US Politics, December 2017: I guess there’s always 2018

that was me sleeve :)

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/key-issue-in-flynn-plea-deal

The key question out of the Flynn plea agreement is the identity of the person referenced as a “senior official of the Presidential Transition Team” and another termed a “very senior member of the Presidential Transition Team”.

...The ‘very’ in “very senior member” seems like an almost over the top effort to convey just who it was the prosecutors are talking about. It’s hard to see that that is not either Pence or President Trump, though it also strikes me as perhaps a bit too coy to refer to the incoming President as a member of transition team.

...The clear takeaway is that basically all of Trump’s top advisors, including the President and almost certainly Vice President Pence, were in the loop about these calls even if they did not themselves speak to Flynn directly.

Who are these people, the “senior official” and the “very senior official” I doubt we’ll have to wait long to find out.

pretty obvious implications based upon the plea deal and the statement, but still very surreal

the guy on the right used taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment scandal https://t.co/5Dc4DF3alD pic.twitter.com/fZXdcpBQUH

— Rex Santus (@rexsantus) December 1, 2017

looks like it is kushner?

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-01/kushner-is-said-to-have-ordered-flynn-to-contact-russia

looks like this handy cut-out-and-keep guide to russian collusion might come in handy

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DP-wzWMX0AEYLoq?format=jpg

cool, clear as mud

can't wait till this affair helps bring down the massively important *squints* jaren frishner

Prosecutors stated Flynn was directed to engage the Russians on 12/29/16 by donald’s national security transition team.

Senator Tom Cotton was on that team.

The same Tom Cotton who rabidly defended Mike Flynn.

The same Tom Cotton about to be nominated as CIA Director.

— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) December 1, 2017

Meanwhile right-wingers are all like "HELLO? reaching out to foreign powers was his JOB, that's NORMAL, that's what an incoming administration is SUPPOSED to do; if Trump hadn't done that, the media would be all like 'he's not prepared!'."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcKtEUUg4Qa/

― Evan, Friday, December 1, 2017 1:02 PM (thirty-six minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

crazy how everyone who escapes from this shitpile of a government (Comey/Boehner/Obama) seems to have the time of their lives

there's like three people Flynn could have possibly flipped on, I don't see how this leads to anyone other than Trump himself honestly

Other right-wing lines:

"It's called DIPLOMACY! you fuckheads" etc. etc.

Then shifting to "man, that Obama admin official..."

Or, best, "well now that he's an admitted liar, nothing Flynn says can be taken seriously now! The first question will be 'did you admit to lying' / 'yes' / 'okay so why should be believe anything you say now?'."

Re: Tom Cotton "about to be nominated as CIA director",

despite being reported by NYT and elsewhere last night as something that is happening, it's not clear at all that Pompeo > State / Cotton > CIA / Tillerson > Ducktales Silo filled with Gold is a real thing or ongoing process.

Ly'nn Flynn

There Is No Evidence of ‘Collusion’ in Michael Flynn’s Offense Statement

lol david french you magnificent bastard

le david français

David Freedom

Instead, it amplifies the fact that Flynn apparently lied about contacts that were lawful and appropriate.

y tho?

Thing is strictly speaking French is right based on the exact charge and statement. The split right now is to whether that's 'all' that's there -- haha! -- or if there's something more as yet formally undiscussed in terms of charges and offenses. In terms of NRO world Andrew McCarthy is pushing the first option hard, French is there too, whereas in his Bloomberg piece Eli Lake is vaguely more 'maybe?' about it. But this is clearly closer to what's likely happening:

Had lunch with a lawyer today. He noted that Mueller will "report back" to the court on sentencing, which (he says) is an anvil hanging over Flynn's head for as long as Mueller wants.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) December 1, 2017

really trying not to get too excited about any of this

It's another step. It's a BIG step, because for the first time reaches beyond 'mere' campaign operatives towards someone formally in government and his actions there and immediately proceeding. So we'll see what's next.

What will be interesting is if there's some new signal from somewhere. This news was essentially out in the open a week and a half back when the report about Flynn's lawyer discontinuing cooperation with Trump/Kushner's folks circulated. We see something like this again, you'll know something major is up.

Trump firing Comey to protect Flynn, leading to Mueller using a special counsel to get Flynn to flip against Trump is some delicious irony

with the intelligence level of this White House they probably think you meant "ironing."

like a dorm room grilled cheese

never forget

US Politics December 2017: Deficits Don't Matter

I'm pouring out a 40 for the other thread as we speak.

Meanwhile

Trump firing Comey to protect Flynn, leading to Mueller using a special counsel to get Flynn to flip against Trump

is the "she swallowed the spider to catch the fly" of US politics

I don't know why we elected this guy
I hope he dies

lol

Re: Tom Cotton "about to be nominated as CIA director",

despite being reported by NYT and elsewhere last night as something that is happening, it's not clear at all that Pompeo > State / Cotton > CIA / Tillerson > Ducktales Silo filled with Gold is a real thing or ongoing process.

― Karl Malone, Friday, December 1, 2017 6:45 PM (fifty-two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah no way Tillerson leaves before 2/1 unless he gets fired. supposedly he has to pay taxes on his titanic exxon divestment if he quits any earlier.

Had lunch with a lawyer today. He noted that Mueller will "report back" to the court on sentencing, which (he says) is an anvil hanging over Flynn's head for as long as Mueller wants.

from that tom nichols tweet - no shit. flynn is cooperating and will be sentenced once this whole thing is wrapped up. then the DOJ will weigh in on whether he rendered 'substantial assistance' and if so - have his sentence reduced to the bare minimum. anything short of substantial assistance will get him the full 5 years. still its not that much time which means he has some good ass info on higher ups.

supposedly he has to pay taxes on his titanic exxon divestment if he quits any earlier.

If Flynn’s pleading guilty to lying about this Russia meeting does that mean he won’t be charged for his Turkish connection, which some reports said involved discussing taking bribes for extraditing a guy?

http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/11/10/michael-flynn-investigation-turkey-cleric-wsj-cuomo-bts-newday.cnn

These shennanigans.

does that mean he won’t be charged for his Turkish connection

as I read it, it means that Mueller is keeping that charge in his hip pocket, as leverage, so that Flynn stays maximally cooperative through fear of the consequences for himself if he doesn't come clean and feed Mueller everything he knows. Since more items may arise where Flynn's knowledge may be important, Mueller won't resolve that charge until he's sure he's drained Flynn of every scrap of info he knows.

Alright. As long as this isn’t the final “deal.” Bc handing over dissidents for cash is reprehensible and he should be held accountable.

The deal ain't over or set in stone until he's sentenced.

have 'secured support for priorities' fuckin' a jeff well done

I would simply point out that jeff 'the flake' flake is a republican. he's just more of a bush republican than a trump republican.

Y'know, it's easy to gloat, but I think it's kind of beautiful General Flynn is flipping because he knows his son @mflynnJR is too weak for prison. That's the heartwarming lesson I take out of this.

— John Rogers (@jonrog1) December 1, 2017

BREAKING: Jared Kushner is the "very senior member" of Trump transition mentioned in Michael Flynn guilty plea, NBC News has learned. https://t.co/zry8ksiZr0

— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) December 1, 2017

soooo....Ivanka's gonna be single

Twitter silence finally broken, glad to see he's addressing the elephant in the room

The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson or that he would be leaving soon - FAKE NEWS! He’s not leaving and while we disagree on certain subjects, (I call the final shots) we work well together and America is highly respected again!https://t.co/FrqiPLFJ1E

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017

"I call the final shots" would've been an excellent December thread title...mods, make it happen

Jared Kushner is the "very senior member" of Trump transition mentioned in Michael Flynn guilty plea

fleas are hard to kill. fingertip pressure is not nearly enough. it is best to crush them between two hard surfaces, such as between one's fingernails.

Opportunity missed.

Speaking of Flynn Jr. he suddenly posted this

Family is the most important thing in life.....don’t ever take yours for granted. Thanks everyone for the support. pic.twitter.com/gVEilG9Dde

— 🇺🇸MFLYNNJR🇺🇸 (@mflynnJR) December 1, 2017

Opportunity missed.

More likely delayed.

never forget -- i call the final shots

I don't want to be a downer but impending passage of tax bill is worse news than Flynn plea is good news.

You may disagree if you choose but I call the final shots

deficits don't matter, whatever happens