[GOPJ]

Russia has ALWAYS tried to influence US elections. Going back to the founding of the Soviet Union. They have even infiltrated high government office (Alger Hiss) in an effort to alter US action, and to spy.

There is nothing new to what Russia is doing. Nothing.

Yet what IS new is an administration using this known activity to justify spying on its political opponents, violating innumerable laws in the process. And that spying is the only new thing here. Not a “resurgent, hostile” Russia.

Bingo! It's also more likely the dossier was created to cover for spying on political opponents - Republican candidates - - than the other way around.

[rx]

To cover up spying on political opponents, yes, but also...

To have an Alinskyite counter to the traitorous acts involved in Uranium One,

To create an atmosphere conducive toward an astroturfed impeachment proceeding,

To bind the new administration's hands in fighting off claimed scandal,

To make Democrats seem a better alternative to Trump (even suggesting a "viable way" that H-> could "yet become" president), as they look toward mid-terms and 2020,

To hinder--if not financially destroy--administration underlings through expensive legal responses,

To create a heightened, successor-to-MK-Ultra-like environment for a Nikolas Cruz or Jared Loughner-type to go on one or more lethal, anti-Trump rampages.