Coinciding with a new article in the Washington Post, claiming that the FBI and CIA are now in agreement on the Russian hack – President Obama gave a press conference today in which he spoke on the issue.
Long and short of it; the Russians did it, the White House knew about the hacks over the summer, but Obama downplayed the effect so as not to influence the election. There will be an intelligence report issued before Obama leaves office, however it won’t contain all the evidence for national security reasons. The President also suggested that the media’s spotlight on the Wikileaks “possibly embarrassing but not illegal” leaks had a lot to do with public influence. Very smooth, Barry.
Going forward, as expected, the administration – as evidenced by Obama’s own language as well as John Kerry’s rhetoric this week, does not want to throw the country into disarray with a messy transition.
Highlights:
Obama made it clear that his administration knew about the hacking over the summer, but the White House didn’t want to spotlight the issues.
There is an official report coming which will show the Russians did it, and the decision went to the top (Putin ordered).
Told Russia to “cut it out” (lol).
On election integrity:
I can assure the public that there was no tampering with the voting process [no vote machine hacking]. Votes cast were counted. Not seen evidence of machines being tampered with.
On the question of providing proof of hacking:
We will provide evidence that we can safely provide, that does not compromise sources and methods, but I’ll be honest – when we’re talking about cyber security, a lot of it’s classified and we aren’t going to provide it, as it would reveal methods.
(Just believe our intelligence community – they are more trustworthy than the Russians).
Role of FAKE NEWS:
If FAKE NEWS being released by a foreign gov. is almost identical to reports that are being issued through partisan news venues (Breitbart?) then it’s not surprising that the foreign propaganda will have a greater effect.
Moving forward, Obama pointed out issues raised by the hacking.
- Cybersecurity – constant hacking always goin’ on
- This particular concern about Russian hacking part of a broader set of concerns; how do we deal with cyber issues being used in ways that can affect our infrastructure and stability of our financial system, and our election process.
- The problem with hacking is that it’s hard to prove exactly who did it, but we know it was the Russians.
- The USA needs to create international norms to prevent a cyber arms-race
Obama expounded that the USA’s primary vulnerability to Russia, or any other foreign power, lies in how divided we are as a nation.
Response To Russia? Obama made it clear that while the Russians hacked the DNC and Podesta, the election itself went off without a hitch, and the integrity of our elections process was not tarnished (voting machines not hacked, etc.). That does not mean we aren’t going to respond:
“Our goal continues to be to send a clear message not to do this to us, because we can do stuff to you. Need to do in a thoughtful, methodical way. Some of it will be public, some of it will be clandestine.”
Important for the Democratic party going forward – How do we show up in places where democratic policies are needed? How do we reach people? Need to shed the latte sippin’ elitist image. (ya think?) If we look for one explanation, or one silver bullet, or one easy fix, we’re going to be disappointed. A lot of factors went into why Hillary lost the election.
With respect to the FBI: it is always a challenge for law enforcement when there is an intersection between their job, and politics. We have a system where we want our law enforcement investigators to be free from politics, but sometimes that involves investigations that touch on politics. In this hyper-partisan environment, everything is suspect. Obama has tried to remain hands-off to preserve independence of law enforcement.
Electoral College: Not weighing in on intel briefing. Obama said the EC is a vestige of an older by-gone era. Some structures in our political system that no longer apply, but typically the popular and electoral college votes will align.
TL:DR calm your tits, after being in full possession of the facts, Obama isn’t going to declare martial law, and Trump will be President on January 20th, should electors, some of whom are lying sacks of shit, keep the faith.
Just remember who’s got actual ties to Russia:
OK, there’s unfinished business as would be expected. Obama will have to leave it behind. The next President will deal with it smartly or brush it away cause its just mouse turds.
If the U.S. becomes annexed by Russia next, will that be “mouse turds” too? Everybody here knows how to speak Russian already, right?
I have a dislike of John Kerry going back, must be almost a decade now. He swamp man. Good riddens.
Fucking there’s oceans between USA and Russia, what the hell? Now a nice piece of Europe ass might be tasty to Putin.
IP traces are not credible.. so if they actually have legitimate evidence it would have to be something like say a screenshot of the computer (obtained through some kind of spyware), or illegal NSA surveillance (as they have been caught doing on other world leaders before). If it was obtained through a spy or through spy technology, they cannot show such evidence as it would be obtained illegally.
Thus, they cannot show evidence as it would compromise national security. It would be like saying, “we have evidence that you are spying illegally… that we obtained by spying illegally!”
Eight years, possibly 12 of goodness seeping into Washington DC as the swamp waters subside and dry up.
The lobbyists, trying unsuccessfully to jockey for jobs, muttering to themselves and democrats about how unfair the world is. Trump will ruin the country and send it spinning back to 1957, when men were men, women were straight and the chrome was thick. How dreadful.
Everyday it’s good to look at CNN and watch them twisting slowly in the breeze, excited with their last excuse of why Hillary lost. Hacking, right, it was the Russians. It had nothing to do with Hillary passing out 9-11 or not going to Wisconsin, instead, going to Arizona of all places. Oh, and Texas turned blue according to her pollsters.
Yes, Hillary won, this is all a dream. Jan the 20th she will be sworn in.
I’m confused ZPN, we’re the russians responsible for the DNC sabotaging Bernie Sanders campaign or did they just do it on their own? Is project veritas headquartered in moscow? (Remember DNC’s Scott Foval admit “bird-dogging” at Trump events? Did russians put out Trump’s tax return illegally too? Did the russians have anything to do with Clinton’s pay to play foundation? Doesn’t barry have a conflict of interest in all of this?
Help me out!
It makes a lot of sense for Russia to interfere with American elections, it makes a lot of sense for them to want an isolationist who wants to get America out of foreign affairs and trade deals and finds value in appeasing Putin. Putin… an ex KGB member, as in he was born and bred to destroy our country… clearly not a communist, yet high up in the soviet government? There is no proof they did it or not but who needs proof with a resume like that? Suddenly Russia is to be trusted and not to be accused of anything remotely dishonorable because Trump says he admires Putin? There is no proof, just our 60 year old bias with a nation of oligarchs. Forgive me if all this Russia is innocent nonsense sounds like the brainwashed anthem of the Trumpites. Nothing counts unless it goes along with whatever comes out of his mouth suddenly. Trump denying it could even be Russia also raises alarm. He should have no problem admitting they hacked the DNC, especially after asking them to hack some more when it happened. He won the election fair and square, why does he have to deny the DNC got hacked by Russia? Based on his combined 0.0 years in cyber security and intelligence experience.
***If*** Russia did hack the DNC, we have them to thank for letting us know how corrupt the DNC is. But, if someone broke into my house just to show me my wife blowing a stranger… should I not beat his ass for breaking and entering after politely thanking him for exposing my wife as a whore?
I’ve said it a million times. The war is in the books. Russia needs to be fully castrated, the collapse of communism did not quite do it. Nobody but us is to have any influence on global affairs, the planet belongs to USA. If anything, simply because we are stronger and better endowed for the process of world domination. The CIA wants a war. But,Trump wants less defense contractors in the government? whilst simultaneously filling his cabinet with Goldman alumni?
Mouse turds? Try 100 decent sized cookie crumbs all over the kitchen floor. Trump practically sitting there with chocolate all over his face.
Trump is up to bat, bunts, blames it on Obama instead of running to first, gets struck out. Trump argues with the ref on Fox for the rest of his life. Russia wins the world series. Right-wing too busy celebrating the destruction of Obama’s imaginary Muslim kingdom to realize there was no American Islamic Caliphate, just America. Meanwhile Russia and Iran control all the oil in Mesopotamia. Iraq is stuck in between Iran and Assad, deep in the Russian sphere of influence. All our dead soldiers from 03 to now fought for nothing.
The guy spent half the campaign bashing our president, after spending years calling him a foreigner, AND complementing an ex-KGB leader who the entire world knows manipulated his own elections?
All is well. Until the Russians elect a black dude and suddenly they’re exposed by Breitbart as Muslim globalists or whatever.
ITALIAN STALLION I was watching CNN today…
nobody is blaming Russia for Hilary’s loss… it was brought up multiple times that this has nothing to do with Hilary, as she lost for her own reasons… and everything to do with the possibility of Russia hacking America.
Something you guys have denied could even be possible, despite a lack of evidence on both sides, simply because Trump says it didn’t happen. The same Trump that said he would build a wall, then a fence. The same Trump that said he probably won’t deport everyone. The same Trump that said our first black president was born elsewhere, then denied ever saying it.
You guys are insane. Trump won the election. Fair and square.
It is clear that Trump would be better for Russia than Hilary… he might even be better for America… but that has nothing to do with whether Russia hacked the DNC.
You guys have no evidence to counter what the CIA FBI and now the President is telling us.
Pointing out every dissenting opinion is fueled by FAKE NEWS is the most fascist nonsense that has ever happened in American politics.
Remember when everyone was pissed that Wikileaks put out a bunch of info that could potentially get American soldiers killed? I remember how mad people were, until it benefitted their side and they had something to sell.
“Pointing out every dissenting opinion is fueled by FAKE NEWS is the most fascist nonsense that has ever happened in American politics.”
Not every dissenting opinion is fueled by fake news. But when opinions are “proven” and “backed up” by stating obvious falsehoods, that’s from fake news. People didn’t make up these lies on their own. And they actually believe they are true.
None of you could fix shit. Agreed its broken but can you fix it? Not a fucking chance. That will have to be done by others.
Soupbone, what are you talking about fixing? And who are you thinking can fix it?