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global1

(25,219 posts)
Wed May 17, 2017, 12:21 PM May 2017

Bigger Than 9/11.....

Yesterday I met with a group of my male friends - all of us in our mid 60's to 72. We hung together our whole lives. We met at a pizza joint for pizza's and beer and like any group of guys our age we talked about our health status, our children and grandchildren; and what we're doing to keep active in our retirement.

Unfortunately - the elephant in the room couldn't be avoided and we got into a political discussion of the events leading up to where we are today. Now we all lived through the Kennedy's and King assassination's. Watergate. Iran-Contra. 9/11 and everything in between. We've seen and experienced it all. Politically - we're all on the same page. Solid Dems with some dissent on some of the things the Dems do or don't do. But pretty much solid Dems

The conversation came around to what our current situation compares to - and to a man - we all said in it beyond comparison to all of what we experienced. We are paving new ground here. And it is scarier than anything we've experienced in our lives.

One chap tried to draw comparisons to 9/11. Though we all agreed over 3000 Americans died and we were attacked within our borders and that it was a watershed event in the history of our country - again to a man - it is felt that the Russians interfering with our election was a bigger attack than 9/11. It goes right to the core of our democracy and what our military all through our history fought for to keep sacred. We came to the conclusion that it is bigger than 9/11.

The same chap then went on to bring MIHOP and LIHOP into the conversation. (made it happen on purpose and let it happen on purpose)

He likened MIHOP to collusion by Trump, Trump's team and Repugs. That they willfully involved themselves with the Russians to sway the election into Trump and the Repugs. He likened LIHOP to - well they maybe didn't collude with the Russians - but they did nothing to dissuade them from interfering and took advantage of the situation.

The conversation went on to independent investigations and that seemed to be the way the events discussed above were always handled. We all came to the conclusion that this is what should happen now to get to the bottom of the Russian/Trump thingy.

The fact that no matter what kind of circumstantial evidence or coincidences have occurred throughout this unfolding scandal; no matter what Trump steps in that looks like obstruction of justice - the Repugs always circle the wagons and come to Trump's aid and protect him.

One of our guys - posed the following - that this thingy must be so big and so many people must be involved in this Russian thingy that they are doing everything in their power to obfuscate, stall and cover-up.

We finished our pizza's and beer. Hugged each other til our next meeting and went our separate ways. Needless to say - I didn't sleep well last night and that lack of sleep and worry caused me to put this post together.

I'm curious as to whether or not you think a group of old-timers are just out of their minds like Trump or if we're on to something.

I would like to hear your comments.

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Atman

(31,464 posts)
3. I'm not quite there
Wed May 17, 2017, 12:41 PM
May 2017

Age-wise...but close (58). Kennedys, MLK, Watergate, etc. But I agree, this is some of craziest and scariest shit I've ever seen. What's scarier is how many friends I have who are Republican -- I grew up in Florida -- who still defend Trumpsky. It's bizarro world.

anarch

(6,535 posts)
4. in terms of damage to our nation,
Wed May 17, 2017, 12:48 PM
May 2017

to the basic foundations of the republic...the installation of this evil clown into the White House is pretty much the worst thing that's happened to the U.S. since the Civil War.

Russia has won the Cold War; I'm frankly not sure we can ever recover.

Mme. Defarge

(8,006 posts)
5. Yes, this is bigger than 9/11
Wed May 17, 2017, 12:50 PM
May 2017

and a case of MIHOP, without a doubt. I'm in your age group and have seen what you have all seen. Since before the election I have been waking up in the wee hours with my heart pounding and in a cold sweat. I am a strong intuitive and my body often knows something before before I am able to mentally process it. I actually feel better when I am awake and able to contain my concerns inside my head. But my body, my whole being, is reacting to what it perceives is an existential threat.

How blessed you are to have such a group of long-time friends!

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
9. 9/11 was an attack from outsiders . This is more like the 60s . This comes from
Wed May 17, 2017, 01:11 PM
May 2017

with in this country. Remember he won the election and still has plenty of voting supporters and republicans who will support him faithfully . He can be gone in a month with their cooperation.

global1

(25,219 posts)
11. I Would Argue That This Was An Attack By Outsiders Too.....
Wed May 17, 2017, 01:45 PM
May 2017

one of our arch-enemies - Russia. I'll give you that it has been helped along by insiders - Trump and company.

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
10. I was 3 when Nixon resigned but I have a hard time
Wed May 17, 2017, 01:15 PM
May 2017

believing that all this collusion happened with Russia behind Trump's back. He's proven time and again that he's involved in everything that has anything to do with him.

9/11 was devastating to the American psyche but what is happening with the Trump/Russia scandal is beyond the pale because if we don't win this fight, well, election tampering the way Russia did it has no clear enemy to combat.

 

JoeStuckInOH

(544 posts)
12. On one hand, yes, it was an attack on the american soverign system... but...
Wed May 17, 2017, 02:23 PM
May 2017

But given the type of attack, what can really be done about it? If it's truly "bigger than 9/11" then do you feel a response using bullets and open warfare are warranted? I mean, we went to war with at least two countries in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

The type of election interference Russia really ran was more of a hacking and information gathering/dissemination technique. They didn't dabble in the systematic election procedure itself. Their goal was really to slander and harm the image of specific the political candidates to the benefit of others. The public still voted... they were just influenced and manipulated.

Personally, at this time, I see the physical actions of 9/11 as "bigger" than the Russian election interference.

Where I start to see things get muddied is in how do we react to such international election tampering by the Russians when in all likelihood the US Gov and CIA have probably been dabbling in numerous such international voting exploits in South America, Africa, and the Middle East for decades?

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