UPDATE #2: RUSSIA! Proven collusion
Second update: Thanks to snoopydawg for pointing this out in a different thread: Congress is apparently officially "investigating" this now. (From Newsweek). If I might quote snoopydawg:
This will be one more congressional theater show where everyone looks seriously upset about something bad and they will shake their fingers at people and tell them that were naughty and then they will all go their separate ways.
I wonder who will play the role of the disappointed father figure?
In "even-a-stopped-clock-is-right-twice-a-day" news: (from The Hill)
"The problem is mainstream media does not want to cover that story because that affects people they protect," Trump claimed. "So they don’t like covering that story. But the big story is uranium and how Russia got 20 percent of our uranium and, frankly, it’s a disgrace and it’s a disgrace that the fake news won’t cover. It’s so sad."
(Please see below, following the original post).
The question is, will the Hillbots -- or the rest of the country, for that matter -- care?
Hot off the press, from The Hill:
Before the Obama administration approved a controversial deal in 2010 giving Moscow control of a large swath of American uranium, the FBI had gathered substantial evidence that Russian nuclear industry officials were engaged in bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering designed to grow Vladimir Putin’s atomic energy business inside the United States, according to government documents and interviews.
Federal agents used a confidential U.S. witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather extensive financial records, make secret recordings and intercept emails as early as 2009 that showed Moscow had compromised an American uranium trucking firm with bribes and kickbacks in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, FBI and court documents show.
They also obtained an eyewitness account — backed by documents — indicating Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to the U.S. designed to benefit former President Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation during the time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served on a government body that provided a favorable decision to Moscow, sources told The Hill
Emphasis mine. And far, far more at the link.
This is my first "essay" here, and not much of one at that; I just wanted to be sure this story got some eyeballs. It should be interesting to see where it goes -- or doesn't.
(I will try to check in regularly but have a few deadlines to clear today, so it may be sporadic. Thanks for reading!)
UPDATE: Thanks to Amanda Matthews for spotting this, also from The Hill:
FBI Informant Blocked from Telling Congress about Russia Nuclear Corruption Case
Shocked! Shocked I says.
Comments
Obama and Clinton and Trump, Oh My!
And Holder and McAuliffe for kickers. It will be interesting to see how this cross pollinated scheme unfolds. It looks like Trump and the Clintons we're both covering this up. It's a little odd that key Obama appointees involved in this were held over by Trump and the cover-up continued. It suggests that the corruption is so intertwined that the Trump administration cannot prosecute this case.
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
I assume that the undercover agent has now suicided
Exactly what I thought too, Ed.
Surely they would have already been disposed of by now. Probably before they started the whole Rooskie song and dance.
Clinton-Obama-FBI-DOJ Bribery & Collusion
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iU715uplok width:540 height:365]
---
And The U.S. News Media does not even care -- while it instead falsely implicates President Trump in mythical "Russian Election Theft/Collusion" that WikiLeaks has proven is just a lie (to deflect from the DNCs real Election corruption and willful voter disenfranchisement).
It's time to Lock Up the Clintons.
Silence will be observed
From the article:
Nah, nothing to see here. Move along, move along...
Exactly what I'm afraid of.
Putinanything from now on.@WaterLily Think she's
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Certainly true for those of us here!
Silence or Crow? Which One You Wanna Bet On? nt
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu
None of the above?
"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now..."
@travelerxxx
Well, Putin evidently knew that he was dealing with a enormously corrupt government and that bribes were required to get the uranium he needed. Had the public officials been honest, purchasing an ear and a chance to purchase uranium would not have been a required 'getting business done in this country' step. Businessmen used to have the same problem in Mexico, I've heard. Psychopaths and the pathologically greedy must be kept out of government...
I know it's WaPo, but this article really should be read in full at source.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foreign-governments-gave-million...
Yet it's apparently only the fact that it's Russia!!! in one of multiple pay-to-play instances - in a situation imposed by the Clinton's pathological greed and power-tripping - that there's a problem, because it can be used in the propaganda fomenting an excuse for a military attack in yet another targeted country among so many. Because Secretary of State Clinton apparently made it known that she could be hard to get hold of without a bribe laundered into Her Fundation.
Need to find an article about a Prince/Sheik? Secretary of State Hillary wouldn't see until after he donated to Her Fundation, something suggested he try after he spoke with someone at Her Fundation after not being able to get through to Her - and which worked. Too tired to see straight and can't find it - does anyone remember anything about this? I believe it was part of a larger story, but that bit stood out to me at the time, however vaguely I can recall it right now.
Crawling off to bed...
Edit: just got up and am adding this in, in the just-continued search for the above story, as a probably unnecessary reminder of just how obvious the corruption was, as the more telling stories seem (surprise!) difficult to find... all emphasis mine.
(Needs to be read in full at source, but these bits make the requisite points beautifully. Please note that after a 3-year-delay and a lawsuit to get things moving, the AP had, at time of writing, only had the State Department release official calenders and planning calenders from about half of the four years she headed the State Department, and we know from the emails that a hell of a lot went on 'unofficially' and carefully kept away from oversight and public knowledge. So, I'm guessing that there's a lot more and nastier behind-the-scenes proof of criminality to be frantically concealed which has yet to come out - possibly involving some of those missing trillions from the Pentagon)
http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-met-with-influential-clin...
And 22,000 secret Swiss bank accounts were requested, but many of the relative few turned over, in a deal worked out by Sec. of State Clinton, had already been depleted, as I recall.
And I must also admit to a certain curiosity as to how personal Her interest in this matter was.
(Emphasis mine)
http://nypost.com/2015/07/30/ubs-increased-donations-to-clinton-foundati...
(Emphasis mine)
https://www.taxconnections.com/taxblog/united-states-client-of-credit-su...
http://world.time.com/2013/12/20/swiss-banks-tell-american-expats-to-emp...
Collected the above yesterday, looking for some of the explanatory articles I'd found previously without success, then got side-tracked onto a related topic, so I'm posting this anyway, just in case anyone ever sees it. Just got up today, lol, and in any event, this thread has probably fallen way off the page.
NYT ad (and notice of surrender as a propaganda sheet) just seen on the internet:
Anyway, this all sounds like reframing, redirection of the scandal from the Clintons and corrupt industry; the OP article quote fails to mention the fact that tons of money flowed from those financially involved in the approval of this deal by the State department, if little of it previously claimed to be from any 'Russian-government-connected' participants involved in this particular State-Department-and-other-approved sale of 20% of America's already inadequate uranium supplies so lucrative for the Clinton Foundation - beyond Bill's usual pay-off of a hefty speaking fee, if one even larger than usual.
The internet is dead - this NYT article - once massively revealing of appalling corruption (and previously partially 'corrected' but still telling as hell) - bearing a different URL than the title but apparently the same date, appears to have been, this time massively, again rewritten, to place emphasis and blame on the Russians did it!!! (who did give Bill Clinton the mandatory massive speaking fee of half a million) and off Bill Clinton, for using his influence at home and abroad to enrich those who would also enrich himself, the corruption of then Sec of State Hillary Clinton and the State Department under her, and off of the Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra and other financial interests who made a freaking fortune off the sale and massive donations of what I seem to recall as totaling a profit of somewhere around or over a hundred million to the Clinton's Foundation, with 35 million from Guistra alone and a hundred million more promised.
And I believe that these are the 'Russian millions' being presented as forced on poor, helpless Hillary.
So now, with regard to massive Clinton corruption via the prostitution of public office and of resultant influence and ability to push agendas and grant favours in the gaining of hundreds of millions personally and billions for a Foundation where the great bulk of the money seems to have been absorbed in 'administration costs' and the like rather than to benefit those it claims to, the
DevilRussians made them do it!Although some portions of the article remain the same or similar, the problem with Sec of State Clinton not reporting, as required, very large donations to her Foundation is down played, as are the amounts received from the once integral but now (barely-mentioned with regard to this uranium deal) billionaire Giustra and associated others. Now, as in virtually all propaganda, it's all RUSSIA!!! everywhere, doing everything of any evil, all of the time, as the nuclear war-drums beat.
Even the URL is changed, although the name and date seem to me to remain the same, and the corrections posted do not include an almost total rewrite. Unless, somewhere in the internet, the original article floats in space.
Emphasis mine.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-...
However, it does link to this following, which makes me wonder how long it'll be before Bill (to be placed in charge if the economy under President Hillary) is fished from under the bus, where he's still breathing the fumes of the corruption of both Clintons. So, best to read this in full at source, while you still can.
'Business as usual' for foreign countries (at least those not yet entirely controlled by US military/economic threats) with the States involves bribing the hell out of an ex-President and his spouse, a wanna-be-Coronated President. And, as with 'inconvenient' primary ballots, facts are being whited out before our very eyes at an amazing rate.
(All emphasis mine.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html
So, why were - and are - the Clinton's still running the nation for self-enrichment and further self-empowerment by abusing not only currently-held and evidently-promised future public positions? I suppose we'd have to ask the powerful paymasters running them, of we only could, and if we could hope for a straight answer. Even before internet censorship reached this stage...
Also would like to point out, regarding the 'discounted' AIDS drugs pushed by the Clinton's Foundation, that they were both toxic and ineffective, although feeling rather doubtful that anything illustrative remains accessible on the internet.
https://www.naturalnews.com/055445_Clinton_Foundation_AIDS_drugs_corrupt...
I'd say that the Clintons as representatives and propagators of endemic and often health/life threatening levels of corruption spreading globally from the utterly corrupted US government is problematic for the entire world.
And if searching under 'Frank Giustra corruption', some of the actual (and previously more easily internet-accessible) evidence against also the Clintons and the US government shows, although a salt shaker must still be kept handy, of course.
But even if the Trump Foundation (shriek!) 'wants us to know about this', many of us already do, and it regards indications of endemic corruption which have been documented and published before, just more telling when presented en mass.
And if the behaviours of the Clintons are to be essentially presented in propaganda as Russian puppets helplessly abusing the American people and political system for massive bribes even when not in public office, due to corrupt and compliant US government officials in office - what does that say about them and the state of what passes for political system in America, lol?
http://www.hangthebankers.com/clinton-corruption-10-facts-clinton-founda...
Clinton corruption: 10 facts about the Clinton Foundation
Right, the
deflection/redirection strategyproblem is Russia!!! - not the fact that the Clintons did pay-for-play patty-cakes, using the American people's public policy, politics and public property, with anyone having enough money for the bribes they expected in return...http://www.hangthebankers.com/clinton-corruption-10-facts-clinton-founda...
And it would have been far more than that during Hillary's position as Secretary of State, just from (Canadian) Frank Guistra's facilitated uranium deal with what was previously stated to involve from him alone (among other financial input from him and other beneficiaries) an (undeclared officially by SoS Hillary) lump sum donation of over $30 million, with $100 million more promised. But she has public/private finances, as well as intentions.
Also, please note, in the further quotes below, that the Canadian mining billionaire Frank Giustra, is in partnership with Bill Clinton, in one of the many Clinton 'charities' which will still be permitted to accept foreign money should still-evidently-campaigning-and-censoring-for-whitewashing-Herself Hillary become President. Both Clintons (through their Slush-Fundation) and Giustra having profited greatly from the very uranium transaction now labeled in propaganda as having been "the Russian's Fault!!!"
This links to an absolute gotta-read, complete with Otrel's Executive Summary and conclusions:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-09-07/clinton-foundation-charity-frau...
We need to get the facts out while it's still possible to do so.
Although I don't expect that anyone's going to see/read this and any typos or errors I've missed will just have to stand...
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
So far, no mention on DKOS
It's a top story in my progressive news feed. My "Establishment Views" feed isn't showing it.
We'll have to see where this goes. My guess is it's a short road to nowhere for this story.
Who here is surprised that Hillary Clinton colluded with Russia over that Uranium deal and money went to both the foundation and Bill's speaking fees? I know I'm not. Who here is going to be surprised when actual evidence gets swept under the rug by DKOS while they continue to run their hit pieces based on anonymous sources and heated whispers?
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
Who here is surprised that
Who here did not suggest as much?
I mean that's one of the more popular knocks against her when talking about her significant neoliberal chops. I've been suspicious on that front since reading about the sale in the first place.
More so during and after the 2016 Election.
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu
Proof
Yeah, it's easy enough to put two and two together ... at least it is for some people. Others, maybe not so much...
There's a good reason that 30,000 emails are missing.
@SnappleBC Somewhere, Lee Atwater is
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I'm wondering why this is news at all, these days.
I happen to have a 2015 link from the NYT that explores the story and implies that it has been written about earlier. and I've heard it alluded to before Trump was even on the scene. I figured the corruption it suggests was so normalized in the American experience, that it was too unremarkable to bother discussing.
But, let's face it, there can never be enough discussion when justice is no longer blind. I'm glad you introduced it here. An interesting first Diary, Eagle.
By the way, there's a terrific timeline graphic of the situation HERE which the NYT hasn't yet scrubbed. The NYTimes article was posted in April 2015. "Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal." While rereading it, I marveled that the NYTimes actually published it at all. They would never publish such an unbiased article on a forbidden topic, now. Funny how things change so fast.
Why this is news?
Thanks for the NYT link, too. Jimmy Dore references it in the video FreeSociety posted above, so I'll be happy to read it in its entirety. Interestingly, he points out that an internal poll conducted by HRC's campaign discovered that her connection to the uranium deal was her "Top Vulnerability." Hmmm. About those 30,000 emails ...
corruption in empty suits admin. damn
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
Never under-estimate need to avoid cognitive dissonance
Clinton supporters excused the obvious pay-to-play scheme the Clintons had with the Foundation while she was Secretary of State by claiming there was no direct evidence. As if there were a secret tape between Bill (who played the role of pimp) and some Saudi saying "Bill Clinton, if I give you speech money and money to your foundation will Hillary approve of arms sales to my country?" Not the way corruption works.
The next excuse is that Hillary was above the influence of money. Apparently she was unique in the history of politics to the influence of money while raking in tens of millions of dollars. Even Glenn Greenwald had to a write a short essay spanking the democrats who complained about money in politics yet claimed that Hillary was above such petty things.
And now the FBI apparently is offering some level of proof the Clinton family corruption. You know, the organization that democrats absolutely believe all the time.
I suspect this story will be simply ignored by the major media outlets and will primarily be kept alive in alternative outlets both left and right. So far on Hillary's blame tour she has been smart enough set up appearances and interviews with people who will not challenge her.
In the short term this story will add to the general disgust with Hillary, but long term who knows. But if gop is smart, they will save this up for next year elections if democrats claim Russian collusion with the gop.
Long term it plays into the meme
that Russia is a hostile foreign power... which is total MIC horse shit. If you get people to argue over "who has colluded with Russia more", maybe they'll forget that doing business with Russia was once a pretty normal thing to do. And that there's no good reason for it not to be normal still.
native
I Don't Really Think Selling Plutonium Is a Great Business to
Doing business with Russia IS important, standard trade and friendly relations.
But again, Fissile material or military needs should NOT [edit] be foreign sourced or owned. Call me old fashioned... That kind of business is just ripe for Deep State shenanigans from many countries.
We're probably going to get a chance to reap that whirlwind over the next couple years. A bunch of unethical and shady balances are going to come due.
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu
I can agree up to a point,
but what I see is the USG going out of its way to deliberately antagonize Russia. I don't see the Russians trying to do any such thing. Improved bilateral relations would, on the contrary be very much in Russia's interest... as Putin and Lavrov have continually reiterated, but to no avail.
Of course reasonable security measures could be better enforced. Probably both Trump and Clinton have been guilty of playing fast and loose with them. But this does not explain or excuse the kind of Russophobic hysteria that seems to have gripped much of the Western media. I see no need whatsoever for any of that, and I suspect that a lot of it is deep-state inspired.
native
Re: Russian Hysteria that seized the US:
It's either the Deep State or that group of Macedonian teenagers making big bucks off of fake news. They are equally capable.
@k9disc All righty then..
also this
The Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement is an agreement between the United States and Russia signed in 2000. An amended version was signed in April 2010 and went into effect in July 2011.
The agreement regulates the conversion of non-essential plutonium into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel used to produce electricity.[1] Both sides were required to dispose of 34 tons of plutonium, which would have allowed 17,000 tons of nuclear weapons to be produced. In total, the US has about 90 tons of weapons-capable plutonium and Russia has 128 tons.[2]
In 2007, the US began constructing the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) on the Savannah River Site.[3] For financial reasons, US president Barack Obama canceled construction of the MFFF in 2016 and proposed that the plutonium be diluted with non-radioactive material.[2][4] However, the dilution could be reversed, and the material reconverted into weapons-grade plutonium.[2]
By 2015, Russia had begun producing MOX fuel at its own MOX facility.[4]
On October 3, 2016, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the agreement to be suspended because the US did not meet their obligations.[5]
This Clinton/Uranium deal was just business as usual and nothing to see here. Right wing faux bullshit.
The Appearance of Impropriety Is Often Worse Than the Actual
impropriety.
It's really hard to not see Clinton profiteering when they are involved in everything at once - taking money from everybody.
Looked bad, and their sponsor who profited looked typical of graft, honest or dishonest, still looks like graft.
I did not know all of that stuff, but I know that we increased the sale of fissile materials, so there was a deal already on the books. I appreciate the background on the program.
But we've got a Socialist that privatizes NASA and outsources missile and rocket tech and a Progressive that believes in markets uber alles. The appearance of impropriety is so ubiquitous that actual impropriety looks like business as usual on a tribe by tribe basis and takes weeks to unravel. If it ever does.
It's just how business is done.
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu
Yes that was my point.
LOL. Nicely stated.
I couldn't help but help but imagine the message that Pakistan, Iran, NKorea, and a few other key nations are getting from all this. If you're not enriching your own uranium, you don't stand a chance.
@k9disc Who gets to have
Then what about domestic non-military uses of plutonium? Of course, I'm not real sure nuclear power is a great idea anyway, since we don't seem to have idea one about how to safely dispose of the waste product, and then there's what happens in an earthquake, a hurricane, etc.--Fukushima is not a particularly good result.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@k9disc
And the big issue back then was that this involved 20% of America's already inadequate supplies for power generation - not that I believe that polluting sources out to be used any longer than it takes to shoft to greener sources less destructive of human and environmental health.
But the absolute disregard of whatever serves the country's and public's needs where any potential for self-profits might exist is both disgusting and unconstitutional in a government existing specifically as legitimate only when 'of, by and for the people'.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
I recently read that one of every four investment dollars
….throughout the world, is invested in fossil fuel extraction. (One quarter of the global investment pool.) That fact alone makes it inevitable that every last drop of gas and oil will be sucked out of the earth and sold. It also means that if a disruptive technology did come along too soon, one that could instantly change the power equation, it would be suppressed by whatever means necessary. (It probably has been, many times over.)
Remember when she asked Bernie to show one time
she changed her position after receiving money from Wall Street? He should have said that she wouldn't have to change her position because she already agreed with them.
I read an article that said she lost because of her speeches to Wall Street. During a time when millions were barely surviving financially, the amount of money she got paid was basically a slap in the face to most people.
Did she have a right to get paid for her speeches? Yes. But not before she was running for a position that would have made her responsible for regulating them.
We see Obama getting almost a million for 2 speeches and we know that they are paybacks for his time in office and what he did for them.
You can't hide graft.
And they no longer even bother
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
Also. This was the reason she used her private email server
which was already setup for Bill's work and his foundation.
Huma Abedin admitted that Chelsea had access to it. I think she had this so she could find where Hillary was going to be at next for one of her state department deals and send Bill there to give a speech before or after her business was finished.
She intervened for people, companies and foreign governments that had problems with our state department. After business was concluded, her foundation received the payoff for her helping them.
As this article shows, Obama knew what she and Bill were doing even though she had an agreement with him and congress not to do those things. Just Obama looking forward again
Yes, but Obama and Clinton
are Democrats, so that makes it all 0K... because they're not as bad as Republicans, don't you see?
We need to be practical about these things. Even if we end up practically dead.
native
Oligarchs of all stripes make deals
with other oligarchs of any nationality, and most of them will use whatever influence they have (including bribery of officials) to get what they want -- which is usually just more money. These kinds of international transactions, though often very shady, are not normally motivated by nationalism or ideology of any kind, but rather by individual ambition and greed.
Putin's privilged oligarchs, much like Clinton's or like Trump's, are primarily well-connected businessmen -- not political operatives. Current US efforts to politicize what is really just ordinary corruption, makes for a sort of theater that is intended to groom the American public in preparation for a possible military confrontation. People should keep in mind that the US defense industry has an inordinate amount of control over both the msm and the Congress generally.
native
Absolutely.
Clearly what Herself has been attempting, with her nonstop PUTIN! bull-shyte.
But how does She convince the public that Trump's ties to Russia are threatening our national security, when it's her OWN ties that compromised the same -- and there's actual proof of it?
I know, rhetorical question, she's a sociopath blinded by her own narcissism. I do take some comfort in the fact that those Welsh students pushed back. If she insists on continuing Her odious international book-pimping tour, there will be hopefully more of that.
I don't believe that US national security
is being threatened by anyone -- least of all by Vladimir Putin. It seems to me that America's most intractable problems are almost entirely self-generated.
native
I'm with you.
(Also not exactly what I'm trying to say, but hopefully close enough).
Fine first voyage into essay-land, Eagles
You have an illustrious career in c99 journalism awaiting you. Don't fly away.
Dawww ...
I do hope to contribute more regularly. It's a little intimidating among such an erudite crowd!
I can completely sympathize
I've been politically awake since about 2011-ish. Many of the folks here would say some number like "1970". That means inevitably, when I post here I assume that most of the people I'm writing to already know more about the topic than I do. Here's how I handle that.
For me, my goal when publishing here isn't to get fame or fortune. It's to help build a repository of real knowledge. That way, when someone else starts waking up as I did in 2011, they'll hopefully find an alternative discourse to DKOS. I see C99 as a library dedicated to reality that I'm helping to build.
So when I post here I just call out my uncertainties and dangling questions and let those "erudite people" help me improve my work. I did that with a diary on Syria and it was VASTLY improved by the collective effort. My initial piece was "OK" but incorrect in some places and missing important details in others. Now it's something I refer people to regularly when I get into a discussion about Mideast policy.
In short, from one political babe-in-the-woods to another, go ahead and post.
Oh... and three thumbs up for "oligarchs oligarching".
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
Thank you, Snapple!
We each have something to contribute, Snapple
I think it starts off with a great essay and then others contribute their knowledge and opinions which makes it better.
ghjonsit writes about topics that I have no clue about, others do and add to them.
I'm amazed at how many people know about the Ottoman Empire and time period as well as other historical events.
I hope that no one feels intimidated here. The greatest thing about this site is when we have disagreements, but don't have to call people out for their ideas or call them trolls.
For the sake of eagles92
I'll point out that mine haven't always started out with a great essay. Sometimes they start out with way more questions than answers.
If I had some question like, "OK, what the heck happened to Cat Stevens?" (a real question that came up between myself and my wife), I'd have no problem's posting an essay with nothing but that question and an elaboration on what I already know and what I'm obviously missing.
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
Obviously this is a welcoming environment
I wasn't referring to you writing an essay yourself
I meant that other people do and then we add more information in our comments.
Must learn not to hit save more than once
Some are erudite,
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
Plenty close enough,
and I agree with you!
native
I agree. It's this country that is threatening Russia
and China, Venezuela and any country that isn't part of the national bank conglomerate.
Saddam, Gaddafi and other tin pot dictators that we had put in power after we overthrew the legitimate government that decided to use money other than the petrol dollar.
The BRICs agreement is threatening it and we will see wars or coups in those countries.
Isn't Venezuela in the cross hairs now?
This is the American way. "Do it our way or die."
@native I think the point is,
And, while you're right that most of our security problems arise solely from this nation-state, if we're going to rank the most dangerous and compromising foreign influences, it would have to be Israel and Saudi Arabia, probably in that order, wouldn't it? Russia? Seriously? It sounds like somebody can't let go of the Cold War and the Great Game--except that they're doing it this time recklessly, without sound common sense.
Current political rhetoric on this subject is kind of like being forced to listen to a remake of Flock of Seagulls' "And I Ran" on a repeating loop.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@native
Except by US politicians, spy agencies and various PTB, of course. America can't afford national security concerns among Those Who Matter.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Business As Usual
Russian Oligarchs operate exactly like American Oligarchs. They cooperate and manipulate the political system precisely the same way Jamie Dimon and the Koch brothers cooperate with and manipulate the political system. No difference.
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
Where's my fainting couch?!
/s
I Can't Explain It
I must have forgotten to put on my tin foil hat. I suspect a Russian Emoji took over my amygdala and I am no longer responsible for my conduct.
My new Kevlar Lined Tin Foil Hat just arrived from Fed Ex. I'm hoping it will block the infra red signals from Sputnik and RT. Wish me luck.
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
@Meteor Man No luck for you,
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I dropped
this in this mornings open thread, and was told not to believe the propaganda. You'd think that person could have at least bothered to read the article.
The Hill Is Fairly Reliable
I put The Hill in the same category as Politico. They are a reasonably reliable source for the Washington Consensus.
"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn
@crbngville
Lol, being chronically over-tired and groggy, I took one look at that excerpt, checked for propaganda in a search, and discovered tons of it, and not much else. (On Duck Duck Go.) And tackled it as a warning of such propaganda pouring out as a redirection of blame from still-campaigning-Hillary.
Not all of us are always very functional - but the censorship and propaganda I've encountered regarding this transaction over the past couple of days spent looking for articles I could no longer find (and getting side-tracked) shows that a lot of countering needs to be kept ready, while more factual links/articles are still possible to find.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Ah ha! Except, wait . . .
At first I was all AH HA! That's why she has such a case of the ass at Putin.
Then I wondered, why in the hell would she point a
fingerclaw at Putin if her own feces can be found all over it? Any ideas? It kind of reminds me of the vindictive, estranged wife who cries infidelity while her Sancho is showering in the master bathroom.Lastly, if Fox runs this, and they'd be the only ones to do it, the others will call it fake news.
Any ideas? Simple.
Given Her recent fainting couch episode
*to be fair, Her exact quote was about “admitted sexual assault” and Bill has never admittedto any, so apples and oranges, right? /s
Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.
I regrettably got into an argument with a Hillbot
I had the sense to exit before my aorta burst.
I always whip out the 1993 60 Minutes
Video of her snd Slick lying their asses off about Gennifer Flowers way back in 1992.
I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks
Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa
@Deja Because that's the Lee
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Deja
Redirection of public blame; poor Hillary, Bill and their slush Fundation were forced to make what appears to be well over a hundred million bucks (if Frank Giustra came through on that promise of a further hundred million donation over the 30-odd million initially paid just from him) out of Selling America Short Of Uranium For Power Generation - because Russia!!!made them do it!
The hapless US psychopaths and Parasites That Be just have to admit that they're so outclassed by this 'criminal superman' that Putin does everything evil that they do, perhaps before (or possibly after) they do it themselves! And somehow leaves an evidence trail leading to them... maybe they are Putin, in disguise?
But it can't possibly be Hillary's fault! She's not even on record as twirling her mustache and saying in front of witnesses that she planned to tie Americans to the railroad tracks; that was just a mistake or something. And anyway, that video was faked by right-wing conspirators.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Welcome! Nice essay and info
Welcome! Nice essay and info and thanks for posting it!
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Thanks, Ellen!
Thanks. And, I've got a question...
I've no time to read closely so I'm sure I missed a lot. Meeting tomorrow at work that I should be preparing for rather than reading here. But, didn't we know most of this already? What's new? Proven collusion that was only suspected before? I would never vote for her in part because of this.
What is new from this report of over two years ago?
My apologies for not having the time to read deeper tonight.
I suspect it's probably mostly capitalists being capitalists.
The differences between Putin the Clinton's and Trump, when you really look, are small.
Ok. back to work.
To be honest
The difference...
is that this time it's been uncovered that the FBI was conducting an investigation into the shady dealings. As there were no indictments, it appears that the FBI covered up for the Clintons yet again.
Thanks edg, that is helpful. n/t
This is just a diversion
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-10-18/russian-money-talks-a...
The subtitle is, "A rekindled nuclear scandal shows how Russia exports corruption to the West." In other words, everything was just fine in the exceptional City on the Hill until those evil russkies started offering kickbacks.
Now, I have no doubt that Mikerin was indeed offering kickbacks in the time-honored tradition of the kleptocracy, but they are very small potatoes indeed compared to the maneuvers of the original players. The Bloomberg article presents the Clintons' conflict of interest as being the possible benefit to the head of Uranium One, Ian Telfer, who at the time had donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Clinton Foundation (he's now up over 2.3 million). It does not mention that Telfer has been involved in various shell companies for international mining interests with Frank Giustra since 2001. Giustra's company, UrAsia, had acquired holdings in hugely productive uranium mines in Kazakhstan in 2005, around the time that Bill Clinton was negotiating a Foundation health initiative there (totally coincidental). Giustra then merged UrAsia with Telfer's Uranium One in 2007, the same year Uranium One acquired the American uranium interests.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-...
And Giustra and a number of other Canadian minerals philanthropists have given hundreds of millions to the Clinton Foundations:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bill-hillary-clinton...
And all of this information has been publicly available for years, but did not engage the attention of Atty Gen Holder nor Atty Gen Lynch. The current Atty Gen Sessions is preoccupied with reefer madness, and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, was part of the original investigation that found "nothing to see here".
http://thehill.com/opinion/international/355882-obamas-doj-slow-walked-p...
So I must conclude that this corruption will be addressed about the same time we see justice for Seth Rich.
Great first thread! Good for you. Jump in
with a bang.
I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks
Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa
Thanks, Amanda!
We’re all in this mess together
I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks
Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa
What I find disappointing is not that there is corruption
but that so many sell out for peanuts.
What a bunch of pikers.
Were you aware that there was gambling going on around here?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Lemme see
Trump wants to increase the number of nukes tenfold. I wonder, where can we purchase fissionable material?.....I know, Russia! See, the invisible hand of the market works. I'll bet Trump makes a GREAT deal.