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DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS: THE MCCAIN REPUBLICANS
What did they know and when did they know it?
Part II
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS: THE MCCAIN REPUBLICANS
What did they know and when did they know it?
Part II
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In Part I, we took a look at the men behind The Washington Free Beacon (WFB).
In Part I, we took a look at the men behind The Washington Free Beacon (WFB).
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In Part II, let’s narrow our focus to a remarkable article Bill Kristol wrote for the Weekly Standard website on July 24, 2016.
washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standar…
In Part II, let’s narrow our focus to a remarkable article Bill Kristol wrote for the Weekly Standard website on July 24, 2016.
washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standar…
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Some context: July 24, 2016 was week after Donald Trump was nominated to be the GOP’s candidate for president and two days after Wikileaks released the DNC emails.
Some context: July 24, 2016 was week after Donald Trump was nominated to be the GOP’s candidate for president and two days after Wikileaks released the DNC emails.
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Trump was experiencing a bounce in the poll coming off the convention.
Then the DNC email scandal hit.
Even prestige press was forced to take notice.
Could Trump really win?
time.com/4421425/donald…
Trump was experiencing a bounce in the poll coming off the convention.
Then the DNC email scandal hit.
Even prestige press was forced to take notice.
Could Trump really win?
time.com/4421425/donald…
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“Not so fast,” saith Bill Kristol. He warned there were reasons for Trump to be concerned, “one reason in particular hasn’t received sufficient consideration” -- Trump campaign ties to Vladimir Putin.
“Not so fast,” saith Bill Kristol. He warned there were reasons for Trump to be concerned, “one reason in particular hasn’t received sufficient consideration” -- Trump campaign ties to Vladimir Putin.
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Russia had not been a hot topic in the primaries up to that point.
So, most people ignored Kristol’s warnings.
Was Kristol extraordinarily prescient or was something else going on?
Russia had not been a hot topic in the primaries up to that point.
So, most people ignored Kristol’s warnings.
Was Kristol extraordinarily prescient or was something else going on?
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Kristol’s article is short; it feels almost like a series of talking points.
“Trump’s business seems to be heavily dependent on Russia investment.”
Kristol’s article is short; it feels almost like a series of talking points.
“Trump’s business seems to be heavily dependent on Russia investment.”
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“His top campaign advisor, Paul Manafort, was the advisor to the Putin-backed stooge Viktor Yanukovich, and has deep ties to the Putin apparat.”
“His top campaign advisor, Paul Manafort, was the advisor to the Putin-backed stooge Viktor Yanukovich, and has deep ties to the Putin apparat.”
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“One of Trump’s national security advisors, retired Lt General Michael Flynn, was paid to give a speech at a Russia propaganda celebration and was seated next to Putin.”
“One of Trump’s national security advisors, retired Lt General Michael Flynn, was paid to give a speech at a Russia propaganda celebration and was seated next to Putin.”
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“Trump’s Russia advisor Carter Page, who does much of his business with Russian companies, has argued, among other things, that ‘a few officials in Washington’ annexed Ukraine and that the ‘so-called annexation’ of Crime by Russia was a rational response to this injustice.”
“Trump’s Russia advisor Carter Page, who does much of his business with Russian companies, has argued, among other things, that ‘a few officials in Washington’ annexed Ukraine and that the ‘so-called annexation’ of Crime by Russia was a rational response to this injustice.”
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In retrospect, after months & months of no stop “Russia, Russia, Russia,” it’s difficult to recall how much talk there was of Manafort and Flynn’s connections to Russia prior to July 26th.
In retrospect, after months & months of no stop “Russia, Russia, Russia,” it’s difficult to recall how much talk there was of Manafort and Flynn’s connections to Russia prior to July 26th.
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I believe I recall some discussion of Manafort and Russia, but I have no memory of Flynn’s Russian connections.
When answering the question “Who is Mike Flynn?” in DECEMBER 2016, only one paragraph is dedicated to Flynn’s ties to Russia.
cnn.com/2016/12/12/pol…
I believe I recall some discussion of Manafort and Russia, but I have no memory of Flynn’s Russian connections.
When answering the question “Who is Mike Flynn?” in DECEMBER 2016, only one paragraph is dedicated to Flynn’s ties to Russia.
cnn.com/2016/12/12/pol…
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We can probably all agree that very few people had ever heard of Carter Page in July 2016, much less his connections to a particular foreign country.
We can probably all agree that very few people had ever heard of Carter Page in July 2016, much less his connections to a particular foreign country.
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Kristol is not finished.
“Furthermore, practically the only change Trump’s campaign made to the GOP platform was to weaken language supporting Ukraine.”
FAKE NEWS!
Kristol is not finished.
“Furthermore, practically the only change Trump’s campaign made to the GOP platform was to weaken language supporting Ukraine.”
FAKE NEWS!
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“Wikileaks, which appears to have connections to Putin’s espionage apparatus, has released emails that are damaging to Hillary Clinton immediately before the Democratic convention.”
“Wikileaks, which appears to have connections to Putin’s espionage apparatus, has released emails that are damaging to Hillary Clinton immediately before the Democratic convention.”
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On the 24th, the very day Kristol’s article is published, Manafort gets a question about whether the Russians were behind the release of the DNC emails in hopes of helping Donald Trump.
On the 24th, the very day Kristol’s article is published, Manafort gets a question about whether the Russians were behind the release of the DNC emails in hopes of helping Donald Trump.
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“Finally, Trump, to the cheers of the Kremlin establishment, has said he will not uphold our NATO commitments.”
“Finally, Trump, to the cheers of the Kremlin establishment, has said he will not uphold our NATO commitments.”
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Also on the same day as the publication of Kristol’s article, HRC’s campaign manager, Robbie Mook, was interviewed on CNN.
See how many shared talking points you can recognize.
Also on the same day as the publication of Kristol’s article, HRC’s campaign manager, Robbie Mook, was interviewed on CNN.
See how many shared talking points you can recognize.
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Two days later, on July 26th, Carter Page has the following text exchange with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal reporter.
Two days later, on July 26th, Carter Page has the following text exchange with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal reporter.
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All this is happening as Page and Manafort make their first appearances in the Steele dossier. 😏
All this is happening as Page and Manafort make their first appearances in the Steele dossier. 😏
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On the surface, it appears there was a massive coordinated effort in the week between the Rep and Dem conventions to initiate the Russia narrative.
And it’s not just the DNC and the media involved, the McCain Republicans are equal partners.
On the surface, it appears there was a massive coordinated effort in the week between the Rep and Dem conventions to initiate the Russia narrative.
And it’s not just the DNC and the media involved, the McCain Republicans are equal partners.
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Back to Kristol’s column:
“There indications provide sufficient grounds for Trump’s links to Putin to be further investigated.”
Back to Kristol’s column:
“There indications provide sufficient grounds for Trump’s links to Putin to be further investigated.”
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And what happens a week after Kristol’s column is published?
The FBI opens Crossfire Hurricane.
How ‘bout that?
And what happens a week after Kristol’s column is published?
The FBI opens Crossfire Hurricane.
How ‘bout that?
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Oh
Oh
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Credit to @julie_kelly2 for her outstanding article.
She’s great. 😍
amgreatness.com/2018/08/16/the…
Credit to @julie_kelly2 for her outstanding article.
She’s great. 😍
amgreatness.com/2018/08/16/the…
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At least one more part to follow
END
At least one more part to follow
END
