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The Trump "No Answer" on Russian Associations during 01/11/2017 Press Conference

EvaPeron said:
Seriously, don't you believe that if ANY evidence existed to link Trump with Russian intelligence, The government would have linked that out and the whole world would know. This is just more attempts to discredit the vote that people put into this man to run this country. It didn't work and it is not going to work.
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The question wasn't about the evidence. It was a straight-up question seeking a yes or no answer. If he nor anyone with close ties to him and his campaign never associated with Russian intelligence, he should have just said so and been done with it especially considering this information's been out there since October (though last night was the first I'd heard of it) and he had time to query his people. All he had to do was answer the question and he could have put this entire issue to rest. But he didn't.

So regardless of what evidence our government intelligence agencies have or don't have, doesn't it seem odd to you that he flat out refused to answer one way or the other?

Lutherf said:
There are "news" outfits such as CNN asking him if he hired prostitutes to piss on a bed that the Obamas may have used. If I were Trump I'd have ignored any questions from them too.
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Maybe, but Trump had the power to stop the madness by answering one question directly and he choose not to. Had he answered with a firm NO, that would have settled it then and there. But he didn't...why?
 
NIMBY said:
trumposters getting a taste of their own dishonest medicine for the last 8+ years;
versus what hasn't been proven false yet.

ADL: trump's nazi comments trivialize the Holocaust;

trump packs his news conference with paid aides to jeer reporters.
no wonder trump approved of strongman mussolini .
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Sitting at the nail salon (with my head under the hair dryer, apparently) watching his presser live I was very taken aback by the Nazi Germany reference. And if I remember right, he used the phrase twice in the same thought. It sucks if there was bad press about him - I get that and I'd be mad too. Just like when the NY Times published all of that BS about John McCain having an affair. Being slandered is terrible. But in no way shape or form is it worthy of a comparison to Nazi Germany, FFS.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
If he said no, would you have believed it?
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Sure I would have.

Would anyone criticizing him now believe it?
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Probably not because he let the issue hang instead of settling it right then and there when he had the chance.

Highly doubtful.
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You're correct in your assessment now. People will doubt him considerably now because he refused to answer earlier (today) when he had the chance. So, any back peddling he attempts now via his Tweet Storms will make it look as if he's evading the issue instead of dealing with it directly.

Regardless of the answer, it was already damned if he did, damned if he didn't.
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I disagree. He had a chance to put the matter to rest, but he didn't. And at every turn instead of him responding to like questions on the matter, he deflected into authoritarian echos of strength. Had he answer the question, I think people would have let the matter go. Instead, the saga continues...
 
Objective Voice said:
Maybe, but Trump had the power to stop the madness by answering one question directly and he choose not to. Had he answered with a firm NO, that would have settled it then and there. But he didn't...why?
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Who are you trying to kid? Have you never seen how these scenarios play out? If he answered the question then the next two hours would have been CNN explaining how his answer really didn't clear anything up. Frankly, his "You're fake news" response was probably his best option because now other news outlets can talk about that instead of the ridiculous memo.
 
Jack Hays said:
I neither attack nor defend Trump. Just putting the facts out.
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Yes, and I always like to see these Fact Checking things. It saves a lot of time having to figure it out, and they usually manage to capture the high points.

Some of them, as they always are, were silly. We've seen that before. Politicians lie and exaggerate. No big deal. But some of them were pretty damning, especially the many times he tried to do business in Russia (and his son, too) which is contrary to his claim today.
 
Objective Voice said:
I have to say I am stunned! :shock:

When asked and then further pressed at the end of his national press conference, President-elect Donald J. Trump refused to answer the direct question as to whether or not he or anyone directly connected to him or if anyone from his campaign had any association with Russian intelligence. Trump went on a long rant (once again) about how Russia, China, Japan, Mexico and all other nations would respect America once he became President, but on the question of Russian intelligence associations itself, he outright refused to answer the question even when further pressed after his press conference but before leaving the conference area.

No "no comment", no "I don't know, but I'll look into it"...nothing. He just walked off the stage and refused to answer.

To me, that rebuff/non-answer is more disturbing than the contents of any domestic intelligence report whether compiled by our federal intelligence agencies or some private investigative/consulting firm.
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He really should have said "I don't know, but we'll look into it and I will recommend that whatever actions may be taken against those responsible are taken."

I'm guessing he thinks that attacking "the media" for asking the question will play better than giving a straight-forward answer like that. There's a reason he built up the theme that his supporters should not trust anything the media says that is negative about him, after all....
 
Fearandloathing said:
Trump benefited to the tune of $30 billion in news coverage of his campaign.....

And yes, 'payback' is always a bitch...especially when the other side also gets to pay back.

The US has been paying each side back for petty injustices since the 60's. That's nothing gets done, a crumbling infrastructure, a moribund educational system, the highest incarceration, murder, crime and single family parent rates in the world.....and your congresses fight imaginary wars to "shut down" government...which really is nothing more than paid leave for civil servants.

Keep encouraging that 'pay back' as a house divided cannot stand. Some ares of thinking suggested the US will become three or four different nations in a matter of time....this looks like it could be it.

This past election divided America more than at any time in history.....and you all seem still and soundly determined to fight each other.

Yeah, but you'll howl to the moon screaming "unfair" when the Democrats next have the opportunity to "pay back" and that sir, will be sooner than you think I suspect.
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The Media seems often directed by USA Intelligence to promote the Deep State agenda. Trump is a serious danger to the Status Quo deep state. The Intelligence Agencies usually get undue influence with newbie Presidents. It's not so with Trump. He seems to be aware of their nefarious intentions and the Agencies are attempting to get control of Trump at the earliest possible opportunity. Promote questions on his legitimacy and perhaps the problem can be solved or Trump will acquiesce to their agendas. That's the War and Military agenda. "War is good business," and Trump might screw it up. That's what I see going down. I live here and have not watched network TV since 1989 so as not to be influenced by Mainstream Medis FakeNews.
 
tres borrachos said:
Sitting at the nail salon (with my head under the hair dryer, apparently) watching his presser live I was very taken aback by the Nazi Germany reference. And if I remember right, he used the phrase twice in the same thought. It sucks if there was bad press about him - I get that and I'd be mad too. Just like when the NY Times published all of that BS about John McCain having an affair. Being slandered is terrible. But in no way shape or form is it worthy of a comparison to Nazi Germany, FFS.
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I can't help but think that the narrow loss of your Senator is still a bitter pill.

She took the high road by speaking out compared to the rest who wouldn't talk about trump.

From what I've seen since the 1964 election when I was 10-yo, GOPs are just as hard on each other in the primaries as they are on DEMs in the generals.

You've taken a lot of unfair shots for not jumping on the trump train. I admire you for that and will try to reciprocate, but it won't be easy. Sooner or later we'll differ on issues, as it should be, meaning issues are being addressed. trump could have easily headed off these problems but he's too thin-skinned.

I've got two really good links for raw vote and your state was one of the closest if not the closest. trump won CD-1 by 1.6% and Clinton won CD-2 by 2.4%. It makes sense because CD-1 has been going back and forth in POTUS and mid-term years; so CD-1 is soft. It always surprises me to see the most votes for POTUS, than governor, than senator, than the combined representatives no matter the state .
 
DaveFagan said:
The Media seems often directed by USA Intelligence to promote the Deep State agenda. Trump is a serious danger to the Status Quo deep state. The Intelligence Agencies usually get undue influence with newbie Presidents. It's not so with Trump. He seems to be aware of their nefarious intentions and the Agencies are attempting to get control of Trump at the earliest possible opportunity. Promote questions on his legitimacy and perhaps the problem can be solved or Trump will acquiesce to their agendas. That's the War and Military agenda. "War is good business," and Trump might screw it up. That's what I see going down. I live here and have not watched network TV since 1989 so as not to be influenced by Mainstream Medis FakeNews.
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I see little reason to doubt that quite a lot, in fact the bulk, of policy is crafted by behind the scenes actors, be they corporations or rich interests, their lobbyists, agencies with the motive of self-preservation, and so on.

But I do doubt that that is the reason Trump attacks the media. He's one of the rich interests who have benefited from crony relationships with government, and he's done so all throughout his career. No, I think the reason is much more straight-forward and cynical: he's developed a system for avoiding future scandals better than past Presidents.

Unlike them, when he lies and deflects, it's in an atmosphere where his supporters have already accepted the proposition that "The Media" is implacably biased against the right and therefore cannot be trusted. He used this to great advantage during the campaign. He was even able to lie about whether or not he said things that he was recorded saying on video, and if he couldn't do that, could get away with saying it meant something completely different from the words he actually used.

The events that form this thread's subject are just another example, I suspect. He calculated that appearing to dismiss or distrust the media, by giving that question the cold shoulder, would benefit him more than an appropriate answer.
 
tres borrachos said:
Sitting at the nail salon (with my head under the hair dryer, apparently) watching his presser live I was very taken aback by the Nazi Germany reference. And if I remember right, he used the phrase twice in the same thought. It sucks if there was bad press about him - I get that and I'd be mad too. Just like when the NY Times published all of that BS about John McCain having an affair. Being slandered is terrible. But in no way shape or form is it worthy of a comparison to Nazi Germany, FFS.
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I read a piece on a genuine "leftist rag" - Slate.com - theorizing that the reference was yet another gambit. Because of the open support of the "alt-right" and various associations by "the left" of his policy blatherings with the rise of Nazi Germany (aka, muslim registry), he has decided that he instead needs to associate an enemy of his supporters with Nazis. That it doesn't make a damned bit of sense and is rather insulting to people whose ancestors were murdered in the holocaust doesn't matter to him.

So what does he do? He compares "the media" to Nazis. This plays because he already built his campaign largely around the theme that "the media" is out to get him and protect Hillary and the Democrats. If he can build up an association between this "the media" and Nazis, no matter how stupid and hyperbolic it is, it will further benefit him.
 
NIMBY said:
I can't help but think that the narrow loss of your Senator is still a bitter pill.

She took the high road by speaking out compared to the rest who wouldn't talk about trump.

From what I've seen since the 1964 election when I was 10-yo, GOPs are just as hard on each other in the primaries as they are on DEMs in the generals.

You've taken a lot of unfair shots for not jumping on the trump train. I admire you for that and will try to reciprocate, but it won't be easy. Sooner or later we'll differ on issues, as it should be, meaning issues are being addressed. trump could have easily headed off these problems but he's too thin-skinned.

I've got two really good links for raw vote and your state was one of the closest if not the closest. trump won CD-1 by 1.6% and Clinton won CD-2 by 2.4%. It makes sense because CD-1 has been going back and forth in POTUS and mid-term years; so CD-1 is soft. It always surprises me to see the most votes for POTUS, than governor, than senator, than the combined representatives no matter the state .
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Yup, Ayotte's loss was razor thin and it did sting. I like her - a lot. She was a very good, young, brilliant lawmaker. She came out against Trump and I respected her for that.

I'm in the 1st CD and I was surprised Trump won because we (not me) ousted the incumbent GOP Congressman to replace him with a leftist who has already been in that job twice. He was in, she beat him, he beat her, she beat him, he beat her, now she's back. It's a nightmare. I supported Rich Ashooh in the primary because I didn't care for Guinta but I liked him better than Shea-Porter. But to your point, yes, the 1st CD always bounces around between parties at the top of the ticket. NH is a pretty unique state when it comes to our politics.

As to the attacks on me because I opposed Trump from the beginning, I don't expect anything less from uber-partisans. I was smart enough to know the man is a fraud and not the person who should be POTUS. Just because all of a sudden he decided to call himself a "Republican" doesn't mean he was going to fool everyone.;)
 
Mr Person said:
I read a piece on a genuine "leftist rag" - Slate.com - theorizing that the reference was yet another gambit. Because of the open support of the "alt-right" and various associations by "the left" of his policy blatherings with the rise of Nazi Germany (aka, muslim registry), he has decided that he instead needs to associate an enemy of his supporters with Nazis. That it doesn't make a damned bit of sense and is rather insulting to people whose ancestors were murdered in the holocaust doesn't matter to him.

So what does he do? He compares "the media" to Nazis. This plays because he already built his campaign largely around the theme that "the media" is out to get him and protect Hillary and the Democrats. If he can build up an association between this "the media" and Nazis, no matter how stupid and hyperbolic it is, it will further benefit him.
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I think you are more than likely right. In fact, posts on this very board confirm my suspicions, every day.
 
DaveFagan said:
The Media seems often directed by USA Intelligence to promote the Deep State agenda. Trump is a serious danger to the Status Quo deep state. The Intelligence Agencies usually get undue influence with newbie Presidents. It's not so with Trump. He seems to be aware of their nefarious intentions and the Agencies are attempting to get control of Trump at the earliest possible opportunity. Promote questions on his legitimacy and perhaps the problem can be solved or Trump will acquiesce to their agendas. That's the War and Military agenda. "War is good business," and Trump might screw it up. That's what I see going down. I live here and have not watched network TV since 1989 so as not to be influenced by Mainstream Medis FakeNews.
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Ooh, maybe get the tinfoil hats ready
 
Mr Person said:
I read a piece on a genuine "leftist rag" - Slate.com - theorizing that the reference was yet another gambit. Because of the open support of the "alt-right" and various associations by "the left" of his policy blatherings with the rise of Nazi Germany (aka, muslim registry), he has decided that he instead needs to associate an enemy of his supporters with Nazis. That it doesn't make a damned bit of sense and is rather insulting to people whose ancestors were murdered in the holocaust doesn't matter to him.

So what does he do? He compares "the media" to Nazis. This plays because he already built his campaign largely around the theme that "the media" is out to get him and protect Hillary and the Democrats. If he can build up an association between this "the media" and Nazis, no matter how stupid and hyperbolic it is, it will further benefit him.
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The Anti-Defamation League is none too happy with trump for his nazi comments about the media, scolding him for trivializing the Holocaust.

We've been through a Nixon/Agnew presidency that beat up on the media during Vietnam.

Now we have a president who borrowed a lot from Nixon's playbook on his way to the top
 
Objective Voice said:
Maybe, but Trump had the power to stop the madness by answering one question directly and he choose not to. Had he answered with a firm NO, that would have settled it then and there. But he didn't...why?
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Because you cannot acknowledge such behavior in that fashion. Answering the question creates the illusion that CNN is a news organization. And there's no guarantee that that asshole would have shut up even if Trump answered with a flat out "no". You saw how that propogandist wouldn't shut up.
 
Mr Person said:
"the media" is out to get him and protect Hillary and the Democrats. .
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And as time has revealed over and over again, this is true. Trump is free to demonize the MSM as much has he can and he should because it's what they deserve.
 
Mr Person said:
I read a piece on a genuine "leftist rag" - Slate.com - theorizing that the reference was yet another gambit. Because of the open support of the "alt-right" and various associations by "the left" of his policy blatherings with the rise of Nazi Germany (aka, muslim registry), he has decided that he instead needs to associate an enemy of his supporters with Nazis. That it doesn't make a damned bit of sense and is rather insulting to people whose ancestors were murdered in the holocaust doesn't matter to him.

So what does he do? He compares "the media" to Nazis. This plays because he already built his campaign largely around the theme that "the media" is out to get him and protect Hillary and the Democrats. If he can build up an association between this "the media" and Nazis, no matter how stupid and hyperbolic it is, it will further benefit him.
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reinoe said:
And as time has revealed over and over again, this is true. Trump is free to demonize the MSM as much has he can and he should because it's what they deserve.
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Looks a little different when my post isn't chopped up, eh?





The problem here is that Trump has conditioned his supporters (or appealed to their pre-existing bias) to say exactly that every single time that something reflecting poorly on him is reported. I have little doubt that this recent addition will result in an increase of DP posts comparing the media to nazis or fascists in general.
 
Mr Person said:
Looks a little different when my post isn't chopped up, eh?
The problem here is that Trump has conditioned his supporters (or appealed to their pre-existing bias) to say exactly that every single time that something reflecting poorly on him is reported. I have little doubt that this recent addition will result in an increase of DP posts comparing the media to nazis or fascists in general.
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You're wrong. I criticized Trump for his nationwide stop & frisk comments more than anyone else on this forum. I criticized Trump for his debate performance in South Carolina during the primaries. I've criticized Trump for picking so many Goldman Sach's executives for his cabinet.


There's plenty to criticize about Trump. The MSM has resorted to making **** up and it needs to be called out every time.
 
Fearandloathing said:
Oh but it did. First read your previous post. I listened live, and as you have, found his answers and attitudes much more than "evasive" leaving me with the overwhelming suspicion there IS a 'there' there.

But, everything in here is biased and becoming more so; those who support this asshole contend it shows the MSM can't be trusted, as if that's a new bleat...

However since when has Captain Twitter ever been afraid of the MSM?

Stand back and look at the over all. The people most hurt by this alleged attack, Hillary, the DNC, Obama, have remained silent, have not gotten political and appear to be simply letting things develop. If this were part of an opposition strategy to undermine Trump, there would be a co-campaign to help move it where they want it to go.

Trump won't even allow his name to be associated with the leak taking the staunchest 'no comment" stand is his political career...and is miles away from the previous night and his Twit: "Fake news...." I would say that Trump's uncharacteristic self control also implies there is a "there" there. His lack of response and the wandering tirade show he does NOT have the full story, and appears to be in the dark as many others.

Personally, I have the feeling this is a nasty albatross that will simply refuse to rot away
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The more I thought back on the press conference the more I took in how combative he was to the very notion of a media that reveals critical things about him. This will be the most opaque and least accountable President in modern history.

As for what the press conference was intended to accomplish, it was bread and circuses for his supporters who want to hear him tell the media to go to hell. It was also an opportunity to tell all of his critics to go to hell by mentioning all the silly straw man arguments against him, especially on the issue of the Emoluments clause.
 
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Doonesbury nailed it back before Christmas!

trumpbart-kkk.jpg
 
Objective Voice said:
I have to say I am stunned! :shock:

When asked and then further pressed at the end of his national press conference, President-elect Donald J. Trump refused to answer the direct question as to whether or not he or anyone directly connected to him or if anyone from his campaign had any association with Russian intelligence. Trump went on a long rant (once again) about how Russia, China, Japan, Mexico and all other nations would respect America once he became President, but on the question of Russian intelligence associations itself, he outright refused to answer the question even when further pressed after his press conference but before leaving the conference area.

No "no comment", no "I don't know, but I'll look into it"...nothing. He just walked off the stage and refused to answer.

To me, that rebuff/non-answer is more disturbing than the contents of any domestic intelligence report whether compiled by our federal intelligence agencies or some private investigative/consulting firm.
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He probably just forgot what he was ranting about.
 
Cardinal said:
Anybody who believed the press conference would yield anything productive was living in a dream world.
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There is always someone with the faith of a child who believes that there is a pony underneath all that manure.

But what a great great press conference conducted in a great great building filled with those great great Trump people doing great great work and the great great Trump supplying great great answers to less than great questions. I wish one word could accurately describe it but I just cannot seem to come up with one.

When Trump was a kid Tony the Tiger must have been his idol.
 
Manc Skipper said:
Doonesbury nailed it back before Christmas!

trumpbart-kkk.jpg
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If that was the UK and May it would be a Mullah instead of a clansman. And we all know the Muslim problem is exaggerated, right?
 
coldjoint said:
If that was the UK and May it would be a Mullah instead of a clansman. And we all know the Muslim problem is exaggerated, right?
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I gotta hand it to you. You definitely know how to stay in character.
 
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