About those Tass photos in the Oval office

[Tom Rinaldo]

That was the ultimate horse head on the pillow in my opinion. It's odd that so little is said about that. Instead it was covered as if it were some kind of fraternity prank, like: "Wow, those Russian PR people sure got the jump on the Americans in getting their news spin out there first. They had their photos online before we even confirmed who was at the meeting ". Yeah, sure they did, but it wasn't about them making sure that the story got framed the way that they wanted to the larger world. It was a warning to Donald Trump.

The day after Trump fired Comey, Putin called in that promise he got from Trump to meet with Foreign Minister Lavrov in the Oval Office. That by itself can be called subtle, even normal in a way. That Ambassador Kislyak was also present again by itself was not that odd. But in the context of a meeting between a Foreign Minister and a Head of State, the local Ambassador in essence functions as an aid, a high level staffer more senior than the translator in the room, but still not central to the theatrics of the event.

But in this case that Ambassador is a central figure to the FBI Russia investigation, the investigation that had been led by the man our President fired the day before. Ambassador Kislyak was central to the National Security Advisor of the United States getting compromised and fired. He was central to the U.S. Attorney General being forced to recuse himself (supposedly) from any FBI Investigation of the Trump campaign. Why on Earth did Donald Trump pose for a solo closeup photo with Kislyak shaking hands and grinning from ear to ear, while the American press pool was locked outside the door? Stupidity? Naivety? Genuine affection? Blackmail?

Whatever. What's far more interesting to me though is why the Russians made sure the whole world saw that photo on a day when the Trump team was still trying to argue that Comey's dismissal had absolutely nothing to do with Russia. A coincidence perhaps, or a failure on the Russian's part to grasp the U.S. news cycles? Uh huh. About as likely as ten years worth of Trump tax returns still remaining under IRS audit.

Putin sent Trump a message; "You know that photo we had of you that you really didn't want or expect the world to see? How do you like seeing it on every newspaper front page? There are other things we could share you know, but we hate to embarrass a friend. Have a nice day Comrade Trump."

[spanone]

1. K&R...

keeping the u.s. media out was a major 'fuck you' to the usa.

[Achilleaze]

2. Kislyak & AG Perjurer-in-Chief Jeffy Sessions are also bedfellows

republicans & russians go together like vodka and caviar.

[2naSalit]

9. Hmmm...

considering that those are two disgusting substances, I can see how they are so attracted to consuming them! But then, I think they have been playing the Tom Sawyer long game and too many have swallowed the bait.

Rick jerk: "Ohh man, this stuff is soooo delicious! But you have to be rich to be able to enjoy it in the proper way."

Unwitting avg Jane/Joe: "Wow, that looks sooo pretty and those guys are having such a grand time, they have everything they want which looks like everything I want! I would really like to have that too."

Rich Jerk: "Well. do what I say and keep your nose to the grindstone and I'll help you get there. But you can't tell anybody how you got so rich so fast, and you have to do whatever I say."

Unwitting avg Jane/Joe: "Sure, I want a "good life" too! Where do I sign up?"


And here we are, it's time for the rich jerks to be exposed for the fraud that they are, individually and collectively. This is the turning point in our society and culture, there are only a few choices that will determine the fate of the biosphere and al of its inhabitants. whichever path we choose, it will be painful nonetheless. I hope we get it right.

[cheyanne]

3. Putin has Trump on a short leash. Trump has always had a Russian minder.

Trump is supposed to raise sanctions, stop protection of Eastern European countries and demolish NATO while he eviscerates the government.

The gist was to highlight Trump's Russian connections just when he needed to hide them.

That's how blackmail works.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Yes, and this is what it looks like when a minder reminds he who is being minded n/t

[Eyeball_Kid]

5. Trumpy sees FRIENDSHIP with these Russians. His archilles heel is his deep loneliness.

Trumpy sees animosity all around him. He sees himself as being under siege. He turns to the Russians for adoration and comfort. His behavior says that he'll abandon his presumed US loyalties in a heartbeat if it means that he remains important and significant. In the final analysis, however, we should understand that Trumpy never did have loyalties to the US. Since he lies with impunity, we can only determine his intent by his actions. When he tries to sneak Kislyak into the White House without US media available, we can immediately understand where Trumpy's loyalties go. Trumpy has NO boundaries with the Russians.

That the Congressional GOPers do not react to this obviously treasonous behavior shows where THEIR loyalties lie as well. The alarm bells going off in the US system of self-preservation cannot be louder. Yet the GOP sits on their hands and they do NOTHING.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. He wants to be a Strongman too. Those are the ones whom he craves respect from

He just wants adoration from "his base" and "loyalty" from the rest of the U.. S. government. But he loves "security forces - especially if he controls them. His ego is so transparent it is no wonder he was so easily played.

[anneboleyn]

16. On top of that Lavrov made fun of Comey's firing to the US press OUTSIDE the meeting.

It is so blatant that even the folks on CNN were speechless.

[volstork]

20. Yes!

He never fit in, and is desperate to do so. He will take "friendship" wherever he can find it, which makes him so dangerously vulnerable to being played. The Russians are evil, but not fools; they know they have the perfect stooge in trump. He is stupid, clueless, and desperate for adoration.

[Tom Rinaldo]

21. He wanted celebrities to love him also

This is an ongoing nightmare. I know all the facts, theories and opinions but I still find myself asking, how on earth did we end up with this?

[PearliePoo2]

6. Absolutely...every word.

Chilling as hell.
I didn't think I could be more frightened than I already am, but every day brings a greater fear.

This traitorous poser needs to be dragged out of 'The People's Oval Office' immediately...as in TODAY.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. If there is a silver lining...

...it is that this entire high stakes spy drama is tying up Trump and the Republican's ability to run a steamroller over all opposition to their agenda for America now that they hold control over every branch of our Federal government and most State governments as well. It is also increasing the chance that Democrats can regain control of the House in 20198 even with massive voter suppression and gerrymandered districts - and that is where impeachment begins.

P.S. That doesn't change the fact however that the cloud now engulfing our nation is huge, dark and potentially lethal

[WinkyDink]

8. One can see on Trump's face that he is trying to be "in" with them, while knowing he is failing to

impress.

[appal_jack]

11. Excellent analysis. K&R, nt.

[Locrian]

12. great post

So what is russia's end game? they HAVE to know that they just put a brick on the gas pedal of the trump clown car and it's racing towards the cliff.

They're not stupid like trump. There's more to their strategy than just relying on trump to do anything except screw up. THAT they can bank on.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. They win by controlling Trump. They win by destroying Trump.

Think of Trump as if he were a NASA space probe; preordained that it's days are numbered. Should they have it circle one more asteroid before going dead or steer it into Jupiter's atmosphere for the finale?

There may be any number of small matters, concessions to their global agenda, that Russia wants from Trump that he still can influence while he holds the office of President. But some of those acts would come at high risk to his presidency - which Trump has to believe can still be salvaged. So Trump might balk at delivering on some of them because he knows he can't plausibly defend his actions if he caves to Russia's wishes. That would make him look very bad. Well the Russians may be able to make him look even worse if he doesn't. That could be their message.

Or they may think they've already gotten most of what they can from Trump by now - so it is time to move on to the fiery finale: implode the American government, full scale constitutional crisis, America tired up in knots and looking awful to the world.

The Russians have an almost perfect win/win dynamic. The only way they don't come out of this way ahead is if the American political system rises to the challenge and on a bi-partisan basis puts country ahead of party. That could make some damn good lemonade out of a pile of lemons - but what are the odds of that happening?

[Locrian]

14. my guess

>>implode the American government, full scale constitutional crisis, America tired up in knots and looking awful to the world.


yep - that's my guess. payback for the US fuc***ing up THEIR economy: bring the US economy down - possibly by weakening the US enough and going off the petro dollar.

This reeks of shock doctrine - russian style.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Yeah, I think that is the end game. The rest is just timing...

opportunism to see what they can get out of Trump before he plunges into the abyss taking us down with him.

[anneboleyn]

17. They have embarrassed the US in front of the world. They have installed a Russian plant as prez.

That's what they get out of this (they were probably hoping for some financial deals too but the humiliation of our country at the highest level is enough)

[Locrian]

19. I'm not so sure....

Putin is a "strong man" authoritarian type. They don't stop when their prey is weak.
I'm thinking it's all still going to plan, and that the end game is economic type "attack" on the US.

[bettyellen]

18. And Putin using the phrasing "acting to his competence " to describe Trump's actions.....

Yeah he just happened to run into an NBC reporter in full hockey gear. Yep.