We can't answer this thread without revealing classified information. Trumpery trumped.

[PerkingFaintly]

New thread, and here's the link to yesterday's hearing again.

Full transcript: Sally Yates and James Clapper testify on Russian election interference
www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/05/08/full-transcript-sally-yates-and-james-clapper-testify-on-russian-election-interference/?utm_term=.8b4eaf12c960

That concerns the 'overriding' issues.

Most Republicans in Congress don’t support an independent investigation into Russia and Trump

But 3 senators are. 21 haven't stated their position. GOP has a majority of 2.

The block is likely to be Congress, where only 8 GOP members have stated support for an independent investigation.

www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/independent-prosecutor-russia-whip-count/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.5d8426bbaa0a

Talking of what was picked up under investigation, can I highlight something?

During the Senate hearing with Clapper and Yates, it was carefully explained that the question of masking/unmasking of US citizens names arises in two circumstances:

1. an intercepted conversation BETWEEN a US citizen and a validated foreign target,
2. an intercepted conversation ABOUT a US citizen, by a validated foreign target.

Of course (2) explains some things which might otherwise appear contradictory.

Eg Sally Yates stated during the Senate hearing that she was not aware of any interceptions of the Trump campaign's communications.

This can be perfectly true - and at the same time it can be true that members of the Trump campaign were unmasked in intercepts of, say, a conversation between two Russians.

Oh she was answering those questions very carefully.

Also threatening someone who might testify you is an offence.

But something Trump is used to do with impunity, if reports are to be believed.

Someone said that it would be in keeping with Trump's character to leak tapes that incriminate him in order to smear Comey.

If Trump does have an oversea trip planned he won't want to go. That would leave too many people at home to plot whilst he wasn't there.

He won't want to miss this particular trip though. A real dilemma for him.

I can believe that, Red.

I had a little glimmer of hope at that tweet of his, because he really, really is that stupid.

Just have to hope he slips his minders for long enough to do it.

From the Guardian

The mention of tapes will only fuel further comparisons to Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. Nixon infamously taped meetings in the Oval Office and recordings of those meetings led to his resignation from office.

Michael Beschloss, a leading presidential historian, said on Twitter on Friday: “Presidents are supposed to have stopped routinely taping visitors without their knowledge when Nixon’s taping system was revealed in 1973.”

All eyes on the Senate:

Senate GOP’s agenda is at a moment of reckoning with unpredictable Trump

"Senate Republicans are suddenly grappling with a demanding agenda riddled with political peril, as they prepare to try to confirm a new FBI director and reshape the nation’s health-care system"

It could be make or break for GOP. And, I would suspect, for any senators brave enough to launch a challenge for 2020.

www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-gops-agenda-is-at-a-moment-of-reckoning-with-unpredictable-trump/2017/05/11/8d240162-3699-11e7-b412-62beef8121f7_story.html?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.240eb97d4d0f

I know, his stupidity is astounding. He's a complete psychopath but a fair number of politicians has some sociopathic traits. What really shocks me is how someone so utterly dim who can't string a sentence together can fool people into voting for him as President.

....another little speed bump on the road....

Oh Dear.

Well this has cheered my Friday afternoon!

So guys...this just happened on 59th St in NYC. @melissamccarthy @NBCSN #Spicey

twitter.com/Sifill_LDF/status/863020786130538498

Apols if it's already been posted.

I haven't seen it before if it has.

It's almost unbelievable. He's standing there basically screaming (tweeting) "I'm telling you what the truth is and YOU WILL BELIEVE ME".

I think he's gradually 'losing it' because in the past, in his private dealings, his intimidation and threats (along with 'yes-people' telling him how great he is) has probably worked. I mean, think how many small businesses and underlings he's intimidated and threatened out of existence.

The problem is that there are very many powerful people who still have a huge stake in keeping him where he is. He has not (yet) become a big enough liability for them to abandon him.

The polls will start to have influence now.

Speaking of polls, I had just looked at them and it's not looking great. It's on a downward trend again for Trump's approval rate, at -11.8 today.

Curiously, the disapproval rate seems to be climbing more than the approval is reducing.

www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html

I certainly hope so!

I think we need a poll of GOP voters who are becoming disaffected with Trump or starting to 'question' his actions asking them how likely they'll be to vote for their current GOP legislators in 2018. It's time to make it 'personal' and start to get the message through to GOP legislators that supporting Scrotus it a death-wish for themselves.

This article looks depressing - at first glance - but actually contains some seeds of hope.

FBI agents worry

For your interest - and as touched on upthread.

Trump threatens to end briefings

The briefings link has a curious article underneath.

Lawyer: No Russia on Trump’s Tax Returns

REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE
A lawyer for President Trump revealed Friday morning that the president’s income-tax returns from the past 10 years show no “income of any type from Russian sources,” the Associated Press reported. However, the news service added: “with few exceptions.”

Well... So, it does show

Indeed.

And that's on the surface as well.

Read the replies to MM does Spicey on wheels