What is the Effect of Trump's Denials About Russia?

What is the Effect of Trump's Denials About Russia?

By Dennis Loo (1/12/17)

Trump's political theater meets the political establishment. Who will win out? On the one hand, the political establishment largely wants to get along and accomodate to the new President-Elect, even if some of that is obviously wishful thinking (Tom Brokaw take note). On the other hand, Trump is going to be himself, including making public denials that he knows are false. Whether he knows the difference between truth and falsehood is, however, an open question. It seems from the record that he will say whatever he thinks will work for him in the short-run, let facts take a backseat.

He got this far in business and got the surprising result of winning the election. But a Trump twitter storm cannot cancel out certain facts permanently. Donald Trump, Jr., already in 2008, said on the record that the Trump businesses are getting a disproportionate share of Russian money. Trump made no secret of his admiration of authoritarian leaders, including Putin in particular, and repeatedly called for Russia to hack Clinton. Trump helped Russia with Ukraine by first his denial that Russia was even in Ukraine and then later raising skepticism towards NATO. Trump has already played the fool for Russia. He has already shown what he will do on behalf of Russia because it's already been going on. 

Iowa and the rest of Trump-land is not paying any attention to the allegations of the dossier against Trump, but that is temporary. The combination of grassroots' efforts to prevent him from taking power and his ties to Russia (even if a video of him with prostitutes never surfaces) is going to probably going to sink this man. 

Making Russian Oligarchs Great Again

Making Russian Oligarchs Great Again

By Dennis Loo (1/11/17)

The unfolding scandal involving the former MI-6 operative’s highly disturbing report on Trump and his team is the subject of this commentary.

As a preface to this, some pertinent general observations:

While surely Trump can be called out for and convicted of treason, I don’t share the perspective of US leaders and their rivalry with the Russians. What Trump and his team are, however, up to, is collusion that is mutually profitable to Trump and his business partners. It is from that vantage point, not nationalism that Trump, his family and camp, and his Russian oligarchs, are primarily proceeding from.

Read more: Making Russian Oligarchs Great Again

NO! We Must Stop Trump/Pence Before They Take Power

Regarding the statement that follows that appeared in Wednesday's NY Times as a full-page ad - One of the questions people ask is: "how is it possible for so many people to gather in such a short time frame?" First of all, Egypt is an example of millions gathering in a very short time. At the time the call went out for an unprecedented outpouring, the organizers were very small and did not know whether others would join them or not. But if there were only a few, they were determined to stand up anyway. That is the spirit people must start from because there are no guarantees in matters such as these. So if you are one of those who say "It can't be done" then you are not coming at this in the right frame of mind and you aren't responding with full understanding of what we face with Trump/Pence. Is there any question in your mind that if they are allowed the reins of power, exceedingly, unprecendentedly, terrible disasters will ensue? If so, Sunsara Taylor's words featured on the website citing Pastor Martin Neimoller's other words are worth taking seriously: if we in Germany had stood up and prevented Hitler from taking power perhaps 30-40,000 of us would have died, but tens of millions would have been spared and history would have been dramatically altered. We face a similar situation right now.

From RefuseFascism.org:

In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America!

Donald Trump, the President-elect, is assembling a regime of grave danger.  Millions of people in the US and around the world are filled with deep anxiety, fear, and disgust. Our anguish is right and just.  Our anger must now become massive resistance –before Donald Trump is inaugurated and has the full reins of power in his hands.

Should we fail to rise with determination and daring in our millions now to stop this, the consequences for humanity will be disastrous.  We, the undersigned, know in the depths of our beings, the catastrophe that will befall the people of the world should the Trump/Pence regime assume full power.

We therefore CALL FOR A MONTH OF RESISTANCE beginning on December 19th, reaching a crescendo by the January 20th 2017 Inauguration.

Read more: NO! We Must Stop Trump/Pence Before They Take Power