Pro Putin Trump is undermining national security

 Democrats warn that Trump is 'undermining national security' with his claim that Putin's Ukraine invasion is 'genius'

"Commenting on Putin's invasion of Ukraine this week, Trump called Russia's leader "savvy" and praised his tactics as "genius," though he did not endorse the invasion. He also claimed that had he still been president, Putin would not have invaded Ukraine. "

What did you expect? I mean, Putin had Trump eating out of his hand, while Trump was more than eager to capitulate. Need I remind everyone of the very recent, infamous role Trump played as Putin's loyal sycophant, a role he seemed to prioritize at times over his own presidency.

Trump,

- Trump froze U.S. aide for Ukraine in it's war against Russian proxies. He repeated Russian disinformation surrounding Ukraine as well.

- Praised Putin constantly, called him a "strong leader", has peddled statements like "he's done a really great job outsmarting our country"

- Trump dismissed and cast doubt about Russian hacking, particularly when the U.S determined that Russia hacked the DNC in 2016, while ironically enough, he encouraged Russian cyber attacks on national TV saying, "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,"

- When addressing Russian election interference and cyber attacks, Trump proclaimed "I don't see any reason why it would be Russia" after speaking directly with Putin, defending Russia and trusting Putin over our own intelligence agencies. Later he "corrected" himself, claiming that he meant to say "wouldn't" instead of would.

- Trump suggested the U.S. work directly with Russia on cybersecurity.

- Almost directly after the 2016 election, Trump sought to weaken U.S. sanctions on Russia, while he was even open to lifting sanctions.

- Trump dismissed the notion that Putin was a "killer", downplaying the idea that Putin resorts to using violence and oppressive tactics to crush political opponents. He defended Putin, rationalizing his ruthless despotism in the process, declaring, "There are a lot of killers. Do you think our country is so innocent?"

- Trump shared highly classified U.S. intelligence with Russian officials in the Oval Office in 2017.

- Trump repeated Kremlin talking points related to the Russian annexation of Crimea, reiterating things like, "The people of Crimea, from what I've heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were."

- Trump constantly attacked NATO, aligning himself with Putin. (quite relevant)

- Trump thanked Putin for expelling hundreds of U.S. diplomats as a retaliation for sanctions.

- Trump refused to make a statement about the 10th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war. According to John Bolton, European leaders noticed Trump's silence and "became even more concerned about American resolve."

- According to congressional testimony, Trump declined to publicly condemn a Russian attack against Ukrainian military vessels in November 2018, even though the State Department prepared a statement for him

- Trump congratulated and gave legitimacy to Putin's re election win in 2018, a victory said to "lack genuine competition"

- Sergei Skripal, an ex Russian spy that defected to the UK, was poisoned. Sanctions were announced, Trump attempted to rescind them, while asserting that the U.S. was being "too tough on Putin"

- When congress passed new sanctions against Russia in 2017, Trump was very reluctant to signing the bill, and probably wouldn't have signed it if the bill didn't pass with veto-proof majorities in both houses

- In 2017 it was reported that Trump was considering returning spy bases to Russia.

- Trump praised and highlighted pro-Russian leaders in Europe. Far right European leaders with close ties to Putin. He even met a Kremlin ally at the Whitehouse.

- When Trump withdrew troops from Syria, it gave Russia and Putin an opportunity to control abandoned U.S. outposts and checkpoints.

- Trump made requests to bring Russia back into the G7 and invited Putin to the 2020 G7 summit

While that's certainly not everything, particularly when it comes to circumstances related to Trump's first impeachment, where he was impeached for withholding aid to Ukraine in return for "dirt" on Joe Biden, and not to mention Trump's general support for Russian disinformation and lies centered around this very conflict and the justifications from Putin himself that served as a pretext to war. I don't think I've included anything related to the Mueller investigation either, but at this point, It would just be redundant. Hell, you could make the argument that this entire post is redundant, it's pretty clear where Trump's allegiances lie.

Pro Russian Trump Praises Putin Over Ukraine

 Trump praised Putin's justification to invade Ukraine as 'genius' and 'savvy'

Former President Donald Trump praised Vladimir Putin in a podcast interview on Tuesday, describing the Russian president's justification for invading Ukraine as "savvy" and "genius."

In an appearance on the "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show," Trump said Putin's recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk — two-thirds of which are controlled by Ukraine and are not recognized by most other nations but backed by Russia — was a smart move.

"I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine — Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful," Trump said when asked about the news. "I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper."

He didn't just praise Putin as "savvy", he said the invasion of a US ally was "wonderful" and talked about how much he admired the Russian tanks rolling to Ukraine. And then he said it would be great to have them on our border.

He's a fucking anti-American scumbag. But sure MAGA, keep telling me that he's a patriot because he humped a flag and played that stupid fucking fake superficial Lee Greenwood song.

“Look at Putin – what he’s doing with Russia – I mean, you know, what’s going on over there. I mean this guy has done – whether you like him or don’t like him – he’s doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia period,” Trump told Larry King on CNN October 2007

"Putin has big plans for Russia. He wants to edge out its neighbors so that Russia can dominate oil supplies to all of Europe. I respect Putin and Russians but cannot believe our leader (Obama) allows them to get away with so much…Hats off to the Russians.” Donald Trump on December 2011

“I think he’s done really a great job of outsmarting our country.” - Trump to Larry King on October 2013

“It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond. I have always felt that Russia and the United States should be able to work well with each other towards defeating terrorism and restoring world peace, not to mention trade and all of the other benefits derived from mutual respect.” - Dec. 17, 2015

“He’s running his country and at least he’s a leader, unlike what we have in this country. I think our country does plenty of killing also.” speaking of murdered journalists on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Dec. 18, 2015

“These characters that I’m running against said, ‘We want you to disavow that statement.’ I said what, he called me a genius, I’m going to disavow it? Are you crazy? Can you believe it? How stupid are they?” Feb. 17, 2016

"I’m not going to tell Putin what to do. Why would I tell him what to do? Why do I have to get tough on Putin? I don’t know anything other than that he doesn’t respect our country." - July 28, 2016

“There’s been no president ever as tough as I have been on Russia.” - Donald Trump on July 18, 2018

Emboldening Russia while confirming the response from the United States will be fractured rather than unified. Ukraine is the country that wouldnt play ball for trumps extortion scheme and now they are in the crosshairs of a nuclear superpower who appears to be more than comfortable taking advantage of our fractured reality. This puts the entire globe at risk

Every secret service officer that protects this traitorous rat are themselves treasonous by proxy

Trump Giddily Praises ‘Genius’ Putin as Russia Sends Troops Into Ukraine

"As the world watches in terror, the former president is cheering on the autocrat’s “peace force” of “army tanks”"

Trump is jealous of Putin. He's the dictator he still wants to be.

And what does Republican do?

REPUBLICANS CLAIM PUTIN WOULDN’T HAVE INVADED UKRAINE UNDER A BEEFY PIECE OF MAN MEAT LIKE TRUMP

"And in a turn of events no one could have seen coming, the response from conservatives has been to insist this is all happening because Joe Biden is weak, and that it never would have happened under their big, strong piece of man meat, Donald Trump."

Oh and by the way:

Trump administration broke law in withholding Ukraine aid, watchdog says as Senate prepares for impeachment trial

"The Trump administration broke the law by withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine last summer “for a policy reason,” a top government watchdog said Thursday in a scathing report."

Republican party for the people

Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicted on federal charges of structuring bank withdrawals after prosecutors alleged Hastert had molested at least four boys as young as 14 and attempted to compensate his victims and subsequently conceal the transactions. Hastert eventually admitted that he sexually abused the boys whom he had coached decades earlier, and was sentenced to fifteen months in prison.

Republican Tim Nolan, chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Kentucky, pled guilty to child sex trafficking and on February 11, 2018 he was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.

Republican state Senator Ralph Shortey was indicted on four counts of human trafficking and child pornography. In November 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of child sex trafficking in exchange for the dropping of the other charges.

Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.

Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.

Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.

Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.

Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.

Republican Senator Strom Thurmond, a notable racist, had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.

Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.

Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.

Republican Congressman Donald “Buz” Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.

Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.

Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.

Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.

Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.

Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.

Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.

Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.

Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. “Republican Marty”), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.

Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.

Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.

Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.

Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.

Republican anti-gay activist Earl “Butch” Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.

Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.

Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.

Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

Republican politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).

Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was charged with sexual misconduct involving a 15-year old girl.

Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.

Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.

Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.

Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.

Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.

Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.

Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.

Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.

Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.

Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a “good military man” and “church goer,” was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.

Republican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was charged with rape for allegedly paying a 15-year old girl for sex. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.

Trump is practically and morally responsible for Jan 6th

 Trump Owes It All to McConnell’s ‘Disgraceful Dereliction of Duty’

"One year ago, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Donald Trump, who just a couple of weeks earlier had been the President of the United States. Three years from now, he could be that again, thanks to the Republicans who knew better but nonetheless let him off the hook.

The vote was 57-43 in favor of convicting Trump for inciting the Capitol riot. This was the citizen militia portion of Trump’s months-long attempted coup, which had begun in earnest when he convinced tens of millions of Americans of the bald-faced lie that a massive, multi-state conspiracy of voter fraud had denied him re-election."

I'm at least somewhat convinced that McConnell almost voted to convict, but realized his caucus wouldn't get the votes. As his party's leader in the Senate, the political calculus wasn't worth it for a mere symbolic vote, and he changed his mind.

There were multiple stories from early February 2021 suggesting McConnell was willing to convict. He had a strong condemnation of Trump and supported impeachment in general.

I think it's more likely that he wouldn't have, but I could also see a reality where he saw the best option for the party was to cut ties and rip the bandaid off and rebuild. Everything is political calculus with him and Trump was always an inconvenient obstacle he had to work around.

If the twice impeached former president is found guilty of destroying federal records :

Title 18, Section 2071, of the US Code.

Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States. As used in this subsection, the term “office” does not include the office held by any person as a retired officer of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Which leads us to this:

SURPRISE: SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS TRUMP TRIED TO HIDE AT MAR-A-LAGO WERE ACTUALLY PRETTY IMPORTANT

"As you’ve probably heard by now, Donald Trump has a problem with paper. Specifically at issue is the fact that he spent his four years in office (1) regularly shredding presidential documents (2) possibly flushing some down the toilet, and (3) absconding to Mar-a-Lago with more than a dozen boxes containing presidential records that were not his to take. And as it turns out, he wasn’t just hanging on to knickknacks and personal mementos!"

From the TPM source Vanity Fair used:

"Meadows also dismissed any comparison between Trump taking potentially classified documents to Mar-A-Lago and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton using her personal email server, arguing that the latter was more damning because Clinton was investigated.

“When a lot of that was actually happening with Hillary Clinton, there was actually an investigation. There were subpoenas,” he said."

So the reason it's not a big deal is... because it hasn't been investigated? And I guess he thinks it shouldn't be investigated because it's not serious? Because it hasn't been investigated?

These people are something man...

Republicans Who Railed About Clinton Emails Are Quiet on Trump’s Records

"Donald J. Trump once thundered that the questions surrounding Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server were “bigger than Watergate.” On his 2016 presidential campaign, “where are her emails?” became a Republican rallying cry that was soon replaced with an even more threatening demand: “Lock her up.”"

This is standard, when it came out there were those using literal private emails, phones., etc while fulfilling their roles, of course that was fine in their eyes. Taking home and keeping confidential and top secret documents is also perfectly fine for the gop.

Also, trumps excuse is bs. Idea of not knowing the legality of it makes zero sense. If you have your lawyers and the archives going back and forth multiple times, yeah clearly you know. If it was oh hey, we need to keep those so can you return them (and they did), that would be a different story. But clearly trump was wanting to keep documents and given how they essentially ransacked the WH on their way out, no surprise here.

Trump 'said the criminal part out loud'

Trump Is Now Openly Describing How He’ll Steal the Next Election

 Trump Now Freely Admits He Wanted Pence To Overturn 2020 Election

TRUMP OFFICIALLY LOSES IT, DEMANDS MIKE PENCE BE INVESTIGATED FOR NOT OVERTURNING THE ELECTION

The January 6 committee is looking into Trump's involvement in proposals to use federal agencies to seize voting machines: NYT

Jan. 6 committee member: Trump ‘absolutely’ tampering with witnesses

Dangerous Trump Is In 'Burn-It-All-Down Mode,' Warns NYT Reporter Maggie Haberman

Donald Trump's having an awful week — and it's only Wednesday

Voltaire once said, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” He was right. Trump primed the pumps for months telling his followers the only way he could lose is if there was massive election fraud. Then Trump told his followers to come to the Capitol and “Fight like hell” and they did. People died, police were brutally attacked, gallows were raised and people yelled “Hang Mike Pence”. Now the former president has the gall to openly admit he was trying to get Pence to help him overturn a US election. We know too that executive orders were drafted for the US military to seize voting machines. We know his legal counsel drafted a memo with bullet points on how to prevent the peaceful transition of power or basically a coup for dummies. And now he has the nerve to say he would pardon January 6 insurrectionists. God help us if Trump gets back into office.