of the information under review by Congressional investigative committees hasn’t been made public.
Seventeen agencies within our nation’s intelligence and investigative community don’t all come to the same conclusion—that Russia interfered with our 2016 presidential election process—based on nothing more than Xeroxed graphical handouts.
@Mully:
Obama publicly stated that after he talked to Putin in September of 2016, Russian meddling in the election stopped. According to this report, it continued. Either the report is a lie, Obama lied, or both.
Liberal demacrats Nasty Nancy(Pelosi)and Mad Madame Maxine(Waters)make Don Queutie look pretty leaven headed
@Greg: How about answering my Trump questions?
You totally missed the point on everything else, so I won’t tax your mind again on that.
Just for FYI Dem Senator Mark Warner said over the weekend. NO SMOKING GUN.
You have nothing. Just another lemming.
Bombshell breaking news, Comey just crapped on the democrats obstruction of justice dreams.
No never didnt happen ever.
@Mully, #26:
They probably assume no one is stupid enough to conclude that the Russian efforts were intended to assist Hillary Clinton.
The article isn’t about the legality or illegality of anything Trump might have done. It’s about a leaked classified document relating to a specific confirmed instance of Russian efforts to interfere with our nation’s presidential election process. Some people are still denying that any such effort took place, and that investigations into it are entirely politically motivated. Obviously they’re wrong. Somebody decided they’d risk going to jail to publicly demonstrate that.
That would depend on where the counts were significantly affected by Russian hacking, the timed releases of stolen information, and targeted mass mailings and social media manipulations. The entire effort appears to have been prolonged, multifaceted, and well planned.
@kitt: Trump clears the room.
“Now Jim How bout backing off this Flynn investigation”
Our intelligence officers refused to answer very basic questions from Repub and Dem Senators for which they were reprimanded.
Trump’s in trouble
@Greg:
So now this has nothing to do with Trump. Then what are Dems doing? I keep hearing impeachment talks among them. The person who leaked the doc is a Trump hater. She wouldn’t have leaked anything if she wasn’t .
Didn’t Obama meddle in the Israeli election? Yes he did.
What is your proof any Russian meddling was specifically to help Trump win? Where is the proof Trump was involved? You have nothing.
I recall the 80’s called and it wanted it’s foreign policy back. That is according to Obama.
Trump: Obama ‘did nothing’ about Russia election meddling
Obama “did nothing” because he was concerned about using the powers of the presidency in a manner that would itself cast grave doubts on the integrity of the presidential election process—an entirely legitimate concern that is apparently beyond Trump’s intellectual or moral grasp.
Before, Trump was claiming that there was no Russian meddling. Now that it’s clear there was, and the extent of it is beginning to register, he’s changing his story and claiming it was Obama’s fault.
Really? Maybe maybe FOX New talk shows shouldn’t be a President’s only source of information. There’s that intelligence community thing. And then there were those daily briefings, which you decided were pretty much a waste of time.
Sept 13, 2016: NSA Chief: Potential Russian Hacking of U.S. Elections a Concern
Sept 18, 2017: Confront Russia’s cyber meddling
Oct 11, 2016: Obama Considers ‘Proportional’ Response to Russian Hacking in U.S. Election
What could Putin’s motives possibly be, for wanting Trump in the White House instead of the Democratic Party candidate? Oh, yeah, right:
Could Putin Face Resurgent NATO? Russian Aggression a Top Issue for Obama’s Final Summit
Obama and Clinton both considered increasing Russian aggression a problem; Trump proclaimed Putin to be—unlike Obama—a great leader. He seemed somehow unaware of the fact that Russia had recently invaded and annexed part of Ukraine, and was in the process of expanding even further. Putin has resurrected the old “Novorossiya” map. It’s like a page out of 1930s European history—which Trump probably hasn’t read either.
From Business Insider, June 24, 2017: Evidence is mounting that Russia took 4 clear paths to meddle in the US election
@Greg: And as the investigation has proven, not one vote was changed!! Also to date there has been proven NO collusion between President Trump or any member of his staff. Little facts that should be acknowledged. Did the Russians hack, yep and the DNC refused help Greggie!! No one is arguing the fact that the Russians have been attempting to hack our election systems, in fact it’s been known for years. Good question is why has nothing been done under the Obola adminsitarion??
@Greg: Greggie, the Russians have been hacking for years as has been proven. Forget about Obola’s failure during this election but how about the past 8 years Greggie??
@Common Sense, #33:
For every mind that was changed as a result of the Russian meddling, a vote was changed. Trump, in fact, may now be president because of what a hostile foreign power did. He certainly isn’t president because more American voters wanted him to be so than didn’t. The electoral college vote may have magnified the effect of Russian meddling. They may have knowingly used that by selectively targeting voters in critical areas for manipulation.
Former Obama intelligence official: Russian hack ‘the political equivalent of 9/11’
A typical load of horse manure. Am I supposed to have forgotten that, until a few days ago, the Trump administration was denying that any evidence of Russian meddling even existed?
@Greg: GRASP THEM STRAWS, GREG!! GRASP THEM STRAWS!!
Hillary’s approval rating has sunk since the election. Usually, the approval ratings rise for loser. Hillary was despised; she was only there because the DNC made it so.
She lost, fair and square. Perhaps the left should have mobilized more illegal immigrants and corpses, the 5 million or so they rounded up wasn’t enough… or in the wrong districts.
It’s no longer about Hillary Clinton. It’s about what the Russians did, what their motives were, and what they may do again, in the near future.
We’re supposed to select our nation’s president ourselves, without having a foreign power manipulating public opinion to alter the outcome to their own advantage.
Trump lashes out at Obama over latest report on Russian election meddling