This is a clear example of why Trump was a threat to our national security, not only while president, but also post-presidency. He needs to keep his mouth shut, but that won't happen until he's either in a cell or six feet under.
First, he makes some idiotic remark to Ingraham about our southern border, listing highly specific details (t…
This is a clear example of why Trump was a threat to our national security, not only while president, but also post-presidency. He needs to keep his mouth shut, but that won't happen until he's either in a cell or six feet under.
First, he makes some idiotic remark to Ingraham about our southern border, listing highly specific details (that he made up) such as 3 million people crossing the southern border from 129 different countries, and in the same breath says we have no idea what's happening. If we know they're coming from 129 different countries, doesn't it sound like we might know what's happening?
Then, when he rebukes Ingraham for saying Americans were making an amphibious attack, saying that should be secret and not broadcast on television, she corrects Trump and says that's not what she said. Then Trump says, well, that will be next (didn't you just tell Ingraham not to say what you just said?).
This is positively infuriating. As a former president, Trump still has access to classified information. Intelligence reports even, should he wish to access them. And he gets on national tv talking about secret missions that cable news pundits shouldn't have access to, and even after that pundit tries to change the subject, Trump doubles down and says "Well, the assault is coming anyway." The Bulwark has made it very clear that they're just blaring Fox News's prime time propaganda line up on Russia State tv, so Russia is not only seeing this, but studying this.
And it's just a reminder that Trump is excessively venal, he's about to be stripped of any access to bank loans because his businesses are thoroughly corrupt, and he has access to very sensitive state secrets if he chooses to indulge himself. One of the commentators on Beg To Differ, I think Linda Chavez, smartly pointed out on a recent episode that she was pretty certain Trump stole all of those White House documents and brought them to Maralago so he could sell them, and I can't think of why she would be wrong. This menace has access to a treasure trove of sensitive information, zero scruples, an insatiable appetite for money, and connections with very generous potential buyers.
Former presidents do receive the intelligence briefings in case the current president wishes to consult with them. Trump, however, is the first former President to be barred from this information. Biden, as the sitting POTUS, has the authority to control classified info. He barred Trump from receiving briefings on February 5, 2021. He denied that his decision was influenced by the events of J6, but would not speak specifically about his reasons.
I long thought Trump was in the category of "useful idiot", not a disciplined Russian agent. Now I'm not so sure. There certainly was ample probable cause for the security services to open an investigation of his Russian connections. Now, I'm beginning to think they and the Mueller investigation were wrong, that he is indeed a witting actor. His erratic suspicious behavior may be a case of "hide in plain sight" just as the Comintern agents were instructed to write their reports on postcards. Who would suspect?
My read of the situation is that he was (and continues to be) a "useful idiot."
The Russians would not be so foolish as to make him an actual agent (regardless of what Trump's aims or goals are). It is much easier and better for them to collude with Trump along lines of common interest (as the various parties see it) in an unofficial capacity.
Trump is basically too untrustworthy, loudmouthed, and stupid to be recruited as an agent... and he is basically so oblivious to anything but his own immediate needs and interests that he will willingly do what you want him to do without you telling him anything.
he is that glorious and much desired combination of ego, selfishness, influence, and lack of critical intelligence that is in high demand for people looking to do underhanded things and keep their own hands clean.
I don't disagree, at least not strenuously. His untrustworthy and loudmouth behavior would certainly argue against his recruitment. What does worry me is the possibility the Russian services have bought up his outstanding debts, especially any demand notes or ones in which there has been any default events making them immediately payable. That would be real pressure, much more than the photos of his "water sports".
Yes, this. Trump's narcissism and ignorance are easy to exploit. But there's no way he would risk anything to serve someone else's agenda, and no way the Russians would trust him to be reliable and discreet.
Trump has access so long as he is granted access (which can be denied by the current administration)--and there are a LOT of things that he would no longer have access to regardless, because they are compartmentalized.
Any extent to which his access might be restricted is a blessing, and if the current administration has a final veto, I hope they exercise it liberally. Wasn't Bush 41 getting getting PDBs and intelligence reports for years after his presidency, in part because of his own personal interest in the items as former head of the CIA?
Ex-Presidents can be "read-in" on things if the current administration asks them for input/advice. The sitting President clears them for access to it (on the basis of their having been President and having had access).
There is no requirement or law granting ex-Presidents access. You don't automatically get a top-secret weekly newsletter because you were President. All of this is basically at the discretion of the sitting President/Administration.
The same thing applies for ANY ex-administration member. Your access to this material ended when you left office, any access granted is either because you just changed jobs (thus having appropriate access) or because someone with access has granted you access to specific things for specific reasons (usually entailing you providing feedback or advice).
Frankly, if I was in the Biden Administration, NONE of the members of the previous administration would have access to ANYTHING. They are all untrustworthy.
And members of the GoP with access (Senators and Congressmen) cannot provide these materials to Trump, legally. It would be a crime. They are NOT the classifying authority. That is the current President.
There may be rules or regulations that grant them this authority, but I doubt it, unless things have changed a GREAT deal since I worked with classified material.
I get the impression you know what you’re talking about, and I sure hope you are right, about the ability to restrict Trump’s access to sensitive information.
Trump hasn't had access to US intelligence briefings when he was the president. But I'd guess he does have intelligence briefings from the Putin moles around him, each of them urging him on in his mission to bring the US to its knees. BTW, the twisting and turning and flat out blindness is very busy at TAC. Rod's in Hungary, a stone's throw from the Ukraine - he's still whining about obscure examples of wokeness!
"How to analyze the pretzel-bending, contrary-to-logic word salad that is Trump-speak." And my first thoughts about why those boxes of classified documents arrived in Marr-a-lot-go was the money angle, too.
This is a clear example of why Trump was a threat to our national security, not only while president, but also post-presidency. He needs to keep his mouth shut, but that won't happen until he's either in a cell or six feet under.
First, he makes some idiotic remark to Ingraham about our southern border, listing highly specific details (that he made up) such as 3 million people crossing the southern border from 129 different countries, and in the same breath says we have no idea what's happening. If we know they're coming from 129 different countries, doesn't it sound like we might know what's happening?
Then, when he rebukes Ingraham for saying Americans were making an amphibious attack, saying that should be secret and not broadcast on television, she corrects Trump and says that's not what she said. Then Trump says, well, that will be next (didn't you just tell Ingraham not to say what you just said?).
This is positively infuriating. As a former president, Trump still has access to classified information. Intelligence reports even, should he wish to access them. And he gets on national tv talking about secret missions that cable news pundits shouldn't have access to, and even after that pundit tries to change the subject, Trump doubles down and says "Well, the assault is coming anyway." The Bulwark has made it very clear that they're just blaring Fox News's prime time propaganda line up on Russia State tv, so Russia is not only seeing this, but studying this.
And it's just a reminder that Trump is excessively venal, he's about to be stripped of any access to bank loans because his businesses are thoroughly corrupt, and he has access to very sensitive state secrets if he chooses to indulge himself. One of the commentators on Beg To Differ, I think Linda Chavez, smartly pointed out on a recent episode that she was pretty certain Trump stole all of those White House documents and brought them to Maralago so he could sell them, and I can't think of why she would be wrong. This menace has access to a treasure trove of sensitive information, zero scruples, an insatiable appetite for money, and connections with very generous potential buyers.
I heard that interview. Trump sounded like my grandfather when he started getting dementia.
Former presidents do receive the intelligence briefings in case the current president wishes to consult with them. Trump, however, is the first former President to be barred from this information. Biden, as the sitting POTUS, has the authority to control classified info. He barred Trump from receiving briefings on February 5, 2021. He denied that his decision was influenced by the events of J6, but would not speak specifically about his reasons.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/us/politics/biden-trump-intelligence-briefings.html
I long thought Trump was in the category of "useful idiot", not a disciplined Russian agent. Now I'm not so sure. There certainly was ample probable cause for the security services to open an investigation of his Russian connections. Now, I'm beginning to think they and the Mueller investigation were wrong, that he is indeed a witting actor. His erratic suspicious behavior may be a case of "hide in plain sight" just as the Comintern agents were instructed to write their reports on postcards. Who would suspect?
My read of the situation is that he was (and continues to be) a "useful idiot."
The Russians would not be so foolish as to make him an actual agent (regardless of what Trump's aims or goals are). It is much easier and better for them to collude with Trump along lines of common interest (as the various parties see it) in an unofficial capacity.
Trump is basically too untrustworthy, loudmouthed, and stupid to be recruited as an agent... and he is basically so oblivious to anything but his own immediate needs and interests that he will willingly do what you want him to do without you telling him anything.
he is that glorious and much desired combination of ego, selfishness, influence, and lack of critical intelligence that is in high demand for people looking to do underhanded things and keep their own hands clean.
They probably just flattered him and told him that they were special people and should be in charge of everything.
I don't disagree, at least not strenuously. His untrustworthy and loudmouth behavior would certainly argue against his recruitment. What does worry me is the possibility the Russian services have bought up his outstanding debts, especially any demand notes or ones in which there has been any default events making them immediately payable. That would be real pressure, much more than the photos of his "water sports".
Yes, this. Trump's narcissism and ignorance are easy to exploit. But there's no way he would risk anything to serve someone else's agenda, and no way the Russians would trust him to be reliable and discreet.
Trump has access so long as he is granted access (which can be denied by the current administration)--and there are a LOT of things that he would no longer have access to regardless, because they are compartmentalized.
Any extent to which his access might be restricted is a blessing, and if the current administration has a final veto, I hope they exercise it liberally. Wasn't Bush 41 getting getting PDBs and intelligence reports for years after his presidency, in part because of his own personal interest in the items as former head of the CIA?
Ex-Presidents can be "read-in" on things if the current administration asks them for input/advice. The sitting President clears them for access to it (on the basis of their having been President and having had access).
There is no requirement or law granting ex-Presidents access. You don't automatically get a top-secret weekly newsletter because you were President. All of this is basically at the discretion of the sitting President/Administration.
The same thing applies for ANY ex-administration member. Your access to this material ended when you left office, any access granted is either because you just changed jobs (thus having appropriate access) or because someone with access has granted you access to specific things for specific reasons (usually entailing you providing feedback or advice).
Frankly, if I was in the Biden Administration, NONE of the members of the previous administration would have access to ANYTHING. They are all untrustworthy.
And members of the GoP with access (Senators and Congressmen) cannot provide these materials to Trump, legally. It would be a crime. They are NOT the classifying authority. That is the current President.
There may be rules or regulations that grant them this authority, but I doubt it, unless things have changed a GREAT deal since I worked with classified material.
I appreciate the explainer. That's pretty reassuring.
I get the impression you know what you’re talking about, and I sure hope you are right, about the ability to restrict Trump’s access to sensitive information.
Trump hasn't had access to US intelligence briefings when he was the president. But I'd guess he does have intelligence briefings from the Putin moles around him, each of them urging him on in his mission to bring the US to its knees. BTW, the twisting and turning and flat out blindness is very busy at TAC. Rod's in Hungary, a stone's throw from the Ukraine - he's still whining about obscure examples of wokeness!
"How to analyze the pretzel-bending, contrary-to-logic word salad that is Trump-speak." And my first thoughts about why those boxes of classified documents arrived in Marr-a-lot-go was the money angle, too.