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If It Happened There: Political Chaos as Regime Purges Powerful Security Chief

 

 

WASHINGTON, United States—The surprise dismissal of a powerful security services chief Tuesday night is widely seen here as a part of strongman President Donald Trump’s efforts to sideline critics and consolidate power, raising concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law in this fragile but strategically vital North American country.

 

James Comey was the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a vast domestic intelligence agency with extensive surveillance powers. For much of the 20th century, the agency operated with near impunity and little accountability. Even presidents feared its vast powers. In recent years, the democratically elected state has managed to rein in the bureau, but it can still play an influential role in the country’s political system, as shown by Comey during the United States’ most recent presidential election.

 

The director was once seen as an ally of the Trump regime. During the election, he released damaging information about a scandal involving Trump’s rival, center-left candidate Hillary Clinton, giving a crucial boost to Trump’s far-right, populist insurgency in the final weeks before the vote and potentially contributing to his victory.

 

But relations between Comey and the Trump regime had soured due to the bureau’s ongoing investigation of connections between several key members of the president’s inner circle and the government of Russia. Trump had come into power promising to normalize relations with America’s longtime foe, but revelations of communications between his advisers and Russia, as well as allegations that Russia sabotaged Clinton’s campaign, have raised questions of untoward influence. These concerns are not likely to be quelled by the fact that Russia’s foreign minister is visiting the U.S. capital Wednesday, the day after the firing.

 

The dismissal of Comey, carried out via a letter delivered by the president’s former personal bodyguard while the director was traveling outside the capital, has thrown the government into disarray. Opposition lawmakers, previously among Comey’s staunchest critics for his role in the email investigation, are attacking the purge as an unconstitutional power grab. Meanwhile members of the ruling party, traditionally deferential to the country’s security services, are defending the move as necessary to restore public confidence.

 

Some figures within the Trump regime have suggested, darkly, that there is a parallel “deep state”—a shadowy conspiracy comprised of members of the intelligence agencies, loyalists of the former regime, and media figures tied to the country’s elite coastal establishment—working to undermine Trump and his allies. Most international experts believe these fears are exaggerated, though they note that in byzantine hallways of power in the American capital, it can sometimes be difficult to disentangle conspiracy theories from reality.

 

Still rated “Free” by the nongovernmental monitoring organization Freedom House, the United States is fiercely proud of its democratic tradition and the independence of its judiciary. When Trump, an ultranationalist former oligarch who has in the past questioned the motives of judges who rule against him, took power in January, many experts feared his tenure could erode the influence and independence of America’s democratic institutions. So far, most of those fears have not come to pass, as some of Trump’s most controversial initiatives have been blocked by the judiciary and the legislature. But a key legislative victory early this month—rolling back most of the previous regime’s health care initiatives—as well as this latest purge have reignited concerns among opposition leaders that the country’s weakened institutions may not be enough to rein in Trump’s ambitions.

 

This latest move may spark more of the mass protests against the Trump government seen in the capital in recent months. International NGOs say they are monitoring the situation closely.

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He misses me so he's trying to fill the void with a sugar substitute ( that's you suited )

I've had it.   He did not ****ing dispute the story   He made a statement about things that weren't in the ****ing story which means he confirmed the ****ing story.   Jesus Jumping Jimmeny Chris

he should throw a gay person off a building while he's there or kill someone for drawing a cartoon. really get into the spirit of being a muslim.

This interview is amazing. Also it shows how much of a sycophant Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is when he just parrots Trump's lies about Chinese Currency manipulation "stopping" only after Trump became President.

 

James Pethokoukis‏Verified account @JimPethokoukis 1h1 hour ago

Trump believes he came up with the expression "priming the pump" http://www.economist...Trumptranscript via @TheEconomist

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sound Biblical principles this country was founded on

 

yeah, like slavery

 

i'm still amazed that the people most adamant that there is a hell being the most likely to go there if there is one

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yeah, like slavery

 

i'm still amazed that the people most adamant that there is a hell being the most likely to go there if there is one

 

Your logic might not be as approve of your position as you think.

 

If there is a hell and it is a punishment for actions, then the Bible is right, which means it's path to avoid hell is right.

 

Everyone in their heart believes in heaven and hell. Reward for good deeds, punishment for bad. Jerry Springer deserves hell, Mother Teresa deserves heaven.

 

Best to look into that.

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If It Happened There: Political Chaos as Regime Purges Powerful Security Chief

 

 

WASHINGTON, United States—The surprise dismissal of a powerful security services chief Tuesday night is widely seen here as a part of strongman President Donald Trump’s efforts to sideline critics and consolidate power, raising concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law in this fragile but strategically vital North American country.

 

James Comey was the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a vast domestic intelligence agency with extensive surveillance powers. For much of the 20th century, the agency operated with near impunity and little accountability. Even presidents feared its vast powers. In recent years, the democratically elected state has managed to rein in the bureau, but it can still play an influential role in the country’s political system, as shown by Comey during the United States’ most recent presidential election.

 

The director was once seen as an ally of the Trump regime. During the election, he released damaging information about a scandal involving Trump’s rival, center-left candidate Hillary Clinton, giving a crucial boost to Trump’s far-right, populist insurgency in the final weeks before the vote and potentially contributing to his victory.

 

But relations between Comey and the Trump regime had soured due to the bureau’s ongoing investigation of connections between several key members of the president’s inner circle and the government of Russia. Trump had come into power promising to normalize relations with America’s longtime foe, but revelations of communications between his advisers and Russia, as well as allegations that Russia sabotaged Clinton’s campaign, have raised questions of untoward influence. These concerns are not likely to be quelled by the fact that Russia’s foreign minister is visiting the U.S. capital Wednesday, the day after the firing.

 

The dismissal of Comey, carried out via a letter delivered by the president’s former personal bodyguard while the director was traveling outside the capital, has thrown the government into disarray. Opposition lawmakers, previously among Comey’s staunchest critics for his role in the email investigation, are attacking the purge as an unconstitutional power grab. Meanwhile members of the ruling party, traditionally deferential to the country’s security services, are defending the move as necessary to restore public confidence.

 

Some figures within the Trump regime have suggested, darkly, that there is a parallel “deep state”—a shadowy conspiracy comprised of members of the intelligence agencies, loyalists of the former regime, and media figures tied to the country’s elite coastal establishment—working to undermine Trump and his allies. Most international experts believe these fears are exaggerated, though they note that in byzantine hallways of power in the American capital, it can sometimes be difficult to disentangle conspiracy theories from reality.

 

Still rated “Free” by the nongovernmental monitoring organization Freedom House, the United States is fiercely proud of its democratic tradition and the independence of its judiciary. When Trump, an ultranationalist former oligarch who has in the past questioned the motives of judges who rule against him, took power in January, many experts feared his tenure could erode the influence and independence of America’s democratic institutions. So far, most of those fears have not come to pass, as some of Trump’s most controversial initiatives have been blocked by the judiciary and the legislature. But a key legislative victory early this month—rolling back most of the previous regime’s health care initiatives—as well as this latest purge have reignited concerns among opposition leaders that the country’s weakened institutions may not be enough to rein in Trump’s ambitions.

 

This latest move may spark more of the mass protests against the Trump government seen in the capital in recent months. International NGOs say they are monitoring the situation closely.

 

Another story based on pure speculation and no facts.

 

You guys need to step up your game man, Trumps is taking over the government and you guys are relying on Soros to stop him with kids in masks breaking Starbucks windows.

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Actually, claiming that Eric Trump said he was being bankrolled by the Russians is not 'speculation'.

It's a declaration.

 

If you declare something under oath it's admissible as evidence in court. This was obviously not under oath however if he writes it up in an affidavit and signs it under penalty of perjury, it would be. If the interested party denies it, a jury gets to decide who is credible. Men have been put to death on nothing more than witness declarations.

 

As a minor aside, but this is why you never speak to the Feds about anything or agree to be in their presence without an impeccably credible 3rd party witness, preferably an officer of the court. They do not audio or video record their field meetings with suspects. Instead, they narrate them on a specified after-action form. One of their old dirty tricks against targeted individuals is to claim they said things that they never did in said report, testify to it in court and then prosecute them for lying to federal agents... and you go to Federal Prison on the basis of nothing more than their claiming that you said something that you never actually said.

 

A Chicago Cop told me about that and why Chicago Cops know to never talk to Feds when they're being investigated. The IRS CID has a bit of a reputation for that, too. "Taxpayer Jones admitted to me during questioning in his kitchen that he knew he had to declare income from the sale of his business but nevertheless chose not to", thus nudging it from civil to criminal, when in reality, Jones said nothing.

 

Ciff Notes: There's a huge difference between declarations and speculation.

"I think Trump is in bed with the Russians" - speculation.

"When we were out golfing, Trump told me he got loans from Russian banks" - actionable declaration that he can deny, but is enough to initiate an investigation and/or posit to a jury.

 

Sounds like we need to start cleaning house at the federal level if this corruption exists....

 

Let's start at the top.

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If there is a hell and it is a punishment for actions, then the Bible is right, which means it's path to avoid hell is right.

 

you'd better hope not. as we established in a previous thread, the bible is pretty clear about the rich not getting into heaven, regardless of your creative interpretation of that message.

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You haven't heard I'm no longer rich, lost it all when I invested in real estate.

 

Now I'm so broke I'm smoking cheap cigars.

 

So looks like I'm heaven bound

 

Hey Bob, now that's I'm broke...do I still have to send you my monthly payments to maintain my Charter Membership?

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So you lefties who want to see what an ACTUAL example of corruption and abuse of power are, Here you go

 

Bangladesh prime minister says Clinton personally pressured her to help foundation donor

 

And to think,we could be having an actual hearing today, Comey could have been fired( and probably dead by now ) and you guys could be defending a little side action for a business deal because that was a long time ago.

 

 

You can begin the posts where you apologize for risking having Tim Kaine as our president now.

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It is pathetic how obsessed you STILL are about Hillary Clinton. She lost the election. It was 6 months ago. She is not, nor will she ever be, the president of the USA. I guess you insist on sharing Donald Trump's inferiority complex along with all of his ideas? How noble.

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Yea, new stories coming out are not to be read about anyone who isn't president.

 

 

 

Did you hear about how Obama set up a charitable foundation and received $3M for a speech that he took a plane and a 12 vehicle convoy to get too? What a hypocrite.

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yup just regular news, just like any other news, which is why you posted it in the Trump Presidency thread.

 

Also, lol fox news.

 

And yes, Rudy Guliani or whichever hack trump pushes through for FBI director will magically abandon the Trump investigation and re-open the Hillary Investigation. This would surprise me not at all. And you would use this as justification that Trump is good and Hillary is bad, missing the forest for the trees as per usual.

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If anyone Trump every knew had ever:

 

Visited Russia while going to college in England.

Or

Lobbied to grant Russians control over uranium after receiving any donations to their charitable slush fund.

 

 

So far they've had a couple hits but looks like liberals have decided since they happened more than 6 months ago, it doesn't matter.

 

 

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can someone clarify what exactly the Trump investigation is looking into?

 

 

Looking into whether the Trump Campaign or members of the campaign team colluded with the Russians in their efforts to influence the US Election and or hack into American political organizations.

 

As a result of this other crimes or potential crimes are being looked at that involve people like General Flynn for not properly reporting the payments that he received from Russian State Owned organizations and Trump's one time campaign chairman Paul Manafort's work on behalf of Russian Oligarchs and the then Russian supporting government of The Ukraine.

 

They're also investigating the allegations contained in the Steele Dossier.

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Here's an actual news story about government corruption and foreign governments.

 

 

You'll note the difference from the Trump/Russia stories because they have these things called facts.

 

They don't quote unnamed sources that don't want to be revealed.

 

They don't use words like Might or Could as proof that the subject must be stopped, which are the basis for their entire fake news story to being with.

 

You'll notice that they even use CNN as a source, while clearly showing the proof of their bias.

 

Now when Clinton Inc goes down, you liberals will all be screaming constitutional crisis and bloody murder. While the administration will be sitting out of the investigation and letting justice run it's natural course when applied without prejudice.

 

Wonder what's the line on Hillary having serious long term medical issues before the trial?

 

Now cue the "ARE YOU STILL TALKING ABOUT HILLARY? WE DONT EVEN NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE HER NOT WINNING THE ELECTIONMEANS SHE GETS A FREE PASS FROM ALL THE CRIMES SHE'S COMMITTED" Excuse for not reading the story or caring about the facts.

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This interview is amazing. Also it shows how much of a sycophant Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is when he just parrots Trump's lies about Chinese Currency manipulation "stopping" only after Trump became President.

 

James Pethokoukis‏Verified account @JimPethokoukis 1h1 hour ago

Trump believes he came up with the expression "priming the pump" http://www.economist...Trumptranscript via @TheEconomist

 

The three biggest economic errors in Donald Trump’s interview with The Economist

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can someone clarify what exactly the Trump investigation is looking into?

 

Whether or not he (or people in key roles within his administration) have credible, preexisting ties with Russia that might result in Russian influence over our executive office.

 

Considering that he appointed a man to the National Security Council that here soon is about to get indicted for a bunch of bad stuff, all relating to Russian dealings, considering people like Manafort and others... There's smoke. Whether or not there's fire, that's for an investigation to determine. To what extent Russian intelligence, acting through nebulous internet intermediaries such as under the banner of "Anonymous" or through Wikileaks, leaked illegally acquired intel is also to be determined.

 

I just want to go on record that I one hundred percent believe he's at least partially in the bag for Russia and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if there' a massive ongoing FBI investigation into this that could lead to shit we've never before seen in the office of the presidency. Feds are not only allowed to lie about an ongoing investigation, in many situations they're encouraged to do just that so whatever Comey told Trump is not anything that can be taken to the bank.

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Jamelle Bouie‏Verified account @jbouie 43m43 minutes ago

So much craziness but worth remembering that Trump announced what is basically a voter suppression commission.

 

 

The Presidential Advisory Commission on Voter Suppression

The president’s new “election integrity” group will find fraud where it doesn’t exist and make it harder for Americans to cast their ballots

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Ohhhhh man.

 

Hi vb! Good to see you around.

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