[Federalist] Just before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton faced off in their second presidential debate, then-National Intelligence Director James Clapper met in the White House with a small group of advisers to President Obama to hatch a plan to put out a first-of-its-kind intelligence report warning the voting public that "the Russian government" was interfering in the election by allegedly breaching the Clinton campaign’s email system.
On Oct. 7, 2016 — just two days before the presidential debate between Trump and Clinton — Clapper issued the unprecedented intelligence advisory with Obama’s personal blessing. It seemed to lend credence to what the Clinton camp was telling the media — that Trump was working with Russian President Vladimir Putin through a secret back channel to steal the election. Sure enough, the Democratic nominee pounced on it to smear Trump at the debate.
And that wouldn’t be the only historically consequential maneuver for Clapper, whose role in skewing presidential campaigns might deserve a special place in the annals of nefarious election meddling — by, in this case, a domestic, not foreign, intelligence service.
In 2020, he was the lead signatory on the "intelligence" statement that discredited the New York Post’s October bombshell exposing emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop, which documented how Hunter’s corrupt Burisma paymasters had met with Joe Biden when he was vice president. It was released Oct. 19, just three days before Trump and Biden debated each other in Nashville. Fifty other U.S. "intelligence community" officials and experts signed the seven-page document, which claimed "the arrival on the U.S. political scene of emails purportedly belonging to Vice President Biden’s son Hunter, much of it related to his time serving on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."
In hindsight, Clapper’s well-timed pseudo-intelligence in 2016 and 2020 helped Clinton and Biden make the case against Trump as a potentially Kremlin-compromised figure, charges that crippled his presidency and later arguably denied him reelection.
The phony laptop letter actually helped Biden seal his narrow victory since many of his voters in the close election told pollsters they would have had second thoughts about backing him had they known of the damning materials contradicting his denials he knew anything about his son’s shady foreign dealings.
[Hot Air] Even though four years have passed, new information continues to leak out about the 51 supposed intelligence officials who signed a statement in 2020 declaring that the story about Hunter Biden's laptop had "all the hallmarks" of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Joe Biden would go on to cite those officials during a debate with Donald Trump. Of course, the laptop was real and they all knew it the entire time, leading some outlets like the New York Post to dub them, "the spies who lie." The lies have apparently not ended yet, however. Newly revealed documents show that at least two of the officials were employed as CIA contractors at the time that the letter was created. Former CIA acting director Michael Morell and ex-CIA Inspector General David Buckley were under contract to the agency. Yet when they were contacted to ask about that relationship, they both either denied it or refused to comment. (NY Post)
#1
Newly revealed documents show that at least two of the officials were employed as CIA contractors
Commonly referred to as 'agency annuitants.' Accept Federal retirement and return the next day to the same desk (or other assignment) via Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation.
The famous "Double-bubble." Excellent work if you can get it.
Newly released transcripts of interviews with eight of the intelligence officials who were among 51 signatories of the infamous letter labeling reporting on the Hunter Biden laptop as a potential “Russian information operation” show the letter drafters were motivated by politics while freely admitting they had no hard evidence for the claims.
The transcripts, which include interviews with former CIA Director Michael Morell, one of his key former deputies Marc Polymeropoulos, and former CIA Director John Brennan, show the behind the scenes maneuverings to publish the infamous letter which then-candidate Joe Biden used to deflect accusations against him stemming from the material found on his son’s laptop.
“Look, there are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what he’s accusing me of is a Russian plan. They have said that this has all the characteristics – four, five former heads of the CIA, both parties, say what he’s saying is a bunch of garbage,” Biden said during the final debate abasing then-President Donald Trump.
The immediate political benefits of the open letter were far from coincidental, according to testimony from several signatories. Marc Polymeropoulos, a deputy to Morell when he served as director, testified to congressional investigators that Morell told him “the Biden world had asked for this.”
#6
I read the transcript of Kristen Wood, and she like many others (including the hyper-partisan Morel) who signed the statement had been out of the intel loop for some time. I believe that in Wood's case, she should have been asked, "Aside from politics, left wing news sources, and your now attenuated history in the CIA', what EVIDENCE do you have that Russia is trying to influence the 2020 election in support of Trump." If she were honest she would have had to respond, "None."
#3
He's Not Dropping Out": Biden Digs In [like a tick] After Disastrous Debate
TRANSLATION: The Deep State is NOT "dropping out." The Biden's will do as they are told. The Deep State's ownership of power must continue. No interruptions, no exceptions.
#4
Translation - Gavin Newsom is not a viable candidate. Joe has all the delegates and money. The replacement operation was planned as well as the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/29/2024 8:38 Comments ||
Top||
#5
"Our Democracy"(tm) means you have no say in the real process. See - People's Democratic Republic of
#2
If you buy a ticket to see Carrot Top, it is Carrot Top that you will see.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/29/2024 8:55 Comments ||
Top||
#3
SO lets say the 25th is in play it will take hearings and votes. A couple months to make this legal, if he does not fight it. By then the state will not have the time to redo the ballots. We will have to delay the election. Blue states will sue saying they need months, it will get tied up in the courts and our election wont happen for a year....
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/29/2024 10:32 Comments ||
Top||
#4
How does he fight it? Take the tests he refuses to take?
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 10:35 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Considering the recently viewed public evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that someones other than Biden are in control, it would be an improvement, in my opinion, that to continue the current arrangement the most unpalatable, obnoxious face possible be put on it.
#12
The debate likely cements the decision to jail Trump on July 11. These are dangerous times, and some very determined people in power are very worried. If Trump wins, risk losing their fortunes and freedom because of the crimes they have committed...
#14
Re #3 - if the election is delayed. is there any Constitutional support for the idea that the term of the incumbents be extended or do they just go directly to coup d'etat.
#16
Something not written down is how the American people might respond. That gets made up as we go along.
Anyone who expects the Army or National Guard to exert control will be direly disappointed.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:22 Comments ||
Top||
#17
Five, six good red state governors. Watch the blue morons fold.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:24 Comments ||
Top||
#18
America's fall back was always the states.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:28 Comments ||
Top||
#19
Some might call it a "constitutional crisis." Others might simply call it anarchy. I could be stating the obvious, but I have a sense urban areas may not be the place to be if and when it hits the fan.
#20
Places where gummint checks are the only income?
Yeah, could get real.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:35 Comments ||
Top||
#21
Will it be rayciss when the gummint printing office stops printing welfare checks and USPS stops delivering?
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:40 Comments ||
Top||
#22
Actuarily, it could be any time. More people are dead by 81 than aren't, recall. If some morning Joe wakes up embalmed, who's gonna look closely at what's on the death certificate, especially if a month or two had gone by since the debate?
Posted by: Fred ||
06/29/2024 14:45 Comments ||
Top||
#26
Hopefully she's stupid enough to go pick up the playoff in person.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 15:05 Comments ||
Top||
#27
Some poor Chinese print warehouse worker is asking his boss whether he should keep printing ballot box stuffing ballots with Biden’s name filled in.
[CMS.GOV] President Trump Announces Lower Out of Pocket Insulin Costs for Medicare’s Seniors
May 26, 2020
Today, under President Trump’s leadership, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that over 1,750 standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage have applied to offer lower insulin costs through the Part D Senior Savings Model for the 2021 plan year. Across the nation, participating enhanced Part D prescription drug plans will provide Medicare beneficiaries access to a broad set of insulins at a maximum $35 copay for a month’s supply, from the beginning of the year through the Part D coverage gap. The model follows on the Trump Administration’s previously announced 13.5 percent decline in the average monthly basic Part D premium since 2017 to the lowest level in seven years.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: 3dc ||
06/29/2024 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
E-Mail||
[146 views]
Top|| File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life,
#6
Despite pointing out Biden’s errors, Dale did not point out that, upon taking office, Biden froze Trump’s rules to lower the cost of insulin, and eventually rescinded them, only to put forth his own proposal which many pointed out wouldn’t help enough people.
[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] The Supreme Court decided on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking.
The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising number of people in the US are without a permanent place to live.
In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the high court reversed a ruling by a the Socialist paradise of San Francisco ...where God struck dead Anton LaVey, home of the Sydney Ducks, ruled by Vigilance Committee from 1859 through 1867, reliably and volubly Democrat since 1964... -based appeals court that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
The majority found that the 8th Amendment prohibition does not extend to bans on outdoor sleeping bans.
'Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it,' Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/29/2024 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
E-Mail||
[99 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I have a Christian love of the poor, but claiming that the homeless had a Constitutional right to make camp and shoot up on the sidewalk in front of someone’s house was always Marxism.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/29/2024 8:49 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Notice, however, SCOTUS does not impose any requirement that cities enforce bans on homeless encampments. Cities will now get to decide whether or not to clean their streets but it's a good bet that cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco will not.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/29/2024 12:12 Comments ||
Top||
#1
Well duh. CNN leaked the debate questions to Hillary in 2016. They're Democrats. Why did Trump even agree to CNN? He should have used anyone else. OAN.
#3
It was fairly obvious within the first few minutes. No hesitancy in answering, he just fired off the pre-arranged responses, often messing them up as well.
#4
Trump agreed to the CNN debate precisely because it was hostile territory. He still got a fairer shake than under the Commission on Presidential Debates format.
And Trump probably killed the Commission on Presidential Debates in the bargain, which is a gift to all Americans.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 7:55 Comments ||
Top||
#5
/\ Your's is I believe, an accurate assessment.
#6
The CNN anchor will argue that she meant that Joe’s debate prep had been so thorough that he should have been able to answer fluently. In reality, every American believes that they gave Joe the questions.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/29/2024 8:44 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Donald Trump - outnumbered but never outgunned.
#10
I think totally lost in the shuffle is how disciplined Trump was compared to past outings. The format helped. Whether Trump has actually become more disciplined (in which case many people inside the beltway are so screwed) or just had better coaching this time will be the behind the scenes story.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 9:19 Comments ||
Top||
#11
He stayed on point with the migrant issue and economy. Letting the other guy bury himself was an effective strategy.
#12
At first I disliked it when Trump ignored a question to add time to his rebuttals, but it emerged as strategy and it worked. He mad the moderators repeat their questios with just enough time left for him to toss a zinger. Will he respect the outcome of the election whichever way it goes? "If it's free and fair and open, sure." Boom.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 9:50 Comments ||
Top||
#13
Trump cut his teeth hustling 80 and 90 year old businessmen who thought they still had it - and didn't. He could smell Biden's senility from a mile away (hell; we all could), figured the debate rules didn't really matter, and went in for the kill.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 12:16 Comments ||
Top||
#17
Well duh. CNN leaked the debate questions to Hillary in 2016.
I remember at one point Donna Brazille was being interviewed about her role in the leak and all she could say in response was how the information was unreliable because it was found in DNC emails that were hacked. She was very indignant about it. I couldn't find a link to that interview but it was precious. IIRC, the Russians were blamed for the hack but the FBI turned the email server over to a Ukrainian cyber security firm. Duh. Then there was the theory that the hack was an inside job because a disgruntled Bernie supporter was found dead and the FBI would never release his laptop. Can't remember that guy's name. Can't find any links about it. I search DuckDuckGo and all the articles are from outlets like the New York Times or the Washington Post. But there was a helluva lot more to the story than any of them would ever admit.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/29/2024 12:33 Comments ||
Top||
#18
I think we need to put the candidates on an island like Survivor for a year before the election.
It's not like they actually run the country.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 12:38 Comments ||
Top||
#19
Donna Brazille? Her absence from the political spotlight clearly proves stupid has a shelf-life.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/29/2024 12:51 Comments ||
Top||
#22
And it's interesting to see Ukrainian involvement. Somehow, it always seems to be about Russia and Ukraine.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/29/2024 12:54 Comments ||
Top||
#23
Brazile nut is also called something else. Gimme a minute it'll come to me...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 13:01 Comments ||
Top||
#24
I think if you have been thinking about leaving Ukraine, that creaking sound you hear is the window closing.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 13:03 Comments ||
Top||
#25
Then there was the theory that the hack was an inside job because a disgruntled Bernie supporter was found dead and the FBI would never release his laptop. Can't remember that guy's name
Seth Rich
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/29/2024 13:24 Comments ||
Top||
#26
Thanks, Frank. The disk drives were spinning. I would have gotten it sooner or later but probably later.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/29/2024 13:45 Comments ||
Top||
#27
^ Murdered in a "robbery" but nothing was taken
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/29/2024 13:55 Comments ||
Top||
#28
Seth Rich playing cards with Judge Crater right now.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 13:57 Comments ||
Top||
#29
Even Mahar is piling on: “I don’t want to say he s**t the bed, but his new Secret Service name is Amber Heard,”
#30
The problem the dems have is this is stand back so you don't get hurt time.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:18 Comments ||
Top||
#31
Like I said, I missed portions on account of weather:
Did Dr. Jill really take the stage in a tacky dress looking like a postal package with tape wrapped around it?
#32
Picture I saw she seemed to be channeling Howard Dean.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 14:41 Comments ||
Top||
#33
Trump should have asked the moderators a question when they asked if he would accept the results of the election: “how come you never ask Biden if he will not create Russian or other hoaxes to influence the 2024 election?”
Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself.
Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November. http://joebiden.com
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
06/29/2024 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
E-Mail||
[206 views]
Top|| File under:
#3
Barak now understands that Joey is not going to make to the line to start BO's 4th term. Kamala is airheaded enough to be maleable, but she's likely to think she's in charge.
And all this time, Hillary is wanting to return the favor and shank him back.
This is the problem with kneecapping all your competition: sometimes you need help, and nobody can or will.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
06/29/2024 7:56 Comments ||
Top||
#4
There are also stories of Obama led meetings on replacing Joe. Would Barack Tweet support while trying to replace Joe? Of course he would.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/29/2024 8:34 Comments ||
Top||
#5
/\ Yes, there is still time for a Litvinenko style physical deterioration.
#6
Remember when Joe was trying to get elected and talked about how he would be willing to step aside and let presidential ready Kamala Harris take over at some point. I guess nobody talked to Jill about that.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/29/2024 11:30 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Now Bill Clinton claims Biden is fine for the job. That means all of the old Democrats are on board.
Posted by: Whavick Scourge of the Apes9857 ||
06/29/2024 11:56 Comments ||
Top||
#8
The Clinton entry into the equation is a desperate move that is usually accompanied with a body count.
#15
Tom Friedman is crying because you think that's funny. No worries. Im laughing too.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/29/2024 12:18 Comments ||
Top||
#16
I would just love to see a huge fight at the Democrat convention. Fur flying all over the place. Bloody noses. People walking around indignant and all butt hurt. Yelling and screaming at each other. Machiavellians sharpening their knives in smoke filled back rooms, trying to keep it hidden but everybody's too desperate and it spills out onto the convention floor. I can dream, can't I?
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/29/2024 12:42 Comments ||
Top||
#17
I would just love to see a huge fight at the Democrat convention.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...where God struck dead Anton LaVey, home of the Sydney Ducks, ruled by Vigilance Committee from 1859 through 1867, reliably and volubly Democrat since 1964...
