Haha. Good try, komrad.

What I find interesting is that the Russians (in power) are diabolical and apparently just as stupid and full of hubris as Trump.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the correct one. Trump is basically broke from all his failed business dealings. The only people who will loan him money is the Russians. In exchange, they want sanctions lifted and for us to turn a blind eye to whatever they want to do.

that last 97 scandals were supposed to bring down Trump too. this is nothing but another distraction so the GOP can continue to fuck over poor people unabated.

i think it’s evidence of egos so huge they have become delusional (literally, they are deluded and out of touch with reality) and think they can do whatever they want, including collude with the russians right under the noses of the public, and not get caught. it’s hubris to a pathological degree. this is what…

So you can collude with the Russians without that pesky press finding out.

Counterpoint: it’s illegal as fuck.

“...and this is what I think bothers me personally the most, their seeming contempt of American institutions.”

An unmonitored line to Russia from the highest offices in our government, with NO OVERSIGHT?! Yeah, that’s a treason. At least, that’s how the CIA and FBI take it.

Ivanka is the lust of his life. He is the love of his life.

I’m more surprised that John McLaughlin found the time to be Acting Director of the CIA in addition to his duties with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. 

Of possible note not outlined in the article, but in the referenced source, the alleged proposed backchannel would have been in the Russian embassy where Russia would have constant control of the environment and most likely the means of contact. They were basically asking to be blackmailed (further).

And even if it were legal, or not specifically illegal... is that the way the Trumpoids are going to spin this?

Well yeah, it IS a crime.

You have any doubt he’s an accomplice? Seriously?

Actually, it is against the law for an elected official (or a representative of an elected official) to negotiate with a foreign entity outside of official channels.

Most folks don’t know or don’t remember, but when Nixon was on the hook for Watergate, many a foreign government got an uncomfortable kink in the undies... right up until it was pointed out that there was a change in leadership without one single soldier coming out of the barracks. It was all handled legally,…

genpop! genpop! genpop!

I’ll take the word of the former CIA Acting Director, with 32 years of experience working in intelligence and several of those at the upper echelons, who says this was espionage if any other individual working in the government had done it.

If they dug deep enough I’m sure if could bring down Pence but if they actually bring down Trump I doubt they’ll have the stomach to keep going. Besides, do you realize how many people in the chain of command they’d have to take down to get someone good?