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Trump v. Dems on Russia: Are both sides wrong?
Townhall.com ^ | March 25, 2017 | Bryan Crabtree

Posted on 03/25/2017 11:10:43 AM PDT by Kaslin

Let's face it. This is not going to end soon and not going to end well for anyone.

Congressman Devin Nunes, chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, admitted this week that he could not rule out the assertion by President Trump that Obama administration officials wiretapped or surveilled he and members of his presidential campaign.

I was a guest on several radio shows in the wake of this statement where it was referred to as a "bombshell." I cautioned conservative hosts that there wasn't going to be a clear and definitive outcome to this ‘witch-hunt.'

Democrats are going to find enough material to remain confident that there were illegal ties to Russia by the Trump campaign such that he should be impeached. Accordingly, there is growing evidence that creates little doubt that there was significant surveillance of the Trump campaign that will validate the conservative narrative.

While Trump’s tweets accusing president Obama of wiretapping him may have been a little rich on hyperbole, they were not devoid of facts. Whether you are the CEO of a company, the broker of real estate firm, or the president of the United States, every employee or agent that answers to you is essentially acting on your behalf. If Obama didn’t order it, someone did in his administration.

It is likely that President Obama received intelligence briefings that included information about the surveillance of certain Trump campaign officials. It's also possible that information was collected by an intelligence official without the proper court orders and was disseminated to people outside the White House for political purposes. There is no evidence of this assertion, but it could simply be that it has not yet been discovered.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that all the surveillance was obtained illegally. Still, the Obama White House lowered the classification level of the Trump-related surveillance so that individuals with lower security clearances would have access to the information, thus increasing the likelihood of leaks.

In the end, I predict the evidence will be circumstantially overwhelming that Obama officials lowered classifications to increase the likelihood of leaks. Unfortunately, I do not think it rises to the level of technically illegal activity.

The only exception to this would be if there was an illegal wiretapping ordered by someone in the White House or by the president himself. I am not convinced that happened.

While they were public figures, candidate Trump, former campaign manager Paul Manafort, former top advisors Roger Stone, General Michael Flynn and Carter Page were private citizens. Their conversations as private citizens were unmasked and leaked to the media. That is definitely illegal activity by someone.

The revelations of Congressman Nunes are not bombshells. They are obvious facts that Trump opposition refuses to hear.

For Democrats, they are finding comfort with the report that anonymous government officials have told reporters that Trump campaign officials gave a thumbs up to the Russians to commit the election hacking. Some are pointing to former Trump advisor Stone’s own words.

On October 4, 2016, during a radio interview, Stone told me that he was "highly confident, based on my own back-channel communications, through an intermediary, that [Wikileaks Julian] Assange has all of the emails from Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills, both of whom got immunity from the Justice Department in the email scandal, that they thought that they deleted..."

Here is my follow up with Stone from my Friday interview including the foregoing quote:

This turned out to be true.

Democrats see these assertions as a connection to Russia by Trump officials and likely by Trump himself. It would be illegal to communicate with and induce Russia to hack the Clinton campaign, her illegal server, or campaign manager John Podesta. The Democrats are convinced this happened and believe they can convince the American people.

However, I believe they are wrong. It would not be illegal for Stone (who was not part of the Trump campaign at the time), Manafort or another Trump advisor to attempt to seek opposition data that had already been obtained through a hacking (in order to prep the campaign for its release).

This controversy is filled with fake outrage by Democrats conflated with normal political activity. It's customary that national political figures (and campaigns) speak to ambassadors and officials of foreign countries on a consistent basis. Therefore, finding communications between those parties shouldn’t be shocking at all.

When this epic conspiracy theory has concluded we will likely find that Paul Manafort is the only possible ‘operative’ close to Trump. I believe that we'll also find Pres. Obama has no personal ties to illegal surveillance. Stone told me on Friday that he knows Manafort well and takes him as a man of his word.

This is an awakening for the American people. Our political process is broken and unethical. Most politicians can remain compliant with our laws while fully breaking the intent of them. This means they can have inappropriate contacts and even misuse intelligence on private citizens while not technically breaking the law. It was the lack of “intent” to distribute classified information that ultimately allowed Hillary Clinton to escape criminal prosecution for her illegal, private email server.

Many Democrats have called this "bigger than Watergate." I agree, but for a different reason.

It will be the biggest scandal in American political history full of unfounded conspiracy, fake news, false outrage and false political hope (of defeating Trump in the wake of his victory). In the end, Democrats will prove to be a hypocritical embarrassment and Republicans will continue to show their weaknesses and lack of unity.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; Russia
KEYWORDS: first100days; presidenttrump; trump45; trumprussia; trumpwiretaps

1 posted on 03/25/2017 11:10:43 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
he could not rule out the assertion by President Trump that Obama administration officials wiretapped or surveilled he and members of his presidential campaign.

Calling the Grammar Police!

2 posted on 03/25/2017 11:15:36 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Kaslin

An Atlanta junior-grade wannabe whose present output is sound and fury signifying nothing.


3 posted on 03/25/2017 11:21:25 AM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: Cicero

I refuse to attempt any diagramming of that sentence!


4 posted on 03/25/2017 11:26:20 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Abortion is what slavery was: immoral but not illegal. Not yet.)
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To: Cicero
I assume this is correct?

he could not rule out the assertion by President Trump that 0bama administrations officials wiretapped him and members of his campaign.

5 posted on 03/25/2017 11:32:03 AM PDT by Kaslin ( The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triump. Thomas Paine)
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To: Kaslin

If anyone’s in bed with the Russians, it’s the Soros-supported democrats. From Obama’s “flexibility” on all-important missile defense and nukes, including the Iran nuke deal that Putin loves so much, to Hillary-Podesta providing the Russians with 20% of our uranium production. This while an increasingly aggressive Russia is making major moves in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. No way would KGB Putin have preferred Trump. Hillary couldn’t care less about the US military, and obviously had no plans to build it back up after Obama had decimated it. Both Russia and Soros want a WEAK US military. Meanwhile, Trump plans to significantly strengthen the military. So don’t fall for this smoke & mirrors BS.


6 posted on 03/25/2017 11:39:53 AM PDT by ETL (Trump admin apparently playing "good cop, bad cop" with thug Putin (see my FR Home page))
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To: ETL

You are 100% correct. Who else would be in bed with the Russians than the Soros - supported demonrats.


7 posted on 03/25/2017 12:03:18 PM PDT by Kaslin ( The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triump. Thomas Paine)
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To: Kaslin
When the dust settles, I want to see a bunch of High Level Democrats in Orange Jumpsuits or at least in countries without extradition treaties with the USA.

“........It is likely that President Obama received intelligence briefings that included information about the surveillance of certain Trump campaign officials. It's also possible that information was collected by an intelligence official without the proper court orders and was disseminated to people outside the White House for political purposes. There is no evidence of this assertion, but it could simply be that it has not yet been discovered.

.....In the end, I predict the evidence will be circumstantially overwhelming that Obama officials lowered classifications to increase the likelihood of leaks. Unfortunately, I do not think it rises to the level of technically illegal activity.

The only exception to this would be if there was an illegal wiretapping ordered by someone in the White House or by the president himself. I am not convinced that happened...........”

8 posted on 03/25/2017 12:05:47 PM PDT by Robert357
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To: Kaslin
Democrats Unarmed whiny pussy-hat-wearing malcontents are going to find enough material to remain confident that there were illegal ties to Russia by the Trump campaign such that he should be impeached.

Accordingly, there is growing evidence that creates little doubt that there was significant surveillance of the Trump campaign that will validate the narrative of the conservative people with lots of guns who are becoming very annoyed with whiny pussy-hat-wearing malcontents.

9 posted on 03/25/2017 12:25:15 PM PDT by kiryandil
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To: Kaslin

Good job!


10 posted on 03/25/2017 12:34:41 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: ClearCase_guy

I think I got it.

11 posted on 03/25/2017 12:57:12 PM PDT by itsahoot (Must learn to resist the compunction to offer advice or help to complainers.)
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To: Kaslin
Only one side is wrong, the Democrats used fake Russian allegations to unmask trumps team from data that was already being collected ( separate illegal issue in which Larry Klayman who has whistle blower evidence that all prominent US citizens are spied on, as Maxine Waters also leaked), this Russian lie used to unmask has blown up on them now..

How the data was collected is a smoke screen to hide the fact that unmasking is the virtual equivalency of wiretapping in today's world is the illegal part of this all. The data base is there already ( separate issue as to its legality ) , but harvesting it for political purposes by revealing the names of the opponent party as Obamas team had done is the part that is sinister worse than Watergate and should be prosecuted as Trump tweeted .

To say both sides are wrong , is an agenda driven headline to weaken trump and the Democrats by the establishment conservatives who need a pussy hat to go with their lack of courage to take on Obama, now and for the last 8 years.,

12 posted on 03/25/2017 1:16:41 PM PDT by seastay
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To: itsahoot

Is there a website that does that?? I really like diagramming.


13 posted on 03/25/2017 1:41:20 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Abortion is what slavery was: immoral but not illegal. Not yet.)
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To: Kaslin

March 2012...

“Obama was talking with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when neither of them realized that their conversation was being picked up by microphones. Here is what they said:

Obama: “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space.”

Medvedev: “Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you ...”

Obama: “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.”

Medvedev: “I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.”

“This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.” That statement tells us much about the president’s mindset.

The specific mention of missile defense is worrisome enough. Mr. Obama has retreated from the missile defense plan that was negotiated with European allies during the George W. Bush administration.

Apparently, he is signaling Moscow that he intends to retreat further. The clear implication from the president’s comments is that he cannot tell the American people before the election what he plans to do after the election.

In addition, there is the phrase “on all these issues,” implying more is at stake than just missile defense.”

Article: Obama plans double cross on missile defense
When it comes to keeping America safe, we shouldn’t be too flexible:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/29/obama-plans-double-cross-on-missile-defense/print/


14 posted on 03/25/2017 1:43:31 PM PDT by ETL (Trump admin apparently playing "good cop, bad cop" with thug Putin (see my FR Home page))
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To: Kaslin

Who’s in Putin’s Pocket — Clinton or Trump? (Clinton Uranium One scandal)

“according to some calculations, the Uranium One deal, involving top Clinton donors Frank Guistra and Ian Telfer, has transferred as much as 50 percent of projected American uranium production to Kremlin control.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thenewamerican.com ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3514506/posts


15 posted on 03/25/2017 2:02:38 PM PDT by ETL (Trump admin apparently playing "good cop, bad cop" with thug Putin (see my FR Home page))
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To: Kaslin

The Russian angle is the new Benghazi video ruse.


16 posted on 03/25/2017 2:22:46 PM PDT by Doche2X2
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To: Kaslin

The Russian angle is the new Benghazi video ruse.


17 posted on 03/25/2017 2:22:49 PM PDT by Doche2X2
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To: ClearCase_guy
googled but here is a link to a few pages that teach it. Is there a website that does that?? I really like diagramming.

That was just a picture I googled. Several here

Several YouTube videos on how to.

18 posted on 03/25/2017 2:53:02 PM PDT by itsahoot (As long as there is money to divide there will be division.)
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To: Kaslin
I don't know the author from Adam's house cat but this sounds like someone floating a trial balloon for a truce of sorts with democrat fascists backing away from the claim insisting Trump is a Russian puppet in return for Trump backing away from the claim Obama ordered that he be surveilled.

JMHo

19 posted on 03/25/2017 3:12:37 PM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
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