General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublicans are attempting to blackmail the Democratic Party.
How?
They are threatening to begin hearings on the FISA Court and to put in jail the guilty parties. They are following the lead of Putin's puppet, Donald Trump. "Lock 'em up!", they yell.
It should not be seen as idle threats. AG Barr has already said that he is looking at the origins of the investigation. He has been egged on by Senators, like Lindsey Graham, to get to the bottom of it. The scary part is that they have the power to do it. There is no reason to believe they would not use that power.
They want the Democrats to drop their investigation and their hearings and accept the Mueller Report as AG Barr interpreted it, and let it go. They are attempting to blackmail the Democrats into no oversight of Donald Trump.
AG Barr had the very uncomfortable moment with Senator Kamala Harris the other day, when she asked if the White House or anyone had asked or suggested that he open an investigation on anyone? He did not answer because he did not want to tell the truth.
It was pretty obvious that there were discussions of investigating the political enemies of Donald Trump. They have their own enemies list. And there is no guarantee they would not use their power to start putting people in jail.
Democrats will not surrender to these blackmail tactics.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Serious, very serious...
tritsofme
(17,380 posts)There is nothing untoward about the origins of the investigation. I dont see how Democrats are vulnerable to blackmail.
kentuck
(111,104 posts)...in their charges.
Cosmocat
(14,566 posts)And getting in front of one the MANY right wing loons they have foisted into the courts to prosecute...
lark
(23,123 posts)This is exactly what is done in russia with every single campaign against PUtin or his allies - lock them up or kill them. I believe that is one arm of what drumpf is planning in his 2020 joint stealing of our country's election systems with Russia.
Buckeyeblue
(5,499 posts)And that was started in 2016 when he started calling for Hillary to be put in jail.
At what point does Hillary say enough is enough and move out of the country?
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)so just how far are they willing to go with this?
kentuck
(111,104 posts)...and try to tie Hillary to the Steele Dossier and say that they were not honest with the FISA Court because they did not tell the FISA judges about the information they used from the dossier.
That it was all illegitimate from the beginning. And that Stzrok and Page were working with the deep state to spy on the Trump campaign.
And so forth....
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)actually fabricate evidence this won't work.
kentuck
(111,104 posts)That they would never put an innocent person in jail?
I think that might be naive?
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)a hard time keeping their mouths shut and then I would HOPE there would be some folks that this would not sit well with this.
But no I don't put it past them.
kentuck
(111,104 posts)They are not independent thinkers.
mopinko
(70,140 posts)replay the movie, and hope it comes out the same.
and yes, they will try to muddy whoever our candidate is, preferably immediately.
hell, they will slime them all, just to make the whole party look bad.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)more "proof" of collusion? I think not.
Captain Zero
(6,812 posts)Not sure they could get everything redacted that was requested in discovery by the new 'targets'.
Mustellus
(328 posts).. had the head Russian Spy in the USA on speed dial. He had headed the Defense Intelligence Agency, and at some point must have heard that we do eavesdropping on known spies... and that there is a process of 'unmasking' when an American calls the spy. To find out who the spy is dealing with, and if the American is a ... wait for it .... traitor.
Poor General Flynn.... got off with a plea bargain for minor stuff, when there's probably a lot of taped convo's... enough to establish "conspiracy"...
.. or maybe even treason?
And the Republicans are so concerned about "spying". But not by Trump's national security adviser, apparently.
former9thward
(32,029 posts)2naSalit
(86,658 posts)for marches and strikes I'm thinking.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)kentuck
(111,104 posts)...and persuading people to believe that which is not true.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)TeamPooka
(24,231 posts)We need to crush them.
Volaris
(10,272 posts)Let the Senate majority run all the fake investigations they want. It won't keep their criminal president (or anyone who covered for him) from going to prison.
Fuck them.
kentuck
(111,104 posts)...that they can be falsely accused and driven from office, even if not charged with a crime. Republicans are very good at tearing down their opposition. Democrats will not be intimidated this time, in my opinion.
Volaris
(10,272 posts)We are in dire need of a congress in which the Dems hold a traditional majority for another 50 years, as they did beginning with FDR.
The Reagan revolution needs to be reversed (finally), and for the good of the REPUBLICAN party, I think.
Left to their own devices, they will destroy themselves and as an objective , that's not good for a democracy.
We NEED that party of William F Buckleys to call us on our own hubris occasionally (I think), but if left to their own devices their go-to will be to 'stop' ALL forward progress.
This criminal presidency needs to be stopped post haste, and Republicans won't do it. If we need to provide cover for the ones who would help us do that, I'm in.
It's a day drink Saturday, so YMMV here, lol!
Nitram
(22,822 posts)prove a crime was committed, they have nothing.
kentuck
(111,104 posts)and the right-wing scream machine
Nitram
(22,822 posts)EveHammond13
(2,855 posts)displacedtexan
(15,696 posts)The Supremes will really love that!
https://theconversation.com/3-questions-about-the-fisa-court-answered-91208
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Nitram
(22,822 posts)dlk
(11,572 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,086 posts)Blackmail is demanding payments or benefits in return for not revealing compromising information. Extortion is obtaining what you want with threats and force, no compromising information involved. Just flat-out threats. If the Dems have not done anything illegal or otherwise compromising, then there's nothing to blackmail them over. Most likely, the GOPers are making these threats because they believer everyone is as corrupt as they are, and therefore guilty of something. If Deranged Donald wants to investigate the Dems, it will backfire on him, especially when the people realize how many millions of their tax dollars will be wasted on actual witch hunts.
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)Are they allowed to investigate the Senators or at least any ex-Senator or representatives? How about any Republican that works for the AG? Investigate all Republicans that there are rumors about that may have committed a federal crime. Check all their tax records. Go after all members of Trump's cabinet. Investigate all their wives, husbands and adult children. Let's see who blinks first.
Martin Eden
(12,872 posts)Democrats MUST NOT BACK DOWN.
Now is the time for STRENGTH and COURAGE.
kentuck
(111,104 posts)People need to know what they are voting for.