February 9, 2018: Act So Guilty, Clear as Vodka, Cannot Suspend Disbelief

If Trump's So Innocent, Why Act so Guilty?, read the headline atop an essay in yesterday's New York Times. There are at least a dozen reasons why.

“President Trump and Devin Nunes have been muddying the waters of the Russia investigation, so let's try to clarify those waters so that they are clear as vodka”, wrote Nicholas Kristof in yesterday's Times. (1)

First, it is a unanimous consensus among the 17 U.S. Intelligence agencies, sundry foreign services, and at least two independent investigative sources that the Russians interfered in the American election. “Twitter found that 50,000 Russian accounts fired of 2.1 million election related tweets in the fall of 2016, and in the final weeks around the election accounted for 4.25 per cent of retweets of Trump's own account”. (2)

Second, Disgustus has long-standing business ties with Russia. True enough, he hasn't been able to build that tower in Moscow, although negotiations were proceeding during the primaries and right up to the Rescumlican National Convention. But failing that it has been reported that a Russian fertilizer oligarch purchased Trump's Florida property for roughly two and a half times what he had paid for it, neither Trump nor his buyer ever took up residence and the building was almost immediately raised. Trump pocketed by some accounts about 60 million dollars at a time when, facing numerous bankruptcies, he was strapped for cash. Nothing about the deal makes sense, unless one is peering through the lense of the Russian oligarchy buying influence or, perhaps, navigating the 'useful idiot' toward nefarious undertakings There are other disturbing facts rising to the surface concerning Russian 'shell' companies buying or renting in Trump properties for the purpose of possibly laundering money.

Third, Disgustus has been overly obsequious regarding Putin. He has yet to utter a critical word.

He has described the Russian as '“So nice”, “so smart”, and doing “an amazing job”'. (3). He defends Putin at every opportunity, even downplaying the charge that Putin has killed journalists and critics.

Forth, Kristof points to the uncomfortable fact that Disgustus surrounds himself with people who have pronounced Russian ties. From Carter Page who has been under F.B.I. investigation since 2013 to Paul Manafort, the list now includes Michael Flynn, Papadopoulos, and now several members of the tRUMP family.

Fifth, Russia confided in the tRUMP campaign, sending signals that they had useful information that they were willing to share.

Sixth, tRUMP aides secretly met with the Russians. From the notorious and infamous tRUMP Tower Meeting involving Kushner, Manafort and several Russians, to Eric Prince meeting with the Russians in the Seychelles Islands, to Papadopoulos, meetings and Michael Flynn and Jeff Sessions, ad nauseum, there is a pattern of communication that no one has successfully explained.

Seventh, “Trump Ally Roger Stone Communicated with Guccifer 2.0, believed to be an outlet for Russian military intelligence. Separately, Stone tweeted that 'it will soon [be] Podesta's turn in the barrel'; several weeks later, WikiLeaks began releasing emails Russia had hacked from John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman.” (4) Similarly, Rudy Guilliani made remarks concerning 'upcoming information' in advance of WikiLeaks dumps of Clinton emails.

Eight, WikiLeaks communicated directly with Donald tRUMP jr. WikiLeaks has been declared a 'hostile' foreign actor by our State Department and is widely believed to be working closely with Russian intelligence.

Ninth, Kushner met with Sergey Gorkov, “who is close to Putin” (5). Kushner also tried to set up a 'back channel' using Russian communications to the Kremlin, for no doubt nefarious purposes that remain unclear.

Tenth, Disgustus and his aides continually deny any of these contacts and only own up to them when reports surface demonstrating conclusively that these contacts have occurred. While the tRUMP White House protests that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations, the truth is that information is forthcoming only when the facts come under the glare of the kleig lights. “In fact, there were at least 51 such contacts, including 19 face-to-face interactions, by the count of CNN” (6)

Eleventh, Russia is still meddling. The latest reports from the Department of Homeland Security, among others reveal that nefarious Russian activity continues. Indeed, from Russian Bots boosting the 'tweets' of both Disgustus and his lapdog Sean Hannity, to “hashtags like #MAGA and #FullOfSchiff. These same Russian bots are promoting Fox News links and disparage the Russian investigation.” (7)

Lastly, “This is not normal”. Kristof says that he doubts that “there was anything so straightforward as a secret quid pro quo”. (8) But I am not so sanguine. The choice of Tillerson as Secretary of State, he of Exxon-Mobile which has huge investments in Russian oil fields, the exploration of which is hampered by existing American Sanctions. The choice of Flynn as National Security adviser, with known Russian ties, now confessing to having communicated with the Russians about sanction during the campaign and transition. Indeed he has been found sending emails during the inauguration about ending such sanctions. The change in the Rescumlican platform regarding the Ukraine, the needless and senseless war upon the international organizations and agreements that the United States has helped to negotiate and build in the postwar era....all of these appear to be connected to tRUMP's deep fealty to the Russian regime. The question is why?

Certainly, he is acting guilty; for Disgustus despite his years before the camera is not—like Reagan—a convincing actor. He cannot suspend disbelief. At base, he appears for what he is: Guilty. Why else go to such great lengths to thwart efforts to answer the question: Why? Follow the money.

“An' Br'er Putin, he jus' laugh and laugh”.

Impeach and Imprison.

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1. Kristof, Nicholas. “If Trump's So Innocent, Why Act So Guilty?” “The New York Times
   Thursday, February 8, 2018. Page A23
2. ibid
3. ibid
4. ibid
5. ibid
6. ibid
7. ibid
8. ibid