Negative responses to Trump's comments in Helsinki

[FreeinChrist]

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/6295...y-troubled-reaction-to-the-trump-putin-summit

Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich — who, like Flake, has mulled a 2020 primary challenge to Trump — said Trump was "wrong" in his comments and "was not in America's best interests."

"Putin's words should never be given equal weight of our own Director of National Intelligence. Putin is a KGB operative trying to undermine the West and supporting other murderous dictators. He cannot and should not be trusted. Other American leaders, in both parties, should speak with one voice and let the world know we are not on the side of Russia," Kasich said in a statement.

Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, a former CIA officer and one of the most vulnerable House Republicans up for re-election in 2018, tweeted that Trump had been manipulated by the Russian president who had been an intelligence officer in the Soviet Union.

Trump backers also contradicted his remarks on Monday.

Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., said in a statement that his committee "found no reason to doubt" the conclusion that "President Putin ordered an influence campaign aimed at the 2016 U.S. elections with the goal of undermining faith in our democratic process. ... Any statement by Vladimir Putin contrary to these facts is a lie and should be recognized as one by the President.

"Vladimir Putin is not our friend and never has been. Nor does he want to be our friend. His regime's actions prove it. We must make clear that the United States will not tolerate hostile Russian activities against us or our allies."​

 

[Hammster]

Are they calling it treason?



Did they call it treason? Also, no McCain is a Neo-Con who wants to start as many wars as possible.

Do they have to use that specific word?

 

[FreeinChrist]

Bush and McCain are not far left, and they're Republicans. However, they're also blood thirsty war mongers, and Dubya in particular should be charged with actual war crimes.

Neither would have stood on foreign soil and stand with Putin against American intelligence.

 

[Rion]

Do they have to use that specific word?

For me to call it screeching, yes.

Neither would have stood on foreign soil and stand with Putin against American intelligence.

True, but Trump's not been responsible for the murder of a half-million people 'cause he wanted to make his daddy proud, and he's never tried to cover up any remaining POWs left behind in a foreign state.

 

[Albion]

http://thehill.com/homenews/media/397257-drudge-report-putin-dominates-trump-in-helsinki

Conservative website Drudge Report on Monday declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged from his meeting with President Trumpwith the upper-hand.

The website blared a headline of "Putin Dominates in Hel" across its homepage, a reference to the leaders' meeting in Helsinki, Finland.
​

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/397245-mccain-trump-performance-disgraceful

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called the U.S.-Russia summit in Helsinki “a tragic mistake” and faulted President Trump for “naiveté” and “egotism” in meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He also labeled Trump's press conference with Putin as “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”
​

http://thehill.com/homenews/media/3...mp-over-performance-at-putin-press-conference

Fox News, which is normally friendlier territory for the president, was also largely critical of Trump's performance.

Bret Baier called the press conference "surreal."

Fox News analyst Brit Hume called Trump’s reference to the probe into Clinton’s private email server to deflect questions about Russian interference a “lame response, to say the least.”

Fox Business Network's Neil Cavuto laid into Trump, calling it “disgusting” that the president did not confront Putin.

“It’s not a right or left thing. It’s just wrong,” Cavuto said, adding that Trump failed to offer “even a mild criticism.”

​

https://www.vox.com/2018/7/16/17577256/trump-putin-meeting-paul-ryan-statement

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) has issued a statement slamming President Donald Trump’s refusal to admit Moscow interfered in the 2016 election during his press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday.

“There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world,” Ryan said in a statement. “The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally.”

That’s the most powerful Republican in the House condemning a president of his own party.
​

http://thehill.com/opinion/white-ho...-protest-after-trump-praises-putin-in-finland

Every Republican, every Democrat, every liberal, every conservative and every American of all political persuasions — especially every Republican leader in Congress — should roundly denounce the disgraceful comments by President Trump in his press conference Monday with Vladimir Putin, the Russian dictator who continues his attacks against American elections and American democracy.

Congressional leaders and members in both parties should enact a detailed motion of censure against Trump for his attacks against special counsel Robert Mueller, his attacks against the investigations of Russia’s attack on America, his attacks against the FBI and, above all, his reprehensible comments when standing next to Putin at his press conference Monday.
​

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/do...kers-pundits-react-trump-s-joint-news-n891736

Former CIA director John Brennan, a Democrat and a frequent Trump critic, called Trump's performance at the news conference "nothing short of treasonous."


Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., called it "shameful.".......

"A person can be in favor of improving relations with Russia, in favor of meeting with Putin, and still think something is not right here," tweeted Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich.

Abby Huntsman, a Fox News reporter and daughter of U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, excoriated Trump in a tweet, saying "no negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus."

Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., also called Trump's remarks a "missed opportunity" to hold Russia accountable.


"This answer by President Trump will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness and create far more problems than it solves," Graham said in a tweet.
​

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-call-trump-putin-meeting-shameful/788752002/

“Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Our nation’s top intelligence agencies all agree on that point," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said in a statement. "I trust the good work of our intelligence and law enforcement personnel who have sworn to protect the United States of America from enemies foreign and domestic.”

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., agreed.

“I never thought I would see the day when our American president would stand on the stage with the Russian president and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression,” Flake posted on Twitter.

“This is shameful,” he added........

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee led a high-profile hearing last week delving into alleged anti-Trump bias at the FBI, said he is confident Trump’s aides will impress on him Russia’s involvement in the election.

“Russia is not our friend,” Gowdy said, adding that he hoped White House officials would communicate to Trump that “it is possible to conclude Russia interfered with our election in 2016 without delegitimizing his electoral success."

“Missed opportunity by President Trump to firmly hold Russia accountable for 2016 meddling and deliver a strong warning regarding future elections,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., posted on Twitter.......

Texas-based Republican political consultant Matt Mackowiak said he had no problem with Trump meeting with Putin to discuss policy issues, but said "it is outrageous, dangerous and ridiculous to take Putin’s word over the U.S. intelligence community" on the issue of election meddling.

Mackowiak and other Republicans took to social media to express their dismay.

​

IMHO, I agree with Brennan.

Brennan is the least credible of the bunch, but he, Ryan, McCain, and Flake would criticize the President no matter what he did in Helsinki. They have ALWAYS been opposed to Trump. Consequently, there is much less in this report than appears to be the case at first glance.

The others mentioned are noteworthy, I agree, for breaking with Trump on this matter, but they are miles apart from Ryan, McCain et al, in what they criticize.

That fact ought to be made clear rather simply running a bunch of names by the readers as though they all have expressed the same view.

 

[Rion]

Brennan is the least credible of the bunch, but he, Ryan, McCain, and Flake would criticize the President no matter what he did in Helsinki. They have ALWAYS been opposed to Trump. Consequently, there is much less in this report than appears to be the case at first glance.

The others mentioned are noteworthy, I agree, for breaking with Trump on this matter, but they are miles apart from Ryan, McCain et al, in what they criticize.

That fact ought to be made clear rather simply running a bunch of names by the readers as though they all have expressed the same view.

See, if they had simply said that Trump looked weak and naive or even dumb, and made America look that way too, I'm sure more people would agree. Instead they immediately began screaming that he was a traitor and needed to be arrested and it makes everyone nope out.`

 

[Liza B.]

When your choices are to believe Trump or believe our intelligence agencies, for those who value truth, the choice is fairly straightforward.

I remember when conservatives at least paid lip service to honesty, ethics, and morality.

Yes, intelligence agencies here have been so....honest. As we see.

As we see.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I posted negative views of of Trump's meeting with Putin. Other than Brennan, the ones quoted so far in this thread have been on the right.

I will post more as they come in.

 

[Albion]

So you agree with everything Trump says and does?

There isn't a thing in that post--nothing--which would suggest that he does.

 

[MoneyGuy]

Trump cold invent the cure for cancer and the media would still find something negative to say.

Wrong.

If he was smart enough to find a cure for cancer. Which he isn’t.

 

[Rion]

I posted negative views of of Trump's meeting with Putin. Other than Brennan, the ones quoted so far in this thread have been on the right.

I will post more as they come in.

You also said you agreed with Brennan, thus putting a spotlight on his.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Yes, intelligence agencies here have been so....honest. As we see.

As we see.

They sure have been compared to Russia's.

 

[Albion]

Yes, intelligence agencies here have been so....honest. As we see.

As we see.

The ABOLISH ICE folks are firmly against criticizing federal agencies because...oh, wait.

 

[FreeinChrist]

You also said you agreed with Brennan, thus putting a spotlight on his.

I do.

I find standing on foreign soil and going against our intelligence and siding with his bud Putin goes against the country.

 

[FreeinChrist]

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-washington-reacts-helsinki-20180716-story.html

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Richard M. Burr (R-N.C.) emphasized that the panel doesn’t doubt the conclusions of the intelligence community.

"Any statement by Vladimir Putin contrary to these facts is a lie and should be recognized as one by the president," he said. “Vladimir Putin is not our friend and never has been. Nor does he want to be our friend. His regime’s actions prove it.”

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called Trump’s remarks “not accurate.”

Putin “thinks the only way to make Russia stronger is to make America weaker,” Rubio said. “Any policy” or “rhetoric that is not built on that reality is destined to be counterproductive, perhaps dangerous and destined to fail," he added.

And Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said that Trump had “failed to stand up to Vladimir Putin on some of the most critical security issues facing our country and our allies.”......

Indiana Rep. Jim Banks said in a statement, referring to Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence: "We must take seriously the warnings of Director Coats and the American intelligence community. Russia is not our friend. Vladimir Putin’s goal is to destabilize America and reduce our global leadership role," Indiana Rep. Jim Banks said in a statement, referring to Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence.

​

 

[Liza B.]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...1bf7847b375_story.html?utm_term=.8cef1b69f0e2

THE ENDURING image of the U.S.-Russia summit in Helsinki on Monday will be that of President Trump standing next to Vladimir Putin and suggesting he found Mr. Putin’s “powerful” denial at least as persuasive as the U.S. intelligence community’s unanimous finding that Russia intervened in the 2016 election. Coupled with another groundless attack on the FBI and an apparent endorsement of a patently disingenuous offer by Mr. Putin to collaborate with the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Mr. Trump appeared to align himself with the Kremlin against American law enforcement before the Russian ruler and a global audience.......

In Helsinki, Mr. Trump again insisted “there was no collusion” with Russia. Yet in refusing to acknowledge the plain facts about Russia’s behavior, while trashing his own country’s justice system, Mr. Trump in fact was openly colluding with the criminal leader of a hostile power.​

Our "justice system" at the higher levels are a joke and a mess, and no one knows it better than Donald Trump. At that level we are little better than a Banana Republic. Again. He knows this. However, there is no doubt that Russia has interfered in our elections and will probably try to do so again. He should have shown more caution with his words, but I'm sick to death of everyone acting like the operators in DC are fair brokers. They are not and have not been for heaven knows how long.

Much of this outrage is outrage for its sake alone, and the populace is shutting it down. They're sick of it. I can see this on social media--"what, Russia AGAIN?" Boy who cried wolf territory.

 

[Rion]

I do.

I find standing on foreign soil and going against our intelligence and siding with his bud Putin goes against the country.

What else is there to say? People will think Trump looked weak, but will also roundly reject the "TrEaSOn!!1!" ranting, and it'll be a zero-sum gain for either side.

 

[High Fidelity]

I do.

I find standing on foreign soil and going against our intelligence and siding with his bud Putin goes against the country.

Imagine if Obama did this. The Y'all-Queda would be up in arms; literally, probably.

 

[Liza B.]

The ABOLISH ICE folks are firmly against criticizing federal agencies because...oh, wait.

The Abolish ICE folks want to abolish it because they want illegal immigrants to have free reign as citizens. That's it. That's like saying we want the FBI abolished because we just want criminals to have free reign. That's not what we're saying; we're saying the organizations are horribly politicized. It's undeniable that they are.

 

[Liza B.]

Imagine if Obama did this. The Y'all-Queda would be up in arms; literally, probably.

Obama leaned over and told Russians after the election he'd have more "flexibility" to negotiate on MISSILES. The world didn't care, of course.