(03-26-2019 08:09 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote: I’ve pointed out from the beginning that Mueller is highly respected on both sides of the aisle as a consummate professional. Unlike Trump and his supporters, I’m not going to change my tune on that because I didn’t like his conclusions.
paint with a broad brush much? I think you just said I am two-faced. I have always accepted that Mueller was an upright man.
Quote:So, I’ll accept his conclusions, though I’d like to see the report/hear from him. I do NOT trust Barr.
I have heard the same good things about Barr that I heard about Mueller. I guess you are pinning your dislike on the fact he is a Trump appointee, and nothing further.
Quote:It’s important to note that Barr points out no collusion was found, defined as an agreement between the Trump campaign and Russian government.
That was a Mueller conclusion
Quote:Why did Manafort give proprietary data to people with ties to Russian intelligence? Why was Trump Jr.’s response to say “I love it!” instead of reporting it to authorities?
I don't know why he gave it, but what was the harm? Polling data? Available on every street corner.
As for Junior, I guess he was happy to have a chance at getting some dirt on his Dad's opponent. Seems reasonable. At least he didn't pay millions to send a foreign operative to Russia to collect lies.
Quote:That’s another key point. Mueller has apparently established that 1) Russia DID try and influence and meddle in the election and 2) they approached the Trump campaign.
he also established that they were rebuffed.
Quote:So why has the Trump administration been denying Russian influence, most notoriously when he stood in Helskinki and sided with a former KGB operative over the CIA, FBI, and the rest of the US law enforcement and intelligence communities? (If Obama or Hillary had done that, the GOP would be shouting “Treason!”)
Obama did do it. Where was he standing when he told a representative of that former KGB operative that he could be more flexible after the election?
Quote:Anyway, all else aside the investigation was necessary and worthwhile for establishing Russian interference alone. Trump and the GOP can no longer pretend it didn’t happen and maybe we can move forward on election integrity in a bipartisan way.
I think we could have established that without a two year, $25M investigation. In fact, wasn't it established very early on?
Quote:It’s also worth noting that Trump’s campaign manager is going to jail. Trump’s personal lawyer of 10+ years is going to jail. His National Security advisor pled guilty to federal crimes, as did multiple campaign aides and advisors.
Not a single one of which had to do with Russian collusion, which is one reason Mueller found none.
Quote: We now have separate investigations of 1) felony campaign violations and 2) an investigation into influence peddling regarding his inauguration, 3) at least one other investigation into financial crimes by Trump and Trump Org, and 4) Trump Foundation shut down for being a phony charity.
Well, as you now know, sometimes investigations do not result in indictments. let's wait and see.
Quote:Oh, and we also know that Trump WAS pursuing business in Russia during the campaign and blatantly lied to the American people about it repeatedly.
i didn't hold with the lying when Clinton lied to the American public, and don't like that Trump did it, but since it was shown that working during the campaign was not part of collusion, what's the problem? I have no doubt that every candidate and nominee lies.
Your grief is palatable. None of us like to get our hopes dashed. My condolences.
But there is hope that in only 6 more years, your ordeal will be over.