The End of the Beginning - TPM

[ffr]

One of the things we will be focusing on on the Russia front in 2018 is not simply breaking a lot of news but on narrating the bigger picture. It can be a difficult story to make sense of because it has so many tentacles.
<snip>

We are still only at the front end of this investigation. We still know only the outlines of what happened and how. But we are past any serious question about whether there was collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. There was. It’s no longer a matter of probability, even high probability. We know it from either undisputed facts or sworn statements from Trump associates now cooperating with the Mueller investigation.
<snip>

The oddity of that platform decision has always been that it’s just not that big a deal. No one pays attention to platforms. It’s certainly not some big ask Russia would have had even if you imagine a big, hard conspiracy that went right to the top. That’s not the way to see it. Russia was mounting a far-ranging effort throughout the campaign to elect Donald Trump. This involved theft, espionage, various kinds of covert and overt propaganda. They were reaching out to the Trump campaign offering help and they consistently got a welcoming response. They were assured Trump wanted a new deal with Russia and an end of sanctions.
<snip>

I say the end of the beginning because the core question about collusion has been answered in the affirmative. We know this. Any reasonable survey of the evidence now makes this clear. What remains uncertain is whether it was (improbably) limited to a few non-central members of the campaign or whether it went right to the top. - TPM

[BigmanPigman]

1. The pundits said the same thing when Manafort was busted.

If THAT was the "end of the beginning" than this must be the "middle" by now or at least the "beginning of the middle". I wish we could fast forward to "the end of the end" part and start rebuilding this country (what's left of it anyway).

[Bucky]

4. I have the feeling that the 2020 election will be the end of the end.

All this legal malarkey is distraction, but a useful tactic of skirmishing to keep the opponents of democracy off their game till we can all vote in a normal, legitimate, pro-American president. And really, that's how it should be. Trump needs to be rejected by the voters, including former Trump voters who are still coming around to understand just how hard they've been hornswaggled.

[smirkymonkey]

2. I just hate the sight of his face.

It is the most repulsive thing in the world to me. I can't say what impulse it brings out in me.

[ffr]

5. I agree, but it's not my story.

I'm just the messenger of what some journalist has to say. Something that I don't find offensive, other than the fact that the republicans are bending over backwards to protect tRump from the DOJ, to slow and distract their investigations too. Make me want to shake each and every one of them.

[not fooled]

7. Yeah

I scroll fast to get past it whenever it looms.

[SergeStorms]

8. Oh yeah.

The mere sight of him initiates my gag reflex. When I see him and hear him projectile vomiting is guaranteed.

[underpants]

3. Very good piece

[L. Coyote]

6. Focus on "collusion"may miss the big crimes. Did Republicans hire Russians to hack the DNC?

Did Republicans set up operations in Russia to evade US laws? Did Manafort's operation in Russia become a Trump operation?

[Cha]

9. Kick for Josh Marshall.. TY ffr!

[wroberts189]

10. It went straight to the top Josh...

You can make that leap J.M. .. you can do it ... take it ... take it..

No "improbably" ... you know it. No "alternative facts"..