Russiagate 2.0: Now with more stupid
We can soon forget Russia's "meddling" in the 2016 election (or lack of meddling), because the Justice Department is already throwing down indictments for meddling in the 2018 midterm elections.
Russians working for a close ally of President Vladimir V. Putin are engaging in an elaborate campaign of “information warfare” to interfere with the American midterm elections next month, federal prosecutors said on Friday in unsealing charges against a woman whom they labeled the project’s “chief accountant.”
Information warfare? That sounds serious.
So what exactly is her objectives?
But this time, prosecutors said the operatives appeared beholden to no particular candidate. Russia’s trolls did not limit themselves to either a liberal or conservative position, according to the complaint. They often wrote from diverging viewpoints on the same issue.
Uh, that's called trolling, and if trolling is against the law then 4Chan should watch out.
It seems that trolling now equals fraud.
It isn't just Russia. China and Iran are meddling as well.
In a joint statement, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Justice Department, FBI and Department of Homeland Security said they "do not have any evidence" that foreign countries have disrupted the voting process or changed any tallies, but that the campaigns have spread "disinformation" and "foreign propaganda.""We are concerned about ongoing campaigns by Russia, China and other foreign actors, including Iran, to undermine confidence in democratic institutions and influence public sentiment and government policies," the statement said. "These activities also may seek to influence voter perceptions and decision making in the 2018 and 2020 U.S. elections."
So how exactly are they defrauding the American public?
As for "undermine confidence in democratic institutions", we already know that we are an oligarchy, not a democracy.
So I think the burden of evidence is on our government to prove otherwise, not on Russia.
I've come to the realization that the MSM and our government are using a very different definition of "democracy" and "democratic institutions" than the one in the dictionary.
Their version of "democracy" is all about national security and financial interests, and have very little to do with elections and popular will.
Comments
Leftists aren't cooperating on Russiagate
You would think from the MSM that Russiagate is "liberals" versus Trump, and that everyone on "the left" is OK with this.
But even some in the media have noticed that leftists that don't identify as Democrats are Russiagate skeptics.
Why Are So Many Leftists Skeptical of the Russia Investigation?
Why the left needs to wise up to the growing Trump-Russia scandal
and of course TOP is fully onboard
So what specifically was illegal?
AFAIK, all those facebook posts would be legal if posted by someone in the USA.
Are foreign ideas illegal now? are ideas and opinions illegal?
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Consider Russia's "crimes" with RT
This is supposed to be bad from the official report
Oh, come on.
Alledged Wall Street greed?
This criminalizes a practice that is commonplace and legal
when carried out by employees of thousands of foreign-owned companies from countries other than Russia.
Basically, this Russian woman is being indicted for doing the books for a Russian entity that incorporated a number of US businesses. These businesses had persons write and post under pen names a number of articles dealing with political subjects. That has been interpreted by the Special Counsel as a conspiracy to violate a federal campaign law that forbids contributions to US election campaigns. That's right, the indictment construes written opinion to be the same as money contributions.
The case would probably be thrown out -- nobody has been prosecuted for this before -- however the woman indicted will never be in court to defend herself, as the prosecutor and FBI know. Mueller is getting desperate to come up with indictments to fill in his jig saw puzzle.
The supremes, infamusly, ruled that miney is speech. Hence,
speech must be money, n'est ce pas?
/s
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
SCOTUS also found in the same case that even foreign corporate
That would be okay, if he applied it to prosecute political mouthpieces such as AIPAC, along with corporate fronts owned by the Saudis, Chinese, British and 100 other countries who similiarly post anonymously.
It's now undeniable: Mueller is the prosecutorial weapon of a very selective political vendetta.
This is from your first link
It gets worse from there. I'm betting that this was written by someone from the Atlantic Council or maybe Friedman's twin brother. This person sure went to a lot of work to deride anyone who doesn't believe in Russia Gate didn't he?
Facebook has almost admitted that they are censoring people and websites because of Russia's ads on it that they say affected the election. BTW. Didn't Obama also use Cambridge Analytics during his campaign and did the same things that Trump did? Pretty sure that he did. But I guess that was different because of reasons. Yep. That's why.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
For gawd's sake!
First off the GOP is doing a hell of a job undermining confidence in democratic institutions and the voting process by its gerrymandering and its voter ID policies. Look at what's happening in Georgia (?) where the guy running is in charge of the voting policies and is kicking thousands of people off the voting rolls.
Influence government policies you say? If millions of Americans can't do that then how could a foreign country do it? BTW. This is already happening what with all the lobbyists and super PACs. But sure. Let's blame the 3 countries that they want to war with. Anyone who believes this shit ... well I'll not finish this sentence.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
Russiagate is useful for crushing dissent
Look at this hit piece on Jill Stein
Months before the 2016 election they were already calling Jill Stein a "Nader spoiler" (here, here, and here)
Funny how 3rd parties are demonized in this "democracy"
Ugh!
There is so much BS in that article it's hard to choose which one is the worst but I'm going with this one.
This is what she actually said about NATO and Russia.
Okay and this one too.
Pretty sure that during Obama's presidency the Ukraine government was overthrown by this country and now we're arming neo Nazis with some very bad weapons.
ThinkProgress says it's being targeted by ad networks for producing 'controversial political content'. I'm thinking it's more because they lie their asses off to people who read its website. This is the most blatant lying I've seen from a website. How many people believed every word written there?
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
FWIW Jill Stein out campaigning for Greens
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
You left out the D establishment
I agree with your whole comment. Just wanted to make sure we don't leave out the monster that is the Dem establishment, aka the other half of the single body that screws us every chance it gets. Supposed differences are only spoken, especially in election years. When it gets down to the meat and potatoes, our representatives are one big symbiotic meal -- the kind that gives you the shits until you're dead.
Not for that comment
The GOP has made it so that over 10% of the population can't vote this year. I think it's in Georgia where thousands are being kicked off the voting rolls almost every day by the dude that is in charge of it and he is also running for an office. They have been gerrymandering the country and other things. Of course the democrats don't seem to be doing much to make it easier for people to vote. But yeah, both parties are just as corrupt.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
Georgia has purged 340,000
The Guardian: GOP candidate improperly purged 340,000 from Georgia voter rolls, investigation claims
We Sued Brian Kemp This Morning - Greg Palast
Are You One of 769,436 Voters on the Colorado Purge List?
90,000 Purged in Vegas and Reno
Illinois purged 550,000...Indiana purged 20,000...etc...
" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "
Thanks for the numbers and the links
Isn't it Brian Kemp who is not only running for office, but he is also in a position to purge the voting rolls? This is a huge conflict of interest and some judge should have stopped him from being able to do that. I guess that's what people are suing him for?
Close to 500,000 people were not able to vote in one of the states that Trump won in. Not sure if they were Hillary's or Trump's voters though.
BTW. People are upset with Jill Stein because they think that her votes cost Hillary the election when the libertarian candidate got more votes than Jill did. And yet he's not blamed for her loss. I wonder why that is?
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
It's because they're sexist. n/t
"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."
The Dems only kick people off voting rolls in *primaries*
That makes it all okay for “lesser of two evils” voters.
From the ToP link
Changed any votes? Party affiliations? Removed people from the voting rolls? Closed down voting precincts? Didn't supply enough voting machines for high voting areas? Nope. Nope. Nope and nope. Just placed a few ads on Fakebook and most of them after the election was over. It's taken Mueller two years to look into this? If he hasn't found any evidence yet then why waste time and money worrying about China and Iran doing anything? I'm thinking that Mueller is just pretending to be investigating, but he's really spending his time golfing or whatever his favorite activities are.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
No kidding
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Remember all those wonderful presents
we were going to receive at Fitzmas?
Hoping the Establishment is going to finally reveal its sausage-making, really is a flight of fancy. McSausage for the McResistance.
The Public are to be seen at voting stations, and not heard.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
Great essay. Thanks!
Hell I am surprised they even mentioned that first part.
At any rate cracked up when I read Caitlin on FB this morning:
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
In case you missed it
We had Great discussion about Caitlin's article. Lots of good comments.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
I was out all day, and yes did miss it. Will check
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
We are looking at the terminus point of the Russian hysteria.
Actually, I am thinking nuclear war with Russia may be the terminus point, but in terms of propaganda we are seeing it. I have followed the Russia hysteria since 2015 when it was in its infant stage here in the States, but advancing in Europe.
There are still some charges that Russians broke into certain accounts as Microsoft has claimed a few months back, but the claims go no where as they have to admit they had absolutely no proof. And the story fades away until a new charge is made, and those now are hard to make up.
As previous posters before in have commented above, basically the terminus point is ascribing all dissent within the Western powers as Russian created. In this charge it is impossible to to argue as no proof is needed except for the existance of dissent. No more charges which can be proved such as an actual hack. And that dissent can be for or against an issue. All issues lead to Moscow.
The huge censorship of various sites done by Facebook and Twitter begin and are justified by the Russia hysteria and "fan news".
Aside from in your comment though, plenty wrong with Dems?
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
And the Vermont electrical grid that Russia hacked into the
computer that wasn't even hooked up to the internet. Brennan said that Russia tried to meddle in 21?state's voting rolls, but the states said that never happened. But just like people are still saying that all 17 intelligence (3) agencies agree that Russia interfered with the election people still think that the other stuff is true. This is why spreading propaganda is so powerful. The lies are what they remember, not the retractions if they're ever given.
About those FB ads that swayed the election ...
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
by the way
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Intelligence_Community
, there are only sixteen intelligence agencies:"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
NOT FROM THE ONION - oh, wait, yes it is...wait, what?
Who's on first...?
https://www.theonion.com/mueller-ready-to-deliver-major-parts-of-finding...
In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.
Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!
I like the comment from the Lobster Murderer the best.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Oh my goodness,
I liked the Checkers Master most, myself
In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.
Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!
And I've heard Dipshit has said that
the 4000 person caravan from Ecuador has come here to vote illegally. Any news on that?
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Remember the Russian agencies that Mueller charged?
He still doesn't want to give their attorneys the evidence he has against them.
Judge Orders Mueller To Prove Russian Company Meddled In Election
Concord is one of the corporations that Mueller said placed ads on FB to sway people's opinion on Trump and Hillary. The ads that most were placed after the election.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt