Our latest episode of Witch Hunt begins with an email received by special guest star Donald J. Trump Jr. to arrange a meeting with a Russian lawyer named Natalia Veselnitskaya.
Having been promised damaging information on Hillary Rodham Clinton, Donnie Jr. agreed to the meeting. The president’s then campaign chairman, Paul J. Manafort, attended as well as the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Though the meeting slipped the men’s minds when it came time to report the contacts, we do have a statement from the president’s son, DJT Jr. on the meeting itself as told by The New York Times:
“After pleasantries were exchanged,” he said, “the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Mrs. Clinton. Her statements were vague, ambiguous and made no sense. No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information.”
What a disappointment for poor Donnie Jr.
For viewers who pay attention to customs and ethics in government (because, after all, the politicians are supposed to represent us), it’s difficult to feel bad for Jr. We know that negative ads and information work, but we also know how they leave us feeling bitter and without hope. And we recognize that getting cozy with countries we don’t get along with is a bad idea. What good can come from encouraging Russia when it’s leader is known to kill his enemies and ignore human rights? Putin takes what he wants, and doesn’t bother to cultivate a relationship unless he wants something (and the price will be high). Still the White House and cabinet say they don’t see a problem with working with a tyrant to get information to use in an American election. “Anyone would do that,” they say. I suppose this is why, other than not reporting the contact with the Russians, Jr. isn’t hiding that he was willing to consider an act of war against his own country for his father’s political gain. He’s perfectly fine with telling us he went further than considering it. He took that meeting for that specific reason though he wants us to think it went nowhere, and the lawyer had nothing helpful.
The show’s host, DJT Sr., was in the office in New York on the 9th of June 2016 also but claims he knew nothing of the meeting that happened there. In a strange coincidence, though, late in the afternoon of that very same day Sr. tweeted this oddly specific and detailed question to his opponent in the election:
Crazy coincidence, huh? I wonder why that was on his mind on that day, the very same day his son met with the Russian at his office, even though he didn’t know about the meeting? With such specific numbers? Where did the figures come from?
I know episodes of Witch Hunt are usually about the Liar-In-Chief (in costume as Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west, at the top of the story) screaming “witch hunt!” but he’s been oddly silent on the kids today. That is, other than telling us it’s standard procedure at the G20 to have your daughter hold your seat while you give your country away. Gosh, I’m glad he cleared that up for us.
Sometimes the witches just drop the evidence into our laps. It probably takes some of the “fun” out of the investigation (aka “witch hunt”) for Robert Mueller and his team, but as a citizen watching these meetings and details become public knowledge with clear documentation via Twitter, I can’t help but wonder how the witches can dress themselves.
(This episode is posted with less snark/sarcasm than usual because I just cannot overstate how strange the reality of our government is. These guys are giving away their own dirt. For free. Seriously. Do they, as public servants, think they’re above the law?! Stay tuned to the Republican’s Incompetence Parade channel (aka NumptyVision) for the latest)
Edited 1342 on 11 July 2017 to include the emails Jr. provided in Twitter thread.
Times of Universal Deceit: The crazies are out in force lately. Do not let conspiracy theorists and propagandists bully you into keeping your concerns and opinions to yourself. Learn, read, check facts, and check sources. Try to see the big picture; avoid violence, and try not to let them drag you down to their level. Speak your truth.
Link: “What Do the Russians ‘Have’ on the Trump Family? Fear.” – by Charles P. Pierce in Esquire
Link to original tweet from Christopher Hayes
Link to Trump’s tweet to HRC on the very same day his son, Manafort, and Kushner met with the Russian lawyer
Link to original tweet from John Scalzi
You can’t make this stuff up (or anyway, I can’t; truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes). Link to tweet from Josh Schwerin about Rob Goldstone’s meeting. Goldstone is the guy who claims to have sent the email and arranged the meeting between Jr. and Veselnitskaya in the first place. (I kept a copy if this link below just in case)
Link to a tweet from today from Chelsea Clinton because dumb and crazy seems to be the theme. They’re making it all way too easy. (Copy below with the one from Schwerin because it would be a shame to somehow lose treasures like these)
Link: “Vatican Says All-Powerful God Can’t Transform Into Gluten-Free Crackers” – by David G. McAfee (photo of tweet below)
The just because graphics. Because. . . wow.
