A foggy day, in London Town
It had me low, and had me down
I viewed the morning with some alarm
The Mueller investigation had lost its charm

How long I wondered, could this thing last?
But the age of miracles had not passed
For suddenly, Devin Nu-nes was there
And thru foggy London Town
The Sun was shining--everywhere.

. . .

If you don't already know that song, this is one of many fine renditions (but not extraordinary renditions) on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg66AV7T2So

This is the kind of message that tends to be bring on, by way of Reply, a certain animated image of Nurse Ratched, shifting her eyes back and forth with a malevolent suspicion. I should save that fellow some work.
Click to show

I have not looked at any "news" since about noon today. For the John le Carré fans, there's a new spy novel that's being published, one chapter at a time. I like the way it starts, but I have not read through it yet. Bit of a "read"...

Is Donald Trump a Traitor?
Trump and Russia, Part One.
James Risen for THE INTERCEPT; February 16, 2018.
https://theintercept.com/20...cking-investigation/

[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 02-20-2018).]

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-19-2018).]

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 02-19-2018).]

quote Originally posted by blackrams: I believe it's pretty much accepted that the Russians did try to influence the election, how succesful they were is still debatable. Didn't effect my vote in the least but, I can't speak for others. But, if we're so worried about foreign nationals trying to influence our elections, please enlighten me as to why the DNC and the Clinton campaign are not being investigated and boiled in oil over the Steel that the DNC (run by Clinton) is not being persued for such crimes. The DNC paid Steel to produce information (not proven to be accurate) that caused the iniation of the FBI investigation. All intended to put Trump into a bad light. Please remember, I am not a Trump fan but do support the direction he is trying to take us. Let's talk collusion.................................................. The Clintons are being very low profile and so are the Dem. leadership. Stinks to high heaven IMHO.............. YMMV Rams

I do not perceive that as an accurate statement.

The way it's been pitched to me, via my favored news venues, is that the FBI investigation into suspected Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. national elections got started in late 2Q or early 3Q 2016, some months before the final voting in November. The FBI's suspicions were aroused by tips from foreign diplomats and foreign but friendly intelligence agencies, and not the so-called "Steele dossier" compiled by the U.K. national Christoper Steele. That dossier--or the substance of what Mr Steele was putting into the dossier--also became known to the FBI, but it was viewed by the FBI as reinforcing the pattern that they were already seeing in terms of other inputs from foreign diplomats and foreign but friendly intelligence agencies.

The project that eventually produced the Steele-written dossier about Donald Trump was initially funded by the Washington Free Beacon, which is commonly described as a conservative-leaning news and opinions venue. The DNC came in on it later, providing funding that was channeled through the law firm of Perkins Coie, LLP. The funding went through U.S.-based GPS Fusion, which hired Mr Steele to proceed with the dossier research from his offices in the United Kingdom. The founder of GPS Fusion, Glenn Simpson, gave testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, and the transcript of that testimony is available online to anyone who wants it.

The Steele dossier was cited by the FBI as part of a FISA request to eavesdrop on the communications of Trump campaign associate Carter Page. Much has been made of this in the highly publicized Devin Nunes "Memo". When the Democratic rebuttal memo is released--IF it is released--we will all be able to have their assessment of how little or how much import should be ascribed to the Steele dossier, in terms of securing the FISA Court's approval for the FBI surveillance or eavesdropping that targeted Carter Page. Carter Page was already known to the FBI from an investigation of a few years back, that involved some Russians that were working here in the United States.

In so far as the fact that the DNC was in on the funding of the Steele dossier, it has been remarked that the FBI's informants--Christopher Steele among them--include many persons and circumstances of a "questionable" character. The obvious example: lower level criminals become informants to the FBI about higher level criminals, as part of Plea deals. Etc. The FBI does not investigate what they already believe to be True or False. They investigate Questions that are Raised, regardless of what persons or organizations (as per the Steele dossier, the DNC; at least, in part) are responsible for Raising the Questions.

If it should turn out that President Trump, or Donald Trump Jr, or Jared Kushner--the three that come immediately to mind--are impeached (President Trump) or indicted (the others) and have to defend themselves in a Trial on Criminal Charges, their lawyers can bring up their objections to the Steele dossier and how it was used by the FBI and make that part of the Defense Strategy.

How would that work out for any of them, in this as-yet hypothetical scenario, as part of a Defense Strategy?

"Good luck with that."

[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 02-21-2018).]

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 02-21-2018).]

quote Originally posted by blackrams: I believe it's pretty much accepted that the Russians did try to influence the election, how succesful they were is still debatable. Didn't effect my vote in the least but, I can't speak for others. But, if we're so worried about foreign nationals trying to influence our elections, please enlighten me as to why the DNC and the Clinton campaign are not being investigated and boiled in oil over the Steel that the DNC (run by Clinton) is not being persued for such crimes. The DNC paid Steel to produce information (not proven to be accurate) that caused the iniation of the FBI investigation. All intended to put Trump into a bad light. Please remember, I am not a Trump fan but do support the direction he is trying to take us. Let's talk collusion.................................................. The Clintons are being very low profile and so are the Dem. leadership. Stinks to high heaven IMHO.............. YMMV Rams

See where the text that I quoted from blackrams gets big, like this..?

That is where I think that blackrams is mistaken. That the Steele dossier caused the initiation of the FBI investigation. I do not believe that the Steele dossier caused the initiation of the FBI investigation, based on the reporting that I find most credible.

I know for a fact that blackrams meant to type "initiation", rather than "iniation."

[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 02-21-2018).]