Washington Post raises 'darker suspicions' about Trump's Russia stance

[riversedge]

Washington Post raises 'darker suspicions' about Trump's Russia stance

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/312307-washington-post-raises-dark-suspicions-about-trumps-russia



Washington Post raises 'darker suspicions' about Trump's Russia stance

By Nikita Vladimirov - 12/31/16 12:21 PM EST



© Getty Images

The Washington Post on Friday raised "darker suspicions" about the President-elect Donald Trump's lack of concern for Russian interference in the U.S. election.
The White House on Thursday expelled 35 Russian officials and announced an array of new sanctions for what the U.S. intelligence agencies are calling a deliberate hacking campaign, orchestrated by Moscow, for the purposes of interfering in the presidential election.

The Post's editorial board questioned Trump's praise of Putin after the Russian leader decided not to take countermeasures against the U.S.

"The president-elect’s dismissive response only deepens unanswered questions about his ties to Russia in the past and his plans for cooperation with Vladi­mir Putin," the newspaper wrote.

"For his part, Mr. Putin seems to be eagerly anticipating the Trump presidency. On Friday, he promised to withhold retaliatory sanctions, clearly hoping the new Trump administration will nullify Mr. Obama’s acts," the Post added...........................................

[Achilleaze]

1. The twisted ties of Trump & Republicans to the Evil Empire is putrid news for America & Americans

Make no mistake. Their plans are DARK to the utmost.

[brush]

2. A couple of days ago a former intelligence official speculated on whether trump has been turned

With all the kissing up to Putin it makes one wonder.

[SharonAnn]

3. I think Trump owes the Rusian oligarchy a lot of money. His empire would collaps without it.

And, during his trips to Russia, they probably have some info on his behavior to blackmail him with.

He needs them to stay afloat. I think that, along with his endless need for adulation, is what drives him.

[GreenEyedLefty]

4. Or he's been promised a lot of money.

[2naSalit]

5. ...yup

a "piece of the action" has likely been promised. I also think his Slavic wives are spies and he thinks they are like replaceable dolls not realizing that his every move is being manipulated.

[Hortensis]

6. Even the WaPo Editorial Board admits suspicions that

Russia could be effectively blackmailing Trump. This stuff is all over the place. There's scarcely a well-regarded analyst these days whose failed attempts at developing a rational explanation for Trump's actions don't end up at this unanswered question, stated with varying degrees of subtlty.

[Ford_Prefect]

7. I don't believe that Trump's being blackmailed. I think he's a willing dupe of one kind or another.

I think he's far too unstable for threats to be useful as a means of steering him. I think it makes much more sense that they have fed his addiction to power and money as a means of making him receptive to their influence.

I hold with the theory that Russia has been grooming him for some time and that he has no idea how much they manipulate him or the situation. One key feature of a dupe like Trump is that he is so distracted that he believes the ideas they feed him are his own and that his success is a result of his "insights".

The amount of money they have likely laundered through financing his schemes is staggering to consider. Add to that how much probably went into the Dark Money Zone during the primaries and campaigns, not only to get him elected but to sow discord within the political community on both sides, and to influence the Press. It is still cheaper and more reliable than a nuclear arsenal full of missiles. Doubtless it is more accurate too.