Not The Collusion I Was Promised But...

McClatchy reports that the FBI is investigating the possibility that a prominent Russkie made illegal campaign contributions to the NRA, ultimately to the benefit of Trump.

OK, interesting, but...

If proven this may shame the NRA and embarrass the Russian, but the Trump people will claim ignorance. Maybe their knowledge and connivance will be demonstrated by the FBI evidence, but maybe not.

Martin Longman of The Washington Monthly has a follow-up which is useful for illustrating the progressive mindset. The gist - CBS News reported that the Russian biggie, Torshin, wanted to meet Trump Sr. during the NRA Convention in Louisville. Jared Kushner said no to this sort of idea:

The email was sent to top Trump campaign officials including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, campaign official Rick Gates and eventually Jared Kushner who is the president's son-in-law. Kushner's attorney says his client said to "pass on this" and warned campaign officials to "decline such meetings."

However, Don Jr. ended up at a convention dinner and was introduced to Torshin. Having been to the odd event where several hundred people are mingling, I have no doubt that someone intent on meeting me could wriggle over for a handshake. I am not too suspicious of this "meeting", which could also be described as an encounter. But from the left, here is Mr. Longman, who possibly should get out to a few philanthropic events himself and see who he can meet. My emphasis:

In other words, Erickson pitched the campaign on a meeting with Torshin and a possible Trump/Putin meeting and this pitch made the rounds before Kushner allegedly spiked the idea. Yet, it’s not clear if the idea was truly spiked or if it was modified. What actually wound up happening is that Donald Trump Jr. made a trip to Louisville for the NRA conference at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The conference ran from May 19 to May 22. And while Donald Jr. was at the convention he had a meeting with Torshin. The length and nature of this meeting is in dispute, with the Trump camp characterizing it as more of a brief conversation about firearms than a formal sit down.

...

 But it’s also important to note how this was reported here. Torshin had requested a meeting with Trump Sr. at the NRA convention but had to settle for a meeting with Trump Jr. If this is accurate, then the whole reason that the younger Donald was in Louisville was to meet with this money laundering Russian mob boss. 

Say what? The Russian wanted to meet Trump and managed to do so; therefore the whole reason Trump Jr. was in Louisville was to meet him? Uhh, the 2016 NRA convention drew a lot of prominent Republicans including Paul Ryan, Rand Paul, L'il Marco Rubio, Jeff Sessions and Mitch McConnell. Oh, yeah, and Donald Trump Sr., who spoke at the convention in Louisville but probably flew home to bed rather than stay at one of the dinner after-events. That can be grist for Mr. Longman's mill, who might want to revise and extend this remark:

Perhaps it had to work this way [Trump Jr. going to dinner] because Trump Sr. chose to speak at the larger annual NRA meeting in Atlanta in late April instead of attending the smaller gathering in Louisville in May.

Hmm, that links to an account of an April 2017 NRA Annual Convention in Atlanta. 

Well. Proving that Russian influence peddlers wanted to meet Trump is a long way from proving illegal collusion to steal the election. But Keep Hope Alive!

I LOVE A MYSTERY, BUT THIS AIN'T ONE: From the original McClatchy piece:

However, the NRA reported spending a record $55 million on the 2016 elections, including $30 million to support Trump – triple what the group devoted to backing Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. 

Well, the Newtown massacre was right after the 2012 election and galvanized both sides of the gun control debate.

 

Comments

[JimNorCal]

Heh

[henry]

FBI Counterintelligence, aka Priestap and Strzok. Part of an insurance policy to neuter the NRA for Hillary? Zero credibility for any of this nonsense.

[Janet 🚬]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/18/gop-lawmakers-demand-alarming-memo-on-fisa-abuses-be-made-public.html

"The vote Thursday morning on releasing the memo to lawmakers was along party lines, with Democrats voting against making it available for all members.

The process for releasing it to the public involves a committee vote, a source said. If approved, it could be released as long as there are no objections from the White House within five days."...

[JimNorCal]

http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/18/mccain-associate-dossier-judge-deposition/
McCain Associate Who Handled Dossier Asks Judge To Seal Deposition
An associate of Arizona Sen. John McCain’s who handled the dossier is asking a federal judge to block the release of a videotape and transcript of a deposition he recently gave in a lawsuit related to the salacious document.

David Kramer, a former State Department official and former director at the McCain Institute for International Leadership, filed a motion in federal court in Florida asking a judge for a protective order to block the public release of his deposition.

[Janet 🚬]

video at link -

FOX Business‏Verified account @FoxBusiness

.@mattgaetz: "The allegations contained in this important intelligence document go to the very foundations of our democracy and they require an immediate release to the public in my opinion."

https://twitter.com/FoxBusiness/status/954097548498735104?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Em5%7Ctwgr%5Eemail%7Ctwcon%5E7046%7Ctwterm%5E2

[exdemocrat]

more here, Janet:

https://twitter.com/RepDeSantis/status/954083561350553600

[Extraneus]

This seems like a desperate attempt to blunt the damage of foreign Clinton Foundation donations yet to be explained.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

The proverbial sweater with a loose thread.

DeSantis wants us all to have a chance to pull it.

[Ralph L]

I caught 10 seconds of Mara Lyingson NPR in the car. She said Trump kept his promise to pull back from leadership of the world. Tell it to ISIS, and where was she for 8 years of Zippy?

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

"Lone Survivor" on FX, if you haven't seen it.

[Janet 🚬]

Here is the Simpson testimony - https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/01/18/house-intel-releases-transcript-from-glenn-simpson-testimony/

[Extraneus]

From the look of Gaetz's smiling and smirking in that video, there must be some pretty juicy stuff in that "FISA Abuses" report.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Extraneus,

From the replies to Garntz's and DeSantis's tweets, I would say Congressional phone lines are going to be on fire.

In fact, I will call myself tomorrow morning. I am still on the books in Rokita's district rather than the odious Andre Carson, my current rep, so I will give Rokita a call.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

Ex,

Christmas in January for the GOP. Not so much for pencil neck Schiff. If there is a more dispicable, smarmy asshole in Congress its him.

[Janet 🚬]

This is Simpson's House testimony & the Feinstein leaked one is the Senate testimony?...is that right?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

TrumpSoldier
‏ @DaveNYviii
6h6 hours ago

Senate Judiciary Committee Sends 17 Federal Judges to Senate for Confirmation!
(committee vote results)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DT1vw1MWAAE5eIo.jpg

[Extraneus]

Yes, that's correct Janet.

[anonamom]

OT

Re: magnesium and a fib:
My super duper smart vice chief of the Dept. Of Internal Medicine at UM, Dr. Faith Fitzgerald, was preaching the crucial importance of magnesium to us forty years ago!

As noted here---every single cell in our bodies needs it, especially nerves and muscles, and it may well be in short supply with farmed out soils and inadequate intake of magnesium rich foods.

Because magnesium is an INTRACELLULAR electrolyte, the blood level is ALWAYS a very small number, so to get that little number to be below "normal," LOTS is already missing from the inside of cells. And I do believe you can be very low intracellularly--have cramps, arrhthymias---with a low "normal" magnesium.

Supplementation makes sense if you have reason to suspect you suffer from ailments related to low magnesium.

[Stephanie Nene Not your normal Grandma]

If we have a government shutdown, who gets to decide if the Mueller investigation is 'non-essential?'

It most certainly is non-essential.

:)

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

anonamom,

I have a friend who reads JOOM but doesn't want to post. We were discussing magnesium today since it's been discussed here.

She was prescribed it for fibromyalgia but discovered about a month ago that she had only been taking half of the dose she should have been so she doubled what she was taking.

She has noticed sleeping better and vivid dreams, which she remembers.

I started taking a vitamin-mineral supplement before Christmas and have noticed the same thing, although not as much as her. I am going to go get some magnesium once I can get out to a pharmacy.

[daddy on iPad]

What a shame that Team Trump never arranged to have any of these supposedly illicit meetings on the Vegas Tarmac. Then all would be excused and forgiven.

[exdemocrat]

RG - thought you might enjoy this to go with that AT article re 'toxic masculinity' ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5baCepWsAg

[daddy on iPad]

An associate of Arizona Sen. John McCain’s who handled the dossier is asking a federal judge to block the release of a videotape and transcript of a deposition he recently gave in a lawsuit related to the salacious document.

If McCain's flunkie is legitimately asking the court to block videotape and transcript of his deposition, then I am all for releasing it to every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the planet.

[lyle]

And every lyle on the planet!

[hoyden]

I have been following the magnesium, cramps, afib discussion because I have the latter two. During enthusiastic biking my heart rate will suddenly rise to 220 per the hrm. It could sometimes take 30-40 minutes for heart rate to return normal. I've gotten better at catching the onset and if I stop and rest the heart rate will drop back in less than 5 minutes. Went for a heart ultrasound but nothing found. Leg and for cramps at night more annoying than alarming. I will up my mag in addition to potassium. The heart ultrasound did put me on the FAA's radar and the wanted the full report before renewing my 3rd class.

[Tom R]

On his Twitter feed Sundance is hinting that Trump has been moved to a secure location in the Pentagon. Anyone else hearing that from other sources?

[Momto2]

Do not miss Ex's 6:36 - LOL!!!

[art in newport]

Miss Marple, for reference, the product I use is from Trace Minerals Research. A blue bottle about the size of a large nosedrops bottle. It has a graduated dropper and 1ml contains 100mg of magnesium.

I've eased my way up to 300mg a day, taken in a vitamin drink, which seems to be doing it for me.

[GUS]

Miss Marple surely you heard of my vivid dreams of tennis stars!!!

[RattlerGator]

You were right, exdemocrat, quite right indeed!

[Captain Hate]

Here we go:

oh yes. Please , PLEASE do.

'We will prosecute' employers who help immigration sweeps, California AG says

The state's top cop issued a warning to California employers Thursday that businesses face legal repercussions, including fines up to $10,000, if they assist federal immigration authorities with a potential widespread immigration crackdown.

"It's important, given these rumors that are out there, to let people know - more specifically today, employers - that if they voluntarily start giving up information about their employees or access to their employees in ways that contradict our new California laws, they subject themselves to actions by my office," state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said at a news conference. "We will prosecute those who violate the law."

read the whole m--f--ing thing.

https://goo.gl/Y2wR9v
Posted by: same as it ever was at January 18, 2018 06:38 PM (BLjCA)

[Janeprobably about 10 minutes after getting there]

What's that about Tom R/

[Extraneus]

Funny ex. :-)

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

Can someone wake Sessions up and point to CH's 6:55?

The DoJ should prosecute everyone in the California executive.

[sbw]

Only a rumor, Jane, but the natives are restless hoping for information release from Congress.

[henry]

geee, do I get a reward if I turn in Bacerra for obstruction of justice?

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

Who rang the bell to start the coup?

Don't believe it for a second. The Dems and who as their backup? Our military? LOL.

[Clarice Feldman]

Trump was at a mtg today at the Pentagon--I've seen nothing else.

[sbw]

We will prosecute' employers who help immigration sweeps, California AG says

This seems an opportunity to turn the federal court system back on the lefties who have misused the court system for too long.

Immigration falls under federal purview, and state law doesn’t protect them. The courts could demand compliance, find officials in contempt, and strip them from office.

They really should not be using Democrats Orville Faubus and Bull Connor as role models.

[Extraneus]

Supplementation makes sense if you have reason to suspect you suffer from ailments related to low magnesium.

Or if you've had a blood test and been told that officially.

[Captain Hate]

One last plane crash for McCain to remember him by.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
34m34 minutes ago

House of Representatives needs to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our country - our Military needs it!

[narcisoyea]

Longman was previously an editor at the bowman tribune, and before that wrote memorandum for
Yeargh, I think pity is a reasonable response.

[exdemocrat]

another call for immediate release of the report

https://twitter.com/RepLeeZeldin/status/954102959394213889

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

Typical Sundance. Making something out of the ordinary. Can't believe anything the Cape Coral Con Artist writes anymore. How many wives is he on now 4? Does he still write bad checks?

The guy has a history and its not exactly one that provides confidence in anything he writes.

[daddy]

Lou Dobbs in his opening 10 minutes giving Martha McSally (R-Arizona, and candidate for Jeff Flake's senate Seat) a platform to push her views on DACA and the continuing resolution and funding the Military and all the rest. To this LIV voter she is very impressive and comes across as a stronger speaker and personality than Kelli Ward whom I watched on another TV Show yesterday. I would be happy with either of them over any Dem, but currently, from motivational performance, I prefer McSally. Just tossing this out there for comment.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

There is a lot of stuff going on tonight in DC. I am going to be posting stuff I am picking up on Twitter. I cannot guarantee accuracy, but it will give a flavor of the dissension and confusion. Here's the first:

unseen1 Retweeted
Annie
❤️
📜
🇺🇸 99% Swamp = 100% Fed Up
‏ @bloodless_coup
2h2 hours ago

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 .@freedomcaucus Chairman.@RepMarkMeadows is meeting with .@SpeakerRyan RIGHT NOW! He’s insisting the Obama spying dox all 435 House members got to see today be MADE PUBLIC IMMEDIATELY or they won’t vote yes on the CR. #FusionCollusion #QAnon #FISA

[Buckeye]

The heart ultrasound did put me on the FAA's radar and the wanted the full report before renewing my 3rd class.

Didn't know that tidbit hoyden, thanks. Luckily no heart issues at this point, hopefully never.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Kimberley Strassel
‏Verified account @KimStrassel
2h2 hours ago

Gotta love the first House Simpson transcript, in which @RepAdamSchiff goes to bat to make sure the witness doesn't have to answer any uncomfortable questions. The same Schiff who likes to suggest GOP isn't working hard enough to get answer in Russia probe.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Roll Call‏Verified account @rollcall

"All I can say is, you betta werk! Had a fabulous time with @RuPaul and good luck to all the queens," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted about her appearance on RuPaul’s drag-queen reality show “Drag Race All Stars.”
====================================
I don't want to hear a damn thing about President Trump not being dignified.

[daddy]

Late to the threads but Lou Dobb's in segment one on the abuse in the still held secret info on the FISA documents, plays clips of a Repub Congressman saying that if they see these 4 page documents they will immediately call for the firing of Rod Rosenstein. Wish I could transcribe it for you guys. Now on with a Judicial Watch guy, Chris Farrell, going through the dirtiness of the absolute corruption at the top of the DOJ/FBI.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

I remember Nancy when she was Norman Pelosi.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Dan Bongino
‏Verified account @dbongino
3m3 minutes ago

Release the memo and watch the rats run away like the cowards they are. Your mind is about to blown, and your eyes open, to both the power of the federal govt, and the vengefulness of an Obama administration hellbent on destroying Trump.

[Captain Hate]

In defense of that mobbed up skeezer, she's obviously more mentally ill than Jen Rubin and her idiot staff continues to let her make a mumbling fool out of herself in highly visible settings.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Saul Montes-Bradley
‏ @Debradelai
17m17 minutes ago

Folks, stay tuned.

A shitstorm is about to hit the airwaves.

There is talk of delaying the vote on the budget resolution until after the release.

If you think Dimms are butthurt, this looks like a prostate massage.

Sunshine is about to hit the Swamp where it hurts.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Word of what is in that report must be being talked about, even though it hasn't been published yet.

[Clarice Feldman]

Sara Carter: A Bombshell House Intelligence report exposing extensive FISA abuse could lead to the removal of senior government officials.
A review of a classified document outlining what is described as extensive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse was made available to all House members Thursday and the revelations could lead to the removal of senior officials in the FBI and Department of Justice, several sources with knowledge of the document stated.
These sources say the report is “explosive,” stating they would not be surprised if it leads to the end of Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel investigation into President Trump and his associates.
The document also apparently outlines “several problematic” issues with how FISA warrants were “packaged, and used” state several sources with knowledge of the report.
Over the past year, whistleblowers in the law enforcement and intelligence community have revealed to Congress what they believe to be extensive abuse with regard to FISA surveillance, as previously reported.
But the government official, who viewed the document said “it will be tough for a lot of people to see this and especially the media, which has been attempting to deemphasize the dossier. It’s going to punch a hole in their collusion narrative.”

[sbw]

Norman Pelosi

[Spit take!]

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Travis Retweeted
Babushka女士
‏ @pepesgrandma
1h1 hour ago

“It's troubling. It is shocking,” North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows said. “Part of me wishes that I didn't read it because I don’t want to believe that those kinds of things could be happening in this country that I call home and love so much.”
#fisa #releasethememo #thursday

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Chad Pergram
‏Verified account @ChadPergram
54s54 seconds ago

#BREAKING House approves temporary spending bill to avoid government shutdown. Now sends plan to the Senate. The vote was 230-197. 11 Republicans voted no. 5 Democrats voted yes

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

So, what is the over/under on the release of the HIC report?

I am going 2/6 (days). Ryan has to be careful here since it is NatSec and he doesn't want to be political. (That is the way he is).

Maybe tomorrow to make the Sunday talk fests.

If its as bad as suggested then the Dems will have to find better places to hide.

[JimNorCal]

MLK's Dream was not based on monetary gain

[Beasts of England]

If we had the individual appropriations bills from the House then the dems wouldn't have the leverage to attempt a shutdown. I wonder who's in charge of doing that?

[henry]

Beasts, they have to get by McConnell as well.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Beasts,

dems were filbustering individual appropriations bills in the Senate. (Or threatening to do so.)

[narcisoyea]

Netflix has a new series, starting on the 26th about a Berlin cop in the 20s and 30h, no his name is not Bernie gunther but gereon rath

[Ralph L]

PBS reported tonight that Senate passed new FISA bill today. WTF?

[Beasts of England]

I understand the Senate part, too, but we need to get back to regular order.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

narc,

Those are the Bablyon Berlin books by Volker Kutsher. Should be a must watch. I read them all.

[narcisoyea]

Good to know:
http://freebeacon.com/culture/pelosi-appear-drag-race-reality-show-guest-judge

But trump is the crazy one.

[henry]

Ralph, the new FISA bill has better controls ( but less than some wanted). Given perversion of the entire system, I am not assured by the newer controls.

[Janeprobably about 10 minutes after getting there]

I pray your 7;18 is correct MM. Who can release the doc? Does it take a vote? 51 or 60 votes. Can the house do it? Can Trump do it?

[sbw]

Jame, Feinstein can do it. Give her some Sudafed.

[exdemocrat]

Nunes supported the new, amended, FISA bill.

[narcisoyea]

In other news:

http://therightscoop.com/wow-other-people-may-be-charged-in-the-las-vegas-massacre

[Ralph L]

Nunes supported the new, amended, FISA bill.
I guess they thought nothing would pass after the shithole hits the fan.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/18/anthony-scaramucci-historically-productive-first-year-editorials-debates/109582830/
At the bottom of the article is a poll. Please vote "strongly agree" because the anti-Trumpers are currently leading.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

Nunes supported the new, amended, FISA bill.

And he should. Its a damn important piece of our G2 network regardless of how it was used by Zippy and his gremlins. Any law or regulation can be compromised by the powers to be. We just have to believe its orginal intent and enforcement is protecting the Homeland.

That is all I got.

[Janeprobably about 10 minutes after getting there]

It was announced on Dobbs that meadows and the Freedom caucus had struck a deal to vote for the CR, so I assume that was it. So what's next and who and how is it released?

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

off

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

LOL at 8:14 SBW.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

grrr

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

WTH?

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

How do you shut that damn thing off?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Dang, Ig. I'm in excellent physical shape (regardless of my real or claimed age...) and we're the same height and weight, yet I'm thrilled to wear 36" jeans.--

Not me Beasts; genetics.
My pop bequeathed me narrow hips and wide shoulders.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

one more try

[Rocco]

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Twitter account suspended.

https://twitter.com/HPSCI

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

OK I used about 8 close tags on that last one so I give up.

[daddy]

Who done it!

[art in newport]

Off?

[Captain Hate]

Twitter shutting down a government account? Game on!

[Rocco]

My 8:37 is fake, here's the real one, (i think)

https://twitter.com/houseintelcomm

[Janet 🚬]

That is sketchy, Rocco.
Just like that link Clarice posted earlier that came up "Not Found".

[narcisoyea]

There hasn't been anything since December 14th.

[henry]

. What crazy tag did you use?

[daddy]

I noticed that within the last 48 hours the links on the right side of Instapundit's Home Page no longer carry any link to twitter, which previously was a big headliner on that site. I did not read any explanation for that removal of Twitter, but I wonder of somehow they were banned from Twitchy/Twitter since one of Instapundit's regular contributors has been banned from Twitter.

[lyle]

I'm thinking of leaving an open bold tag just for more mischief...

[art in newport]

on .. off?

[Rocco]

That 2nd houseintelcomm account hasn't been used since 2015...I don't know what to make of it.

[lyle]

And an open strike tag as well. Don't make me do it! 😎🍷