Okay take a look at this from the MTP transcripts:
CHUCK TODD:
Can you get on a better footing with them if you don't address this issue of the Russian interference? I mean your counterpart, the Russian foreign minister, Mr. Lavrov, said that you guys didn't even talk about this issue of Russian interference in our election because, as he put it, President Trump himself says it's fake news, so it's not an issue. Why haven't you brought it up with them?
SECRETARY REX TILLERSON:
Well, Chuck, I think we have such a broad range of important issues that have to be addressed in the U.S.-Russia relationship. Obviously the interference in the election is one of those. I think it's been well documented, it's pretty well understood, the nature of that interference, here and elsewhere.
And you know, these are not new tactics on the part of the Russian government, directed not only at us but at others. But again, I think we have to look at this relationship in its broadest contours, and there are many, many important areas which require our attention if we are to bring it back to a relationship that we believe is necessary for the security of the U.S.
CHUCK TODD:
Mr. Secretary, though. This is fundamental. They interfered with our democracy. I just don't understand how this is not a top issue for you to deal with with them in order to, essentially, start with a clean slate. Can't start with a clean slate until maybe they either own up to what they did, or we punish them in a way that they're not going to do this again.
SECRETARY REX TILLERSON:
Well, Chuck, I think it's important to understand we're not trying to start with a clean slate. I think terms like having a reset are overused. You cannot reset. You cannot erase the past. You cannot start with a clean slate. And we're not trying to start with a clean slate.
We're starting with the slate we have. And all the problems that are on that slate. We don't dismiss any of them. We don't give anyone a free pass on any of them. They're part of the entire nature of the discussion we're having with the Russians. And yes, there are a large number of issues that we have to get around to addressing in order to put this relationship back together, if that is indeed possible.
CHUCK TODD:
During your confirmation hearings you made clear you didn't have-- obviously you hadn't been briefed on the intelligence reports, the 17 different agencies that came to the conclusions that the Russians did make an effort to interfere in this election. Obviously there's an investigation going along to see if there was any collusion in this interference. Since you've become Secretary of State in February, have you been briefed? Have you seen this intelligence now? Is it clear in your mind that it is a fact the Russians interfered in our elections?
SECRETARY REX TILLERSON:
I have seen the intelligence reports, Chuck, and yes, I don't think there's any question that the Russians were playing around in our electoral processes. Again, as those intelligence reports also have indicated, it's inconclusive as to what, if any, effect it had.
CHUCK TODD:
I understand about the impact, but the fact that they got into it, what should the repercussions be now, in your mind?
SECRETARY REX TILLERSON:
Well, they're just part of that broader landscape of conversations, Chuck. And I think, you know, the real impact is it serves yet again to undermine the trust between the United States and Russia. And as I have said, and the president has said, you know, we're just at a very, very low level of trust between our two countries right now. And so what we're exploring is how do we begin the process of restoring that trust. And ultimately it will touch on all of these issues.
Yes, that "low level of trust" is directly related to the Russians hacking our election, and restoring that trust means that THEY do something to make amends and promise to stop screwing with out democracy.
Until that happens all America should be doing is thinking up ways to make Russia pay for their meddling, with sanctions and refusals to allow drilling in the Arctic.
Time and time again Chuck Todd gives Tillerson the opportunity to condemn Russia for interfering in our election process, and to identify some consequences that we are prepared to use to punish Russia for that interference.
And EVERY SINGLE TIME Tillerson minimizes the impact that the Russian hacking had on our election, and on elections around the world, and continues to suggest that we should work to repair our relationship with them.
I swear a Kremlin spokesperson could not have done a better job of defending Russia.
I watched this with my mouth hanging open.
Tillerson did not even TRY to portray himself as anything other than Putin's poodle.
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/secret-document-reveals-shady-ties-between-trump-megadonor-robert-mercer-steve-bannon-and-brexit/
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/texas-dem-calls-for-impeachment-every-day-trump-remains-president-puts-our-democracy-more-at-risk/
Saudi Arabia is resource rich country. 45 is making noise about NATO countries paying more money to NATO. Is Saudi Arabia carrying its share? Are we defending those rich bastards, Saudi Arabia? What about the price of oil they are overcharging America?
ReplyDeletelol. Saudi Arabia? Do you have any idea who NATO is comprised of and what NATO is? Just another IMer without a clue...
DeleteNATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and it was formed in the WWII postwar era to counter the inroads that the Soviet Union had made in Europe just after the end of the war.
DeleteSaudi Arabia and other wealthy Middle Eastern states should do much more to help fellow Moslem in places like Syria and Palestine. It seems to me that Middle Eastern countries deliberately avoid helping one another and are willing to allow their co-religionists suffer if it will increase their anger against the West.
Beaglemom
Do you know what NATO stands for?
DeleteHere's a hint.
The first two letters are for North Atlantic.
Now, can you find Saudia Arabia on a map?
@9:57 Reading compression, so important--and you just fell on that ax you have to grind. Pretty clear to anyone with a brain that "clueless IMer" is on about the fact #DeadbeatDonald reams our European allies while giving the perfidious Saudis (and NATO-member Turks, for that matter) a free pass. But by all means, you just keep on doing you. We need the amusement in our pitiful jealous lives.
DeleteReading comprehension lol? Are you actually attempting to instill some form of legitimacy and intelligence behind 9:12's incredibly ignorant comment Nasty Liberal?
DeleteFail.
Lets start with the simple fact that Saudi Arabia and the NATO Organization literally have no, zero, zilch connection or comparison. Not geographically, not organizationally, not militarily, not politically, not by treaty or trade.
Next, the comment at 9:12 feels that it is now up to the presidency of Donald Trump to 'make noise' about their 'fair share' because of the 'price of oil' those 'rich bastards' are charging America lololol?
Well you and 9:12 might want to look into another acronym, OPEC, which price controls oil for all it's members (hint: Saudi Arabia is a member).
As far as those 'rich bastards' overcharging America, are you Lazy Liberal, or 9:12, aware that only about 11% of our oil comes from Saudi Arabia? The reality is, the majority of our oil comes from our American neighbors.
Please, get a clue.
Yeah that bit was dumb on 9:12's part, as the Sauds have warred on US shale producers by driving prices down the last couple years. Still doesn't change the fact you're rabidly stupid enough to press your loyalty to a treasonous buffoon. Will you never wake up? At some point you must, I'd think--but I've sure thought wrong on these matters before and must admit you twits and lackwits have the power to befuddle me near endlessly. Do continue to be proud, as long as it lasts.
DeleteLol. And that shows your true liberal sensibilities.... anyone that DARES to get out of lockstep with the dull-minded nazi liberal mindset just MUST be a Trump supporter huh nasty liberal?
DeleteCut of your nose to spite your face. It is exactly your type that will give Trump a 2nd term.
This:
ReplyDeletehttps://patribotics.blog/2017/05/11/sources-russia-probe-means-president-hatch-rico-case-against-gop/
There's a HUGE point that everyone is missing -- and it's the most important point.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is cranked up about Russian hacking of the DNC and the Wikileaks releases.
The REAL problem is that, in the run-up to the 2016 election, TWENTY STATES reported hacking attacks on their voting registration systems. These are not incidental pings that happen all the time. These were long-term attempts to penetrate the voter registration systems in 20 states.
Some states also reported attempts to enter the systems used to record and report vote totals.
All hacking attempts came from Russia.
I agree. All of these incidents should have been investigated immediately and, as a precaution, we should have all used paper ballots. They take longer to count but we used them for almost two centuries. The media can wait until the wee hours of the morning or the next day to report results. It would save a lot of money in designing garish- looking sets and save the rest of us from listening to the talking heads dug up every four years to comment on what's happening. Paper ballots also make a recount easier. And, whenever one party wants a recount in a state, it should be done automatically and should be paid for by the state where it's done. The Republicans hijacked the 2000 recount in Florida and they did it again, before it could take place, in, at least, Michigan and Pennsylvania and possibly in Wisconsin. And who knows about Florida; the GOP there has become expert in manipulating elections.
DeleteBeaglemom
Absolutely all true and important.
DeleteHowever as long as the Republicans continue to suppress voting rights and gerrymander districts, the foreign hacking attempts are moot; the Republicans are doing a bang up job on their own.
jEEBUS!
ReplyDeleteThe Vatican is under assault by dRUMPf too!
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/reports-trump-to-nominate-callista-gingrich-vatican-ambassador
Um, last week Trump met with the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador/Spy Master in the Oval Office because Putin "asked" him to. He had never met Tillerson when he announced him as Secretary of State. I wonder if Putin "asked" him to do that too.
ReplyDeleteTillers sports a medal that he was given by Putin. How can anyone think that he is not himself compromised? Virtually all federal departments and agencies are now headed by people who are sworn to their dissolution. This is what Steve Bannon and the far right have wanted and Trump and his complicit GOP Congress have given it to them. Conservatives in this country do not want to have a functioning federal government. I'm not sure what they want instead but they do not want a federal government. I'm sure that their plans include the demise of the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
I read this and other stories like it, and just get more discouraged. Trump m is in office because republicans, even though most think he's an idiot, got their collective shit together and voted.
ReplyDeleteLiberals on the other hand......if they are not appeased and stroked on every pet project or issue, get pissy and take their ball home. I'm sorry....I'm just .....demoralized.
HeidiWY
This is a country not a ballgame. We debate issues and compromise. We elect to represent our beliefs and laws. I am tired of everything compared to sports. This is not sport or a football game.
DeleteSorry if I offended your tender feelings 11:47, I'm not a sports fanatic myself. But your post only reinforces what I'm saying.....people get pissy and go home if their poor feelings are offended. I'm fucking sick of progressives that attack other progressives if their message is not as concise as they prefer, or s o me what different than theirs. Fuck you and every one else that gets offended because I used a goddamned sports metaphor.
DeleteHeidiWY
Indeed that shifty eyed well oiled Texan is in collusion. The fact that Russia mobsters needed trump in charge to hide money, crimes and assets is OUTRAGEOUSLY criminal and it will be prosecuted. The slow wheels of justice are moving and it will be a HUGE chapter in American History. We will be discussing this crime for many years. This group of liars will lose everything. And trump empire and friends will end. It is astonishing that American's would do this to our country knowingly. Each one will be charged with treason and espionage. It is all over oil, mining and money. GROSS
ReplyDelete