Catnip From Bygone Days

Who remembers that Russian collusion thing? Barr and Durham, evidently:

Durham Inquiry Includes Scrutiny of a Media Leak

The attorney general has suggested that the Justice Department review of the Russia investigation has uncovered “troubling” findings without going into details.

The leak relates to a January 2017 column by Ignatius in the WaPo about Flynn. This must be it:

Question 3: What discussions has the Trump team had with Russian officials about future relations? Trump said Wednesday that his relationship with President Vladimir Putin is “an asset, not a liability.” Fair enough, but until he’s president, Trump needs to let Obama manage U.S.-Russia policy.

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, Trump’s choice for national security adviser, cultivates close Russian contacts. He has appeared on Russia Today and received a speaking fee from the cable network, which was described in last week’s unclassified intelligence briefing on Russian hacking as “the Kremlin’s principal international propaganda outlet.”

According to a senior U.S. government official, Flynn phoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak several times on Dec. 29, the day the Obama administration announced the expulsion of 35 Russian officials as well as other measures in retaliation for the hacking. What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions? The Logan Act (though never enforced) bars U.S. citizens from correspondence intending to influence a foreign government about “disputes” with the United States. Was its spirit violated? The Trump campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

If the Trump team’s contacts helped discourage the Russians from a counter-retaliation, maybe that’s a good thing. But we ought to know the facts.

...

UPDATE: The Trump transition team did not respond Thursday night to a request for comment. But two team members called with information Friday morning. A first Trump official confirmed that Flynn had spoken with Kislyak by phone, but said the calls were before sanctions were announced and didn’t cover that topic. This official later added that Flynn’s initial call was to express condolences to Kislyak after the terrorist killing of the Russian ambassador to Ankara Dec. 19, and that Flynn made a second call Dec. 28 to express condolences for the shoot-down of a Russian plane carrying a choir to Syria. In that second call, Flynn also discussed plans for a Trump-Putin conversation sometime after the inauguration. In addition, a second Trump official said the Dec. 28 call included an invitation from Kislyak for a Trump administration official to visit Kazakhstan for a conference in late January.

Well, OK. His Question 4 should have been asked more often:

Question 4: Finally, what’s the chance that Russian intelligence has gamed its covert action more subtly than we realize? Applying a counter-intelligence lens, it’s worth asking whether the Russians hoped to be discovered, and whether Russian operatives fed the former MI6 officer’s controversial dossier deliberately, to sow further chaos.

No kidding.

 

Comments

[anonamom]

So many words, TM...
It's Saturday--have mercy.

[Tom R]

Who to believe? Trump Jr or Sidney Powell?

https://twitter.com/donaldjtrumpjr/status/1254053831773691905?s=21

[Threadkiller]

Found it:

This was discovered last year by a Twitter Sleuth but I just found out about it today. There appears to be documented evidence that the FBI hired LTG Flynn to be a consultant from 15 AUG 2016 to 15 NOV 2016. The FBI paid Flynn $600,000.

LTG Flynn provided that info himself when submitting his public financial disclosure report to serve as Trump National Security Advisor.

https://i2.wp.com/clintonfoundationtimeline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/170122FlynnFBIConsultant.jpg?resize=711%2C687&ssl=1

My confirmation bias has been triggered causing me to think of some juicy 4D Chess possibilities for why LTG Flynn was working with the FBI during the three preceding months leading up to the 2016 election.
Posted by: Tom R | April 24, 2020 at 04:32 PM

I am unable to connect the image in your link with your assertion that “the FBI hired LTG Flynn to be a consultant from 15 AUG 2016 to 15 NOV 2016. The FBI paid Flynn $600,000.”

[Tom R]

TK @ 6:16

If you look at that financial discloser form, it is only for the previous 12 months. The FBI training event Kelner cited where Flynn got paid $5000 occurred in 2015 outside the reporting window.

[Threadkiller]

Donald Trump Jr.

@DonaldJTrumpJr

What most people don’t realize is that FBI[Wray]making decisions on whether to turn over exculpatory evidence is no different than a cop[Wray] making those decisions ... prosecutors make those decisions, not cops[Wray]. For damn good reasons. FBI agents[Wray], even the ones with law degrees, are cops[Wray].

Emphasis mine. He agrees with those who have a dim view of Wray.

I don’t see a way to emphasize DJTjr’s tweet that makes it contrary to Powell. But I wouldn’t mind seeing an attempt.

[Threadkiller]

You said :”The document I saw showed he was a FBI consultant for 90 days from August to November 2016 timeframe.” The only document you have provided doesn’t show that.

[Tom R]

TK @ 6:25

I think you are overlooking the part where Trump Jr points out Wray/cops don't make the decision to turn over exculpatory evidence. That decision is made by prosecutors.

[JimNorCal]

Nice to see TM rolling threads more often! It gives one the sensation of speed, wind whipping through one's hair follicles and so on.
Perhaps #TwoWeeks is finally coming to fruition?

[Threadkiller]

Here is the full disclosure form, Tom:

https://www.scribd.com/document/414077214/Mike-Flynn-s-Executive-Branch-Public-Financial-Disclosure-Report-dated-Feb-11th-2017-eleven-pages

Even the image you provided is pretty clear the the 12 month question is with regards to any government employment he may have had, to which he answered “none.”

12 months is not a criterion for the disclosure portion of the form.

Did you find your document yet?

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
24m
Remember, the Cure can’t be worse than the problem itself. Be careful, be safe, use common sense!

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

I never said the pandemic was a Hoax! Who would say such a thing? I said that the Do Nothing Democrats, together with their Mainstream Media partners, are the Hoax. They have been called out & embarrassed on this, even admitting they were wrong, but continue to spread the lie!

6:23 PM · Apr 25, 2020

[Threadkiller]

I think you are overlooking the part where Trump Jr points out Wray/cops don't make the decision to turn over exculpatory evidence.

I read it as Trump Jr pointing out that the FBI did something they should not have done. Not “it is impossible for the FBI to do any wrong because rules.”

[henry]

Another Bob, not just the 4th largest army, but all can hit a target at long range.

[Threadkiller]

Trump needs to compose himself.

[Tom R]

TK @ 6:41

Flynn had to report any government jobs he had for 12 months. He lists "FBI consultant", which indicates at some point in 2016 Flynn got paid by the FBI for consultant work. As you pointed all already, Keltner was referring to a FBI training event Flynn got paid for in 2015, which is outside the reporting window.

[Tom R]

TK @ 6:44

If your interpretation is correct, then that indicates Trump Jr undermined AG Barr's official statement on the matter. I am inclined to believe Trump Jr is privy to some inside info so find it hard to believe he would publicly contradict and undermine AG Barr.

[Extraneus]

So many words, TM...

They were all good. This time...

[Threadkiller]

You need to read the entire document I guess, Tom. Flynn was asked if he had any government employment in the previous 12 months. He answered “none.”

That question is completely independent of the other questions that resulted in his noting his consulting for the FBI.

Did you find your document yet?

[Threadkiller]

Your screenshot image combines two separate pages of the disclosure.

[Extraneus]

Trump needs to compose himself.

I agree.

[JimNorCal]

From back thread.
One KY HoR district has a choice between principled conservative Massie or McMurtry, a pro-Trump challenger

Well, between them and a Dem.

The MSM has accused the challenger of racism and he responded:
McMurtry, in response, said in a statement: “My wife is Puerto Rican. My kids are bilingual. But the New York Times wants to call me a racist. That’s what they do to conservatives.” He added, “Well, I’m not going to let them intimidate me. I’m going to vote for Kentucky, and in support of President Trump and Thomas Massie won’t.”

Seems like a fair contest and OMG, what a wonderful choice to have! I am certainly jealous

[Tom R]

TK @ 6:57

I am not signing up for a subscription to Scribd to read the entire 11 page document but I think you are correct about the screenshot.

I did find the document (screenshot of a partial page) but the guy who posted it didn't answer where he got it from when asked. His only response was that he bet Sidney Powell had a copy of it. Thanks for providing the info about Inovo BV. Since the dollar totals match up sounds like that may have been what the guy was referring to. If so not really certain why he made the connection to the FBI.

[Threadkiller]

[Massie] indicated he plans to further highlight McMurtry's past criticisms of Trump, including when the Northern Kentucky attorney said in a Facebook comment that [McMurtry>hoped the military would defy Trump's orders and stage a coup d'etat.

McMurtry said in a recent radio interview those comments were wrongheaded, and he apologized for making them.

https://www.courier-journal.com/29521950

“I am sorry a asked the Military to overthrow Trump, especially now that I am begging for his support.”

[Threadkiller]

I am not signing up for a subscription to Scribd

Neither am I. You can scroll through it for free.

[Extraneus]

What Trump was doing Thursday was showing everyone what he probably does all day, every day. People come in and show him stuff, make recommendations, etc. He asks questions. I've been there myself many times. Questions like, 'Well, what if we did this instead?' Very common thing.

I've taken classes on brainstorming. It's important to never hit the guy who comes out with the crazy idea. That's how it works. Every idea gets run through the gauntlet and ultimately a great idea is hoped for as a result. No inhibitions are allowed, because that would inhibit the flow of ideas.

This is exactly how it works, and exactly what Trump was doing. It's just that he wasn't smart enough to realize that his enemies would use the opportunity of witnessing this to inhibit the problem-solving part of the conversation.

[henry]

Ext, Trump’s enemies are stuck on stupid. At best.

[sbwaters]

Non-fiction recommendation:

"Winnie the Pooh"

Well, for some of us.

[lyle]

https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-is-pulling-the-plug-on-clean-energy-jobs/

Gee, that’s just too damn bad. Eat me, AOC.

[Tom R]

TK @ 7:10

Can't the entire document except for first page is blurred out.

[Threadkiller]

Weird, Tom. I was able to scroll through whole document. Either way, I am glad it settled the notion of Flynn working for the FBI while working for Trump.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

MM I'd get her started on the Agatha Chrisie books. I read all of them my Junior Year.

[Neo]

intermittent ultraviolet (UV) A light via a novel endotracheal medical device
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/aytu-bioscience-signs-exclusive-global-120000824.html

[Another Bob]

Posted that yesterday Neo.

Wonder if Trump was told of it before that presser?

[lyle]

Agatha Christie is non-fiction? Huh. 😎

[rse]

Since you mentioned nf, have her read william manchester's The Glory and the Dream. She will get history and the 20th century that she can then ask you about quite well. Truly a story.

Not nf, but historical fiction would be to get her anya seton's Katherine on then let her know how it ties to thw Tudors and the earlier War of the roses.

Both get to telling history as a story that is fascinating and still relevant.

[Jane]

All day long Democrat’s save been harassing me about Trump saying they should eat Clorox. I keep telling them I’ve eaten my limit today already.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Nah, but they were very enjoyable for a teenager.

[D]

I can think of fiction- Little Women or Anne of Green Gables
Sophomores read “The Crucible”.

[jimmyk]

MM, the daughter just finished the Tara Westover book, "Educated," and liked it. It sounds interesting, though all the wrong people (Barack Obama, Bill Gates) have extolled it.

[D]

Also “A Separate Peace” is an excellent novel.

[D]

Pride and Prejudice is also a classic read.

[jimmyk]

Didn't MM ask for non-fiction?

[jimmyk]

"The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz" by Erik Larson got a rave review in the NYT Sunday book review, and even though it was the NYT it sounded great and inspirational. I have it in my Amazon cart.

[D]

Yes Jimmyk but we are also suggesting fiction.

[jim nj]

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/state-reporting-of-cases-and-deaths-due-to-covid-19-in-long-term-care-facilities/

The best overall look at long term care facilities that I've seen.

They compile the data from the reporting states directly and present it usefully.

The last two columns in Table 2 are eye-opening giving the % of state's cases in LTC and % of state's deaths in LTC.

I knew that NJ was bad with 40% of the state's deaths in LTC facilities. I thought we were worst in the nation. Unfortunately 8 other states match or exceed that rate.

[bubarooni]

Non-fiction?

The Rise and the Fall of Great Powers.

A truly great book who's sweep in time is a must read.

[Catsmeat]

Willowed: MM, I recommend Walker Percy's Lost in the Cosmos--great book and with questionnaires, just as in all the cool magazines!

[MissMarple2]

Thanks for all of the book suggestions!

Sorry for the delay in answering.

[kiwinews]

Thanks for the heads up on Erik Larson's having a new book out. I just snatched it up on Amazon. His research is amazing. His writing style is clean and sharp as a hound's tooth.
Jane Austen is useful even in modern times. In a first-class carriage in the Milan train station I once had occasion to beat a flasher about the head and shoulders with a hardback copy of her collected works. Shocked and bruised, he fled, I resumed my reading. Bless you, Miss Jane.

[MissMarple2]

I meant to add we had a power outage for a while. It's alwats something!

[Another Bob]

“North Korea is going to have a Woman leader before the United States of America! Let that sink in!”

https://twitter.com/tomdangora/status/1254122623149248514?s=21

(blink) (blink)

[MissMarple2]

ALWAYS!!

[bubarooni]

Salt: A World History(?)

that's a great one too...

[bubarooni]

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy

might be my fav of all time though.

if you wanna be inspired and left in awe what men did about 200 years ago.

[anonamom]

It's just that he wasn't smart enough to realize that his enemies would use the opportunity of witnessing this to inhibit the problem-solving part of the conversation.

I saw that Thursday. His UV light thing made me think "this is some out-of-the box thinking." Plus, UV overhead lighting was in the VA pulmonary ward a zillion years ago when I was a student, left over from the TB days, and now we are using a UV breadbox thingee to sterilize our phones, pens, badges and masks --so it didn't strike me as odd at all, to ponder if some kind of rod might be used to clean the naso and oropharynx.

But when he wondered aloud if some kind of disinfectant could be injected---I knew they'd have a field day with that.

Not that there is anything wrong with thinking about such things; not at all--but he handed them what's going on right now with a great big bow tied around it. WAY too out there for those dullards.

I've come across some unconventional treatments in the past two months using disinfectants therapeutically, so not necessarily nutso of DJT to wonder about them. Nikola Tesla was big on the ozone:

ozone therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312702/

and hydrogen peroxide inhalation
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/hydrogen-peroxide-a-potential-treatment-for-coronavirus-infection/ar-BB12qktc

[kiwinews]

Mark Kurlanski's Salt is a great read as are his books on codfish and oysters -The way he traces the influence these commodities have had on world history is fascinating.

[jim nj]

https://nypost.com/2020/04/25/north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-rumored-to-be-dead/

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un rumored to be dead, brain dead or just fine

Apparently he missed the parade:
"The portly leader’s absence from Saturday’s much-ballyhooed 88th anniversary of the birth of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army further fueled the death talk."

[sbwaters]

North Korea is going to have a Woman leader before the United States of America! Let that sink in!

So what do you want me to do? Sh*t?

[Heard back in my college days.]

[D]

MJW:
Excellent posts today. Agreed with everything you wrote.
Joan:
You have a very fine writing style.
I could just picture you dressed up and entertaining those people in the nursing.God bless you for always thinking of others!
I also like what you did for your grandkids.
We can all learn from your excellent example.
Donated food this morning for the Food for Families sponsored by my church, St Christopher’s.
Social distancing, everyone stays in their cars and as they drive by they are handed a bag of food.
Young kids helping out.
Inspiring.

[D]

Add home.

[James D.]

Not that there is anything wrong with thinking about such things; not at all--but he handed them what's going on right now with a great big bow tied around it. WAY too out there for those dullards.

If it wasn’t that it would have been something else. The msm and Dems
Would have taken something else out of context, or edited it, or just flat out lied, and all the idiot TDS sufferers on social media would have made snarky memes about it and gone on about how much smarter they are than Trump supporters.

[D]

CNN has been shamed into somewhat covering the Biden/ Reade story.
Hope it has legs.

[Narciso]

Well got up to 14,000 words 10 chapters added a short prefix then moved the story past the events that transpired.

[anonamom]

Did TWIP ever get posted today?

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/04/the-week-in-pictures-same-damn-thing-edition-2.php

[Narciso]

Missed it by that much

https://mobile.twitter.com/kerpen/status/1254205182172372994

Re recomendations it depends on the subject matter,

[Narciso]

Well with a stalinist grampa and (whats the most tactful way to describe momma jong)

https://mobile.twitter.com/LOLNeverTweet

[Narciso]

About quilted northams health commissar

http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/m-norman-oliver-md-ma/

[MissMarple2]

So, this guy provides pictures and a newspaper.

I know nothing about the country, so this is all I have.

[MissMarple2]

It might be nice if I provided a thread!

https://twitter.com/DontDregMeBro/status/1254219480223248384

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
1h
Had a great call with Catholic Leaders and Educators earlier today. I will be online tomorrow at 10:15 A.M. (Eastern) for Sunday Mass celebrated by @CardinalDolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (@StPatsNYC) in New York City. Join me: https://saintpatrickscathedral.org/live

[Narciso]

Oh well about that

https://mobile.twitter.com/gadyepstein/status/1254108965698502656

[jim nj]

https://tinyurl.com/yc335n78

NASA Has Designed a Mass-Producible Ventilator For a Second Wave of COVID-19

"To avoid disrupting the supply chain for conventional ventilators, which have already been in short supply, NASA's engineers opted for a design that requires fewer parts than a conventional ventilator and relies on different machinery.

"They're really parts from other industries that can be used with this application," Gallagher said.

The hope is that manufacturers could produce the device without detracting from the production of conventional ventilators."

[MissMarple2]

https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/winter-to-strike-back-at-northeastern-us-with-another-dose-of-snow/728045?utm_campaign=breakingweather&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=1587857029

Northeasterners! SNOW!!

[Narciso]

Stop the presses,

[clarice]

Cnn"shamed"? Doubt that. More likely the DNC is planning on dumping Biden and CNN, as always, is running with the ball.

Just saw a lovely and touching movie on Amazon "The Long Farewell".

[Narciso]

Yes cnn is beyond shame.

[jimmyk]

North Korea is going to have a Woman leader before the United States of America! Let that sink in!

Well, if they're looking for a possible successor, we have the most qualified candidate ever who happens to be a woman and currently unemployed. She even won the presidential election here by 3 million votes, but that tricky Constitution denied her her rightful prize. We'd be delighted to send her over.

[jim nj]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-adds-six-new-possible-coronavirus-symptoms-2020-04-25/

The full list now is:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell

A runny nose rarely occurs with COVID-19, and sneezing is still not a symptom of the virus.

[Narciso]

Shirley they cant be serious.

[jimmyk]

Northeasterners! SNOW!!

Not in the places that matter. :)

I do remember the first "spring" that I lived Rochester NY we got a freak snowfall on May 7th. The latest snow I can ever remember in NYC was the 1st week of April.

[Another Bob]

“A runny nose rarely occurs”

They’re making it sound more and more like a generic cold or flu.

[jim nj]

Where's Waldo?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/26/kim-jong-uns-train-possibly-spotted-at-north-korean-resort

[Another Bob]

Oh boy...

Trump: “ Every time I speak of the haters and losers I do so with great love and affection. They cannot help the fact that they were born fucked up!”

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/516382177798680576?s=21

[Tom R]

Mini-OL

https://twitter.com/rexchapman/status/1254238940917387270?s=21

[MissMarple2]

A thread detailing all of the actions President Trump has taken against China:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1254230733918519296.html

There are a lot, including some I didn't recall.

[jim nj]

AB,

Right. Like a regular flu.

When I was sick I had a runny nose that just wouldn't stop. And a frog in the throat feeling with a tightness in my chest.

As that was disappearing my gum line receded in one area of the mouth giving me a toothache. Then an earache on the other side.

Really weird constellation of symptoms in a short time period.

[clarice]

More reason to believe the Dem Dump Biden train is moving:
Mark Bonner
4 mins ·
Tonight on Trump Team Event, I was able to access, led by Brad Parscale, and Laura Trump REVEALED...
Joe Biden enthusiasm number among democrats is at all time historical low for a Democrat Presidential Candidate setting at a lowly 24 percent..this among Democrats...
COMPARED TO
Trump enthusiasm number among Repubicans is at 74 Percent.
The enthusiasm number is highly predictable of the level of voter turnout..No wonder Democrats are going insane about vote by mail....

[MissMarple2]

Think I will head to bed.

Nytol!

[Threadkiller]

That tweet is from 2014, AB.

[Another Bob]

DOH!

I sit corrected, thanks.

[jim nj]

The latest data for Bergen County, NJ, shows 14,300 cases of CCP virus, with 1,041 of them in Hackensack. I'm going to guess that if we did an antibody test here we'd have comparable already infecteds to the NYC outer boroughs.

There was an article in the local paper about doing ride-alongs with ambulance crews. In quite a few cases ambulances and EMTs get a "difficulty breathing" call only to arrive at a DOA or near-DOA case.

[jim nj]

Here's the article.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/columnists/christopher-maag/2020/04/18/coronavirus-nj-emts-front-lines-mass-casualty-incident-without-end/5136641002/

[Narciso]

Its a cookbook

https://mobile.twitter.com/MichaelCoudrey/status/1254255771774119936

[MJW]

The Wikipedia death count for today is 1825 -- much lower than the Covid Tracking Project's 2194. However, Friday's Wikipedia count was 2062, compared to 1772.

Part of the difference is the time they're updated. Wikipedia seems to be updated at midnight ET, while the Covid Tracking Project is updated about 4 p.m. ET.

[cathyf]

DrF commented again today... This CCP virus is like AIDS at the beginning. There's something that we don't understand. Prisons where 95% of the positive-tested inmates are symptom-free. That homeless shelter where half the residents were positive, and every single one symptom free.

We have to be missing something!

[jim nj]

https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-new-yorkers-household-cleaners-trump-20200425-rnaqio5dyfeaxmthxx2vktqa5m-story.html

A spike in New Yorkers ingesting household cleaners following Trump’s controversial coronavirus comments

Fake news.

[Narciso]

Note the lifted the paywall on that dumpsterfire of a piblication

[Narciso]

Phil kerpen noted thar cathy f.

[MJW]

We have to be missing something.

It certainly seems so. Two possibilities that occur to me are that some people have partial immunity from exposure to a similar coronavirus, or that there's a cofactor (beyond the much-discussed comorbidities) that causes the disease to progress to a more serious stage.