Feinstein and Grassley grim and silent after Trump-Russia briefings with Comey

[Miles Archer]

Senate Intel leaders Feinstein and Grassley grim and silent after Trump-Russia briefings with Comey



http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/senate-intel-leaders-feinstein-and-grassley-grim-and-silent-after-trump-russia-briefings-with-comey/

After closed door meetings with FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday, top members of the Senate Intelligence Committee looked grim and rattled and refused to divulge the contents of the meeting to reporters.

At around 5 p.m. E.T. on Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) faced reporters but revealed little about their meetings with Comey.

“This briefing was all on sensitive matters,” Feinstein said, “and highly classified and it’s really not anything we can answer any questions about.”

Comey has been at the center of multiple controversies lately, from his decision to make a later-discredited announcement about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s email server in the days before the 2016 election, to whether or not his agency is currently investigating Donald Trump’s campaign for colluding with the Russian government.

[Historic NY]

1. Somethings wrong, very wrong....

Grassley would never defer to the Minority member....

[Greybnk48]

6. This is a bit frightening.

I wonder if we will ever know what Comey said.

[dixiegrrrrl]

78. I wonder if we can ever TRUST what he said....n/t

[LenaBaby61]

15. Somethings wrong, very wrong....

Yeah, I very seldom if ever watch cable news, but a friend who does told me to hurry up and turn it on. BOTH looked like they were coming from a funeral. I surely don't want to over play this, but they look like they've been told something horrible.

[Doodley]

113. Yes, they have been shown the video of Trump's golden showers.

[still_one]

130. LOL, that would do it, though throwing up might be a more probable reaction

[nolabels]

156. You owe me a new keyboard

[4139]

16. Watched the video twice, GrAssLey looked smug...

DiFi looked like she was going to hurl

[Hamlette]

34. I don't think he looked smug, that just how he looks. He did not look happy.

And it is very odd that he let Diane do all the talking. Most politicians grandstand. I think if he was smug with what he'd heard in the meeting he'd be at the mic and be jovial.

It is a great screen shot though. Both look like they've seen ghosts. Wouldn't it be fun if the FBI had Trump on tape asking the Russians to tap the dems and give the info to Wiki? Then what would we do? I think they'd have to impeach and I do not say that lightly. Selling our election to a hostile foreign government seems pretty bad to me. Maybe even treason.

BTW, I don't think it will be that good. But I can dream.

[lindysalsagal]

45. I have to agree with you. This is ugly, and it's gonna leave a mark.

Possible that a dem is also involved.....

[coco22]

60. Pee,Pee too..

[druidity33]

43. I've read this whole thread so far...

and i think i'm the only person other than you that thinks Grassley was holding back a smile. I think he also may have been thinking about when his first dog died... just so as not to SEEM like he was holding back a smile. But maybe that's just me...

[coco22]

59. When I heard Grassley was holding off on..

Sessions deputy attorney general.i knew something was up and he is covering his ass somehow.

Now what are McConnell and Orrin Hatch up to?

[0rganism]

2. looks like they just got back from a funeral

a long tedious funeral with no tasty snacks and no open bar

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. And lots of bodies everywhere...

[Hekate]

7. Yes, they do

[Miles Archer]

8. First two assumptions are...

1). Comey is not investigating Trump / Russia

2). Comey claimed to be investigating Trump / Russia and said "We didn't find anything."

There are probably other assumptions that can be made...I just haven't figured them out yet.

[LenaBaby61]

24. First two assumptions are...

1). Comey is not investigating Trump / Russia

2). Comey claimed to be investigating Trump / Russia and said "We didn't find anything."

Both assumptions could be the case.

However, why does thuglican Grassley look as glum as Sen. Feinstein? She truly looks shaken.

Being a loyal thuglican, if what you assume was true, I'd have thought that his face would look a bit more like this:



But he looks pretty morose standing next to Sen. Feinstein. Then again, Sen. Grassley could have the BEST poker face in history

[Miles Archer]

26. Very true...he would have been fighting back a smirk.

He's definitely not taking a victory lap.

[angrychair]

102. I think both assumptions are poor

As both are extremely unlikely. I know it is easy to take a "glass half empty" perspective on this and I typically do (I'm the one people talk down off the ledge on this asshole). That being said, by an reasonable and objective analysis, it is impossible to claim they can find nothing illegal or unethical in his actions.
I mean a rookie mall security guard, who got his certificate from an online seminar, should find more than enough to put him away for 12 lifetimes.

[Kablooie]

163. If this were the case wouldn't she be Angry, not funereal?

[dalton99a]

9. And a stinking corpse

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. wow...what the hell? Is this the time for the big stone to finally drop?

[RussBLib]

5. if it was nothing

they wouldn't look so glum

what could it be?

Russia is now in full charge of our government?

Maybe they have so much poop (and pee) on Trump that he's being blackmailed to do crazy shit

[dalton99a]

12. It's between "We're fucked" and "We've lost our country"

[GliderGuider]

39. That looks to be the size of it.

It's sure as hell not just another political bump in the road.

[lindysalsagal]

46. Agreed. n/t.

[cilla4progress]

127. Will we be able to recover?

Hi, GG.

[GliderGuider]

158. Well, that depends on what exactly is behind Door #2

I can conceive of some possibilities, like a deliberate continent-wide crash of the electrical or financial systems, that would pretty difficult to come back from. Is whatever-it-is on that scale? If it's something like the permanent destruction of the Republican party, you'll recover. Things like that have happened before.

Whatever it is, though, I expect one Godawful global market crash when they pull back the curtains.

And yes, hi to you too cilla!
I've pulled back on commenting for the time being because of family issues, but I'm definitely still around.

[mdbl]

47. We lost our country the year that Fux Nooze became the number one watch channel

fake news and all.

[Miles Archer]

13. Hard to say

Feinstein looks like she just watched the end of "Old Yeller."

You may be right...if it was nothing, maybe she'd look more angry or frustrated and less shell-shocked.

She really looks and sounds drained in the video.

Link to tweet

[mulsh]

38. She looks & sounds as she did announcing Moscoe and Milk had been murdered, and remember

she was in the hallway between their office when it happened. She felt for Milk's pulse. A little later she announced they had been shot. something not very good is going on.

[calimary]

64. DAYUM, mulch, I just thought that, too, when I watched this video.

I remember watching that moment when it happened. She's very good at holding it in. Being somber and in control. Strong as Hercules. Poised, calm, and unruffled while all of San Francisco was in shock. She was a tower of strength and composure, holding a public briefing at the microphone in a crowd of other city officials, regarding what had just happened at City Hall that night. I remember being tremendously impressed, and thinking - with that performance, she was headed for bigger things, career-wise.

Perhaps one of many objectives for Senator Feinstein was to stay as calm and neutral as possible, so as not to stir up the passions of either side any more than they'd be apt to do themselves, already.

[anneboleyn]

159. My thoughts too. I lived in the East Bay (long after the actual event) but we won't ever forget

how she came out, after feeling for Harvey Milk's pulse and then realizing that her two beloved colleagues had been assassinated by ANOTHER (former) colleague, and told the press what had happened. It was just horrible. Her look was just something that one can't ever forget.

[StarryNite]

71. "I'm sorry, but it's the way life is here right now"

Wow, quite a revealing thing to say. Indeed, things are no longer like they used to be even just a few months ago.

[Tatiana]

93. This was the money quote for me.

Like, life will never be the same.

It's pretty awful. And I'm pretty sure our government has been infiltrated by Russian agents. We probably don't know the extent of the infiltration or the damage that has been done to our democracy.

[bdamomma]

101. Weird

She said "it's the way life is here right now"

What do you suppose that means???? It's too late to change what has be done??? Or things need to be classified?

She looks horrible. Does anyone remember when Elijah Cummings said before the election that Americans need to know what's going on or something like that? What the hell is going on? Any ideas?

[Blue_Roses]

143. Yeah, I watched it several times and both are clearly rattled...

Her look toward Grassley as that reporter asks questions speaks volumes. It's that look your parents get when they have bad news and don't quite know how to handle it yet.

Wow...

[melody]

161. DiFi looked like she did after Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk were murdered

It makes me have some modicum of faith that Comey may be doing his job.

[metalbot]

20. Revelations that the Russians played both sides

And that the same information that will taint Trump will taint Democrats as well.

Just a guess based on body language. That wasn't a "we found nothing" meeting, and it wasn't a "Trump is a Russian puppet" meeting.

[Hamlette]

35. naa, I think Diane would be freaked even if it is just against Trump

if its bad enough. Because that means government grinds to a halt while they impeach. That's prolly good since Ryan seems to be in charge of legislative changes.

But it is weighty. And she's all about serious. Me? I'd be smiling.

[wiggs]

44. Agree. She's not super partisan. She's glum because it's very serious and she knows it's

about to get real rough.

[dem4decades]

103. To a lover of our country losing it to Russia does

Not need a Democrat involved to be horrible. And remember Harry Reid yelled from the roof top and he knew the story.

[OliverQ]

40. Feinstein could look glum if Comey said there is nothing there

And she knows we're stuck with Trump for awhile. I would look like dead-man walking if I got that news too.

[underthematrix]

80. Watch Rachel Maddow's Monday segment

on the Netherland's presidential election. There's BIG GIANT HINT as to why they looked so glum.

[KittyWampus]

10. Grassley, knowing what he does is still going along with the Trump/Republican agenda.

In all honestly, he is almost worse than the deplorables.

[riversedge]

31. Grassley is the Chair that held up Pres. Obama's Supreme court nomination. He is smug fool.

[mdbl]

48. you're too nice

he just an other repuglican asshole.

[crappyjazz]

11. They look defeated

Like whatever they heard there is nothing to be done about it

[MoonRiver]

14. There be traitors in our midst.

[Control-Z]

17. What the F is going on?

This bothers me more than almost anything I've heard these past few weeks. It looks dreadful. And not to our advantage.

Someone tell me I'm wrong. Please, tell me I'm wrong.

[GliderGuider]

41. Sorry, I can't tell you that.

Because that's exactly how it looks to me.

"Ms. Feinstein, our nation is at the edge of a precipice. And there is no way back."

[lindysalsagal]

49. Agreed. Going on record: This day will be remembered as "Before we knew."

[GliderGuider]

51. "Beware the Ides of March..." nt

[flying rabbit]

100. +1 nt

[warmfeet]

56. That is what it looks like.

Also looks like they were given a stern warning not to say anything of substance.

[msongs]

18. maybe comey threatened DiFi/Grassley with prison if they kept on after trump

and thats why she looks so grim

[bdamomma]

105. are they being threatened with death threats?

or is my assumption to out there? Again, we are left wondering, I think if whatever it is, it would cause a revolution among all of us against the government.

[beachbum bob]

19. not to be dark...but if evidence suggest a close relationship between trump and

Putin/other russian oligarchs...and trump has been lying his ass off all this time.....the damage to the presidency, to our government is huge....and conservatives will have to make a very clear choice on whether to continue to coverup for trump or turn to impeachment process. And the clock is ticking as the longer the coverup remains in place the harder it will be for conservatives to wash their hands of it....karma my friends....karma

This is a real prospect as we know that sometype of collusion was happening between trump, his campaign and Putin/Russian intelligence.

[nocalflea]

22. The number of people involved may

have something to do with it.

This is the Senate - they know their colleagues more intimately than the folks in the house know each other-Jeff Sessions .

Others ?

[pfitz59]

141. I think you nailed it.... think "Vast"

As Hillary Clinton famously put it "a vast Right Wing Conspiracy". Exposing it, and acting on it will imperil the nation. We all know deranged Trump supporters itching to use their guns against Libtards, homos, Muslins and Mezcans...

[Renew Deal]

32. The dossier suggests this exact thing

"collusion was happening between trump, his campaign and Putin/Russian intelligence."

Roger Stone has pretty much admitted it. Carter Page is there too.

[jalan48]

21. Looks like Trumpy is about to get outed.

[coeur_de_lion]

23. I think Grassley had his poker face on

Whereas Feinstein was pretty rattled and looked to Grassley for guidance when the reporters kept pushing.

She's upset. Grassley might be and never show it.

They got some answers but not the kind that made them feel better about anything.

Could be good or bad news for those of us that want Trump frog-marched out of the White House. We didn't learn anything today.

[panader0]

25. I know that the wheels grind slowly and that I should be patient, but,

it seems like everyone (Gang of Eight etc) already knows the scoop.
Very hard to be patient--too much is at stake.

[lindysalsagal]

53. Have Pelosi and Schumer made statements since?

If not, this could be so big, it will require LOTS of group decision-making in order to face it.

[juxtaposed]

27. would trump be privey to the same intel.?

[Renew Deal]

28. I saw it. It was strange.

Two people that like to talk didn't want to talk. Grassley completely deferred to Feinstein. They looked like they saw a ghost.

Republicans have been acting differently the last few days. They have been more aggressive about investigations. And in both cases today it was bipartisan. Nunes and Schiff stood together. Bradley and Feinstein spoke together. I wonder if they know something is up.

[bronxiteforever]

68. This is a brilliant point. Also McCain saying that Rand works for the Russians today!

[Renew Deal]

69. And Graham and Whithouse

[DangerousRhythm]

162. Has Rand ever made any trips to Moscow that we're aware of?

(I know, this is a Forbes link, but it's what I found when Googling him and Russia.)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidadesnik/2014/03/11/rand-pauls-wild-flip-flopping-on-russia-and-ukraine/#30d5f0dbc7be

[yallerdawg]

29. When has listening to Comey...

not given people a sour stomach?

[mopinko]

30. somebody better fucking spill. and soon.

this shroud of secrecy needs to be torn down and shredded into 10,000 pieces. while we still have a republic.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

55. Yep. We better get something for all the money we spend and privacy we give up to the NSA.

This is why we have these people on the payroll.

Time to justify this big fucking building:

[PsychoBabble]

33. Just a feeling, but ...

watching their body language, and thinking back to my own life experiences -- that is they way you look when you've learned the sh!t has hit the fan, and you've taken a blow to the gut -- deeply shaken. You need to go back to your office to talk and come up with a public response to some very bad stuff.

We just don't know WHICH WAY the bad goes ...

Tune in tomorrow.

[ffr]

36. Have to imagine if Rudy Giuliani was interviewed you could tell by his smug face

If he hinted by commenting 'Just wait, we've got news,' you'd know it was positive for rethugs. If he came out looking like his fellow republican Grassley, you can bet it was bad for the tRumpster.

[Thomas Hurt]

37. Comey Briefings

Comey has been meeting in private with committees for the past several weeks. None of them, as far as I have read, we to pop in and say "we got nothing" and step out after 15 minutes. They were several hours long as I recall. Something is up.

I honestly don't think Donnie is a traitor, at least not intentionally. If it is really that bad, Donnie has been manipulated because of his insecurity. Someone in his admin is a full out treasonous SOB though....

or the Obama admin effed up a wiretap, though I think that is less likely.

[pnwmom]

54. It is easy for me to believe that a pathological narcissist like DT could be a traitor

because a person like that has no moral bearings. What would stop him from betraying the country if he thought it would benefit him? Nothing.

[JHB]

63. Hell, during the election I argued (to no noticeable effect...

...with those I was arguing with) that Trump is hands down "most likely to take a bribe".Against a few billion steered to his businesses, what's a few Baltic states goinfpg back to the Russian orbit. Trump grew up with the Soviet map, so he figures whatever they held "belongs" to Russia anyway.

[milestogo]

90. You don't think Trump is a traitor?

He has the moral fibre of a squirrel, on a good day.

[Eyeball_Kid]

135. Trumpy doesn't have an ounce of patriotism in him. He pledges allegiance to himself and his money.

He's already sold his soul decades ago.

Every couple of generations produces a charismatic but ruthless tyrant who takes charge and destroys everything in his path until he's stopped. Trumpy is our generation's tyrant. He has to be stopped.

[wiggs]

42. The gang of 8 and the top of the IC may know the whole truth. But even if

the worst suspicions are true, those few people in government...10 or 20....have a decision to make:

Do they insist all the truth comes out? Do they expose all of Trump's skeletons that would nullify his ability to be POTUS...Do they force a constitutional crisis, create instability, embarrass the US, create vulnerability via a gap in effective government while this sorts out? What if it's clear the election was fraudulent? There's no constitutional remedy for that...impeachment doesn't address an invalid election. Maybe it would have to be taken to the Supreme Court?

OR

Do they cut a deal with the WH? Let only SOME of the information out in exchange for resignations? Minimize instability in government, minimize embarrassment....and keep some semblance of order? Keeping the worst of the Trump insanity secret? Trump goes...Pence maybe goes.


The gang of 8 are generally serious officials. They would have some interest in discussing how damage to the US brand can be avoided. I'm for total transparency here, myself, but I'm aware that we are in historic uncharted waters.

[GliderGuider]

50. Don't forget what this could do to global markets.

Cue the meltdown music...

[lindysalsagal]

62. Exactly. Decisions are being made.

[KittyWampus]

72. I also went thru same process. IMO, it'll be rolling resignations or impeachment/removals...

With designated VP's to follow one another.

[LenaBaby61]

138. wiggs ....

Excellent post.

That gang of 8 is damned if they do and damned if they don't. However, these POS thuglicans and even bigger, nastier orange tRumputin along with the ruskies and GOP STOLE the presidency, and should not in any way be rewarded for their theft and destabilization of this WORLD. We are as you said are in uncharted waters, because even if all we feel about tRumputin washes out to be true, we know that the country and world will be destabilized, and that nothing will EVER be the same again. Hell, there were many stories/studies last year which said that our voting apparatus is extremely vulnerable, and we saw what happened on November 8th, where Hillary went into the day in a solid position to win the presidency, and tRumputin was behind and unfortunately, we saw what happened. Whether it was voter suppression, crosschecking, voter disenfranchisement, ruskie cyber-hacking or possibly even the ruskies messing with our voting machines, tRumputin won 3 usually strong blue states by 70,000 or so votes. I never really "pay attention" to Ohio (2004) or Florida (2000), because those states have been "static" for Dems voting there since those years beside those states.

Aside from the many cases of voter suppression/voter disenfranchisement/crosschecking pulled off by the GOP, I'll always feel that "something" more sinister was physically done to our voting apparatus in "certain" states which swing the election towards putin's favored Comrade don the CON tRump.

[wiggs]

149. In 2000 Gore could have probably gone to the mat and rallied for

an accurate election...but stepped aside for the good of the nation, avoiding more chaos.

I believe dem leaders like Conyers know more about election vulnerability and hacking in 2004 than the public knows, but to preserve faith in the process worldwide won't pursue wherever the facts might lead.

I believe there was a LOT more info about 9/11 that wasn't made public...to protect world order and avoid more chaos.


This wouldn't be the first time the adults in the room have to lean toward stability, protecting the lofty position of the world's only superpower. However this time it may be that some sort of price will be paid...because of the seriousness of the suspicions, those few in the know may have significant leverage to at least partially right some wrongs.

[Feathery Scout]

148. If you think that Trump will voluntarily resign....

If you think Trump will go without a fight, you are crazy.

Trump thinks he can spin anything. And his followers will believe anything.

And if he DOES go down, Trump is vindictive enough, that he will take the entire nation with him...

[Thekaspervote]

52. My worry, comey has a lot a lot of stuff on dump but can't prove any of it!

Someone, anyone please tell me I'm wrong!!!

[lindysalsagal]

65. The fbi can prove anything, even sh&% that never happened.,....

[Ilsa]

57. They couldn't look more grim if a giant asteroid was about to hit the planet. nt

[Stonepounder]

58. This much is completely obvious.

There is something really bad going on and the FBI isn't done with its investigation(s).

If there was no 'there' there, then they could say that. They might not be happy about it, but it wouldn't be classified. So there IS something and it ain't good.

There's something's happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear.
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware.
----Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth

[Honeycombe8]

61. Hmmm. That could mean anything.

Could be they learned some scary facts. Could also be they're disappointed nothing can be proven, except some mtgs & phone calls.

[delisen]

66. My guess: Feinstein now knows we are at war with Russia

Last edited Wed Mar 15, 2017, 08:59 PM - Edit history (1)

and that the US is riddled with fifth columnists.

[bucolic_frolic]

81. Maybe

we and Russia are at war with ISIS, and we are being told nothing is to interfere
because of the severity of the situation.

She looks like she knows there are no good guys left.

[milestogo]

86. Columnists?

[delisen]

95. Thanks I've corrected.

[milestogo]

97. Actually

I was wondering if you meant Communists...

[WePurrsevere]

150. " 5th Column" sounded very familiar but...

It's been years since I've run across it so I looked it up to be sure:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_column

A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or nation. The activities of a fifth column can be overt or clandestine. Forces gathered in secret can mobilize openly to assist an external attack. This term is also extended to organized actions by military personnel. Clandestine fifth column activities can involve acts of sabotage, disinformation, or espionage executed within defense lines by secret sympathizers with an external force.

[Feathery Scout]

67. What worries me....

Is that Grassley is deferring to the Dem....letting her get her narrative out there.

Almost as a courtesy. I don't like that. Makes me think we Dems will NEED that extra help.

And Trump is the puppet...who should be in jail....Grassley is the one who should be shaken.

[Mr.Bill]

70. I think they have found out

so many people in the White House and Congress are implicated there won't even be a quorum left to do anything about it.

I hope I'm wrong.

[KittyWampus]

74. Whoa, I never even thought about that.

[bucolic_frolic]

75. THIS

That would be my guess as well. Or Russian hacking has uncovered everything about everyone.

[nolabels]

157. I bet they didn't know where I kept my home grown stashed!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018933750

[LuckyLib]

84. I agree. I think there are so many compromised people that Drumpf will be one in the crowd.

Also, they have identified at least one Russian mole in the WH and some idiots in Congress who were waltzing with the Russians and were found out through usual espionage processes on Russia.

[2naSalit]

91. That sounds quite plausible...

I am quite sure that there are so many who are complicit and dirty enough to jail that there will have to be a major effort for all who can to clean up this mess. We will need some new rules for this.

[bdamomma]

109. Just one question

Comey is supposed to be testifying Monday is that correct? what committee? Just wondering. So this classified info wouldn't be mentioned?

[hedda_foil]

126. It's supposed to be a PUBLIC hearing with House Intel Committee Monday.

[drray23]

115. not possible.

I seriously doubt the rank and file members of congress know anything. Now, it is possible that most of Trump administration does since he nominated them and they were part of the corrupt campaign or already have connection with russia. However, these are not the people doing the impeachment. House and Senate do and I doubt Russia managed to turned all the gop rank and file.

[bigbrother05]

154. May be finding evidence of wide spread vote tampering

Calling the entire election into question from coast to coast. Not clear who has a legitimate seat in Congress. Might even point to the primaries as well.

[defacto7]

73. Speculation #5000

What if the clandestine information cuts in every direction?
Why was Comey so blatantly forthright with false information that would stop Hillary's bid for the presidency? That was too visible of a move for any secret service or investigative agency. One might think it was stupid... I don’t think it could possibly have been a mistake.. probably it was a frantic move under duress from whatever power was pushing the buttons.
What if this secret would not only destroy Trump but Obama would be threatened with... whatever? And maybe it would undercut Right and Left in the house and Senate. That would definitely topple the government and would explain the smug nature of Bannon who wants just that.
Maybe all that's left is a quiet careful power struggle to keep the country from utter chaos and to create the facade of some sort of normalcy. It could also explain the rise of the neo-fascists, a struggle for position.
If covering the ugly is what they are trying to do, they're not doing very well.

[defacto7]

107. Speculation #5001

Giant asteroid...

[Tatiana]

76. Good Lord, DiFi looks like she just heard her entire family died.

This is terribly, terribly wrong.

[samnsara]

77. did they find something did they not find anything? Its a cliffhanger!!

[samnsara]

79. thats an 'oooooooohhhhhh fffff**********ck" look if i have ever seen one!

[still_one]

82. F**K them all. They all knew about this before the election, Harry Reid said as much in October,

but nothing was done

[onecaliberal]

83. Feinstein looks very shaken.

[bdamomma]

114. She doesn't look good at all.

this is not good at all. Didn't Warner look the same about a week ago??? There is some bad stuff going on? I think I agree with one of the posters here, could be a number of people involved. A lot of info was hacked into?? and Congress exposed???

[onecaliberal]

120. Yeah, it's really not looking good. I think there is much of the government compromised

It's NOT good.

[bdamomma]

142. another scary question I have

would those in the Congress cover their own asses and not ours what would be our option??? to rally together and protect ourselves?? to the point of defending ourselves and our way of life? I have a weird feeling that those Senators and Reps say it would be up to us to save ourselves. Or I am wayyyy offff.

[onecaliberal]

145. I don't think there are enough in congress that would be willing to protect democracy.

IMO we'd be on our own. It's what Bannon and his ilk have always dreamed of.

[milestogo]

85. WHEN IS IT OUR BUSINESS TO KNOW WTF IS GOING ON???

[StarryNite]

88. Yeah, good question!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

112. +1000

[Justice]

87. Honestly Grassley looks like he cannot speak. Feinstein probably said, I will speak for us

She is tough. He is an idiot.

[still_one]

89. If it is this serious, and trump colluded with the Russians to subvert our election, then by the

25th amendment he needs to be removed from office NOW

[elmac]

92. Comey probably told them

that his president putin is ready to take tRumps place any day now.

[ancianita]

94. If seven dead so far mean anything, it can't look good for Trump's team.

[lunasun]

125. I thought it was eight now but yes not looking too good for them

[ancianita]

146. Yeah, I'm probably not keeping up.

[LibraLiz1973]

96. I'm seeing something different than everyone else.

I don't see that either of them look "grim". I'm not encouraged by it- to me it looks like just another day at the office for them.

[BannonsLiver]

129. That's my read as well

[Juliusseizure]

98. My read (where's Dr. Phil?)

If Comey said a cursory"we got nothing", Feinstein maybe would have shown frustration, and Grassley would have been quietly smug. Feinstein wouldn't have been grim, concerned like that.

Interesting that Feinstein spoke. Grassley isnt shy and is assertive. It could mean nothing. But if I learned my party leader who I was aligned with was in deep poop, I wouldn't want to talk. I'd clam up because I've been wrong.

Feinstein grim. Is it crim or concern? Or a combo? She's not one to gloat. My sense is some serious info. was conveyed, possibly implicating people they know, or not, but something they both agreed was serious, because she turned toward him at the end and looked at him - an acknowledgment that was said goes beyond partisanship to issues of mutual concern.

We really need Dr. Phil for this.

[Stinky The Clown]

99. They look like two people who just found out their country is in an as-yet-unanounced . . . .

. . . . constitutional crisis.

[kacekwl]

104. If what they know is not released to the public

by Friday this weekend I am stocking up on ammo and pitchforks and waiting to see what branch of government or politician I visit 1st. I want and NEED to know WTF is going on.

[cbdo2007]

106. Hillary won the election in a landslide...

But Russia hacked and made it so Trump won.

[nikibatts]

108. They found over 200,000 votes for HRC in three of the red states she lost by less than 80,000.

They can trace the vote changes to Russian hackers.

I can dream can't I?

[TheFrenchRazor]

111. i like this theory... nt

[Ezior]

110. I hope it's not related to nuclear bombs

Please don't let it be related to nuclear bomb threats. Is Putin going all in now?

Or maybe it's out of fear how deplorables will react to a future revelation? I.e. riots?

[LAS14]

116. Who were all the attendees at the briefing? By name, if anyone can? nt

[mvd]

117. It looks scary, and it's just not fair that we are kept in the dark

Everyone is affected if Russians have infiltrated the government.

[bdamomma]

118. K&R

whatever IT is its not good, but we need to know.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

119. Remember in the dossier it was all about blackmail. Not sure what Russia would

want from us - but what could be that bad that we wouldn't just say - go ahead, tell everyone ?

[kentuck]

121. What did he tell them?

That our President is an asset of Russia and Vladimir Putin?

That he has a lot of business deals with Russia and Russian money?

That they must work together to do what is best for our country?

That they need to prioritize and they need to put this issue at the very top?

[fleur-de-lisa]

155. Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Oh, and Putin had moles inside the FBI NY Office.

[eleny]

122. And hours later nobody has leaked a word

[Catherine Vincent]

123. ...

Not sure about Feinstein but Grassley always looks like that.

[MedusaX]

124. When both teams look defeated...

That means the whole league is facing something so devastating that essentially everyone loses.

I am going for the Trans-National web of corruption:

Bringing together the worlds largest oil/gas companies ...... and assembling a multi national "treasury"....
Azerbaijan president's children own 49% of Russia's VTB ojsc bank .... and several others

Rosneft & SOCAR ...
State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic
Have several joint ventures & agreements

BP & Qatar own 40% of Rosneft
The 19.5% is in limbo being held. By Steve Schwarzman's Blackstone GSO Capital/ INTESSA SanPaolo

Azerbaijan minister Mammadov & family partnered w/Trump on Baku Tower .... Mammadov's known to utilize Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Shell companies for construction & infrastructure projects


Hezbolla & IRGC allegedly in a triangle alliance with South American Cartel to distribute cocaine /heroin
(And Launder $$$$)..to the Middle East
using Venezuela as a hub ....


Vlad predicts that common Oil/Gas & Investment markets will be in place by 2025...
allowing the free trade & movement of goods/services, technology, people and money across the borders of the participating countries .....

Trump & family have probably been participating in these trans national activities.... probably as Mules since they have the private planes and quasi legitimate business "excuses" to visit various countries & officials......
and make large purchases with shell companies as financial backing......


Knowing 45
He wants to take down as many of his "rivals" just for revenge...
so he has likely created many opportunities to "involve" various members of congress, and his cabinet....
he is loyal to no one

Russia & Azerbaijan players are invested in telecommunications/technology companies... and Trump helped his Apprentice winner Sean Yazbeck set up a now international IT / energy/ mining/ construction You name it company (WAVSYS)

So...
I am guessing that the US technological infrastructure is already compromised ......

And there are enough "compromised" politicians/cabinet members that 45 may be able to cut a deal for "family" immunity by flipping on them ... (revenge)

So....
no one will be happy and if our technological infrastructure is compromised then
banking, defense systems, all communications.... elections...
you name it ...have already been infiltrated......


Or maybe it's nothing ...
just tapes with standard old spy stuff going on between countries... NBD...

[Rollo]

128. I suppose whoever comes out of this relatively unscathed has a good chance...

...of being our next president...

[Eyeball_Kid]

131. This is not good.

I read a lot of the posters' responses upthread. When I saw some of the interview, I wasn't paying close attention. I should have. But that was one of Feinstein's more pleasant expressions.

We'll eventually find out what had occurred. But I'm somewhat heartened that Grassley, as intensely as I dislike him, seemed beyond sober. He, too, is overwhelmed. At least others know some of what Comey knows.

Trumpy had to have seen this interview as well. Or, his staff is keeping him from seeing it. The unspoken message is devastating to Trumpy. All the rallies he holds won't help him. His money won't help him. It surely doesn't look that way with how Grassley and Feinstein behaved.

What they're hearing will soon become a call to action, IMO. I suspect that the action will be swift. And, yes, I also expect that members of Congress will be confronted.

Our friend Mitch McConnell has fallen silent these past few days. And as for Trumpy, he may soon be asking himself why on earth he ever decided to pull of this con in the first place. In private life, he'd be free to fuck over as many people as he wished and he never had to answer to anybody. Trumpy's supreme arrogance led him to this place in his life. His arrogance gave way to incredibly stupid mistakes. It might be time to pay the piper.

[Juliusseizure]

139. Sounds good to me if true

[Miles Archer]

140. He thinks he's Icarus, he doesn't believe his wings will melt if he flies too close to the sun

You have your parameters, and I have mine, but with a narcissist like Trump...who proudly proclaimed he could walk up to someone on the street and shoot them and get away with it, there ARE no parameters.

Getting away with something outrageous only makes him want to get away with something more outrageous.

And he will get away with whatever he can until whatever is left of the powers that be decide that enough is enough.

I think you and I and most people would go into a state of shock if we were told we'd be given $3 million every week to fly down to Florida and play golf at taxpayers' expense.

But he gets that, and wants more, and more, and more.

And we keep giving it to him.

[dchill]

132. K&R.

[hollowdweller]

133. Maybe it was "How do we remove them from power without backlash?"

I mean is sure looks like the entire Trump admin has connections to Russia and is busy trying to cripple US agencies and deconstruct our gov't

Maybe they have something but want to know what to do with it?

[Scruffy1]

134. My money goes on this.

Comey is in up to his neck and refusing to do squat about the crimes committed. So what do you do when the whole government is in collusion? We have witnessed a coup. It's also possible he's blackmailing some Democrats to keep their mouth shut. I'm hoping I'm wrong, but I learned a long time ago that you can't be too cynical when your dealing with the Republican Party. I never have bought Grassley's act. He's as crooked as a dog's hind leg.

[defacto7]

136. I've seen too many politicians come out of closed door

meetings. They always come out with a light smile or attitude saying "no comment", reassuring us that they have everything taken care of.

Not this time. And not the last closed door with Comey either. Something's up and it's bad.

The paradigm is shifting. When you see the staunch solid politicians from both sides shaken... there's nothing else to say.

Live for the day, fight if that's what you do. Just live like it matters because it does matter, because maybe we're wrong.

[dooner]

137. Feinstein IS 83...

And she looks like the weight of the world just landed on her shoulders. I think these leaders are coming to grips with the gravity of the situation, and the difficulty in navigating our country through treacherous territory.

Can you imagine being 83 and having to deal with this mess?

[LuvLoogie]

144. I don't know if there is a longer clip,

Last edited Thu Mar 16, 2017, 06:36 PM - Edit history (2)

I only watched the raw story clip.

I am not getting any sense of foreboding. They seem serious, but not grim.

I just don't see trump and Bannon capable of toppling American democracy. I don't think these Senators do either. I think they will remove trump if they have to.

I think their concern is for an upheaval in the body politic, but do not fear the rending of the fabric of democracy.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

147. Regarding the tea leaf reading of the body language here.

Have you ever been in a situation in your life where you have a suspicion that something bad has gone on, that all signs and evidence point to something bad having gone on, but before you receive definitive proof of that bad thing, it's still just theoretical and out there in the ether?

And then you finally receive proof positive confirmation that what you've suspected all along is in fact the truth, and it just slams you like a huge blow? Even though you've been proven right, because of what has just been proven right is such a downer, instead of wanting to gloat, you just feel absolutely dejected because it proves the worst in people? That you'd rather be proven wrong because the truth is so much worse of a reflection of people?

I honestly think the Senators in that meeting received proof positive confirmation that the person who is the sitting President of the United States colluded with a foreign power in order to influence the US presidential election. And that is horrible and that is unprecedented in this country's history because it weakens us. Our national sovereignty and independence was compromised to the core.

There's no reason for Diane Feinstein to be smiling or feel smug about that. There's no reason for any of us to smile or feel smug about that. It's the truth, the utterly depressing truth.

When the US House committee began to vote to start impeachment proceedings against Richard Nixon following Watergate, some of the members voting had tears in their eyes as they voted yes. The tears were not for Richard Nixon. The tears were due to the gravity of the situation and the sobering truth and undertaking they were being called to carry.

[Satch59]

151. Question: if the FBI has proof of collusion/treason...

Can they filed charges/indictments or does this have to go through congress?

Read through all these posts and I agree with most who think this is very serious...and yes perhaps now that we're seeing Dem/GOP appearing together, maybe they are coming together and coming up with a plan...if our suspicions are true, the leaders need to be united and show strength for the country that's about to happily lose this administration...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

152. Any actual charges would have to be filed via the DOJ. The FBI can't directly charge/indict.

Now Sessions, as the attorney general and titular head of the DOJ, would normally have that discretion. But because he had to recuse himself because he himself is caught up in the mix, it would go down to the person directly below him. Unless Congress appoints a special independent prosecutor not directly under the AG's thumb, which they should, but who knows if they will.

[Satch59]

153. Thanks for the clarification...

So if these hearings can convince the GOP that there is a big "there there", then a special prosecutor can be assigned and off we go to indictments?? The GOP will not want to be attached to anything Trump if the shit hits the fan but I sense that's why they are trying to push through healthcare and anything they can right now...it seems they know what the future could hold? Or an I giving them too much smarts?

[TNLib]

160. Spicer was acting more looney than usual today

It's starting to really heat up. Also Twitter hasn't been tweeting his normal crazy shit.

[Kablooie]

164. The one thing I expect is that none of our guesses are correct.

Almost never do these things play out in a satisfactory, expected way.

There are some huge unanticipated surprises ahead.
I just hope they aren't too damaging to most of us.