Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

Why We Must Investigate Russian Influence on the E******n

Congress should launch a full, independent investigation, similar to the 9/11 commission

America's Cold War nemesis may have succeeded not only in degrading global faith in American democratic institutions, but in subverting our choice for leader of the free world.
By Tim Dickinson


The Russian influence in our p**********l e******n requires immediate action by Congress to launch a full, independent investigation – similar to the commission convened to investigate the attacks of 9/11. This committee requires subpoena power and the authority to release an unredacted accounting of this assault on our democracy.


The allegations surrounding Russia's cyber attack – made with "high confidence" by our intelligence community – are explosive: Hackers loyal to the Kremlin stole documents from both the DNC and the RNC, but released only the former to WikiLeaks. Under the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the campaign escalated into a bald bid to install Republican Donald Trump as president of the United States.

The implications of this attack are staggering. America's Cold War nemesis – a resurgent authoritarian power with expansionist aims in Europe, subject to harsh international sanctions for its annexation of Crimea – may have succeeded not only in degrading global faith in American democratic institutions, but in subverting our choice for leader of the free world.

With Trump soon to take the oath of office, the Russian plot raises harrowing questions: What did Trump know of the effort, and when did he know it? What are we to make, in retrospect, of Trump's call on the Russian government to hack Clinton's emails last July? Or of Trump's unvarnished praise of Putin throughout the campaign? Or of Trump's efforts to undermine the NATO alliance? Or of the president-elect's refusal, even now, to acknowledge the Russian origin of the hack, and his denigration, instead, of U.S. intelligence?

The spectre of Russian influence casts an even darker shadow over the Trump administration moving forward. What became of the hacked RNC emails? Does the Kremlin have leverage – kompromat – over Trump or his inner circle? (RNC chair Reince Priebus is, today, Trump's chief of staff.) Was the appointment of Rex Tillerson, who was personally awarded Russia's Order of Friendship by Putin, as secretary of state made only with America's interest at heart?

Without a dispassionate investigation into the Russian attack, such open questions will metastasize into conspiracy theory, or worse. For millions of Americans, the legitimacy of the 2016 e******n will remain in doubt, furthering Russian interest in subverting our democracy.

A special investigation must fearlessly follow the facts, and lay them out with clarity before American v**ers. This is true whether they reveal the Russian attack was merely a noxious undercurrent to an e******n that T***p w*n fairly, or whether they reveal Putin effected a cyber c**p to install the 45th president of the United States – whether they reveal Trump was a lucky beneficiary of Russian meddling, or whether he or his associates were active participants in the Putin plot.

This attack cannot be wished away or swept under the rug. Failure to investigate will invite not only corrosive doubt, but likely copycat attacks from other foreign actors. "When you have strong evidence a foreign power has interfered with American institutions, you keep digging and get the facts out," writes Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who sits on the Senate intelligence committee who has called for information on the attack to be declassified.

The Russian cyberattack struck at the heart of our politics. But the investigation into its origins and its impacts must rise above partisanship. As South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote with clarity on Twitter this week, "Russian hacking during the US p**********l e******n is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It's an American issue. We must stand together."


http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/why-we-must-investigate-russian-influence-on-the-e******n-w456400

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Paragon of news, Rolling Stone?
Remember the rape allegations their reporter made up as true?
All the other crap?
Why is the CIA refusing to brief congress on the supposed Russian hacking.
FBI says no proof of it. No other agency has supported the claim. Just a bunch of false news here.

Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

What you say is just wrong. Keep up.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Name one thing I said was wrong and provide proof.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rape_on_Campus

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/17/498242065/defamation-trial-over-rolling-stone-rape-allegation-story-to-begin

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/04/500701682/jury-finds-rolling-stone-reporter-liable-for-damages-over-rape-allegation-story

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/jury-finds-reporter-rolling-stone-responsible-for-defaming-u-va-dean-with-gang-rape-story/2016/11/04/aaf407fa-a1e8-11e6-a44d-cc2898cfab06_story.html?utm_term=.6f9c75590c4d

http://abcnews.go.com/US/rolling-stone-writer-testifies-defamation-trial-rape-campus/story?id=42919854

http://abcnews.go.com/US/rolling-stone-writer-testifies-defamation-trial-rape-campus/story?id=42919854

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4037220/CIA-officials-REFUSE-brief-Congress-t***h-Russian-hacking-claims-rebuked-GOP-congressman-disgraceful-move.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/12/14/intelligence-officials-refuse-brief-house-panel-russian-hacking/95453412/

http://www.theeventchronicle.com/news/north-america/cia-officials-refuse-brief-congress-t***h-russian-hacking-claims/

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/16/us-needs-to-stop-russia-from-trying-to-destabilize-western-democracies-senate-homeland-chair-says.html

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2016/12/14/obama-intelligence-officials-refuse-to-brief-congress-on-promoted-russian-hacking-conspiracy/

http://t***hfeed.com/russian-hacking-is-100-percent-fraud-cia-officials-refuse-to-brief-congress-on-their-report/41891/

Choose your news source. And show where my statement on the Rape issue is wrong or kiss my a....

Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

"All the other crap?
Why is the CIA refusing to brief congress on the supposed Russian hacking.
FBI says no proof of it. No other agency has supported the claim. Just a bunch of false news here."

THIS is where you proved wrong.

Why bother?

Leica User Loc: Western North Carolina

You did not take any of the suggestions to get yourself some remedial reading courses did you? It is absolutely true that the CIA is refusing to brief Congress on the so called Russian hacking. If they only let you out just so many minutes a day it may explain how you are so uninformed but based on your past posts, I think you are just simply ignorant.
Here is one story of the approximately 5000+ stories confirming their refusal to brief congress. Since you are "reading" challenged, get someone to read it to you. Maybe that place where you stay has someone that can help out.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/12/14/intelligence-officials-refuse-brief-house-panel-russian-hacking/95453412/

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Libs in total meltdown, hysterical to watch.

Keenan Loc: Central Coast California

Blurry is just a one trick pony these days. Just the same broken record "libs in meltdown" handwaving dismissal of everything he can't refute. I guess the t***h hurts.

Would someone please let me know when Blurry ever comes up with something intelligent or new? I wouldn't want to miss it.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

LOL, it is true, watching you fools with all your sky is falling prognostication is quite entertaining. You were never critical of Obama, possibly one of the worst presidents we have had in recent history, yet here you are before Trump even takes office projecting nothing but doom and gloom for our country and crying about the Russians who have been blamed for what exactly? Exposing the t***h about the Clinton campaign? Now Rex Tillerson was placed in the Trump administration by Putin???????? You people need to get a life.

Black Bart Loc: Indiana

Let them rant Blurry I'm enjoying watching them melt down.
I will not waste my time with him but it is funny to watch him and the others in total melt down.