Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What Were the Russians Up To?
Powerline ^ | February 16, 2018 | Steven Hayward

Posted on 02/17/2018 11:24:58 AM PST by T Ruth

So let’s restate the likely explanations. Why did the Russians do this? Because they could. It was useful for them to discover how much they could infiltrate the political process in the U.S., and above all to sow chaos. Actually favoring a Trump victory over Hillary makes little sense on substance, because most of Trump’s foreign policy positions—cheaper energy, expanded defense spending by us and NATO, more missile defense—are averse to Russian interests. But an election result that leaves chaos in its wake works perfectly well whether Hillary had won or Trump. In that sense, the Russian operation has been a sweeping success for them. Maybe our media ought to reflect that they are serving Russian interests very well with their rabid sensationalism of the “collusion” story.

the effort apparently began taking shape as early as May 2014 (and perhaps as early as 2013), an entire year before Trump became a candidate. Then, as they got underway during the primary season, the indictment says (p. 17) that “They engaged in operations primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump,” and instructions to their online “specialists” to “use any opportunity to criticize Hillary and the rest (except Sanders and Trump—we support them).” It didn’t take any kind of special intelligence to perceive that Sanders and Trump represented the two most disruptive candidates in the field. Just think of how the political establishments of both parties would have regarded a Sanders-Trump general election in 2016.

Third, the Russian operation organized and promoted numerous pro-Trump rallies, but also attempted to manipulate anti-Trump groups and organize anti-Trump events, especially after the election.

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


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chrissteele; hillarycampaign; mueller; muellerinvestigation; russia; russiansindicted; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 last
To: DBG8489

You misunderstood me.

I agree with you that Russian influence did not have impact on outcome.

I am saying that separate from elections. Regardless of who won or who the American president is: Russia does pose a threat and everybody who tries to say to them: “reset” or “lets be friends” and “good bye, Middle East is all yours” is in for a rude awakening.


41 posted on 02/17/2018 2:46:02 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: T Ruth

Interesting question.


42 posted on 02/17/2018 3:19:38 PM PST by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Like everyone else, the Russians were certain that Hillary would win, and knowing that they had her over a barrel with the dossier and Uranium One, they wanted to make her presidency as stressful as possible.

And in the unlikely event that Trump won, they wanted to have an opening.

Either way, they wanted to cause as much discord and division in America as possible. That’s why they sponsored pro-Trump and anti-Trump rallies on the same day.


43 posted on 02/17/2018 3:22:08 PM PST by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: T Ruth

“I wonder if any FR trolls were (are?) Russian-paid operatives?”

Yes, Russian paid operatives are on all the open social media sites, including Free Republic. We have a couple on this thread. And it’s not just the Russians. China, North Korea, Iran, Turkey and Cuba among others are also flooding forums and websites with propaganda that doesn’t take a genius to figure out. It’s also good to remember our domestic enemies also use false front operations to spread discord among us.


44 posted on 02/17/2018 3:28:14 PM PST by Oklahoma
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T Ruth

During the early primary stages of the 2016 campaign, the hard left in this country supported:

Bernie Sanders for the dem nomination, and
Donald Trump for the pub nomination.

Exactly the same as the Russians!

So what the heck are they now complaining about? Sheesh. Some people.


45 posted on 02/17/2018 3:36:16 PM PST by KyCats
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Nothing to do with electing either candidate or harming any election process.

This was and still is all about turning brother against brother, mother against son, husband against wife, neighbor against neighbor, American against American.

Worked perfectly and healing may never happen.


46 posted on 02/17/2018 7:51:15 PM PST by USCG SimTech
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Rashputin
"They sponsor just as many trolls as the DNC and have a greater interest in places like FR than the Marxist crowd does."

Obamaite Marxists have taken over government, not Trotskyites. Bill Kristol is a mere talking head in the media and weilds little power. Marxists have assumed control over just about every agency in the United States government. It's as plain as the nose on your face.

47 posted on 02/18/2018 1:25:22 AM PST by User901
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: User901
Where there's Marxism, there are factions. Read some history, it proves that fact.

The Trotskyites (aka Neocons) were planning to run foreign policy for Tsarina Hillary and by doing so end up holding all the cards because the Congressional/Military/Industrial complex would be beholden to them, not to the Clinton faction.

Marxists, Trotskyites, Bolsheviks, it's all the same on one level but knowing which factions are vying for power presents an excellent opportunity for those who oppose them all. Unfortunately, Conservatives think in simple terms and therefore time and again miss the opportunity to split their opponents but on rare occasions do take advantage of the splits between the factions of their opponents.

Think what you like, makes no difference to me because I've been watching people who say the same thing you just told me beat drums, bang gongs, and shoot off fireworks, to scare away America's domestic enemies for over six decades. During that time there have been three near collapses of those enemies that only a few Conservatives even suggested we take advantage. Instead, Conservatives just kept doing more of the same and when they did have an advantage, sold it for a bowl of porridge.

So, get busy with the drums, gongs, and fireworks, those devils are still around after all these years.

48 posted on 02/18/2018 2:34:30 AM PST by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Oklahoma
Yes, Russian paid operatives are on all the open social media sites, including Free Republic. We have a couple on this thread. And it’s not just the Russians. China, North Korea, Iran, Turkey and Cuba among others are also flooding forums and websites with propaganda that doesn’t take a genius to figure out. It’s also good to remember our domestic enemies also use false front operations to spread discord among us.

I think you are correct in this.

49 posted on 02/18/2018 4:54:04 AM PST by T Ruth (Mohammedanism shall be defeated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Rashputin

Trotskyites and neocons. While a Marxist Mob tries to frame Trump and have him removed from office. Look squirrel!! I smell Soros.


50 posted on 02/18/2018 6:38:10 AM PST by User901
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: GoldenState_Rose
"They hate each other, but Soros and Putin are both bad."

Soros doesn't mind Putin. He liked Nazi's pretty well too. And he absolutely loves Marxist Obamaites

51 posted on 02/18/2018 6:43:15 AM PST by User901
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: reasonisfaith
Fascinating how such a ridiculous narrative keeps going. The Russia narrative is phony.

The Russian troll indictments are just a face saving way for the DC establishment to step down off the ledge created by their absurd accusations against Trump.

Allows them to claim they were working for the good of the country, rather than their own selfish and misguided interests.

52 posted on 02/18/2018 7:24:48 AM PST by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: User901
Soros is step and fetch it for a whole group, he's just the public face because that's the way his ego works, he likes being blamed for running the world into a ditch.

Marxist or any other name for that crowd is just a convenience, they funded the Soviet take over of Russia just like they funded the Nazis in Germany when the communists there turned out to be the weaker faction and had long funded the East India Company.

Back in the thirties some little intellectual hero wrote that all the industry in the US would have to move to China because in the US it drastically limited their profits as well as making it difficult sway people in the US to their cause since there were high paying jobs leading to a large middle class with strong families. What's that, Marxism or Capitalism?

Whichever is convenient at the moment can be manipulated to the ends of those who want one world government and who now have their ideal model humming along in China.

Names are a convenience and you can laugh at naming factions if you like but so far the only thing that's ever slowed down the money crowed has been someone smart enough to take advantage of the infighting in their ranks. Call em' blue faction, green faction, shirts and skins, whatever.

53 posted on 02/18/2018 9:56:24 AM PST by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Rashputin

It’s easy to tell what you’re up to.

The owner of this site should ban your IP and the IP of any other poster spouting that diversionary Trotskyite and neocon crap.


54 posted on 02/18/2018 10:44:17 AM PST by User901
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: User901

I’m so glad you could join us last month, your ability to intelligently discuss things is so, so, well, Google.


55 posted on 02/18/2018 10:49:13 AM PST by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson