Finally! After all the hubbub, we get a report. A 'Joint Analysis Report', no less:

https://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/JAR_16-20296A_GRIZZLY%20STEPPE-2016-1229.pdf

That offers not one iota of actual proof of..... Anything.... Oh dear. The report provides what are called 'indicators of compromise' but give no evidence that these indicators came from any specific source; nor does it detail where these indicators where found.

Well, at least there's one grown-up in the midst of all this:

Putin: "Actually, We're Not Going To Retaliate in Response to the New Sanctions".

He went on to state: "As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration." In other words, 'screw you, Obama, we'll wait for calmer heads to prevail'.

Also: "The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year’s holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children’s parties in the Kremlin."

How's that for a class act? When one country is expelling diplomats, it doesn't look so good when the other is effectively shrugging and inviting a bunch of kids to a party in response. Putin's response makes Obama look childish, which I'm assuming is the opposite of what he wanted.

To add insult to injury, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tweeted 'RIP' to the Obama administration. The actual tweet looked like this:

????????, ??? ????????????? ?????, ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ? ?????????????? ??????????????, ??????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????. RIP
— ??????? ???????? (@MedvedevRussia) December 30, 2016

Think he might be a little puzzled?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsFR8DbSRQE

With that level of capitulation, why would Russian officials be afraid to tweet whatever they wanted at President Obama?

Fact is, these guys aren't acting like the guilty party here. Seems to me someone's having a credibility crisis after getting their asses handed to them in a very embarrassing election defeat, and they have to blame someone otherwise all those high-dollar donors start looking for a fresher horse to back. I get the feeling that it doesn't matter who they blame, those leaked (yes, leaked, not hacked) emails tell a story all of their own, and it really doesn't matter how they got out. Fact is, this election wasn't any more 'rigged' than any other, but boy is it embarrassing when your little plots and schemes get uncovered right before voting begins....

Finally! After all the hubbub, we get a report. A 'Joint Analysis Report', no less:

https://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/JAR_16-20296A_GRIZZLY%20STEPPE-2016-1229.pdf

That offers not one iota of actual proof of..... Anything.... Oh dear. The report provides what are called 'indicators of compromise' but give no evidence that these indicators came from any specific source; nor does it detail where these indicators where found.

Well, at least there's one grown-up in the midst of all this:

Putin: "Actually, We're Not Going To Retaliate in Response to the New Sanctions".

He went on to state: "As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration." In other words, 'screw you, Obama, we'll wait for calmer heads to prevail'.

Also: "The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year’s holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children’s parties in the Kremlin."

How's that for a class act? When one country is expelling diplomats, it doesn't look so good when the other is effectively shrugging and inviting a bunch of kids to a party in response. Putin's response makes Obama look childish, which I'm assuming is the opposite of what he wanted.

To add insult to injury, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tweeted 'RIP' to the Obama administration. The actual tweet looked like this:

????????, ??? ????????????? ?????, ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ? ?????????????? ??????????????, ??????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????. RIP
— ??????? ???????? (@MedvedevRussia) December 30, 2016

Think he might be a little puzzled?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsFR8DbSRQE

With that level of capitulation, why would Russian officials be afraid to tweet whatever they wanted at President Obama?

Fact is, these guys aren't acting like the guilty party here. Seems to me someone's having a credibility crisis after getting their asses handed to them in a very embarrassing election defeat, and they have to blame someone otherwise all those high-dollar donors start looking for a fresher horse to back. I get the feeling that it doesn't matter who they blame, those leaked (yes, leaked, not hacked) emails tell a story all of their own, and it really doesn't matter how they got out. Fact is, this election wasn't any more 'rigged' than any other, but boy is it embarrassing when your little plots and schemes get uncovered right before voting begins....