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Austria's Trump-like populist anti-immigration party busted in Russian scandal video

SonOfDaedalus

SonOfDaedalus

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Strache is the Vice-Chancellor and members of Austria's populist anti-immigration party. He was forced to resign when a video showed him cutting deals with a Russian oligarch who planned to funnel money into their party.

This is the same way the Russians funneled money into the RNC and NRA and did everything to help Trump's anti-immigration populist party win.

This proves that the Russian probe was no witch hunt. The Russians have been working with far-right politicians around the world to affect elections. The FBI was just doing their job investigating suspicious members of Trump's campaign.

The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the weekly Der Spiegel on Friday published extracts of a covert video purportedly showing Strache offering government contracts to a Russian woman allegedly interested in investing large amounts of money in Austria.

In the video, the source of which the newspapers declined to reveal, Strache and party colleague Johann Gudenus are heard telling the unnamed woman she could expect lucrative construction contracts if she buys an Austrian newspaper and supports the Freedom Party.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung and Der Spiegel said the footage was authenticated by a forensic video expert. It couldn't be immediately independently verified by The Associated Press.

According to the two newspapers, the video spanned some six hours of drink-fueled conversation in a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza between the Austrian politicians and the woman, who claimed to be the niece of a prominent Russian businessman.

Aside from discussing possible investments in Austria, including the purchase of influential tabloid newspaper Kronen Zeitung, Strache also appears to suggest ways of funneling money to his party via an unconnected foundation to circumvent Austrian rules on political donations.

Strache announced his resignation to journalists without taking questions Saturday. He said that he had had no further contact with the woman and she gave no contributions to the party.
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Far-right Austrian vice chancellor resigns after video surfaces showing contract offers to Russian for illegal donations, press coverage - Chicago Tribune

Oh, let me add this...

Strache said he was illegally set up in a "political assassination"
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Sound familiar?
 
Picture of Strache (right) with the female Russian agent. That looks like a line of cocaine on the glass tabletop near his leg.

image-1428987-galleryV9-lknn.jpg
 
If you zoom way in, it actually looks more like a crinkle in the bottom of the box.


What about that blonde? More pics.

You know. For research. Gotta be able to recognize those Russian agents when I see em. So I can pretend to be someone important.
 
SonOfDaedalus said:
Strache is the Vice-Chancellor and members of Austria's populist anti-immigration party. He was forced to resign when a video showed him cutting deals with a Russian oligarch who planned to funnel money into their party.

This is the same way the Russians funneled money into the RNC and NRA and did everything to help Trump's anti-immigration populist party win.

This proves that the Russian probe was no witch hunt. The Russians have been working with far-right politicians around the world to affect elections. The FBI was just doing their job investigating suspicious members of Trump's campaign.



Far-right Austrian vice chancellor resigns after video surfaces showing contract offers to Russian for illegal donations, press coverage - Chicago Tribune

Oh, let me add this...



Sound familiar?
Click to expand...

The claim of "witch hunt" was NEVER about denying Russia was messing with the election. It was about the claim that Trump conspired with Russia in it's efforts.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The claim of "witch hunt" was NEVER about denying Russia was messing with the election. It was about the claim that Trump conspired with Russia in it's efforts.
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So, Paul Manafort didn't give polling data to the Russians? The Trump campaign didn't meet with Russians at Trump Tower?

I'm not arguing that Trump himself was working with Russians. I'm arguing that the FBI were doing their job when they investigated the Russian related activities of certain members of the Trump campaign. They weren't "spying" on Trump. They were doing their job protecting the country. It's pretty sickening to see them being attacked for doing their job.
 
SonOfDaedalus said:
So, Paul Manafort didn't give polling data to the Russians? The Trump campaign didn't meet with Russians at Trump Tower?

I'm not arguing that Trump himself was working with Russians. I'm arguing that the FBI were doing their job when they investigated the Russian related activities of certain members of the Trump campaign. They weren't "spying" on Trump. They were doing their job protecting the country. It's pretty sickening to see them being attacked for doing their job.
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The claim for the past couple years was that Trump WAS working with the Russians.
But the mea culpa is ok.
So why not just tell the Trump campaign the suspicions? Why all the cloak and dagger stuff against the campaign itself? Why open up a counterintelligence investigation on Trump after the election? Why pursue a FISA warrant on Page AFTER he left the campaign?
C' mon.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The claim of "witch hunt" was NEVER about denying Russia was messing with the election. It was about the claim that Trump conspired with Russia in it's efforts.
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You mean like when he said “Russia, if you're listening, I hope you'll be able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing”?
 
Athanasius68 said:
The claim for the past couple years was that Trump WAS working with the Russians.
But the mea culpa is ok.
Click to expand...

No, the claim has always been that Trump's relationship with Russians and his out of character obsequiousness to Putin warrant investigation.

Just because no video has been found doesn't mean that Trump hasn't been working with Russians through Manafort or directly. We already know he was secretly trying to build a tower in Moscow.

1. The investigation was necessary

2. Russia is an enemy actively trying to undermine and manipulate NATO allies

3. Russia did actively attempt to infiltrate the Trump campaign with some success

4. Just because we don't have video evidence or any concrete evidence doesn't make Trump's behavior any less suspicious and concerning.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The claim for the past couple years was that Trump WAS working with the Russians.
But the mea culpa is ok.
So why not just tell the Trump campaign the suspicions? Why all the cloak and dagger stuff against the campaign itself? Why open up a counterintelligence investigation on Trump after the election? Why pursue a FISA warrant on Page AFTER he left the campaign?
C' mon.
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Is it normal to tell a suspect they are...suspected?

Seems like you'd never catch anybody that way.
 
JustHanging said:
You mean like when he said “Russia, if you're listening, I hope you'll be able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing”?
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Which were never found. Moreover, he said the media would be very happy if they did.
 
What if...? said:
Is it normal to tell a suspect they are...suspected?

Seems like you'd never catch anybody that way.
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The concern was Page's role in the campaign. Trunp fired him when his Russian connections became known. There is no reason he wouldn't have done it earlier had he known earlier. Ergo, the 'problem' is solved.
 
SonOfDaedalus said:
No, the claim has always been that Trump's relationship with Russians and his out of character obsequiousness to Putin warrant investigation.

Just because no video has been found doesn't mean that Trump hasn't been working with Russians through Manafort or directly. We already know he was secretly trying to build a tower in Moscow.

1. The investigation was necessary

2. Russia is an enemy actively trying to undermine and manipulate NATO allies

3. Russia did actively attempt to infiltrate the Trump campaign with some success

4. Just because we don't have video evidence or any concrete evidence doesn't make Trump's behavior any less suspicious and concerning.
Click to expand...

Trunp wasn't working with the Russians to fix the 2016 elections. Maybe Obama was and he secretly wanted Clinton to lose. Makes as much sense.

It should be pointed out:

1. The necessity of the investigation doesn't necessarily translate in how the investigation was handled.
2. No doubt.
As has been tirelessly pointed out, one is free to label Russia as the "enemy." However, that is simply NOT how the Obama Admin looked at Russia during its last term. And of course Obama famously mocked Romney in 2012 for claiming the contrary. If being 'soft' on Russia was a crime for Trump, it has been a bipartisan crime.
3. And the FBI believed they knew this-- and did nothing to warn the campaign. Instead, the approach was that the campaign was complicit.
4. In other words, no evidence. Let's put it another way-- why support a criminal or intelligence investigation into Trunp over a policy dispute?
 
Athanasius68 said:
Trunp wasn't working with the Russians to fix the 2016 elections. Maybe Obama was and he secretly wanted Clinton to lose. Makes as much sense.

It should be pointed out:

1. The necessity of the investigation doesn't necessarily translate in how the investigation was handled.
2. No doubt.
As has been tirelessly pointed out, one is free to label Russia as the "enemy." However, that is simply NOT how the Obama Admin looked at Russia during its last term. And of course Obama famously mocked Romney in 2012 for claiming the contrary. If being 'soft' on Russia was a crime for Trump, it has been a bipartisan crime.
3. And the FBI believed they knew this-- and did nothing to warn the campaign. Instead, the approach was that the campaign was complicit.
4. In other words, no evidence. Let's put it another way-- why support a criminal or intelligence investigation into Trunp over a policy dispute?
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A. Nobody said Trump was working with Russians to fix the election. Nobody sensible every claimed that. But he was trying to build a tower in Russia which required Putin's approval. How is that different than Russia offering him a bribe in exchange for pro-Russia policies?

1. I agree the necessity of investigation doesn't excuse the means. But are you willing to agree that the guilty often complain about the means as in the OP? Aren't you being a bit naive if you just accept such protestations of "illegal investigation" without skepticism?

3. The FBI warned Trump. Obama warned Trump. Trump didn't care. Do you hold him responsible for anything?

4. The purpose of an investigation is to gather evidence. There were many suspicious circumstances that warranted further investigation.
 
SonOfDaedalus said:
A. Nobody said Trump was working with Russians to fix the election. Nobody sensible every claimed that. But he was trying to build a tower in Russia which required Putin's approval. How is that different than Russia offering him a bribe in exchange for pro-Russia policies?

1. I agree the necessity of investigation doesn't excuse the means. But are you willing to agree that the guilty often complain about the means as in the OP? Aren't you being a bit naive if you just accept such protestations of "illegal investigation" without skepticism?

3. The FBI warned Trump. Obama warned Trump. Trump didn't care. Do you hold him responsible for anything?

4. The purpose of an investigation is to gather evidence. There were many suspicious circumstances that warranted further investigation.
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A. Lots of non-sensible people around, then.

1. The skepticism runs towards the cause and reason for the investigation.

3. The FBI gave a briefing to the campaign in the summer-- long after that started to investigate.

4. What was suspicious of what Trump did?
 
Athanasius68 said:
A. Lots of non-sensible people around, then.

1. The skepticism runs towards the cause and reason for the investigation.

3. The FBI gave a briefing to the campaign in the summer-- long after that started to investigate.

4. What was suspicious of what Trump did?
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A. Lots of straw men lurking

1. Did you complain about means now you're back to cause? The OP is about the cause and reason. Russians have been actively infiltrating campaigns.

3. So you're saying the FBI should warn people before they begin investigating so they have time to stop what they're doing?

4. Trump who is tough on everyone has nothing but good things to say about Putin? Trump selling a property nobody wanted for a huge profit to a Russian oligarch? Trump hiring a man closely tied to the Kremlin as his campaign manager? A Trump staffer bragging about Russian dirt on Hillary?
 
Rogue Valley said:
Picture of Strache (right) with the female Russian agent. That looks like a line of cocaine on the glass tabletop near his leg.

image-1428987-galleryV9-lknn.jpg
Click to expand...

Any vodka on that table?
 
JustHanging said:
You mean like when he said “Russia, if you're listening, I hope you'll be able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing”?
Click to expand...

or something like
‘China, if you’re listening, why don’t you get Trump’s tax returns?’
Click to expand...
 
SonOfDaedalus said:
A. Lots of straw men lurking

1. Did you complain about means now you're back to cause? The OP is about the cause and reason. Russians have been actively infiltrating campaigns.

3. So you're saying the FBI should warn people before they begin investigating so they have time to stop what they're doing?

4. Trump who is tough on everyone has nothing but good things to say about Putin? Trump selling a property nobody wanted for a huge profit to a Russian oligarch? Trump hiring a man closely tied to the Kremlin as his campaign manager? A Trump staffer bragging about Russian dirt on Hillary?
Click to expand...

1. Ok-- campaign(s)-- plural. So how about this Steele Dossier? You know, the one from anonymous Russian sources. Why was the Obama Admin so quick to accept is legitimacy?
There doesn't have to be anything nefarious behind the decision. Maybe Brennan et. al. are imbeciles. Maybe they allowed their personal opinions to cloud their professional judgment.

3. One doesn't need to talk Page. Talk to somebody else in the campaign. After all, the concern is the campaign. If he is removed, the problem is solved.

4. Trump had been tougher on Russia than had the Obama Admin.
Manafort was an agent of the Ukraine, not Russia.

Did anyone associated with the Clinton campaign brag about Russian dirt on Trump?
 
Athanasius68 said:
4. Trump had been tougher on Russia than had the Obama Admin.
Manafort was an agent of the Ukraine, not Russia.
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1. The Ukraine government that Manafort was working for was a Kremlin back puppet government.

2. Was Trump saying that Russia should be let back into the G8 an example of Trump being tougher on Russia? Keep in mind that it's the Obama sanctions that Russia was trying to get lifted in the Trump Tower meeting. Is Trump believing Putin over our own intelligence an example of him being tough on Russia?

If you're honestly going to claim that Trump has been tougher on Russia after all the praise he has heaped on Putin then you're no longer a rational person regarding this subject.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The claim for the past couple years was that Trump WAS working with the Russians.
But the mea culpa is ok.
So why not just tell the Trump campaign the suspicions? Why all the cloak and dagger stuff against the campaign itself? Why open up a counterintelligence investigation on Trump after the election? Why pursue a FISA warrant on Page AFTER he left the campaign?
C' mon.
Click to expand...
That is a very Trumpian lie.

Trump called the Mueller investigation a witch hunt. Many times. But Mueller never claimed that Trump was working with the Russians.
 
Athanasius68 said:
The concern was Page's role in the campaign. Trunp fired him when his Russian connections became known. There is no reason he wouldn't have done it earlier had he known earlier. Ergo, the 'problem' is solved.
Click to expand...
You are lying again

Page was hired because of his Russian connections and he wasn't fired. He resigned
 
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