Here's why Russian spy Maria Butina's guilty plea is very bad news for Trump

[Auggie]

Lucian K. Truscott IV, Salon (repost Alternet.org) / 12-13-18

Marina Butina wouldn’t have anyplace to go in Russia if her handlers at the Kremlin hadn’t told her it was okay to tell U.S. prosecutors everything she knows about how her attempt to influence American politics worked from 2015 through 2016. If Putin has decided to cut Butina loose, he’s cutting Trump loose as well.

Trump, whose approval ratings as of a poll by CNN this week stand at 39 percent, may have supporters, but he has a diminishing list of friends. He has lost numerous members of his cabinet to either scandal or resignation. His White House staff is in complete disarray. Not even Nick Ayers, the 36-year-old chief of staff to Trump’s Vice President, would agree to replace departing chief of staff John Kelly. He’s holding onto his support among Republicans in the house and senate only because of their fear that his rabid right wing supporters will turn on them.

And now he’s lost the one friend among world leaders he could count on, Russian president Putin — maybe Trump saw this coming, Putin didn’t exactly go out of his way to give him the love at the recent G-20 summit in Argentina.

FULL PIECE: https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/heres-why-russian-spy-maria-butinas-guilty-plea-very-bad-news-trump

[Achilleaze]

1. The treasonous republican romance with a darkside russian gun moll

tells you all you need to know about the degenerate state of republican ethics, morals, and loyalty to the USA. republicans afflicted with flaccid-phallus syndrome sold America out for money and a chance to embrace warm guns.

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[calimary]

2. Need some time to study this one.

[Auggie]

3. Yeah ... it's opinion, not fact.

But it would make sense for Putin to cut his losses. There's no furture in Trump.

[OnDoutside]

4. I honestly don't see how this benefits Putin. Democrats are going to give him a hell of a going over

when they get the White House back, this will only give them even more ammunition, so this narrative doesn't make sense.

[Auggie]

5. Maybe he considers it a temporary set-back ...

he still controls some members of Congress and a majority of the Senate == plus Trump, if only for (hopefully) several more months

[OnDoutside]

6. If it were that, then that would be a point, but with Democrats exposing the truth, he must know

that the American public are going to be seriously pissed when they realise the extent of what Russia were up to. To take a medium to long term view, the last thing the Russian economy need (and thus his own survival), is further sanctions, coupled with kick ass cyber retaliation from the US. On one hand, if Butina exposes the NRA/GOP corruption, it potentially will contribute to the destruction of them both, and lead to Democratic control for many years to come. Short term, that will screw around with politics in the US, but as I said, I don't see where that has an upside for Putin beyond that.

[Auggie]

7. It'll be interesting how it plays out. Grab the ...

[OnDoutside]

8. True. There won't be enough to go around, with what should be coming down the tracks !