Pierce: What Do the Russians 'Have' on the Trump Family? Fear.

[mcar]

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a56218/trump-junior-russian-meeting/

So, Donald Trump The Second now has his ass in a crack because he went out after something that hundreds of elite political journalists have sought since at least 1991—some dirt on the Clintons. The difference, of course, is that many of the latter took meetings with every poolroom liar and state house grifter in the state of Arkansas. According to the remarkable one-two thrown by The New York Times over the weekend, Junior went spelunking for slime in an incredible universe of murderous gangsters, which shares a very big chunk of the Russian government's Venn diagram with the political elite of that country. Forgive my cynicism, but Junior would have been better off hanging out at the Mena Airport, or maybe tossing back a few at Parker Dozhier's fish camp...

This, then, is Junior's official explanation: I thought we were colluding to ratfck the Democratic candidate, and the presidential election in general, but then she started talking about getting the mobsters' money back. Bitch set me up...

Right now, there are more Russians involved in this story than there are in War and Peace. Many of them have the power to cloud men's minds; how else to explain the fact that both Kushner and Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III both forgot to mention to the responsible vetting agencies meetings with various Russians. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the statue in the Lincoln Memorial was wearing a fur hat some morning very soon. At this point, I wouldn't be shocked if the R in Rhode Island suddenly turned backwards...

What I believe I see here is an incredibly corrupt American family doing business with criminal gangs that are way, way out of their league, and that are in league with the institutions of government, and the formidable security apparatus, of an authoritarian state. Talk about punching out of your weight class. This isn't cheating some poor subcontractor. These people throw you out windows. And the Trumps have being doing business in this financial abattoir for years. This doesn't make them sharp. This makes them compliant minnows in a shark tank.

[Me.]

1. This Is A WoW

K & R

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. Would be a WOW if it were a democrat or if patriots were in charge of the government.

What it is in reality is just another day of treason for the GOP.

GOP is in charge. Move along, nothing to see here.

[Me.]

31. Sorry ER

But I think each time there is a new crime it must be pointed out, sooner or later the load will become so heavy it will bring the roof down on his head.

[GeoWilliam750]

35. Only one man's vote in the United States actually matters at this point

Until Rupert Murdoch decides to vote against President Trump, 30% of the United States will support President Trump until the bitterest of ends. No Republican office holder at any level can vote or speak against Trump, and then survive having Fox turn the blow torch on them. Paul Ryan caved in overnight.

[Ligyron]

41. Yet, about a year ago there was a lot of "never Trump" messaging spewed from Faux.

my, my, how things change.

[Eliot Rosewater]

36. I know, I am just expressing my anger at "private server" or "speech" thinking

If you know what I mean.

This was ALL avoidable but I am not allowed to discuss that here.

[Jakes Progress]

46. Avoidable

if so many on the left not been as susceptible to russian and right wing propaganda as many on the right. But I'm not allowed to discuss that here.

[aquamarina]

2. Charles Pierce has such a way with words.

[mcar]

7. He really does

[NastyRiffraff]

3. Another K&R!

And another "official explanation" by lil' Donnie: It's a "nothingburger!" Move along.

[FM123]

4. The Russians have "receipts"

[onit2day]

25. Did the same as Correlones did to Senator in

Godfather II where senator awoke covered in blood with a dead hooker complete with photographs. All those teen beauty pageants in Russia he arranged. What kind of man does that? The kind that grabs 'em by the pussy and brags about it.

[tblue37]

5. K&R for visibility. nt

[sheshe2]

6. Woah!

Pierce doesn't mince any words.

[mcar]

8. "Right now, there are more Russians involved in this story than there are in War and Peace."

[sheshe2]

9. Compliant minnows in a shark tank

I

[PatSeg]

28. Loved that line!

What a great wit Pierce is!

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. Excellent piece!

[PJMcK]

11. Bit by bit

The Russians must have lots of information about Trump. How could they not? He's been doing business with them for years. We know that the oligarchs he's dealt with are mobbed-up criminals. Trump's own grotesque tastes probably put him in compromising situations but he was too stupid to realize it at the time. Only later was he told they have video or financial records or other information to blackmail Trump.

Little bit by little bit, elements of the Steele Dossier seem to be getting corroboration. Are there tapes of the urinating hookers? Do the Russians have Trump's tax returns? What else is going to come to light?

Damn, I hope Robert Mueller blows this jackass out of the water.

[maddiemom]

12. I hope that the investigating PTB...

keep in mind that Pence, at the very least by association, is tarred by the same brush.

[PJMcK]

13. Don't you think they're all being scrutinized?

Last edited Mon Jul 10, 2017, 01:35 PM - Edit history (1)

The corruption is rampant in TrumpWorld. Every single one of them is compromised and I wouldn't be surprised if McConnell and Ryan are in on it, too.

I hope Mr. Mueller is casting his nets far and wide.

[pangaia]

19. No doubt whatsoever about McConnell and ryan

And quite a few other higher ups....


There is such a wide-spread web, how does Mueller keep track of it all?
I can't even find my car in the grocery parking lot. And I just bought a RED one!!

[maddiemom]

33. Ryan's definitely got a few potential problems hanging overhead.

McConnell's not close enough in succession to worry about (Orrin Hatch would be after Ryan), but I'd love to see Mitch get his comeuppance. The man is evil.

[PJMcK]

34. McConnell fought President Obama's desire to release news of Russia's meddling

McConnell and other Republicans didn't want the president to inform Americans that the Russians were interfering in our elections. Traitorous scum!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. Pence, as head of transition, informed by regd letter that Mike Flynn had lied about Russia contacts

Republican Pence then lied about not knowing so tRump could claim when he fired Flynn that Pence did not know about the contacts.

Pence is complicit in the coverup and maybe the collusion.

[hamsterjill]

14. I tend to believe what you believe.

"What I believe I see here is an incredibly corrupt American family doing business with criminal gangs that are way, way out of their league, and that are in league with the institutions of government, and the formidable security apparatus, of an authoritarian state."

Add to that an enormous (may I even say "bigly&quot ego that seems to be in the basic DNA of each and everything that is Trump, and the simple fact that they've gotten away with shady dealings in the past which have emboldened them to try bigger and riskier things.

[PatSeg]

30. That is the problem

Trump and family have gotten away with so much corruption and deceit for decades and as you say, it has "emboldened them to try bigger and riskier things". I don't think it ever dawned on Trump that he might be held accountable for all his misdeeds and illegal activities.

[hamsterjill]

37. I think you're right.

And, like you I'm sure, I think it's time the jackass be made to pay the piper. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

I'm waiting...

[PatSeg]

39. Nobody gets away with

this kind of thing forever. Trump's biggest mistake was running for president. The vetting is brutal and so many skeletons are coming out of his golden closets.

[hamsterjill]

42. I sure hope so.

But I have my doubts. The system is rigged in his favor. Too many idiots destined to follow him off a cliff.

I keep hoping!!!!

[PatSeg]

49. I know how you feel

One day I'm optimistic that truth and justice will prevail and the next I am filled doubts and dread. Democracies do fail and tyrants often prevail. Perhaps we've taken too much for granted for too long. I'm not sure which day this is yet, too early to tell!

[Botany]

15. OMG

This, then, is Junior's official explanation: I thought we were colluding to ratfck the Democratic candidate, and the presidential election in general, but then she started talking about getting the mobsters' money back. Bitch set me up...

[Politicub]

16. Yet America is fast asleep

Our country is being dismantled from within, all in the light of day.

[pangaia]

17. YIKERS! I couldn't have said it better myself..

TAKE BACK !!

[Hekate]

18. Once again, pierce puts it all together

[keithbvadu2]

20. Vlad to Donald: You better hope there are no tapes or videos

[fmdaddio]

22. Charlie Pierce

I read Charlie's column 5 days a week. He has always cut through the bullshit with style and wit to spare. As in Vulgar talking Yam or the day of jubilee reference. BTW he has 2 more postings today that just hit it out of the park.

[Fritz Walter]

24. Link, please?

I'd even consider paying a subscription.

[fmdaddio]

29. Charlie Pierce

Sorry not that good at copying links. Just Google Charles P Pierce and go to the Esquire link. No subscription required.

[mcar]

27. Me too

I've been following him for ages, back when he was a sportswriter. He has a great style.

[LiberalArkie]

23. The Don went to the Russian Mafia to "Borrow" money.

Last year it was put to him, "You will be president or we will kill you, your children, their children, your cousins, your pets if you don't"

[SunSeeker]

32. Early on, the Trumps made a deal with the devil (Putin) to stay rich.

Because without their money, they really are nothing. Donald had just pissed away the family fortune on disastrously unprofitable casinos and was in bankruptcy. Little Ivanka was probably worried where the hundreds of thousands of dollars would come from to transform her utterly ordinary looks into that of a Barbie doll. Uday and Qusay feared their nonexistent job skills would land them in--gasp--dreary middle class sales jobs. Donald feared not being a millionaire, let alone a billionaire, would render him a nonentity. They would do anything to avoid that.

Agreeing to be Putin patsies was an easy call for the Trumps under the circumstances. It gave them all the sweet, sweet kleptocrat cash they needed, and all they had to give up was their souls (which they had no use for anyway).

[bucolic_frolic]

38. Interesting take on it

The FBI and IC have their work cut out for them. Finding the political muscle is no mean feat either.

[LakeArenal]

40. "Right now, there are more Russians involved in this story than there are in War and Peace."

Just a perfect comment.. Best of the day for sure.

[mcar]

45. It really is, Lake

[zentrum]

43. Last Paragraph Especially. nt

[onecent]

44. fear and sex!!

[Jakes Progress]

47. Russians have evidence of treason and breaking US sanctions.

They can put his whole family in prison any time.

[WinkyDink]

48. I've been saying for months this point about "mortal fear" and Trump's indebtedness to the Russian

Mob.