Donald Trump still maintains uncertainty about who hacked election, seems confused about number of American intelligence agencies.

Courtesy of the New York Times:

Mr. Trump suggested on Thursday that he still was not convinced that Russia was solely responsible for interference in the 2016 election, breaking with American intelligence agencies who have agreed that the effort emanated from Moscow and was directed by Mr. Putin. 

“I think it was Russia, and it could have been other people in other countries,” Mr. Trump said when asked for a yes-or-no answer to the question about Russian meddling. 

“Nobody really knows,” he added, arguing that American intelligence agencies had made serious mistakes in the past, including an assessment before the United States-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 that Baghdad had weapons of mass destruction. “Nobody really knows for sure.”

In part of this response Trump attempted to blame President Obama for not doing anything since he believed that Russia was behind the hackers: 

“He did nothing about it. Why did he do nothing about it? He was told it was Russia by the CIA, as I understand it. It was well reported. He did nothing about it. They say he choked. I don't think he choked. I think what happens is he thought Hillary Clinton was going to win the election and said let's not do anything about it. Had he thought the other way, he would have done something about it,” the president said. 

“If he thought I was going to win, he would have done plenty about it.”

However of course that is also a lie since Obama confronted Putin, informed the public, and started the investigations into the hacking, He could not have done more since he would have been accused of interfering in the election. And Trump damn well knows it.

Trump also seemed to believe that America only has three intelligence agencies, and stated that newspapers had to retract or correct stories stating that there were 17.

Of course that is also untrue.

So now tomorrow Trump has a meeting with Vladimir Putin and he is clearly still refusing to assign any blame to him for hacking the 2016 election.

The chances he will bring it up to Putin are essentially zero at this point, and if by some miracle he actually did it would probably just to be to apologize for the fact that the American media keeps blaming him.

In order to avoid protesters Donald Trump is visiting Poland, who promised to bus in "cheering crowds."

Courtesy of the AP: 

President Donald Trump is headed back to Europe hoping to receive a friendly welcome in Poland despite lingering skepticism across the continent over his commitment to NATO, his past praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his decision to pull the U.S. out of a major climate agreement. 

Trump arrives in Warsaw, Poland, later Wednesday for a brief visit that will include a speech in Krasinski Square, near the site of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis. He’ll also meet with the leaders of Poland and Croatia and hold a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

You may be wondering why Trump chose Poland of all places to visit first.

Here's a hint:   

According to Polish media reports, Poland’s government promised the White House a reception of cheering crowds as part of its invitation. To make good on that pledge, ruling party lawmakers and pro-government activists plan to bus in groups from the provinces to hear Trump’s speech. 

The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment on those reports.

Busing in crowds that will cheer and not boo Trump, nor erupt in protest.

Now why does that sound familiar?

Demanding that crowds only contain supporters, vilifying the media, and exhibiting spontaneous outbursts of frustration and anger.

The similarities are almost unavoidable at this point.

Poland grants church of the Flying Spaghetti monster the right to register as a religion. So that just happened.

Courtesy of The Independent:  

A church that worships an invisible flying spaghetti monster can now apply to be registered as an official religion in Poland, after a 2013 court ruling was overturned on Tuesday. 

A Warsaw court rejected a ruling by the Regional Administrative Court because the it had not allowed the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) a two-month extension for submitting outstanding documents, Polskie Radio has reported. 

A group of Pastafarians who gathered outside the court shouting "pasta" during the hearing on Tuesday welcomed the ruling. 

In January, Pastafarian minister Christopher Schaeffer was sworn into the Pomfret New York Town Council this week with a colander on his head throughout the ceremony to represent his unique religious beliefs.

Am I the only one that predicts a new onslaught of Polish jokes in response to this, or we have we moved on from that kind of thing?

Starts off as a joke, and then becomes an established house of worship.

Pretty sure that's how Christianity started as well.

For those who are still in the dark you can learn more about the FSM at their website.

And while you're there do yourself a favor and read the about page.

Instead of allowing Mitt Romney to run for President shouldn't we be putting him in jail?

"How much illegal campaign money have I accepted? Let's see here...."

As I am sure many of you remember "Mitt the Twit" went on a gaffe riddled overseas trip to London, Israel, and Poland last month.

Now part of the reason why was to get cool footage for some new political ads, and to demonstrate his foreign policy bonafides. (Yeah THAT worked out well!) But also to raise a little spending cash for his campaign.

U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney has reversed course and will let reporters cover his remarks to donors at a fundraiser in Israel.

Gee letting the reporters he invited along to cover his trip, actually cover his trip. What a guy!

But wait, isn't there a possible legal problem with accepting donations from people who are NOT American citizens when you are running for office?

Why yes it appears that there is a problem. A problem that takes the form of the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 that was recently cited in the 2011 Supreme Court case Bluman v. Federal Election Commission. The pertinent portion of which says the following:

(a) Prohibition 

It shall be unlawful for — 

(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make — 

(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election; 

(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or 

(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 434(f)(3) of this title); or 

(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national. 

2 U.S.C. § 441e(a).[fn2] The statute continues to define "foreign national" to include all foreign citizens except those who have been admitted as lawful permanent residents. Id. § 441e(b).

Um, aren't people overseas, who do NOT prove dual citizenship, considered illegal donors under this  statute? And is THAT possibly why Romney has adamantly refused to identify his top bundlers?

And lest you think I am overreacting here, take a look at this article from Veterans Today:

If you go outside the US, if you stay inside the US, if your contributor is living in the US but not a citizen, any money you get can mean years in jail. 

Romney went the whole way, personally campaigning outside the US, soliciting foreign citizens, and humiliating himself and his country with his ignorance and flagrant attempts to trade illegal cash for promises of illegal war. One could hardly break more laws if one wanted. 

Romney has raised millions in foreign cash at fundraising events across Israel and London, those that we know of so far. One table alone gave him a million in cash. None was from American citizens. Fewer than 10% of Romney’s contributors in Israel are estimated to be “dual citizens.” Others may have just flown the money in.

So again I ask, and I don't want to be a dick about this, why is Mitt Romney still allowed to run for President of the United States? And as an addendum, why the fuck is he not being prosecuted?

Anybody?

(H/T to Addicting Info)

P.S. And before anybody raises the issue of the 2008 Obama campaign accepting donations from prepaid credit cards that made it hard to trace the source, let me remind you that has already been addressed:

Lawyers for the Obama operation said yesterday that their "extensive back-end review" has carefully scrubbed contributions to prevent illegal money from entering the operation's war chest. "I'm pretty sure if I took my error rate and matched it against any other campaign or comparable nonprofit, you'd find we're doing very well," said Robert Bauer, a lawyer for the campaign. "I have not seen the McCain compliance staff ascending to heaven on a cloud."

And lest you think this is comparable to what Romney is currently doing, let me remind you that Romney actually TRAVELED OVERSEAS seeking his contributions.  And that he has not yet offered to demonstrate any transparency or accountability for who donates to his campaign.

By the way if President Obama DID actively seek out donations from foreign supporters, as it appears Mitt Romney is doing, he would probably out raise the Republicans, including their SuperPACS, ten to one. 

Sometime today, this will happen.

From the YouTube page:

Once a year on august 1st, the people of Warsaw pay homage to the fallen heroes that fought for freedom in 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising. The biggest rebellion against German Nazi occupation during WWII cost over 200 000 lives and destruction of the capital. 

I found this very moving.

So Mitt Romney is on the final leg of his worldwide tour to just three countries. He got off to a rocky start but surely he did better in Poland, right?

Staffers attempt to block the Ron Paul signs that greeted Mitt Romney in Poland. (Source.)

But surely that was just a minor glitch, Look, they love him! Wait, what is that over to the left?

Wow, now that is just awkward!

Well hopefully the rest of his visit went fine. I'm sorry what happened?

The Republican hopeful arrived in Gdansk, northern Poland, for a two-day visit he hopes will attract Polish-American voters. The visit was also aimed at showing Romney would be tougher on Russia than his opponent President Barack Obama, who is running for a second term. 

Romney arrived at Gdansk‘s city hall and briefly chatted with locals before meeting with Tusk. A group was heard chanting, "Obama! Obama!" as Romney later made his way to his next meeting with anti-communist icon Lech Walesa, the former leader of Solidarity.

Then later when reporters tried to get Romney to answer some questions about his earlier gaffes in England and Israel, one of his staffers lost his shit:

CNN: "Governor Romney are you concerned about some of the mishaps of your trip? 

NYT: "Governor Romney do you have a statement for the Palestinians? 

Washington Post: "What about your gaffes? 

NYT: "Governor Romney do you feel that your gaffes have overshadowed your foreign trip?" 

CNN: "Governor Romney just a few questions sir, you haven't taken but three questions on this trip from the press! 

Gorka: "Show some respect" 

NYT: "We haven't had another chance to ask a question..." 

Gorka: "Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site for the Polish people. Show some respect." 

Moments later, Gorka told Jonathan Martin, a reporter for Politico, to "shove it." About a half-hour later, the aide called reporters to apologize. 

Damn, how dare these reporters do their job when the candidate is concentrating on trying to look presidential! What were they thinking? I mean can't this poor guy get respect anywhere, from anyone?

Well at least he had his wife with him to provide a little comfort.

I think he might have brought the family dog as well.

Yeah, you know the Brits, Palestinians, and Poles are right, he IS a giant douche!

We simply cannot allow our country to be represented by yet another clumsy Republican asshole like George W. Bush.

Obama 2012!

Newsweek asks the logical question.

You know I was just talking about this today.

Have you ever noticed that Romney always looks EXTREMELY uncomfortable in pictures taken when he is not actually posing for them?

I notice it mostly in those moments in between answering a reporter's question, or the pauses between sentences in a speech, as if he would rather BE anyplace else in the world than where he's at, and DOING anything else in the world than running for president. Yet he seems to feel trapped, as if he has no other choice.

And this insecurity is also reflected in his constant gaffes. First in England, and now Israel:

Having publicly pledged to protect Israel, US presidential candidate Mitt Romney has stirred controversy by telling Jewish donors their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians. 

The reaction of Palestinian leaders was quick and strong. "What is this man doing here? Yesterday, he destroyed negotiations by saying Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and today he is saying Israeli culture is more advanced than Palestinian culture. Isn't this racism? Israelis and Palestinians have a conflict, but they are people, they are equal, it is not a better culture or advanced culture," said Saeb Erekat, a top Palestinian official. 

"It's Israeli occupiers and Palestinians under occupation, and that's why Palestinians cannot realise their potential."

You know somebody needs to get that idiot out of there before he starts another war.

My understanding is that Romney is headed to Poland next, where I have little doubt he will regale the locals with his favorite Polock jokes.

No matter where the guy goes, other than hanging out with his family or other wealthy people, he seems to constantly epitomize the "fish out of water" type.  Which has caused some rather creative people to make certain comparisons.

Personally I don't even know WHY Romney is running for office? Unless he simply feels it is his destiny. (Gee where have we heard THAT before?)

You know that could be it,  perhaps he is running because the LDS church leaders have determined, like to or not, that Romney is the one to fulfill a certain prophecy.

Are there NO Republicans who want to be president simply because they want to do something positive for the country? Or is that a stupid question?