Octopus Overlords

The dossier compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele remains a subject of fascination—or, depending on your perspective, scorn. Indeed, it was much discussed during former FBI Director Jim Comey’s testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 7. Published almost two years ago by BuzzFeed News in January 2017, the document received significant public attention, first for its lurid details regarding Donald Trump’s pre-presidential alleged sexual escapades in Russia and later for its role in forming part of the basis for the government’s application for a FISA warrant to surveil Carter Page.

Our interest in revisiting the compilation that has come to be called the “Steele Dossier” concerns neither of those topics, at least not directly. Rather, we returned to the document because we wondered whether information made public as a result of the Mueller investigation—and the passage of two years—has tended to buttress or diminish the crux of Steele’s original reporting.

As we noted, our interest is in assessing the Steele dossier as a raw intelligence document, not a finished piece of analysis. The Mueller investigation has clearly produced public records that confirm pieces of the dossier. And even where the details are not exact, the general thrust of Steele’s reporting seems credible in light of what we now know about extensive contacts between numerous individuals associated with the Trump campaign and Russian government officials.

However, there is also a good deal in the dossier that has not been corroborated in the official record and perhaps never will be—whether because it’s untrue, unimportant or too sensitive. As a raw intelligence document, the Steele dossier, we believe, holds up well so far. But surely there is more to come from Mueller’s team. We will return to it as the public record develops.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Sun Dec 16, 2018 1:36 pm Who said that?

Paingod wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 9:19 am When you've swept so much dirt under the rug in your lifetime that the rug is riding 3 feet off the floor, the worst thing you can do is to have Home and Garden magazine come over to do a spread on you. You know they're going to see the rug. Why would you even want to invite them over?

I get that Trump is delusional, but self-preservation should have told him that everything he's ever done was going to be pulled apart down to the bare boards when he became president.

Paingod wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 9:19 am When you've swept so much dirt under the rug in your lifetime that the rug is riding 3 feet off the floor, the worst thing you can do is to have Home and Garden magazine come over to do a spread on you. You know they're going to see the rug. Why would you even want to invite them over?

I get that Trump is delusional, but self-preservation should have told him that everything he's ever done was going to be pulled apart down to the bare boards when he became president.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 10:00 am His ego and ability to always get away with it were what convinced him. Narcissism over self preservation. Plus, he only listens to people who agree with him.

"What is going to put him in jail eventually... destroy anything he's ever built, and his children, is a 30 year dishonest criminal enterprise. One thing will take him out of the presidency, the other will ruin him forever..."-

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:54 pm Senate gets report detailing breadth of Russian meddling for Trump.

Senate puts fingers in ears and goes "la-la-la."

"The bipartisan panel hasn’t said if it endorses the findings. It plans to release it publicly along with another study later this week."

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:54 pm Senate puts fingers in ears and goes "la-la-la."

LordMortis wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 1:16 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:54 pm Senate puts fingers in ears and goes "la-la-la."

The GOP electorate has already combined to say "So what?"

And PoTUS response will be "See. No Collusion. Hillary worked with the Russians. Why not investigate Hillary? People are saying the investigation is illegal. - WITCH HUNT."

It doesn't matter as long as you win. That's already been the message.

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:52 pm

LordMortis wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 1:16 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:54 pm Senate puts fingers in ears and goes "la-la-la."

The GOP electorate has already combined to say "So what?"

And PoTUS response will be "See. No Collusion. Hillary worked with the Russians. Why not investigate Hillary? People are saying the investigation is illegal. - WITCH HUNT."

It doesn't matter as long as you win. That's already been the message.

The only opinions that matter are those of the 20-or-so GOP senators who would have to vote to convict if the House impeaches. Hard to see that happening, and it doesn't even look like the House will impeach unless they think there's a shot at the Senate going along...but shoes are dropping left and right lately, so who knows? Nobody wants to get buried in shoes.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 5:11 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:52 pm

LordMortis wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 1:16 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:54 pm Senate puts fingers in ears and goes "la-la-la."

The GOP electorate has already combined to say "So what?"

And PoTUS response will be "See. No Collusion. Hillary worked with the Russians. Why not investigate Hillary? People are saying the investigation is illegal. - WITCH HUNT."

It doesn't matter as long as you win. That's already been the message.

The only opinions that matter are those of the 20-or-so GOP senators who would have to vote to convict if the House impeaches. Hard to see that happening, and it doesn't even look like the House will impeach unless they think there's a shot at the Senate going along...but shoes are dropping left and right lately, so who knows? Nobody wants to get buried in shoes.

Except Imelda Marcos .

GOP Senators will cover their own asses. Mueller has shown that he is able to get enough information out there that it can't be buried, and NY looks like it may bury Trump on the State side. Those Senators now defending him will abandon him like rats if it looks like the ship will sink.

GreenGoo wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:02 amYou go Fox news. You can rule the rubble when it's all over.

While popular memory today remembers Watergate as five DNC burglars leading inexorably to Richard Nixon’s resignation two years later, history recalls that the case and special prosecutor’s investigation at the time were much broader; ultimately 69 people were charged as part of the investigation, 48 of whom pleaded guilty or were found guilty at trial.

After three weeks of back-to-back-to-back-to-back bombshells by federal prosecutors and special counsel Robert Mueller, it’s increasingly clear that, as 2018 winds down, Donald Trump faces a legal assault unlike anything previously seen by any president—at least 17 distinct court cases stemming from at least seven different sets of prosecutors and investigators. (That total does not count any congressional inquiries, nor does it include any other inquiries into other administration officials unrelated to Russia.)

• Investigations by the Special Counsel
  • The Russian Government’s Election Attack
  • WikiLeaks
  • Middle Eastern Influence
  • Paul Manafort’s Activity
  • The Trump Tower Moscow Project
  • Other Campaign and Transition Contacts With Russia
  • Obstruction of Justice
• Investigations by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York
  • Campaign Conspiracy and the Trump Organization’s Finances
  • Inauguration Funding
  • Trump SuperPAC Funding
  • Foreign Lobbying
• Investigations by the US Attorney for the District of Columbia
  • Maria Butina and the NRA
• Investigations by the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova
  • Turkish Influence
• Investigations by New York City, New York State, & Other State Attorneys General
  • Tax Case
  • The Trump Foundation
  • Emoluments Lawsuit
• Mystery Investigation Underway by Unknown Office
• Unrelated Criminality Pursued by Other Offices
  • Identity Theft Cases

Judge Sullivan harshly admonished Michael Flynn for acting as unregistered agent while serving as the national security adviser, leaving open the possibility of jail time for Flynn.

“All along, you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the United States. That undermines everything this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out."
Sullivan says he could impose a sentence of incarceration.

"I am not hiding my disgust, my disdain for your criminal offense," Sullivan said, straining his voice and taking a brief pause. "Yes, your honor," Flynn said, though he was not asked a question.

$iljanus wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:19 pm Well, damn. The judge is not amused by Flynn during the sentencing hearing. From CNN:

Judge Sullivan harshly admonished Michael Flynn for acting as unregistered agent while serving as the national security adviser, leaving open the possibility of jail time for Flynn.

“All along, you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the United States. That undermines everything this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out."
Sullivan says he could impose a sentence of incarceration.

"I am not hiding my disgust, my disdain for your criminal offense," Sullivan said, straining his voice and taking a brief pause. "Yes, your honor," Flynn said, though he was not asked a question.

Instead of the slam dunk of no jail time, the judge also kept asking if Flynn would like to delay sentencing so he could have more time to cooperate with the Muller team. CNN analysts say the judge may have been hinting that he was tending toward throwing Flynn’s treasonous ass in jail and perhaps the prosecution should squeeze more out of Flynn, hence the offer to delay sentencing.

And sentencing has been delayed.

Go wheels of justice!

LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!


Also the judge was probably not amused by Flynn and his team making allegations beforehand that the FBI tricked Flynn which were baseless. I don’t have much experience being sentenced in court but I don’t think it’s the best move to say anything other than “I accept the plea deal offered by the prosecution” which recommended no jail time. The balls on these arrogant fuckers. On the day of sentencing Flynn didn’t make any claims of FBI trickery, probably realizing the error of such thinking a little too late since the judge’s reaming began soon after.

GungHo wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:18 pm

This is so totally crazy I'm really not sure what to say about it. My 8yo wouldn't even say something this illogical.

And the beauty part is that today Flynn just shot all of that innanity down by saying 'uhh, yeah actually I knew I was lying and I knew lying to the FBI was bad, mmkay?'

GungHo wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:18 pm This is so totally crazy I'm really not sure what to say about it. My 8yo wouldn't even say something this illogical.

$iljanus wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:19 pm Well, damn. The judge is not amused by Flynn during the sentencing hearing. From CNN:

Judge Sullivan harshly admonished Michael Flynn for acting as unregistered agent while serving as the national security adviser, leaving open the possibility of jail time for Flynn.

“All along, you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the United States. That undermines everything this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out."
Sullivan says he could impose a sentence of incarceration.

"I am not hiding my disgust, my disdain for your criminal offense," Sullivan said, straining his voice and taking a brief pause. "Yes, your honor," Flynn said, though he was not asked a question.

Instead of the slam dunk of no jail time, the judge also kept asking if Flynn would like to delay sentencing so he could have more time to cooperate with the Muller team. CNN analysts say the judge may have been hinting that he was tending toward throwing Flynn’s treasonous ass in jail and perhaps the prosecution should squeeze more out of Flynn, hence the offer to delay sentencing.

And sentencing has been delayed.

Go wheels of justice!

LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!


Also the judge was probably not amused by Flynn and his team making allegations beforehand that the FBI tricked Flynn which were baseless. I don’t have much experience being sentenced in court but I don’t think it’s the best move to say anything other than “I accept the plea deal offered by the prosecution” which recommended no jail time. The balls on these arrogant fuckers. On the day of sentencing Flynn didn’t make any claims of FBI trickery, probably realizing the error of such thinking a little too late since the judge’s reaming began soon after.

Intelligencer wrote:What makes this turn of events so devastating is that conservatives have held out Sullivan as the judicial hero who would vindicate their theories. Fox News legal pundit Jeanine Pirro called him “a jurist unafraid of the swamp, a judge who has a track record of calling out prosecutorial misconduct, a man who does not tolerate injustice or abuse of power.” Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel praised Sullivan as “a judge who is wise to the tricks of prosecutors and investigators … His reputation is for being no-nonsense, a straight shooter, an advocate of government transparency.”

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 5:36 pm

$iljanus wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:19 pm Well, damn. The judge is not amused by Flynn during the sentencing hearing. From CNN:

Judge Sullivan harshly admonished Michael Flynn for acting as unregistered agent while serving as the national security adviser, leaving open the possibility of jail time for Flynn.

“All along, you were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the United States. That undermines everything this flag over here stands for. Arguably you sold your country out."
Sullivan says he could impose a sentence of incarceration.

"I am not hiding my disgust, my disdain for your criminal offense," Sullivan said, straining his voice and taking a brief pause. "Yes, your honor," Flynn said, though he was not asked a question.

Instead of the slam dunk of no jail time, the judge also kept asking if Flynn would like to delay sentencing so he could have more time to cooperate with the Muller team. CNN analysts say the judge may have been hinting that he was tending toward throwing Flynn’s treasonous ass in jail and perhaps the prosecution should squeeze more out of Flynn, hence the offer to delay sentencing.

And sentencing has been delayed.

Go wheels of justice!

LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!


Also the judge was probably not amused by Flynn and his team making allegations beforehand that the FBI tricked Flynn which were baseless. I don’t have much experience being sentenced in court but I don’t think it’s the best move to say anything other than “I accept the plea deal offered by the prosecution” which recommended no jail time. The balls on these arrogant fuckers. On the day of sentencing Flynn didn’t make any claims of FBI trickery, probably realizing the error of such thinking a little too late since the judge’s reaming began soon after.

What's really great is the GOP had high hopes for this judge being their savior.

Intelligencer wrote:What makes this turn of events so devastating is that conservatives have held out Sullivan as the judicial hero who would vindicate their theories. Fox News legal pundit Jeanine Pirro called him “a jurist unafraid of the swamp, a judge who has a track record of calling out prosecutorial misconduct, a man who does not tolerate injustice or abuse of power.” Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel praised Sullivan as “a judge who is wise to the tricks of prosecutors and investigators … His reputation is for being no-nonsense, a straight shooter, an advocate of government transparency.”

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:31 pm I feel like Dorothy in Kansas.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:40 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:31 pm I feel like Dorothy in Kansas.

Shunted aside and ignored by the people in your life?

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:44 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:40 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:31 pm I feel like Dorothy in Kansas.

Shunted aside and ignored by the people in your life?

That's the least of it.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:47 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:44 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:40 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 6:31 pm I feel like Dorothy in Kansas.

Shunted aside and ignored by the people in your life?

That's the least of it.

Try to carry on, wayward son.