Friday, June 23, 2017

New reports suggest that Vladimir Putin was directly involved in attacking our democracy, and that the Russian cyber attacks were quite successful.

Courtesy of WaPo: 

Early last August, an envelope with extraordinary handling restrictions arrived at the White House. Sent by courier from the CIA, it carried “eyes only” instructions that its contents be shown to just four people: President Barack Obama and three senior aides. 

Inside was an intelligence bombshell, a report drawn from sourcing deep inside the Russian government that detailed Russian President Vladi­mir Putin’s direct involvement in a cyber campaign to disrupt and discredit the U.S. presidential race. 

But it went further. The intelligence captured Putin’s specific instructions on the operation’s audacious objectives — defeat or at least damage the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and help elect her opponent, Donald Trump. 

At that point, the outlines of the Russian assault on the U.S. election were increasingly apparent. Hackers with ties to Russian intelligence services had been rummaging through Democratic Party computer networks, as well as some Republican systems, for more than a year. In July, the FBI had opened an investigation of contacts between Russian officials and Trump associates. And on July 22, nearly 20,000 emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee were dumped online by WikiLeaks.

So as you can see the Obama Administration knew almost immediately that the attacks were directed by Putin, and that they were designed to not only damage Hillary's chances of winning the election but to directly help Trump emerge as the victor.

The article goes into great depth about all of the conversations that went on behind the scenes as to how best to respond to this information but in the end it came down to Obama warning Putin directly to back off, and to release a declassified report to the public about the hacks before the election.

Obama also deported 35 Russian diplomats, closed two compounds, and approved the implantation of cyber weapons into the Russian computer system that can be activated at a later date if Russia continues these attacks on our democracy.

The only problem with those cyber weapons is that it is up to Donald Trump to utilize, or not utilize them, and of course we know what his choice will be.

The article goes on to call this attack the "crime of the century," and I find that to be a completely accurate statement.

Here is an article from Time Magazine to tell us just how accurate it is:  

The hacking of state and local election databases in 2016 was more extensive than previously reported, including at least one successful attempt to alter voter information, and the theft of thousands of voter records that contain private information like partial Social Security numbers, current and former officials tell TIME. 

In one case, investigators found there had been a manipulation of voter data in a county database but the alterations were discovered and rectified, two sources familiar with the matter tell TIME. Investigators have not identified whether the hackers in that case were Russian agents. 

The fact that private data was stolen from states is separately providing investigators a previously unreported line of inquiry in the probes into Russian attempts to influence the election. In Illinois, more than 90% of the nearly 90,000 records stolen by Russian state actors contained drivers license numbers, and a quarter contained the last four digits of voters’ Social Security numbers, according to Ken Menzel, the General Counsel of the State Board of Elections. 

And get this:

Congressional investigators are probing whether any of this stolen private information made its way to the Trump campaign, two sources familiar with the investigations tell TIME.

I think we already know what that probe will find if it is not obstructed by the Trump Administration.

The White House by the way has FINALLY acknowledged that the Russians interfered in our election.  Well kinda: 

The White House Thursday addressed the joint intelligence report that found Russia had attempted to interfere with the 2016 presidential election, more than five months after the report’s conclusions were made public. First, on Twitter, President Trump dismissed the concerns about Russia as a “big Dem HOAX” and suggested that his predecessor, President Barack Obama, did little to confront the problem. White House aides then clarified Trump’s remarks and said he believes there was Russian meddling but is certain it did not affect the outcome of the race.

I think we are all learning that the last part of this statement is likely untrue.

As for that allegation that President Obama did not do all that he could to "confront the problem" I disagree completely. 

I think the President was in an untenable position and knew full well that if he came out aggressively to say that the Russians were trying to get Trump elected and revealed all of their methods for pulling that off, the folks supporting Trump would never have believed him, and if by some chance Hillary had pulled off a victory her presidency would have been forever tainted by what would have been seen as interference by the Executive branch.

No he did all that he could really do, but in the end Vladimir Putin decided who would sit in the Oval Office.

All we can do is help determine for how long.

21 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:24 AM

    Picture caption:

    You short bitch. I'm gonna kick your Russian ass. You smell like Trump. You smell like a Russian golden shower

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not too dissimilar an expression on Obama there than the one Pope Francis wore standing next to Trump.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:21 AM

      Thanks for that! 🙂

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9:41 AM

    President Obama was right to stay out of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:52 AM

      That's not what your girlfriend Hillary thinks

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:42 AM

      @9:52 AM What does your girlfriend Sarah Palin think?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:37 PM

      I agree with President Obama that it may have looked odd. But this was a serious hack and crime before 2016, and it did affect the count and outcome, it was a direct threat and crime against America so I would want leaders to say "STOP" the election, find the problem now and then we will begin the election process again. Trump and stumputin rigged the election. The entire lie and crime is outrageous and those responsible will be held liable.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:47 PM

      President Obama has so much more honor and humanity. Trust and Character are so important in leaders. America has never had such an unpopular "so called" president accused of crimes and lies. It feels awful to have a liar and dictator that represents America. That is NOT who we are!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous4:36 PM

      Based on what was known at the time, President Obama was correct. He even gave Mitch McConnell an opportunity for a second opinion. Coward that he is, Mitch declined to address any Senate committees or the American people. Mitch owns this disaster.

      Delete
    6. What the fuck was he thinking? If Mitch McConnell knew there was anything going on that might give the presidency to a Republican, even Trump, do you honestly think he would do anything about it? No, he would keep it secret for as long as possible. And when his guy won, he'd deny, deny, deny that he knew anything or that anything was going on. Just like he did.

      McConnell is a self-serving shithead traitor that would do anything to stay in power and get his way. He wanted Trump more than he wanted this country's elections to be fair and secure.

      And what happens? Even if we can PROVE that Russian flipped four of the key states nothing will happen. Trump will still be president because the electoral college voted for Trump. He'll still be in power even though he was not elected by the people. There is no means of removing a president elected illegally or falsely. Trump will be an illegitimate president but he'll still be president.

      I blame Obama of keeping his mouth shut, not McConnell for taking advantage of it.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous5:13 AM

      Exactly 6:34 pm

      Delete
  3. Anonymous10:28 AM

    Maybe, when Putin and President Obama met, Putin didn't like the fact that President Obama towered over him and also had a better tan. All of that in addition to President Obama not having been a KGB operative.
    Beaglemom

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dems try to play by the rules. Wingnuts make their own rules and tell Dems we have to abide by their rules. Past time to nuke wingnuts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12:09 PM

    POLITICS

     
    NBC News
    JUN 23 2017, 1:00 PM ET

    Poll: More Americans Believe Comey Over Trump

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:15 PM

    Internet Top stories

    Trump Indicates Tweet on Tapes Was Meant to Affect Comey Testimony

    The New York Times - 17 mins ago

    ----------

    Fuck you Trump. You lied about the White House tape recording because you wanted America to doubt Comey testimony.

    Nicole Wallace (MSNBC) said Trump had three different versions about the Comey tapes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12:18 PM

    Why pay sean spicer? Why have a wh briefing if no cameras? Why have a presidency? Just let people have their own salary, no taxe at all.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:28 PM

    O/t, oh now were getting all exact law and definitions over Depp?
    Same should apply to the bloated fat orange turd obstructing justice, intimidating those who testify!!!!
    Grow a pair america!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:29 PM

    Looking down on a little liar communist with a little man complex is tough. Little Russia plays dirty, nasty and un manly. Russian people are sick and tired of being silenced, suppressed, stifled, drugged and bamBOOZLED and Americans will not allow it. Putin and Trump will not play games with America and Friends.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous3:30 PM

    Forget Trump and his Tiny Twitter Fingers, we need to hear from President Bannon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. They practiced on Ukraine, and when they perfected their techniques and tools, they then turned to the world

    Who knows if they did anything about Brexit but we KNOW they interfered in our elections. They may have tried in France but I'll bet France was prepared and succeeded in defeating attempts. I have no doubt that Germany will successfully stave off Russian interference.

    Why Obama kept this secret from the American people, I don't know. But it was a BAD decision.

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  12. Anonymous12:32 PM

    All elected taxpayer paid servants should have stopped the election and corrected the problem. I blame putinrump for the rigged election. America is without a president.

    ReplyDelete

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