The Trump Crime Family

[Carmine Falcone]

13 former intelligence heads/officials just issued a statement defending Brennan and against the idea of revoking clearances as a political tool. All 13 worked for Democrats and Republicans, so either the "Deep State" must run deep or maybe in the face of a jellyfish Congress some people regardless of party affiliation actually care about the country. William McRaven, the guy who oversaw the Bin Laden raid, actually wrote a short but sweet op-ed in WaPo asking Trump to revoke his clearance too.

"...I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency."

"A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself.

Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities. Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation."

Trump on Twitter tomorrow: I like military heroes who didn't lead to Bin Laden's death.

 

[sambuca]

Manafort trial - hung jury?

Not that the trial really has anything to do with Trump and Russia.

 

[sambuca]

13 former intelligence heads/officials just issued a statement defending Brennan and against the idea of revoking clearances as a political tool.

I'm really having a hard time seeing this as big deal. I do know that some of these guys sell their advisory services on the basis of their access to security information. Brennan will still be on MSNBC and he will still accuse Trump of treason (punishable by death by the way). When he has a President that he prefers, I'm sure he could get reinstated.

There are also over 5 million people with U.S. security clearance so it's hard to figure out if it's special or not special. If it's not special, again, is this a big deal besides filling two days of the 24 hour news cycle.

 

[sambuca]

And there's the Lieutenant Philip Gerard character in the form of special prosecutor Robert Mueller, a law-and-order type of guy who's mission is to hound the corrupt Trump circle and put back some law-and-order into the American government by riding it from the most corrupt administration in the history of the country, which is being led by one of the most corrupt families in the history of the country, a family which has been mobbed up for decades and has spent a lifetime surrounding itself with some of the most shady characters in the country.

This is probably a good time to ask the locals if marijuana is legal in Quebec?

 

[Carmine Falcone]

I'm really having a hard time seeing this as big deal. I do know that some of these guys sell their advisory services on the basis of their access to security information. Brennan will still be on MSNBC and he will still accuse Trump of treason (punishable by death by the way). When he has a President that he prefers, I'm sure he could get reinstated.

There are also over 5 million people with U.S. security clearance so it's hard to figure out if it's special or not special. If it's not special, again, is this a big deal besides filling two days of the 24 hour news cycle.

You're having difficulty because the significance eludes you, encore. As you said, there are way too many people with security clearances. There's a legitimate argument to be made that too many people have them. So if Trump had simply waited a few months, then crouched his decision to indiscriminately ask for a drawdown of security clearances of former officials, he'd appear not to be tartgeting anyone in particular even if that was his intention all along. But since Trump is all id, instant gratification and scorched earth so the guy criticizing him had to lose his clearance.

Like an idiot's idea of a genius, not only does Trump warn people weeks in advance and make his intentions transparent he also contradicts Sarah Sanders again on why he revoked it by immediately tying into the "witch hunt." (Seriously, tell your boy to stop granting interviews after making significant moves. Dude has zero poker face).

Brennan's security revocation is the first time clearance has been revoked by the behest of the President AND strictly for political reasons. Even people who have leaked classified information while having clearance or the unique time where Oppenheimer lost his are awarded a due process review by the agency that issued the clearance, and not by the President (inasmuch as the President has the authority to revoke clearances). No such due process occurred and the revocation was done by the President, not the CIA. The CIA has nothing to revoke because Brennan didn't leak any classified information. Speaking harshly of the President when he saw evidence of Russia's hand in election interference is partisan but being partisan isn't leaking classified information. Long story short: Trump abused his power. This shit isn't that hard.

 

[sambuca]

Trump clearly has the authority and he is aggressive. Brennan's accusations have been slanderous and outside the bounds of normal political dialogue. If Brennan had the goods on Trump, this investigation should be over already. The intelligence community either has the evidence or they greatly let him down. Brennan is no saint.

Decorum is what we're really discussing. A lot of people like that the President fights back. I'm kind of why bother guy, but certainly not surprised or disturbed.

Obama used executive actions and executive prerogative quite often. The Courts struck some of them down. Those unconstitutional actions barely got a peep in the news.

 

[sambuca]

By the way, quite a few in the media were describing this Brennan action as Nixonian. Nixon was paranoid that people were out to get him. Big difference here. Brennan was out to get the President.

For some reason, Trump haters not only want to deny him his rightful authority, they don't want the guy to defend himself. Don't take that away from anyone.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

sambuca

Facepalm! Why do I bother with you?

I say the issues at hand fly over your head; you confirm by not addressing anything i said. You basically repeated that Brennan was wrong, except you upped the ante to slander. Yes Brennan's words were strong after Helsinki. Even the ex-intelligence officials don't agree it's right to openly criticize the President often, lest they be tarred as partisan too. But they do realize exactly why Brennan's clearance was revoked and that's why they all signed the statement.

Yes, Brennan is no saint, especially because he lied to the Senate Intelligence Committee about not spying/monitoring their computer use when the Senate was issuing the CIA's torture report (from George W Bush's rendition program). And yet because many of us chew gum and walk at the same time, it's utterly beside the point. Brennan doesn't have to be a good guy for Trump to misuse his power. The point is that Brennan would still have his security clearance today if he hadn't criticized Trump on several occasions. Do you want to live in a democracy where checks and powers are written into that hallowed document Republicans wax poetic about but actually hate abiding by? Or do you want a country where a President can punish someone not because they broke the law but because they hurt his feelings?

It's not about decorum. I even outlined for you a way in which Trump could have given himself adequate cover for wanting to revoke clearances. But the Trump edict for everything is maximum drama so being skillfully sly is clearly no bueno. (I even kept it simple and didn't mention that some ex officials keep clearance so their expertise may be able to be of use to govt after they're done). I may have to graduate to midget porn if it's the only thing distracting me from replying to your constant inanity.

 

[sambuca]

Would you disagree with the opinion that most Americans really don't care about this? And some of the rage they might have has been ginned up by 24 hour news bombarding them with anti-Trump messaging? I have a feeling I'm older than you. I have the benefit of a longer perspective. You will just have to trust me that cable news makes everything far more dramatic than it really is.

I live here so I talk to many Americans every day. The most enraged are the same people who vehemently hated Trump since the summer of 2016. Most of what I see is these people engaged in politics trying to convince their neighbor or co-worker to vote against Trump. It should be no surprise that the vast majority of them are committed Democrats. I'm going to defuse an anticipated comeback right here. They almost always say they have voted for Republicans once in awhile which is neither here nor there when you know the extent of their liberal political views.

Politics is like driving a car with a wife. "Why did you turn left here? You could have turned left up ahead and gone this way." And so on and so on.

And Mr. Falcone while your passion should be commended, people don't have to agree with you. Nor should you think that personal insults make your case stronger. :fencing:

 

[sambuca]

Brace yourself! Trump is drawing up a list of more security clearances to rescind. Most of the people on that list are noted political enemies and were involved with advancing the fake Steele dossier. Many of them were fired for ethical lapses related to investigating Trump and Clinton.

Since this is a monger site, let's get back to women for a lighter moment. Does Lisa Page remind anyone of the Seinfeld "Two Face" girlfriend? There are times when Lisa Page is looking really good and then there are times when I wonder what I was thinking. By the way, Lisa Page walks like she's rode a lot of horses....if you get my drift. :whoo:

 

[jalimon]

I have a feeling I'm older than you. I have the benefit of a longer perspective.

haha that's pure bulshit The worst enemy of politics is old farts thinking they know how it should be done... All according to their single minded bullshit thinking. I am not insulting you and not saying you are like that. I am just saying be very worried of old farts and keep your mind young and fresh and open!

Look at what happen in the UK with the brexit. Young generations will suffer for years and years by the decision of old idiots who outnumbered younger people in the vote.

Cheers,

 

[sambuca]

Longer perspective doesn't give you the answers, but it might give you a better perspective of what is important.

 

[sambuca]

I looked at the list of people of whom Trump is considering rescinding their security clearance.

I had a thought, a question......certainly rhetorical.

If you know someone in the FBI, CIA or Justice Dept. was involved with the chain of actions starting with advancing a fake dossier that was paid for by a pro-Clinton opposition group and the insertion of FBI mole(s) in the President's campaign, should the President be required to consider these people a part of his broader security network?

This goes back to my point let the big dogs fight their battles. None of them (even Trump) deserve are unconditional support and admiration.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

haha that's pure bulshit The worst enemy of politics is old farts thinking they know how it should be done... All according to their single minded bullshit thinking. I am not insulting you and not saying you are like that. I am just saying be very worried of old farts and keep your mind young and fresh and open!

Cheers,

Just my opinion but the unexperienced young fresh and open is what is ruining us, no real life experiences just ideas. Look at university students, having fits when things do not go their way, riots when someone who opposes their views want to speak on campus.
They are infulenced by facebook and twitter.

 

[sambuca]

Look at what happen in the UK with the brexit. Young generations will suffer for years and years by the decision of old idiots who outnumbered younger people in the vote.

That's pure conjecture. Your viewpoint that Brexit is bad for the U.K. has not been validated. The UK stock market initially crashed for a brief time then rallied strongly ever since. The trade threats from the European Union are hollow given that the UK runs large deficits with Germany and the Union. If you really think that Germany can punish the UK on trade, you have to believe North America and the rest of the world can't supply the UK with any goods, services and materials currently supplied by Germany and the E.U.

Brexit is absolutely and objectively bad is another media distortion. Most of the UK media is pro-E.U. I personally believe once May's government toughens up on Brexit and negotiates an equitable departure, it will be better for the economy to have certainty instead of this ambiguous period in limbo. May is a horrible leader.

Jalimon, brace yourself. Italy will be next. Itxit? No. We need something catchier. How bout CiaoAngela!?

 

[sambuca]

Jalimon, I don't want to be totally flippant about your view that older adults don't have any more insight than the young. Younger Americans are more progressive on important social issues. They are also more pragmatic on their views on Universal Healthcare, but one could make the case that is partly a social issue.

When it comes to economics, they are likely not as unified or liberal as they are portrayed. There are always leftist youth willing to march down the street for every cause against the establishment. Our media and academia tries to make us think that every American college student is marching.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Omorosa. Manigault. Newman.

She's driving grandpa Trump CRAZY!!!!!!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

The Russians are rumoured to be holding at least one sex tape involving Trump & several Russian hookers from way back in the late 80's. Rumours orginated from at least one former high-ranked KGB agent.

I'm curious: would any of you be interested in watching a porno of Trump having sex with Russian hookers?? He was younger and better looking back then. He didn't weigh 300 lbs like he does today. So would you be curious in watching the sex video if it was ever released by the Russians?

 

[jalimon]

Just my opinion but the unexperienced young fresh and open is what is ruining us, no real life experiences just ideas. Look at university students, having fits when things do not go their way, riots when someone who opposes their views want to speak on campus.
They are infulenced by facebook and twitter.

Ya right and back in 68 they did not riot at all haha These are the old farts of now who should listen more to the young people.

Yes the young are more socially aware and more environmentally friendly because they want to be able to breathe few years from now. For them it comes before the economy hehe

Cheers,

 

[jalimon]

Brexit is absolutely and objectively bad is another media distortion. Most of the UK media is pro-E.U. I personally believe once May's government toughens up on Brexit and negotiates an equitable departure, it will be better for the economy to have certainty instead of this ambiguous period in limbo. May is a horrible leader.

When you pull out you have the loosing hand. Why would the EU agree to negotiate an equitable departure? They estimate at 50k the number of jobs in the UK and 50 billions that is likely to get out of the UK for Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris (just to name a few).

Cheers,