Degrees of Collusion

[KeithE]

[KeithE]

[Sandy]

[Stephen Fox]

Here is where we stand now

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ar ... ue/533265/

To remind Thornton, While Hillary was in Texas with the Pulitzer prize to be Taylor Branch, and Rhodes scholar Bill Clinton working on the McGovern campaign in 72,

Now you tell me given the vagaries of American politics and the tough skin it callouses, who shows the arc of the greater virtue?

[Sandy]

I need to read the Atlantic more often. They put out some good stuff, understated at times, but accurate.

The interference of the Russians, right up to Putin, in the election is confirmed and well documented. They're still looking into specific details, but what happened is only too real, and too serious for the casual, dismissive, "just go away and move along" attitude exhibited by too many Republicans, and especially by the Trump Administration. What they have to say about it makes it look like they are going to great lengths, in a ham fisted way, to cover it all up. There are too many "oops, I forgot about that meeting with Kremlin officials," apologies that have been made. The Russians will keep doing this until we take some kind of action that communicates our disgust and displeasure, and makes them hurt for doing it. The lukewarm attitude that Republicans have toward it will cost them dearly down the road, as it already has.

The Trump administration's response has been pathetic. It is exactly the opposite reaction you would expect from campaign rhetoric aimed at "making America Great again" and it is about as unpatriotic as you can get, aside from the damage of completely undermining trust in every aspect of this Republic. The political polarization that has come about, pushed along by the extremist right wing media, has made hating your political enemies more desirable than being a patriot. If what the Russians have done doesn't alarm you, or generate a serious reaction, then you're not a patriot, and you need to move to Russia to experience the kind of life you desire first hand, and let us have our country back. Trump's casual mention of it to Putin, and his even more casual attitude of leaving it alone and moving on is, at best, idiocy, and at worst, treason.

[KeithE]

[Jim]

[Stephen Fox]

by Denis Johnson

And James Wood The Fun Stuff collection of critical essays.

You familiar and or read either one, Jim?

[Jim]