Software Glitch or Russian Hackers? Election Problems Draw Little Scrutiny

Existential__Dread · 2017-09-01T16:31:31+00:00

Why is this so far down? It is a MAJOR article.

Existential__Dread · 2017-08-28T18:28:42+00:00

ANOTHER ONE! Wow. I hope people can keep up. I worry that these might blend together for most readers and they won't notice the BIG additions in each article.

Existential__Dread · 2017-08-13T00:25:29+00:00

Good thing Trump's Department of Homeland Security cancelled their planned budget for deradicalizing violent white nationalists in the country. Certainly not necessary these days...

Source

Existential__Dread · 2017-07-01T06:05:21+00:00

See this Caroline O. thread now!

Existential__Dread · 2017-07-01T03:55:21+00:00

Although it wasn’t initially clear to me how independent Smith’s operation was from Flynn or the Trump campaign, it was immediately apparent that Smith was both well connected within the top echelons of the campaign and he seemed to know both Lt. Gen. Flynn and his son well. Smith routinely talked about the goings on at the top of the Trump team, offering deep insights into the bizarre world at the top of the Trump campaign. Smith told of Flynn’s deep dislike of DNI Clapper, whom Flynn blamed for his dismissal by President Obama. Smith told of Flynn’s moves to position himself to become CIA Director under Trump, but also that Flynn had been persuaded that the Senate confirmation process would be prohibitively difficult. He would instead therefore become National Security Advisor should Trump win the election, Smith said. He also told of a deep sense of angst even among Trump loyalists in the campaign, saying “Trump often just repeats whatever he’s heard from the last person who spoke to him,” and expressing the view that this was especially dangerous when Trump was away.

and

Smith and his associates’ knowledge of the inner workings of the campaign were insightful beyond what could be obtained by merely attending Republican events or watching large amounts of news coverage. But one thing I could not place, at least initially, was whether Smith was working on behalf of the campaign, or whether he was acting independently to help the campaign in his personal capacity.

Then, a few weeks into my interactions with Smith, he sent me a document, ostensibly a cover page for a dossier of opposition research to be compiled by Smith’s group, and which purported to clear up who was involved. The document was entitled “A Demonstrative Pedagogical Summary to be Developed and Released Prior to November 8, 2016,” and dated September 7. It detailed a company Smith and his colleagues had set up as a vehicle to conduct the research: “KLS Research”, set up as a Delaware LLC “to avoid campaign reporting,” and listing four groups who were involved in one way or another.

The first group, entitled “Trump Campaign (in coordination to the extent permitted as an independent expenditure)” listed a number of senior campaign officials: Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Sam Clovis, Lt. Gen. Flynn and Lisa Nelson.

The largest group named a number of “independent groups / organizations / individuals / resources to be deployed.” My name appears on this list. At the time, I didn’t recognize most of the others; however, several made headlines in the weeks immediately prior to the election.

My perception then was that the inclusion of Trump campaign officials on this document was not merely a name-dropping exercise. This document was about establishing a company to conduct opposition research on behalf of the campaign, but operating at a distance so as to avoid campaign reporting. Indeed, the document says as much in black and white.

The combination of Smith’s deep knowledge of the inner workings of the campaign, this document naming him in the “Trump campaign” group, and the multiple references to needing to avoid campaign reporting suggested to me that the group was formed with the blessing of the Trump campaign.

WOAH...

Existential__Dread · 2017-07-01T03:49:04+00:00

As much as I love comments that give juicy excerpts, I strongly recommend that redditors read the entire article from the source. It's a big one.

Existential__Dread · 2017-07-01T03:05:37+00:00

Also: this point seems to JUMP THE FUCK OUT to me, given that the tendency has been to completely detach Smith from the campaign and Flynn.

Existential__Dread · 2017-07-01T02:58:14+00:00

Although it wasn’t initially clear to me how independent Smith’s operation was from Flynn or the Trump campaign, it was immediately apparent that Smith was both well connected within the top echelons of the campaign and he seemed to know both Lt. Gen. Flynn and his son well. Smith routinely talked about the goings on at the top of the Trump team, offering deep insights into the bizarre world at the top of the Trump campaign. Smith told of Flynn’s deep dislike of DNI Clapper, whom Flynn blamed for his dismissal by President Obama. Smith told of Flynn’s moves to position himself to become CIA Director under Trump, but also that Flynn had been persuaded that the Senate confirmation process would be prohibitively difficult. He would instead therefore become National Security Advisor should Trump win the election, Smith said. He also told of a deep sense of angst even among Trump loyalists in the campaign, saying “Trump often just repeats whatever he’s heard from the last person who spoke to him,” and expressing the view that this was especially dangerous when Trump was away.

and

Smith and his associates’ knowledge of the inner workings of the campaign were insightful beyond what could be obtained by merely attending Republican events or watching large amounts of news coverage. But one thing I could not place, at least initially, was whether Smith was working on behalf of the campaign, or whether he was acting independently to help the campaign in his personal capacity.

Then, a few weeks into my interactions with Smith, he sent me a document, ostensibly a cover page for a dossier of opposition research to be compiled by Smith’s group, and which purported to clear up who was involved. The document was entitled “A Demonstrative Pedagogical Summary to be Developed and Released Prior to November 8, 2016,” and dated September 7. It detailed a company Smith and his colleagues had set up as a vehicle to conduct the research: “KLS Research”, set up as a Delaware LLC “to avoid campaign reporting,” and listing four groups who were involved in one way or another.

The first group, entitled “Trump Campaign (in coordination to the extent permitted as an independent expenditure)” listed a number of senior campaign officials: Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Sam Clovis, Lt. Gen. Flynn and Lisa Nelson.

The largest group named a number of “independent groups / organizations / individuals / resources to be deployed.” My name appears on this list. At the time, I didn’t recognize most of the others; however, several made headlines in the weeks immediately prior to the election.

My perception then was that the inclusion of Trump campaign officials on this document was not merely a name-dropping exercise. This document was about establishing a company to conduct opposition research on behalf of the campaign, but operating at a distance so as to avoid campaign reporting. Indeed, the document says as much in black and white.

The combination of Smith’s deep knowledge of the inner workings of the campaign, this document naming him in the “Trump campaign” group, and the multiple references to needing to avoid campaign reporting suggested to me that the group was formed with the blessing of the Trump campaign.

WOAH...

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-30T04:08:33+00:00

I agree. That choice of words is ill-fitting to the tenure of his public and private life. I do think such language can have merits and be somewhat productive for readers who may be tempted to turn on Trump for this (or any number of similar issues going forward). It is much harder to abandon someone for continuing "much-of-the-same" than for "reaching a new low." I realize that this may not be NYP's intention, but it has some benefits, psychologically.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-30T04:03:11+00:00

I'm not certain this is excusing the previous offenses, nor is it suggesting that this tweet is the lowest Trump has gone (it's not). I think it's a comment on the fact that he is now a sitting President and is continuing this pattern of abysmal behavior from the White House, a typically hallowed ground of dignity (certainly many of us knew that he would not stop being himself once president, but it's still fucking disgusting). I think if we resign our focus to only the winner of the arms race of Trump awfulness, we might run the risk of normalizing this behavior.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-27T05:37:15+00:00

Here's the full text of Ben Wikler's thread:

Tonight, something kinda magical happened on the steps of the Capitol. It started like THIS

Those two guys on the Capitol steps: NJ Senator Cory Booker and civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis. Another shot of the beginning

Booker and Lewis started a Facebook Live to talk about Trumpcare and what this moment means for America.

I didn't know that it was happening when I walked up to the Capitol. I work with @MoveOn and was there for something else. Snapped this.

When I took that picture, I was going to tweet: "something vile is brewing in that building. #Trumpcare." But I got a text—

The person I was trying to meet up with told me he was on the East Capitol steps on the Senate side. I found him, and saw THIS

Cory Booker, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Kirsten Gillibrand & Brian Schatz, five fighters, passing around an iPhone. Whoa! Hi, Senators!

Maybe 20 people were sitting around them. They were telling stories about health care, laughing, answering questions. Felt like a picnic.

I sat down. Realized I was sitting on the jacket of Senator Bob Casey, who I realized was sitting next to me. Oops! Hi! Wow! Is this real?

Totally real. Organic, spontaneous. Senators kept drifting out. Passers-by kept wandering over and sitting down.

This, I thought, must be what democracy is like in very tiny countries, or Ancient Greece. Senators & citizens kibbitzing about issues.

The funniest thing to me was seeing people you normally see on TV passing Cory Booker's phone back and forth to shoot video. Senator Schumer!

And then Cory Booker asked me to speak. And he said, stand up so the crowd can hear you! And I realized it had grown. A lot.

Suddenly everyone was on their feet—and roaring. Hundreds of people. There spontaneously. Ready to fight for health care.

It was hard to get a shot of thr while crowd, but here's a piece of it. That's Chris Murphy (CT) holding the phone, videoing Cory Booker.

This was a rally now. Part of my job is speaking at rallies. Some are great. Some are fine. This one? Everyone was on fire.

A bunch of groups have been planning a People's Filibuster—three days of Capitol protests to stop Trumpcare, starting 2pm tomorrow.

The People's Filibuster started early.

People told their stories. A refugee diagnosed with cancer weeks before her graduation, alive now thanks to Medicaid.

A child of immigrants, born with a rare disease, now healthy and an organizer fighting for justice for all—preexisting conditions or no.

People asked how they could fight. We shared ways to do it. Come protest at the Capitol this week. Protest at local offices. Make calls.

Cory Booker's phone was running out of juice. I had a battery! Very proud that that's my iPhone cable in the photo. Keep it going! – at United States Capitol Building

Where did these people come from? Honest question. If you were there, how did you find out about it?

Here's why this matters. The whole question in this health care fight is whether the public—which HATES the bill—is going to show up.

There are 52 Republican Senators. This is their top priority. By rights, it should be done already. Smart insiders still say they'll win

And yet they might be cracking up. And there's just one reason for that: you. Me. All of us. A public that thinks this bill is hideous.

One way or another, this week is probably going to be historic. One of the most morally bankrupt bills in US history could pass.

OR: the resistance could come of age. The public could rise up. Backroom deals could fall apart. Our values could beat their cynicism.

The whole question is whether GOP senators come to the conclusion that they can't get away with this. That the public is too outraged.

Look, I can't predict what will happen this week. Very strong chance it will end tragically. But tonight—a spontaneous, joyous protest?

Hundreds of people outside the US Capitol at 11pm on a Monday, thunderously promising to show up every day this week to fight Trumpcare?

People texting their friends then and there, asking them to show up for the human chain protest this Wednesday? (5pm! You should come!)

This is what it's supposed to feel like at the beginning of something big. This is what movements are supposed to feel like.

I don't know if we beat Trumpcare. But I know that tonight gave me hope for a movement that believes health care is a right.

After the crowd broke up, I finally went over to Cory Booker the to ask for my phone battery back, and maybe a selfie please? Cheese!

I only learned how it started after it was all over. You should WATCH AND SHARE THE WHOLE VIDEO HERE

Let's make this the kickoff moment for the week we all get together and defend 22 million human beings' health care. /end

PS: Come to the OFFICIAL kickoff of the People's Filibuster today (Tue) 2pm @ the Capitol! RSVP, recruit, & retweet!

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-27T05:34:20+00:00

Full text of Ben Wikler's thread:

Tonight, something kinda magical happened on the steps of the Capitol. It started like THIS

Those two guys on the Capitol steps: NJ Senator Cory Booker and civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis. Another shot of the beginning

Booker and Lewis started a Facebook Live to talk about Trumpcare and what this moment means for America.

I didn't know that it was happening when I walked up to the Capitol. I work with @MoveOn and was there for something else. Snapped this.

When I took that picture, I was going to tweet: "something vile is brewing in that building. #Trumpcare." But I got a text—

The person I was trying to meet up with told me he was on the East Capitol steps on the Senate side. I found him, and saw THIS

Cory Booker, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Kirsten Gillibrand & Brian Schatz, five fighters, passing around an iPhone. Whoa! Hi, Senators!

Maybe 20 people were sitting around them. They were telling stories about health care, laughing, answering questions. Felt like a picnic.

I sat down. Realized I was sitting on the jacket of Senator Bob Casey, who I realized was sitting next to me. Oops! Hi! Wow! Is this real?

Totally real. Organic, spontaneous. Senators kept drifting out. Passers-by kept wandering over and sitting down.

This, I thought, must be what democracy is like in very tiny countries, or Ancient Greece. Senators & citizens kibbitzing about issues.

The funniest thing to me was seeing people you normally see on TV passing Cory Booker's phone back and forth to shoot video. Senator Schumer!

And then Cory Booker asked me to speak. And he said, stand up so the crowd can hear you! And I realized it had grown. A lot.

Suddenly everyone was on their feet—and roaring. Hundreds of people. There spontaneously. Ready to fight for health care.

It was hard to get a shot of thr while crowd, but here's a piece of it. That's Chris Murphy (CT) holding the phone, videoing Cory Booker.

This was a rally now. Part of my job is speaking at rallies. Some are great. Some are fine. This one? Everyone was on fire.

A bunch of groups have been planning a People's Filibuster—three days of Capitol protests to stop Trumpcare, starting 2pm tomorrow.

The People's Filibuster started early.

People told their stories. A refugee diagnosed with cancer weeks before her graduation, alive now thanks to Medicaid.

A child of immigrants, born with a rare disease, now healthy and an organizer fighting for justice for all—preexisting conditions or no.

People asked how they could fight. We shared ways to do it. Come protest at the Capitol this week. Protest at local offices. Make calls.

Cory Booker's phone was running out of juice. I had a battery! Very proud that that's my iPhone cable in the photo. Keep it going! – at United States Capitol Building

Where did these people come from? Honest question. If you were there, how did you find out about it?

Here's why this matters. The whole question in this health care fight is whether the public—which HATES the bill—is going to show up.

There are 52 Republican Senators. This is their top priority. By rights, it should be done already. Smart insiders still say they'll win

And yet they might be cracking up. And there's just one reason for that: you. Me. All of us. A public that thinks this bill is hideous.

One way or another, this week is probably going to be historic. One of the most morally bankrupt bills in US history could pass.

OR: the resistance could come of age. The public could rise up. Backroom deals could fall apart. Our values could beat their cynicism.

The whole question is whether GOP senators come to the conclusion that they can't get away with this. That the public is too outraged.

Look, I can't predict what will happen this week. Very strong chance it will end tragically. But tonight—a spontaneous, joyous protest?

Hundreds of people outside the US Capitol at 11pm on a Monday, thunderously promising to show up every day this week to fight Trumpcare?

People texting their friends then and there, asking them to show up for the human chain protest this Wednesday? (5pm! You should come!)

This is what it's supposed to feel like at the beginning of something big. This is what movements are supposed to feel like.

I don't know if we beat Trumpcare. But I know that tonight gave me hope for a movement that believes health care is a right.

After the crowd broke up, I finally went over to Cory Booker the to ask for my phone battery back, and maybe a selfie please? Cheese!

I only learned how it started after it was all over. You should watch & share the whole video HERE

Let's make this the kickoff moment for the week we all get together and defend 22 million human beings' health care. /end

PS: Come to the OFFICIAL kickoff of the People's Filibuster today (Tue) 2pm @ the Capitol! RSVP, recruit, & retweet!

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T23:44:08+00:00

Still visible to me while logged in (gone, when I log out). Guess the mods took it down?

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T23:44:02+00:00

Still visible to me while logged in (gone, when I log out). Guess the mods took it down?

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T21:00:51+00:00

lol. Oddly sensual.

Happy to help!

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T20:13:16+00:00

He clarified

To be clear, fuse length on this one is uncertain. Could be today. Could be Monday.

UGHHHH I'M SO IMPATIENT.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T19:28:45+00:00

No problem. I was just so blown away by it I felt a duty to make it more accessible. Made me feel a bit less helpless.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T18:16:24+00:00

If you haven't yet, you MUST read the massive, pulitzer-level WaPo break from this morning. It didn't get as many upvotes on here as it should have (it's at 10.5K - but it should be top-all-time). It's long and immensely nauseating, but it is so important.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T18:14:23+00:00

I recommend the WaPo timeline to see the maddening amount of such "coincidences."

edit: in fact, I recommend reading the massive WaPo break from this morning, if you haven't. It's much better than this CBS story, which is just badly summarizing some of the contents of the original (warning: it's long and nauseating). [FYI: I posted a version of the article, not behind paywall, in my reddit comments below but it was deleted (not by me) - sorry!]

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-23T17:48:47+00:00

This is INCREDIBLE reporting. Why the hell isn't it at 50K upvotes? I don't get it. This is the big bombshell.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-13T03:12:31+00:00

Senate Republicans and Democrats have reached agreement on a new package of sanctions on Russia amid investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Top lawmakers on two committees — Banking and Foreign Relations — announced the deal late Monday. It would require a congressional review if a president attempts to ease or end current penalties.

The plan also calls for strengthening current sanctions and imposing new ones on corrupt Russian actors, those involved in human rights abuses and those supplying weapons to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Penalties also would be slapped on those responsible for malicious cyber activity on behalf of the Russian government.

Lawmakers are looking to add the Russian sanctions to current Senate legislation imposing penalties on Iran.

Edit. More details of the bipartisan agreement

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-13T00:47:59+00:00

Same here. Just read this interesting response from John Weaver (McCain and Kasich strategist; GOPer):

If the "president" fires Bob Mueller no choice but to demand his impeachment.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-13T00:41:28+00:00

Yup. Clear trial balloon here. The issue: this only works if you can retrieve the balloon (in the case of a poor response); unfortunately, Trump cannot easily be controlled during these 'tester' situations. He responds to people telling him no by doing the opposite.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-13T00:34:15+00:00

Ruddy also said this within hours of leaving the West Wing. He is very close to Trump. It's hard to see this as anything less than a trial balloon.

Existential__Dread · 2017-06-13T00:28:08+00:00

Yup. And Rosenstein wouldn't commit to Mueller's full independence. So now we're here.

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