Red Mosquito

Mr. Assange and Mr. Hannity did not address the fact that in addition to WikiLeaks, the leaked Democratic material was published by two other mysterious websites, DCLeaks.com and a blog written by someone called Guccifer 2.0. American intelligence agencies believe both were created by Russian agents.

In addition to American intelligence agencies, most private cyber researchers also believe the D.N.C. and Podesta hacks were carried out on orders of Russian government officials, though a few skeptics believe the case is unproven by evidence made public to date. Mr. Assange’s statement is unlikely to change that conclusion.

bune wrote:

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

bune wrote:

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump, a harsh critic of U.S. intelligence agencies, is working with top advisers on a plan that would restructure and pare back the nation’s top spy agency, people familiar with the planning said, prompted by a belief that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has become bloated and politicized.

The planning comes as Mr. Trump has leveled a series of social media attacks in recent months and the past few days against U.S. intelligence agencies, dismissing and mocking their assessment that the Russian government hacked emails of Democratic groups and individuals and then leaked them last year to WikiLeaks and others in an effort to help Mr. Trump win the White House.

One of the people familiar with Mr. Trump’s planning said advisers also are working on a plan to restructure the Central Intelligence Agency, cutting back on staffing at its Virginia headquarters and pushing more people out into field posts around the world. The CIA declined to comment on the plan.

BurtReynolds wrote:good.

digster wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:good.

If this was an honest and sober assessment from someone with an actual assessment on the intelligence community's workings, I'd agree. As the byproduct of a bloviating president-elect with the temperament of a child, I'm less convinced. It is notable, as the article says, that he really only disagrees with the IC on one issue; Russia. And that's because he doesn't like what they're saying. We're seeing the presidential equivalent of someone sticking their fingers in their ears and screaming, "I'm not listening."

I'm also skeptical anything will come to pass, anyway. A political personality like Trump, who hasn't really met an authoritarian impulse he's uncomfortable with, I bet will soon find the reach of the intelligence community fits him like a glove.

wease wrote:

bune wrote:

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

That's fucking stupid. We had to tolerate the Republicans blocking Obama's nominee.

The Argonaut wrote:Pence would become President and get to appoint a VP, who would have to be confirmed by the Senate.

wease wrote:

The Argonaut wrote:Pence would become President and get to appoint a VP, who would have to be confirmed by the Senate.

But Trump wouldn't be sworn in. A VP can only take the place of a sitting President. And Pence hasn't been sworn in as VP yet.

McParadigm wrote:

WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump, a harsh critic of U.S. intelligence agencies, is working with top advisers on a plan that would restructure and pare back the nation’s top spy agency, people familiar with the planning said, prompted by a belief that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has become bloated and politicized.

The planning comes as Mr. Trump has leveled a series of social media attacks in recent months and the past few days against U.S. intelligence agencies, dismissing and mocking their assessment that the Russian government hacked emails of Democratic groups and individuals and then leaked them last year to WikiLeaks and others in an effort to help Mr. Trump win the White House.

One of the people familiar with Mr. Trump’s planning said advisers also are working on a plan to restructure the Central Intelligence Agency, cutting back on staffing at its Virginia headquarters and pushing more people out into field posts around the world. The CIA declined to comment on the plan.

BurtReynolds wrote:

wease wrote:

bune wrote:

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

That's fucking stupid. We had to tolerate the Republicans blocking Obama's nominee.

I wonder what the average democrat's current stand on blocking Supreme Court nominees is and how it differs from 6 months ago.