UPDATED: “An Incredible Idea”
On Monday, while French kissing Putin on global television, Trump announced that Putin had proposed “an incredible idea” to him during their private session to address Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. We now know what that “incredible idea” was, and I had to read it twice to believe it; the story was confirmed by Aunt Lydia Sarah Sanders yesterday in the first WH daily briefing held in two weeks. The “idea”? For Trump to allow Russian intelligence to question 11 American citizens, including former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, and businessman Bill Browder, whose attorney was murdered in a Russian prison.
This “incredible idea” cynical demand is nothing more than Putin’s chess move against legitimate indictments of Russian intelligence officials for hacking DNC servers and conducting cyber war against the United States. Bill Browder has been a thorn in Putin’s side for years for pointing out the corruption in his regime. The murdered attorney, Sergei 
Magnitsky, had been arrested for uncovering massive corruption in Russia which lead to hundreds of millions of dollars of laundered money being deposited in banks in the US and around the world. The law passed in his name froze those assets and banned a number of Russian government officials and oligarchs from entering the US. Putin and his gang hate that law, and have been trying to undermine it since its adoption. Don’t forget that the meeting with Russian agents at Trump tower in the summer of 2016 was an effort to get the Magnitsky Act repealed.
The shocking thing about the current chapter in this entire sordid story of the love affair between Trump and his handler is that, instead of categorically condemning this demand, the White House IS ACTUALLY ENTERTAINING IT. Are you kidding me? And, of course, the invertebrates in Congress are responding as you would expect, mealy mouthed and cowering in the corner, terrified of Trump’s Twitterfingers.
There is a place for anger, and this is it.
UPDATE: File this under “No Shit” – Saying he’s considering allowing Russian intelligence to interrogate former US ambassador Michael McFaul and others caused HUGE blowback yesterday and today around the world (especially from McFaul himself). The invertebrates in Congress were actually able to pull themselves far enough vertical to raise their hands and were preparing a resolution condemning the idea when Aunt Lydia Sarah Sanders announced that Trump “disagrees” with the notion of handing Americans over to Putin’s Gulag. Apparently, the WH now agrees that allowing US citizens to be interrogated by Russian intelligence is not a great idea. To that we say, NO SHIT.
In case El Jefe hasn’t read it, I recommend he check out Bill Browder’s book, Red Notice, about his experience doing business in Putin’s Russia. A damn good book for anyone interested in contemporary Russian government.
1Since when has any sitting president had the right to “hand over” a private citizen for interrogation? Former ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul is currently working at Stanford U as a professor! Some adults in government need to quietly convince Trump that resigning now is in his own best interests. Resign or look at a censure of treason!
2Is it fascism yet? I say it’s close enough for a big portion of the American public to be drawing a line in the sand.
3Let’s just call it what it is — an incredibly STUPID idea and a great way for Trump to ingratiate himself further to Vladimir.
The thought that America would turn any of our citizens over the Russia for interrogation is abhorrent. And for a president to actually entertain this as an “interesting idea,” well, words fail me.
Unbelievably according to a recent poll, only 21% of Republicans disapprove of the way the Trump/Putin debacle went down. They still support this traitor, no matter what he does. Are his base just as traitorous as Trump? What the heck is happening to our country?
4If Rump and the GOP allow American citizens to be harassed/arrested by a dictator, then we are no longer the country of freedom and justice for all.
Indict, convict, LOCK THEM UP and DEPORT every traitorous b@$t@rd that was an accomplice.
5@barbara:
McFaul needs to get out of the US NOW and ask for asylum.
@StevetheReturned:
I think the oscillating blades are beginning to spin and the poo is almost in position…
6I misspoke. Apparently McFaul is a UK citizen.
7Papa, McFaul is an American citizen. After all, he could not be the US ambassador to Russia if he was a UK citizen. I do see why he is on 45’s radar as he is a very vocal critic of 45.
8Once again. It was Browder who is a UK citizen not McFaul. Time for coffee…
9@1smartamerican:
I have corrected my mistake. Sorry.
10With the Rethugs controlling congress, Dump’s house and the SCOTUS, those who oppose this maniac are powerless to stop the destruction of our country. Obviously, Dump has been promised additional “help” by Putin in re-electing his sycophants and himself. That’s why he won’t condemn Russia’s actions in 2016, he welcomed them.
11Recognizing that I am in a fact singing to the choir, allow me to add my voice to the “this is not normal,” “this is not ok,” “time to act” chorus. Call your Senators, call your Representative, (mine are on speed dial), and get involved!
I marvel at Juanita Jean and Bubba’s dedication and devotion to the process and their tireless efforts to turn the tide. I’m certain that El Jeffe is working like a son of a gun behind the scenes to turn Texas Blue. I know many of the customers here at the WMDBS are knocking on doors, making calls and above all voting. Anger is warranted, this is horrifying, we can not be complacent we have to stem the tide of fascism flowing from the White House. Too many of us thought democracy would take care of itself, we are paying for that now. Only one thing matters helping the center to hold until November and then it is time we clean House (and Senate too!).
PS, no worries Papa it happens to all of us.
12I really hope the alphabet intel agencies finally get pissed enough to do what we know they can do to mad elephants.
13There are several words that can be used to describe Dotard45’s treachery and apparent capitulation to the interests of Russia. However, when contacting our snacilbupeR Senator, we have been trying to tack a course along established law & norms to keep the communications civil. Basically, shouting at the dummy will not increase his IQ points. We’ve even adopted some of the tactic Putin uses on Donnie, flattery. In the hopes Dean Heller does have a few more IQ points than Donnie we deploy flattering challenges such as “be the Margaret Chase Smith” needed in these trying times or something along the lines of statesmen needed.
Then again, if we were from Kentucky and dealing with *itch McConnell or Texas with Teddie Crooze, it is understood that something in more incendiary rhetoric might be needed. Or, maybe just type slowly and use monosyllabic vocabulary.
Point being: don’t give up, keep communicating and use everything you’ve got, especially the vote.
14@13 Papa, careful Papa, I’ve been (rightfully) censured here a couple of times for writing of the thing one cannot legally write or speak of…
15Sometimes it’s hard not to mention what is probably the only viable ‘option’…
When I first heard this I laughed. Why? Because McFaul has said many times that Putin is so angry with him that he has banned him from entering Russia (should he want to visit friends he made while serving there). But now he demands he go there, and not for a friendly visit. And many Congresscritters (mostly Dems) have decried this demand by Putin and Dotard45’s refusal to swat it away immediately. As for the Repubs, I just saw Lindsey Graham on the tube saying flat out, no, we’re not doing this. Pompeo says no, absurd. Victoria Nuland, former Asst Secy of State, who worked for 32 years in the state department including in Russia, says Dotard fell into Putin’s trap. What a surprise. At the end of an interview with Andrea Mitchell she turns away from Mitchell and says directly into the camera: “It’s very important that we now defend the United States rather than the individual interests of one person, our president.”
16Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s accusation that Dotard is Putin’s puppet has not been disproved, in fact, has become the truth.
17Wouldn’t it be ironic if Putin sends people over here to interrogate Americans, and Mueller indicts and arrests them.
18Trump thinks it’s “an incredible idea” to hand over American citizens to Russian Intelligence for questioning?
How is it possible that that he gets to nominate Supreme Court justices with so little understanding of law, and civil rights? Shouldn’t this and about 50 other decisions he’s made disqualify him?
19Rick, as a semi-literate staff member for our less than sure footed Dean Heller informed us, Dotard45 can select whomever he wants. Unfortunately the semi-literate left out the part where it is the responsibility for the Senate to provide oversight, and the staffer didn’t clue in Heller either. Under the ‘leadership’ of *itch McConnell snacilbupeR Senators have forgotten they represent the state who sent them to Dee Cee. NV will hopefully give Heller the boot in November.
Senators and House varmints who rubber stamp for Donnie without a thought need to be sent packing for that reason. Same goes for those who represent the NRA over the interests of 70+% of the American voters, or the Evangelical crazies instead of protecting human reproductive freedom, etc, ad nauseum to those beholden to special interests over what “we the people” want.
20I think Tom Nichols at USA Today said it best
“By the end of this circus, Trump was practically mewling, begging for Putin’s approval, saying that Putin’s denials were “extremely powerful and strong,” almost in a kind of strangely erotic tone of admiration.”
21Mueller should indict Putin so when he lands in the USA he can be arrested. I know, a few details to work out but it would be fun to watch his plane being surrounded by tanks et al. Maybe just the threat would be enough to keep him away.
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