Ron Johnson Asleep on Russian Hacking?
He was informed of problem, did nothing, then misled public about it.
Ron Johnson and Vladimir Putin. Johnson photo from the U.S. Federal Government. Putin photo from www.kremlin.ru.
Yesterday, in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, Sen. Ron Johnson made it clear he takes a very tough stand on Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin.
“I’m very wary of Vladimir Putin,” Johnson said. “There have been close to 30 suspicious political assassinations since he has taken power.”
As for Putin and Russian using cyber hacking to interfere with America’s elections, he declared, “I take it very seriously. As chair of European Subcommittee on Foreign Relations, we’ve held a number of hearings on Russia’s disinformation campaign and how they are trying to de-stabilize certainly Eastern European countries, but just their destabilization efforts around the world.”
And yet back in mid-September when Johnson was informed by intelligence leaders of Russian hacking and was asked to join a bipartisan effort to warn Russia to desist, Johnson did nothing.
To date no one in the Wisconsin media has even reported that Johnson attended this intelligence briefing, much less that he had no response to the information.
The details of the mid-September meeting are in a story by the Washington Post, which reported that President Barack Obama had dispatched his counterterrorism and homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, FBI Director James B. Comey and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson “to make the pitch for a ‘show of solidarity and bipartisan unity’ against Russian interference in the election,” as a senior administration official told the Post.
As chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Johnson was one the so-called “Gang of 12,” the top 12 congressional leaders, who were invited to the meeting. (House Speaker Paul Ryan also attended the meeting.) Johnson later confirmed to Politico that he participated in the briefing.
“In a secure room in the Capitol used for briefings involving classified information, administration officials broadly laid out the evidence U.S. spy agencies had collected, showing Russia’s role in cyber-intrusions in at least two states and in hacking the emails of the Democratic organizations and individuals,” the Post reported.
“And they made a case for a united, bipartisan front in response to what one official described as ‘the threat posed by unprecedented meddling by a foreign power in our election process.’”
But Republican leaders declined to join a bipartisan response to the information. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “raised doubts about the underlying intelligence and made clear to the administration that he would consider any effort by the White House to challenge the Russians publicly an act of partisan politics,” the Post reports.
Russia’s interference with the American elections fit the pattern of a country engaged in disinformation and destabilization efforts across the globe, as Johnson has described it. And Russia’s leader was someone Johnson already suspected of nefarious acts. Johnson had previously sponsored resolutions calling for a full investigation into the murder of a Russian political opposition leader and for an investigation of Russia’s attacks on the Ukraine.
Johnson, in short, had an opportunity to be a patriot and condemn the fact that Russia was now engaged in such activities in the United States. But he issued no resolutions — in fact, not one word — on Russian’s cyber attacks on America.
Johnson went on to complain to CNBC that the CIA refused to brief him on Russian hacking, saying “I have not seen the evidence that it actually was Russia,” while failing to note the CIA report’s echoed the briefing he’d received from other intelligence leaders in September.
Johnson also complained that Obama had failed to confront the Russia government with strength, even though the Obama administration had proposed a strong stand on cyber hacking which Johnson declined to join.
So things stood until this week, when Johnson did an about face and declared his concern about Russia’s cyber hacking of his country. Why the sudden shift of position?
Perhaps because Trump’s election was certified last week so Russia’s efforts to help elect him can’t be used to pry away any electoral votes. Or perhaps because of the Senate hearing last Thursday, where senators on both sides of the aisle expressed concern about testimony by intelligence leaders on Russian hacking. As GOP Sen. Lindsay Graham noted, Republicans could be the next target of cyberattacks. “Could it be Republicans next election?” he said. “It’s not like we’re so much better at cybersecurity than Democrats.”
Indeed, all Americans are threatened when a hostile nation targets us for cyber attacks. That’s true now, and was true back in mid-September when Ron Johnson failed to take any action. Perhaps it’s time for him to explain why.
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More about the Russian Affair
- Op Ed: Is Walker a Russian Dupe? - Bill Kaplan - Jul 24th, 2018
- Gov. Scott Walker Political Operation Snagged $250,000 Check Mere Days After Meeting With Accused Russian Spy - One Wisconsin Now - Jul 20th, 2018
- What’s Walker Hiding? - Democratic Party of Wisconsin - Jul 18th, 2018
- Campaign Cash: Russian Operative Highlights Walker’s NRA Ties - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Jul 18th, 2018
- Matt Flynn Blasts Scott Walker for Meeting with Russian Spy - Matt Flynn - Jul 16th, 2018
- Plenty of Horne: Giuliani Can’t Practice Law in D.C. - Michael Horne - Jun 28th, 2018
- Pocan Statement Regarding Reports that Russian-Linked Facebook Ads Targeted Wisconsin - U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan - Oct 4th, 2017
- Wisconsin Notified of Unsuccessful Russian Hacking Attempt - Wisconsin Elections Commission - Sep 22nd, 2017
- Murphy’s Law: Wisconsin A Key State for Russian Hacking - Bruce Murphy - Aug 8th, 2017
- Report Suggests Wisconsin Voters Targeted by Collusion Between Trump Campaign, Russian Fake News Operation - One Wisconsin Now - Jul 13th, 2017
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This whole thing is so surreal and insane. If Russia meddled with the election to help Clinton win, Republicans would be losing their minds. The GOP has always painted Russia as the enemy. Obama was lambasted in 2013 for being too easy on Putin and Russia. This is like some bizarro world where up is down and left is right.
Not a peep from former anti-communist WCD. Hmm.
Highly predictable.
Russian hacking is bad everywhere except here in the United States when and where it supported Johnson’s political interests.
You say he didn’t do the patriotic thing, and put the country’s interest above his party’s. But that is not the way he sees it. The Republican’s made out the Democrats to be worse than the Russians, who for example, are not trying to ruin your health care.
Silly Buce. Ron is ten time as sharp as the people on this site. He is not asleep on anything ask Russ, who, never, like tammy, did anything.
Everyone I talk to, in DC, has high marks for Ron.
A lot of us want to see what Johnson/Trump can do. Putin is in very bad place right now.
Russia has 1.2 billion people south of him that have lots of money, and is expanding their military. He is stuck in the Ukraine, Syria, but his revenues are going down.
This could be the time for US to work stuff out with the Russkies. They need friends now.
Putin thought Obama was a wimp who Putin could push around, at will, and he was right.
Trump will not be pushed around trump is smart, tough, lots of International experience. Unlimited potential. He is NY Savvy, not like the people on this site, who cannot even run Milwaukee worth a damn. Bruce included.
Trump has a passion for this country, while Obama dislikes what we have stood for, over the years.
Let us see what is going to happen the next 6 months.
Johnson will be in there fighting for us, that is for sure. Russ, Tammy would have been asleep. Tammy announced she is gping to spend all of her time fighting Trurmp instead of fixing the mess, Obama has made.
Trump is tough??!! LOL!! That’s priceless. He tweets therefore he’s tough.
Fighting for us by doing nothing about Russian hacking. A foreign government trying to influence what’s supposed to be a free and fair election. Man your denial is strong.
For Ron Johnson so loved this country, that he covered up this story so that we would not be subjected to a GIRL being in charge, and that we would avoid the scourge of poor people getting health insurance.
That was well worth selling out the sovereignty of the USA, right? And for golden showers on a bunch of Russian whores, no less? Well done, dumb Dohnal! Well done, stupid white redneck Wisconsinites! You sure showed us smarty-pantses, didn’t ya?
Seriously, this is treason, and people voted in November under false pretenses and false information because of the cover-up that the GOP Senators pulled. I’m sure (mo)Ron Johnson doesn’t care, because he’s got a 6-figure, taxpayer-funded job for the next 6 years. But I wouldn’t be so sure about that, the way things are going. If this disgusting episode isn’t reason to enshrine a right to recall for members of Congress, nothing is.
RESIGN, while you can.
Trump think’s he’s Frank Underwood and Putin is Pres. Petrov. Perhaps JOhnson thinks so too. NObody’s tried bravado and chutzpah against him. Can you imagine Melania toasting Putin’s “little pickle”?
WCD how do you feel about Trump paying sex workers to pee on a bed the Obamas slept in? That’s presidential behavior? Makes you feel proud to have a man like that as our leader?
Remember the John Birch society? Koch family involvement? (Read DARK MONEY, I say once again). Party before country? The actions of Sen. Johnson reveals who he represents. Thank you for this reporting.
What’s the evidence? Still haven’t seen any.
Further, how does the public disclosure of private communications constitute “interference”? If those communications were entirely ethical and above-board, their disclosure would cause no harm at all, and instead increase public support. This narrative is all spin. It would be spun that way, no matter what the facts were. Russia may have been intending to support Hillary by proving her campaign to be well-organized and ethical, and it backfired. Since they already have classified info from her server, they probably have leverage over her, and her initiatives.
Is there anyone on here that is a serious person that knows how to solve problems, has been in office, been a candidate, run a campaign, written legislation
No they all spout stupid idiocies like Hanna and the talking points. No credibility, no solutions, just stupidity.
Stupid idiocies like angrily tweeting about award shows that annoy you? Twitter temper tantrums are pretty stupid aren’t they? Do you support Trump just because there’s an R after his name, or because you actually believe he is a serious person who knows how to solve problems?
Also, conservatives like you are always preaching fealty to the constitution. We must have candidates who will uphold and defend the constitution they say. Conservatives bash Obama for disrespecting and violating the constitution. I don’t think even you will disagree with this. So explain this to me WCD. Trump is going to continue owning his companies, which are receiving payments from foreign governments, which is a violation of the constitution. As a conservative, you are outraged right?
BSH lives up to his name, because that is some BULL-S**T there, son!
Johnson was in the room when the Russian interference and propaganda was revealed in September, he lied about knowing about it when asked at the time, and he benefitted from it in the November elections. He has no moral core.
This isn’t hard to figure out
Sure Jake and pigs fly.
So explain this to me WCD. Trump is going to continue owning his companies, which are receiving payments from foreign governments, which is a violation of the constitution. As a conservative, you are outraged right?
That Ron Johnson did nothing at the request for bipartisan action versus Russian hacking back in September is not surprising. He has done little beyond whine and mislead the public about the Affordable Care Act in his 6 years as a faux citizen senator. The multi-million dollar infusion of dark money to his campaign helped him win in November. He needs to be watched if he sleep-walks in his second term. With Trump at the wheel, our senators need to be awake.
Thomas, full of crap. Johnson is one of the most respected voices in DC on national security, hear that all the time, in direct contrast to Russ and Tammy, who have done nothing to add to our security, but a lot to foil ti. Neither has ever done anything or been in charge of anything. Russ was described as the “Biggest Flake in the senate, no one follows him.
Funny when peoel talk of dark money when the Left outspends the Conservatives 2-1, and take millions from Soros and other nuts. Hillary spend 1.2 billion to Trump 600 million.
Dark money invented by Russ in mcCain Feingold 527’s.
To Wisconsin Conservative, whatever you name is, why not work under your real name? But to answer your question, Yes, I have run for election; In 2007, a hand-picked Walker candidate ran in a Special Election for County Supervisor, Dist. 8; Walker set the Tuesday after the 4th of July as the primary to try and steal this district election. Then Walker stood next to his hand-picked candidate, Kujawa to endorse him. Kujawa then said he’d guarantee the Veto power of Walker (the county board was generally one vote short of the needed 1/3 vote to stop the over ride. Kujawa next proclaimed that the county had too much Park Land and he would sell off some of these parks, when pushed for an example, he cited Warnimont. At this point and having minded my own business as a practicing attorney in Cudahy with no intention of impaling myself against the swords of your crowd in an election, I looked at my husband and said I am going to have to run. Against the onslaught of Talk Radio (Belling, Sykes and others) who gave my opponent unmatched air time and in studio propaganda, I did what Obama recommended; I got my clip board and collected signatures. I went door to door and told constituents that if Kujawa was running to guarantee a Walker veto, who would actually represent their district? Then I told them my opponent wanted to sell off park land. In spite of the entire Walker machine running his campaign, I won that election. Why?
Because I dared to stand up; Why don’t you try it and provide your name. Pat Jursik
WCD, Trump is going to continue owning his companies, which are receiving payments from foreign governments, which is a violation of the constitution. As a conservative, you are outraged right?
No 11: “Is there anyone on here that is a serious person that knows how to solve problems, has been in office, been a candidate, run a campaign, written legislation”
You’re describing Trump.
Blurondo: See Comment #20;
A woman and ardent Trump supporter (from Wisconsin no less) called in to NPR this morning and said the people in Russia are more free than they are in the United States and that we need to do much more to make life here more like it is there. She added that whenever she saw Russia on TV she saw more Christmas trees there than here and that they are a more moral and Christian nation than we are. I wonder if WCD agrees.
Can anyone here make any intelligent discussions about Wis/Milwaukee problems instead of the dopey things I have read the last 5 of them.
Jursik whines about getting screwed politically. Poor dear.
I wait fro her answers to: MPS, kids cannot read, jobs, economy , crime, abandoned houses, kids 57% unemployed, Heroin crime, dugs shooting, failure to police properly in key areas, Milwaukee county statewide disgrace, axes, pension mess, roads, human trafficking.
Go to Facebook: Wisconsin Conservative Digest and read. We have published that for 20 years.
Bob and jean Dohnal, Publishers
Wisconsin Conservative Digest
I am reading your Facebook page right now. First of all, the amount of spelling and grammar errors is staggering. It is impossible to make sense of half of your posts because of the absolutely terrible writing. That makes it difficult to take you seriously. If you were a high school student and you handed in a paper with errors like that, you would fail.
Also, you berate others here for whining and not providing solutions. Your Facebook page contains no solutions whatsoever. There’s a post about Ben Carson and reading. Another about an inauguration party. Another about the NRA. Another calling Rosie O’Donnell a “dopey broad” (is it 1950?). There are no solutions present.
Seriously your Facebook page reads like the unhinged ravings on a madman, not an educated and thoughtful human being.
WCD: you have been “publishing” for 20 years? That’s hilarious. What you have is a Facebook page where you link to stories you like. there are no solutions to problems you constantly repeat and mis-spell here, no original stories, nothing. Pull back the curtain and we have a gas bag with a lot of time on his hands to complain and none left to produce anything.
Great to learn that Scott saved us from billion overruns on the Halfast trains. California, to day, after nurmerous changes, shortening routes etc. are way over budget. Will break Ca.
Just by the way. Published my first newspaper column in Post newspapers in 1967 and have written columns in all major newspapers and Conservative magazines, speeches etc.
This is modern world of texting.
We get over 1000 emails daily, to answer, so do not worry about grammar spelling. Content only.
MURPHY, I love your reporting! Please continue to expose the inconsistencies and lies of those who are employed by the people of local, municipal, state and federal government of the United States. TRUMP is in “bed” with the Russia and PUTIN’s Federal Repulic government. TRUMP owes them but at this time, we don’t know actually what it is and hopefully the people of the U.S. will BE PROVIED all the blackmailing information regarding TRUMP. At first, I was surprised by the U.S. Representatives reactions of findings of Russia’s coercing our electoral process. Then I realized and suspect that the lack of outrage or action by congress or senate to demand and independent investigation is because the Russians most likely have derogatory information on them, as well, and these current representatives of congress have something to hide too. It appears that members of the Republican Party are fine with the hacking/blackmailing of the Democratic Party but when it comes to their party, they will attempt to hide out until this blows over. After the initial investigation of Russia’s coresion of the electoral process has concluded, the next investigation should be directed towards Paul RYAN and JOHNSON’s activities! Most U.S. citizens ( sheep-peoples) will be angry because of the lies andd cover-ups, but so what, our DEMOCRACY, NATIONAL SECURITY and SOVEREIGNTY are at stake!!
WCD: Jursik did not write to complain about getting Screwed, I wrote to talk about standing up with my Clip Board and calling out the bullies, I won that election in spite of talk radio and all the big money trying to stick it to my district. Get your facts straight.
What content WCD? It’s links to right-wing news you like. That is not content. It’s a Facebook page. If you have other recent columns to share, please do so. I’d love to read them.
Interesting to see how much the California Halfast train is going way over budget by billions even after numerous changes, shortening. This will break Ca.
Walker save us from all of that. in fact he saved us 3 billion on Act 10, billion or so on that train, millions on that dumb exchange, billions on the extra Medicaid that is breaking the states, wiping out school aids, that took it and still face us tax cuts, property tax cuts.
Thank Yu Scott.
Trump/Tillerson in bed with Putin?? Dmub. Other way around. Putin needs us to counter China in a Reverse Nixon. He has big problems.
Putin had no use for the wimpy Kerry and Obama, ran all over them but he will not run over Trump and Tillerson.
Hillary lost cause she forgot to got to Wis., Mi. Pa. and she was idiot candidate.
What did Russia do and how did they do it? Did they expose all the corruption of Hillary, that the media should have done. hardly bad for the country. Saudis , Soros with their millions influenced the elections , not Russia.
WCD what are you talking about? California’s economy is thriving. We should be so lucky. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-06-06/california-makes-america-s-economy-great
Russia interfering with our elections is good? That’s treason man. If they interfered to help Hillary you would be outraged beyond belief. Country, not party, first WCD.
Trump trashes John Lewis, A Gold Star family, a disabled reporter, and more, yet he refuses to say anything bad about Putin. And dimwits like WCD believe that is strength, not Trump being a lapdog. You are a fool.
Issues/Ideas???
Rep. Bob Gannon has been placed in charge of the new Urban affairs Committee in Wisconsin. They re going to move cause it is obvious that the white, liberal, male, racists cannot do it.
Crime?? Milwaukee is worse, per capita, then Chicago and rapidly getting worse.
What to do, what is causing it, who can fix it, why can’t Barrett/Flynn/Chisholm/Krermers do it?
Families in inner city Districts 3 and 5 cannot sit in there living rooms, on the front porch?
People on this site can yell out talking points, like idiot,s but can you solve something.
Bruce why not try something of value in your questions? Heroin epidemic, crime, MPS, reading, abandoned houses, corruption, bad managemetn, worst in country, roads, jobs, poverty, 57% unemployment for kids,Milwaukee county govt. a joke in state, Milwaukee big rat hole to throw money into, high taxes, human trafficking.
BUMP. Seems a bit interesting given today’s news, eh? Especially with (mo)Ron blaming the leakers instead of actually asking what did Flynn and the Trump Administration know and when did they know it.
Can you say “Cover up?”
California has 127.2 billion deficit according to auditors. Some boom.
BUMP. The plot thickens with Sessions’ lies and Johnson’s vote to confirm him as AG. It’s pretty obvious that Johnson has been given plenty of info on how deep this goes, and we deserve to know as well
Might be interesting to hear (mo)Ron answer that question from a constituent. You know, if (mo)Ron ever does another in-person, unscripted town hall.
More BS from the Dems, Sessions did not lie he did not have any contact with anyone about the campaign and fact is even if he did that is not against the law.
~~Author: Wisconsin Conservative Digest
Comment:
More BS from the Dems, Sessions did not lie he did not have any contact with anyone about the campaign and fact is even if he did that is not against the law.~~
So I learned two things today. Bob Dohnal was glued so tightly to Jeff Sessions that he knows for a fact he had no contact with the Russki Ambassador and if he did, it was not a crime to swear under oath that he didn’t; something Sessions thought was an impeachable act for Bill Clinton. ow. This made my day.
If by deficit you mean a $2.8 billion surplus, yes, you are correct.
Shouldn’t we investigate whether or not Sessions discussed the campaign? I mean you weren’t in the room WCD, so you have no idea what was discussed. He lied under oath, and that is in fact against the law. You aren’t very well-informed WCD.
“The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Sessions met twice with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in 2016. When asked a direct question during his confirmation hearing in January about whether he had any contact with Russian officials, Sessions said no.”
How is that not perjury?
Another lie from Hanna.
He as asked if he met any Russians involved with he campaign and he said No.
Even then it is not unusual to meet with all different countries via nation Security which Sessions does weekly, and at big conferences where he met the Russian ambassador. Try to get you lies straight hanna.
Kinda hard to have a $120ish billion deficit when the state’s yearly budget is around $120ish billion.
Ask the auditors, that includes future things like pensions, we believe but you can find out. Illinois is far worse.
How much over budget is the Halfast train.
Do some research occasionally
The story was all over WSJ, NY times, Post and others.
But, stupidity is the watchword of the left especially the teachers union.
Observer: it was played a dozen times in the last few days, questions and answers.
Do some research! any idiot can have an opinion and they are well represented here.
Ron Johnsoni “is one of the most respected voices in DC on national security.” That’s a lark, Dohnal. A spot on a Senate Foreign Realtions subcommitee doesn’t mean Johnson has any idea what he’s doing, much less that he has accomplishments to show for it. He’s ready to kowtow to the Russians just like the rest of your type. Reagan would be rolling in his grave if he knew the Republicans are set to turn the US into a Russian satellite. For all the talk conservatives make about being strong on security, you’ve had an utterly pathetic showing in that realm right from the jump.
“Deficit” typically refers to an annual budget deficit, not to an accumulation of future unfunded liabilities.
Hey WCD why did Session recuse himself if he did nothing wrong?
Comment 41: WCD: Smack, wrong again, Sessions lied. Back to post: It is time for Johnson to stop putting party before country. Now, do it now, it is time for an independent investigation. The GOP is so drunk with power right now they can not see the forest for the trees. These Russian rumors are not going away, Dems. are not the enemy here. Step aside and do this investigation the right way or you will poison every other piece of legislation you want to do; I believe the GOP can do many good things while they have the purse strings of governing, but it will not happen if they don’t get smart about this investigation.
Recusal means nothing except he worked on the campaign. He answered all questions correctly plus I hate to tell you but we are supposed to be talking to the Russians, the Chinese, all of them if we want to stop what the Middle east mess became under that Obama and the Left stuck us with.
We hope, we have three kids in Special Forces that have been in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea, Ukraine regularly for the last 12 years.
My brother in law teaches all the officers that go over there, about conditions. Our family has been knee deep in the Bush/Obama warns for more than decade.
We want to work with h Russians, to fix this mess and to use them to offset the growing Chinese threat. We want the Trump people to talk to Putin and the Russians.
Right now there is huge investment of many people to keep the Russians and us in an adversarial situation and they are making billions off it, courtesy of Soros, the Left and Obama.
Time to stop that crap and ween out the Globalists, Corporatists and lLeftists lunching on our money and jobs that the left sent overseas.
Bush invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. Nice revisionist history blaming “Obama and the left.”
Putin is a thug who kills his political opponents WCD. He is not our friend. Making excuses for him is unpatriotic and shameful.
Sessions didn’t answer truthfully. He admitted that! He said he should have spoken more slowly and mentioned the meetings in his testimony. He lied under oath.
BUMP. Especially now that we know the FBI was investigating this before the election, and Johnson covered it up.
BUMP. This story looks even more interesting today, doesn’t it, especially seeing how McConnell is likely tied up deep I this?
Also add in the fact that McConnell’s superPAC took $2.5 million from a pro=Putin Ukranian money launderer in 2015…and Scott Walker’s SuperPAC took $1 million from the same guy.
https://twitter.com/funder/status/867110768029949953
BUMPSKY.
Funny how Ron hasn’t said a word as the story of Russian election interference gets bigger and bigger, and it becomes increasingly obvious that Trump is owned by Putin. Even odder that no one seems to ask him about it.
Couldn’t be because he owes his re-election to Russian propaganda tricking the rubes into voting for him and other Republicans, could it? NAAHHHH!
BUMPSKY. Now that the Wisconsin Elections Commission revealed today that the Russians tried to hack Wisconsin’s voter registration system and other election-related information.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/09/22/wisconsin-one-20-states-targeted-russian-hacking-elections-systems-2016/694719001/
Why didn’t Johnson say anything? Because the Russians helped him through propaganda and other tactics. And that’s the LEAST sketchy of the scenarios out there.
Also, how convenient of the Trump people to sit on this for 11 months and then dump it on a Friday afternoon, isn’t it?
BUMPSKI, now that Flynn is pleading guilty to lying about working with on the Trump campaign’s behalf when meeting with the Russians.
What did Johnson know, and has he tried to cover it up in his committee?
BUMPSKY. This story sure looks all the more relevant now that Joe Biden confirmed that McConnell got Obama to keep the Russian interference concealed until after the election.
And now RoJo is running around with anti-FBI conspiracy theories as evidence piles up that the Russians laundered big-time money and influence during 2016 and early 2017. You don’t think it’s because Mueller is finding out that RoJo and other GOP Senators got a little Ruskie help in Nov 2016, do you?
Thank you to Atty. Gen Brad Schimel for keeping the John Doe I & II discussion lively as he tries to uncover the leaker who went to the Guardian; it is now apparent that the F B I was brought in to help investigate John Doe II and that it may have become part of the Mueller investigation. WI is in the thick of this corruption (DARK MONEY, by Jane Mayer); The difference between Nixon ala Watergate and this investigation is largely the Nixon corruption was confined to the executive branch; Watching the cowardice of the legislative branch controlled by the GOP, and their attempt to denigrate the FBI and even Mueller himself, indicates there is a money laundering trail all the way to the RNC and these legislators. Keep up the good work Schimel, keep harping on Doe II as Walker runs for re-election. Just as in Watergate, just as in WI corruption ala Chvala/Jensen or even the Robber Barons, it is the same story: FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Ms. Jursik, many thanks for your astute–and entertaining–comment.
Also appreciate your long and distinguished record fo public service.
If you’re interested in the best and latest on the Mueller investigation, may I recommend http://www.emptywheel.net
Marcy Wheeler, is even more fun on Twitter at @emptywheel
Her reporting is highly technical–she’s an internationally respect surveillance expert–, but she’s usually months ahead of Washington Post, New York Times, …. everyone. Last December she was already warning Democrats that the Mueller investigation did NOT rely on the Steele dossier, that the GOP was going to try to use the Steele dossier to discredit Mueller’s investigation.
“It’s crystal clear that Trump fired Comey in an attempt to stave off investigation of Mike Flynn.
But the why behind that obstruction led to the rest of the guts of the Russia investigation. And the why may implicate both Trump (as unindicted co-conspirator) and Sessions (most likely as witness) more directly in any quid pro quo pertaining to the election.”
https://www.emptywheel.net/2018/01/23/on-sessions-and-trump-interviews-its-not-just-obstruction/#comment-724671
It’s looking more and more like there may have been a plan within certain staff in the FBI to ‘not accept’ the results of the election, and basically stage a palace coup. Very, very scary times might be coming for our Democracy if this proves to be true.
Dohnal,
You’re not a conservative.
Support the troops.
Bring ’em home.
WashCoRepub:
Were those the same FBI agents who surveilled NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer and leaked their results to the media?
WashCoRepub, it’s the DEEP STATE Donny Jr thinks talk show host Ellen is involved in.
WashCoRepub,
Does Sen. Johnson still think climate change is caused by sunspots?
http://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/100814454.html/
WashCoRepub, settle down man, and read this. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/01/24/your-guide-to-the-anti-fbi-conspiracy-theories-rippling-through-conservative-media/?__twitter_impression=true&utm_term=.687e5a915643
Now it turns out Johnson was clueless about the “secret society” stuff, and was clearly trying to throw garbage against the wall to distract from the #TrumpRussia noose clearly tightening around the necks of most GOPs in DC. Can you say “COMPLICIT”?
(Mo)Ron embarrassed the state yet again this week, and this story gives us a good indication why he might have. And why only paid-off hacks and SUCKERS like WashCoRepub are the only dopes who are buying Johnson’s and the GOP’s BS these days
BUMPSKY. After seeing yesterday’s indictments of Russians for their online efforts and illegal campaign contributions to help Trump and other Republicans, this makes a lot more sense, doesn’t it? Johnson knew about this stuff before the election, and said nothing because he was being helped by the propaganda efforts.
And it’s also why he wants to distract from the Mueller investigation in 2018. Because it’s revealing that Johnson and Trump are illegitimate, and are complicit with a foreign enemy that interfered in our elections.
Jake, thanks.
BUMPSKY- McClatchy is reporting today that the NRA met with Russian oligarchs and church officials in 2015 and 2016 to get help for the 2016 elections. And by magic, the “nonprofit” NRA had millions more to spend to help Donakd Trump and…. NRA stooge Senators like Ron Johnson that faced tough re-elections.
http://amp.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article212756749.html?__twitter_impression=true
You don’t think that has somwthing to do with Johnson not wanting to look too deep into Russian interference, do you? Nor does it have ANYTHING to do with Johnson wanting the IRS to hide the names of donors to non-profits. I’m sure it’s all coincidence.
BUMPSKY. Looks like Komrade RoJo is spending the 4th where all good patriots do. IN RUSSIA!
https://mobile.twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1014523651788607489
Sounds like a “thank you” trip to me. And I don’t see a single mention of this in “mainstream” Wisconsin media. Why?
BUMPSKY. Doesn’t this get curiouser and curiouser. Especially since the latest Mueller indictment shows that Russians grabbed the DNC’s voter analytics, which might explain why the Clinton campaign’s data was so far off that they thought they had Wisconsin in the bag, while Trump abd Johnson did not.
We even know that at least one “candidate for Congress” worked with Russians to use hacked material in August, and it’s pretty obvious from the indictment that Roger Stone (the same guy who said “Scott Walker has rigged 5 elections in Wisconsin.”) was working with Russian intelligence on relaying info and strategy.
And instead of holding hearings on this as Homeland Security Chair, Johnson wants to cover all this up, and shut down the Mueller probe? He’s acting like a scared boy who’s caught up in something really bad.
BUMPSKY, after Our Dumb Senator said this morning that it was OK for Trump to hide his discussiobs with Putin.
The reason why? ROJO KNEW AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE it helped Johnson and Trump win in Wisconsin in 2016.
SAY IT, FOLKS!
Wisconsin Conservative Digest: Let me take up your challenge about those who reply to you. As someone who has run a (successful) congressional campaign and managed a district office, along with other senior government and business positions, I believe I have the credentials to respond to you.
But rather than wasting my time refuting your string of mostly absurd and factually inaccurate talking points, let me cite a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with whom I am sure you are familiar. Bonhoeffer said, in what would be a direct response to comments like yours, “Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice….Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless…reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed….In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied, and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than a malicious one.” Letters and Papers from Prison Not a bad fit, right?
Two other quotes are a nice fit for your ongoing dishonest remarks. As the pundit Malcolm Muggeridge once said, “People don’t believe lies because they have to, but because they want to.” Or, in a more updated version, as George Costanza of Seinfeld said, “It’s not a lie if I believe it.” It is a sad thing that Wisconsin, which once sent the most intelligent people to Congress now sends the likes of Johnson and Grothman who, contrary to your remarks, are not well-respected but often, along with the president, a source of embarrassment. When we read your comments, it’s not that hard to see how they got there.
And did Ron Johnson vote to lift Russian sanctions yesterday, which especially helps a certain oligarch who had dealings with Manafort in the 2016 campaign. Of course he did!
Well past time for media to admit RoJo, McConnell, and many others in the GOP are compromised. And it plays into the shutdown as well.
I’ve contacted “my” Senator, Ron Johnson, to demand that this government shut down end. He must keep hearing from all of us. This is clearly and simply the Mitch McConnell, GOP shut down. Sen. Ron Johnson, like Paul Ryan before him is passive/aggressive on these issues. They keep quiet, pretend they are above the fray, and then do everything in their power to destroy our ability to have a functioning government. Nancy Pelosi is just the opposite, that is, she says what she thinks, acts on her core beliefs and is exactly the right person in the right place to call these passive/aggressive types out for what they are: bought and paid for. Call Johnson and demand that the government be reopened. No excuse citizens.
BUMPSKY. Now that the Mueller Report says Manafort shared polling data on Wisconsin with Russians, we should be asking why the Homeland Security Chair refuses to hold hearings on this.
The obvious answer is that RoJo benefited from this, likely owing his and Trump’s victories to it, and doesnt want others to think about it.
I want to see Ronnie and McConnell take the stand in the House and answer why they wanted to keep this information from the public, and why they don’t want to talk about it today.
BUMPSKY- Especially now that McConnell is trying to bury the Mueller findings while Johnson is running around trying to find leakers instead of holding hearings on what the Russians did in 2016, and what they and other foreign actors might do in 2020.
Combine that with Russian Ronnie heading to Moscow last July 4, and it seems obvious why he doesn’t want to talk much about the ops that helped get him and Trump elected.
Citizens: Trump refused to talk to Mueller, his written answers were full of “don’t recall….”. But Trump talks to Putin about the Mueller report. Senator Johnson: Who does Trump represent? Who do you represent? Why does Putin merit an interview, but not our duly appointed Special Prosecutor. It does not escape my observation that the Mueller report was finally disclosed to the citizen on Good Friday, the very day churches were about the read the Gospel quoting Pilate (substitute the other “P” leader, Putin): “What is Truth?” Senator Johnson: Find the Truth, lest you find yourself on the wrong side of this history.
BUMPSKY. Tie this story into Moscow Mitch’s blocking of ekection security measures, and business/political connections to Russian oligarchs.
And yet Homeland Security Chair Ron Johnson won’t hold a hearing on these cyber-war actions. And Russian Ronnie voted against continuing sanctions on Russia earlier this year.
Hmmmm…..Any media want to follow up on this?
BUMPSKY. Now Johnson claims Trump asking for foreign assistance in 2020 is just “Trump being Trump”, and that the real issue to investigate on foreign influence is……Hillary’s emails?
And lookie here, Ron Johnson’s 2016 campaign is named in ANOTHER lawsuit that alleges illegal coordination between the NRA and the GOP. While the NRA was a willing recipient of Russian money and assistance.
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/27/765037952/senate-report-reveals-nra-was-foreign-asset-to-russia-ahead-of-2016
It’s pretty obvious what is going on here, and we need to have Russian Ronnie called before the impeachment inquiry as to why he’s obstructing and burying information about the historic corruption and scumminess coming out of the White House.
I hear you, Jake. “Russian Ronnie” should be asked to explain himself along with “Moscow Mitch” on their apparently cozy connections with “evil doers.”
I went back and read this entire thread. There is a book here, and Sen Ron Johnson has failed to read this home-cooked book, he is failing and he is being used. When Mike Pence, VP, refused to go to the inauguration of the new leader of Ukraine (probably already sensing danger), Sec. Perry was sent, and guess who he took along: The distinguished Senator from WI. Now Ron Johnson is sullied by this mess. Go back and read comment 62; Follow the money. Sen Johnson, you need to wake up, you are being used.
Johnson knows about this more than we so. He has willfully COVERED THIS UP, and it’s because he benefitted from the hacking.
Do not pass this off to Johnson’s stupidity. He is a CROOK who does not care if the country gets sold out on his watch. His changing stories are a major tell (not that we didnt know already).
I FEAR that Trump will win again in 2020 if we do not stop the Russian interference – that RJ could remain in office with that illegitimate help, too.
We must impeach Trump as soon as possible, and we must expose the Russian interference in the 2016 election in the bargain.
And now Johnson got called out on national TV by CHUCK FREAKING TODD, because (mo)Ron couldn’t give a straight answer on Ukraine, and was throwing out debunked “deep state” conspiracies.
Johnson is complicit. And he is scared. As Pat Jursik noted above, just look at how this has developed over time, and you can see Johnson’s guilt, and why he is scared.
BUMPSKY- top story in the Washington Post today.
“Sen. Ron Johnson met in July with a former Ukrainian diplomat who has circulated unproven claims that Ukrainian officials assisted Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, a previously unreported contact that underscores the GOP senator’s involvement in the unfolding narrative that triggered the impeachment inquiry of President Trump.
In an interview this past week, Andrii Telizhenko said he met with Johnson (Wis.) for at least 30 minutes on Capitol Hill and with Senate staff for five additional hours. He said discussions focused in part on “the DNC issue” — a reference to his unsubstantiated claim that the Democratic National Committee worked with the Ukrainian government in 2016 to gather incriminating information about then-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Telizhenko said he could not recall the date of the meeting, but a review of his Facebook page revealed a photo of him and Johnson posted on July 11.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-johnson-ally-of-trump-and-ukraine-surfaces-in-crucial-episodes-in-the-saga/2019/10/28/40b9e44c-f684-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html#comments-wrapper
And of course, Manafort gave Wisconsin poll data to Russians, who helped Johnson win in 2016 througb online propaganda.
Sure sounds like Adam Schiff and other House Democrats should serve Sen Johnson with a subpeona to find out more about this trip to Ukraine, eh? Time for Russian Ronnie to be fried in public for what he’s covered up these last 3+ years.
BUMPSKY- Now Russian Ronnie says some things shouldn’t have the whistle blown on them, and that they should be covered up.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.esquire.com/news-politics/amp29823122/ron-johnson-meet-the-press-whistleblower/
Oh, and now he wants Schiff and other House Dems to be subpoenaed to his committee, but he will likely duck a subpeona to address the impeachment committee. Whatcha scared of, Ronnie?
Paraphrasing the great blues man TAJ MAHAL:
“If RJ ain’t scared, he’s not right.”
The above is a paraphrase of a line from the great blues singer Taj Mahal.
Senator Johnson got stuck in the middle of some nasty dealings in the service of our nasty dealer in chief: THE DONALD, Now he has to explain himself re nefarious dealings in Ukraine and elsewhere.
RJ keeps trying to MEET THE PRESS, but Chuck Todd just beats him down time after time. RJ would do well to return to manage the plastics factory he married into before the larger stage he has stepped upon swallows him whole. Our U.S. Senate would be better off without such a fool in that body.
“If you ain’t scared, you ain’t right.”
The above line from a blues song from Taj Mahal applies to R.J. WI Senator Johnson got in the middle of some dirty dealings in Ukraine with our dirty dealer in chief: THE DONALD. The consequences of these dealings are likely the loss of his seat in the senate and possibly his ass in jail.
BUMPSKY. And now Sondland confirms he told RoJo about the “aid for Biden dirt” deal. Enjoy your time in testimony, Ronnie.
Time for Russ to be given his seat back. Johnson is illegitimate
BUMPSKY- especially after Parnas now tells Rachel Maddow that Mike Pence ducked the same inauguration that Johnson attended in Ukraine, because Ukraine wouldn’t do Trump’s dirty work in smearing Biden.
RoJo claims he believed Trump when he said there was no ulterior motive to the holdup in aid to Ukraine. Which makes Johnson today’s contestant on “GOP-LYING OR STUPID???”
Either way, he is compromised and unfit. Call him to the stand, Rep. Schiff.
Parnas looked to me to be very comfortable during the Maddow interview. He has been a shadowy actor in the past, but he looks like he wants to come clean (possibly to shorten his imminent jail sentence) plausibly to take down bigger bad actors who sucked him into some bad business- and who pretend now that they do not know him …
BUMPSKY! Now Johnson is actively named as someone who is doing Russia’s bidding on spreading BS conspiracies from his position as Homeland Security Chair.
Biden’s getting security briefings now, so he should get out ahead and tell people what type of garbage RoJo is going to try to throw against the wall as GOPs get more desperate. And it’s time for House Dems to call RoJo to the stand to explain just why he seems so willing to be a Russian amplifier.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/20/democrats-fbi-briefing-foreign-interference-campaign-373134
BUMPSKY! After today’s Senate Intelligence Committee report that confirms Manafort and Russian agents worked together on poll data to target voters (including in Wisconsin), it’s pretty obvious that all when RoJo tries to smear Biden with his fake investigation, he’s doing it to deflect from his and Trump’s illegitimacy.
Russian Ronnie knew about this deception all along. And it’s well past time for him to be dragged for this. A real man would resign in shame, but we know RoJo won’t do that.So Adam Schiff needs to put this lowlife on the stand in front of the House.
BUMPSKY – And even after real media reports that Russia is funneling forged BS about Hunter Biden, Russian Ronnie is still trying to catapult this nothingburger, while calling Biden voters “enemies of the country.”
I guess RoJo figures he’ll be censured and/or criminally charged for obstruction if Dems take over the Senate, so he’s doubling down on the misinfo/”flood the zone with sh*t” strategy that worked in 2016.
There has to be options beyond “wait till 2022” to get Vlad’s agent out of DC, don’t there?
Vlad’s agent in the U.s. Senate would be wise to leave that office and return to running the plastics factory he earned through marriage. He could do much less damage there, and he could possibly keep himself out of jail in that lower profile position.
Oh, and now Russian Ronnie wants to object to the results of the 2020 ekection in this state? Why wasn’t he as suspicious of the more surprising 2016 results, especially since HE KNEW THE RUSSIANS WERE HELPING THE GOP.
I assume RoJo iand other WisGOPs are resigning due to the results not being “legitimate”, which would force a new election. It’s the only honorable response.
PS- AM 1130 and other misinformation outlets need to be nuked into the sun.
Jake
You are following this narrative well. The alternative narrative that the reactionaries ar promoting is weak in the knees.and bullshoes throughout..
BUMPSKY after Russian Ronnie claims that Trunp’s absurd, gaslighting defense team somehow “blew the House managers’ case out of the water.”
This guy is so scared of what the facts are showing. Especially when Trunp’s trial ends, and we dig deeper into who helped plan the Capitol Riots, and why Homeland Security Chair Ron Johnson was more concerned with adding to the Big Lie than in the Insurrection that was being coordinated.
This guy is so bought, and needs to be put on the stand in public.
RJ continues to suck hind teat in the interest of the liar in chief.
BUMPSKY? Now why would Ron Johnson spread crazy conspiracy BS and deflect responsibility from the Insurrectionists instead of wanting to deal with what happened?
Vlad could not have done better if he tried.
RJ is trying to dismiss the obvious errors of his ways. These efforts will fail because there is no truth in what he has to say in his own defense. RJ has lied again and again re the Ukraine connection. Ron Johnson should be removed from the U.S..Senate for his ill will and fabrication,
BUMPSKY! Guess what’s back in the news today!
“A longtime associate of former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign chief Paul Manafort gave Russian intelligence agencies “sensitive information on polling and campaign strategy” during the election that year, the U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday.
Manafort’s associate, Konstantin Kilimnik, “also sought to promote the narrative that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election,” the Treasury Department said as the Biden administration announced new sanctions on Russia, Kilimnik and others.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/15/trump-campaign-chief-paul-manafort-employee-kilimnik-gave-russia-election-data.html
Guess what was one of the states Kilimnik worked with the trump campaign on? WISCONSIN. And then he spread lies to try to deflect away from Russia by blaming Ukraine. Just like Russian Ron Johnson did.
I’ve had far more than enough of this crooked, illegitimate “Senator.” And how much of this info did Russian Ronnie sit on when he was the Chair of the Homeland Security Committee….as well as advance info about what was planned on 1/6?
BUMPSKY, for those of you who didn’t catch this story the first time.
Ron Johnson has known about Russian interference and operations for at least 5 1/2 years, and keeps deflecting from it, and now has the nerve to claim Biden is the weak one vs Putin?
Never forget that Russian/NRA money got RoJo elected in 2016. And it’s well past time for all Dem candidates in the Senate race to remind people.
BUMPSKY. Anyone else notice that RoJo is strangely silent about Trump stealing nuclear secrets and in looking into the Jan 6 insurrection plot? Even though the guy I’m was the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee?
You don’t think he’s covering that up like he covered up the Russian propaganda efforts before the 2016 election, do ya?
Or is he just clueless and doesn’t do anything in his “job”? Either way, FIRE THIS BUM.
BUMPSKY. Watching RoJo flail about at today’s debate on the issue of whether he is a Russian agent is a major “tell” that there is something there. And this article explains the source of why.
FIRE THIS BUM!
Republicans really are masters of projection. Somewhat in this vein, I didn’t watch the debate but the Milwaukee Journal reported that at the end of the debate the moderator tried to end it on an upbeat note, asking the candidates to say something positive about their opponent.
Mandela Barnes said Johnson has “proven to be a family man.”
Ron Johnson said Barnes has “loving parents” before veering into one final attack: “What puzzles me is why did he turn against America?” The crowd booed in response.
Yep Duane. It is projection EVERY TIME.
And I’ve also noticed an interesting increase in pro-Johnson/anti-Barnes trolls on social media in the last month. Vlad trying to help his boy out in exchange for getting GOPs in charge and having them pull support from Ukraine?