Can Donald Trump really be a compromised agent of Russian influence?

[amw]

During the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, American parents found politics to be a painfully embarrassing subject to discuss in front of their children. The TV news stayed off at dinner time. But even before taking office, Donald Trump has surpassed Bill Clinton. The details of what’s said to have taken place in a Moscow hotel room with a group of

Comments

[amw]

This story has helped reaffirm my faith in the media to be honest. They all had this document months ago, but they didn't publish it because they couldn't corroborate any of the claims. It seems like the only reason it became news now, is because it made its way up to a presidential briefing. There is perhaps still no smoking gun, but we know that after several months of investigation intelligence agencies now take the allegations seriously enough to think informing the president "on the record" is worthwhile.

Of course it might still all turn out to be rumors, but that's how intelligence works. I love this article because it really shows the working of the sausage factory. No one really knows anything for sure, so you have to grade all the allegations based on who said it and what they might have to gain by feeding you false intel. It's a perfect companion piece to this election, which imo was primarily won thanks to a tremendously successful propaganda/information warfare campaign against Clinton.

I also love this article of how McCain managed to get the document, it's right out of a spy novel: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/11/trump-russia-report-opposition-research-john-mccain

And if you read the serious wonk stuff they have also been fairly pragmatic about it: https://lawfareblog.com/about-explosive-trump-story-take-deep-breath

Even TPM, which has been notorious for getting hysterical over Russian hacking is playing it cool: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-few-thoughts-on-the-big-story

Which, imo, is exactly the right thing to do. The more Trump screams "fake news" the guiltier he comes across. Meanwhile the "liberal" media have proven to everyone with half a braincell that they were never in the tank for Clinton, or at least not so much that they would publish unsubstantiated rumors, no matter how delightful.

I agree with mhfromnh. It seems this is Trump's kryptonite. Hitting him back with information warfare really gets under his skin. I am not sure it will result in him stepping down, but it could push him into hiding and make him ineffectual. (Though I admit pushing W into hiding didn't really do much on that front.)

[sugartitty]

Oh I absolutely agree with you in regards to the media, ect. I was just wishing all this had moved along a lot faster and come out around October so that maaaaaybe would have stopped Trump in his tracks then. But maybe that's unrealistic, as well. Any other politician would be dead in the water if they stank of these allegations, but Trump would just pound some nonsense out on Twitter and somehow keep swimming. Aaarghhh

[elialshadowpine]

May I quote your first paragraph here on my FB, where I intend to link some of these? I think you put it more eloquently than I could; let me know. :)

[amw]

Sure, be my guest :)

[elialshadowpine]

Thank you! Have a Fluttershy hug. :)