GOP Rejects Two Resolutions Affirming Support For US Intelligence Community

[appalachiablue]

Source: Huff Post

WASHINGTON ― Republicans on Thursday objected to doing the bare minimum in response to President Donald Trump’s confusing stance toward Russian interference in U.S. politics, objecting to two nonbinding resolutions that affirmed the Senate’s support for the U.S. intelligence community.

At a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Helsinki, Trump refused to condemn Russia’s efforts to manipulate the 2016 presidential election, as detailed by his own intelligence agencies several times. Instead, he cast doubt on those assessments and in his comments gave credence to Putin’s denial of the interference.

After his performance sparked bipartisan criticism, Trump struggled to clarify his position several times this week. In comments on Tuesday, he expressed support for the intelligence community and their findings on Russia. But he again sounded an equivocal note, saying that it “could be other people, also” who sought to tamper with the 2016 campaign...More..




Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-rejects-two-resolutions-affirming-support-for-us-intelligence-community/ar-AAAk1QV

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The Sanders resolution failed when Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a rare voice of support for Trump’s actions during the summit with Putin, rose to object ― as any individual member of the Senate has the power to do. The second resolution, introduced by Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), also affirmed support for the intelligence community and called for hearings on Trump’s summit with Putin. But it failed after Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) rose to object over what he called the “symbolic” nature of the resolution. Cornyn said it lacked “sting,” and argued that senators ought to consider additional sanctions on Russia in their appropriate committees.

[dchill]

1. Treason Weasels. Not just for breakfast anymore.

[appalachiablue]

2. Their impure intentions couldn't be clearer & the fight to continue them.

Very disturbing but unsurprising.

[PSPS]

3. The GOP always sides with putin & trump. We may as well call it the Duma West.

They're all de-facto foreign russian agents in that they choose the kremlin side against the american side.

[appalachiablue]

4. Duma West or Kremlin West Annex, lol..Unbelievable.

[appalachiablue]

5. Article from RollingStone today on the crisis,

- "Will Republicans Insulate America From Trump and Putin?" GOP leaders in Congress have been at odds over how to respond to the president’s disastrous performance in Helsinki, RollingStone, July 19, 2018.

The world may never know the full extent of President Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin. Their summit in Helsinki led many to believe the president is in some way compromised by his Russian counterpart, and Trump has repeatedly stumbled while trying to explain his submissive performance during Monday’s press conference, walking back his comments on Tuesday, then walking-back the walk-back Wednesday morning.

His latest position is that he does indeed believe Russia interfered in the 2016 election, for which he holds Putin personally responsible, albeit indirectly. “Well, I would, because he’s in charge of the country,” Trump said Wednesday when asked by CBS’ Jeff Glor whether he faults the Russian president. “Just like I consider myself to be responsible for things that happen in this country. So, certainly as the leader of a country, you would have to hold him responsible, yes.”

>On Wednesday, Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Jeff Coons (D-DE) introduced a resolution that would solidify the legislature’s stance toward the Mueller investigation and Russian election interference, while calling for hearings on what exactly took place at the summit in Helsinki.
As of Thursday, not even White House officials seem to know what was discussed in the private meeting between Trump and Putin...
Read More, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/republicans-trump-putin-701143/



- Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., talks to reporters after making a speech on the Senate floor calling for a resolution to back the U.S. intelligence community findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

[appalachiablue]

9. NYT, 1 hr. ago, "Republicans Block Anti-Putin Resolutions Before Senate Approves One Rebuke"

WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress on Thursday blocked a series of measures put forward by lawmakers — largely Democratic — desperate to isolate Republican leaders and publicly rebuke President Trump over his summit meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia this week.
In the Senate, Republicans objected to two nonbinding measures that would have put the body on record as being in support of intelligence agency conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, called on Mr. Trump to fully impose sanctions against Russia and pressed for oversight of the summit meeting, including the production of any notes taken by Americans.
“If ever there was a moment to think not of just your party but for the country, this is it,” Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, implored his colleagues before his bipartisan resolution was shot down.

After the White House press secretary said that Mr. Trump was not considering a Putin proposal to make a former American ambassador available to the Russian authorities for questioning, senators voted 98 to 0 in favor of a third nonbinding resolution expressing opposition to the Russian leader’s suggestion.
“With this vote, the Senate has sent a message that is free from all ambiguity: Americans will not be handed over to Putin on our watch,” said Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii. “Those who serve our nation do not answer to the Russian president, and they have the support of a thankful nation.”
In the House, Democrats sought to push many of the same points with different tactics, but saw no more success. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee voted down..More, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-block-anti-putin-resolutions-before-senate-approves-one-rebuke/ar-AAAk1rP?li=BBnb7Kz

[DeminPennswoods]

6. Putin's poodles

There you have it.

[oberliner]

7. The first resolution was introduced by Bernie Sanders, incidentally

Here it is:

Link to tweet

[appalachiablue]

8. Thanks, they tried. Rand Paul objected to Sanders resol., in OP notes.

[BadGimp]

10. #PutinsWinsAgain and the GOP is now The #PartyOfPutin

[SergeStorms]

11. They're standing in a ditch....

that's 10 feet feet deep, and still they don't stop digging. Keep it up, GOP. Unless you have some colossal, mind-bending lies to convince the American voters that you're nothing but treasonous worms (all apologies to the worms of the world), you are well and truly fucked come November. Keep digging GOP, keep digging!

[sinkingfeeling]

12. So, I can address my letters to Comrade Cotton and Comrade Boozman

instead of Senator?

[PatrickforO]

13. Amazing how tone deaf these guys are.

Isolated inside the beltway, it is easy to forget the people who elected them. McConnell is an evil man. Or perhaps he is just a man who fell prey to lust for power, which is one of the two great illusions that plague humankind. The other illusion, of course, is lust for wealth.

Our whole world, it seems, has been taken over by people who simply can't control themselves.

[duforsure]

14. That's exactly what you'd expect

From republicans who support trump and putin before this country and the American people. Trump is putins puppet , and looks more every day he's now got control of the republicans in our Congress too.