alabuck Loc: Tennessee

From Washington Post, 7/27/19
Lifted mainly from an article by Dana Milbank
I have added some thoughts of my own.

This doesn’t mean he’s a spy, but neither is it a flip accusation. Russia attacked our country in 2016. It is still attacking us today. And, its attacks will intensify in 2020. Yet each time we try to raise our defenses to repel the attack, Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, blocks us from defending ourselves.

Let’s call this what it is: unpatriotic, and maybe treasonous. The Kentucky Republican is, arguably more than any other American, with the possible exception of Trump, doing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bidding. Robert Mueller sat before Congress this week warning that the Russia threat, “...deserves the attention of every American.” He said, “...the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in our e******n is among the most serious...” challenges to American democracy he has ever seen. “They are doing it as we sit here, and they expect to do it during the next campaign... ,” he warned. Adding that “...much more needs to be done in order to protect against these intrusions, not just by the Russians but others as well.”

Not three hours after Mueller finished testifying, Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, went to the Senate floor to request unanimous consent to pass legislation requiring p**********l campaigns to report to the FBI any offers of assistance from agents of foreign governments. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) was there to represent her leader’s interests. “I object,” she said.

Mueller: ‘We have underplayed’ Russia's effect on our e******ns.”
Former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III also said authorities “...need to move quickly to address...” Russian interference in U.S. e******ns.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) attempted to move a bill that would require campaigns to report to the FBI contributions by foreign nationals. “I object,” said Hyde-Smith.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) tried to force action on bipartisan legislation, written with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and supported by Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), protecting lawmakers from foreign cyberattacks. “The majority leader, our colleague from Kentucky, must stop blocking this common-sense legislation and allow this body to better defend itself against foreign hackers,” he said. “I object,” repeated Hyde-Smith.

The next day, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the minority leader, asked for the Senate to pass the Securing America’s Federal E******ns Act, already passed by the House, that would direct $600 million in e******n assistance to states and require backup paper b****ts. McConnell, himself, responded this time, reading from a statement, his chin melting into his chest, his trademark thin smile on his lips, “It’s just a highly partisan bill from the same folks who spent two years hyping up a conspiracy theory about President Trump and Russia,” he said. “Therefore, I object.”

McConnell also objected to another attempt by Blumenthal to pass his bill. Pleaded Schumer: “I would suggest to my friend the majority leader: If he doesn’t like this bill, let’s put another bill on the floor and debate it.”

But, McConnell has blocked all such attempts, including:
A bipartisan bill requiring Facebook, Google and other Internet companies to disclose purchasers of political ads, to identify foreign influence.

A bipartisan bill to ease cooperation between state e******n officials and federal intelligence agencies.

A bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on any entity that attacks a U.S. e******n.

A bipartisan bill with severe new sanctions on Russia for its cybercrimes.

McConnell has prevented them all from being considered — over and over again. This is the same McConnell who, in the summer of 2016, when briefed by the CIA along with other congressional leaders on Russia’s e*******l attacks, questioned the validity of the intelligence and forced a watering down of a warning letter to state officials about the threat, omitting any mention of Russia. That was reminiscent of and equal to Trump choosing the word of Putin over our own intelligence agencies.

No amount of alarms sounded by U.S. authorities — even Republicans, even Trump appointees — moves McConnell.
On Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray — Trump’s FBI director — told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the Russians “haven’t been deterred enough” and are “absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our e******ns.”

This year, National Intelligence Director Daniel Coats — Trump’s intelligence director — told the Senate Intelligence Committee that “foreign actors will view the 2020 U.S. e******ns as an opportunity to advance their interests. We expect them to refine their capabilities and add new tactics.”

And on Thursday, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a bipartisan report finding that “Russian activities demand renewed attention to vulnerabilities in U.S. v****g infrastructure.”

The committee concluded that “urgent steps” are needed “to replace outdated and vulnerable v****g systems.” (The $380 million offered since 2016 is a pittance compared with the need.) “Despite the expense, cybersecurity needs to become a higher priority for e******n-related infrastructure,” the report concluded.
But one man blocks it all — Mitch McConnell — while offering no alternative of his own.

Presumably he thinks wh**ever influence Russia exerts over U.S. e******ns will benefit him (he’s up for ree******n in 2020) and his party. “Shame on him,” Schumer said on the Senate floor this week.

But, as he’s demonstrated in so many occasions, McConnell has no shame. He is aiding and abetting Putin’s dismantling of Americans’ self-governance. A leader who won’t protect our country from attack is no patriot. If he’s anything, he’s a t*****r to this country, it’s citizens and his own constituents.

proud republican Loc: RED CALIFORNIA

Russia attacked our e******n because obama did NOTHING to protect our e******n system.....He knew about it in as early as in 2014....So before blaming Mitch and the Republican Party why dont you look at your party first....

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

It's called Hypocrisy, ....

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

At it's finest! Just what we need is new laws that democrats won't follow.

Richard Rowland

Good point!

PeterS

So long as Russia benefits Republicans staying in power they don't care who amongst them is a Russian puppet or a tool of the Russian government. Power to them is more important than the destruction of our democracy by a foreign government.

Kevyn

He went to McConnell and asked him to release a bi partisan message to the American people about the Russians interfering, McConnell refused and Obama felt it would be viewed as e******n i**********e if the White House didn’t have republicans on board.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

How magnanimous of Barry.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Ah yes, t*****rs, and t*****rs, and more and more t*****rs. Damned country is filling up with t*****rs. Lock and load, folks, we got us a t*****r p******c.

Strange thing though, every damned one of those pests seem to be Republicans, or right-wingers, or conservatives, or Christians. You simply cannot find one anywhere among democrats, left-wingers, progressives, socialists, Marxists, Muslims or C*******ts. They must have some sort of K**ler T cell that targets the treason v***s in their i****e s****m.

Bloody shame the selfish l*****t bastards won't develop a serum that works for everyone.



BTW: Mitch McConnell is a sleaze bag regardless of what he does. But he ain't a t*****r.

proud republican Loc: RED CALIFORNIA

It was obama's job to make sure we were protected from Russia or China or whoever is trying to destroy us...He WAS the President of the United States, not Mitch..It was under HIS watch we were attacked,NOT under President Trump....He is the guilty one, he SHOULD be investigated for Russian interference.....PERIOD!!!

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

In the lead up to the 2016 e******n, Obama's WH cybersecurity team voiced its alarm that the Russians were trying to hack our e******n process. (Which they've been trying to do for decades)

The cybersecurity team was preparing to strike back HARD. They had several counterattacks in the works.

Why did Obama's National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, order the head of the cybersecurity team to back off?

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Can not face the t***h.. none of you guys supporting the orange flushable can admit that after trump himself the most anti-american in government is McConnell who runs a grave yard for anything Democrats pass to the Senate..

Follow this link and read all of the dozens of bill that sit on McConnells desk headed for the GOP trash without a v**e..

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/449780-a-list-of-the-democratic-legislative-priorities-being-held-up-in-the-senate

Six months after the newly elected Democratic majority was sworn in to the House, progressive lawmakers are tackling many of their priorities through legislation.

But few of those bills are seeing traction in the GOP-led upper chamber, with many ending up in what Democrats have labeled the Senate "graveyard."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has boasted about the pattern, promising to be a “Grim Reaper” for progressive policies in the Senate if the GOP hangs onto the chamber in the next Congress.


“We're very proud of the work that we have done to send over to the Senate, where Mitch McConnell has said he's the 'Grim Reaper' — it's a Senate graveyard,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters earlier this month. “We have news for him: It's alive and well in the public, and he will be hearing from the public, hopefully very soon.”

Here’s a list of the Democratic priorities that passed the House but have stalled in the Senate.

H.R. 1: For the People Act

The For the People Act was House Democrats’ first major legislative package introduced in the new Congress. The bill, which passed in March, features a hodgepodge of policies that the party promoted throughout the 2018 midterm campaign to help secure e******ns from foreign interference and make them more accessible to v**ers.

The package aims to require states to provide an online option for v***r r**********n and allow v**ers to register the same day they go to the polls. It would also require states to automatically register citizens who don’t register themselves.

To protect e******ns from any foreign meddling, the bill mandates that states use paper b****ts and that the Department of Homeland Security evaluate threats to e******n systems 180 days prior to an e******n and inform states of their conclusions.

The bill includes campaign finance and ethics reform measures, including mandating p**********l candidates release their tax returns.

Amid frustration at McConnell blocking the package, Democrats in May began reportedly considering bringing up portions of the For The People Act for a v**e to try to force the Senate to take up individual e*******l reform bills.

H.R. 5: The E******y Act

The E******y Act, which was introduced in March and passed in May, seeks to provide comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for L***Q Americans in employment, education, federal funding, housing, public accommodations and more.

Though eight Republicans v**ed for the measure in the House, many in the GOP have come out against the bill amid conservative concerns about infringement of religious liberty.

“In fact, this bill legalizes discrimination — government imposed top-down discrimination against those with time-honored views of marriage and g****r,” Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) said on the House floor before the v**e.

H.R. 6: The American Dream and Promise Act

The American Dream and Promise Act, which was introduced in March and passed earlier this month, would protect young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children — known as Dreamers — and establish a path to citizenship for more than 2 million immigrants without legal status.

The bill would grant permanent residency with a path to citizenship to more than 2 million immigrants who fall into three categories: Dreamers and some recipients of the temporary protected status and deferred enforced departure programs.

H.R. 7: The Paycheck Fairness Act

The Paycheck Fairness Act was introduced in January and passed in March. It includes provisions that would prohibit employers from asking about prospective employees’ salaries, forbid retaliation against employees who compare wages and mandate employers show that pay discrepancies are based on legitimate factors.

Seven Republican House members v**ed for its passage.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

A few good reasons to v**e against it ....

Proponents of the Act suggest this legislation is needed to close the wage gap between working men and
women, arguing that the gap is evidence of persistent g****r-based discrimination.
Yet, this assertion is misleading. Research shows that the gap arises out of a multitude
of factors that reflect the individual preferences of men and women, such as occupational
choice, time spent at work, and non-wage benefits, among others.

Moreover, if passed, the Paycheck Fairness Act would have widespread implications
for businesses and their employees, discouraging job creation and economic growth. In
particular, the Act would:
● Expose employers to far greater liability and potentially frivolous lawsuits
● Burden employers with more regulations and paperwork
● Vastly expand the role of government in employers’ compensation decisions
● Discourage flexible working arrangements

Women deserve e******y in the workplace. The Paycheck Fairness Act, however, sets
out to solve a non-existent problem based on a flawed interpretation of a statistic. Instead of
advancing women’s interests, the Act would have unintended consequences which would hurt
businesses, workers, and the economy, ultimately leaving women with worsened employment
prospects.

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

———————-

It’s true that Obama knew of the Russian’s plans. In retribution for their actions, to date, he increased economic sanctions and warned Putin of more sanctions if he continued his interference.

The big issue Obama faced was that no matter what actions he took against the Russians he was caught between a rock and a hard place. The e******n of 2016 was close at hand. What was known was that the Russians were helping Trump. If Obama took any actions against the Russians, the GOPTPers (like you) would claim he was helping HRC. As a sitting president with integrity - something Trump has none of - Obama didn’t want to look like he was using his p**********l powers to favor any candidate.

And, if you’d be honest, you’d agree with that assessment. However, I have zero doubt that Trump - and you guys - would be the first to complain and raise holy hell if the situation was reversed. After all, to you folks, it’s party before country.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Hold on there, if any control was lost, Obama lost control and he assured us he had control.