So about those leaks spilling out of Mueller's team...

[Pacifist Patriot]

Yeah, the ones not happening. The stone-cold silence radiating out from that group tells me we've got real honest to goodness functional competent adults doing their jobs, and probably doing them extremely well. The contrast between the lack of information from that quarter while WH staff practically stumble over each other to get information public is a telling one. I'm confident I know which group is in control and holds all the cards, every last one.

Looking forward to the day they do go public. I suspect it will make these press "bombshells" seem quaint by comparison. Maddening wait, but should be well worth it in the end. I have confidence the low profile is a very good thing.

[Hokie]

1. Yes, the (lack of) leaks from Mueller's office has been impressive

We shall see though. We're waiting on the pudding.

[Achilleaze]

2. May the HAMMER of Justice strike a Bigly Blow for America

by smashing open the cesspool of KGOP mendacity & treason.

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. Amen!

[SaschaHM]

4. They understand the gravity of their work.

And the fact that leaks can and will cause the behavior of those they are looking at the change.

Unlike the email investigation, which was a complete shitshow in terms of unflattering and often incorrect things that were leaked.

[mercuryblues]

31. incorrect?

Hell, Gowdy admitted to altering documents before he leaked them to the press. The altered documents got a ton of airtime, but silence when it was revealed Gowdy fabricated info on them.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

41. I think one day the Trump mafia will experience the gravity of Mueller's work

[Chasstev365]

5. I admire your optimism

I felt the same about Iran/Contra and the 911 commission, but it didn't change anything.

I hope I am wrong this time.

[PJMcK]

26. And don't forget "Fitzmas," the holiday that never came (n/t)

[marylandblue]

27. This is very different from the Valerie Plame Affair

That was a limited scope investigation into a single incident. Mueller's scope is far more wide-ranging and open-ended, and this is not a one-off, there is a pattern of conspiracy over an extended time.

[Dem2]

29. Yep, not holding my breath

I just assume we're stuck with the blundering boob for the long haul.

[nikibatts]

6. I think Mueller's team knows they are the last best hope for saving our nation.

[Achilleaze]

7. Last Best Hope

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Rooting out the influence

of foreign money in our campaigns, the policies that have been enacted
to steal our resources, the elected representatives that encourage these
influences is a monumental task.

Like Iran-Contra, S&L Crisis, we may do no better than a thorough public
airing, a few arrests, and a sway in public opinion for 2018. The radical agenda
has still been enacted, and the political will to mollify it remains to be seen, not
even mentioning the judicial appointees.

I don't think we'll know much before Nov '17 to March '18.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. I see it as this

There are basically 3 major elements that they are faced with investigating -

1.) A mass web of financial/business transactions and associated criminal activity (money laundering, extortion, bribery) carried out by oligarchs in Russia & assorted Eastern European countries, and oligarchs in the U.S. (notably the TFEE)

2.) The intersection of #1 into the U.S. political arena including the 2016 election, with the motive to protect the political and financial interests of Russia (and associated Eastern European countries) in exchange for providing financial support for the TFEE, PLUS (the cherry on top) the guarantee of concentrated governmental power for the GOP

3.) With the publicized revelations related to #1 & #2, there is a stepped-up effort to obstruct further investigations and cover-up the activities of #1 & #2

If anything, the fact that #1 was flying under the radar for so long, where investigators just didn't have enough resources to nip it in the bud early on, is pretty sad.

[bucolic_frolic]

19. It's a long game

Yes, the FBI is in the business of investigating - facts, crimes, laws.

They are not in the business of deciding political winners and losers, with a wink
to retired Rudy and Director Comey and their 2016 unbalancing/balancing acts
respectively. And Rudy is retired, he can legally support who he likes. How much if any
the FBI levels the table remains to be seen.

I would also note a long historical element to this entire predicament. The U.S. sought
hegemony in eastern Europe after WWII, demanding elections, democratic governments
and especially banking in countries the U.S. had not conquered, but the Soviet Union
had. Stalin of course disagreed. He promised this or that, and then the Iron Curtain fell,
though the Soviets remained beholden to western cash to finance their recovery.
The Soviet Union fell, freedom came to eastern Europe, now the blowback is visited upon
the U.S.

Just ignore the angle of who actually ran the Soviet Union. Some say it was for the people,
or state enterprises. Those entities were sold off to private enterprise. So just like Hitler's ministers
plundered the Third Reich for personal gain, oligarchs now control much of the world's
resources and large companies.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. In a nutshell, it was described succinctly here

[bucolic_frolic]

32. LOL Who wants to believe that?

Though we must. The Founding Fathers were men of property. Was democracy
just a convenience for serving their interests? just like Rome?

Very depressing. Competition triumphs over cooperation. The strong over the weak.
Incentive over sharing. All are at the mercy of philanthropy, if those at the top have
any thought for the poor and common folk.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Those "founding fathers" came from countries that were monarchies

They wanted to re-create the same thing except without the need for a royal family connection.

[L. Coyote]

10. We don't know where all the leaks are coming from. They could be from Mueller.

Leaking with a purpose is a strategic prosecutorial discretion. It is often done to elicit reactions by targets, especially to get them to self incriminate or incriminate others under surveillance, provide additional evidence, and corroborate existing evidence.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. True, but...

When the press has cited unamed sources, they have tended to refer to unamed sources "at the White House" or "in the Trump campaign." I've not seen so much as a whiff of suspicion that info is coming from Mueller's team. If they are making strategic leaks, they are damn good at that too.

[PJMcK]

28. Possibly but there are other sources as well

Keith Olbermann made a point in one of his recent commentaries on "The Resistance." He detailed how Trump has insulted and demeaned the work of the Intelligence Community and how those professionals must be pissed. Mr. Olbermann explained how much information those 17 organizations have on Trump and Company and how they could be letting little bits drip bit by bit.

These releases of tiny nuggets would be intended as warning shots. Similarly, I think that's what's happening with Putin and Trump and the continuing revelations about Russian contacts with Trump's campaign. I mean, if the Kremlin is behind the discoveries this past week about Junior's June 9, 2016 meeting, those warning salvos were aimed directly at Trump's family. But Trump is an idiot and he wouldn't understand the messages from either side.

[MissKat]

11. No matter

No matter what is discovered
No matter what is decided

Democracy has suffered a profound, dangerous blow

By allowing Trump to be their candidate the GOP made a mockery of the entire system. To allow a man, so unqualified, so undignified, so wretchedly dishonest to become president that office will never again be viewed as "the leader of the free world."

There is no doubt in my mind that GOP leadership knew there was something going on, that Trump wasn't as wealthy as he said he was--that they NEVER did due diligence to review Trump I hope will be the last nail in their coffin.

And I no longer care.

[Towlie]

13. Sorry, but it doesn't follow that a lack of knowledge proves that what we imagine must be true.

We can be confident that Mueller's team will deliver a bombshell, based upon other evidence that we know about, but your conclusion is really very bad logic of the same sort that spawns religious beliefs. Your assertion may turn out to be true, but it's presently based primarily on hope rather than evidence.

Consider that right now there are probably Trump supporters who are concluding that the lack of leaks is evidence that they haven't found anything. Is their logic any better or worse than yours?

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. You're assuming I am drawing my conclusions....

based solely on their silence. That would be an incorrect assumption on your part.

[Gothmog]

14. You do not assemble this much legal talent without intending to indict someone

The Mueller team is not the ones leaking and I expect to see some fun indictments from this awesome legal team

[dlk]

18. Let's Hope Trump Hasn't Already Secretly Pardoned Everyone Connected with this Debacle

We've seen how low and dirty this administration is willing to go and should be prepared for secret pardons.

[DK504]

22. He's probably already promised pardons, but I don't think he can secretly pardon someone.

it has to go through the DOJ too.

I do wish they would let slip some juicy tidbit.

[dlk]

16. It's a Refreshing Change to See Grownups in Action

How tiresome and discouraging it's become to see the endless posturing and tantrum-style antics of emotional children in the public arena. It accomplishes -- what? We need rational and mature adults in Washington to successfully manage the business of our country. The obvious competence of Mueller and his team is a refreshing change from the daily, global dysfunction we've unfortunately witnessed so far from the Trump administration.

[lunasun]

17. R o r s c h a c h T e s t

I mean I wish it were true but

[Orrex]

20. Deplorables take this as "proof" that there's no there there.

[yardwork]

21. Unless the Democrats take back Congress, nothing will come of this.

[Ligyron]

24. and that's the main problem.

With a majority of Dem seats up for reelection and fewer GOPer's.

[Mr.Bill]

37. True of the Senate,

but every House of Representatives seat is up for election. If we don't have the House, no impeachment will happen.

[red dog 1]

34. + 1

[KingCharlemagne]

25. I'm hoping for a minimum of 100 grand jury indictments. - nt

[Nitram]

30. Exactly. The wheel of Justice grind slow but exceedingly fine.

[red dog 1]

35. I just hope you're right.

Don't forget - Mueller is overseeing an FBI investigation, and that rat bastard Jeff Sessions, the Attorney General, is his boss....and Sessions' boss is the Child-Rapist-in-Chief.

[wishstar]

36. Senate investigatory committees are doing some leaking

The Senate Intelligence committee has received information behind closed doors such as documents from Manafort and according to Sen Lankford, they also found out back in April that Kushner had reported this latest meeting on his revised clearance form.

Very possibly leads or tidbits have been leaked from Senate, setting off reporters' efforts to dig around asking Trump WH advisors and lawyers to get fuller details.

[MiddleClass]

38. I hope they're going through all the Russian Connections by everybody in this administration

Soviet Union use prostitutes and video to blackmail, Vladimir is from that school

Mike Flynn, in Russia, takes mega $$ from Russian ally Turkey, is all sorts of strange, video

Jarrod Kershner's father use prostitutes and video to blackmail brother-in-law, eerie similarity.

Jarrod Kershner, try to get secret server to Russia in Russian Embassy, Ambassador, Vladimir's banker, and now lawyer.

Paul Manafort, worked for Vladimir in Ukraine, bought million-dollar Manhattan suite for nothing, Russians payed.

Jeff Sessions, settled 250,000,000 dollars, money laundering Russian scam for 2 cents on the dollar.

I will bet junior and senior star in Russian videos, and have been up to a world of Russian monetary shenanigans.

So yes, Mister Mueller is damned busy

[byronius]

39. Certainly a great deal of wriggling and ratfcking going on. Like a trapped animal.

Putin probably wakes up with a cold feeling in his heart. All the money! But can he keep it once the US throws off the demon he set loose and turns on Moscow to seek justice?

I hope the Russians as a people set him and his crew outside the gates for us to take home for trial. Best for all.

[Hekate]

40. Kick and 100th Rec

[LiberalLovinLug]

42. On the one hand I am eagerly hopeful

On the other I have to wait until it all really does go down.

Is Cheney in jail?
Is Rove in jail?

Don't forget they hold every possible political and judicial advantage. They can literally change the law on the go whenever the current ones are allowing things to get a little too heated. Trump can fire anyone, anytime. There is no independent prosecuter. And the GOP will not lift a finger to stop it.

[BigmanPigman]

43. A separate independ. investigation is still needed more than ever and the Dems want it.

The GOP doesn't since they know it would be the best approach and they would get nailed in some way. It would be non partisan, fully funded and staffed, transparent, could get his business records, can't be derailed by IT or the GOP, and could be done fairly quickly. It would be similar to the 9/11 Commission.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. who leaked all the stuff on Russian lawyer

Meeting?

[BlueJac]

45. I just hope you are correct........

I have many doubts of anything happening. The enablers are many and the corruption is deep. The way Trumps has gotten away with his bizarre behavior keeps me on edge every day!