General Discussion

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,426 posts) Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:23 AM Aug 2018

So, we are now learning that Jade Helm might have been a Russian Bot exercise

*What else* from the last several years (since 2009) might the Russians have had a hand in? The Tea Party? I don't want to overstate Russian influence and/or blame it for *everything* that the Republican/right-wing has been engaged in since 2009 but it's starting to seem like Russia has been inserting its tentacles into our country, government, Republican Party for a lot longer than 2016.

9 replies

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So, we are now learning that Jade Helm might have been a Russian Bot exercise (Original Post) Proud Liberal Dem Aug 2018 OP

Idiot Gov Greg Abbott spent millions of Ilsa Aug 2018 #1

I remember that too Proud Liberal Dem Aug 2018 #2

The Plot to Destroy Demcracy - Malcolm Nance mikeysnot Aug 2018 #3

"I can see Russia from my house!" Wwcd Aug 2018 #4

Tea Party would make sense. rurallib Aug 2018 #5

Plus Proud Liberal Dem Aug 2018 #6

The Kochs and similar allied interests created the Tea Party. Hortensis Aug 2018 #8

If it was, they certainly know their audience gratuitous Aug 2018 #7

Focus group beta testing. Initech Aug 2018 #9

Ilsa

(61,696 posts)

1. Idiot Gov Greg Abbott spent millions of

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Original post)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:26 AM

Aug 2018

dollars activating the Tx National Guard "just in case" PBO was up to something.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,426 posts)

2. I remember that too

Reply to Ilsa (Reply #1)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:27 AM

Aug 2018

mikeysnot

(4,757 posts)

3. The Plot to Destroy Demcracy - Malcolm Nance

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Original post)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:29 AM

Aug 2018

Since the start of the cold war.

Just finishing it up today.... read it, share it.

Wwcd

(6,288 posts)

4. "I can see Russia from my house!"

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Original post)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:29 AM

Aug 2018

Koch formed & funded Tea Party, may indeed have had an assist from RU.
The Tea Party mantra of NRA & White supremacy backed racisim gave rise to Trump's base today.

It wouldn't suprise me at all.

rurallib

(62,433 posts)

5. Tea Party would make sense.

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Original post)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:34 AM

Aug 2018

using social media to whip up the idiots.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,426 posts)

6. Plus

Reply to rurallib (Reply #5)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 10:37 AM

Aug 2018

The Tea Party didn't- and still doesn't- even make sense to me. It was weird and fishy from the start, yet treated totally legit by the MSM and GOP

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)

8. The Kochs and similar allied interests created the Tea Party.

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Reply #6)

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 11:35 AM

Aug 2018

However, the tea partiers were a POPULIST MOVEMENT. We know Russia has been using the negative resentments of populism to destabilize nations and bring down democratic governments.

So it's entirely reasonable to suspect that the the populist resentments that were harnessed, funded, and directed by and for billionaire libertarians/conservatives were also stirred up, augmented and subverted for Russia's purposes.

It's amusing to speculate, but Putin might well have a finger in the Kochs et al losing control of the Tea Party and having to pull the plug on it. After the Kochs had to write Congress to disclaim a hand in the Tea Party's attempts to shut down the government.

Which then makes me think of Ted Cruz, who of course had a big finger in that. Cruz is a ruthless religious extremist who wanted to put cruise missiles in Poland. However, he's certainly potentially destabilizing and destructive enough to be very useful to Russia. One of the many useful idiots they've assisted, like Sanders but right-wing extremist version?